Idol Chit-Chat
This is your place to discuss all things "American Idol." The performances, the judges, the past contestants — it’s all right here.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

A Look Into Paula's World


Don't forget that "Hey Paula!" the new reality show that goes behind the scenes of Paula Abdul's life premieres tonight on Bravo.

You can see back-to-back episodes at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The "Dreamgirls" Divas Unite...


Jennifer Hudson snagged two trophies at the BET Awards last night, taking home Best New Artist and Best New Actress.

But Jennifer's big moment came when she kicked off the show with a duet with the original Effie, Jennifer Holliday. The two brought down the house with "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."

Holliday originated the role of Effie on Broadway and made "Telling" the signature song of the show. She had complained about being ignored for her contributions to "Dreamgirls," but that's apparently all forgiven now...

You can see their amazing performance on YouTube...


Blake's New Album...

In an interview with "TV Guide," Blake Lewis talked about the CD that he's working on...

He said he recorded his first track last night (Tuesday) and he's written seven songs.

BT has signed on to produce and Doug E.Fresh, who performed with Blake on the finale, is in talks to beatbox on a song. Blake said he plans to have four or five people beatbox between tracks.

As for the CD's overall sound, Blake said, "I'd classify it as electro-funk-soul-pop if you need to label it. I really love the sounds of the 80s so I hope to bring some of that back. I'm really inspired by electronic music."

Blake said the CD will be out by Thanksgiving or Christmas...

As for the label, I haven't heard any story about Blake signing, but his MySpace page lists his label as "19 Entertainment and ?." I hope it's not RCA, because Clive will squash Blake's ideas like a bug...

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

A Clive Conspiracy?


As if I need to remind you, Kelly Clarkson’s “My December” hits stores today. You can also buy a deluxe version on iTunes with three bonus tracks (“Dirty Little Secret” and two remixes of “Never Again”).

Despite all the controversy, I think Kelly will hit #1 next week (although “Hannah Montana 2” will give her a run for her money), especially since all of the major retailers are pricing the CD below $10. How long she stays at the top will be another story…

Last week, I got an e-mail from a friend of mine about all of the controversy. He said that he hoped Kelly found a new label because he had never seen a record label try to kill a CD like RCA has tried to kill this one.

I appreciated his thought because it made me think that I am not the only one who smells a Clive conspiracy…

As my friend said, “Never Again” was doing fine until all the stories started. The song debuted at #8, but with each bad story, the song slid further and further down the charts. And more and more radio stations took it off their playlists, or refused to play it at all.

Since Clive made his initial comments to a large group of people (Sony/BMG execs), he had to know they would get out. Maybe he even leaked them himself. Why would he do that you ask? So he could break Kelly and bring her back in line. By badmouthing it to anyone who would listen—forcing Kelly to discuss it in the press—he doomed the album to failure so for the next one, Kelly would be more likely to do it his way.

And before you label Kelly as petulant or egotistic—as many have—let me remind you about a few things concerning St. Clive…

Regardless of what he may say, he is not responsible for the success of “Since U Been Gone.” Yes, he gave the song to Kelly, but it was Kelly that found the right producers to give the pop song more of a rock feel.

And Kelly’s first album (which Clive executive produced), “Thankful,” which everyone seems to be calling a pop masterpiece these days? It was a total mess. It shifted from pop to R&B to country without ever settling on a genre, which is why it only had one radio hit (“Miss Independent”). But we all seem to have forgotten that now…

All of this has overshadowed the most important thing—the CD itself. It is a good CD. I’ve heard it a least a dozen times, and I like it more each time. Yes, it is different than the Kelly we’re used to, but it is not so totally different from Evanescence or Hinder, or a number of other groups getting airplay now. So what’s the problem?

The conspiracy continues…

For more on this story, I encourage you to check out this article from my new hero, Ann Powers of the “Los Angeles Times”:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-clarkson26jun26,1,251010.story?track=rss&ctrack=3&cset=true...



Carrie is Sexiest Vegetarian...


Carrie Underwood has been named the World's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity by PETA.

She also won the title in 2005.

Carrie shares the title with Kevin Eubanks of "The Tonight Show," who got a boost from a campaign by his boss, Jay Leno.

Melinda heads to Africa...

Melinda Doolittle is traveling to Zambia this Thursday with the group Malaria No More, as part of First Lady Laura Bush's upcoming trip through Africa.

Melinda will be able to see the benefits of "Idol Gives Back" as she assists in the distribution of 500,000 bed nets that were bought with the first installment of funds contributed to Malaria No More by "IGB"...

Monday, June 25, 2007

Josh heads for the Gulf...


The fine folks at Lyric Street Records sent me an e-mail to let me know that Josh Gracin will be touring the Persian Gulf this summer to support our troops.

He’ll be playing shows for and spending time with the troops stationed throughout the gulf in a tour sponsored by MWR and Stars For Stripes.

As you recall, Josh was a Marine himself...
Photo courtesy of Lyric Street Records

Kelly gets it bad for NASCAR...

I was a little worried that we hadn't seen the promised Kelly Clarkson NASCAR ad yet. I was concerned that NASCAR had nixed the campaign because of all the bad press...

But fear not, Kelly fans, Kelly's "How bad have you got it?" ad debuted during yesterday's race. It features "One Minute," the song Kelly sang at the Daytona 500 and it works very well.

So how much is NASCAR paying Kelly for this deal? Zero dollars. That's right. Kelly is doing this for free.

Unless plans have changed, she will finish out her NASCAR deal with a performance at the awards ceremony in December...

And here's a look at the commercial...

Are you the next "American Idol"?

If you’re between the ages of 16-28 and think you can be the next American Idol, here’s the audition schedule…

July 30th—San Diego (Qualcomm Stadium)
August 6th—Dallas (Texas Stadium)
August 10th—Omaha (Qwest Center)
August 14th—Atlanta (Georgia Dome)
August 18th—Charleston, S.C. (North Charleston Coliseum)
August 27th—Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)

If the auditions seem earlier this year, that’s because they are. They needed to be moved up since the producers are also doing auditions for “The Next Great American Band.”

