Castro Date Night

Taking a Look Back: AI7

Season 7 of American Idol gave us some truly memorable performances...performances that really touched us, or made us take a second look. Sometimes performances that simply made us say "Wow."

I'm going to try to take a look back at the performances from this season that I found to be memorable, for various reasons. I hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane.

One of the first performances that made me take a second look was by Alexandréa Lushington, with Spinning Wheel. She didn't make the Top 12 and the big stage, but she really wowed me with this one.



My favorite performance from David Hernandez was in the Top 20, when he did Papa Was a Rolling Stone. He showed a lot of personality and really let his vocals shine.



Brooke White turned Love is a Battlefield on its head in a way I never would have expected, but I loved it.



David Cook took me by surprise with Hello. It shouldn't have worked. But it really, really worked.



Brooke White came out in the first week of the Top 12 and took my breath away with an emotional performance of Let it Be.



Also in the first Beatles week, Chikezie did a version of She's a Woman that was surprising, refreshing, and unique. I'd love to hear more from him along this line.



Michael Johns showed off his amazing rock abilities with Queen's We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. I loved him already at that point, but I seriously thought he could have a chance to win with this one.



Taking a Dolly Parton song and turning it into a soul song doesn't sound like it would work, but Michael Johns proved that it could with It's All Wrong But It's All Right.



Another singer who turned a Dolly Parton classic on its head was Carly Smithson with Here You Come Again. She made the music and vocal suit the lyric in a gorgeous and breathtaking performance.



And yet again, on Dolly Parton week, David Cook did his own arrangement of Little Sparrow that should never have worked, but which quickly convinced me that he not only could, but should, win.



Jason Castro gave me one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of the season, with Somewhere Over the Rainbow. I still get chills when I hear it.



The next week, David Cook once again surprised us all with his own arrangement of Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby. Wow. Just wow.



And how do you follow a performance like that? Well, Jason Castro got to find out, by doing his own version of I Don't Wanna Cry.



Syesha Mercado really turned on the heat during Andrew Lloyd Webber week, with One Rock and Roll Too Many.



Brooke White really touched me again during Neil Diamond week, with her performance of I Am, I Said. I really love her the most when she is sitting in front of the piano and doing her thing.



I was scared...seriously scared...when I found out that David Cook would be performing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. I shouldn't have been. He did an amazing job with it, and it is actually one of my favorite performances of all time from American Idol now.



David Archuleta was simply amazing throughout the competition, but the one performance of his that really stood out to me as his best, was one of his last. When he did Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me during the finale, he gave me goosebumps and made me nervous that he might win.



But I needn't have worried...because David Cook followed with The World I Know, and gave what could be his quintessential performance on the show. I seriously cried when he performed this that night. He did an amazing job with it.



So...there you have my *quickly counting* 18 favorite and most memorable performances from Season 7 of American Idol. Yeah, I realize that I completely left out Ramiele Mulabay and Kristy Lee Cook. Frankly, they didn't have any performances that struck a chord with me. I could have gone on to do a number of others...because I am leaving out some that I truly love like Archie's Imagine, Castro's Hallelujah, Carly's Superstar, Michael Johns's Dream On. Hell, I am even leaving out David Cook's Billie Jean and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. I could go on and an. But I think 18 is enough for now.

Carly Smithson's Official MySpace Page

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American Idols on Larry King Live, Part 2

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Part 7:

The Top 10 on Larry King Live, May 23

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Part 2


Part 3


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Part 5


Part 6


Part 7


They will all be back on Monday's Larry King Live as well. Check back here if you miss it, and I'll be sure to update as soon as possible.

Michael Johns and Carly Smithson: The Letter

Michael and Carly on Ellen

American Idol eliminees Michael Johns and Carly Smithson headed back to the Ellen Degeneres show over the weekend to film an episode that aired yesterday. They did a couple of duets, One and Hold On. Great stuff, and it is really cool to see them together. They sound amazing together, particularly on Hold On.

One


Hold On

Hmmmm...

So...apparently the other online source for buying David Cook's solo album Analog Heart has also pulled it. I hate to tell y'all, but I don't know where you can get it right now. It seems like something or someone has forced this pull. I don't know whether it is David himself who has pulled the album, or some of his friends and family, or if it is the American Idol machine who are behind it. I'm sorry. I hope you all can buy it again soon!

On another note, I hate that we had to say goodbye to Carly Smithson on this week's elimination night. I think she is a phenomenal singer, and I was certain that she would be the last girl standing. Luckily, she's got a great hubby and family, and they are all being very supportive of her after her elimination. I'm sure, like Michael Johns, she will be signed to a record deal in almost no time. She deserves it.

I also understand that plans are already underway for the remaining five contestants for their hometown visits, should they make it to the Top 3. I wish I could make it out to Blue Springs, MO to support David Cook, but I don't think that's going to happen. So, instead, I'm hoping that Jason Castro winds up in the final 3, and if he does, I'll drive over to Rockwall to see him. He's not my Cookie, but he's pretty awesome in his own right. I'll be sure to bring him some Cheetos.

A Message to Roger Friedman

That's right folks, he's at it again. Three days in a row, this idiot has now published "articles" blasting current American Idol contestants for having albums available for sale while they are competing on the show. I hate to say it, but at least time this time he isn't going after David Cook, but instead is attacking Carly Smithson. Not that I think ANY of them should be attacked...it's just nice to see it isn't a full-on assault of only one contestant. But apparently Roger felt that he was such a success with having David Cook's solo album Analog Heart pulled from Amazon, that the thought he'd take a stab at the next one on his list.

