Some Stuff

If anyone is still checking out this blog, I just want to say that though there has been no shortage of news, I'm just finding it hard to muster enthusiasm for AI in general.

This season I liked a couple people (Allison, Danny), but I wasn't excited about anyone.

I've been keeping up with my few favorites - Taylor Hicks, Michael Johns and Elliott Yamin. I've been fortunate enough to talk with each of them, and I am hoping for their continued success.

Michael Johns is preparing to tour with Brooke White. I've been told that the tour should start in September. I'm just waiting to hear dates.

In the meantime - on a personal note - I have been very busy. My husband and I are in the middle of an international adoption (Poland).

In fact if you are in the Seattle area and want to hear some great music (including yours truly and her husband), check out our benefit concert on August 15th. All info and tickets are available at our website - Mission To Adopt.

Michael Johns Covering Beyonce's "Put A Ring On It"

My Interview With Elliott Yamin

Recently I had the chance to interview season 5 3rd place runner up Elliott Yamin. Elliott was one of my favorites that season (my second favorite after Taylor Hicks). He was a pleasure to talk to.







You can read my interview on BlogCritics.

Here is an excerpt:

How do you feel this album differs from your first one?

My approach was different because I actually had a well devised plan of what I wanted the record to sound like this time around. I had more time to do that. This album differs drastically from the first one. First of all, I’ve just really grown as an artist and a writer.

I was a co-writer on a lot of these songs, and I got to arrange a lot of the vocals. I’ve really learned how to use my voice and get the best out of it in the studio. I’ve just grown up as an artist. I think it’s quite evident on this new album, which is a lot more contemporary than the first one.

Michael Johns to be on American Idol Extra

Look for Michael Johns to perform his new single "Heart On My Sleeve" on Fox Reality Channel's American Idol Extra this Thursday - check your local listings.

The new single is currently available on iTunes and Amazon. Check it out.

Michael Johns and Carly Smithson to appear on Results Show Tomorrow

Well my time off from Idol writing is over. I had a lot going on so I decided to take a little break until performances started. So that's tonight and I should be grading the performances tomorrow.

I was a little bored with the auditions. The crazy stuff doesn't do much for me anymore and so far I haven't taken any real interest in any of the contestants that made it to the top 36.

I was not surprised at all that Joanna Pacitti was replaced. I'm just surprised she made it as far as she did. She just has too much professional experience. A lot of professionals find themselves in between recording contracts at some point in their career, so it's kind of weird she headed straight for Idol auditions.

And as my headline says - Michael Johns and Carly Smithson will be performing a duet on tomorrow's results show!

Michael Johns exclusively told EW.com -

"The thing about Idol is, if you're respectful of it, and you enjoy it, and you're a good ambassador for the show, you're in it for life."

Johns and Smithson, who finished eighth and sixth, respectively, on season 7 of Idol, had expected to appear this year during the "Hollywood Week" episodes, where they had served as ''Idol boot-camp'' mentors for the current crop of hopefuls; that footage, however, wound up on the editing-room floor. "Ken [Warwick] felt bad about it," explained Johns, and thus, the duet plans were hatched

American Idol Premiere

Last night's group of auditions - from Phoenix Arizone - were the usual fair of good and horrible. A couple weeks ago Simon Cowell had said during a press conference that they would be focusing more on the good singers that would eventually end up on the show. His reasoning was that the "bad" audition thing had worn itself out.

While I agree with him on that I didn't see any evidence that they were focusing on the good over the bad, so I was a bit disappointed so the usual fair of crazy stuff.

New judge Kara DioGuardi didn't say much...that is until the bikini girl. The bikini girl came in, obviously hoping to woo the male judges into saying yes based on her appearance. And unfortunately they did. Simon wouldn't even give a reason for his pass through to Hollywood.

This did not sit well with DioGuardi who argued with the judges and the contestant. DioGuardi may have gone a little overboard with her own singing demonstration, but it was an entertaining segment and I guess that's what we're looking for in a new judge.

I personally thought the judges should have let the guy that sang some song about a cactus through. He was a little bit over the top in his presentation, but I thought he had a pretty good voice and he was entertaining. They should have asked him to sing a regular song.

Some of the people they let through had good voices, but there wasn't much else interesting about them. I didn't think the girl witht he tatoos who sang "Barracuda" was all that great.

Overall no one left much of an impression on me. I'll be curious to see how the guy who works on the oil rig does, and also the guy with the vision impairment.

Season 8 Of American Idol Tonight!

Tonight is the season premiere of the 8th season of American Idol. Look for my weekly write-ups critiquing the performances and my overall thoughts on the show. Once competition starts I will being doing my infamous weekly report cards.

Their are a lot of changes in store for this season - wild cards, a new judge, and many more.