Next week’s Idol theme: teen idols
Fox last night sent out a release which announced next week’s theme and it’s a new one they’ve never done before: teen idols. iTunes will provide us with the list of songs they could choose from. (Again, contestants can also request their own but are beholden to clearance issues.)
I’m not sure what “teen idols” means in “American Idol” parlance. But I can take a guess. I presume it means acts who were teens when they had hits or had a big teen following. This sounds potentially dubious in terms of quality but could it mean anything by the Beatles – and Tiffany.
Here are a few potential songs from artists over the past half century that come to mind:
“Hit Me Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears
“I Think I Love You” – David Cassidy
“I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys
“One Tme” – Justin Bieber.
“Lost in Your Eyes” - Debbie Gibson
“Tattoo” – Jordin Sparks
“SOS” - Jonas Brothers
“I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” – New Kids on the Block
“I Want You Back” – Jackson 5
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
“Tearin’ Up My Heart” – N Sync
“Save a Prayer” – Duran Duran
“Say You’ll Be There” – Spice Girls
“End of the Road” – Boyz II Men
“Teardrops On My Guitar” – Taylor Swift
-Ratings yesterday: 20 million, down 20 percent from the same results show a year ago.
-I’m sorry. I thought the departure press conference for Lacey Brown was at 4 p.m. EST when in act it was 1 p.m. EST. So I missed it.
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
90 comments Add your comment
JTe$la
March 18th, 2010
10:35 am
Oh no… I sense cheese on the horizon. This could be a real entertainingly bad theme week.
Rodney Ho
March 18th, 2010
10:39 am
What sort of cheese? Processed cheese food, perhaps?
Rickster
March 18th, 2010
10:43 am
Not to mention big hair!
Rickster
March 18th, 2010
10:43 am
I’m thinking Velveeta.
Rickster
March 18th, 2010
10:44 am
Now, please excuse me while I go back and look at the Carrie pic.
JTe$la
March 18th, 2010
10:48 am
Velveeta… oh yes lots and lots of Velveeta.
That’s Debbie Gibson isn’t it? Wow, back in the day I had a thing for her, but I feel kind of dirty about it now.
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
10:52 am
Well, nothing like a night of shallow, vapid songs performed by mediocre singers.
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
10:52 am
Groan! Although I thoght Constantine did a really good job with I Think I Love You. The cheese factor was always a Constantine staple.
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
10:53 am
Ah Neg…so you admit that Tim is mediocre!
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
10:54 am
Rodney, if you are speaking “past half century,” please see my post on the previous thread. There could be a much larger pool of song choices in that event.
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
10:57 am
D, when Tim is crowned the Next American Idol you’ll all remember that it was me who started the bandwagon.
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
11:03 am
Ahhh, Neg!
wreckedpizza
March 18th, 2010
11:10 am
Hey, I had a thing for Debbie Gibson also. Even saw her “live” a couple of times. Not a bit ashamed of it as she had some good songs and performed an energetic show. I was hoping success for her as she matured but that didn’t really happen.
Neg- you can tout Tim Urban all you want, but I’ve already declared Miss Stevens the next American Idol. She will dominate in coming weeks.
Fer shure…
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
11:12 am
I don’t know about y’all, but the potential is getting me all sorts of excited for this giant block of gouda! (Sidenote: I like “gouda.” It’s a fun word to say…) The possibilities are all sorts of awesomely bad. This is to the point where Idol’s kind of turning into a parody of itself. For some reason, I’m seeing Andrew doing an acousting Right Stuff, maybe even Hangin’ Tough. But maybe he’ll stick to his “bread and butter” and do I Think We’re Alone Now?
LOL @ Tearin’ Up My Heart…do we know if Aaron has some boyband moves?
PS. Not the Beaver! Oyyyyyyyyy!
