What is going on in Kelly Clarkson Land lately? After last week's leak of a demo titled "Cleopatra" that set off an angry tweetrade by Kelly in which she claimed it was not a song that would be appearing on her upcoming album, but was a demo she recorded for another artist.
Once again, more leaked Kelly tracks are coming in fast and furious, as three of them found their way onto YouTube on Tuesday. Listen to "Lover Stay" and "Wash Rinse Repeat" below ("Naked Eye" is no longer on YouTube but is available to stream over at IdolLator):
"Lover Stay"
"Wash Rinse Repeat"
So how is this happening? Kelly obviously isn't amused, but she has yet to comment on the most recent batch of leaks. To add to her troubles, she is now being accused of ripping off the chord progressions of an Arcade Fire song titled "Rebellion (Lies)," and everyone is pegging "Wash Rinse Repeat" as a dig at Ryan Tedder, who got Kelly into hot water last year with the whole "Halo" / "Already Gone" controversy. Others are claiming she might be targeting Clive Davis, and still others are suggesting she's taking aim not at one particular person but at the music industry in general.
In short, Kelly has seen better days, but at least it's good to know her 5-album deal with RCA is about to run dry. What do you think of these leaks?
With all the buzz surrounding the departure of Simon Cowell at the end of the current season of Idol, especially with the recent news that shock jock Howard Stern has shown interest in the position for a price tag of $100 million, there was no shortage of opinion on this week's edition of IDOL LIVE's poll of the week.
It was pretty close between the top two contenders, as David Foster eked out the victory among replacement judges of choice as determined by IDOL LIVE's readers. He netted nine votes (31%) to second-place option Piers Morgan, who got eight votes (27%). Piers has long been the favored contender thanks to his current position as judge of America's Got Talent (and the British counterpart that discovered Susan Boyle), but David has been getting some recognition as of late.
Among the other choices determined by me, none stood out from the crowd, but the more recognizable names seemed to stand out (Clive Davis, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw) over the other producers/label execs (Tommy Mottola, David Geffen, Russell Simmons).
In this week's edition of the poll of the week, readers are asked what their initial reactions to Ellen DeGeneres are, after a preliminary poll conducted last fall that found most readers wanting to be asked what they thought of her in February. Voting will be open for exactly one week.
Piers Morgan 8 (27%) David Foster 9 (31%)
Tommy Mottola 1 (3%)
Clive Davis 3 (10%)
Jamie Foxx 3 (10%)
David Geffen 1 (3%)
Russell Simmons 1 (3%)
Tim McGraw 3 (10%)
In the usual tradition, the Top 2 finalists will sing three songs each, only one of the songs will be chosen by Simon Fuller instead of music mogul Clive Davis. The actual formula for Tuesday's performance set list includes one song chosen by Fuller, a reprise of an earlier performance picked by Adam and Kris, and the coronation song as written by Kara. Although things have been switched up in the finales over the course of the series' lifespan, both finalists will perform the same coronation song this time around, as they did in Seasons 1, 3, 4 and 6.
Since Adam and Kris have even less control over what they will be singing, their personal reprisal choices will be all the more important. They will have to be strategic in what they choose, and even if they feel their best showings were on certain songs, they might have to resist giving them another go and take on a song that was not as great instead. That leaves me with the following suggestions for both the personal and Fuller picks:
Adam Lambert: "Mad World" (reprise), "Don't Stop Believin'" (Fuller)
Adam has a ton of options for his reprise on Tuesday. Too many options. In fact, if he goes with something like "Ring of Fire" or "Born to Be Wild," that could be the downfall of his chances. Therefore, he has to pick something on the slow side, preferably not "Tracks of My Tears." "Mad World," which closed the Top 8 show, would be a great decision because it was one of his stronger moments and would not sound out of place amid the rest of the night's performances like "Tears" or "If I Can't Have You" would.
As for Fuller's song choice, everyone is predicting and hoping for something by Queen. That would be predictable, over the top, yet it could work. But for an up-tempo selection, Adam would easily be able to rock out Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and make it sound theatrical without it being as predictable. It's true that the song was used in a group performance during Top 9 week, but it would sound much different coming just from Adam. Plus, it would be an automatic crowd-pleaser and the the Nokia Theatre would be on its feet for the whole performance.
