Casey Abrams talks about his new album, the dreaded National Anthem
Season 10 contestant Casey Abrams is sometimes such a goofball, it’s hard to know when he’s being sincere and when he’s not.
For instance, I asked him about his current, even more hirsute look. He didn’t give me a genuine answer. Rather, he joked about it.
“Who cares about image?” he said. “We need to focus on my music, not my hot body.”
Then there’s the botched National Anthem from Sunday night at Citi Field before the Mets/Yankees game. He even knew the headline of the YouTube video: “Casey Abrams from American Idol butchers anthem”
“It was a lot of pressure,” Abrams admitted. “It kind of reminded me of classical music. You have to get every single note right, every lyric right. Maybe the pressure got to me.”
His lesson: never sing the National Anthem ever again.
His self-titled album is officially out today but is already available in streaming form if you want to sample it. It’s light and frothy and fun.
“I love the reaction,” Abrams said. “Let’s make music for the real world as opposed to the Idol world. I just wanted to put out music for people to listen to. I like storytelling. All these songs tell a story. I’m desperate for women in one song or another song. I meet a chick in New York City. There’s a song where I’m just talking about old shoes.” He co-wrote nine of the songs.
“I always wrote for myself. It was healthy to get in with people who know their stuff about the music industry. Add my craziness with their ability to formal songwriting. It’s a good combination!”
For Abrams, that means “Let’s go for the catchier melodies as opposed to the 13/8 rhythmic change. That makes no sense.”
His duet with Haley Reinhart of “Hit the Road, Jack” is a delight. Those two smoke as a couple – at least on stage.
As noted before, he said there is no hanky panky going on between the two of them. But he did say, “I wish there was something off stage. She’s a great person. And she’s fun to hang out with.”
He plans to hit the road (without Jack) to promote the album but his tour dates have not been set.
He is also continuing to build awareness of ulcerative colitis, a chronic digestive disease he has suffered for years. It almost took him down during “Idol” last year, much like Phillip Phillips this year with kidney stones. Fortunately, Abrams said he’s been well for eight months, citing diet and exercise. He has written a song “Chip on Your Shoulder” about the disease. Any person who joins his fan club at www.IBDIcons.com, a donation through Janssen Biotech, Inc., will be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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78 comments Add your comment
JTesla
June 26th, 2012
1:08 pm
Good for Casey, I hope his album does well. However, he comes across as rather self indulgent in the interview.
Lar
June 26th, 2012
1:08 pm
I can’t say blame Casey for not attempting it again!
G
June 26th, 2012
1:08 pm
Just saw the Casey Abrams video. I don’t think PP would do much better. In terms of national anthems, I’ve seen Jessica perform two so far at major events. Even though she did not win, she was well received.
Mercedes S.
June 26th, 2012
1:24 pm
Hmmm… he’ll never be mistaken for “Magic Mike”.
Rickster
June 26th, 2012
1:49 pm
“For me..” Casey came across as self-indulgent during the show, too.
Rickster
June 26th, 2012
1:51 pm
In the video. he looks like a cross between Lindsey Buckingham, the Wolfman and “Plank Girl”
Rickster
June 26th, 2012
2:06 pm
American Idol Auditions we’d love to have seen: Sara Bareilles: “Between The Lines”
Randy: “Dawg… that was aMAYzing.One of the best auditions I’ve ever heard.” (Standing O)
J-Lo: “That gave me goosies!”
Steven: “Beautiful. I don’t have to read between the lines to know.. you’re going to Hollywood!”
Sam-A
June 26th, 2012
2:32 pm
OOps!: When I asked RoHo to be nice, and said Casey was sweet and cute, I mistakenly thought he was interviewing Casey JAMES! Big Whoops! Never liked the bear-like Casey – and sure not cute.
JTesla
June 26th, 2012
2:42 pm
LOL… ROAR
Casey James has sold 41,000 copies of his album since March.
Deirdre
June 26th, 2012
3:04 pm
Even though she did not win, she was well received.
Like we’ve been saying for years now…winning is not necessarily the key to success on Idol. Many non-winners have done a good deal better than their winning counterparts.
I admit that I liked Casey. I liked his style of music and his big teddy bear appeal. He was so inconsistent on Idol. Some weeks he really made the audience sit up and take notice and some weeks he made us wonder how he ever got a slot on the show.