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
11:13 am
It would be nice to hear a Taylor Swift song sung in key.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
11:15 am
I got y’all beat…I saw Deborah about 3 years ago @ Atlanta Pride, got an autograph and my picture taken with her. She was really nice and did put on a really fun show.
Oh, and Rickster, FlashForward….!!!! I thought I was the only one who watched.
ugaaccountant
March 18th, 2010
11:18 am
This is a great theme for the show. It allows for the true amateur acts to have a chance against the old pros. I hope this is the week we finally here Crystal sing something that isn’t folksy. Then again, any Britney Spears song can be sung in a folksy manner as has been proven on multiple talent shows like this. But I just want Crystal out of her comfort zone to prove that she isn’t more talented, just more experienced and pre-packaged.
wreckedpizza
March 18th, 2010
11:19 am
Thanks, D. Now all the “Swifties” are gonna descend on the blog!
ugaaccountant
March 18th, 2010
11:20 am
Andrew will tear it up this week. I like the New Kids suggestion. Pretty much if he does ever do an album, it will basically be this type of song with his acoustic guitar rock spin.
ugaaccountant
March 18th, 2010
11:21 am
Deirdre – somebody sang a Taylor song this season. They performed it terribly. Might have been Haeley but I can’t remember.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
11:35 am
Yeah, but I believe the song (White Horse?) was sung during Hollywood Week?
JTe$la
March 18th, 2010
11:37 am
K&Cfan, last I saw Deborah (always be Debbie to me) was on a “Where are they now” show. She was looking good, does she still have it?
Sam
March 18th, 2010
11:43 am
For this Bandstand baby, “Teen Idol” evokes Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Bobbys Vee and Rydell, Paul Anka, Buddy Holly. Then of course the Beatles, the best Idols of all.
So glad Lacey is gone – her voice hurt my ears (and sensibilities) almost as much as Fantasia’s did a few years ago.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
11:59 am
JT, I was being funny…I still see her as Debbie. And yes, I would say she does. But wait a minute…you mean to tell me you didn’t see her judge that classic, American Juniors?
JTe$la
March 18th, 2010
12:27 pm
I missed American Juniors, there is something about precocious prepubescent children that make me gag. This is why I’m not a fan of David Archuleta or Katie Stevens.
wreckedpizza
March 18th, 2010
12:34 pm
Now here goes JTe$la stirring up Archie’s Army. And the Katie Kontingent will just smile as she wins this year.
coldsooner
March 18th, 2010
1:10 pm
Too bad Archie is gone. This SCREAMS for Donny Osmond. “Puppy Love” anybody?
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
1:13 pm
When HE was a teen idol, Paul Anka wrote and sang “Puppy Love.”
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
1:33 pm
You know, it’s really a shame that they don’t allow mashups on Idol. I think a Puppy Love/I Think I Love You one would be tween gold.
Rickster
March 18th, 2010
1:38 pm
How about “I Think I Love Puppies!”
American Idol 2010 | Next week’s Idol theme: teen idols
March 18th, 2010
1:46 pm
[...] original here: Next week’s Idol theme: teen idols [...]
jeannetti
March 18th, 2010
1:47 pm
Met her on a Monday and my heart stood still… Da Doo Run Run Run Da Doo Run Run……
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
2:06 pm
Somebody told me that her name was Jill….Da doo run run run da doo run run! LOL!
JTe$la
March 18th, 2010
2:07 pm
I’m still waiting for a theme week when someone can sing the Paul Davis hit “‘65 Love Affair”
“Well, I acted like a dum-dum
You were bad with your pom-poms
We said, ooh-wah go team ooh-wah go
Ooh-ee baby, I want you to know
If I could go back in time
Well, I know somehow you’d still be mine
I wouldn’t be so blind
To that wonderful
‘65 love affair
When rock ‘n’ roll was simple and clear
Oh, I still can hear
I can hear it baby”
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
2:12 pm
Tim has no Stones at all if he does not do a full blast rocked out Reggae version of “I Think I Love You”. After this weeks abomination if he has the cajones to go back to that well in a totally tongue in cheek way, I will vote until my fingers bleed.
