We are now entering the final week of our American Idol Hall of Fame celebration. This week I'll be doing the Monday, Wednesday and Friday posts and Tony gets the days that start with the letter "T."
Country singer Kristy Lee Cook earned a 7th place finish in the 7th season of American Idol. Her first post-Idol album, 2008's very underrated Why Wait (released on Arista Nasvhille), produced the top 30 country hit 15 Minutes of Shame. The record also featured Like My Mother Does which future Idol alum Lauren Alaina also performed on her debut record. The relationship between Cook and Arista only lasted for that one record though as they parted ways prior to 2009.
On to bigger and better things. . .
In 2010, Cook signed with independent country label Broken Bow Records (a much better fit in my opinion). Her BBR debut, produced by country chart-topper Jason Aldean (that certainly can't hurt her singing career), is scheduled to be released later this year (you know I'm looking forward to hearing it). The first single off that record is Airborne Ranger Infantry which was co-written by Cook and inspired by the poems her father wrote while serving in Vietnam. Check it out.
. . . And here she is singing Dolly's Coat of Many Colors from the American Idol Final 9 in 2008 (just ignore what that clown Simon Cowell has to say at the end. . .).
18 January 2013
18 January 2013 - Katharine McPhee - Over It & Beautiful
American Idol is good at finding country music talent, as you can see this week. However, it's also good at finding pop talent. Katharine McPhee is one of the more colourful contestants from Season 5, ending as that year's runner-up. She had a nice pop star quality, similar to a Mandy Moore, but had a huge, huge voice. I could see Mandy Moore singing this song, which is light teen angsty fare, but still fun.
As many of you know, Katharine is now one of the stars of the NBC show Smash, which I suggest you check out. Second best music-centered show on television (Nashville being the best). In the years between her AI appearance and this, her voice has matured, and she is now capable of carrying this big tune, just like Christina Aguilera did.
Lest we forget, this is where she started. Actually, this was the AI5 finale, so I guess this isn't the start. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is the song. And she belts it. Such a mature voice already at that point. Enjoy!
As many of you know, Katharine is now one of the stars of the NBC show Smash, which I suggest you check out. Second best music-centered show on television (Nashville being the best). In the years between her AI appearance and this, her voice has matured, and she is now capable of carrying this big tune, just like Christina Aguilera did.
Lest we forget, this is where she started. Actually, this was the AI5 finale, so I guess this isn't the start. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is the song. And she belts it. Such a mature voice already at that point. Enjoy!
17 January 2013
17 January 2013 - Crystal Bowersox - Farmer's Daughter
Tony left the door wide-open for me to post about the Season 4 American Idol winner. And trust me I want to. Even if I already posted about her here. Maybe next week. Or maybe not. We'll see.
Instead, I'll go with the AI runner-up from Season 9. I heard good things about Crystal Bowersox during her AI run and was intrigued when her debut record Farmer's Daughter came out in 2010. I was immediately taken in by her strong soulful voice (think Joplin, but without the whiskey and cigarettes) and great songs (all but one of which she wrote). The first single and title track blew me away with its honesty. It's an incredibly sad song/story, but there's hope in the end. Word on the street is that her follow-up record will be released this spring and I for one am looking forward to hearing it.
And since I compared Crystal to Janis earlier, I suppose I should dig up her AI performance of Me and Bobby McGee.
Instead, I'll go with the AI runner-up from Season 9. I heard good things about Crystal Bowersox during her AI run and was intrigued when her debut record Farmer's Daughter came out in 2010. I was immediately taken in by her strong soulful voice (think Joplin, but without the whiskey and cigarettes) and great songs (all but one of which she wrote). The first single and title track blew me away with its honesty. It's an incredibly sad song/story, but there's hope in the end. Word on the street is that her follow-up record will be released this spring and I for one am looking forward to hearing it.
And since I compared Crystal to Janis earlier, I suppose I should dig up her AI performance of Me and Bobby McGee.
