Idolator: Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff Reaches Out, Touches Martin Gore's Wallet

Maura Johnston — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Hilary Duff's holiday cash-in greatest-hits album comes out tomorrow, and one of the two new songs is the above "Reach Out," which reaches Diddyesque heights with its bombastically obvious sample of "Personal Jesus"—right down to the lyrical re-inversion of the original track's spin on Ma Bell's old "reach out and touch someone" slogan. Apparently Ryan "OneRepublic" Tedder thought that his production work was enough for him to garner a co-writing credit on the track, even if said work just involved skipping a virtual needle over the first bit of Depeche Mode's original. And the guest rapper rhymes "fire" with "desire"... sigh. Also of note: The video above is the "director's cut," because it shows the Duffster semi-suggestively sucking her thumb, dry-humping a statue, and trussed up in a mask like Erotica-era Madonna. You've been warned? [YouTube via Velvet Rope]

"American Idol" Hopefuls To Be Judged By Former Dave Stewart Collaborator

Maura Johnston — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EDT

Alas, I'm not talking about Annie Lennox. In an effort to bring what a Fox exec calls more "girl power" to the show, the judges' table for the next season of American Idol will now have a Coke cup for songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who's shared writing credits on songs including Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" and Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away" and collaborated with Stewart on the pseudo-retro project Platinum Weird. DioGuardi, who Idol head honcho Simon Fuller called "a smart, sassy lady," is being billed as the show's fourth judge, which I guess means either that the judges' table will be widened or Paula Abdul will get some time off to "rest" now and again. (One producer claims that Idol was always supposed to have four judges, although it seems strange to me that it took the executives this long to find someone who wanted the gig.) A few highlights of DioGuardi's career after the jump.

Platinum Weird - "Taking Chances"

That's DioGuardi on lead vocals.

Kelly Clarkson - "Walk Away"

This video perfectly captures my reaction to this track.

Hilary Duff - With Love

Ashlee Simpson - La La

Time has not been kind to this track. (Christ, her voice.)

Katharine McPhee - "Love Story"

A song that deserved better. At least McPhee's Idol appearance helped kickstart her acting career, right?

Lindsay Lohan - "Confessions Of A Broken Heart"

I wonder if this means this year will have "Inappropriate Overshare Week."

Celine Dion - "Taking Chances"

Does this mean we're going to have a Celine Dion mentor week? Dare to dream.

GRAMMY-NOMINATED SONGWRITER KARA DIOGUARDI JOINS PAULA ABDUL, SIMON COWELL AND RANDY JACKSON AS JUDGE ON "AMERICAN IDOL" [Press release via The Futon Critic]

On The Shelf: Tomorrow's New Releases Revealed Today

mjohnston — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:30:42 EDT

Welcome to On The Shelf, Idolator's weekly look at the new releases hitting stores on Tuesday. This week sees the deluxe edition of B'Day, which is laden with Shakira cameos and lots of videos, as well as the new album by grillmeister Paul Wall, whose list of cameos is almost as overloaded as his MySpace page. (Warning: If your computer isn't Army-grade, don't click that link, or you'll be doomed to Crash City.)

After the jump, we look at new releases by Timbaland, Sick Puppies, Hilary Duff, and the trio of Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Jimmy Buffett.

Timbaland, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
The artist: If you don't know by now, we have clearly failed.
The sound: Fifteen pounds of crap in a 10-lb. bag that, curiously, does not include the awesome M.I.A. track.
The first in line: Magoo-hunters.

Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Jimmy Buffett, Live at Texas Stadium
The artists: Two Texans and a Mississippian who teamed up for a fluke triple bill back in '04.
The sound: An all-night party where margaritas and Lone Star beer are the only offerings.
The first in line: Revelers who have no qualms about pairing a Hawaiian shirt with a cowboy hat.

Sick Puppies, Dressed Up As Life
The artist: Aussie rockers turned YouTube phenomena. (You remember "Free Hugs," right? Right?)
The sound: Apparently, nu-metal is still big down under.
The first in line: We have no idea, although we're leaning toward it being someone who picked up Korn Unplugged a few weeks back.

Hilary Duff, Dignity
The artist: Disney princess turned queen of the MisShapes set, thanks to her dalliance with one of the Good Charlotte guys.
The sound: Sprightly pop tinged with post-breakup bitterness.
The first in line: Scholars of intertextual pop analysis who will try and match lyrics on this record to those from Good Morning Revival.

On The CD Front [Pause & Play]

Liner Notes: Hilary Begins Her Mud-Slinging 2007 Campaign

Brian Raftery — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST

- Hilary Duff talks smack about Nicole Richie on her new album, which apparently also addresses the time Duff was harassed by "a very frightening pair of Russian stalkers." Come on, now—doesn't she know that the Kaczynski brothers are Polish? [Radar]
- Jimi Hendrix's estate has filed a lawsuit against the makers of Hendrix Electric Vodka, claiming the product is an unauthorized "sick joke." Up next: A civil suit against Lenny Kravitz's entire 1990-1997 output. [Billboard]
- George Michael continues to break the hearts of Idolator editors everywhere by once again refusing to tour the U.S. [Pollstar]

The Cover-Song Showcase Showdown: Wrapping Up "Last Christmas"

mjohnston — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 09:23:28 EST

Now that it's the season for "Last Christmas," the 1984 Yuletide lament by Wham!, to blare from public loudspeakers all over the land, we figured the time was right to stage a Cover-Song Showcase Showdown for the song. There are many covers floating around out there, and we've selected four for you to download and vote on today: they come from, in alphabetical order, Crazy Frog, Hilary Duff, Jimmy Eat World, and Sarge.

~~Crazy Frog - Last Christmas~~ [MP3, link expired]
~~Hilary Duff - Last Christmas~~ [MP3, link expired]
~~Jimmy Eat World - Last Christmas~~ [MP3, link expired]
~~Sarge - Last Christmas~~ [MP3, link expired]

This Way, They're Too Young to Realize Their Dating A Third-Rate Billie Joe Armstrong Wanna-Be

Brian Raftery — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:43:38 EDT

Good Charlotte are making good use of their mall-punk following. From today's Page Six:

THE Madden twins, 25-year- old Benji and Joel of the pop-punk band Good Charlotte, like their ladies young. Joel started romancing Hilary Duff when she was 16 (she's now 18). Now comes word that Benji is dating movie producer Christine Peters' daughter, Caleigh, 17. They dined Wednesday night at Il Sole in L.A., and even though Benji insisted to paparazzi that they were just pals, a Caleigh confidante tells us they're an item: "It's no big deal - she turns 18 next month."

"Hot for Youth" [Page Six]