Cook's "Light On" released

Today was the day we finally got to hear David Cook's first single from his yet-untitled debut album, dropping in stores (reportedly) on November 18th. I rushed home from my PTA meeting and played it three times (you can play it HERE) and am contemplating my feelings about it...

...I'm certainly in the "like it" camp, although not jumping on the "love it" bandwagon....my fellow blogger at USA Today called it "Daughtry Lite" and I have to agree with that....I think it's catchy, and pleasant, but maybe not as standout-ty as I thought it might be....but I'm sure that will change as the tune grows on me.

What surprises me is how much I like David Archuleta's "Crush" as a single...and now with the video to enhance the story, it's even better.

And DC is entirely too pretty in this picture! What do you think of the song? And the picture? :)

Kara DioGuardi - In Her Own words

I'm intrigued by the addition of a 4th judge to the Idol table in January. Thought this Electronic Press Kit interview with her was a great way to start getting to know her, and thought I would pass it along for your review. In it she admits to being "feisty and opinionated" and thinks Simon is "dead on." Transcript supplied by Fox:

About My Background in Music Industry

I am a working songwriter in the music business. I find talent, I sign talent. I co-own a publishing company where we have 13 to 15 writers at any given time that we represent. Actually one of our writers has the new Archuleta single, “Crush.” I’m in the music business in terms of the day of day of it, finding talent, nurturing talent, writing songs, producing songs. I’ve co-written and written with artists such as Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Santana, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson. I’ve been nominated for various Grammies. I’ve won the BMI 2006 songwriter of the year. So I’ve definitely spent a lot of time in the music business. I’ve worked my way up from basically nobody wanting to know who I was, to people actually being interested in what I have to say and what I have to do.

So I think I bring a unique perspective to the business because I’m also somebody who was a singer in the beginning of my career and used my voice to leverage my way into the rooms with some of the biggest music producers out there and to cut records. And while I am a songwriter, I’ve always been in the business of making records and I think that makes me viable for
AMERICAN IDOL.

How I Got the Job as Judge

So how did I get this job?! I’m sure everyone wants to know this. My agent called me and he said you are on a short list to be the 4th judge on AMERICAN IDOL and I said “Are you calling for me or did you dial the wrong number?” They were like no seriously this is going on this can happen and I was like there is no way they are going to pick me. Why wouldn’t they pick someone famous? Someone everyone knows? But you know, I guess they saw something about me that they thought was good and they wanted to put somebody who was from the industry on the show and so, I got the job.

How I'm Adjusting to the News

When they told me I was the judge, I just didn’t believe it. I still don’t believe it. I don’t even know what I’m doing here right now. I’m just trying to enjoy it and trying to take it one day as it comes, because it is a big change for me. I’ve basically been in the back of the studio for 17 years the girl that’s going “Hey, I don’t like that line or sing that again.” So it’s gonna be a different experience; so I guess people are going to know me now.

My History with the Show

My history with the show is that I’ve written a bunch of songs that have been performed and released by Idols. I co-wrote “Walk Away” from Kelly Clarkson and with Kelly Clarkson. I co-wrote the “Real Thing” for Bo Bice and actually won two BMI Awards they were extremely performed on the radio. I’ve written with Katherine McPhee and for Katherine McPhee on her record. Clay Aiken [and] I co-wrote “The Way.” Taylor Hicks. I’m probably leaving an Idol out. I’m sorry, which one would that be, I think that’s it.

Oh and I actually have a song now on the David Archuleta CD that’s coming out, I think soon. I co-wrote with David Cook. So hopefully he’ll use that song too, so two songs on the new Idols.

What I Think I’ll Bring to the Show

Well I think I’ll have my own take on things and I kind of bring a unique experience in the sense that I sing and was a singer and I write and I produce and I sign talent and I'm very involved in the day to day of the music industry, like Simon. So I think I’ll bring that perspective, but I’m also very opinionated and pretty feisty and not afraid of a good confrontation, so I’m looking forward to it. Bring it on.

About Paula as a Judge

Well I think Paula brings a lot because she’s sold many records, she’s performed; she knows how hard it is to be an artist and actually turn that dream into reality. And I think that what she does is, she treats the contestants in a kind way and knows that their dream, you know, is a sensitive issue. I think that she does care about them and she wants to make sure that even when criticism is given that they want to keep going and their not, you know, so depressed that it didn’t turn out the way they wanted that they just stop it. I think she’s encouraging, and she’s kind and she’s nurturing; I think that every artist needs to be nurtured.

About Randy as a Judge

Well Randy has just got so much great energy and when he speaks to the contestants he’s coming from a very knowledgeable place. He’s been a great, is a great musician. He’s been out on the road, so he knows what it takes to be a huge superstar and I just think he has a way of being honest, but at the same time helpful and I just think he’s great, has great energy and I really looking forward to working with him.