If these two well-balanced songs are on Adam's set list come Tuesday, the cheesy coronation tune would bot be nearly as disappointing as it should sound. Unless, of course, she pulls off a miracle and doesn't offer up something like Paris Hilton's "Screwed."
Kris Allen: "Ain't No Sunshine" (reprise), "The Remedy" (Fuller)
For a revisit to one of his highlights, Kris would best be served by avoiding "Heartless," which he nailed last week (see Diana DeGarmo's "Don't Cry Out Loud"), and "Falling Slowly," which people were reminded of when they saw him sing it twice while back home in Arkansas for his hometown visit. This leaves him with a few good options, but "Ain't No Sunshine" is best because it's been weeks since viewers heard him perform it and at the time it was considered his best showing.
For Fuller's pick, he should go with something relatively current and fits with the style that would be a perfect match for him. Therefore, since everyone usually compares Kris' style to that of Jason Mraz, a song from his catalog would be ideal. Now, "I'm Yours" would be a logical choice, but it's too current and Kris has performed too many current songs of late. "You and I Both" is another good pick, but I think "The Remedy" would be the song. It's easily recognizable, catchy, and allows for one's vocal range to be shown off.
This might not be the most exciting finale, but there's definitely enough potential for the results to be close if the show is solid. These song choices would be a surefire way to liven things up and present as level a playing field as possible.
It was five years ago this week when Diana DeGarmo took to the stage and earned herself a ticket to the finale in Season 3 when she nailed her performance of "Don't Cry Out Loud" by Melissa Manchester. The song, which was chosen by former Sony BMG boss Clive Davis, allowed Diana to show off her range, especially her high notes, and the final note was among the longest glory notes ever held on the show. Relive the moment below:
Although the judges had nothing but praise for the performance, with Simon telling her to write a letter to Davis thanking him for booking her a place in the finale, Diana's reprise of the song one week later did not go over as well, and the judges made that be known in their critiques. Still, even five seasons later, "Don't Cry Out Loud" remains one of the most critically acclaimed performances this show has ever seen.
Although it was not the most memorable performance on her Idol journey, Carrie Underwood's performance of Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" was an world class offering that came one week before she was crowned the winner. Watch the exhibition below:
The performance was Carrie's second of three during Top 3 week, and was her own choice amid the songs picked by Clive Davis ("Crying") and Randy Jackson ("Man! I Feel Like a Woman!"). It was the second '80s power ballad performed by Carrie during the Top 12, following her groundbreaking take on Heart's "Alone" during Top 11 week. And the note she held at the end still ranks among the longest held by a finalist on the show.
It's not usually strange to see a bunch of Idol alums mulling around Los Angeles considering it is the entertainment capital of the world, but the importance of this weekend is just a bit more heightened than usual.
Last night, the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music mogul Clive Davis (aka the "crypt keeper" to Kelly Clarkson fans) took place, which featured performances by many artists including Kelly herself. She performed "My Life Would Suck Without You" in addition to a cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." Jennifer Hudson also took the stage to belt out "Spotlight" and a duet with Barry Manilow on the latter's "Weekend in New England," which is widely considered to be Jennifer's best performance on Idol. Unlike years past, the party was night streamed live via the Internet.
Other alums that were in attendance were Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Fantasia and three of the four judges: Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. Noticeably absent was Jordin Sparks, who attended the gala last year. She stated in an interview with Johnjay & Rich on Thursday that she would be in the studio recording prior to going to the Grammys, so that could be a possibility.
As for rehearsals, the LA Timesblogged during a bunch of them including Carrie's performance of "Last Name." She spoke with the Times during the rehearsals, saying:
"A few years ago I performed on the Grammys and Rascal Flatts and I were the only country acts ... We did a tribute to Bob Wills and the Eagles ... now this year, there's a ton of country. It's so exciting."
The only other alum that will perform tonight is Jennifer, who will sing "You Pulled Me Through."
The 51st annual Grammy Awards will air live tonight on CBS at 8 p.m. ET. Look for predictions from IDOL LIVE later today.
