‘Idol’ bits: Scotty McCreery’s fall, Phillip Phillips, Jordin Sparks
A few days ago, there was a pitch to songwriters to come up with particular types of tunes for Phil Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Skylar Laine. MJ broke the story.
What made the pitch for Phillip interesting was how it didn’t sound anything like Phillip’s tastes:
OP/ROCK SONGS with MALE VOCALS in the style of David Cook, Paul McDonald, with elements of John Mayer, Train, and Jason Mraz, etc., needed by an A&R Manager of a Major Label for an AMERICAN IDOL winner working on his debut album. They’re looking for FRESH, UPLIFTING, and RADIO-FRIENDLY songs that are stylistically within the range of the referenced artists while bringing something NEW and FRESH to the table. They’ll be looking for the Top-40 Radio side of Pop/Singer-Songwriter/Rock, nothing overly moody or introspective. Your songs should be FUN and CATCHY, with BIG sing-along CHORUSES.
Phillip is clearly not into the pop stuff but more into a darker, Damian Rice-style of music. And he was Tweeting with a 19 Management person about the subject, which MJ details. In it, he wrote, “I like moody songs that have meaning… make you think.”
Based on his behavior on the show, he is both humble but headstrong. I can’t imagine what the behind-the-scenes battles are looking like over how his first album is going to sound like. Will they try to turn him into a Train/Script type act? (Think Bo Bice and that hideous “Real Thing” song). They certainly will try. Phillip is not really set to become a big rock star a la Steven Tyler or even like John Mayer. So this will probably be his first – and last – album with the major label. But we shan’t be too pessimistic yet. Let’s see what he turns out.
His single “Home,” in the meantime, sold another 217,000 copies last week and now has exceeded one million copies. Thank the London Olympics! Radio airplay growth is still relatively modest. It’s No. 18 on the Hot AC chart and No. 43 on the top 40 chart, according to Mediabase 24/7.
- Here’s Scotty McCreery’s stage fall. He’s fine. He said headliner Brad Paisley shortened the stage on him as a prank. Ha. Ha?
- Speaking of Paisley, he and Carrie Underwood will host the CMA Awards on ABC Nov. 1 for the fifth year in a row.
- Jordin Sparks, star of “Sparkle,” has been dating fellow singer Jason DeRulo for a year. The film came along just as her musical career was stalling out but she is now working on her third album with more R&B flavor, influenced by “Sparkle.”
- Is Nigel Lythgoe grooming his 37 year old son to eventually take over for him?
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63 comments Add your comment
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
11:46 am
Thanks for the info, Rodney. Poor Scotty….that’s embarrassing but you have to love the orange cones and tape set up by Brad Paisley.
JTesla
August 15th, 2012
12:07 pm
Maybe if he didn’t throw back his head like some rooster trying to rule the yard he would be able to see that his about to walk off the stage. Just a thought.
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
12:09 pm
Phil’s song Home has surpassed one million downloads.
JTesla
August 15th, 2012
12:17 pm
And Phil did that without throwing his head back and singing with the mic raised up like he’s about to guzzle a brewskie. No, not Phillip, he just sang while squinting and twitching. That’s a whole nother ball game there.
Tito
August 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
I am so tired of Phil already!!!! Can we please name the next WGWG so we can get past him? He always looks so dingy.
Mercedes S.
August 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
A woman said OMG gently – was that when Sc0otty “fell off the stage”? Couldn’t really tell.
Mercedes S.
August 15th, 2012
1:04 pm
I spent the last 15 minutes trying to do that check in again thing but it doesn’t work. I don’t want to MINDMELD with that unknown site WSB is throwing at me.
Vast Wastrel
August 15th, 2012
1:08 pm
Well, at least Scotty is still young a malleable. At least he doesn’t have to cancel the rest of the tour like a certain former Idol judge did.
This just in from 19 Entertainment with their latest revised list of songs for Phillip Phillips first album.
