Tag: American Idol

Idol Wired >> Stefano is LanGONE

I figured as soon as the first guy was eliminated from season 10 of American Idol that they would start falling like dominoes, and as it turns out, that’s the only prediction I’ve made this season that’s been on point.

Following Paul McDonald’s exit from Idol last week, Stefano Langone was
eliminated from the competition last night. I’m not too surprised that Stefano was eliminated this week, it’s just too bad that it had to happen the night after he had what I considered to be his best performance in weeks. It takes me back to when Carly Smithson had an amazing performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar” during season seven, then got knocked off the next night, except I definitely wasn’t as upset.

This may be a little surprising to most who read Idol Wired, but I would have preferred Stefano to stay one more week if it meant Jacob Lusk was going home. I cannot believe Jacob has made it as far as he has in the competition. And Jacob’s performance in comparison to Stefano’s was definitely the weaker of the two performances.

Alright, I have to say it; I was super disappointed to see Haley Reinhart in the bottom three. C’mon, America! Haley had the best performance the other night, she deserves your votes.

Also, did anyone else catch Stefano totally snubbing Scotty McCreery when giving out hugs last night? What in the world was that about?

Switching gears over to the return of David Cook to the Idol stage. David performed the first single, “The Last Goodbye” off his highly anticipated sophomore album, This Loud Morning.

I thought that once David shook off his initial nerves, his performance was excellent. It must be a trip to return to the show that made him “more than a name or a face in the crowd” to debut his new single. I love that he’s kicking off his album with something upbeat and lyrically catchy. I’m really hoping that you, yes you and everyone you know hopped on iTunes and downloaded his single. I am all in favor of supporting former Idol contestants, especially ones named David Cook.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch David’s performance of “The Last Goodbye,” or you just want to watch it again, check it out below!

What did you think of last night’s Idol results? Are you liking David Cook’s new single? Also, what do you think of the Idols singing Carole King songs next week?

Originally posted on Blogcritics.

Video: Tim Halperin Covers Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep”

Tim Halperin returned to Kidd Kraddick’s radio show this morning to perform his rendition of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” as apart of “Idol Got It Wrong.”

Each week for “Idol Got It Wrong,” Tim is choosing a song to perform that one of the Idol contestants performed during that week’s show for your votes. If Tim gets more votes than the contestant that performed during the show, he performs again the following week. If the Idol contestant gets more votes, then he’s out. So basically vote for Tim, so we get these radtastic covers each week!  Sounds good, right?

This week Tim is taking on Haley Reinhart who performed Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” last night on Idol.

Check out Tim’s rendition of “Rolling In The Deep” below!

I think this is my favorite cover that Tim has done for “Idol Got It Wrong,” so far!  In particular, I really liked when he hit the larger notes in the chorus and went up into his falsetto range towards the end  of the song. Good stuff!

Obviously I’m a fan, but what did y’all think of Tim’s performance of “Rolling In The Deep”?

If you want this song on your iPod, and I know you do, click here to get a free download of Tim’s rendition of “Rolling In The Deep.”

Also if you haven’t downloaded Tim’s single, “The Last Song,” get your free download here.

Make sure to check out Tim’s Kickstarter page and get involved with the making of the music video for “The Last Song” and to support the fight against breast cancer!

Annnnnnd don’t forget to check out my interview with Tim from last month! Part one // Part two

Music Review >> Kimberly Caldwell – Without Regret

A word that comes to mind upon hearing the name Kimberly Caldwell is drive. Caldwell was a contestant during season two of American Idol in 2003. Now, eight years later she’s gearing up to release her debut album, Without Regret.

“I’ve been a performer my entire life and everything I’ve done has led up to this moment,” Caldwell stated in a press release.

Caldwell grew up in Katy, Texas where her love of country music and desire to perform led to her appearing on the original Star Search as a child. She won five times. When she was 12-years-old, her family moved to Branson, Missouri after Caldwell landed a gig with a singing revue called, “Country Tonite.” Three years later, when she was 15, Caldwell was ready to head back to Katy, and be a normal teenager.

American Idol had an audition stop in Texas during their second season of the singing competition. Caldwell auditioned and made it all the way through to the Top 7 in that season’s competition.

Caldwell’s album, Without Regret was produced by Marshall Altman, Tommy Henrikson, John-Mark Baxter Seltzer, and MachoPsycho.

