David Archuleta took a break from his endless schedule of radio station-sponsored jungle balls to sing "O Holy Night" - one of his favorite Christmas tunes - at a VIP reception prior to the Christmas tree lighting in Hollywood, Calif. on Sat., Dec. 6. Watch the performance below:
Hopefully Jive is taking note and a Christmas album could be a possibility for the fourth quarter of 2009.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Arch performs at Hollywood tree lighting
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Jordin spends her December in southern hemisphere
Jordin Sparks is currently touring with Alicia Keys in Austrlia and New Zealand for the month. In addition to being found running on the beach in New Zealand on an off day, below is video of her showing off Cable Bay:
Jordin has been getting alright reviews, as she is not the main draw on this tour for obvious reasons. Below is what reviewer Heather McCracken of Stuff.co.nz had to say of her:
Keys was supported by Jordin Sparks, who performed a sweet and very brief set.On the tour Jordin has been performing Michael Jackson's "PYT," which has been getting good feedback.
The American Idol success-story punctuated each song with a gushing: "Thank you guys so much," and then, "I'm so excited about this next song".
But her enthusiasm was endearing and her big hits - Tattoo and No Air - were well received by the youthful crowd.
Jordin also talked with Kate Rodger of New Zealand's 3 News about the tour in which she expressed her excitement of receiving a Grammy nomination for "No Air."
The tour wraps up in Perth, Australia on Sat., Dec. 20.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
'Idol' Christmas tour hits Athens (Georgia, that is)
The four Idol alums that are currently taking part in Michael Orland's "American Stars in Concert for the Holidays" rolled into Athens, Ga., last night, where they are also performing tonight at the Classic Center.
The tour has already passed through Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Sugar Loaf, N.Y., El Paso, Tx., Easton, Pa. and Englewood, N.J. Below is a fan video of Diana DeGarmo, Kimberley Locke, Chikezie and David Hernandez performing in a medley of Christmas songs:
The tour has been generating positive reviews but has been pulling in lackluster crowds with the exception of last night, when there was nearly a sold-out house (most likely because the area is Diana's home turf).
The crew will make their next nationally televised appearance on The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet on Fri., Dec. 12.
Friday, December 5, 2008
HITS predix: Cook 80-85k
In their revised sales predictions posted earlier today, HITS Daily Double announced that David Cook's album is trending toward a #9-10 finish for its third week.
David Cook is expected to pull in 80-85k for the week, fighting out the High School Musical 3 soundtrack for the ninth spot on the chart. A finish in this vicinity would put his album at 472-77k, which would without a doubt be a healthy number at this stage.
'Idol' odds 'n ends: when 'Idol' and 'CSI' collide
The following are Idol-related odds and ends that happened this week:
>American Idol itself was spoofed on CSI in all its glory in the venerable crime show's episode last night in which the crew had to solve a murder revolving around the show "Overnight Sensation." Funny stuff, CBS.
>A few Idol alums reacted to the news of their Grammy nominations, most notably Jordin Sparks (who screamed in a video and posted a blog on her MySpace) and Jennifer Hudson (who called the nominations "truly a blessing").
>Kristy Lee Cook is featured in the December 2008 issue of Elle magazine in a story called "A New Reality." Carrie Underwood is on the cover of the issue.
>EW.com has a poll up asking readers to vote for their favorite music of 2008. David Cook is listed as one of the artists with the best album of the year. Results will be published in the magazine in the Dec. 19 issue.
>As reported by Ken Barnes of USAToday.com, the American Christmas compilation failed to sell 100 copies in its first week of release. That's really too bad.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
'Idol' BB 200: 'David Cook' #10 (12/13/08)
David Cook ruled the Billboard Top 200 album chart for the chart week of Dec. 13 among Idol alums with his debut major label album - a week that is traditionally kind to music sales. David Cook fell seven spots to #10 in its second week with an additional 111.6k copies, placing its total at 391.4k. That's a 60% drop, which is normal for a second week of an album with a large opening.
David Archuleta's self-titled album was up next, falling eight spots to #19 with a slight decrease in sales. The album took in 66.2k copies for a total of 315.7k after three weeks. Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride followed with another 21.2k units sold, or a healthy 29% uptick in sales, to scoot ahead one spot to #56.
Jennifer Hudson's self-titled album fell #47-62 thanks to an 11% dip in sales. It pulled in 18.8k for a total of 474.4k copies. David Foster's Hit Man CD/DVD combo dropped 29% to 8.6k copies, putting its total at 36k copies. It fell #71-113. Daughtry was up next with an additional 8.8k copies, up 36% to a total of 4.295 million copies. It held steady at #109.
Kellie Pickler's sophomore effort rounded out all Idol-related albums on the Billboard 200 with a 25-spot fall to #140 despite a 16% increase in sales. It sold 7.1k copies, putting its total at 114.1k.
