Happy American Idol season 11, everyone!
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Tag: Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson Discusses Hollywood Week on ‘American Idol’
This week, the competition on American Idol heats up as the contestants take on the challenges of Hollywood Week. Recently, Idol judge Randy Jackson spoke with various media outlets about how he feels Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are doing during their second season on the show, the new challenges the contestants are facing during Hollywood Week, and whether returning contestants already have the edge on the competition.
Continue reading Randy Jackson Discusses Hollywood Week on ‘American Idol’
Backstage With ‘American Idol’s’ Paul McDonald
Last Wednesday, hours before the Top 11 from American Idol season 10 took the stage at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, I had the opportunity to talk with one of the more unique and interesting voices from this past season.
Cool, calm, and collected, 26-year-old Paul McDonald from Nashville, spoke candidly about the American Idols Live! Tour, including which contestant fell victim to the first tour prank of the summer, and working on his solo music while out on the road.
How has the tour been going?
It’s been excellent so far. We’re only like, I think, five shows in, and we got about a thousand more to go. [laughs] We go through September, and we do a handful of Canada dates, maybe one or two. Then they take us over to the Philippines.
Wow, I’m pretty sure that’s a first with taking the tour overseas. What has been the most fulfilling part of the tour for you so far?
Oh goodness. I guess it’s just the whole vibe of pretending that we’re real rock stars for the summer. We’re singing karaoke and stuff, but the production is like a huge tour. We have six buses, six semis, we have catering, we have the whole VIP kind of like a very pro tour. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, unless you’re the Rolling Stones, or Bruce Springsteen, or Carrie Underwood, or one of those, you know? So, it’s kind of cool to be in that for just a little bit and see how this grand scale of venues and touring works. It’s cool.
Do you have any kind of fun bus stories from the tour so far?
Fun bus stories? Oh gosh, I’m trying to think. We really don’t hang out on the bus too much, because they literally have us working from [about] noon. This morning I got up at like eight-thirty, we went to the Ronald McDonald House, me and Casey. We did some charity, we hung out with the kids, came back and had hair and make-up, which I don’t do any of that stuff. After that we have lunch, and then we have sound check. We go from normally from 12 noon to 12 at night. The only bus time is after the gig we go in there and like have a drink and pass out, but there has been a good story.
The first gig in Salt Lake City, Jacob Lusk decided to take a shower in the locker room — we’re playing all these big basketball arenas and stuff — and I was like, “Let me show you how it’s done fellas.” This is like “Band Pranks 101.” I got the bucket of ice, and all of us, Scotty and everybody, filled it up with ice-cold water. Jacob’s in the shower singing, you know, doing his thing. We walked in there and Casey’s filming it, and came in and just busted him with an ice cold bucket of water, and he was like, “Ahhhhh!” I was like, day one, the tour pranks begin.
Continue reading Backstage With ‘American Idol’s’ Paul McDonald
Backstage with ‘American Idol’s’ James Durbin
Hours before the Top 11 from American Idol season 10 took the stage at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, I had the opportunity to talk with a certain Idol contestant that was extremely excited and happy to be back in his neck of the woods.
Santa Cruz native, James Durbin and I sat down backstage for a pre-show chat, where he discussed getting the crowd up and on their feet during the tour, writing and recording for his album, and the episode of Idol that neither of us will be forgetting anytime soon.
So how does it feel to be performing in the Bay Area?
It feels great. We did Oakland last night, and that was insane. I’m really excited for tonight.
It has to be a cool feeling to have tried out for the show in San Francisco, and have this full circle kind of moment.
This place, HP Pavilion, I came to my very first sporting event here. It was the Sharks versus the Avalanche. I was five-years-old, packed arena, and out of every single person, my one seat, I won a CD player. And then a hockey puck got hit over [the barrier] and landed right next to me. Unfortunately the Sharks lost, but two out of three things ain’t bad.
I’ve been here so many times. I’ve seen countless wrestling shows here. I once waited for three hours and climbed on top of that cement wall to catch a glimpse of Chris Jericho. Now I have him on speed dial. We were just texting and he’s in Europe with his band touring. We went and saw Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Poison, and Motley Crue, and hang out all the time. It’s so crazy, it’s a full swing.
Very cool. Have you been able to get back to Santa Cruz while you’re here, or does everyone kind of have to come to you?
Everyone’s had to come here. I’m dying to go to Socrates and get a sandwich, but unfortunately not, which really sucks. It’s a twenty minute cab ride. I could grab lunch and come back.
So, how has the tour been going so far with the handful of shows you’ve done so far?
This will only be our sixth show out of forty-seven. It already feels like it’s been awhile, but it’s only been a blink. But, it’s gone really good; every show’s been great. Everyone’s been really receptive, everyone’s there to have a good time. Sometimes they need to be reminded that they’re supposed to have a good time. A lot of people have been sitting down.