Without Regret overall is a pretty good mix of music. The standout tracks on the album include “Mess of You,” “Heart of Mine,” and Caldwell’s single, “Desperate Girls & Stupid Boys.”

Continue reading Music Review >> Kimberly Caldwell – Without Regret

Ear Candy >> Tim Halperin – “I Wanna Fall In Love”

American Idol season 10 Top 24 contestant, Tim Halperin appeared on Kidd Kraddick’s radio show yesterday, where he sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as apart of “Idol Got It Wrong.”

As an exciting bonus, Tim performed a new song off his upcoming album! It’s called, “I Wanna Fall In Love,” and you can check out his performance below!

What do y’all think? I’m liking it a whole lot! Is it September, yet?

For a free download of Tim’s song, “The Last Song,” click here.

Also, check out Tim’s Kickstarter page and get involved with the making of the music video for “The Last Song” and to support the fight against breast cancer.

Don’t forget to check out my interview with Tim from last month! Part one // Part two

Tim Halperin Calls ‘Idol’ Season 10 a “BroFest”

Earlier this morning, season 10 Top 24 American Idol contestant Tim Halperin spoke with the “Gravy in the Morning” radio show about last night’s unexpected elimination of front-runner Pia Toscano.

During his interview with Gravy and Ellen, Tim said, “If you look at the top group, it’s turning into a brofest.”

It’s true; Pia’s elimination leaves the now Top 8 with the two remaining female contestants and all six male contestants. 

Click here to listen to Tim’s thoughts on last night’s results.

For a free download of Tim’s song, “The Last Song,” click here.

Also, check out Tim’s Kickstarter page and get involved with the making of the music video for “The Last Song.”

Don’t forget to check out my interview with Tim Halperin! Part one // Part two

Idol Wired >> Shock Elimination!

I’m sitting here in just absolute shock. Pia Toscano has just been eliminated from this season’s American Idol.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Pia should have made it all the way to the final two this season. But instead she went out in ninth place. American Idol is now down to two women and all six men. C’mon now.

Pia was in the bottom three tonight with Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk, who was my prediction to bite the dust this week.

Earlier today, I re-watched everyone’s performances and the last person I would have predicted in the bottom three was Pia. Granted, she needed some work in the stage presence department, but her vocal performances, including last night,  have been absolutely flawless this season.

I think a lot of people are going to blame Pia’s elimination on voter complacency, which to be honest, definitely must have something to do with tonight’s shocker. However, the judges need to accept that part of Pia’s elimination is on them.

During Wednesday night’s performance show, not one of them said anything overtly negative to the contestants about their performances. Part of the judge’s job is to let the audience know which contestants rock and which ones need to get it together. When everyone’s receiving praise, the voting public doesn’t know what to do.

That said, judges get your heads back in the game and do what you are overly paid to do, which is to critique these singers. Jennifer Lopez needs to find her inner “Jenny From the Block” and let the contestants know what’s what. Steven Tyler needs to altogether wake up and start making comments that are useful. Not every performance is “beautiful.” And Randy Jackson, I expect you to call it how you hear it. Don’t dial back your feedback; it is so needed.

Pia has been receiving high praise from the judges all season long, and maybe her fans thought they could ease up on the power voting.

Whatever the case may be, it’s was completely disheartening to see such a huge talent be sent home way before she should have been. It is unfortunate that the “Judges’ Save” had already been used this season, but that’s the nature of the game. I don’t think the judges ever thought that Pia would ever need to be saved. I guess they haven’t been watching the past couple seasons, where female contestants have been picked off before the men repeatedly.

So, the moral of this story? Judges, please do your jobs and judge the contestants. Fans, vote to keep the talent in the competition. Don’t ever think your contestant is safe.

My last thought for the night: It’s now Scotty McCreery’s competition to lose.

Alright Idol fans, let me hear your thoughts on tonight’s insane results.

Originally posted on Blogcritics.

Kelly Clarkson Performs a Medley of Hits on Ellen

The one and only Kelly Clarkson appeared on Ellen today performing a medley of her hits, “Miss Independent,” “Walk Away,” and “Since U Been Gone.”

I had forgotten how much I love these songs! And Kelly sounded just flawless!

Gotta love it!