Executive Producer Nigel Lythoe said that there will be no major changes to the format, but an effort will be made to get better singers into the top 24. “Too many slipped through the net,” he told “USA Today.”

I hope that means they plan to show the better singers as well, since we barely knew who the top 24 were this season…

You can get complete details at www.americanidol.com...

And if anyone makes the trip to an audition city, feel free to share your story. You can contact me directly at hdstaytuned@hotmail.com...

Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Problem With the "Bold" Triangle...

In this week’s “Soap Opera Digest,” columnist Carolyn Hinsey criticizes “The Bold and the Beautiful” Executive Producer and Head Writer Bradley Bell for hiring “an ‘American Idol’ reject without checking to see if he can act (he can’t)…”

Personally, I don’t think the problem is Constantine’s acting skills (I happen to think he has some.). The problem is his story is just not believable….

In order for a love triangle to work, you have to be able to see the person in the middle with both people and I just can’t see Constantine with Phoebe (I can barely see her with Rick.). Because she is so young, both in age and appearance (She’s 18.), Constantine comes off like a dirty old man.

But he’s not the only problem. Rick’s character seesaws so badly, he’s practically bipolar. One minute he’s over Phoebe and telling Ashley that he needs a real woman and the next he’s risking going to jail to save her father. It just doesn’t work.

And are we really supposed to believe that a girl can be that naïve?...

I’m not saying that the show’s not worth watching, because it is. I just seem to be a little more interested in the egg switching than Constantine trying to steal Phoebe from Rick…

Here’s the recap of the last two weeks…

When Rick came to Constantine’s studio, he found Phoebe and Constantine in the recording studio and he misinterpreted what was going on. Rick and Constantine almost came to blows as Rick told Phoebe that Constantine was interested in more than her voice. Constantine threw Rick out of his apartment and Phoebe reluctantly followed. The two had an argument in Rick’s car, and Phoebe admitted that Constantine may be interested in her. In his apartment, Constantine found Rick’s PDA. He played the waiting message to find out who it belonged to and heard a breathy-voiced woman leaving Rick a message: “Hi Rick. It’s me. About last night. Call me. Au revoir” (We know the message is from Ashley.). Constantine recorded the message into his mixing board. After Rick and Phoebe agreed to stop fighting and work on their relationship, Rick realized he had left behind his PDA and he went back to get it. Constantine alluded to the message, but he never admitted he had heard it…

Meanwhile, a secret from Rick’s past began to emerge. When he was a child, he shot his mother’s husband, Grant Chambers. But the incident was so traumatic, he blocked it out of his memory. To protect him, Ridge, Phoebe’s father, confessed to the crime (He was in love with Rick’s mother). That prior conviction caused the DA to charge Ridge with first degree murder in the death of Shane McGrath. To help Shane’s case, Rick would need to confess to a crime he refused to believe he committed…

Phoebe did go back to Constantine’s, where he tried to convince her that Rick was not a good guy. But Phoebe said she didn’t want to hear anything negative about him, so instead of Ashley’s message, Constantine played Phoebe the song he wrote for her, “Girl Like You.” As Phoebe listened to the song, we saw a video for it featuring Phoebe and Constantine in L.A. Phoebe was touched that he wrote a song for her. Finally, after some more Rick bashing, Constantine played the message for Phoebe.

Devastated, Phoebe went to Forrester Originals to talk to Ashley to find out if she knew who Rick could be seeing behind her back; but of course, she didn’t recognize Ashley’s voice. And of course, Ashley acted like she didn’t know anything. Rick showed up to talk to Phoebe about all of the Grant stuff, and Phoebe confronted him about seeing someone else. He admitted that he did see someone while they were broke up, but that it didn’t mean anything (which is not what he told Ashley) and that it was completely over. And, of course, Phoebe fell for it…

Ridge told Phoebe about Rick shooting Grant and Phoebe tried to get Rick to remember, but he couldn’t. But then Rick appeared at the courthouse, just as the judge (wonderfully played by Kevin Dobson of “Knots Landing” fame) was ready to begin the trial. Rick took the stand and recounted how he shot Grant. The judge voided the first conviction, dropped the charge of first degree murder and set Ridge free—all thanks to Rick. Rick visited Ridge at the jail and told him that he lied about remembering for Phoebe. He told Ridge that he didn’t want him interfering in their relationship anymore, and Ridge agreed…

Constantine read about Ridge’s release on the Internet and called Phoebe to tell her how happy he was for her. Phoebe invited him to the pool party celebrating Ridge’s release at the Forrester Mansion so that he could meet her father. When Constantine arrived, Rick threw a fit, but Phoebe calmed him down. Ridge and Constantine seemed to bond over Rick’s hatred for them, and then Constantine dropped the bombshell that Rick had been unfaithful to Phoebe…

Kelly Goes With "Never Again" for Leno

If you missed her performance on “The Tonight Show,” Kelly did not sing her new single, “Sober.” She performed “Never Again,” much to the delight of the audience. Personally, I thought Kelly never sounded—or looked—better.

Kelly did sing “Sober” after the show for the website.

You can hear “Sober” and “Never Again” at http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno...

Chart News: Elliot Rises and Carrie Rings Up a Million...

Here’s this week’s Chart News…

Fantasia’s “When I See U” rises to #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and is the fastest growing track at R&B radio…

Daughtry’s “Home” falls to #15 on the Hot 100, but remains at #1 on the Adult Top 40. The song is also starting to get play on Contemporary Christian radio…

Kelly Clarkson’s “Never Again” continues its slide on the Hot 100, falling to #19…

Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You” rose to #28 on the Hot 100, a new high…

And the song that just won’t quit, Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” sits at #14 on the Hot 100, after 42 weeks on the chart. “Cheats” has also been certified platinum for one million purchased ringtones, only the second country song in history to earn that status (Waylon Jennings’ “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” is the other.).

Speaking of “Cheats,” you can hear a unique cover of the song by R&B artist Joe, who gives it a male perspective, as part of Yahoo’s Pepsi Smash Cover Art. You can check it out at http://music.yahoo.com/promo-18684304-53-20070605. While you’re there, check out Switchfoot’s cover of Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love”…

And it’s official. Carrie’s “Some Hearts” and Kelly’s “Breakaway” have been certified sextuple platinum (That’s six times.). Interestingly, the RIAA announced the certifications together. As you no doubt remember, only Carrie’s achievement was mentioned during the “Idol” finale…

"Idol: The Musical" takes on the Claymates...

