AMERICAN IDOL RECAP – 3/31/09

This week’s theme was popular iTunes downloads. Seems like a very broad theme and I hoped that, with that freedom, the contestants would finally pick songs that really suited their styles. I thought wrong.

Anoop – ‘Caught Up’ by Usher – Ewww. No thanks. He makes faces like he’s some sex symbol. I don’t buy it. Tonight, he went back to the Anoop that I can’t take seriously.

Megan – ‘Turn Your Lights Down Low’ by Bob Marly/Lauryn Hill – She’s seemed disconnected and nervous. She’s definitely in trouble. Once again, she chose a song that no one cares about on this show. Every week the judges tell her to sing Adele and she ignores their advice.

Danny – “What Hurts The Most’ by Rascal Flatts – Are my speakers broken? I disagree with judges. Yes, he had the best performance after the first 2 people went, but I don’t think it was his best performance at all. That first note was not pretty. He sounded like he was straining. He should have taking the song down half of a step. Yes, he did well and he was emotionally connected with the song and the audience, but, technically speaking, he did not nail it.

Allison – ‘Don’t Speak’ by No Doubt – This girl’s either been working with a media coach or she’s watched herself on TV because she’s made some major improvements. She started off well with the guitar. It was a really intimate moment with Allison, but the transition into the chorus with the full band and back-up singers was a little awkward. But, never mind any of that…she can sing. And her outfit was HIDEOUS!

Scott – ‘Just The Way You Are’ by Billy Joel – He finally listened to the judges and performed some Billy Joel. But what the hell is up with his hair?! He definitely improved this week and the judges agreed. I’m not sure how much longer he’ll be around, but I’ve got to give him credit for listening to the judges because it paid off.

Matt – ‘You Found Me’ by The Fray – It was like he was someone else tonight. His style completely changed and he was trying to make his voice raspier. At the very end of the song on his final riff, he sounded like himself and I wished that he had sung the entire song in his normal, soulful voice. The song wasn’t necessarily a bad choice, but his vocal style was a mess.

Lil – ‘I Surrender’ by Celine Dion – I was really bored during her performance this week. Her voice sounded weak and it made it sound like the song was a bit too big for her. As the song went on, she got somewhat stronger, but on the biggest note of the song she fell short. Lil’s getting lost in this competition. During the first verse, it looked like she was watching the judges for their approval rather than performing for all of us. I felt cheated.

Adam – ‘Play That Funky Music’ by Wild Cherry– I’m kind of getting tired of his screaming. He’s clearly better than everyone else on the show, but his act made me uncomfortable tonight. I guess I feel like it wasn’t appropriate for this song. I also feel like his act only works when he wears some David Bowie inspired futuristic costume. I didn’t’ know what to make of him tonight. Thank God I still remember his performance from last week.

Chris – ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ by Bill Withers – Chris surprised all of us when he said he was going to be playing the piano tonight. Again, he’s playing his cards well in this competition. He took this song and totally made it his own and did it in a way that no other contest in Idol history has performed it. He’s a very smart guy and extremely talented. He was my favorite by a mile tonight. If he keeps this streak up, he could make it all the way to the end.

AMERICAN IDOL’S LAKISHA JONES IS PREGNANT

American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones is expecting her second child, her rep confirms to Usmagazine.com. It’s the first child she’s had with her husband Larry Davis. She married Larry in Beverly Hills last October, other Idol costars that attended were, Sanjaya Malakar, and Melinda Doolittle.

Her debut album So Glad I’m Me hits stores May 16th, and the baby is due in August.

It’s too bad this is first thing I’ve even heard about her since she placed 4th on the 6th season of “American Idol.”

YOU SAID WHAT?! – MANDY MOORE

“I’m fully aware that when some people hear my name in a musical context, it’s not often equated to anything earth-shattering.” –Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore had a realization on her latest blog post. Her new album Amanda Leigh is being released on May 26.