JTesla
June 26th, 2012
3:21 pm
Good thing all the Casey Abrams fans came and gave us a tongue lashing for daring to say anything that could be perceived as being remotely negative about him. Oh wait, that was a Casey James fan, my mistake.
Deirdre
June 26th, 2012
3:34 pm
Feeling refreshed after your vacation, JT?
Sam-A
June 26th, 2012
4:02 pm
Wow, at least 41,000 people like Casey James – don’t you wish the same could be said about you and I, et al?
Rickster
June 26th, 2012
4:13 pm
I think Casey’s been taking advice from motivational speaker Matt Foley. The only thing that’s missing from the picture is the “van down by the river.”
Maybe if you widened the picture just a bit….
JTesla
June 26th, 2012
4:18 pm
Last time I checked I have 41,004 fans, so take that Casey James! At least Casey James isn’t self indulgent, he shaves, got some airplay for a song or two, and can probably sing the National Anthem without being laughed at.
Why yes Deirdre, I am feeling very refreshed
Deirdre
June 26th, 2012
4:21 pm
Casey James plays a great guitar(whoa, wgwg and he didn’t win?????)and Casey Abrams is great on bass…maybe they should start a band.
Rodney Ho
June 26th, 2012
4:28 pm
Welcome back JTesla! We missed you! Casey Abrams definitely is big on the glib. Funny that he thought he could just breeze through the National Anthem…
Sam-A
June 26th, 2012
4:52 pm
Just found that “Duets” (if anyone cares at all) is on Wed this week, an hour from 8-9:00. Don;t understand how the tv audience is supposed to vote and find out the one voted off, as there’s no show Thurs night!
Good night all.
Mercedes S.
June 26th, 2012
5:03 pm
Just checking in – nothing of interest to tell, except that there will be plenty of interesting movies opening this Friday…
Mercedes S.
June 26th, 2012
5:05 pm
As for Casey’s hirsuitedness – guess he’s trying to live up to the hand-drawn lion mane between his names on the abum cover,
♥ kelly&carriefan ♥
June 26th, 2012
5:09 pm
Sam-A, I care. (Barely…sad to say!) That’s odd, I saw it listed as an hour on Thursday on the ABC website. The move from Thursdays didn’t really help the ratings…I had hopes for it, but now I’m hoping Kelly runs, far far away from this mess and never comes back.
♥ kelly&carriefan ♥
June 26th, 2012
5:11 pm
Mercedes, would one of those happen to be Magic Mike? I’m actually quite intrigued by that one.
Rickster
June 26th, 2012
5:52 pm
Casey looks like a young Jerry Garcia. Oddly, he sounds a bit like him as well.
I never much cared for the Grateful Dead. Not-so-oddly… I never much cared for Casey, either.
Rickster
June 26th, 2012
5:55 pm
Cutting out, folks. Hope everyone has a great evening.
Mercedes S.
June 26th, 2012
6:05 pm
KCF – “Magic Mike” awaits tonight. Cannot wait!
Vast Wastrel
June 26th, 2012
10:03 pm
It seems that there is more notoriety in screwing up the anthem than getting it right. It’s a tough tune to get right in one take just ask last year’s winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. They have both hosed it as well though not quite as badly as …ahem, judge Steven Tyler. Carrie Underwood did a very good rendition a couple of years back.
I can’t sing it either and would vote for chucking tradition and reserving it for formal state gatherings and going with the one octave America The Beautiful for ballgames and their ilk. Traditionally it was considered ill mannered to applaud the anthem until it became a staple at sporting events.
Mercedes S.
June 27th, 2012
6:26 am
Oh no… Nora Ephron died.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
7:22 am
Morning!
Nora Ephron did one of my all-time favorite movies, Sleepless in Seattle. That’s one of those movies that will stop my channel surfing in its tracks no matter where it is in the narrative. A movie that stands the test of time while paying tribute to the hokey romances of the late 40’s and early 50’s in a clever yet unabashedly romantic way.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
7:39 am
Here’s an interesting article about how Idol is no ticket to success. Any one of us here on the blog could have written this:
http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/scene-and-heard-blog.aspx?feat=7ce9896e-7485-437b-b128-5a75c402c008
Mercedes S.