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
OK, since so many people are making confessions on teen crushes — My flame was not Debbie Gibson, I was completely head over heels for Tiffany.
I am glad I got that off my chest. it is like a 25 year weight has been lifted from me. NO more living in shame for me!
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
2:17 pm
Neg’s recommendations for song selection:
1. Crystal: You Were Meant For Me – Jewell
2, Siobhan: Beautiful – Cristina Aguilera
3. Didi: Complicated – Avril Lavigne
4. Lee: Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
5. Casey: Baby I Love Your Way – Peter Frampton
6. Mike: I think I love you – David Cassidy
7. Tim: Garden Party – Ricky Nelson
8. Katie: Could’ve Been – Tiffany
9. Aaron: MMBop – Hanson
10. Paige: Delta Dawn – Tanya Tucker
11. Andrew: La Bamba – Richie Valens
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
2:21 pm
NEG!!! Are you trying to save Andrew now? It would get an “indulgent” or “Cliche” from Simon for sure, but if Andrew slayed La Bamba he would put himself right back into the mix in my opinion.
I do like your suggestions for the most part though, definately some good fits.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
2:23 pm
LOL, Mike….let it out, buddy, let it out.
Mine were Jonathan Brandis (does anyone know who he is?), Joey Lawrence, Jon Knight and…Lance Bass. Y’all can laugh. Really. ‘Course that was before I saw Titanic…and went blonde.
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
I remember Jonathan, loved Seaquest. But he will always be Bastian to me. Hated to hear that he killed himself, he really had some talent,
JTe$la
March 18th, 2010
2:37 pm
Lance Bass? K&Cfan we need to talk… oh wait you already know.
I wasn’t as crazy about Debbie Gibson or Tiffany as I was with Bananarama. However, my odd teen crush wasn’t on them, or Stacy Q, or Michael Steel of the Bangles, but my odd teen crush was: Martha Quinn. I’d watch MTV as much for her as I would for the videos featuring hot women. Oh Martha, where have you and your wonderful videos gone?
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
2:37 pm
Mike, if they’re smart they’ll heed Neg’s advice. Honestly, all these kids seem like real nice people and I want them to do well, but they need to pick songs that are either believable or make a statement. Of course, Tim is facing relentless persecution from the judges, so I’m rooting for him extra hard. The better he does, the worse it makes the judges look – which is really what matters most, after all.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
2:38 pm
I know, Mike, that was really, really sad. SeaQuest was awesome…I also loved him in LadyBugs. He and Rodney Dangerfield played so well of each other.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
LOL, JT…I do know. It’s kind of a moot point now. Ha. BTW, the same can be said for Jon Knight. Boy, did I know how to pick ‘em!
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
2:52 pm
Garden Party is perfect for Tim…he’s just as flat and unexpressive as Ricky Nelson was when he sang it.
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
My teen crush was Paul McCartney. I was seriously in love!!!!
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
2:55 pm
My teen crush is still Elvis
KPH
March 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
Peter Frampton teen idol? Hmmmm well maybe.
Norman Buchanan
March 18th, 2010
2:58 pm
As long as you all are talking of “lost loves”, mine Patty Paige and Doris Day!
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
3:04 pm
JT, I had a huge crush on Martha too, she was so darn cute!
as for the Bangles, I was on the Suzanna Hoffs train, absolutely mesmerizing eyes. not that I would have ever refused Micheal Steele. And that leggy blonde from Banarama… hehehehehehe
My other guilty slightly off the wall crush – Nancy Wilson. Ann was the voice of Heart, but nancy had mine.
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
3:05 pm
I wanted to BE Doris Day when I was a kid. I went around the house singing all her songs…drove my parents crazy since I’m not much of a singer!