Music Review >> Jennifer Hudson – ‘I Remember Me’

Jennifer Hudson released her highly anticipated sophomore album, I Remember Me, on Arista Records on March 22. The record is the follow-up to Hudson’s 2008 self-titled debut, which debuted on Billboard’s Top 200 chart at number two. Hudson won a Grammy Award for her debut effort in 2009 for Best R&B Album.

“I’m excited about this album because it’s almost like a renewal for me, reflected through the chapters of my life,” Hudson revealed in a press release. “I’ve called it I Remember Me because of the journey I’ve been on. I’ve learned that life constantly surprises you, no matter your plans. My fans have been so loyal, I feel like they have been on this
journey with me.”

Hudson collaborated with Ryan Tedder, Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, and Ne-Yo on her sophomore effort.

The lead off single, “Where You At” a slower, ballad-like song was written and produced by R. Kelly. Hudson performed the single during a recent results show at her old stomping grounds, American Idol.

That was the first time I had ever heard the single, and to be honest, I found it to be quite boring. Even after listening to the recording, the song wasn’t really holding my attention. I will never understand why performers choose ballads to lead off an album. Nothing about that song captured my attention or made me feel like I had to hear the rest of her album.

That said, there are some tracks that did stand out to me on I Remember Me, including “No One Gonna Love You,” “Angel,” and title track, “I Remember Me.”

The album opens with “No One Gonna Love You,” which was produced by Rich Harris. The song has a slight storyteller vibe to it, where Hudson is telling the person she’s singing to that she’s gone through things in her past, but that they won’t hold her back from loving that someone the best she knows how.

Continue reading Music Review >> Jennifer Hudson – ‘I Remember Me’

Idol Wired >> Wait…What Just Happened?

I could be heard throughout American Idol’s Thursday night’s results show repeating the same question, “What just happened?”

I mean, seriously, where to start? Do I start with the “Judges’ Save?” Do I start with Hulk Hogan? Or do I start with Steven Tyler turning 120? (I kid, I kid!)

Let’s start with the “Judges’ Save,” because a little more than a week ago I made what has been I believe my only prediction about season 10 so far via Twitter. It was then shown on MTV.com’s “Idol Party Live!” hosted by the super awesome Jim Cantiello live after each results show. Check out who I thought the “Judges’ Save” was going to go to this season.

Of course, if you watched Thursday night, you know that my prediction was totally wrong. Supposedly Casey Abrams had the lowest total number of votes after Wednesday night’s performances. I can kind of believe it, because he didn’t have a great performance and he went first that night, which means that with 10 other performances, people could have just forgot about him. Also, there’s the possibility of voter complacency. However, the conspiracy theorist in me thinks that Idol really wanted to create some buzz. And what better way to create some buzz than to possibly eliminate a huge fan favorite?

Even I have to admit that when the judges told Casey he was saved was a great moment. Although, I thought for sure he was going to throw up, or have to take another trip to the hospital. Casey’s reaction was truly the icing on the cake for the night.

Other than that, I hope next week’s results show can be as entertaining and unexpected as last Thursday’s was. I loved seeing the contestants singing with Stevie Wonder. More than that, I loved Steven Tyler’s reaction to Stevie Wonder on stage. As much as I enjoyed Idol pulling out the stops to celebrate Steven’s birthday, I had to wonder if Randy was sitting there thinking, “I’ve been on this show for the entire time it’s been in existence, and never has anyone surprised me with Mariah Carey serenading me on my birthday!”

I have to say that seeing Hulk Hogan on Idol is hands down the craziest thing that I have seen on this show. I loved the video of the contestants talking about James Durbin’s love of pro-wrestling. His reaction to Hulk Hogan coming on stage to let him and Paul McDonald know they were safe and going on tour was pretty hilarious. Hogan “punching” Ryan Seacrest into the crowd was also funny. I don’t care to see a professional wrestler every week on Idol, but it was a cute moment this past week.

Thinking ahead to next Wednesday, with Casey being saved this week, what does that mean for the contestants? Well, all 11 contestants will be going on tour this summer, so there’s that. But, they still have to sing their butts off next week, because it is “Elton John Week” and two of them will be eliminated. My only advice for the contestants next week is more like a plea. Please don’t sing “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.” It’s been done over and over and over again.

So to recap, Casey was saved from elimination, the Top 11 will tour, and two contestants will go home next week. What did y’all think about the results and Thursday’s overall show?

Originally posted on BlogCritics.