'Idol' odds 'n ends: Adam Lambert debuts single "For Your Entertainment"

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

>Adam Lambert stopped by Ryan Seacrest's radio show on KIIS-FM this morning to debut his first single, "For Your Entertainment off his forthcoming album of the same name. Listen to the song below:

"For Your Entertainment" was written by proven hit makers Dr. Luke and Claude Kelly. Although the single is not yet up at digital retailers like iTunes, it can be purchased on Adam's official Web site for $1.29.

>It was announced this week that Carly Smithson-fronted band We Are The Fallen has signed with Universal Republic Records. Below is a snippet from a press release sent out on Wed., Oct. 28:

“We Are The Fallen represents a bold new musical turning point and we’re thrilled to be able to deliver their music to audiences hungering for their brand of passion,” stated Lipman. “The combined elements of this band are a force to be reckoned with, and the entire company joins me in welcoming them to Universal Republic Records.”

The release states the band expects an early 2010 album release.

>Katharine McPhee is currently hosting a contest called "Kat's Karaoke Challenge" in a group on Facebook. The contest asks fans to make a recording of themselves, family member, or friends singing the first verse of Kat's single "Had It All."

The winner of the contest has the chance to win an iPod Touch and a phone call from Kat. More information about the contest can be found on her official Facebook fan page.

>Kris Allen spoke with Big D of Kiss 98.5 FM of Peoria, Ill., earlier today. Listen to the interview below:

In the interview, Kris said he still sees former finalists from his season and he answered a few fan questions, including that the video for "Live Like We're Dying" will debut on Fri., Nov. 6. He said it's "cool" but "weird" that he has so many fan sites and there are a couple songs by a lot of different people and he's excited about the song he wrote.

>Jordin Sparks had a night out on the town with fellow teen singer JoJo and Robin Williams' daughter Zelda out in Hollywood at the Bardot lounge on Tues., Oct. 27. The photo is courtesy of JustJaredJr.buzznet.com. Jordin tweeted about the lounge:

“Im out with @jojoistheway and @zeldawilliams. Tired but this place better start dancin soon!!” The place did!

The next day, Jordin was spotted shopping for Halloween costumes. No word yet on what she decided to dress as.

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Jordin Sparks' 'Battlefield' to be released July 21

Jordin Sparks' sophomore album Battlefield is now set for a July 21 release date, coming one week later than first reported. According to an official press release courtesy of Jive Records:

19 Recordings/Jive Records artist Jordin Sparks is set to release her sophomore effort Battlefield on July 21st. Sparks is off to a great start with the album launch. This week the lead single and title-track "Battlefield" is the No.1 "most added single" at pop radio, according to industry monitoring service Mediabase. Sparks recently premiered "Battlefield" on American Idol.

As for Jordin's personal thoughts on the album, she said the title reflects "strength" and "perseverance," adding:

"I think the range of songs and topics on the entire album are ultimately about strength in life, love and in staying true to yourself."

Songwriters and producers slated to make appearances on Battlefield include Dr. Luke, T-Pain, Ryan Tedder and Stargate.

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Album review: Kelly's 'All I Ever Wanted'

After hitting a few speed bumps on the road to consistent success, dependable pop/rock maven Kelly Clarkson bombards fans with her much-anticipated fourth studio album, ‘All I Ever Wanted.’ Clarkson calls on big named songwriters and proven producers including Howard Benson to assist her in convincing audiences the album is worth listening to, trading in artistic experiments for guaranteed pop hits.

Leading off the disc is the super sugary and ultra radio-friendly #1 hit single “My Life Would Suck Without You.” The same team that was responsible for her most memorable hit, “Since U Been Gone,” Max Martin and Dr. Luke, offers up its talents with the highest-quality dance/pop production possible on the track. Although it is a great way to begin ‘Wanted,’ it’s not nearly its strongest track.

Other current sounding songs with similar Katy Perry dance elements include the Ryan Tedder-produced and co-penned “If I Can’t Have You,” which could be confused with a Miley Cyrus song thanks to juvenile lyrics if it weren’t for Clarkson’s distinct vocals, while another Tedder track, “Impossible,” is stylized and produced to soda pop perfection complete with synths and a big classic Clarkson bridge.

The comparisons to Perry’s work found on ‘Wanted’ are made easier by the inclusion of two former demos recorded by radio’s newest sensation, which she helped pen with the likes of Glen Ballard and ‘Idol’ judge Kara DioGuardi among others. Clarksons’s takes on the two tracks, “I Do Not Hook Up” and “Long Shot” are certified earworms. “Hook Up,“ the album’s second single, has an anthemic vibe that carries positive connotations, while the stronger “Long Shot” features a crazy, catchy chorus and staccato verses that add intensity to the album.

One thing that can’t be denied about ‘Wanted’ is the idea that it’s a combination of elements from Clarkson’s three previous albums, which makes it her most diverse one stylistically speaking by a large margin. The album that seems to be drawn on the most here is ‘Breakaway’ for obvious reasons, as songs like the hit-in-waiting “Don’t Let Me Stop You” beckons back to “Behind These Hazel Eyes” and “Save You” sounds like it would fit right in on her most commercial album to date.

Just as there are oodles of dance-pop hits on the album, there are just as many rock tracks a la ‘My December.’ Title track “All I Ever Wanted” (Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Dameon Aranda) is among the catchiest offerings while maintaining instrumentation with heavy bass, guitar chords and earthy vocals per Clarkson. The grungy “Whyyawannabringmedown,” also written by Aranda, is the most intense song on ‘Wanted’ and helps show off Clarkson’s personality. Other ‘My December’-esque tracks are the bluesy “Ready” and the dreamy, throwback-sounding “I Want You,” both of which Clarkson had a hand in writing.