Title song and only original (well, sort of): Call Me Maybe Baby
Whoomp There it Is
Achy Breaky Heart (duet with Skylar)
Macarena
Livin’ la Vida Loca (duet with Jessica)
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Ebony and Ivory (duet with Joshua)
Groovy Kind Of Love
We Built This City
Play That Funky Music
Harriett
August 15th, 2012
1:26 pm
I got registered at the WSB site. My screen name has to be Harrietth. Cannot believe someone who spells it with two Ts and two Rs already grabbed it.
I saw this about Scotty yesterday.
And, if those are the songs…yuk!
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
1:29 pm
Vast…LOL!
Sam-A
August 15th, 2012
2:42 pm
Guess I’ll now be Sam-A1 – like the sauce. As I don’t do ANY of the “social media” crap, I went in with my email – lord knows how much MORE junk email crap I’ll end up with. Good thing is apparently, Hotmail is going thru a big chance, so maybe they won’t be able to catch up with me after the change.
Now, can someone please tell me what date this big change of AJC is happpening, and just how will I find my way to our “home” at that date? Looks like, from VW, that it won’t appear under “TV and Radio” at that time.
Mercedes, try by just clicking the space near top center and using your email to register – it was pretty easy – hardest for me was the “date of birth” thing -ugh.
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
3:03 pm
I’m sure that Rodney will fill us all in when we need to know.
JTesla
August 15th, 2012
3:11 pm
Which is why I’m just going to wait.
Vast Wastrel
August 15th, 2012
3:21 pm
@Harriet – It is sometimes difficult for me to convey my attempts at sarcastic humor. I was just doing a riff on the songs needing to be “FUN and CATCHY, with BIG sing-along CHORUSES” and the juxtaposition of Phillip singing some of those examples.
@Sam-A – I didn’t get on after work until 10pm yesterday and the main page had a different look with a banner explaining that it was a test. Clicking on the link there was a further explanation of the coming changes. The most pertinent one was that in the future comments are going to be allowed on most (all?) articles but that you would have to register in order to comment. I was frustrated in trying to register as it said my screen name was already in use and it replied that my email was already in use. I eventually figured out with some pointers from others that it was because I had registered my facebook account with WSB once to comment on a story they got wrong and that email was tied to my facebook account. This morning the AJC site was back to normal and I haven’t seen a timeline on the planned conversion.
Finally hit on an unused one that unfortunately applies as well, VastWaistrel.
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
3:32 pm
You have a vast waist? I didn’t picture you like that.
Sorry!
Sam-A
August 15th, 2012
3:39 pm
Thanks VW.
Vast Wastrel
August 15th, 2012
3:43 pm
Well vast might be an overstatement but the scales were not happy this morning. Right now the issue can be explained with three words: Mayfield’s Extreme Moosetracks.
G
August 15th, 2012
4:04 pm
What’s with pp’s “vampire pose” in the pic? He would be a vampire of a different breed. Instead being a bloodsucker, he would be better suited to be a talentsucker. You know……..something the boy can use.
Woodpappy
August 15th, 2012
4:08 pm
Love that one VW…!
david c
August 15th, 2012
4:08 pm
Y’all act like these people are stars.
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
4:15 pm
Mayfield’s anything! Good local ice cream company for the benefit of out non-southern friends.
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
4:18 pm
Harriett…for you. I know you were a big fan:
http://www.mjsbigblog.com/michael-lynche-whos-going-to-love-you-more-lyric-video.htm
JTesla
August 15th, 2012
4:23 pm
david c, you act like we act like these people are stars. They aren’t. We just like talking about them, it beats talking about a random group of people. However, we can talk about you now if you like? How’s it going?
Mercedes S.
August 15th, 2012
4:23 pm
All my Harrietts spell their name thus. (Hubby’s 2 first cousins and one cousin twice removed. Guess it’s a family spelling.)
Mercedes S.
August 15th, 2012
4:24 pm
And I must rememer to record the Boo Boo
Glenn
August 15th, 2012
4:31 pm
First; until anyone has heard the first songs from Phillip Phillip’s first album, any comments about his probable conflict with record executives and future failure with the major labels is nothing more than hot air. I would also suggest that with over one million sales of his single “Home” now in his back pocket, and the fact that Phillip has said it has grown on him since he’s been singing it so much (have any of you even seen his acoustical version?), perhaps he’ll incorporate more of that type of a musical format into some of his songwriting as well?