After a successful run in Syracuse, NY, preview performances for “Idol: The Musical” will begin Off-Broadway on July 5th.

What is “Idol: The Musical”? According to Broadway.com, it’s “a satirical musical comedy that focuses on the outrageous and delusional fan base of the hit television show.” The show is “based on the worship of Clay Aiken.”

And no, this is not a joke…

The musical takes place in Steubenville, Ohio (That’s just wrong!) where “a group of dork-like students are preparing for their high school graduation after which they are determined to drag themselves out of the dregs of the middle-of-nowhere. There are eight of them, all belonging to the same cult-like club that meets daily in a barn that doubles as a shrine to Clay Aiken…The story heats up when the mid-American leg of the Idol Tour, starring Clay Aiken, is announced to be playing Chicago, Memphis, Louisville, Scranton, Charleston, Greensboro, Roanoke and Steubenville.”

It gets worse…

One of the characters, Emily, is described like this: “Her passion for Clay often overwhelms her, throwing her into frenzied fits of unbridled lust, even in public places. Behind her closeted exterior, a dormant dominatrix lies, only brought out in private moments between her and her bust of Clay Aiken, her one and only love, or so she thinks.”

I’m afraid the only thing I can say after that is Clay, I hope you’re in touch with your lawyer…

The McPhans respond to Kat's Idol Diss...

Taylor Hicks, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin and Kellie Pickler were all Season Five contestants who performed on “American Idol” this past season.

So why didn’t Katharine McPhee, the season five runner-up get to perform?

According to “US Magazine,” Katharine was completely dissed by the show. A source told the magazine, “Katharine called them herself, trying to get on the [finale]. She’s really hurt.”

Katharine’s fans are also hurt and have decided to take a cue from the “Jericho” rangers. They’ve started Project Kit Kat and are sending Kit Kat bars to Idol executives. The “McPhans” are hoping to get Katharine on the show next season.

They’ve even created a YouTube video to explain to other fans what to do.



Hey, at least she got mentioned in Clive’s rambling “State of Idol” speech…

Kimberly Caldwell gets "unapologetic"...

You may notice that I never report information from “Idol Chat,” the show on TV Guide Channel. That’s because Kimberly Caldwell completely annoys me.

But unfortunately for me, it doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere anytime soon…

The season two finalist has a small role in “Wrong Turn 2,” which will hit theaters in October. And she’s got a pretty heavy hitter working on her CD—John Rich of Big and Rich.

There’s no release date for the CD yet, but Kimberly recently told her hometown newspaper that she is in talks with “a new, big record label in Nashville.” She said she may call the CD “unapologetic,” the word she uses to describe her country-rock sound.

By the way, the tattoo that you see on her wrist in the picture says, "No regrets"...

Kimberly also told the paper, “There are some people that love me, and there are some people that hate me. I’m really OK with both of those. I don’t think there’s anybody that’s in-between.”
You can say that again…

J-Hud Joins the Academy


Jennifer Hudson has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Only 115 actors, directors, and other industry people received the invitation, which now allows Jennifer to vote for the Oscars…

Another frank Kelly interview...

Another magazine cover, another frank interview with Kelly Clarkson…

This time, it’s “Elle” magazine, in which Kelly dishes on her CD troubles (of course), her personal life and she shares a major nugget about her “Idol Gives Back” performance…

Kelly said she’s never been in love. “I know people probably think I’ve been heartbroken, because of the stuff I’ve sung and written…I love my friends and my family. But I have never said the words, ‘I love you’ to anyone in a romantic relationship. Ever”…

She told the magazine, she’s only had three boyfriends. None are famous and two remain her close friends. The third is the inspiration for “Never Again,” who she refuses to name…

I guess that leaves out Justin Guarini. And sorry, Kelly, but there is no way you could write those songs about a guy you were not in love with…

Kelly also told “Elle” she doesn’t want children. “My point of view is that I shouldn’t be a mother at all, because I’d be horrible. I’m not willing to be that selfless”…

Remember how I said that there was no way Kelly would sing “Never Again” at “Idol Gives Back” because it wouldn’t be appropriate? I guess her record company thought differently. Kelly tells “Elle” that they wanted her to sing it. “And I was like, to promote yourself on a charity event is beyond crass. People are starving and dying and I’m up there singing some bitter pop song? And believe me, everyone wanted me to sing it. Because they are jaded and they have no soul. Imagine sitting in a room full of people totally against you. Can’t they hear themselves speaking? Capitalize on AIDS? Are you kidding? Insulting an entire nation of people? I just refused”…

YIKES!

Simon Cowell told “Elle” of her performance of “Up to the Mountain,” “She was incredible. When you let her come back on the show it makes everybody else look like an amateur.” He also said that Clarkson is the best Idol winner yet “without question”…

Since Simon has always said Fantasia was his favorite winner, you have to wonder why he is championing Kelly so much lately. Does he too have a beef with Clive?...

“Elle” is on newsstands now…

The Idol Legal Report

And now here’s the latest “Idol” legal report…

Arbitration has been ordered in the Mario Vazquez sexual harassment suit.

As you may recall, Magdaleno Olmos, a former production assistant, sued Mario, Fremantle Media and FOX alleging wrongful termination and violation of the California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. The lawsuit alleges that Mario dropped out of “American Idol” after Olmos came forward with complaints that Mario sexually harassed him and that Olmos was fired in retaliation for those complaints.

FOX News reports that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael C. Solner ruled that Olmos knew when he was hired that he “was signing an agreement to arbitrate disputes and not file a lawsuit” and granted a defense motion to send the case to arbitration and put a hold on the lawsuit.

For all of the dirty details on the suit, visit http://media.herald-dispatch.com/blog/idol/2007/03/latest-on-sexual-harassment-scandal.html...

The "Idol" Romance Report

Here’s the latest “American Idol” Romance Report…

“People” magazine is reporting that its 2006 Most Eligible Bachelor, Taylor Hicks, has a new girlfriend…

She’s Caroline Lyders, a morning anchor at the Milwaukee ABC affiliate, WISN. They met when Lyders interviewed Hicks in March.