The strongest track on ‘Wanted’ is without a doubt the power ballad “Cry,” which is where Clarkson is able to show off her range and fuse it with a beautiful arrangement. Clarkson herself described the song as being “the most personal song on the album,” and a few country elements included in the instrumentation give it a raw and gritty feeling at the same time. “Already Gone,” the album’s second-strongest offering, sounds like an updated “Nothing Compares 2 U” complete with haunting, echoing vocals. Although it is often compared to another Tedder-produced track (Beyoncé’s “Halo”), the song is original enough to stand on its own as a musical and lyrical achievement.

Clarkson chooses to finish off ‘Wanted’ with the Keri Noble cover of “If No One Will Listen,” which is the most ‘Thankful’-like option. Although it is a nice ballad in its own right, it feels a bit out of place here, especially as a closing track.

Among the three bonus tracks available on the deluxe edition are yet another Tedder/Clarkson collaboration, “Tip of My Tongue,” which sounds like something that could be heard as part of a high school dance club‘s act, and “The Day We Fell Apart,” a more ratcheted and rocked up “I Do Not Hook Up.” Either track could have easily been swapped with two tracks on the original album and they would have fit relatively well.

Even though ‘All I Ever Wanted’ is far from measuring up to Clarkson’s most artistic album (’My December’), it is on par with ‘Breakaway’ in terms of balancing commercial appeal with personal influence from Clarkson herself. Whether or not the album measures up to the success of the aforementioned disc, Kelly Clarkson is surely back in the game and is ready to redeem her throne atop the pop music kingdom.

Buy on iTunes and Amazon.

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Track review: Kelly's "My Life Would Suck Without You"

Kelly Clarkson is back in her photoshopped form with the Dr. Luke/Max Martin instant hit “My Life Would Suck Without You,” out Fri., Jan. 16. Although she has temporarily left her ‘December’ style behind, Clarkson still knows exactly how to make a pop gem.

“Suck” does not present listeners with anything truly groundbreaking, lyrically (“either way I found out / I’m nothing without you“) or musically, but it does feature Clarkson’s signature toned vocals. Her vocals, though dressed up thanks to autotuning, blend well with the techno-rock composition of the song. The “Since U Been Gone”-like opening guitar chord and the “So What”-like chorus call originality into question but the catchiness of “Suck” cancels out those claims.

Where Clarkson really makes “Suck” her own is in the final chorus when she hits a few astronomically high notes. This is the artist that fans know and love and her return to the music scene after a few rough years is just what radio needed.

Kelly Clarkson may be traveling the commercially-friendly route right now, especially with the techno thing in style, but her spunk, tenacity and unparalleled vocals set her leaps and bounds ahead of the Katy Perrys and the Lady Gagas of the world. She will always be a role model for artists, and “My Life Would Suck Without You” is something special for that reason.

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"My Life Would Suck Without You" lyrics released

The lyrics to Kelly Clarkson's highly anticipated single "My Life Would Suck Without You" were today revealed in an entry on AOL's PopEater blog. Read the lyrics below:

Guess this means you’re sorry
You’re standing at my door
Guess this means you take back
What you said before
Like how much you wanted
Anyone but me
Said you’d never come back
But here you are again

Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

Maybe I was stupid for telling you goodbye
Maybe I was wrong for tryin’ to pick a fight
I know that I’ve got issues
But you’re pretty messed up too
Anyway, I found out I’m nothing without you

Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

Being with you is so dysfunctional
I really shouldn’t miss you, but I can’t let go
Oh yeah

Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

The song, which was written by the hit-making duo of Dr. Luke and Max Martin with the help of Claude Kelly, should leak any day now, and with the lyrics being posted on PopEater, that (along with AOL Music) would be a good place to check frequently over the next few days.

"My Life Would Suck Without You" officially hits radio airwaves on Mon., Jan. 19.

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Kelly's "My Life Would Suck Without You" video filming

The release of Kelly Clarkson's latest single "My Life Would Suck Without You" is still a month away (Jan. 13), but she's already filming its music video.

The video will be directed by Wayne Isham (David Cook's "Light On," 'N Sync's "It's Gonna Be Me," "Bye Bye Bye") and filming will take place Dec. 20-21 in Los Angeles. The synopsis?

Cute tale of romance from childhood into adulthood

Below are the parts that had to be auditioned for today:

Role
LEAD GUY / Non-Union / Lead / Male / Caucasian / 24-29
Rugged, Cool, Edgy, All American Good Lookin Guy. Not a bulky jock or a skinny rocker guy. Also must be able to act and be comfortable kissing Kelly Clarkson.
Rate: $1000 Negotiable
Role Added 12/15/2008 3:04:00 PM

Other Current Roles
LITTLE LEAD GUY / Non-Union / Featured / Male / Caucasian / 6-8
I need a talented lead guy to play our tbd lead male on the play ground. Must be a strong actor and have up to date paperwork
Rate: $200
Role Added 12/15/2008 3:08:00 PM

LITTLE KELLY / Non-Union / Featured / Female / Caucasian / 6-8
I need an extremely talented little actress to play Kelly Clarkson on a playground meeting her future true love. Please make sure all paperwork is up to date and research Kelly's current look. Thank you
Rate: $200 Negotiable

"My Life Would Suck Without You" was written by Max Martin and Dr. Luke. Other songs rumored to be on the album include "Save You," which she co-wrote with Ryan Tedder and "Hook Up," a Katy Perry reject that was cut from her One of the Boys album (ouch at the latter).

Her fourth studio album is tentatively scheduled to be out March 17, 2009.

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