'Idol' odds 'n ends: Allison Iraheta debuts "Friday" music video

The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:

>Allison Iraheta's music video for her debut single "Friday I'll Be Over U" premiered yesterday on Yahoo! Music. Watch the video below:

Yahoo! Music also features a "making of" segment filmed during the video shoot that was released earlier this month to promote the single. Allison's debut album Just Like You will be released on Tues., Dec. 1, and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.

>Jordin Sparks underwent surgery to remove her appendix yesterday after she had to cancel appearances in Australia due to acute appendicitis. Now bedridden, Jordin has taken to her official Twitter account to tell fans all about the experience:

I can't keep my eyes open anymore. (rip appendix) Goodnight twittlets. <3 about 18 hours ago from Twitterrific

Jordin was cheered up to hear she received what she calls her first #1 on a U.S. Billboard chart, as "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" hit the top spot on the latest edition of Billboard's Dance chart.

>Rolling Stone unveiled its candidates for its "Decade End Reader Poll," in which readers are asked to vote for their top album, song and artist of the decade, and one Idol alum made the list. Kelly Clarkson is up for "Artist of the Decade" alongside such industry heavy hitters as Justin Timberlake and Bruce Springsteen. The ballot can be found here. Voting is open until Wed., Nov. 30.

>Danny Gokey premiered his new single "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" on Los Angeles' FOX affiliate KTLA earlier this week. Listen to him perform the song live on yesterday's "The Waking Crew" morning show on 94.1 KMPS-FM below:



Danny's first single was originally slated to be the ballad "It's Only," but RCA Nashville thought better of it and swapped the "Jesus, Take the Wheel"-esque track for this uptempo offering. Looks like Danny's country career is off to a good start.

>It was announced yesterday that Jennifer Hudson's next main starring role will be as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in the biopic Winnie. Mandela is of course the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela. The film will be directed by Darrell Roodt and filming is set to commence in South Africa in May 2010.

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'Idol' odds 'n ends: Blake Lewis premieres "Sad Song" video

The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:

>After treating fans to a sneak peek at his latest music video on Fri., Sept. 18, Blake Lewis premiered the full video on his official music MySpace page this past Tuesday. Watch the video below:

The video was directed by Ana Veselic. Blake's forthcoming album Heartbreak On Vinyl is due out Tues., Oct. 6, and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.

>In other Idol runner-up news, Justin Guarini is back in the news, this time for his upcoming marriage to high school friend Reina Capodici. According to The New York Post, Justin said of the news:

“I’ve traveled all over the world but I found the woman I love right in my own backyard,” Guarini told RadarOnline.com. “I’ve known Reina since I was 15 but we didn't actually start dating until two years ago … Her mother was my English teacher in junior high school!”

The news was originally reported by RadarOnline.com. The wedding will take place at a private estate along the Delaware River tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 26).

>Melinda Doolittle and her friend Kelley Norris recorded a "happy birthday" vlog for Ross Matthews of Inside Dish with Ross Matthews, which was embedded on Melinda's official Web site yesterday. Watch the clip below:



Portions of the vlog were incorporated into Matthews' webisode that aired yesterday, where it played alongside birthday messages from people including Perez Hilton and Lydia Tavera of Big Brother fame.

>Some interesting numbers came in for the 2009 "Idols Live!" tour courtesy of alt.tv-americanidol, showing that it grossed a mammoth $30.1 million in total revenue. Other interesting tidbits:

Total Attendance: 483,512
Number of Tickets Available: 564,938
% Capacity: 85.6%
Average Gross: $578,301
Average Attendance: 9,298
Average Ticket Price: $62.19

It was also interesting to see that the last five cities were sold out (Bridgeport, Portland, Providence, Syracuse, Manchester) and the city with the worst attendance was Vancouver (8,203 of 12,533 [65%]).

>Jordin Sparks was recently featured in a segment on the British ITV's Good Morning Television (GMTV) program for a behind the scenes look at her tour with The Jonas Brothers. The segment, which aired yesterday, followed Jordin around backstage at her concert in Las Vegas, Nev., and can be watched below:



As mentioned by the GMTV correspondent that filed the segment, Jordin's current single "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)," which was heavily featured in the segment, will be released in The U.K. on Mon., Oct. 12.

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Kelly, Jordin, Jennifer and Paula reunite at VH1's "Divas"

It was one big Idol reunion at VH1's Divas special last night, as former judge Paula Abdul hosted the program while two winners and the show's only contestant to win both a Grammy and an Oscar took to the stage to show off their pipes. Watch some of the more memorable moments of the night below:

Following her recent trend of singing a stripped-down version of her current single "Already Gone," Kelly Clarkson kept things cool during her performance.