She told a local Milwaukee magazine that she and Taylor are just friends…

Meanwhile Kellie Pickler has confirmed to “People” that she is dating Nashville Predators right wing Jordin Tootoo.

Tootoo is the first player of Inuit descent to play in the NHL. He is from Rankin Inlet, a small town in Nunavut in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Kellie, who is from Albermarle, North Carolina, tells “People” “We’re from real different places, but they’re both small towns so we’re a lot alike too.”

Kellie recently took a break from Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires and Amplifiers” tour to spend a week with Tootoo and his family. Kellie told “People” she had no idea what to expect on the trip, but since it was snowing up there, she was going to learn to drive a snowmobile…

Kellie will perform at the Lawrence County Fair July 12th at 7 p.m…

Sherman Pore is still singing for his "lady love"...

Remember Sherman Pore, the 65-year-old contestant who auditioned in tribute to his late wife? You can now buy his CD of romantic standards, “For My Lady Love.”

The album features classics such as “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Unforgettable” and his audition song, “You Belong To Me.” $1 from each CD sold goes to City of Hope, a California cancer research center (His wife died of cancer.).

The CD is available at http://www.walmart.com/. For more information about City of Hope, you can go to www.cityofhope.org...

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Kelly and Reba at a "Crossroads"

It seems like Kelly is the only person I’m talking about lately. But at least this is good news…

First, just a reminder that Kelly will perform on “The Tonight Show” tomorrow night (Friday). “The Tonight Show” airs at 11:35 p.m. on NBC…

Also this weekend, you can catch the premiere of CMT’s “Crossroads” with Kelly and Reba McEntire. “Crossroads” features artists of different genres performing each other’s songs. The performance was taped at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. “Crossroads” airs Sunday, June 24th at 8 p.m. on CMT…

You can get a sneak preview with this clip from YouTube of Kelly and Reba singing “Since U Been Gone”…



The duo will also perform “Because of You,” which moves to #21 on the Hot Country Songs Chart. If you haven’t seen the video, take a few minutes to watch this clip. The video has a great story and it features great acting from both Kelly and Reba…


Will Kelly Join the Idol Tour?

Geno's World, a blog about the music industry is reporting that Kelly Clarkson is going to be offered "special cameo appearances" on the upcoming Idols Live Tour that begins July 6th and runs through September 22 (with a stop in Huntington on September 15th). The blog says that Kelly's people are hoping to "take advantage of the Idol built in fan base and allow her to promote her struggling CD. The blog goes on to say that Kelly's response to the offer is "still up in the air."

Kelly's rep told "Access Hollywood" that the report is "not true" and an Idol tour publicist told them that she has no idea where the report is coming from.

I say for as much money as we paid for those tickets, bring it on! However, it would be a step down for Kelly...

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Don't Believe the Rumors. "My December" Is Good...

Let me say this right from the start. “My December” is not a commercial album. Only a few of the songs are what I would call radio friendly. None of them have the same catchy hooks that made “Since U Been Gone,” or “Breakaway” smash hits.

But that doesn’t mean the CD is total garbage. In fact, it’s actually pretty good.

It’s just that “My December” sounds more like an Evanescence album than a Kelly Clarkson one…

Which I guess is why radio didn’t warm up to “Never Again”—not because it wasn’t good, but because it wasn’t Kelly. But in a world where a girl singing about her lip gloss produces a hit, I admire Kelly for trying to make music as opposed to making money…

Also after listening to the album, it’s clear why Kelly had to make the decision to cancel her tour. These songs are not meant to be rocked out in huge arenas. They’re meant to be shared in intimate settings as Kelly pours out her personal pain.

And boy, wouldn’t we all love to know the source of that pain…

The angriest song on the CD, “Never Again,” makes a great kick-off with its strong guitar intro and those scorching first lyrics, “I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green.” The song was written two years ago as a counterpoint to “Since U Been Gone” and “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” but because it was so angry, they didn’t include it on “Breakaway.” But Kelly felt it was the perfect beginning for this CD’s story arc.

And with the changing face of music these days, where songs like “U + UR Hand” and “Before He Cheats” spend months climbing the charts, RCA has made a HUGE mistake pulling their support for this one…

“Never” leads right into the hard-rocking intro of “One Minute,” the song Kelly did at the Daytona 500 in February. This song must be better live, because I didn’t remember it being this much of a mess. It eventually works out some of its problems, but I’m not sure I would’ve put it so early on the CD…

“Hole” is the third straight rocker, but it dissolves into three minutes of Kelly screaming about how she has a hole in her heart that she can’t fill…

Just when you wonder how much harder the CD can get, Kelly goes mellow with the second single, “Sober.” The song has a beautiful intro and it’s not bad, until it leads into Kelly screaming about the three months she’s been sober (She’s referring to an addiction to a guy, not alcohol or drugs.). After a few listens, though, it really grows on you and you realize that it’s not that much different than “Because of You.” However, I’m not sure that radio will agree…

The CD picks up again with “Don’t Waste Your Time,” which is actually catchy with Kelly’s hesitation to call the person she is singing to “friend” and then singing “Friend, what does that even mean?”…

Then it’s back to a more intense sound with “Judas,” the first of two songs whose title is not mentioned anywhere in the song. But considering the lyrics about deceit and betrayal, the title is definitely appropriate. The problem with this song is the strange ending…

“Haunted” is pure Evanescence (FYI, Kelly dated a former member of the group and co-wrote songs on “Breakaway” with their co-founder.). But that’s not a bad thing as the mysterious sound to the song works quite well, as Kelly wails “Where are you?” I could hear this one as a single…

“Be Still” is, just as the title suggests, a still and quiet song as the story arc starts to shift in direction. That arc continues with “Maybe” which switches from soft to hard. “How I Feel” is a catchy tune (and a possible radio hit) that reminds you a little of the Kelly we know, but it, too, suffers from a bad ending, which leads into the mess called “Yeah”…

But the CD recovers quickly with one of my favorite tracks, “Can I Have a Kiss.” Think “What’s Left of Me” or “Icebox” (the themes I mean) with a rock feel. It’s a good song that has some radio potential as well…