ANDRE 3000 ARRESTED FOR SPEEDING

Andre 3000 from Outkast was arrested near Atlanta on Saturday. He was pulled over for speeding, he was going over 109 mpg! He was driving his 2007 Porsche Carrera in a 65 mph zone!

Apparently he was heading to a birthday party. Hopefully when he got to the party they had some good cake!

WAS KELLY ROWLAND DROPPED FROM HER LABEL?

Rumor on the net says Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny’s Child, was dropped from her label, Columbia. However, according to Rob Stringer, CEO, Columbia/Epic Label Music Group, “The decision for Kelly to seek other opportunities for her solo career was agreed upon mutually, and any reports to the contrary are false.” So, there you have it…

INTRODUCING – KYLER ENGLAND

This past weekend, we went to Hotel Cafe to see one of our favorite singers, Kyler England. She put on a great show! Kyler has a soft, sweet voice that serenades and comforts you while she strums her guitar. She has such a delicate demeanor about her, that when she really gets into a song and belts a note – it hits you hard. Kyler’s earnest tone makes it so easy to connect with her songs of trials and love. She maintains a wise, positive undertone that, no matter how sad or intense a lyric might be, keeps the experience peaceful. Oh my goodness, she was so great! Another big plus about Kyler’s voice, is that it sounds like heaven when harmonizing.

She is one of 4 talented members of a band called The Rescues, which is how we discovered Kyler in the first place. Her fellow Rescues band-mate, Adrianne, came on stage and sang some songs with her, and as usual it was nothing short of perfect. We feel the Rescues benefit and maintain their incredible sound by continuing their individual musical journey… and making great jokes together. (Their onstage conversation is hilarious.) We sadly missed The Rescue’s show the following night, but no worries because they are all regulars at the infamous Hotel Cafe. We will be there for many more, and so should YOU!

Her new album, Simple Machine, is available on iTunes – Go get it!

BRITNEY’S NEW DO

Brit Brit brings back the black wig from her Womanizer video and sports it during her show stop in Houston on Monday night.

We can’t wait to see what she does at her stop in LA on April 16th! The count down begins tomorrow!

GAVIN DEGRAW ‘FREE’ LIVE @ TRACTOR TAVERN IN SEATTLE

The wait is over! Gavin’s new album is officially out now. He’s taken a bit of a turn and produced a record with a much more raw sound than his previous ones. 

For Gavin, this album was ‘basically to break the chains of making pop records and just making good f***ing records.”

…what happened to the hat, Gavin???

NICKELODEON KIDS CHOICE AWARD PERFORMANCES

The 22nd Annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards were held Saturday night at L.A.’s Pauley Pavilion. There were over 90 million votes!

MUSIC

Favorite Song: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” BEYONCE

Favorite Male Singer: Jesse McCartney

Favorite Female Singer: Miley Cyrus

Favorite Music Group: Jonas Brothers

MOVIES

Favorite Movie: High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Favorite Male Movie Star: Will Smith, Hancock

Favorite Female Movie Star: Vanessa Hudgens, High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Favorite Animate Feature: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: Jack Black, as Po, Kung Fu Panda

TELEVISION

Favorite TV Show: iCarly

Favorite Reality Show: American Idol

Favorite Television Actor: Dylan Sprouse, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Favorite Television Actress: Selena Gomez Wizards of Waverly Place

Favorite Cartoon: SpongeBob SquarePants

SPORTS

Favorite Male Athlete: Peyton Manning

Favorite Female Athlete: Candace Parker

NEW MUSIC – BLACK EYED PEAS ‘BOOM BOOM POW’ MOVED UP DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND

Due to overwhelming demand from fans, the digital release of “Boom Boom Pow,” the new single from three-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum Interscope recording artists The Black Eyed Peas, has been moved up to Monday, March 30th.

“Boom Boom Pow” is the first single from The Black Eyed Peas’ upcoming fifth studio album “The End,” which is due on June 9th, 2009 . It’s the Black Eyed Peas’ first album of new material since 2005’s blockbuster Monkey Business, which sold more than nine million copies worldwide and spawned the Grammy Award-winning singles “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” and “My Humps.”

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