VH1 Divas | Divas Video

Jordin Sparks performed her new single "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)," backed up by a troupe of sexy dancers. Even though the spectacle was nothing like what Jordin would usually take part in, she showed that she could hold her own onstage singing and upbeat, dancey song.

VH1 Divas | Divas Video

Jennifer Hudson got the crowd on its feet by belting her song "Spotlight." Jennifer made the most use of the stage, as she graced the outer edges to create a sense of inclusion of the audience.

VH1 Divas | Divas Video

But it was Paula who stole the show with her comical introductions of the presenters and an opening number with a medley of some of her classic hits including "Coldhearted Snake," "Opposites Attract," "Straight Up" and "Forever Your Girl." Watch Paula lip, err, sing through the medley below:

VH1 Divas | Divas Video

Other things of note Paula did as host include grabbing her boob while joking that she "nearly breastfed" Kelly, Jordin and Jennifer, posing as Ellen DeGeneres while dancing to P!NK's "Get the Party Started" and being "hooked off stage" for stalling in her introduction of Keri Hilson and Corbin Bleu.

All Idol-related performers also go to do a duet with another well-known singer, with Kelly being paired up with Melissa Etheridge on "Bring Me Some Water," Jordin teaming with Martina McBride on "A Broken Wing" and Jennifer taking on "All In Love Is Fair" with Stevie Wonder.

The special aired live on VH1 and was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, N.Y.

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Jordin Sparks' "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" music video premieres

After weeks of anticipation, Jordin Sparks' brand-new hot music video for her second single off Battlefield, "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)," premiered earlier today on MeetMark.com. The video, which follows Jordin in a club scene and includes a somewhat cliched storyline, is the first video for an uptempo song of hers that has required Jordin to show off real dance moves. Watch the video below:

The video, which was directed by Chris Robinson, features a host of familiar faces that surround Jordin in her professional life (anyone spot Leah LaBelle?). The significance of the video premiering on MeetMark.com is because Jordin was the first representative for the newly-launched member-based beauty sales company.

"S.O.S." was originally slated for a radio adds date in early September, but it has since been delayed until Tues., Sept. 29.

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Digital sales roundup: "Battlefield" #7 (7/24/09)

An Idol-related album release greatly helped the sales of its title track and current single according to the latest edition of the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart.

Jordin Sparks' single "Battlefield" was up 12 spots to #7 with 101.4k downloads sold, representing an 87% sales surge. The single has sold 544.1k to date, marking a gold certification. Jordin also saw two album tracks from Battlefield chart thanks to the release of the album, with "Walking On Snow" debuting at #79 with 21.2k and second single "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" coming in at #147 with 11.5k.

Placing second among Idol alums this week was Daughtry's "No Surprise," which dipped 9% to 46k for a grand total of 542.5k, making it the second Idol-related track to achieve gold certification in this chart week. On the chart itself, it was down two spots to #26.

And David Cook's single "Come Back to Me" was off 3% to 13.5k, dropping #119-120 for a total of 287.6k.

Full numbers and chart positions courtesy of bks on Pulse as follows:

007 019 Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield" 101,427 87% 54,195 544,131
026 024 Daughtry, "No Surprise" 45,991 -9% 50,522 542,464
079 --- Jordin Sparks, "Walking On Snow" 21,248 999% 0 21,248
120 119 David Cook, "Come Back to Me" 13,495 -3% 13,913 287,552
147 --- Jordin Sparks, "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" 11,525 999% 0 11,525

Total sales are in bold.

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Jordin Sparks hints at "Walking on Snow" for single no. 3?

Ahead of her sophomore album Battlefield's release this coming Tuesday, Jordin Sparks hit New York's 92.3 NOW FM the other day to talk with Lisa Paige of the radio station's "6 Questions in :60" segment. Near the end of the segment, Jordin asks fans to request "Battlefield," "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" and "Walking on Snow. Watch the interview below:

This ask courtesy of Jordin herself to her fans is interesting, because the first two songs she suggests requesting are already confirmed singles, so does she mean to say she would prefer "Snow" be sent to radio third? If so, it would probably be an alright choice, but not nearly as strategic as something on the slower side would such as "It Takes More" or "No Parade."

Only time will tell if this is actually what Jordin wants, and whether or not it will prove to come true.

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Album review: Jordin Sparks' 'Battlefield'

Coming off her certified platinum debut, 19-year-old Jordin Sparks shows evidence of a transformation from a girl into a young woman on her latest disc ‘Battlefield.’ With help from veteran songwriters/producers like Ryan Tedder, Claude Kelly and Benny Blanco, Sparks proves that when you surround yourself with experienced, top-notch people, the product is very rich in quality.

