American Idol News, Pictures, and Analysis

Take a look at this video and tell us what you think…You decide ;-P

And after you’ve seen the video, click this.

I need a break, people ;-P

Jordin! Jordin! Jordin! Okay okay, i was very much rooting for Blake Lewis, I’m still a Blaker Girl all the way…but i should be happy for the 17-year old from Glendale, Arizona. Afterall, she had the better vocals. Let’s give her the title.

This year’s finale episode was not that good compared to the finale’s of previous years. I call this year’s finale “dry”. Of course it’s relative. But really, the numbers weren’t that so great. No offense to the Golden Idols, I think they’re great. It’s just that, the overall presentation was dry and tamed and gloomy and what not. Where have all the sparkling lights gone? And the confetti when Jordin was announced winner? Seriously, I watched all the AI finale episodes, and this one was rather on the average side, as far as impact is concerned. Whatever…

Here were the production numbers (as far as I can remember):

-“I Saw her Standing There” number by Blake and Jordin
-Gwen Stefani song number
-Kelly Clarkson sang “Never Again”
-Best Presentation Award for Margaret Fowler (the big old lady known for wearing the yellow suit that makes her similar to BIG BIRD)
-Top 6 boys, song number with Smokey Robinson
Barry B. ,Doug E. Fresh, Blake Lewis beatboxing. (I love Blaaaaaaaaaaake!!!!!!)
-Most Original Vocal Award for Sholandric Stallworth
-Top 6 Girls, song number with Ms. Gladys Knight
-(by the way, some known celebs in the audience were: Justin Guarini, Constantine Maroulis, Ace Young, Jennifer Hudson, David Hasslehoff, etc…)
-Tony Bennett song number (For Once In My Life)
-Best Buddies Award for Jonathan and Kenneth
-Melinda Doolittle sang with BeBe and CeCe Winans
-Carrie Underwood sang “I’ll Stand by You”
-Clive Davis (gave a speech that actually went nowhere)
-The African Children’s Choir
-Comedic tribute to Sanjaya Malakar, and he sang “You Really Got Me” with another appearance of Ashley, the crying girl. ( I loved the airblowin’)
-Green Day performs
-Taylor Hicks performs with the harmonica. Awesome! Yeahhhh!!!
-Song number by Jordin Sparks and Ruben Studdard
-Bette Middler sang “Wind Beneath My Wings”
-Song Medley by Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard

A filled-up Kodak Theater with fascinating lights and powerful support from fans… That was the scenario at the season’s final performance night. Actress Denise Richards was part of the audience, and I’m sure there are other Hollywood stars that the cameras didn’t see. Other season 6 top 10 finalists were in the theater as well (spotted were Sanjaya Malakar, Lakisha Jones, Haley Scarnato, Chris Richardson, Melinda Doolitle, Chris Sligh, and Phil Stacey -who was kinda wearing a navy uniform-)

As reported earlier, Paula had a broken nose for trying to not fall over her dog “Tulip”. She didn’t appear with any nose bandage, she still looked as lovely as ever, but I thought I spotted a little bruise in her left cheek (I’m not sure though).

Constantine Maroulis was also in the house. And Chris Daughtry performed during the closing credits.

———————-

Coin toss was made last week to determine who will go first. Blake was first to perform, Jordin last. Each had three songs to sing.

For Blake Lewis:

You Give Love a Bad Name
Thank Goodness he chose to perform this song. No doubt it was his best performance. Paula said: “You outdid yourself, I wish I can give a 10 + 10 +10…”. Simon said: “You’re not the best singer, but you are the best performer…I’m someone in the middle.. But I don’t think it matters because it was you best performance”.

She Will Be Loved
He sounded so confident singing this song, he can make a hit out this rendition, much to the chagrin of Maroon 5…well, not so much. Blake sang the song well, I’m sure Maroon 5 is proud too. Randy Jackson said: “Great song, great vocals—Very natural”. Paula liked the performance too.

This is My Now
He was kinda pitchy in the middle part, but he was still displayed so much confidence and that’s what matters. He generally did a good job.