Then comes the closer, which is one of the most heartbreaking ballads I have ever heard. It’s called “Irvine” and as Kelly painfully asks “Are you there? Are you watching me as I lie on this floor?” it becomes obvious that the song is a prayer and a beautiful one at that. Kelly wrote this one after a tour stop in Irvine (thus, the title) where she was so exhausted and depressed that she cancelled her meet-and-greet (the only one she’s ever cancelled). The song truly makes you appreciate Kelly’s skills as a songwriter and a singer. Will it be a radio hit? No, but that doesn’t diminish its brilliance…

And just so the “My December” story doesn’t end on a somber note, Kelly adds a hidden track at the end of “Irvine” (5:15 into the song after a minute or so of silence, so keep listening) in which she seems to have finally come to terms with her breakup. “Baby, I can’t stand the sight of your face,” she sings in one of the best melodies on the CD…

Years from now, people will study “My December” and all the drama surrounding it and see that it made a major statement about music today. No matter how good the CD is—and it is good—it will not be a huge commercial success because it isn’t commercial and wasn’t recorded to be. So because it won’t sell six million copies like “Breakaway,” it will be deemed a failure.

And Clive Davis will look like a genius. And boy do I hate it when that happens…

I especially hate that all of the drama surrounding the tour and Kelly’s manager made me rethink my whole position in the Clive vs. Kelly thing. Well now I am totally back with Team Kelly, and I hope millions of others will be too…

“My December” hits stores Tuesday, June 26th. You can hear it online at www.mtv.com/music/the_leak...

Be sure to let me know what you think...

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Kelly Postpones Her Tour

The Kelly Clarkson news just keeps getting worse and worse…

Kelly has postponed her entire summer tour. Kelly posted this announcement on her website: "I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to getting out there to perform for y'all. In the craziness of the music business, performing is what I look forward to doing the most, so it really is disappointing for me to have to tell you that I won't be coming out to tour this summer. The fact is that touring is just too much too soon. But I promise you that we're going to get back out there as soon as is humanly possible to give you a show that will be even better. Thanks for all of your love and continued support.”
Kelly’s rep made this statement to “Entertainment Weekly”: “Plans for Kelly Clarkson's summer tour have been shelved for now as the singer and her team re-evaluate her show's size and scope — a decision made even more difficult by the impending release of her album, My December.” LiveNation CEO Michael Rapino (the tour’s promoter) said in a statement, also to “EW,” “[T]icket sales have not been what we anticipated and we came to the realization that we had bit off more than we could chew. In the end, we are in the Kelly Clarkson business and for that reason we believe that this decision will only benefit her and her fans in the long run.”

Tickets are being refunded at the point of purchase.

Could her album be the next thing that gets shelved? Stay tuned…

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Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Kelly Fires Her Manager

Kelly Clarkson’s troubles continued this week as she fired her management team Monday night.

Though details are still a little sketchy, everyone agrees that the fight between Kelly and her label was the reason she fired Jeff Kwatinetz, CEO of The Firm.

A source told “Entertainment Weekly,” “He exacerbated a thermonuclear situation. Jeff did everything he could to control Kelly and her career suffered. He should have steered her in the right direction.”

E! Online reported that Kwatinetz is “taking the heat” for the lackluster radio reception for “Never Again” and so-so ticket sales for her tour. The “EW” source said, “It’s been a poor setup. Tour markets were misread and all the fighting with the label has taken attention away from the one thing that matters: her music.”

FOX News reported that last weekend, RCA learned that Kwatinetz was being listed as an executive producer on her album, which is not usual practice for managers. But a source told “US Magazine” that Kelly fired him after “they disagreed over the songs and the direction. Everyone is surprised.”

Ironically, you can read Kwatinetz defending Kelly’s music in the new issue of “Elle.” “The label didn’t even acknowledge her ASCAP awards. It’s upsetting. They don’t want her to be a songwriter. They just want her to shut up and sing. They want her to stay their little American Idol.”

So what happened here? Did Kwatinetz read the writing on the wall and try to talk Kelly into changing her CD, but she balked? I can’t believe that it’s a coincidence that this happens the week after “My December” was leaked on the Internet to a lukewarm response.

FOX News said that the CD was shaping up to be the equivalent of Lauryn Hill’s disastrous follow-up to her “Miseducation” CD. And I have to admit that what I’ve heard of it doesn’t make me disagree…

“My December” is scheduled for release June 26th…

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RCA Gives Up on "Never Again"

RCA has given up on Kelly Clarkson's "Never Again" and has already released a second single to radio stations.
You can hear "Sober" at www.myspace.com/kellyclarkson.

Since I like "Never Again," I'm disappointed by this move, but the song has not been making an impact on radio and it has been unable to sustain any momentum on the charts.

There is MUCH more to report on Kelly and her continuing struggles and I'll have that for you later tonight...

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Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Clay Concert News

Clay Aiken will be the exclusive musical guest on “Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice.”

The show will feature World and National Champion ice skaters Sasha Cohen, Yuka Sato and more.

The taping will be Tuesday, November 6th at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The show will air Christmas Day at 2:30 p.m. No network has been announced.

And don’t forget that you can catch Clay in concert with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as part of their Picnic With the Pops series July 21st at 8:15 p.m. Lawn tickets are $20. For more information, visit www.picnicwiththepops.com/shows.php...

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LaKisha Goes Home...

LaKisha Jones received a rousing welcome yesterday as she performed at the Michigan state Capitol.

LaKisha, who is a native of Flint, was greeted by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and hundreds of fans as she performed “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “God Bless the Child.”

She is on a homecoming trip through Michigan before she goes back to Hollywood for tour rehearsals.

LaKisha said she plans to live in Houston, where she lived for six years before moving to Baltimore for a bank teller job.

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The Claymates Go To War...With Each Other

According to an article in the “New York Post,” the Claymates are at war—with each other…

The reason for their fighting? A source told the “Post” that fans are divided over the topic that has plagued Clay for his entire career—his sexuality.