About Simon as a Judge

Simon. Simon is pretty much dead on. He kinda calls it like he sees it. I like that about him. He’s very honest; he’s funny. And, I think he brings a very unique perspective because he finds artists and sells a lot of records, and he kind of just tells it like it is and I respect that.

About Ryan as the Host

I’ve actually never met Ryan and I’m looking forward to meeting him. And I think he brings. He’s just so approachable, so just feels like the guy next door but yet is so great at being a host. And, I’m really looking forward to meeting him.

What I’ll offer as a Judge

Well, I think there is an inherent responsibility because you are there, you are judging their performances and you have a very unique opportunity to be able to give somebody some of your insight. And, you know I’ve been doing this a long time and I can tell them, ‘you know you really have to do this,’ ‘you really have to do that’ and it’s based on my experience cause I’ve seen people go from not being famous to being uber famous. Or not being great songwriters to being great songwriters and I know how to get them there. So hopefully I will be able to help these Idols whether they win or not so that as they continue on their journey to become artists they can take that with them.

What I Will Look for in Contestants

I am gonna be looking for a unique spin, you know somebody who steps in front of me has something to say -- who has a unique look; who has a great voice; a unique tone; isn’t trying to imitate everybody else that’s out there. And, has incredible self confidence because anybody who has ever really made it, steps on that stage and they own it from the minute they step out there. So I think it’s important that you know they really be themselves and that they’re interesting and that they keep me engaged.

What it Takes to Become a Famous Singer

I think what it takes to be a famous performer or singer is really somebody who doesn’t care what anyone thinks, who loses themselves in the moment, who is authentic, real, believable and follows their heart. I mean, I think some of the greatest songs out there are the ones that connect with us because we all have that experience and it’s the same thing with artistry. When you are looking at someone who is just an amazing performer its cause you really feel what they are putting out there and it becomes almost your own experience and it’s believable. And you know everybody wants to be a rock star, so it’s great to see people turn into that and actually it’s believable and you’re routing for them. You know, that’s what I hope that we find this season, cause it’s really about being a rock star. You know when you say rock star it doesn’t mean you have to be doing rock music, it can be any kind of music, but it’s people who are out there doing their thing. They don’t worry about, ‘am I this, am I that,’ it’s just being yourself and being great at it.

What Makes an Artist a Success

Well, I think there are a lot of things that go into being a successful artist. Obviously you know you have to have the right look, you have to have the right sound, but you have to have the right song. We’ve seen that even in the Idols some of them have been very successful and some of them haven’t. It’s about that winning song. You know “Since You’ve Been Gone” huge song, catapulted Kelly into absolute stardom. So, it’s really important that everything happen at the same time -- great voice, great look, great stage presence and a great song. And all that coming together and just somebody who wants it that bad, because it’s a lot of hard work, it’s not easy.

Why Songwriters love American Idol

Well, I think what started to happen is Idol has been so incredible for song writers because it’s really a great vehicle for them to have their songs out there. You know many, many song writers once the results come out, they always think oh ‘I gotta write a song for this one or that one’ and you know it’s really kept a lot of writers paying their mortgage. So we love Idol! We’re like go Idol! Whose the next one; whose the next one we are going to be writing for and actually keeping our jobs. So we love it.

About My First Day on the Job

I am so excited about my first day of work because I’m going back to New York and that’s my hometown, couldn’t be a better place to set this thing off.

David Cook Meets the Big O

That would be Oprah, natch! I was sitting at my desk at work today, feeling just a little _different_ without knowing exactly why....but the air seemed different. Just then I skipped over to my favorite AI blog (thanks again, MJ!) only to learn that David Cook was in my fair city today taping the season opener for Oprah's talk show, set to air on Monday, Sept 8th! Set your TiVo! She is helping Chicago with it's bid to host the 2016 summer Olympics and kicking off the 23rd season of her syndicated talk show -- convened an Olympic-themed stage down at beautiful and impressive Millennium Park complete with 150 Olympians she reportedly flew in from all over the country, just for this occasion....and added David Cook to sing "Time of My Life" live on stage (acoustic, I'm told) as the athletes filed offstage at the end of the taping.....and WHY was I sitting at work???

Just then my cell phone rang, and it was two dear friends, out of breath telling me they had just high-fived Micheal Phelps, Shawn Johnson and Dara Torres....along with the entire men's water polo team! Calling from Millennium Park, thinking of Idolmama! Now, that's some good friends right there.

I would put a photo of David here but I haven't found one yet!

(ETA: I found this photo at mjsbigblog.com, it's Nastia Liukin and DC in Chicago at the Oprah taping....great, huh? Thanks, MJ!)

MAVID!

