A Better "Home"

I didn't much like Phillip Phillips' "Home," but this version, by 12-year-old brothers, is much better:

I think they call themselves "Sharp Turn Ahead."

Idol Summer Tour Starts In Detroit

The 2012 Idol Summer Tour has started in Detroit. Here's a group song "What Makes You Beautiful" (without Phillip Phillips) from YouTube user HeadstrongLover707:

And here is a detailed article from Billboard.com which includes the full set list:

Click Here To Read The Article

Ace Young & Diana DeGarmo Branson Video

Well, it seems someone finally snuck a video out of the Andy Williams Moon River Theater in Branson where the Idols Group II is performing. Just one video of Ace Young & Diana DeGarmo singing "Us Against the World." However, the video, by user GCspFOBpatd81, had horrible audio. So I downloaded it and had a hard time fixing it up. But here it is:

Jessica Sanchez in "Miss Saigon" Movie?

This article from the Manila Bulletin says that Jessica Sanchez is in the running to play the lead role of Kim in the film adaptation of the Broadway Musical "Miss Saigon." The role of Kim was made famous by Philippine star Lea Salonga over 20 years ago.

The article also says that Charice and Thia Megia were also being considered:

Click Here To Read The Article.

I don't think that Charice should even be considered given she's not very good looking. Thia Megia's voice might be a bit low and kind of jazzy for the role. Even Jessica's voice with her R&B leanings and sometimes wide vibrato is not ideal, but Jessica has shown she can change her voice as needed.

Here's Lea Salonga on a 1989 TV show recreating the "Sun and Moon" song and scene from "Miss Saigon:"

The video was originally uploaded by user mimibarthez, but I downloaded it so I could boost the volume, which was very low.

More On Branson Group II

Here's a review of Branson Group II by local resident J.C. Wert:

Click Here To Read.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to sneak a video camera into the theater.

And here's a radio interview with Scott Savol, Siobhan Magnus and Alexis Grace, where Siobhan lets loose and vents on Simon Cowell's attitude during Season 9:

What an outburst by Siobhan when the others (including the DJ) were glowing about him. Siobhan would have none of it. But Simon has admitted to being out of it because he was putting X Factor together. I was trashing Kara DioGuardi even more on the blogs. Kara said some of the dumbest things to Siobhan that I've ever heard from a judge.

And here's Ace Young & Diana DeGarmo:

Branson Group II Videos

Well, I asked Branson for YouTube videos of Group II from inside the theater, but they put up these instead.

First the arrival of Group II:

Then Ace & Diana check out the Titanic exhibit at Branson:

Hopefully they'll put up something from inside the theater at some point.

Words From Branson Group II

My apologies for lifting this article from another site. These are words from Branson Group II:

It was only a month ago that Ace Young, live on “American Idol,” asked fellow finalist and “Young and the Restless” star, Diana DeGarmo, to become his wife. Now the two are performing together through July 21 as part of “Finalists Live!” at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson.

The two first met in 2010 in a revival of the musical, “Hair,” so they have performed together before, but they say this is even better because they were able to choose specific material.

“We get to do songs we wrote and we get to do some cover songs we love,” Young said.

That includes some songs from “Hair,” plus a song written by DeGarmo.

The two also enjoy performing with the other Idol finalists: Scott Savol, Siobhan Magnus and Alexis Grace. The show features solo numbers from each, as well as several songs in which all five participate.

Young and DeGarmo said it is fun to sing with such good vocalists.

“Each person really holds their own,” DeGarmo said. “The group numbers are magical.”

This is the second group of Idol finalists to perform this summer at the Branson theater. Like the first group, they will perform for five weeks before a third group finishes up the summer show.

For season four finalist Scott Savol, this performance marks a return to Branson. He performed with a group of Idol finalists in 2008 in “America’s Favorite Finalists” at the Grand Palace. He said he enjoyed his time in Branson and told show organizers he would love to return.

“I love the whole vibe of this town,” Savol said.

He also said coming to Branson gave him the chance to meet his friend, Tony Orlando.

Several of the show’s performers said they are looking forward to seeing more of Branson. Grace, a season eight finalist, said she wants to take her five-year-old daughter to Silver Dollar City. Magnus, a season nine finalist, said she has two younger sisters she is looking forward to taking to several attractions.

