The first single from American Idol third-place finisher Danny Gokey premiered on a Wisconsin country-music station this morning, and it’s probably not going to come as much of a surprise to people who followed him during his long American Idol journey. The track, “It’s Only,” is an inspirational ditty that’s clearly channeling “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” and his breathy voice is nearly drowned out by a super-mournful slide guitar at various moments. (The phrase Chicken Soup For The Ears bubbled into my brain at more than one point.) I don’t foresee hearing this in my dentist’s office, but I think it’ll perform well thanks to its holiday-season release timing and heart-filled message. [MJ] MORE »
Posts Tagged ‘American Idol’
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Danny Gokey’s First Single The Latest Sign That He Wants To Be Your Inspiration
the last word
Carrie Underwood Embraces Her Idol Status
Our look at the closing lines of new music reviews continues with a roundup of reactions to Play On, the third studio album by season-four American Idol winner Carrie Underwood: MORE »
(intentional) leak of the day
Adam Lambert Stomps Around The Stage
ARTIST: Adam Lambert
TITLE: “For Your Entertainment”
WEB DEBUT: Oct. 30, 2009 MORE »
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Adam Lambert’s First Single Gets Kicked Online A Little Bit Early
American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert’s debut recording “Time For Miracles”—which is supposed to debut on the soundtrack to the forthcoming slice of apocalyporn 2012—has made its way onto the Internet thanks to someone at the iTunes Store’s Italy branch getting a bit overexcited about the prospect of it existing. And oh boy, is it a doozy: It’s a megasized ballad that puts previous destructoflick tie-in songs like “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” to shame, with strings glopped all over it and Lambert showing off every octave that he can. I guess the ’90s revival had to extend to supersized soundtrack ballads that were tailor-made for… being overperformed by hopefuls attending American Idol auditions. Hey, wait a second! Clip after the jump. MORE »
idolator's american idolatry
If “American Idol” Rankings Tank Next Season, Expect Kara And Randy To Start Working Blue
The Czech TV giant TV Nova has figured out a way to get people to tune into its show “virally,” and it doesn’t even involve a Kanye West run-in! They’re letting their judges’ freak flags fly, leaving their profanity-laced barbs at the hopefuls uncensored—even though the show runs during the state-mandated pre-10 p.m. “family time.” The Wall Street Journal notes that this new turn toward fast-and-loose language has coincided with a ratings boom for the program! Hmm. Hmm! MORE »
The post-dignity era
Oh, Paula, Vh1’s People Sure Were Cold-Hearted Snakes To You Last Night
Last night’s star turn by Paula Abdul as the host of Vh1 Divas was full of bad references to Abdul’s recent American Idol past, including an extended turn in which Abdul donned a blond wig and used her dancing skills to mock the way her Idol replacement Ellen DeGeneres enters on her talk show… only to take back any parodic intent almost immediately after the lengthy aisle-dancing segment was finished. Oy. Clip after the jump. MORE »
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Katharine McPhee: Over Her Brown Hair, Not Over Classic Adult-Contemporary Stylings
Season five American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee has a new hair color (she’s a blonde) to go along with her new album, which is currently slated to come out in the new year (its release date is 01/05/10, making it the first specific 2010 release date to cross my transom). I actually liked a few tracks on McPhee’s first album—the Kara DioGuardi/Danja-penned “Love Story” really should have been a bigger hit—but “Say Goodbye,” Unbroken’s first single, is a bit of a snoozer that sounds like it was crafted for Lite-FM playlists circa 1996. Which becomes less surprising when you realize that it was written by a team of Nashville songsmiths that includes two-thirds of the team behind Lonestar’s unkillable “Amazed.”Clip after the jump. MORE »
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“American Idol” Delays Its Trip To Hollywood
In American Idol seasons past, the yawning stretch of months between the summer auditions and the winter season premiere were dotted by Hollywood Week, where the roster of hopefuls would be cut down to the semifinalist list, and where spoilers over just which singers had made the grade would inevitably make their way to the Internet. Much like the judges’ table, however, this year things are going to be different—the show has pushed Hollywood Week back to January, in part to make room for new addition Ellen DeGeneres. MORE »
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Because You Were Probably Wondering What Sanjaya Thought Of Ellen DeGeneres’ “Idol” Gig
In the above clip, former American Idol Sanjaya Malakar gets told that Ellen DeGeneres is the newest addition to the American Idol judges’ table while he and his hair hang out backstage and listen to… thrash? Eh, perhaps they use that particular strand of music to get super-pumped, since Sanjaya about jumps out of his sofa once the news is broken to him. [Rickey] MORE »