So in today's "article", our friend Roger blasts Carly's album released under her maiden name, Carly Hennessey. Roger, honey, have you not caught on yet that there is NO RULE whatsoever that states that contestants could not have formerly recorded albums, and could not have formerly had recording contracts? Seriously. It's getting to be a bit ridiculous.

Yes, Carly had a major record deal. She recorded a big budget album. She worked with producers that people have actually heard of. Big whoop!

And frankly, if the record company that she was signed with at the time did put as much money into it as you claim they did, and it sold as poorly as it did at the time, I can't say I blame them for attempting to reap whatever rewards they might be able to get out of having it still for sale while she is on the show. I can promise you that if you're numbers are right about all of that, Carly isn't going to be seeing one penny of the money made on sales of that album. She likely still owes them money for the cost of the production. So what does it matter if she has an album for sale at Amazon, especially one that isn't particularly doing so well? What is it hurting?

And I suppose tomorrow you will discover Brooke White's album. And the day after that, we can expect you to find Kristy Lee Cook's album, and discover that she, too, had a recording contract when she was a teenager. Then one more day will pass, and you will realize that Michael Johns has an album, and had more than one recording contract over the years.

What next? Will you then look into the fact that there were Idols on previous seasons who had also had recording contracts before their days on Idol? Because there were. And some of them had also recorded albums before they made it onto the show, and those albums were available for sale while they were on the show.

You see, Roger, the thing is...this is not against the rules of the game. And honestly, why should it be? If they had a shot at stardom, and things happened which prevented it from happening the first time, who are you to decide that they shouldn't have a second shot at it, especially if they are as good as you think Carly Smithson is? Why limit them? If they have that kind of talent, what is the problem with allowing them to obtain the exposure they need in order to make a serious go of their music careers through whatever means is available to them? Why limit AI to only those singers who have never even stepped foot into a record company's offices, let alone a recording studio? It just doesn't make sense. And frankly, it leads many people to believe that you have some sort of ulterior motive for attacking these kids. So what's the deal, Roger?

I anxiously look forward to reading tomorrow's "article"...

Idiot "Reporters" and the Drama They Stir Up

So...over the last few days, I've been directing y'all to head over to Amazon.com and to purchase David Cook's solo album, Analog Heart. Sadly, if you click on that link...you'll discover that it is no longer available for purchase. Why on earth would that be? Why, when only a day ago you could purchase the album, and when it was at the TOP of Amazon's downloads, would this album be pulled?

It might have a little something to do with this "article" that is calling David out on releasing an album while he is on AI.

The problem with this "reporter's" allegations is that he has no clue what he's talking about. David's album was released in May of 2006...not while he was on the show. It was released independently, not under any sort of major record label. And he is not signed to any contract currently (nor has he ever been, to my knowledge)...which is what AI requires.

Michael Johns has discussed repeatedly how he had not auditioned for AI before this season, because the timing wasn't right. He was signed to record deals in previous years, and that prevented him from meeting AI's rules. However, he has albums that are currently available for sale, and were available for sale throughout his entire run on American Idol. Go to iTunes, and search for his previous bands The Rising and Film. You'll find albums there that you can purchased and downloaded. Oh yeah, and he recorded a solo album too. It's not available for purchase right now...but you can head over to this Facebook page and listen to it.

Hmmmmm...and you know what? David Cook and Michael Johns aren't the only ones who have previously recorded and released albums that are in this year's crop of contestants on American Idol.

What? You mean, there are more than just the two rockers who have recorded albums before this???

Yes. That is exactly what I mean. You can purchase Brooke White's album at Amazon. And in addition to Michael Johns, two of the other contestants had previous recording contracts. Carly Smithson recorded an album under the name Carly Hennessey, and it is still available to be purchased at Amazon. Like Carly, Kristy Lee Cook had a record deal several years ago, and also has an album, Devoted, available for sale.

So what is the big deal about David Cook's album being out and available for sale? Why is there so much drama surrounding him? The only thing that comes to mind is that his album was doing so well, and people want to spark more controversy. It wasn't enough to call him out for covering covers of songs (and since when is that a crime???), in the hopes that people will stop voting for him because he is "ripping off" these other bands and artists. It wasn't enough to start rumors about a possible romance with Lacey Schwimmer, leading all of his young female fans to tears over the fact that they will never be his girlfriend, and hope that people will stop voting for him because of that. It wasn't enough to harp on the fact that the man has high blood pressure and had to go to the hospital to have it checked out after a performance one night.

With all of the positive press that David Cook is receiving right now (related to his big heart), those who are determined to see the other David win are getting worried. Cookie is gaining in popularity each week. He is getting more and more votes each week. His songs are consistently downloaded the most on iTunes. David Cook is a contender. He could win it all. And that is scaring some who have already in their own minds coronated David Archuleta as this year's American Idol.

Well, guess what? David Archuleta hasn't won yet. And he might not. David Cook could pull this out, and take home the crown. I hope for his sake that he does.

So...was David's album pulled from sale at Amazon because of this "news article"? Did the AI producers force it to happen? Or was it David's choice to pull the album? Those questions remain to be answered. I hope it was David's choice, but I can't help but feel that regardless of his wishes in the matter, it was forced by the Fox News "article" linked above that really doesn't have much credibility. There is nothing in the AI rules that states they can't have recorded and released an album prior to auditioning. There is nothing that states that those albums can't be available for sale. And if his album has been pulled from sale, why haven't the rest of them been pulled as well?

Something is rotten in the state of American Idol...

P.S. You can still head here and purchase David Cook's solo album...but hurry, there is no telling how long it will be there.