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
3:06 pm
OK, I also have to admit to my killer Aussie crush — Olivia Newton-John. I was thinking Physical long before the song.
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
3:07 pm
From old crushes to new ones…well, more recent ones. Here’s the latest Kelly interview:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/music/news/article.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=10632764
Mike S
March 18th, 2010
3:07 pm
Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see, que sera sera.
Rickster
March 18th, 2010
3:10 pm
And whatever happened to Bobby Sherman??
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
3:18 pm
Funny, I had D and Harriett pegged as a Bing Crosby girls.
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
Rickster, ew.
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
Neg, you just can’t help yourself
! You are on a roll! Why not Rudy Valle, while you’re at it?
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
3:20 pm
Who?
Lissa
March 18th, 2010
3:25 pm
*sigh* This thing hates me.
Third try… coming out of lurking now that we’re in the top 12, err 11. I’m loving the “teen idols” and would love to see Siobhan do “I Think We’re Alone Now,” complete with the hand gestures.
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
3:27 pm
kfc a really, really OLD teen idol from waaaay back–even before my mother’s time.
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
3:28 pm
kcf. Must be hungry
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
3:31 pm
kcf, especially for you: http://rudyvallee.com/ LOL!! And, for Neg.
Lissa
March 18th, 2010
3:31 pm
Oooh, it posted! Let’s see if this one does…
I totally had a crush on Jonathan Brandis from SeaQuest. I’d have to pass on Jon Knight though. I was a Joey McIntyre fan.
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
3:32 pm
Harriett, you and D were some wacky bobby-soxers back in the day, weren’t you? I can just see you two doing the jitterbug at the sock-hops, and screaming wildly to Bing, Franky and the swingin’ sounds of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
Ahhh…those were the days.
Sam
March 18th, 2010
3:34 pm
Deirdre – are you ME????? Loved Doris Day – my grandmother would take me to the beauty parlor when I was 6-12, and I would always take the latest movie mag and ask for my hair to be cut just like hers. Saw my first DD movie when I was 5 and never wavered on my adoration of her.
And I still am in love with Paul McCartney – and still believe we belong together. Some day he’ll realize and …….
kelly&carriefan
March 18th, 2010
3:43 pm
Harriett, LOL, thanks for that!
Lissa, I didn’t appreciate Joey Mac til later. He was too “pretty” for me back then.
Lissa
March 18th, 2010
3:47 pm
Joey was the youngest, but still older than me. Oh I so adored him… Nobody else stole my heart until Brian White.
Hmm, now there’s an idea for teen idols. I’m not sure how old he was when he first became popular. Somebody could knock out “I’m Not Supposed to Love You Anymore” easily.
Lara
March 18th, 2010
3:50 pm
OMG!!!
Bo Bice cut his hair! Why wasn’t this top news story, Rodney!?
http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2010/03/17/exclusive-bo-bice-cuts-his-long-locks/
Lissa
March 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
I like Bo’s new hair! It looks less hippie now.
Harriett
March 18th, 2010
3:56 pm
Neg, you know, I alway had this feeling I belonged in that generation. I mean seriously, like a reincarnation type thing. Every time I would see WWII films, I would get this wave of nostalgia, like I had lived through that time period as an adult; maybe was in the war in some way. LOL. Now, maybe you picked up on that vibe. It does not make sense, but there it is…my confession.
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
3:59 pm
Alright, cut it out Neg. Bobby-soxers were in the 50’s! I’m not THAT old. Bing Crosby was my mother’s crush!
Keep it up and I’ll launch into a diatribe about how you always like young male singers on Idol!
Sam
March 18th, 2010
4:02 pm
I’d like Crystal to sing Dusty Springfield, maybe “I only want to be with you”, and Siobhan, Lulu (”To Sir With Love”).Casey maybe accustic guitar with “Yesterday”.
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
4:03 pm
D, admit it…you always dreamed of being one of the Andrew’s sisters.