As reported earlier, Kelly Clarkson is rumored to have recorded "Hook Up," a song that was cut from Katy Perry's One of the Boys. If this is true, do you think this is the direction Kelly should be taking? Listen to Katy's version of the song below:
It's definitely more Breakaway than it is Thankful or My December, but is it necessarily smart that Kelly is taking on Katy Perry rejects? Before rushing to judge Kelly, though, it's important to remember the situation she is now in.
After basically getting her way on My December despite turning down a $10 million offer from Clive Davis to include a few more "commercially friendly" tracks that included Kelly's turning down of a Lindsay Lohan song, she is basically a slave to Davis and must record material that he sees fit for her image.
Whether or not this is true, it appears we'll know in a few short weeks when the track list for Kelly's album is made public.
David Cook should royally thank RCA for booking him the biggest gig in his short post-Idol career. He performed on what was by far the best episode of Saturday Night Live this season. Watch him perform "Light On" and "Declaration" below:
Light On:
Declaration:
Now comes the all important question that every Word Nerd will be asking in the next few days...Why did RCA decide to put out "Light On" over "Declaration"? Hello, was Clive Davis re-hired and put in charge of Sony BMG? What happened?
Oh well, all that matters is he hit it out of the park tonight and with what could be record audiences for the episode, the label will escape scrutiny for the short term just for securing this appearance.
P.S. Cook gets bonus points for shaking Sen. John McCain's hand. Putting politics aside is always a smart idea.
In an epic battle of the ages, 17-year-old David Archuleta and 25-year-old David Cook took to the Nokia Theatre stage and delivered stunning performances. Going into the night it was anyone's game, but there were certain events that took place during the broadcast that swayed the momentum in one person's favor.
Just an aside: the theatre was too big and there was no excitement compared to past finales. It was too dark and dull, plus the stage was overwhelming.
Beginning with the cheesy and childish mock boxing introduction complete with Michael Buffer serving as the emcee, we knew the show was off to a rocky start. Especially when Arch was introduced as weighing "100 lbs. when soaking wet." Yes it was a joke, but please.
Once all the seriousness began, things seemed to get back on the ground. Clive Davis the crypt keeper was there in all his glory, despite being demoted over at Sony BMG earlier this year. And Andrew Lloyd Webber made an appearance, seeming that he cannot get enough of this show. The two helped coach the Davids in their song choices, which amounted to just fluff. If they do not know how to perform by now, they are not fit to be the next idol.
So after a long, drawn-out montage we finally get something noteworthy, as Cook kicks off the show with Clive's choice for him, U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Although upon hearing he would be doing this song days ago it sounded like a sure thing and would fit his voice perfectly, it did not sound special at all. It was virtually a straight-up rock cover of the song, which Cook is not always amazing at. Randy seemed pretty impressed, and said it was a "great way to start off this duel of 2007." He brought up the fact that they were competing for the "King of the Nokia" for the first time of the night, but definitely not the last. Right. Paula was a little more creative, even though her "You may not have found what you're looking for but we sure have" comment was scripted to the core. She said Cook had arrived and said "Amen" three times. And then Simon even cut him some slack when he said the performance was "phenomenal" despite the fact that he was tense.
But as soon as Cook left the stage, Arch took to it and belted out Clive's choice of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me." The much overdone song sounded great coming from him, and is completely the right genre of music for him to be pursuing. Suddenly Clive's crazy song choice seems alright. Aside from the vocals, Arch incorporated his annoying arm-stretching, but it did not take away too much from the overall performance. Randy went above and beyond with his syrupy praise of Arch, calling the performance "molten hot" and his vocals "crazy" among other things. He was so blown away, in fact, that he kept repeating "crazy" even as Paula was giving her own critique, which was another unoriginal "The sun is never gonna go down on you' kind of thing. She did say she got chills, though, so that probably was not in the script. Simon declared Arch the winner of round one, saying the performance was his best so far.
So after getting Clive's songs out of the way, Cook retook the stage and delivered a rocked up version of Emily Shackleton's "Dream Big," which he chose from the top 10 vote-getters in the AI songwriting competition. The song completely fit his style, but the cheesy as ever lyrics anchored it down. It also did not feel like a "winning" performance. Randy let everyone know that the song was "just ok" but Cook "sang his face off." Paula was just mesmerized and sat in awe of him, and Simon gave the performance a "6.5 out of 10," using the boxing analogy to say it was "a bit of a lightweight" and "didn't sound like a winning moment."