Full numbers and chart positions courtesy of tony on Pulse as follows:
010 003 David Cook - David Cook 111,623 -60% 279,578 391,435
019 011 David Archuleta - David Archuleta 66,175 0% 66,417 315,716
056 057 Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride 21,199 29% 16,459 2,470,017
062 047 Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson 18,786 -11% 20,996 474,418
113 071 Various - Hit Man: David Foster... 8,596 -29% 12,132 36,012
109 109 Daughtry - Daughtry8,815 36% 6,477 4,295,459
140 115 Kellie Pickler - Kellie Pickler 7,103 16% 6,104 114,111
Total sales are in bold.
Cook wishes everyone a "Happy Christmas"
David Cook was one of many artists to perform at the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which aired tonight on NBC. He gave the audience a taste of his version of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." Watch the performance below:
Cook was also one of the many people gathered around the Christmas tree for the lighting at the end of the broadcast in addition to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Poll of the week: 'David Archuleta' is debut album champ
David Archuleta may not have been nominated for a Grammy, but his album was voted as IDOL LIVE readers' album of choice in the debut album champion series for our poll of the week segment.
David Archuleta won the poll with convincing clarity, taking home 423 votes, or 57% of the 738 votes cast. Although it was a close horse race over the last few days of the poll, Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts had to settle for #2, receiving 249 votes (33%).
The only other Idol alum to make a semi-dent in the final installment of the debut album champion poll series was Daughtry, whose debut took in 38 votes (5%).
In this week's poll of the week, readers are asked to vote what surprised them the most about the Idol alums regarding the revelation of the Grammy nominations. You will have exactly one week to vote.
Thankful (Kelly Clarkson) 13 (1%)
One Love (Kimberley Locke) 2 (0%)
Jennifer Hudson (Jennifer Hudson) 8 (1%)
Some Hearts (Carrie Underwood) 249 (33%)
Daughtry (Chris Daughtry) 38 (5%)
Jordin Sparks (Jordin Sparks) 5 (0%)
David Archuleta (David Archuleta) 423 (57%)
Total votes: 738
'Idol' alums nominated for 51st Grammys
There were a few Idol-related shockers at the special (yet pointless) one-hour 51st Grammy Awards announcement special, most of them having to do with who wasn't nominated.
CBS shamelessly stretched out the televised announcements for a few select "important" categories in tonight's special, with only one nomination in a major category going to an alum. Jordin Sparks was nominated for her single "No Air" along with Chris Brown in the Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals category.
But it was Jennifer Hudson that got the most nominations for an alum, as her "Spotlight" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, her duet with Fantasia of "I'm His Only Woman" received a nom for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and her debut album, Jennifer Hudson, got a nomination for Best R&B Album.
One of the more surprisingly revelations was how few nominations Carrie Underwood received. She was able to manage a nom for "Last Name" in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category and for "Ever Ever After" from Enchanted in the Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media category.
Full Idol-related category list follows:
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
* Lesson Learned - Alicia Keys & John Mayer
* 4 Minutes - Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
* Rich Woman - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
* If I Never See Your Face Again -Rihanna & Maroon 5
* No Air - Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
* Me, Myself And I - Beyoncé
* Heaven Sent - Keyshia Cole
* Spotlight - Jennifer Hudson
* Superwoman - Alicia Keys
* Need U Bad - Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
* Ribbon In The Sky - Boyz II Men
* Words - Anthony David Featuring India.Arie
* Stay With Me (By The Sea) - Al Green Featuring John Legend
* I'm His Only Woman - Jennifer Hudson Featuring Fantasia
* Never Give You Up - Raphael Saadiq Featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton
Best R&B Song
* Bust Your Windows - Salaam Remi & Jazmine Sullivan, songwriters (Deandre Way, songwriter) (Jazmine Sullivan)
* Customer - I. Barias, Raheem DeVaughn, C. Haggins, K. Oliver & J. Smith, songwriters (Raheem DeVaughn)
* Heaven Sent - Keyshia Cole, Jason Farmer & Alex Francis, songwriters (Keyshia Cole)
* Miss Independent - M.S. Eriksen, T.E. Hermansen & S. Smith, songwriters (Ne-Yo)
* Spotlight - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Jennifer Hudson)
Best R&B Album
* Love & Life - Eric Benét
* Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA - Boyz II Men
* Lay It Down - Al Green
* Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson
* The Way I See It - Raphael Saadiq
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
* For These Times - Martina McBride
* What I Cannot Change - LeAnn Rimes
* Last Name - Carrie Underwood
* Last Call - Lee Ann Womack
* This Is Me You're Talking To - Trisha Yearwood
Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
* Down To Earth (From Wall-E) - Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman, songwriters (Peter Gabriel)
* Ever Ever After (From Enchanted) - Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
* Say (From The Bucket List) - John Mayer, songwriter (John Mayer)
* That's How You Know (From Enchanted) - Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, songwriters (Amy Adams)
* Walk Hard (From Walk Hard — The Dewey Cox Story) - Judd Apatow, Marshall Crenshaw, Jake Kasdan & John C. Reilly, songwriters (John C. Reilly)
The real travesty was the fact that Leona Lewis lost out to the Jonas Brothers in the Best New Artist category. Truly an embarrassment to the music industry.
A full list of nominees for all 110 categories can be found on Grammy.com. The 51st annual Grammy Awards will air on CBS on Mon., Feb. 8 at 8 p.m.
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