+++++++++

For Jordin Sparks:

Fighter
She surely looks better without the curly locks. I thought she sounded good, but Simon thought otherwise, saying: “Vocals were a bit shrieky in the middle”. Simon preferred Blake Lewis for the first round.

A Broken Wing
This time, Jordin got the praises from the judges. Randy Jackson said that it was “Better than the original” , which was Martina McBride. Simon said with much conviction: “That was good”.

This is My Now
This is more of Jordin’s genre. She fits the song, and she sang the song so well. In as much as I would want Blake Lewis to win, I think Jordin’s rendition for this song will pull in much votes for her. She even felt like a winner already, she went emotional. And the judges were impressed too. Simon said: “You just wiped the floor with Blake on that song”.

=============

“This is My Now” is clearly in favor of just Jordin. How could it not be so right for her? That song was practically a ballade and it was so not Blake’s genre. Oh well, crappy songs are so American Idol finale signatures.

In Season 4, Carrie Underwood had the better rendition of the finale song versus Bo Bice (of course, that very mushy song was so out of the rocker’s league). Last year’s finale song was like the worst forgettable song ever. Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks probably just endured the 5-minutes of singing that song.

Results will be out in a few hours… I do hope Blake wins. Yes, Jordin has the better pipes, but Blake is far more entertaining.

Paula Abdul broke her nose during the weekend when she tried to avoid her little Chihuahua. She said: “I took a nasty fall … trying not to hurt my dog. I bruised myself on my arm … my chest, my waist all the way down to my hip. All from my little chubby Tulip”.

Okay, the dog wasn’t hurt, and Paula is now healing. The question is, will she or won’t she be on the IDOLS finals? There’s only one way to find out. Let’s all watch the strong / tight / unpredictable finale to date.

(I still think Blake’s gonna win , though). Hihihihih biased, or what?

U.S. Navy spokesman Bob Anderson confirmed to PEOPLE mag that Idol Finalist, Phil Stacey, will be able to go on the much-awaited American Idol tour this year.

Petty Officer Third Class Phil Stacey will go on tour with fellow finalists Haley Scarnato, Sanjaya Malakar, Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones, Blake Lewis, Gina Glocksen, Chris Richardson, Chris Sligh and Jordin Sparks.

Simon Cowell, the most vocal straightforward judge, had a lot to say about the coming finale next week on American Idol. But, for the first time, he doesn’t have a fearless forecast as to who’s gonna win this year’s contest. He’s always been opinionated when it comes to this one (and oftentimes right about his predictions)…but not this time.

Highlights from the AI conference call article by Nichola Groom of Reuters.

When asked about his prediction in next week’s finale:

“I can’t call it at this stage…For Blake, he’s a brilliant entertainer, but the negative is he’s not a fantastic singer. The advantage for Jordin is she is a great singer and the negative is she hasn’t done one performance yet which I can remember as a ‘WOW!’ “

******

On him being “rude” to the contestants:

“They all think they are going to be voted off if they are rude to me,” he said. “If I’m rude to them they are more than entitled to be rude to me back.”

******

On the whole Sanjaya Malakar frenzy:

“The whole Sanjaya thing was hysterical…I don’t think I’d be happy if he was in the final, but looking back I think it was quite amusing.”

******

On Melinda Doolittle being out of the finale:

“It was unfair…She had delivered 10 weeks in a row better than anyone else…”When you allow the public to choose, you’ve got to live and die by the vote”

This was Elliot Yamin posing for the cam for “Idol” archive back in season 5:

******

This was Elliot Yamin in last year’s TOP 3 performance night.

******

(pratically a year later)

This is Elliot Yamin now, wonderfully singing his latest single “Wait For You” on the Top 3 results night…and sporting curly locks. Wow! What a year can do! Like coming in full circle. Amazing…

I may be a Blaker Girl now, but I am still a solid YAMINION. Okay let’s put it this way… I am 80% Blaker Girl this season. But I will forever be 200% YAMINION. Ya, I know it doesn’t make sense if you really think about it…But really, I will always be aboard the E-Train for my boy Elliot, the best Male American Idol contender, vocals-wise, in my opinion. (Mario Vasquez and Chris Daughtry just come next in line).

