Tag Archives: American Idol

I’m Not Dead Yet

23 Aug

Thank you Monty Python. As you have noticed, I have not posted in a few days. I just want to assure you that I’m not dead yet, and contrary to public opinion, I will not be soon. You see, I’ve just been busy lately and this has thwarted me from posting. I know, real sob story. Seriously, though, I love posting. I take enjoyment in having the ability to bring you quality posts about good music. Quality is the key word there. Can I post everyday? Yes, a quick video and a “this song is good” can get me five posts a day. But I believe that every post should have some value, even if it is a brief reminder that I am not dead, just busy.

Tomorrow night may be the death of me, actually. Okay, that is an over-exaggeration. After work, I am joining my sister and mother to view an American Idol concert. Yeah, the post-TV live concerts the group of singers put on for fans of the show. I plan on writing a review for the blog, so hold tight. Look, I enjoy American Idol. It has become understandably predictable and somewhat trite, but I still watch it religiously every season. Perhaps it is because the show has become a family activity. Or, maybe there is something inherently wrong with me. Either or. What I do know is that I am interested in seeing the concert tomorrow.

Also, I have another concert review to write. So, expect two concert reviews in the upcoming days. I hope to get them both out this week. Before I slip off to dreamworld, I do want to leave you with a song. I was going to post a clever song about being busy, but when I thought of potential songs all I could think of posting to the blog is:

Random, right? There is something about this Warren Zevon song that always has worked for me. Perhaps it is his subtle humor. Maybe it is simply the fact that it is a great song with great lyrics. Heck, it did spark a movie title. You know what I do know?

“LeRoy says there’s something you should know
Not everybody has a place to go
And home is just a place to hang your head
And dream of things to do in Denver when you’re dead”

Somehow that makes a whole lot of sense. Okay, a lot of Zevon sense!

Tags: , , ,

Idol Albums – Coldplay LP in October – Ticketing Experiment

15 Aug

McCreery to Release Debut Album in October

Alfred E. Newman – Oh – I mean Scotty McCreery, winner of the most recent season of American Idol, will release his first album Clear as Day on Oct. 4. In a message to his fans McCreery wrote, “We focused on making the best music possible. I’m really proud of it and so grateful to have the opportunity to record an album before my 18th birthday.”

When I was 18…well, I wasn’t releasing debut album. Wait, let me qualify that. Debut “Succesful” albums. That is pretty awesome. For the top-24 this year I knew that McCreery would end up winning the entire competition. Why did I think this? American Idol has an incredibly strong country base. Seriously, solid country stars can fly through the show with ease. McCreery not only has a true country croon, but also he is young and respectable. Big, big help. At the end, the final two contestants were country singers and this really came to no surprise to people who have been watching the show for a while.

McCreery is insanely talented. Yes, for some, his act became old quickly. I mean, he could only sing country, right? Yes. But why is this an issue? He has a niche. He is perfectly comfortable in said niche. His first (and all remaining albums) will be country (with a probable pop twist). That is what album number one will be. I’ll make this prediction now. I think that McCreery will have the longest and most succesful career among all idol winners.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

New Coldplay Album


What the heck does that album title mean? Good question. Your guess is as good as mine. Coldplay will release Mylo Xyloto on Oct. 25, their official full-length follow-up to 2008’s Viva La Vida, which both had an understandable name and sold 2.8 million units. Yeah, nbd. Despite the rap that Coldplay gets, they are a hugely popular band and their piano-based rock is enjoyable. The band released the album’s first single “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” in June. On Sept. 12 the band will release their second single “September” to the awaiting public. Yeah, September in September.

I’m looking forward to the new release, even moreso now because the title is so enigmatic. Coldplay knows what they are doing and if the album has similar fire power to Viva La Vida it will meet with tremendous success. I’m also curious. Chris Martin has stated that the album does not have a specific genre and while that is pretty consistent with his dislike for pigeon-holing Coldplay’s music, it is still worth mentioning because last time fans were told to expect the unexpected, the band released an album that oozed with fluid sounds and eccentric rhythms.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Experiments with All-Mobile Ticketing

Alright, this is pretty awesome. Billboard had their Summer Blowout Party featuring bands like LMFAO and Swizz Beatz. That’s not the awesome part. I mean I’m sure the concert was cool, but the way that people got into the concert is even cooler.

ShowClix, a company founded by  Joshua Dziabiak, is attempting to revolutionize the way that people get into shows. Do you lose papers easily and sometimes misplace tickets? Well, with ShowClix, everything is on your phone. That’s right, after you purchase your tickets they are sent to your phone via text message. When you get to the gate, you present the text message with your ticket and an attendant uses a device to scan it. Deal done. You go and enjoy your show and the garbages at the venue are not full with ripped up tickets (an environmentally friendly option). That’s how people who went to Billboard’s Summer Blowout displayed their tickets. It takes electronic ticketing to a new level.

I think this is great. Even if this is applied as another delivery option, it can save a lot of paper and frantic minutes searching for those damn tickets before you leave for the show. I can foresee this emerging as a premier ticketing option in the future. What do you think?

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Review of the American Idol Finale

26 May

17-year-old Scotty McCreery became the 10th winner of Fox’s American Idol last night, marking a creative season of new judges and exciting talent that boiled down to two country singers in the finals. At the end, 16-year-old Lauren Alaina could not lasso the strong country vote away from the unmistakable croon of Scotty. The win was unsurprising and pretty unexciting. Scotty was practically tagged as the winner when the viewer voting began. He does fit the perfect parameters of a winner. He is a baby-faced, good-mannered individual whose dark voice fits effortlessly into country music. He also looks like a frightening hybrid of Alfred E. Newman and a young George W. Bush. It’s striking, right?

While Scotty winning Idol was rather pablum and seemingly pre-planned, the finale last night was a concert. I have to think that’s why most people tuned in. The night featured guest performances by Lady Gaga, Marc Anthony, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Beyonce, Bono and The Edge (from Spiderman: The Musical), and even Jack Black. Yes, Jack Black, who was his normal hyperbolic and awkward self. Lady Gaga and Bono/Edge performed theatrical sets by themselves, but singers like Tom Jones and Beyonce joined season 10 Idol contestants. Jack Black performed with bearded odd-ball Casey Abrams and Tony Bennett joined the grunty, jazz singer Hailey Reinhardt. Oddly enough, the two most vapid, uninteresting performances of the night belonged to the finalists, but maybe that’s just because I am not a big country music fan. If I had to give the grade of A+ to one performance during last night’s variety act, the title would have to go to the poppy/gospel rendition of “I Smile” with Kirk Franklin, Gladys Kight and season 10 contestant Jacob Lusk.

Jacob Lusk sings gospel. That is just what he does. Idol, though, forces singers out of their “comfort zones” so they can grow comfortable with all musical climates. The result is generally unproductive. Let the contestants sing what they sing well. Unless you are a contestant like Casey Abrams or season seven winner David Cook that demonstrates strong musical ingenuity, it is difficult turning a Carole King song into heavy metal (season 10 contestant James Durbin‘s plight throughout the season). Lusk is comfortable in gospel as displayed above. The performance was powerful. It was jam-packed with vocal runs, a stentorian chorus and, of course, the aura of Gladys Knight. Well done bringing this choir together, American Idol. It made the show.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Newer Entries →