A bit of AI related reading

Nigel on voting

Scotty's cd drops Oct 4th (aint this a bit earlier than the former winners have dropped their first ones?)

Lauren's cd drops on Oct 11th Looking forward to both of them even though I didn't drop any funds on the eps they have out. Why bother when I have all of the songs from ITunes?

Interview with Pia . Seems her first song is already available. Hmm. Wasn't the SOP that the other contestants had to wait until after the tour and AFTER the winner and runner up dropped their cds? Maybe this is why there's such a rush to get Scotty's and Lauren's cds out. Seems to me that every other winner and runner up dropped their first cds in November closer to Thanksgiving, just in time for the holiday season. I've just bought  this first single and although it's nice to listen to, it's nothing special. Nothing much different than what's out there already.....

Jim C , Additional reading and stuff

http://tv.msn.com/reality-tv/lauren-alaina-rejected/story/?GT1=28103

Poor audio, but only copy unless you want the whole Leno show...



Jim Cantiello's Idol in 60

Tags: MTV Shows

Some extra reading

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/422555/double-idol-prediction-scotty-will-win-but-lauren-will-outsell-him/


Thanks for passing this one along, Chicagolady!

WTF?

Ok. So. He wasn't my favorite and I had another that I wanted to win. However, it's just plain rude to treat the past year's winner like this. I certainly hope that there's no truth to the story going around.

http://www.rickey.org/lee-dewyze-not-invited-to-american-idol-10-finale/

Jim C's 60 and Additional reading

Mixed emotions about the new pick....

http://www.votefortheworst.com/story/667465/country-radio-isnt-interested-in-scotty-mccreery

http://www.votefortheworst.com/story/667466/vote-for-the-worst-endorses-scotty-mccreery-for

James Durbin news
http://www.rickey.org/james-durbin-generated-1-million-in-revenue-for-santa-cruz-beach-boardwalk/


Jim C's Idol in 60 seconds

MTV Shows

Hometown visits

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663916/american-idol-hometown-visit.jhtml?xrs=eml_MTVNews2-idol-homecoming

hmmmm... wonder who the favorite is over at MTV?

Jim C's 60 and a little bit more

Elton Week

MTV Shows

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Week

MTV Shows

For several season now, a good many of us have been wondering what the purpose of this silly show was. I mean, several of the contestants (non-winners) have gone on to do just fine without that contract. Two names that come to mind are Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. They proved that you really don't need to win this. Hell, you don't even need to make it to the finale! However, all of them had to wait until AFTER the show was complete and the tour was nearing end before any signing of contracts was even considered. At least, that's how I understood it to was to be. I'm not certain what changed to make this year different. Is it possible that Mr. Cowell was the one that made that particular rule? Or is this year different because we actually have some talent on the stage and people simply cannot wait to work with them ? All I know is that in this particular case the tears weren't even fully dry before the pen went to the paper. Anyone have any thoughts on why this year really is so different and why the rules, as we understood them, we broken/bent/twisted to accommodate Wallpaper with a good voice?

What's a guy to do?

On Saturday TMZ had an article regarding one of this year's favorites, Casey Abrams. Seems the poor guy was rushed to the hospital.... again..... due to an incident following the results show this week, where the judges used the save on him.

Can you imagine if he has to drop out in the next week or so due to illness? There's already a bit of backlash happening regarding the use of the save at this point. I've seen comments about him being a drama queen and others saying that this whole thing was scripted (which would be no surprise at this point). Points have been made that they'd planned on taking all 11 on tour regardless (why? I mean last year's sales really sucked and some dates were cancelled completely...) so why use the save? Yes, he should have done better, but it would have been in his best interest health-wise to get him off the show and let him heal. A case could actually be made that he's had this problem for a while and it looks like stress is a trigger so why put yourself through this? Is it that all fire important? We've seen what you can do and people will be buying your album anyhow (or at least more than without the exposure on Idol). Ok, yes, so you want to win. However, we've seen that winning isn't everything on this show anymore. You'll do fine even if you don't win. You have to come to a point where you need to decide, is this really worth it? What good is winning and getting the contract going to do you if you're too sick to make the tour and are laid up to the point of not being able to do the publicity rounds? Or worse yet, what if this pushes the ailment to the point of the worst possible case? Is winning a silly contest really worth that?

How amazing would it have been if Casey started to sing, stopped it of his own accord and said "Please keep the save for someone else. My health's become an issue and I really need to go and get better. May I please come back in a couple years and try again?" Even better to have them say "You know, we know who you are as a singer. There's no need to go that route. You're going to be just fine and we're taking all 11 on tour anyhow!" It's quite obvious the judges adore him and certainly one of them could hook him up with a producer sometime after the tour with the condition that his album doesn't come out until no sooner than February next year. It would have put him in good standing with the critics and the idols for at least attempting to do the right thing because you know there's going to be some really nasty things said about him in the coming weeks from those who don't enjoy him (especially if their favorite goes before he does).

VH1: Kris Allen Vs. Adam Lambert: A Week-By-Week Comparison by Jim Cantiello

I really should go back and see if my analysis was about the same. Really should have done it last night but I got stuck in one of those diversions that I mentioned in my Main blog page. Time to look it all up and see if I can't catch the songs on YouTube and see which "concert" I enjoyed more.


We look back at the 'American Idol' finalists' past 11 weeks and see how they really match up.

by Jim Cantiello

Tuesday night's "American Idol" finale will have season-eight finalists (and roommates) Kris Allen and Adam Lambert going toe-to-toe in three rounds. Lambert is the odds-on winner come
Wednesday night's results show, but we say Kris still has a fighting chance. Taking a cue from "America's Next Top Model," in which Tyra Banks does a side-by-side comparison of the two finalists' portfolios, we thought we'd break down Adam Lambert's and Kris Allen's "Idol" repertoire week-to-week to help determine who's really in the lead.

