Clearly, the theme “top downloads” simply mean “relatively recent songs.” Or not if you asked Scott, Kris and Adam. Ultimately, the theme this week was a free for all. Too many ballads for my taste. And technically, only one current song, courtesy of Matt, who I thought was better than what the judges said.

Who won the night: Kris Allen

Who disappointed (again): Lil Rounds

Who will be in the bottom three: Anoop, Megan, Lil Rounds

Who will go home: Megan

Who should go home; Scott (my opinion)

My ranking of the top 9: 1-Kris 2- Adam 3- Danny 4- Matt 5- Allison 6- Megan 7 – Anoop 8 – Lil Rounds 9- Scott

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First up: Anoop Desai (”Caught Up” Usher). I felt like he is just play acting. I don’t feel like this is genuine or terribly unique. Good vocals, though. Randy: …

Continue reading 3/31: American Idol recap, top 9, top downloads theme: Ballad overload »

Tonight’s theme is vaguely stated as “Top downloads.”

Someone on MJ’s blog also compiled the #1 downloaded songs since Billboard started tracking in 2005.

There are quite a few hip-hop songs that wouldn’t pass muster in “Idol” land (Yah… Scott MacIntyre doing… Flo Rida!) and who knows how many of the songs they could actually clear. A couple have already been sung on “Idol” including “Viva la Vida” and “No One.” In genereal, there are a lot of pop and R&B songs but not a lot for someone like Allison or Megan to work with. Here are a few that might be usable:

“Photograph” Nickelback (Adam Lambert?)
“Don’t Forget About Us” Mariah Carey (Lil Rounds could do a lovely job with this one)
“Dirty Little Secret” All American Rejects (again, Adam?)
“You’re Beautiful” James Blunt (Kris Allen, Matt Giraud, Anoop or Danny Gokey though Scott could try this.)
“Bad Day” Daniel Powter (A song already identified with “Idol” as the going away song season five. Kris Allen could do this …

Continue reading 3/31: Top downloads theme, Danny Gokey’s grandfather passes »

Kellie Pickler’s “Best Days of Your Life” has had trouble climbing the country charts. After more than four months, it has eked up to No. 28. Only now has her label come out with a video. Why so late? She co-wrote the song with the hottest country crossover artist in years Taylor Swift. The pair are both in the video. (Both look fab.) But it does seem odd they didn’t put this video out sooner and get CMT/GAC exposure earlier. And given Swift’s connection, it’s surprising Pickler hasn’t been able to get more traction with country radio. It’s a decent tune. It’ll be interesting to see if this video will jumpstart the song. The pair are touring together, too, though there are no Atlanta dates that I can find.

Continue reading 3/30: Kellie Pickler video with Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson sales update »

Michael Sarver provided not a lot of insight in his exit interview with the press b phone today but did say he really missed his family. Aww…

“I learned how much I love my family,” he said. “My number one priority is my family.” But he still plans to pursue a music career (of course).

He’d like to make an R&B pop soul album. “I’m not as country as some people thought. There’s a lot of soul in me.”

Otherwise, the most interesting thing he said was how he played basketball at the mansion with Danny and Anoop this week. He’s not good but Anoop actually has some skills.

He also knew Simon wasn’t going to save him but he was happy with his performance the second time around when he wasn’t as sick as he was on Wednesday. He also knew he was a goner as soon as he heard Matt Giraud was the other person in the bottom two.

He wasn’t necessarily insulted by Simon telling him he had no chance of winning (even if it was true.). “We didn’t get there by mistake,” he said. “We’re all …

Continue reading 3/27: Michael Sarver exit interview, Jennifer Hudson sets wedding date »

After 36 million votes, Michael Sarver is gone. Dialidol.com got it right again.

No reason for him to have been saved. And he wasn’t. Again, they took too long and the DVR cut off the results — unless you also taped “Hell’s Kitchen.”

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The bottom three had one surprise with Matt Giraud inexplicably there, like Allison the week earlier. (How surprising? Out of 581 votes in yesterday’s ajc.com poll, only two people felt Matt should go home.) It appears performing early does NOT help. Scott MacIntyre also earned a spot in the bottom three but was saved quickly. We thought Megan Joy Corkrey would make the bottom three but she survived. (Vote for the Worst takes some credit. Maybe they should! Then again, I threw a few votes in for her myself.)

(By the way, anybody imitating other bloggers gets an automatic boot. …

Continue reading 3/26: American Idol results show recap: Michael Sarver out »

After Justin Guarini said he thought the group singers were using pre-recorded backing tracks, “Idol” producers have grudgingly admitted that this is the case to the New York Times.