I would also suggest that if any of you had been to any of Phillip’s concerts, and seen some of the songs he enjoyed playing, like his version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Watchtower,” you’d know he, and his band don’t just play songs that are slow tempo, or sad, like “Volcano”. He enjoys “rocking out” with the boys and actually has a wide range of music he’s known for.
Harriett
August 15th, 2012
4:32 pm
We get Mayfield’s here in SC too!
VW, I guess I was not reading deeply enough and took it to heart. Now that you’ve explained, I understand. LOL!
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
4:45 pm
Glenn..we all saw plenty of scenes of Phil singing to have a pretty good idea what he likes…however, the tweet that Rodney quoted “I like moody songs that have meaning…make you think” was from Phil himself and was what got the chat started.
Harriett
August 15th, 2012
4:54 pm
Thanks for the Michael Lynche link, Deirdre! Yippeee! I downloaded all of his songs and made a cd that I still listen to from time to time. I still think his version of “Ready for Love” is among the top versions ever. I will enjoy listening to the whole album. You’re a dear to remember!
Time to run for the day.
Jenny
August 15th, 2012
5:07 pm
Crud. We’re going to have to register? I guess I’ll just wait for Rodney to tell us the scoop… I’m sure my name’s long taken anyway. I’ll just add numbers after the Jenny until I find something that works.
I wish I’d been able to get back on this am to tell yall… on Today they did ask Carrie about judging Idol. She said she hadn’t been approached, but as much as she’d love to, with her current schedule she didn’t see how it would be possible.
She did say she never gets tired of being asked about Idol, because it was the catalyst that changed her life. She said she is still just loving every bit of where her life’s taken her. (paraphrasing.) She is also donating money from her upcoming US shows (or album sales? can’t remember) to the Red Cross and from Canadian to the Canadian Red Cross.
Still just ADORE her!!
Vast Wastrel
August 15th, 2012
6:25 pm
Enter your comments here
Deirdre
August 15th, 2012
6:31 pm
Thanks for the Carrie info, Jenny!
Vast Wastrel
August 15th, 2012
6:46 pm
Oops.
@Glenn – So if he rocks Watchtower I’m sure he wouldn’t have any trouble with Whoomp There It Is. As to any comments here I’m also sure that he and his handlers would agree that almost any publicity is good publicity.
Dick Lark
August 15th, 2012
6:57 pm
“Will they try to turn him into a Train/Script type act?”
In the 60s and 70s, artists had creative control of their material. But now, the stuffed-suit, ivory-tower fat cats dictate what a singer will sing and what they will look like, based on safe, proven formulas, for the sake of their financial bottom lines.
THIS IS WHY NEW MUSIC SUCKS TODAY.
glen
August 15th, 2012
10:19 pm
Here’s the truth:
19 Entertainment@19News
Rumor Control: No battle btw @phillips & label. The post was written for another artist. Nathan Porter isnt a mgr at 19. Blogs got it wrong.
Seth T
August 16th, 2012
2:44 am
So, is Pia Toscano going to be in a movie about herself now? If so, I wonder if Gwen Stafani will do the wardrobe.
Deirdre
August 16th, 2012
7:37 am
The judges at The Voice met with the press to talk about the changes to the format. Adam Levine seems to have changed his tune about the purpose of the show…..from mj:
Adam Levine becomes defensive over the issue of The Voice producing no stars. He’s CERTAIN it will happen at some point, but he thinks it’s RIDI*ULOUS criteria on which to base the validity of the show.
Deirdre
August 16th, 2012
7:37 am
Morning!
Harriett
August 16th, 2012
9:04 am
Morning!
Thanks for the info on The Voice, D. I am going into a meeting and will be back later.
Nana
August 16th, 2012
9:15 am
Good Morning!!!!
Thought I would pop in to say morning. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. I need to get back here full time so I can keep up with everything that is happeneing.