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
4:03 pm
Sam…..I also had a big crush on Troy Donahue when I was pre-teen status. Until I heard about him being a big jerk!
And you can have Paul as soon as I’m done with him!
Deirdre
March 18th, 2010
4:04 pm
Who was your crush, Neg? Bobby Rydell?
KPH
March 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
Never had a teen idol really… maybe Ann Margaret. I loved her in those Elvis movies. I think she was the first female to make me notice breastacle outburstaces! UMMM UMMM UMMM!
Negativo
March 18th, 2010
4:06 pm
Haley Scarnato, D… I figured you of all people should know that!
Cookie Crumb
March 18th, 2010
4:09 pm
Oh wow, them good ole days. My crush was David Cassidy. He watched me the whole time I was in my bedroom. Oh well, ya gotta have a crush on someone when yer young.
Rodney Ho
March 18th, 2010
4:13 pm
I interviewed former teen idol Pat Boone a couple weeks ago. That was surreal! New blog entry up, for the heck of it.
jen
March 18th, 2010
4:16 pm
NEXT WEEK – TEEN IDOLS -SIOBHAN SHOULD DO MADONNA – JUST LIKE A PRAYER – IT WOULD B PERFECT #:) THERE WAS NO TEEN IDOL LIKE MADONNA IN THE 80s- EVERYONE LOVED HER, DRESSED LIKE HER AND THAT SONG IS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL- perfect match
jen
March 18th, 2010
4:19 pm
Siobhan – Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oldfart
March 18th, 2010
4:50 pm
This really isn’t a theme. The choices could be all over the map for at least three generations. I would love to see the list to see what they are driving at. With the bunch this year though, I’m sure there will be plenty of syrupy ballads for them to choose from. Honey anyone?
scott
March 18th, 2010
5:14 pm
maybe they mean teen idol as in any song by a pop star younger than 20 years old. ie. Madonna was an idol to teens, but not a teen idol. Then again, that also rules out Backstreet Boys who I think were in their twenties. NSync still had Justin who was a teen. Hanson, Miley, early Britney/Christina/Mandy Moore, Avril Lavigne, are probably all fair game.
I think Crystal could put a great folk spin to Hanson’s Mmmbop.
scott
March 18th, 2010
5:18 pm
Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if the producers chose this theme to force these contestants to stop singing so many sleepy ballads.
Laurie Collings
March 18th, 2010
7:59 pm
I wouldn’t mind hearing “Hit Me Baby One More Time” a la Marty Casey’s version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8AvxF4FWEA He made it dark and brooding.
Lurkinator
March 18th, 2010
10:31 pm
I liked Jonathan Brandis too! Wow, that takes me back! What about Devon Sawa, anyone?
Anyhoo, I think Neg’s list is very well done – my commendations, Neg!
Finally, although I liked me some handsome Hollywood guys, my first love was a boy (who shall remain nameless) standing by a fence at the pool. I knew him before the illustrious scholarships and the impressive athletics. At the risk of sounding cliche, he made me want to be a better woman, and I would have given him the moon and stars if he’d asked me. I even still remember his birthday!
Jenn
March 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
I think this weeks Theme is gonna be one of the best !!! Would be nice to see like an 80s Rock theme.. see what they have when pushed into something that is not there element.
Veronica
April 11th, 2010
9:14 pm
Oh man, stupid Tim better not do a Jonas Brother song or I will personally kill him. Actually any of them. It would be great if one of them did Michael Jackson. Maybe, Who’s Loving You? But I don’t know who would do it. Who has that great voice.
Jacob Hardesty
April 30th, 2010
9:17 am
What about Lady Gaga? Where is she? She’s performing on May 5th, but why aren’t they doing her songs? And Shibawn is gone, I think Andrew is gone? And why is Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” on there? Why can’t the song be Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend?” That song is way, way better than Complicated. Complicated is so lame. Girlfriend is a lot better.