Manfred Westphal, a spokesman for FremantleMedia North America, which produces “American Idol” for Fox, at first denied the charge, saying on Tuesday: “The Idols don’t lip-sync, period.” But on Wednesday, in an e-mail message, Mr. Westphal said: “Due to extensive choreography and to balance their voices with open mikes against a screaming audience, the Idols do sing along to their own prerecorded vocal track during the group performances only.”

Personally, I don’t really care one way or another but it’s another excuse to hate on the show.

The reporter also provided visual/audio proof of lip syncing:

The visual evidence in recent weeks has indicated that the group vocals are recorded. Two weeks ago, as the Top 13 contestants performed a medley of Jackson 5 hits, Jasmine Murray seemed …

Continue reading 3/26: Mid-day report with Idol grudgingly admitting to lip syncing, ratings up! »

Motown night proved how great these songs are, no matter how overplayed. And several folks rose to the occasion (Adam, Allison, Matt, Kris) while others stumbled (Michael, Lil Rounds, Megan).

It’s easy to pin the bottom three tonight (before I check dialidol.com)

Biggest surprise: Adam Lambert

Biggest disappointment: Lil Rounds

Who will be in the bottom three: Michael Sarver, Megan Joy Corkrey, Scott MacIntyre

Who will go home: MIchael Sarver

My ranking: 1- Danny Gokey 2- Allison Iraheta 3- Matt G. 4 – Adam 5 – Anoop 6- Kris 7- Megan 8- Lil Rounds  9 – Scott 10- Michael

Tonight, they didn’t introduce the contestants in order so we don’t know the “pimp spot” person up front. I guessed halfway through that Allison (who was unfairly placed in the bottom three last week) would get it cos she hadn’t had the shot yet. And I was right. 

First up: Matt Giraud (”Let’s Get It On” Marvin Gaye). He has Justin Timberlaked it. He pours on the sugar a bit heavy. I’m not sure his suit and …

Continue reading 3/26: American Idol recap, top 10 Motown night – Adam Lambert tracks to the top »

Simon Cowell on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” Monday night predicted an Adam Lambert/Danny Gokey showdown with Lil Rounds the highest ranking gal. Watch chapter three here on the NBC site.

Cowell (who was with Ryan and Randy but no Paula) also commented on Obama last week namedropping him: “What he’s saying is Washingtion has become more intelligent.”

“I’m not sure it’s a compliment,” Ryan said.

Simon: “That’s how interpreted it.”

-On the “judges save.” “It gives us something to do” during the results show, Cowell said.

-David Cook is getting some nutty fans. He had to address it on his blog:

Hey everyone,
First off, I want to say thank you to everyone who has been coming out to the shows since my last post. The vibe at these shows has been amazing.

Secondly, I have to address some behavior that has become disturbing. We pride ourselves on being accessible to you as fans, but in contrast, we do enjoy what little privacy we can muster. To that end, the efforts by some …

Continue reading 3/26: Judges predict an Adam Lambert/ Danny Gokey showdown, David Cook fans need to chill, Fantasia in town, Jordin Sparks opening for Jonas Brothers »

We have an extra day to kill. This is normally performance day but Obama’s press conference at 8 p.m. pushed everything a day back.

So let’s muse on the theme: “Idol” loves Motown. So why not mine that field again? We’ve heard a fairly endless number of takes on Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin already but the Motown song list is fairly extensive.

I’d expect Matt Giraud should do well, as well as Lil Rounds. Danny Gokey shouldn’t have a problem. Adam Lambert? Who knows!

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Earlier this month, I spoke with Ace Young in advance of his Fox Reality Show “Idol Extra” starting Thursday. He will co-host with Jillian Reynolds.

He wouldn’t provide any real opinions about the contestants so we focused on his career. He said …

Continue reading 3/25: Motown musings, Ace Young interview, Jennifer Hudson “secret” taping(UPDATED) »

Hope you had a great weekend!

Before I get to the Mandisa interview, Eonline reports that the Idols are now lip-syncing the group sing -at least the chorus parts (not the solos). And Justin Guarini on “Idol Tonight” said most contestants hated doing the group sings. (Duh!)

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Mandisa’s new album “Freedom” is out tomorrow. (You can get it here at Amazon.)

She has lost about 80 pounds nine months, working through a lifetime food addiction. “I’ve never been happier in my life,” she said. “I’m doing very well.”

Mandisa, 32, who finished ninth season five, spent the past year …

Continue reading 3/23: Mandisa interview, group sing lip syncing? »