According to the article, the fighting got so bad that Clay’s official fan club shut down its message board, posting this message: “Due to reports of extensive unrest and disrespect amongst members that has been carrying on for several weeks, the Official Fan Club Message Board will be shut down until further notice. Please note that should tensions continue on other areas of the fan club, severe consequences may occur.”

The message board returned yesterday.

As to what particular incident got the Claymates riled up, I have no idea…

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Time Is Running Out to Get the Clothes Off Their Backs!

Time is running out to own a piece of Idol memorabilia…

Kimberley Locke has teamed up with Clothes Off Our Back to auction off clothing worn by “Idol” contestants, the judges and Ryan Seacrest. Among the items are a purple hoodie from Blake Lewis, a 205 jersey from Ruben Studdard and one of Simon’s black tees.

According to the website, proceeds from the auction benefit Camp Heartland, a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth and their families facing HIV/AIDS, poverty, grief and other painful life challenges; as well as the Children’s Defense Fund; Autism Speaks’ research division (formerly Cure Autism Now) and the emergency relief efforts in Darfur (specifically Friends of the World Food Program, Save the Children and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF).

You can check out the auction at http://www.clothesoffourback.org/. Bidding ends June 15th.

So whose item is going for the most money right now? A Paul Smith shirt worn by Clay Aiken is now at $3000! The next highest bid is for Kimberley Locke’s personalized Pittsburgh Pirates jersey at $300.

The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation is a non-profit organization that hosts charity auctions of celebrity attire. It was founded by Jane Kaczmarek (“Malcolm In the Middle”) and her husband Bradley Whitford (“Studio 60”).

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Monday, June 11, 2007

Constantine Goes "Boldface"

CBS has built a special website to help promote Constantine’s run on “The Bold and the Beautiful”…

The website is at www.boldfacerecords.com. Boldface Records is the name of the fictional Constantine’s record label. At the site, you’ll find an interview with Constantine, his biography and clips from the show. One of those clips is a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the “Girl Like You” video, which will appear on the show at a later date. During the clip, the crew gushes about Constantine and how great it was to work with him.

If you listen closely to the music in the clip, you’ll notice that Constantine has tweaked this song slightly, but it’s still a great one and I hope it can find some success as a single. If you’re watching the show, you know that the song is about to become a major part of his storyline…

If you’re not watching, here’s what you missed last week…

Phoebe decided to go to Constantine’s studio and lay down some tracks, but she wasn’t really feeling it without Rick. So, she called Rick to come sing with her, but he was too busy trying to help his sister Bridget with her egg-switching crisis (which is a genius story in my opinion), so he rudely told her he’d call her back. Constantine, of course, took full advantage to plant seeds of doubt in Phoebe’s head, but she wouldn’t fall for it. Since Phoebe seemed really exhausted, Constantine invited her to sleep on his couch. Watching her sleep, he was inspired to write a song about her (“Girl Like You”).

When Phoebe woke up, she was shocked to discover it was morning and she had spent the night (Constantine didn’t want to wake her.). But being the nice guy he is, Constantine sent her mother a text message from her phone so she wouldn’t worry. Phoebe went back into the studio to work on her song, but she still wanted Rick to be there.

As Constantine was giving Phoebe tips on how to loosen up in the studio—which he could only demonstrate by getting up close and personal, of course—Rick walked in and demanded an explanation. When Rick told Phoebe they had to leave, she got upset and Constantine tried to explain himself. However, Rick would hear nothing of it, telling Constantine he knew what he was interested in, and it wasn’t just her voice…

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Friday, June 8, 2007

In case you missed it....

If you missed Jordin's gorgeous rendition of the National Anthem before last night's first game of the NBA Finals, you can catch it at YouTube. It is definitely worth the listen...

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Thursday, June 7, 2007

Jordin at the NBA Finals...

Jordin Sparks will sing the National Anthem tonight at Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Tipoff is at 9 p.m. on ABC.

GO CAVS!!!

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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Are Randy and Paula Gone?

Will there be different people sitting at the judge’s table next season?...

The “National Enquirer” is reporting that both Randy and Paula will be gone next season and replaced with “younger faces” in response to “Idol”s slipping ratings. The “Enquirer” also reports that the show will get format changes and a whole new set.

So who do the producers want as a judge? The “Enquirer” reports that Britney Spears is at the top of their wish list.

I don’t believe for a moment that Randy and Paula will be gone next season (even though Randy was pretty much worthless this year), but I do hope the show is seriously considering some changes to reinvigorate the franchise…

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Kat Hits the Big Screen

Katharine McPhee is hitting the big screen…

Kat will make her feature film debut as the star of “The Last Caller,” an indie dark romantic comedy. The film is “a coming-of-age tale about a self-obsessed woman (Katharine) who searches for love, hope and meaning during a few random events with other urban seekers,” according to “The Hollywood Reporter.”

The film, which has a $5 million-$8 million budget, will start shooting in New York this fall.

Katharine said she’s up for some big studio projects, but they weren’t starring roles. “I wanted to start off doing something a little different. It’s something that a lot of people wouldn’t expect me doing…[It] is definitely a little darker than me”…

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The Latest on Clive vs. Kelly...

Apparently the opinions expressed by Clive Davis do not represent those of his company or its employees…

TMZ reports that after Clive’s speech on “American Idol” that totally dissed Kelly (He didn’t even mention “My December.”), Sony/BMG executives tried to apologize to Kelly’s people, but they wouldn’t hear of it.

A rep for Clive Davis told TMZ, “There is no truth to this story whatsoever. The focus of Clive’s speech was on the recent Idol successes.”

But apparently other people within Sony/BMG don’t agree as an “insider” told the “New York Post”: “We are appalled he is picking apart one of our own acts—and one that we all love. Kelly wanted to make a deeply personal record. Here’s an artist who didn’t demand more money, who handed in her record on time in January, after making him millions, and now he rips her? The music business is collapsing, and this is why. They won’t let people put out their real music. This is about his huge ego.”

The insider explained that Kelly hasn’t demanded a renegotiation of her deal so she can have artistic control. “She only gets like $250,000 an album when she could get millions…And she has always turned out to be right. If Clive had had his way, she wouldn’t have sold nearly as many albums as she did.”