16 January 2013
16 January 2013 - Carmen Rasmusen (Herbert) - Nothin' Like The Summer
The single biggest shock of the entire American Idol series came in season 2. (That was ten years ago!) In the Hollywood rounds, before the public got to vote - when the contestant first sings for the judges - Carmen Rasmusen was eliminated. She didn't even get onto the television broadcast of these rounds.
Strangely, she was brought back to perform in the Top 24 Wild Card night, along with a couple of other eliminated contestants - supposedly for demographic reasons. On this night, one performer was to be selected by America - that person ended up being Clay Aiken - and three were selected by the judges. When the performances were given.... well, Simon Cowell ripped her a new one. He very clearly called her "not good enough." Not. Good. Enough.
And the next night, when the choices were made? She was Simon's judge's choice. And no one was more surprised than she was.
I was quite happy. Carmen was, and remains to this day, my favorite Idol contestant ever. She was earnest, she was modest, and she took criticism well. Plus, she could sing, and she had a voice with an appealing vibrato. I don't think anyone has done more noble work with their Idol exposure.
She ended up in 6th place in Season 2. Sixth. America loved her. Utah (her home state) (she was a Mormon, yes) loved her a lot! Her vocal style clearly matured in her time on the show. She parlayed her vocal maturity and success on Idol into a modest music career. Here's one of her post-Idol singles. Now, tell me this isn't 1. radio-friendly and 2. an appealing, fun song!
By the way, Ms. Rasmusen Herbert, now a newspaper columnist, is not a fan of what Idol has become, although she calls Simon her favorite judge.
Here's one of my favorite performances of hers from Idol - her version of Blondie's "Call Me". I don't care what the judges say - I got it and I think she did it well.
/> And, because we like to feature these things on our blogs, here's Carmen singing Adele's little hit a couple of years ago. I still think this woman has a great voice!
Strangely, she was brought back to perform in the Top 24 Wild Card night, along with a couple of other eliminated contestants - supposedly for demographic reasons. On this night, one performer was to be selected by America - that person ended up being Clay Aiken - and three were selected by the judges. When the performances were given.... well, Simon Cowell ripped her a new one. He very clearly called her "not good enough." Not. Good. Enough.
And the next night, when the choices were made? She was Simon's judge's choice. And no one was more surprised than she was.
I was quite happy. Carmen was, and remains to this day, my favorite Idol contestant ever. She was earnest, she was modest, and she took criticism well. Plus, she could sing, and she had a voice with an appealing vibrato. I don't think anyone has done more noble work with their Idol exposure.
She ended up in 6th place in Season 2. Sixth. America loved her. Utah (her home state) (she was a Mormon, yes) loved her a lot! Her vocal style clearly matured in her time on the show. She parlayed her vocal maturity and success on Idol into a modest music career. Here's one of her post-Idol singles. Now, tell me this isn't 1. radio-friendly and 2. an appealing, fun song!
By the way, Ms. Rasmusen Herbert, now a newspaper columnist, is not a fan of what Idol has become, although she calls Simon her favorite judge.
Here's one of my favorite performances of hers from Idol - her version of Blondie's "Call Me". I don't care what the judges say - I got it and I think she did it well.
/> And, because we like to feature these things on our blogs, here's Carmen singing Adele's little hit a couple of years ago. I still think this woman has a great voice!
15 January 2013
15 January 2013 - Kellie Pickler - Red High Heels
While I've never watched American Idol for more than five minutes at a time, I've certainly become a fan of many of the contestants over the years, which is why I suggested that we do this two-week Hall of Fame AI celebration.
My first AI Hall of Fame post goes to my No. 1 artist of 2012 -- Kellie Pickler (who came in 6th place in Season 5 of Idol). This June I posted her Best Days of Your Life video (a song she co-wrote and performed with Taylor Swift). Today, I present you with my favorite Kellie Pickler song. It's off her debut album Small Town Girl.
And now, here she is performing Sara Evans' Suds in the Bucket on Idol.
My first AI Hall of Fame post goes to my No. 1 artist of 2012 -- Kellie Pickler (who came in 6th place in Season 5 of Idol). This June I posted her Best Days of Your Life video (a song she co-wrote and performed with Taylor Swift). Today, I present you with my favorite Kellie Pickler song. It's off her debut album Small Town Girl.