Savol, a season four finalist, said the Branson show is going really well.

“It’s a spectacle,” he said. “We’re blessed to be a part of it.”

Grace described the show as “high-energy.”

“It moves fast,” she said. “There’s no dragging, which I hate in a show.”

Grace and Magnus said they had not met any of the other cast members before this show, but that they are performing and getting along like old friends.

“No matter what season we were on, we magically become friends,” Grace said. “I wish we could do more songs together.”

Magnus said that comes from everyone having gone through the American Idol experience.

“People who’ve been on Idol, we share a common understanding,” Magnus said. “We’re the only ones who know what it’s like.”

Siobhan, Ace & Diana Headed For Branson

The "American Idol Finalists LIVE!" show at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri is an interesting concept. They invite three groups of Idol finalists, and each group has a 5-week run where they perform 6 days a week. Tickets go for around $30. The capacity of the theater is around 2000.

The first group has just about completed their run of May 14 - June 16. The group consisted of Lee DeWyze, Blake Lewis, Elliot Yamin, Kimberly Caldwell and Thia Megia.

Coming up for their June 18 - July 21 run is group two consisting of Siobhan Magnus, Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo, Alexis Grace and Scott Savol.

Following them from July 23 - August 18 is the third group consisting of Reuben Studdard, Bo Bice, Vonzell Solomon, Katie Stevens and RJ Helton.

Apparently, the attendance is pretty good. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing hardly any videos coming from the theater. It guess the camera police are pretty strict. This gig is kind of like ending up on a cruise ship without the cruise ship. But it's better than nothing.

Siobhan has sent some tweets:

June 12: We start rehearsals in the morning for the Finalists. Met Ace Young and Diana Degarmo today! Can't wait to sing w/them, Alexis and Scott!

June 13: Rehearsals are going well! Can't wait to do the real performances!

June 13: We open on Monday, it'll be great to slip into some KISS boots and rock out in Branson!

Pia & Jessica

Here is Pia Toscano once again dealing with leaving the Staples Center:

And here is Jessica Sanchez singing the National Anthem for Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma, taking the place of the Phillip Phillips:

Pia Toscano Wins Stanley Cup

The L.A. Kings refused to let Pia Toscano go after they lost to the New Jersey Devils in Game 4 of the NHL Championship Series last Wednesday at Staples Center. After the Kings also lost Game 5 in New Jersey Saturday, they brought Pia back once again to sing for Game 6. And it paid off with the Kings getting their first-ever Stanley Cup win in their 45 years of existence. Here is video of the introduction of the teams followed by Pia's winning Anthem:

One has to wonder why Interscope did not take advantage of Pia's run with the Kings and release her album right now.

Allison Iraheta / Portishead "Glory Box"

I found the two YouTube videos of "Glory Box" to be surprisingly in sync, so I downloaded them and overlayed them. The Allison video is from user Libracats, while the Portishead video is from user bram082:

Allison Iraheta "Glory Box"

Allison Iraheta singing "Glory Box" at the L.A. Music Academy, June 6, 2012:

And here is the original by Portishead, from a 1997 concert:

Pia Toscano Outside Staples Center

Here is Pia Toscano outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles after singing the National Anthem for Game 4 of NHL championship series between the L.A. Kings and the New Jersey Devils:

Pia Fails To Close Out Devils

Some people thought the L.A. Kings hockey team might switch from their lucky charm Pia Toscano for the singing of the National Anthem once they returned home from New Jersey after taking a 2-0 lead over the Devils in the NHL championship series for the Stanley Cup. Not so. The Kings stayed with Pia and got a win Sunday to move within one game of the championship. But on Wednesday, June 6, with Pia singing yet again, the Kings failed to close out the Devils, meaning they have to go back to New Jersey for Game 5 with a 3-1 lead. Will they finish off the Devils there, or come back to L.A. for one last chance at home? And will they give Pia one last chance if that happens?

Chaka Khan Calls Jessica Loss "An Atrocity"

Chaka Khan, in a USA Today article about doing a Whitney Houston tribute at the annual Apollo Spring Gala, called Jessica Sanchez's loss to Phillip Phillips on American Idol "an atrocity:"

Read Here.