Need a further example of how out of touch Clive is becoming? The insider also said Clive routinely mocked “Because of You” in meetings and it turned out to be one of her most successful singles, earning her an ASCAP award.

I REALLY hope that “My December” is a HUGE hit. I am sick and tired of Clive Davis messing up careers (Clay Aiken, anyone?)…

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Bo Gets Back Into the Studio

Bo Bice is looking to do a little breakaway from Clive Davis himself…

Bo is working on an album in Nashville with noted country producer Frank Liddell (Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks). It’s currently scheduled for a mid-September release date, a deadline which forced Bo to cancel three shows. Bo told MTV that he wrote 31 songs for the album and is narrowing them down to the 10-12 that will make the final cut.

“I didn’t have a lot to do with the first record,” Bo told MTV. “It was very RCA and Clive-driven. It was an excellent album, but it was a revolving door of one guy in this week, another guy the next. This time I was here for every aspect [of it], and I’m a lot more comfortable.”

I think that’s a diplomatic slam at Clive, who deserves it for not allowing Bo to put more of his own songs on the CD. They were the best tracks on it…

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FINALLY! A Constantine CD!

After what seems like forever, we are finally going to get a Constantine album…

“Constantine” will be released August 7th on Sixth Place Productions, Constantine’s own record label. The CD will be distributed by Sony/Red, who also distributed Elliott’s CD.

Rob Thomas co-wrote one track, as did Angie Aparo (Faith Hill’s “Cry”). Constantine told MTV that the CD has “kind of an East Coast Bon Jovi/Rob Thomas vibe with great pop hooks.”

The first single, “Everybody Loves,” is now available on iTunes. It’s been reworked since it was first released via Constantine’s website to give it more of a live feel. The second single will be “Girl Like You,” which is my favorite (so I hope it hasn’t been reworked too much). It will soon be tied to a story on “The Bold and the Beautiful” (I’m guessing Constantine will use it to woo Phoebe.).

Constantine told MTV that the CD is better than the one he could have made right off of “Idol.” “It’s more grassroots—I picked the band, financed it and co-wrote a bunch of the songs.” He also said he’s not concerned about the sales. “I can sell a couple hundred thousand copies and do what I love to do: play clubs. I don’t need to be a huge star.”

By the way, you can see Constantine present—along with his co-stars Kyle Lowder and Mackenzie Mauzy—at the Daytime Emmy Awards Friday, June 15th at 9 p.m. on CBS…

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Tuesday, June 5, 2007

A Taste of "My December"...

Now you can get a taste of what all the fuss is about…

AOL Music has snippets of three songs from Kelly Clarkson’s upcoming “My December” album: “Sober,” “Maybe” and “Can I Have a Kiss.”

And yes, it is definitely a different Kelly than we’re used to hearing, but I wouldn’t say that’s a totally bad thing. I would say that AOL didn’t do Kelly any favors with the clip from “Sober.” Her constant repetition of the words “three months” is a little annoying. But then, maybe Clive Davis picked the clips…

You can listen for yourself at:
http://music.aol.com/franchise/firstlisten/kelly-clarkson-new-album-preview

Be sure to come back and let me know what you think…

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Monday, June 4, 2007

Catching up with Constantine on "The Bold and the Beautiful"

My man Constantine is now heading into week four of his 13-week stint on “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

He’s only made a handful of appearances, but his story is about to kick into high gear (which is probably why he’s been added to the opening credits).

Since “B&B” is only a half-hour soap, it’s not as hard to jump in. So let me get you caught up so you can start watching…

C-man’s story revolves around Phoebe Forrester and her boyfriend Rick Forrester. Phoebe is the 18-year-old daughter of Taylor Marone and Ridge Forrester. Rick is the slightly older son (26, maybe?) of Brooke Logan and Eric Forrester, Ridge’s father.

Now, before you start yelling, “Ewww!” let me explain that although Ridge always considered Eric to be his father, his biological father was revealed a few years ago to be Massimo Marone. So technically, Phoebe and Rick are not related, but I agree it’s a little borderline…

Phoebe and Rick occasionally sing karaoke at Insomnia, the local café. C.J., Insomnia’s owner, put a video of one of their performances on the Internet to create some publicity for the café. The video got 5000 hits on its first day.

Constantine (His last name has been dropped.), a well-known recording artist, sees the video and the attention it’s getting. Since he’s starting a new record label, he decides to track Phoebe down. He invites her and Rick to his studio (which is conveniently located in his apartment), but it’s clearly Phoebe he’s interested in. And since Rick is clearly the better singer, it’s obvious that Constantine has other things besides music on his mind…

Phoebe takes Constantine up on his offer and goes to the studio (without Rick) to watch him lay down tracks for “Everybody Loves, Everybody Cries” (which sounded awesome, by the way).

Meanwhile, Phoebe’s stepfather is convicted of a murder that, unbeknownst to Phoebe, her father, Ridge, committed. Rick, however, is convinced that Ridge was involved and tries to find evidence to help Nick, which makes Phoebe so angry she breaks up with him. But when Ridge confesses, Phoebe is devastated—both about her father and her reaction to Rick’s suspicions. Unable to get in touch with Rick, Phoebe turns to Constantine, who offers to be there for her until she can get in touch with Rick.

However, the reason that Phoebe is unable to reach Rick is that he is with his former love, Ashley. Using his breakup with Phoebe as a chance to rekindle their romance, Rick convinces Ashley to run off to Mexico with him. But when they discover Ridge’s confession, Rick immediately calls Phoebe and tells her he’s coming home. Phoebe is thrilled, but Constantine (who is obviously not so thrilled) does his best to put doubts in her mind about why she couldn’t get in touch with Rick. Constantine invites Phoebe to come record tracks in his studio while she’s waiting for Rick, but before they can leave, they run into Phoebe’s aunt Felicia and then Rick calls and asks her to meet him at his office. When Phoebe leaves, Felicia takes the opportunity to set Constantine straight about her niece. Constantine assures her his interest in Phoebe is purely professional, but he does care about her as a friend. Felicia doesn’t fall for his act or his smoldering gaze. Or does she?...

When Rick and Phoebe meet up, he promises her he won’t leave her. Rick goes to Ashley’s and after a few passionate kisses, he leaves, breaking off their relationship. Or does he?...