June 27th, 2012
8:18 am
That was a depressing account, D…
Sam-A
June 27th, 2012
8:29 am
Mercedes & Deirdre: I’m so sad bout Nora Ephron. She made some great movies. I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched at least parts of “When Harry Met Sally” and “Sleepless In Seattle” – both those movies mean a lot to me.
Woodpappy
June 27th, 2012
8:46 am
Good Morning all ! My wife is waiting to see “Majic Mike” as well.
G
June 27th, 2012
8:48 am
VW….Yeah, I kind of want to thump Roho’s hand on this one. Jessica (another non-winner) nailed two national anthems recently, but there’s nothing about it on here, unless “I” mention it.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
8:49 am
Julie and Julia, When Harry Met Sally. Nora Ephron was a woman’s woman. Her book, I Feel Bad About My Neck, is a must read for every woman imo. She allows us to maintain a sense of humor about aging in a world where youth is king and getting older means few people ever really look at you anymore.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
8:52 am
G…nobody talks about who “nailed” the NA(except for Whitney) and we should cuz it is much harder to get it right than it is to get it wrong.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
8:54 am
Funny, but Magic Mike doesn’t appeal to me at all. I’ll have to see the reviews before I even consider it.
Mercedes S.
June 27th, 2012
9:37 am
“Magic Mike” is not what you expect it to be from the previews… all I’m saying till Friday. Hint: It’s directed by Steven Soderbergh, a very serious person.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
9:39 am
I’ll keep an open mind, Mercedes. Looking forward to your review.
Sam-A
June 27th, 2012
9:43 am
“MM” just looks so slimy from the previews (which I can’t seem to escape at the movies or at home!). And I don’t find Tatum C appealing at all. I kinda want to take a bath and scrub real good just after watching the previews.
Harriett
June 27th, 2012
10:41 am
Morning!
I am with you, Deirdre, on the Sleepless in Seattle thing. It and The Shawshank Redemption catch me every time and stop my channel surfing. Sleepless is such a timeless film. I simply love its “moodiness,” too. So sorry she is gone.
Mercedes S.
June 27th, 2012
10:41 am
“take a bath and scrub real good after just watchin the previews” – that’s how I felt after watching Rielle Hunter on that ABC show last week.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
10:44 am
Harriett….also agree on Shawshank Redemption…one of the best stories ever.
G
June 27th, 2012
11:16 am
Magic Mike is an oldschool hip hop DJ from Orlando. He’s starring in a movie now?
Sam-A
June 27th, 2012
11:36 am
Mercedes: Ms Hunter was on “Today” this am, saying “I am not a tramp” – wonder if she really believes that?
JTesla
June 27th, 2012
12:29 pm
Speaking of movies, I always stop at Ocean’s Eleven. No Sleepless for me, I only watch the last 10 minutes of romance movies anyway. Life is better that way. Of course Star Wars will usually get my attention too. The first three movies more than the last three. I usually turn the channel in disgust if I see Greedo shoot first.
Mo Schreibman
June 27th, 2012
1:07 pm
The motion picture I can watch more than once maybe more than that is Ground Hogs Day with that Gene Murray and the girl from the hair coloring commercial and I mean the one that my wife never fails to say has had something done to her face and not that other one. If my wife had something done to her face than maybe it would different but do not get me started please.
bknsty14
June 27th, 2012
1:23 pm
Speaking of Star Wars, Is there any way we could get that movie on Netflix, D? I’ve been wanting to watch it so bad lately and don’t own it.
♥ kelly&carriefan ♥
June 27th, 2012
1:27 pm
Mercedes, fair enough. I’m not sure from your comment whether you liked the movie or not…. I’m sure it’s not all “a dancing good time,” as the previews show. I saw something with Channing Tatum where he talked about how it could have been “darker,” so I have a feeling it’s a bit like Boogie Nights in some regards.
Sam-A, I like Channing when he dances, other than that…meh. I’m looking forward to seeing Matthew McC be a total goofball.
Deirdre
June 27th, 2012
2:15 pm
@bknsty14, all 6 Star Wars movies are available on Netflix mail order. Don’t know when they’ll put them on line…probably when George Lucas takes half my son’s salary along with half of everyone else’s salary at Netflix for the rights.
bknsty14
June 27th, 2012
3:13 pm
Ah. Yeah, I was talking streaming. And I’m sure you’re right about Lucas The Hutt. That guy is the worst.