Chaka appeared on the American Idol finale with the Top 12 girls.

Juvenile Diabetes Red Carpet

On the red carpet of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's 9th Annual Gala, StarCam caught up with celebrities including Idols Pia Toscano (4:55) and Crystal Bowersox (6:37):

Jessica's Idol YouTube Views

Phillip Phillips has one of the best first-week sales of a coronation song ever with "Home" selling 278K copies, but then there are those YouTube views on American Idol's YouTube page. As seen here on their page sorted by most popular, Jessica Sanchez is far more popular than Phillip:

Click Here.

As of this writing, Jessica has the top 2 videos, and 7 of the top 10. On that first page, Jessica has 16 of the top 27 contestant videos.

Phillip has just 3 videos with over 2 million views, while Jessica has 7. Phillip has just 6 videos with over 1 million views, while Jessica has 17. Phillip's most popular video has 3.2 million views, while Jessica's most popular has 6 million views.

What does this all mean? It means Jessica has very fervent fans, but they don't have a lot of disposable income.

Melinda Doolittle calls Jessica-Jennifer Duet "Most Amazing"

Season 6's Melinda Doolittle, speaking with Michael Slezak of TVLine.com on the final installment of the season of their "Idology" recap show, called the duet between Jessica Sanchez and Jennifer Holiday of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," sung on the season finale, the "most amazing duet" she'd ever seen on an Idol finale. Melinda said she was "laid out on my living room floor, pounding the floor." Michael said, "That was some wild kingdom sh*." Here is their recap:

And here is the amazing duet:

Is Kris Allen Toast?

Is Kris Allen toast?

According to Hits Daily Double , Kris' second album debuted at just 16.9K, compared to Adam Lambert's 77K and James Durbin's 28K. Kris's first album debuted at 80K, however he had a huge single "Live Like We're Dying" which sold over 1.5 million copies. The second album does not appear to have such a monster single.

Will Kris soon get dropped by his label? If Kris is dropped, he will join David Cook and Lee DeWyze as WGWGs who won then didn't last very long with their record labels. We'll have Cook is from Season 7, Allen from Season 8 and DeWyze from Season 9. This is the pathetic effect of "boyfriend voting" that has afflicted Idol since mass text voting took hold.

HDD is also reporting that Haley Reinhart debuted at 19.1K, which is below James Durbin's 28k. Haley finished #3 and James finished #4 in Season 10. However, Haley's single "Free" has sold over 60K copies, so that makes them about even. But James' album is now over 100K. We'll see if Haley can keep up with him.

Idol Introduces Singles

Idol Introduces Singles

No, not like Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo. We're talking about iTunes singles.

Idol can now sign non-winning contestants to record singles instead of albums.

For instance the #2 finisher can be paid $30K for 4 singles, or $60K if more than 4.

The #3 and lower finishers can be paid $24K for 4 singles.

However, it's unlikely they would sign the #2 finisher to record singles. An album advance for the #2 is $175K. For the #1 it's $300K.

We'll see if they use the singles option on any of the Season 11 contestants.

Season 11 Finale Reactions

Season 11 Finale - Phillip vs Jessica.

132 million votes.

Group number.

Phillip Phillips & John Fogerty perform.

Joshua Ledet performs. With Fantasia.

Top 12 girls perform. With Chaka Khan.

Rihanna performs.

Skylar Laine performs. With Reba McEntire.

Jessica Sanchez performs. Where's the hologram of Whitney?

Top 12 guys perform. With Neil Diamond.

Sing the phone book choir.

Jennifer Lopez performs.

Ace Young proposes to Diana Degarmo. Gets a Yes.

Hollie Cavanagh performs. With Jordin Sparks.

Robin Gibb tribute.

Jessica Sanchez and Jennifer Holiday perform. Wow.

Aerosmith performs.

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips perform.

And the winner is: Phillip Phillips.

I was one of many who said at Phillip's initial audition that he would win Season 11. A WGWG from Georgia plus a lot talent was too predictable.

It was encouraging to see a diverse Top 3, and to see that Phillip did not win in a landslide.

Jessica at #2 beats Jasmine Trias from Season 3 as the highest finishing Asian or Hispanic girl. Jasmine finished #3.