You know, I’ve gone to a handful of Idol tours, and sometimes people treat the live show like they’re at home watching y’all on TV, instead of embracing the vibe of being at a concert.
I know some people get agitated if people are standing up, Sit down! We’re trying to watch the show! It’s a concert; you’re supposed to stand up! We enjoy it when you stand. That’s why when I come out for my set, I come out through the crowd. I want people to stand up! Stand up! Try and find me!
Continue reading Backstage with ‘American Idol’s’ James Durbin
Video: Adam Levine on ‘Conan’
Maroon 5 frontman, Adam Levine appeared on Conan last night to talk about The Voice and in the process made a voice baby with Conan O’Brien. Check out his interview below!
“She’s a pain in the ass, but she’s my pain in the ass!” LOL, love it!
Idol Wired: Baby Lock Them Doors – We Finally Have a Winner!
Ladies and gentlemen, we finally have our season 10 American Idol winner! After over 122 million votes being cast, Scotty McCreery was crowned this season’s American Idol. 
I have to say that I was not shocked by this one bit. I figured the overpraising of Lauren Alaina during Tuesday night’s performance show would lead to a Scotty win, just based on how things have happened since season seven. David Archuleta, Adam Lambert, and Crystal Bowersox were all basically deemed the winner of their respective seasons during their final performance night, only to be revealed as the runner-up.
I think when you get to the Final 2 on Idol, it shows that those contestants deserve to be there. Or at the very least that their fans really want them there. Hats off to both Scotty and Lauren, but truth be told, I thought the right person won.
Continue reading Idol Wired: Baby Lock Them Doors – We Finally Have a Winner!
Live-Blog: American Idol Final Two! Scotty McCreery v. Lauren Alaina!
Live-blogging the Final Two!
Refresh for updates throughout the show!
Round 1: Contestant’s Choice
Round 2: Scotty’s song picked by George Strait; Lauren’s song picked by Carrie Underwood
Round 3: Contestant’s first single
Scotty won the coin toss; he let Lauren go second.
Continue reading Live-Blog: American Idol Final Two! Scotty McCreery v. Lauren Alaina!
Idol Wired >> Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina Are Headed to the Finale
I know a lot of people are shocked and upset at last night’s American Idol elimination of Haley Reinhart. I am not one of those people.
I thought that Haley was coming into her own and peaking when she needed to, which I love, because she provided a couple fantastic Idol moments. However, it was obvious from the beginning of the season that Idol was looking for a younger singer to appeal to a younger demographic just based on the contestants that were getting through from the beginning like Jacee Badeaux and Brett Loewenstern. That said, I am definitely not surprised at Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina both moving on to the finale. (Also, just based on the hometown footage alone, I felt like Haley’s package was put together as if it was an afterthought and as a major hint that she was going to be eliminated. Not cool, Idol.)
Wednesday night’s show was pretty good. All three of the contestants kind of had mini-moments.
I thought Scotty made a smart decision singing Lonestar’s “Amazed” as his personal song choice. He showed that he could handle a big contemporary country hit. Plus, who doesn’t just love that song? I thought “She Believes in Me” was an old fashioned and lame song choice from the judges, but Scotty did what he could with it.
I really liked Lauren’s performance of “If I Die Young” by Band Perry, which Jimmy Iovine picked for her to sing. We finally saw some true emotion from her! It was one of my favorite moments of the night.
Haley had three really great songs, but I felt like the only one she completely pulled off was “What Is And What Should Never Be” by Led Zeppelin. She sounded amazing and just rocked it out. I love that her little stumble up the stairs didn’t throw her off at all.
With “Rhiannon,” I thought she sounded like she was mumbling part of the first verse. I didn’t think she really connected with that song well at all, because she was just trying to remember the words. It actually made me really miss Didi Benami’s performance from last season.
Continue reading Idol Wired >> Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina Are Headed to the Finale
Live-Blog >> ‘American Idol’ Top 3
Live-blogging the Top 3!
Refresh for updates throughout the show!
Round 1: Contestant’s Choice
Round 2: Jimmy Iovine’s Choice
Round 3: Judges’ Choice
This week’s mentor: Beyonce (Could that be because Idol is debuting her new music video tonight? )
Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery & Haley Reinhart Find Out Judges’ Song Picks
Over the weekend, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, and Haley Reinhart aka American Idol’s Top 3 had an opportunity to their respective hometowns.
While they were there, they each found out what the judges picked for them as one of their song selections this week. Check out the video below! (FYI: Lots of screaming/cheering)
Lauren Alaina
Scotty McCreery
Haley Reinhart
The judges’ picks are:
Lauren Alaina – “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
Scotty McCreery – “She Believes in Me” by Kenny Rogers
Haley Reinhart – “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette
What do you think about the judges’ picks? If given the chance, what would you pick for the contestants to sing this week?
Wait...WHAT? 