One of the funniest things to come out of this year's Idol tour is Mavid...that would be the pet name for the duo of Micheal Johns and David Cook. Yeah, we all know they are best buds, and they certainly show us their Brodance (inspired by their bromance) as evidenced by this compilation of video snaps from the tour, expertly and lovingly compiled by Kristen HERE! Thanks Kristen! (A million percent YES for you:)

I guess this is one way to beat the boredom of doing the exact same thing (more or less) 50 times in a row over about as many nights.....keep 'em coming, Kristen!

(picture courtesy of fanforum.com)

David Archuleta's CRUSH!

The wait is over! Were you wondering what Archie would sound like with an original tune, out in the real world? Wait no more! A new single from David Archuleta was released last Friday on 19 Entertainment's Jive Records, the same arm that did Jordin Sparks' "Tattoo". As usual, MJ has Archtastic coverage of this event and a link to download the tune (which I highly recommend you do) HERE.

We've been playin' it all weekend here at Casa Idolmama and really digging it....very catchy. I don't think it's the best showcase of lil' David's vocal abilities, but it's pretty good. And kudos to whomever matched him up with the perfect debut song! Here is a guy wondering if he's got a crush (what a rush, what a rush...), or if it's really love, and wondering if she could ever feel the same way (it's too much, too much...)

Do you think of me, when you're all alone, of what we could be, where this thing could go...

This will certainly send the tweeners into orbit, and Archie to the top of the charts!

Idols on Tour in Chicago: Recap/Review!

What do you get when you mix one part cheese, two parts product placement, and about 10 parts screaming girls? You get the American Idols Tour 2008!

The AllState Arena in Chicago last night had to be nearly sold-out, and I happily saw all kinds of people there: families, Dads, grandparents, teens, and plenty of Cougars :) This was my tweener daughter and I's third tour (went to Seasons 4 and 6), and the first for my nine year old son, and his first 'arena' show, and he was pumped.

I would rate the Applause-O-Meter at the beginning of the show during a montage of contestants the highest for Micheal Johns and Jason, and then the very highest for the 2 Davids...and I've have to call that one as a tie. I'll include the songs each performed here, although those of you following the tour at all will already know this stuff...I'll include for the benefit of those of you who actually have lives and don't obsessively follow the Idols all over the Internet :)

Chikezie opened with "I Believe to My Soul" by Donny Hathaway, and it was a great opener as many have agreed. I prefer Elliot's version of this song, but Chikezie does good. His other two songs are good, too, but I don't know them: "Caught Up" by Usher, and "So High" by John Legend. I'm busy checking out the scene as his warms up the crowd.

I liked Ramiele on the show, and she has used the opportunity to tour as an opportunity to improve as a singer, but mostly as a performer. Leaps and bounds ahead of the show. Her "I Want You Back" by The Jackson Five was very fun, and her other two numbers were good, too ("Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne, and "If I Never See Your Face Again" by Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna) even though some of the dancing was a bit pageant-y and stiff. At least she was moving! And by golly, she looked like a star!

Micheal Johns! Big entrance! Light show! His three songs were tunes all done on the show, so nothing new ("We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions" by Queen; "It's All Wrong But It's All Right" by Dolly Parton; and "Dream On" by Aerosmith). The guy has charisma out the wazoo and the crowd absolutely loves him. And he's so pretty! I'm mesmerized. My fav part was his emphasis on the Queen lyrics "You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, I THANK YOU ALL!" and that was cool. I'm not sure about his dance moves (he has none, just this bouncy thing that doesn't make sense) BUT the guy rocks. I love the Dolly cover from the show, and I keep asking myself, WHY didn't this guy get farther??? He wins us all over when he whips out a Cubs towel and dedicates "Dream On" to the Cubs World Series 2008 appearance! He also flubbed the lyrics to one of the songs at one point and laughed, "It happens, people!" but we didn't care :)

Kristy Lee Cook: Sparkly tank top ? Check. Hip huggers? Check. Sparkly belt buckle? Check. Wobbly vocals? Check! I see lots of people get up to head out for refreshments and whatever. As the only top 10 cast member to have secured a recording contract other than the two Davids, it doesn't show, and the crowd is polite. She sings "Squeezin' the Love Outta You" by Carolyn Dawn Johnson, "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood, and "Cowgirls" by Kerry Harvick. Lots of prancing around and hip-shaking. I wish her the very best.