Sparks chooses the bouncy, feel-good “Walking on Snow” to begin her album, which reminds listeners of what they loved about the self-titled predecessor. This makes it a little easier to swallow the more grown-up tracks that follow. But before arriving at the “Beyoncé meets Rihanna” style that Sparks described ‘Battlefield’ as consisting of, listeners are met with the album’s first single and title track.

“Battlefield” is a stylized, inspirational call to armor in the game of love complete with a ringing chorus that includes classic Tedder repetition (“Why does love always feel like a battlefield / a battlefield / a battlefield”). This track, which is different than anything that was found on ‘Jordin Sparks,’ opens the door to “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head,” a cover of the 2005 Fefe Dobson song that marks a clear departure from Sparks’ earlier material. Synths are in heavy use here, as they are throughout the album.

This new dancy, upbeat sound is a common theme on ‘Battlefield,’ as it is thread through songs such as the second single, “S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)” and the fun “Emergency (911).” On “S.O.S.” Sparks sounds mature yet immature at the same time, as lyrics like “That crazy chick don’t know who she’s messin’ with / look in her eyes she’s mentally undressing him” mark a new turn for the artist, but the Rihanna-esque sampling of Shannon’s 80’s anthem “Let the Music Play” helps keep the song youthful. “Emergency,” which was co-written by Sparks, is enjoyable (“Why don’t you call me? / aren’t you my boyfriend? / you were supposed to be here like an hour ago”) but does nothing in terms of building her musical repertoire.

In the face of this new sound, it is on the mid-tempos where Sparks’ vocals shine. “It Takes More” is a high point, as the pre-chorus transitions beautifully into a simple yet meaningful chorus. It is the seventh track, however, where Sparks delivers her best performance on ‘Battlefield.’ “No Parade” includes everything a hit song should possess, and her pristine vocals that reach amazing heights in the final chorus are the icing on the cake. The lyrics are also powerful (“There was no parade / no lights flashing / no song to sing along the way / there was no parade / no waves crashing / there was no one else around for days”).

On the ballad front, Sparks really tones it down on “Was I the Only One” and “Faith,” both of which she had a hand in writing. “Only One” remains fairly mellow throughout the song’s 3:21 length and finishes on a soft note, whereas “Faith” builds throughout the song’s duration and proves that Sparks is not only a talented singer, but she shines as a songwriter as well, as lyrics like “When the sky is darkest you can see the stars / when you fall the hardest you find how strong you are” erase the doubts raised in lyrics found in “Emergency.”

Although ‘Battlefield’ maintains a generally similar sound, Sparks experiments with a few styles that are not necessarily her forte. On the T-Pain-produced “Watch You Go,” Sparks experiments with a more urban sound that complements her vocals surprisingly well. Although it is a little different than the rest of the album’s offerings, it holds its ground against the rest of the tracks’ poppier sound. On “Let It Rain,” however, the guitar riffs just do not work out very well, and the song comes off as being more of a lamb than a lion in terms of rock edge.

In a culmination of all the sounds and styles found on ‘Battlefield,’ Sparks brings it home on “The Cure,” which is the most beautiful offering on the album. Her vocals are pure and angelic, and the simple song structure maximizes the effect felt on listeners.

The deluxe edition includes the bonus tracks “Papercut” and “Postcard,” the former of which Sparks also co-wrote. Neither song is amazing, but they are definitely an extra incentive to spend the extra few bucks.

Looking back at what Jordin Sparks has to offer on ‘Battlefield,’ it is amazing to think of how far she has come since winning ‘Idol’ back in 2007. The fact that she has been able to harness her vocal talents and mature in such a short span of time is remarkable, and her ability to conform to the style of music that’s in at the moment while maintaining her originality and individuality. Although it is not perfect, ‘Battlefield’ should be looked to as a model album for up and coming artists to draw influence from.

Battlefield drops on Tues., July 21, and is now available to pre-order on iTunes and Amazon.com.

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'Leave This Town' and 'Battlefield' album previews now up

The 30-second album previews for Daughtry's forthcoming album Leave This Town and Jordin Sparks' sophomore release Battlefield have found their way onto Amazon.co.uk weeks before they will be available to purchase.

Clips of Daughtry's second studio album, which consists of 12 songs not including the many different bonus tracks that will eventually be available, were added to the album's page on Amazon.co.uk the other day before being removed shortly thereafter.

Titles include "Life After You," "Ghost of Me" and "September," and the album is fairly ballad-heavy. Listen to the album preview of Leave This Town below:

Similarly, clips of the 12 songs from Jordin's next album are currently available to stream on its Amazon.co.uk page.

As assumed, the track "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" is a highly reworked version of the 2005 song released by Fefe Dobson, and the club-banger "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" has been edited to better fit Jordin's image. Listen to the clips below:



Leave This Town will be released on Tues., July 14, while Battlefield will hit stores' shelves the following week on Tues., July 21.

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