Week One: The Semifinals
Adam: The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Kris: Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror"
Winner: Adam

Adam pulled out all the stops for his first live "Idol" performance, turning the Rolling Stones' classic into a down-and-dirty sex shuffle that belonged on the Sunset Strip. His superhuman range was on full display, as were his memorable fashion choices. Kris, on the other hand, came off like the quiet cute guy at your office who wows everyone at karaoke.

Week Two: Michael Jackson Week
Adam: "Black or White"
Kris: "Remember the Time"
Winner: Kris

On the big "Idol" stage, Kris was allowed to bust out his guitar to great effect. The debut of Kris the Troubadour was a smashing success, and he proved that he was more than just a pretty face. Adam's "Black or White," while an audience favorite, left us feeling a little "been there, heard that."

Week Three: Grand Ole Opry Week
Adam: Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire"
Kris: Garth Brooks' "To Make You Feel My Love"
Winner: Adam

Kris' tender crooning-on-the-edge-of-the-stage rendition had tweens swooning, but it was Adam's brilliantly salacious Johnny-Cash-meets-the-Pussycat-Dolls mash-up that had America's water coolers bubbling with excitement.

Week Four: Motown Week
Adam: The Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears"
Kris: Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"
Winner: Adam

Adam stepped up his game for the second week in a row and convinced the haters (like me) that there was way more to Adam than just hair dye and Axl Rose wails. His "Tracks of My Tears" showed a sincere vulnerability and a stunning falsetto, while his savvy Young Elvis makeover also helped him win over older fans. Meanwhile, Kris did a competent impression of a sensitive frat guy. Yawn.

Week Five: Top Downloads
Adam: Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music"
Kris: Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine"
Winner: Kris

Adam returned to his hair-metal roots, while Kris showed up the competition by saying, "Look, America, I can play piano, too!" Your move, Lambert.

Week Six: Songs From the Year They Were Born
Adam: Tears for Fears' "Mad World"
Kris: Don Henley's "All She Wants to Do Is Dance"
Winner: Adam

Kris stumbled with a clunky Don Henley track, while Adam soared to new heights with the most buzzed-about performance of the season. It certainly helped that DVR viewers were forced to track down the show-closing ballad online, thus making Lambert go viral within hours. Admit it, by the time you woke up Wednesday, at least five people had forwarded you the clip with a "You gotta see this" note.

Week Seven: Songs From the Cinema
Adam: Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild"
Kris: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's "Falling Slowly"
Winner: Kris

Adam fell back into his "pick a lame rock song your parents like" groove and delivered his cheesiest performance to date. But Kris displayed impeccable taste by choosing the night's most contemporary tune, and he knocked it out of the park. Plus, anyone who turns on mainstream America to the "Once" soundtrack deserves a medal.

Week Eight: Disco Week
Adam: Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You"
Kris: Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money"
Winner: Kris

Somehow, Kris sang "She Works Hard for the Money" like he really, really believed it. What could have been a throwaway wink at the audience turned out to be a show highlight. Adam tried slowing down the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack staple but in the process eviscerated the melody and put us to sleep.

Week Nine: Rat Pack Standards
Adam: "Feeling Good"
Kris: "The Way You Look Tonight"
Winner: Adam ... by a note

Both Adam and Kris were outperformed by Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey on Rat Pack night. Adam was given some serious pimpage by the producers, though. His performance featured a moving staircase, a cushy final spot on the show rundown and a high note that went on for days. Since Adam was responsible only for the latter, we'll give him points for that. But otherwise, this week was a draw.

Week 10: Rock Week
Adam: Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and Foghat's "Slow Ride" (with Allison Iraheta)
Kris: The Beatles' "Come Together" and Styx's "Renegade" (with Danny Gokey)
Winner: Adam

Kris Allen was off his game in a big way. His Beatles cover was ho-hum, and his duet with Danny Gokey was the most awkward thing of the night (until Gokey's "Scream On"). But Adam came out with guns blazing, unleashing a swagger that had judge Kara DioGuardi proclaim him a "Rock GOD!" His final duet with Allison Iraheta was even more winning, with each of the singers pushing the other to mind-blowing, unstoppable levels of awesome. Don't even get me started on that adorable embrace.

Week 11: Judges' Choice/Contestants' Choice
Adam: U2's "One" and Aerosmith's "Cryin' "
Kris: OneRepublic's "Apologize" and Kanye West's "Heartless"
Winner: Kris

Adam's night was less-than-stellar. During his Aerosmith song, he was (somehow) overpowered by a background singer and his cabaret-headlining take on "One" felt as out of place as Steve Martin performing a five-minute banjo tune about skipping class on "SNL." The judges had been pushing a Gokey/Lambert finale since week one, and Kris underwhelmed during Kara and Randy's selection, "Apologize." But before you could count him out, Kris grabbed his trusty old guitar and strummed through a star-making rendition of Kanye West's sad robot anthem, "Heartless," a tune Kanye himself had "performed" on an "Idol" results show weeks earlier. It showed guts. It showed "artistry." And it showed Gokey the door.

Where does that leave us? According to my math, Kris Allen won five weeks, while Adam Lambert won five and a half weeks (the half point given to Adam's never-ending Rat Pack note). It's anyone's "Idol" crown this season, and it really boils down to the finish line. (Ryan Seacrest said himself during last week's results show that only a million votes separated Kris and Adam.) So, who will win "American Idol?" Until we hear these two talented performers sing Tuesday night, your guess is as good as mine!

This report is provided by MTV News