Woodpappy
August 16th, 2012
10:13 am
Hi Nana, miss ya bunches !!!
DanJ
August 16th, 2012
10:53 am
I guess the ink from all the tattoos is starting to get to Adam Levine. Of course the validity of a singing competition show is judged on the talent it produces.
JTesla
August 16th, 2012
11:23 am
Actually Adam has a very good point, the validity of a television show is based on the ratings and the revenue that it generates. It has nothing to do with talent that it finds or produces. The Voice is competing with Gray’s Anatomy, Big Bang Theory, and The Daily Show. It’s not competing with Gotye, Katy Perry, or Maroon 5.
Deirdre
August 16th, 2012
12:42 pm
Agree with JT. My point was that The Voice kinda made a big deal out of Idol having very few “successes” after nearly 10 seasons. NOW, they’ve decided the success of a show isn’t about the winners. Welcome to the real world Adam.
DanJ
August 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
I disagree Deirdre and JTesla. If you’re selling a product which The Voice is? Why else would they promote it as a singing competition? Then they should be judged by the talent they turn out. Granted ratings are important and should not be over-looked but validation comes from what is produced. Ratings mean nothing if you’re turning out lemons and at some point you are going to face cancellation. You have to have at some point a success story, if not you’re failing miserably and the audience will eventually tune you out. So validation FOR ME comes from success.
Deirdre
August 16th, 2012
3:18 pm
Ratings are not just important…they are EVERYTHING to the success or failure of a tv show. If what they want is to find the next big talent, then why aren’t they doing more to keep the fan base energized AFTER the show is over? Why aren’t they promoting this “product”? If the singers are so freakin important, why does the show promo the judges?
Because the “product” is secondary to the show.
This is also true of Idol although Idol spends more time on the singers than the other 2 shows.
The contest is important…not who wins.
Seth T
August 16th, 2012
3:58 pm
Here’s a link to the Judges and host’s discussion about entertainment value vs. finding a star – and the fact that they are not managers for the contestants after the show.
http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/coaches-motivation/1413257?auto=true
JTesla
August 16th, 2012
4:20 pm
The product they are selling is time slots to an advertiser. They do that, not by saying what talent they have, but by saying what viewers they have. You are more a product that they are trying to sell than the talent. The only reason they care about the talent is because it attracts you, and you allow them to charge more for each slot.
The talent is just a lure to attract more fish. More fish means more interest in fishing. The producers get money for each net they allow in the water, not from how pretty the chum is.
Seth T
August 16th, 2012
5:41 pm
The Voice is often filled with near-miss singers, re-treads, back-up singers and people that never could get much going except club venues – and a few who are good voices that have not had, and won’t get much pro management help from the show.
Label talent scouts and people in show biz do watch the show though, so maybe they will have a “find” someday – in terms of what we perceive as star level. Just better not to count on it, and enjoy the circus-like, unrehearsed, sometimes non-sensical drama of the show.
Vast Wastrel
August 16th, 2012
6:01 pm
The “success” levels of the contestants is subjective as well. If you consider finances as part of the equation then Phillip Phillips will have a long way to go to surpass Melanie Amaro’s guaranteed $5 million. Since X Factor received criticism in its UK version for the recording “contract” amount receiving deductions for the production costs Simon Cowell modified the US version’s prize. It pays a million a year for five years regardless of the performance on the charts or the costs of production. I think we have all heard the stories from some of the record companies of old and how a lot of the artists were shorted. The artist formerly known as Prince comes to mind. Or agents and corrupt money managers gave us a bankrupt Willie Nelson and though Elvis became rich, Col. Tom became wealthy. I like the 5 million guaranteed before taxes.
As to the shows’ successes AI is far and away the king and yes ad rates minus production cost is the sole criteria their investors care about. The Voice is still doing terrific compared to an abysmal NBC lineup but they lost half of their audience as they progressed (regressed?) from the blind auditions. They really need to tweak more than they have announced so far to address the lack of empathy for other contestants when favorites get cut. X Factor’s format with the constant bickering was a huge turn off for me and in fact that is what I did.