==================

In Elliot’s profile page on the AI website, he was asked: “What are your personal goals in life?” And his answer was:

“To help educate young people about music and diabetes. I want to be an inspiration to others. I want to be a great Dad someday…I want to meet Magic Johnson and have a floor seat at a Lakers game.”

==================

Oh, he can so do all his goals now. All of that human power, in just one year.

I LOVE YOU ELLIOT

American Idol Season 2 runner up, Clay Aiken will be on tour for the most part of the year. Another busy AI man, he is… Here’s his  sked:

07/04/07     Dallas, TX, US     -Pizza Hut Park
07/06/07     Houston, TX, US     -Jones Hall
07/07/07     Tulsa, OK, US    - Brady Theater
07/17/07     Philadelphia, PA, US     -Mann Center for the Performing Arts
07/18/07     Syracuse, NY, US     -Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter
07/19/07     Canandaigua, NY, US     -Constellation Performing Arts Center
07/20/07     Chautauqua, NY, US     -Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
07/21/07     Columbus, OH, US     -Chemical Abstract Service
07/23/07     Sterling Heights, MI, US     -Freedom Hill Amphitheater
07/25/07     Gilford, NH, US     -Meadowbrook Farm
07/28/07     Newark, NJ, US     -New Jersey Performing Arts Center
08/02/07     San Diego, CA, US     -Embarcadero Marina Park South
08/03/07     Pala, CA, US     -Pala Casino Starlight
08/04/07     Los Angeles, CA, US     -Greek Theatre
08/05/07     Indio, CA, US     -Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
08/10/07     Cary, NC, US     -Koka Booth Amphitheater
08/11/07     Asheville, NC, US     -Biltmore Estate
08/12/07     Knoxville, TN, US     -Tennessee Theater
08/15/07     Atlanta, GA, US     -Chastain Park Amphitheater
08/17/07     Tampa, FL, US     -Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
08/18/07     West Palm Beach, FL, US     -Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
08/19/07     Orlando, FL, US     -Hard Rock Live

And the most anticipated shock elimination finally happened. The best singer in this entire season is no longer in the running, to the dismay of Simon Cowell (the judge who wanted her so bad to be in the finale…read:”I want my girl, Melinda to be in the finals”–Simon).

Melinda is no doubt, the best singer this season. No genre is too hard for her, she sings any song with ease, confidence, and professionalism. No wonder she was dubbed by Randy Jackson as the “Resident Pro”, she truly is. But this season is about who the voting public wants to stay, and these voting public’s majority are the teeners, who are greatly rooting for “teen pop sensations”.

Nonetheless, Melinda Doolittle will surely go a long way, even beyond American Idol. She doesn’t need this competition at all. She’s too good for this AI stint..

Meanwhile, it’s Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis who’s gonna be duelling it out next week at the finale. If Jordin will keep on singing songs for oldies (like “I Who Have Nothing” type of songs), that will be her downfall. Blake Lewis is being on the right track. In fact, I AM SO ROOTING FOR BLAKE LEWIS. I think he’ll win this season. I am 99% going for the thought that he’ll win this season. I wish he’ll do a beatbox acapella next week…yeah, that will really be one hell of a stunt this season. I AM A BLAKER GIRL!!!!

From :World Entertainment News Network

Label bosses at RCA and Sony BMG were allegedly unimpressed with her latest efforts on her forthcoming album ‘My December’ - but the American Idol star has laughed off the claims.
Rumors circulated earlier this month that Clarkson had returned to the studio to re-record the tracks, but the star admits she’s used to the negative publicity.

She tells MTV.com, “This time everybody made a big deal about the record, but that’s happened every record.”

“I’ve never once compromised myself. I don’t think you should, that’s when you start to lose fans and credibility. I think you definitely need to keep doing what you love, because I’m the one that needs to sing it every night.“