And now you're caught up...

Soaps always focus on their younger actors during the summer, but this story looks like it could be better than most. I’m having a little trouble buying the Rick-Ashley thing though since Rick is played by Kyle Lowder, who played Brady Black on “Days of Our Lives” and Ashley is played by Eileen Davidson, who played Kristen DiMera on “Days.” So I feel like he’s sleeping with his dad’s girlfriend, even though that was another show…

But one of the great things about watching “B&B” is that it’s reminded me of my love for Jack Wagner, who is fantastic as Nick Marone. And after watching today’s episode, I’m hooked as it appears that Nick’s wife is carrying his ex-wife’s baby (There was a mix-up with the in vitro fertilization.)…

Oh, and Constantine’s good too. I just wish he didn’t look so scary…

“The Bold and the Beautiful” airs weekdays at 1:30 p.m. on CBS…

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More Chart News...

Daughtry’s “Home,” which finally cracked the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week, moves up to #5 on this week’s chart…

After debuting at #8, Kelly Clarkson’s “Never Again” had been in a bit of a freefall. But her appearance on the “Idol” finale kicked it back up to #9…

And after a strong bounce to #31 after his “Idol” appearance, Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You” falls to #35…

Over on the Hot Country Songs chart, Bucky Covington moves up to #17 with “A Different World,” while Kellie Pickler nips at his heels at #19 with “I Wonder”…

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Idol Racks Up Another #1...


The “American Idol” franchise hit a major milestone on last week’s chart as it racked up its 124th #1.

Kimberley Locke’s “Change” did the honors as it hit #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. “Change” also moves up to #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart…
Remember that you can catch Kimberley on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” Sundays at 9 p.m…

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Mandisa Makes a Splash...

Mandisa is tearing up the Christian music scene with her debut single, “Only the World,” which debuted at #2 on the Hot Singles Sales chart last week. It also sits at #17 on the Christian Songs chart and #16 on the Christian AC chart. Mandisa’s debut on the Billboard chart gives season five of “Idol” the most charted artists with eight.

You can hear “Only the World”—which is extremely catchy—at www.myspace.com/mandisa. Her debut album, “True Beauty,” hits stores July 31st.

I’m working on her book now, and I’ll have a review for you when I finish it…

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Jordin and Blake Crack the Charts...

Last week, Jordin and Blake both cracked the Billboard Hot 100…

Jordin debuted at #15 with “This Is My Now.” If you think that sounds low for a winning Idol song, you’re right, but I still haven’t heard any plans to release the song as a CD single, which would no doubt push it to #1. Jordin also debuted at #66 with “A Broken Wing” and #80 with “I Who Have Nothing.”

Blake debuted at #18 with “You Give Love a Bad Name” and at #99 with “Time of the Season.”

Jordin and Blake also debuted on the Top Digital Albums chart with their EPs, with Jordin at #2 and Blake at #3. The EPs are not eligible for the Billboard 200 because they’re only available digitally.

Jordin and Blake are the 29th and 30th singers from the Idol franchise to break onto the Billboard charts…

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The Sanjaya Installation Video: Will Ferrell Made Him Do It

The source of the “Sanjaya Installation” video has now been found…

It’s Will Ferrell. And yes, the whole thing was a joke.

You can find the “Hoax Revealed” video and the full-length "Installation" video on Ferrell’s website funnyordie.com. Here’s the link: http://www.funnyordie.com/v1/view_video.php?viewkey=a5df3221116a5085a605

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Did Ozzy Diss Sanjaya?

Jim may not want to read this one…

Apparently, Ozzy Osbourne dissed Sanjaya…

The “New York Post” reports that Ozzy was to have appeared on the “Idol” finale but backed out at the last minute after he heard that he would have to do a duet with Sanjaya.

According to the “Post” source, Ozzy called Sanjaya a “hairstyle-challenged idiot” and said he “didn’t want to be on stage with that idiot.”

I’ll let you guys write the jokes for this one…

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Friday, June 1, 2007

My Night With Josh Gracin...

Before there was Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler or Bucky Covington to carry the “Idol” country torch, there was Josh Gracin.

But with the delay of his second album, Josh has gotten a little lost in the “Idol” shuffle. That's a real shame because Josh has got the goods as we saw in Portsmouth last night…

It’s nice to see artists who care about giving their fans a good show and Josh certainly delivered with his constant fan interaction. He threw t-shirts, drumsticks and even water into the crowd. During a rousing rendition of “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up), Josh was all over the venue to mingle with the audience who screamed through every minute of it.

And why wouldn’t they scream? Josh is every bit the hottie he was on “American Idol.” In fact, I would say he’s even hotter in person…

The hour-long set was pure energy as he performed several cuts off his first CD including “Wheels” and “Turn It Up.” “I Want to Live,” Josh’s first #1, was the second song of the show and a slightly faster pace for it worked nicely. There was also a scorching cover of Loverboy’s “Workin’ for the Weekend.”

The sweetest moment of the night was when Josh performed Third Day’s “Cry Out for Jesus.” I think Josh could have a real niche in Christian music if he ever wanted to go that route.

The segue into “Brass Bed” was a little strange at first, but the performance was so earnest, it was hard not to swoon. Even Marti Dodson of Saving Jane was singing along.

And of course Josh saved “Nothing to Lose” for last, whipping the crowd into one last frenzy before he doused them with water and left the stage…

There’s no doubt that Josh has come a long way from his “American Idol” days and he will undoubtedly keep getting better and better with his second CD—if we ever hear it.

The fine folks at Lyric Street Records tell me that Josh’s new CD should be out this fall, but I have to say that I’m still concerned. Josh did perform “I Keep Comin’ Back” and “All About Y’All,” but there was very little else in the way of new material. And even Josh himself didn’t seem certain about when the album would be out, saying something about recording material we’ll never hear.

A recent “USA Today” article said that Josh’s CD (which was supposed to be released last fall) was scrapped so his label could find better material for him after “I Keep Comin’ Back” didn’t chart all that well. There were also a few rumors flying last night about the delay…

Whatever the reasons, I hope they get resolved soon because Josh Gracin deserves to be a bona fide country star...

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