I was not big into Carly Smithson on the show.....and while I appreciate that she's a very good singer, I understand again perhaps why she didn't finish higher. She opens with "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, and while she looks fabulous (despite some wacky, funky black glove thingies), she just looks and sounds angry to me....and I hear this from others, too. I think people had trouble connecting with her for that reason and a few others (Irishness and tats, to name a couple, although I have no problem with either, just saying). I loved her softer side on the show and would have loved to have heard Dolly's "Here You Come Again" or "Blackbird" and be treated to her beautiful vocals, instead I got to hear "Crazy on You" by Heart (shouty) and "I Drove All Night" by Cyndi Lauper, which she does very, very well....but I just don't prefer it. The crowd likes her tho, and it looks like life on the road agrees with her! (I actually heard tunes 2 and 3 from the ladies room and the t-shirt kiosk where we bought a David Cook t-shirt for my son :)

As such, I missed Shoeless Brooke's entrance, but she's on the piano as we come back in singing the beautiful "Let It Be" by The Beatles....sounds very very good, and looks very relaxed and happy. Her second and third songs were not familiar to me ("1234" by Feist and "Yellow" by Coldplay) but they suited her perfectly. She also played the piano on tunes 1 and 3 and guitar on the second, most impressive. I hope we get to see and hear more from her after this tour!

Insert Group medley, featuring the bottom 6:"Pride In the Name of Love" by U2...with some Idol Gives Back footage ...it was a little cheesy but okay.

After an Intermission, where we got refreshed (sort of, they are sold out of white wine! E-gads! There are Cougars in the house after all.....) and bought more t-shirts (I'm sorry to say) the darling Jason Castro took the stage to some of the loudest cheering we'd yet heard. He opens with the awesome "Over the Rainbow" (the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version) with his ukulele and it's gorgeous. He follows with "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley (which apparently he auditioned with, and we never got to see that footage) and "Daydream" by The Lovin' Spoonful. Just JOY JOY JOY with this boy on stage! Love him. Please tell me there will be more of him. SOON.

Unfortunately for Syesha, she takes the stage and begins singing into a mic that is not working. It takes almost the entirety of "Umbrella" by Rihanna to find one that works and get it to her. Happily, she is able to shrug it off pretty well and continue with a very pretty "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys and a rousing version of "Listen" by Beyonce. Now, Syesha looks....um....really glammy and really....um.....well, enhanced. Either that or her wardrobe people are that good. I don't remember that (those?) from the show. Do you think she'd lend me that dress for my high school reunion next week? LOL . Three words: short, sparkly and plunging.

David Archuleta time. I cannot tell you how deafening the crowd is....the shrieking is so loud, it tops the Hilary Duff concert I took a daughter to years back that had heretofore held the crown of Loudest Shrieky Concert Ever. David plays the piano and sings "Angels" by Robbie Williams just beautifully, "Apologize" by OneRepublic, "Stand by Me"/"Beautiful Girls" by Ben E. King/Sean Kingston, and "When You Say You Love Me" by Josh Groban. He's very, very good and seems relaxed and happy. "Stand By Me" is just incredible. I decide I'll buy anything he puts out.

Finally, the moment we've waited for.....David Cook opens with "Hello" by Lionel Richie and it's as incredible as we remembered from the show. Freshly coiffed and sporting guyliner to boot, DC looks and sounds amazing. Crowd is NUTSO. Don't know what's up with the waist scarf, and he snuck onto the girl's bus and borrowed KLC's sparkly belt buckle! Follows with the obligatory "The Time of My Life" but I have to say, the song has actually grown on me! "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith is a great song when DC does it, but I'm blown away by his version of "My Hero" by Foo Fighters, dedicated to his brother. After a fakeout ending of the concert, he reappears to close with his signature "Billie Jean"...and it's really, really, well done. Wow, me loves this guy! Hurry up with that single and CD, will ya?

Group encore:"Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna....they start out, marching and dancing and all group number cheese factor galore and I whisper under my breath, "Please don't make Jason do this...." but he does, but without so much marching, just walking :) Why all the love for Rihanna? Is there something I don't know about? There's also lots of love for Aerosmith in this setlist, but I gather that's because of the Activision's new Guitar Hero version featuring Aerosmith...remember I mentioned product placement up top? (the other product is Pop Tarts, in case you didn't know).

For terrific video clips and more thoughts from the Chicago show, check out MJ's American Idol blog HERE...you won't regret it!

Overall, even though this post is WAY long already, it was a good show, but I have to say not great for me. I prefer last year's show format where they mixed up all of the contestants into duets and trios, etc....where they performed out of order. This show was very predicable going from 10 to 1 and I wish they would have done a few smaller group numbers....but that's just me.

Have you caught any shows? What did YOU think?

Idol Concert Countdown!

Folks, we've got just a few mere days until the American Idols hit the Windy City (more or less), and I'm excited. I've been tracking _some_ of the reviews out there (trying not to read too much!) and it looks as though they are putting on a great show and people are digging it! I'm curious about the format change this year and how it will work...and of course looking forward to seeing the Davids and MJ. No, I don't have any of those meet-and-greet passes or special perks, even though I am Idolmama ;) but will enjoy the show nonetheless.

Review/recap to follow on Sunday!