And now, here she is performing Sara Evans' Suds in the Bucket on Idol.
14 January 2013
14 January 2013 - Kelly Clarkson - Miss Independent ( & Respect Yourself )
This....is AMERICAN IDOL!
Since AI is returning to the air this week, Scott and I decided we'd go ahead and give you two weeks of American Idol alumni, to show you what an impact the show has had on the entire music industry.
Let's start at the beginning. The very first winner. She's been featured on here before - our second post, and Scott's first - and now, she kicks off our showcase. Released in 2003, this is the song that really made Kelly Clarkson a bigger star, and broke her out of the American Idol mold and squeaky-clean image.
The song itself is sparse, hard-edged pop-rock, which highlights her huge voice really well. Perhaps not surprisingly, the song was co-written by Christina Aguilera and originally intended for her.... but it would seem strange to hear her sing this song, which Kelly own so perfectly.
Bonus: Here's Kelly Clarkson's audition. It's one of the most colorful auditions ever. She even had a career backup plan.
Since AI is returning to the air this week, Scott and I decided we'd go ahead and give you two weeks of American Idol alumni, to show you what an impact the show has had on the entire music industry.
Let's start at the beginning. The very first winner. She's been featured on here before - our second post, and Scott's first - and now, she kicks off our showcase. Released in 2003, this is the song that really made Kelly Clarkson a bigger star, and broke her out of the American Idol mold and squeaky-clean image.
The song itself is sparse, hard-edged pop-rock, which highlights her huge voice really well. Perhaps not surprisingly, the song was co-written by Christina Aguilera and originally intended for her.... but it would seem strange to hear her sing this song, which Kelly own so perfectly.
Bonus: Here's Kelly Clarkson's audition. It's one of the most colorful auditions ever. She even had a career backup plan.
11 January 2013
11 January 2013 - Connie Britton & Chip Esten - No One Will Ever Love You
Scott was kind enough to post a song from the ABC show Nashville yesterday. We are in complete agreement as to how great that show is. On Twitter, I have spoken with a couple of old time country artists - Lynn Anderson most notably - who vouch for the ACCURACY of the show's portrayal of the Nashville music business, which I found heartening.
Yesterday's song was Juliette Barnes, so today, I am pulling out Rayna James. Connie Britton, who I have loved since "Spin City", is tremendous in a role that is supposedly loosely based on the life of Reba McEntire. I don't know if that's true, but she can sing, and well, which I found surprising.
Here's my favorite song from the show, a duet with Charlie Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne. Forget for a second that this song is written for a television show. It's expertly produced by T-Bone Burnett, who I've been a fan of for many years, and full of raw, deep emotion. It's got an old-time, classic country feel that I love. And, getting back to the TV story - our two characters wrote this song many years ago, when they were romantically linked, and both actors expertly capture the emotion of the song. It's a fantastically acted show.
You noticed that I noted Charles Esten as "Chip" on this post. I knew I had seen him somewhere before, but I couldn't place him right away. As it turns out, I did recognize him. His singing ability shouldn't have surprised anyone. He did it several times on television in the past. He was a featured player on the television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Yesterday's song was Juliette Barnes, so today, I am pulling out Rayna James. Connie Britton, who I have loved since "Spin City", is tremendous in a role that is supposedly loosely based on the life of Reba McEntire. I don't know if that's true, but she can sing, and well, which I found surprising.
Here's my favorite song from the show, a duet with Charlie Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne. Forget for a second that this song is written for a television show. It's expertly produced by T-Bone Burnett, who I've been a fan of for many years, and full of raw, deep emotion. It's got an old-time, classic country feel that I love. And, getting back to the TV story - our two characters wrote this song many years ago, when they were romantically linked, and both actors expertly capture the emotion of the song. It's a fantastically acted show.
You noticed that I noted Charles Esten as "Chip" on this post. I knew I had seen him somewhere before, but I couldn't place him right away. As it turns out, I did recognize him. His singing ability shouldn't have surprised anyone. He did it several times on television in the past. He was a featured player on the television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
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