'Idol' odds 'n ends: Lee DeWyze performs "Hallelujah" on 'The View'

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

>Continuing in his "Idols Live!" tour-promoting mode, Lee DeWyze stopped by The View on Monday for a brief chat with co-hosts Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd in addition to an acoustic performance of "Hallelujah." Watch the segment below:

Lee didn't have much to say in the interview, but that's not surprising considering the questions he was fielded. Luckily, he delivered an alright performance to make up for it.

>Also on The View this week was Clay Aiken, who served as guest co-host on Tuesday's episode. Surprisingly, Clay "cussed" during a segment in which the ladies discussed spoiled children (or something to that effect). Watch Clay's exit interview in which he apologizes below:



The full episode can be viewed on ABC's website. Clay is planning to begin his "Timeless Tour" with fellow Season 2 alum Ruben Studdard on Fri., July 23 in Asheville, N.C., on which he will promote his new album Tired & True.

>Katharine McPhee promoted her work with the campaign being sponsored by ConAgra Foods and Feeding America on Friday's episode of On the Record with Greta Van Susteren on FOX News Channel. Watch the segment below:



In addition to talking about the campaign, Kat also said she will spend roughly three months putting together her upcoming yet-to-be-titled Christmas album, which she already began recording.

>Kris Allen took a break from his tour with The Barenaked Ladies on Thursday to finally film the music video for his current single "The Truth" in the California desert, however before much could get filmed, rain canceled the operation. Kris was set to film the video with his love interest, model Cindy Vela, and Pat Monahan of Train, but according to one of Kris' recent tweets, it will resume on Monday.

Photos from the set of the shoot were released, however, showing that Kris' wife, Katy, is standing by to show him some support.

>David Cook posted one of his world famous vlogs this week to tease fans about his upcoming release. It basically consists of black and white shots of recording sessions in the studio. Watch the vlog below:



David sang roughly six seconds of a new track, which turns out to be David Hodges' "Hard to Believe."

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Out today: Katharine McPhee's "Had It All," Phil Stacey's 'Into the Light'

For the first time in a while, a new Idol-related single sees its release as an exclusive download at iTunes in the form of Katharine McPhee's "Had It All." The song, which was penned by Mitch Allan, David Hodges & Kara DioGuardi, is the first single off Katharine's upcoming release Unbroken, which is due out Tues., Oct. 6.

Also out today is Phil Stacey's sophomore album Into the Light, which is courtesy of Reunion Records. The album, which features the lead single "You're Not Shaken," is in the Contemporary Christian genre, a departure from his previous experiments in country music.

Links to purchase the aforementioned can be found below:

Singles
Katharine McPhee, "Had It All"

iTunes - ($0.99) - Buy

Albums
Phil Stacey, Into the Light

Amazon - ($13.98) - Buy
Amazon MP3 - ($9.99) - Buy
Barnes & Noble - ($11.09) - Buy
Best Buy - ($12.99) - Buy
CDUniverse - ($11.18) - Buy
iTunes - ($9.99) - Buy
Sears - ($8.99) - Buy

Katharine has been excitedly tweeting about the single's release over the past week, and informed fans that two webisodes would be released on her official music MySpace page on the same day. Unbroken can now be pre-ordered on Amazon as a CD/DVD deluxe package as well as a traditional CD.

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Track review: Katharine McPhee's "Had It All"

In anticipation of her forthcoming album ‘Unbroken’ (Oct. 6) courtesy of Verve Forecast, Katharine McPhee opts for a new look, and more importantly, a new sound as demonstrated by the album’s lead single “Had It All.”

Leaving behind the R&B-fused pop and open-toed shoes found on her debut LP, McPhee settles for a more earthy sound while marinating her vocal prowess. Although it is inaccurate to classify the song as being “indie,” it definitely gives off indie vibes as her vocals glide seamlessly over the barely polished production of the track.

“Had It All” was co-penned by an all-star trio of Mitch Allan, Kara DioGuardi and David Hodges, and the lyrics work for the most part despite having a bland chorus (“I had it all I threw it all aside / thinking there was more there I needed to find / I had it all baby till you went away”).

At the song’s bridge, McPhee harkens back to her days on ‘Idol’ with a building, billowing high note that carries through the song’s remainder, and finally settles on a crisp, calm finale.

Katharine McPhee surely is back in the game, only this time her true persona will shine through thanks to songs like “Had It All” that will allow her to demonstrate the most suitable styles of music for the budding artist.

"Had It All" is now available to purchase on iTunes.

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