When it was Arch's turn, he took on "In This Moment," which was even cheesier than Cook's choice, but to his credit it actually sounded like an Idol song. He was able to hit the high note while the song;s lyrics were fairly inspirational and sugary. Randy again was not crazy about the song but pulled out one of his five usual compliments in telling him he could "sing the phone book" and that he was "in the zone." Paula told him some more bland statements in saying the performance had "magic" and that was why he was in the final two. Simon again said Arch was in fact the winner of round two, claiming he chose the better song and it fit the night better, and saying he liked the "egotistical lyrics.' You would, Simon.
As for the contestants' choices in round three, Cook finished out his performances with Collective Soul's "The World I Know," which everyone could see had some meaningful connection to him. It started off acoustic but then the band came in and he even showed off some of his rare falsetto. Upon finishing, Cook started to tear up, which added even more fuel to the audience's fire of applause and cheering. Paula gave him a standing ovation. Randy said he did a very nice job and that this was the kind of record he could see him releasing. Paula again stood and applauded him, saying he was "standing in his truth" and that he delivered performances "with integrity and originality." Simon started his comments off by calling Cook one of the nicest, most genuine contestants they had ever had on the show, but brought spirits down when he told him he should have sung "Billie Jean" again and that his choice was "completely and utterly the wrong one."
So then Arch came out and took on his most memorable performance in "Imagine," again starting at the second verse and not changing the arrangement up from hi earlier performance. His vocals were no better than either of his two prior performances that night, but the mood seemed perfect, and that he had a "winner's moment" with the song. Randy said the best singer of Season 7 was "standing right there!" and that he was what this show is all about. Paula basically echoed Randy's comment, adding that he "left her speechless." And Simon, who had been praising Cook on every show he was on promoting the finale (mainly Leno and Ellen), said that Arch came out to win, and that the audience had witnessed "a knockout," and once again declared that round three in fact went to him. Arch did his best to hold back tears, and definitely seemed like he realized he had just won.
Following the final performance, Ruben Studdard moseyed out to sing this season's "Bad Day" and "Home" in "Celebrate Me Home," set to a montage of some of this season's most memorable moments.
Despite what would seem to be an unequivocal blowout in an Arch's favor, this is far from the case. Simon's one mistake in trying not to cover up his "grand plan" was giving Cook a "secret wink" after he gave his final critique. Translation: Simon was being extra hard on Cook because he knew it would stir up the fans and get them to vote even harder. All week the odds were heavily in favor of Cook winning, and in order to keep the stars aligned, this was his weapon of choice. So now no one should be surprised when Cook is crowned the winner tonight, but legions of casual viewers will surely be shocked. Either way, they both should be fine no matter what, but Cook's emotions and Simon's technique were enough to give him the win.
Now off to tonight's supersized finale, which will hopefully not (but most likely will) feature hologram duets with dead singers. At least Carrie will be there to save the show.
A few quick notes and spoilers regarding tonight's performance show (all spoilers are from IDF)...
-David Archuleta won the coin toss last week, and elected to go second (duh).
-Clive Davis, despite being demoted over at Sony BMG, chose a song for each of the Top 2 to sing. It was revealed that he chose Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" for David A., but his pick for David Cook has not been revealed.
-David A. will sing "Imagine" for his reprise, while David C. will sing U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" as a new choice rather than a reprise.
-Each David got to choose which coronation song they would like to perform out of the Top 10 chosen by viewers' votes. Or so they claim...
UPDATE: David C. has chosen "No Turning Back," while David A. has chosen "Here I Am."
-Bo Bice and Jennifer Hudson have confirmed they will appear, and two former contestants from every season will perform.
-Both Davids will do a duet to OneRepublic's "Apologize." OneRepublic will also be there.
-The Top 5 contestants will each perform with an "idol" (kind of like what happened in Season 5). Bryan Adams is one of those rumored to be performing with someone.
IDOL LIVE is the place to stay up to date with the most current news on past, present and possibly future American Idol contestants, in addition to discussing the show in real-time as it happens.
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