Haley Reinhart's Jazzy "American Boy"

Here is Haley Reinhart performing a very jazzy version of "American Boy" in Las Vegas back in August:

No Cassadee vs Candice Showdown

No Cassadee vs Candice showdown.

There was supposed to be a showdown between Cassadee Pope of "The Voice" and Candice Glover of Idol with both releasing albums on October 8. But Candice has fled to February, making her one of the few (if any) Idol winners to not release an album in time for the Christmas season.

Cassadee would have won this battle anyway because although Candice is a more talented vocalist, Cassadee is simply more popular and was out touring with Rascal Flatts over the summer.

Hits Daily Double is reporting that Cassadee's album has sold around 45K in its first week. That is the best showing by far of any contestant from The Voice, but it is unlikely the album will ever reach gold. However, Cassadee has a single from the album, "Wasting All These Tears," which has sold over 400K, which is huge for a contestant from The Voice.

Phillip Phillips Album Platinum

Phillip Phillips' debut album "The World from the Side of the Moon" has culminated it's slow, steady climb to platinum status by selling its millionth copy this month (September).

Off the top of my head, other Idols who have had platinum albums include Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Chris Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, Adam Lambert and Scotty McCreery.

By platinum, I mean at least one million sold worldwide. So for Seasons 1 through 11, only Season 9 failed to produce a platinum album.

Allison Iraheta With Tonight Show Band

I was watching a bit of the Tonight Show, and I thought I saw and heard Allison Iraheta singing with the band. It turns out, she's been with the band all week as a one-week substitute:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-alum-allison-iraheta-632018

Carrie Underwood Falls On Butt

Carrie Underwood fell on her butt during a recent performance. Luckily she's only 5' 3" and slight of build. Unlike, say, Candice Glover:

Short Idol Tour Ends In Nashville

The relatively short 2013 Idol summer tour ended in Nashville Saturday, 08/31. Here are the girls singing Beyonce's "End of Time" in Reading, PA on 08/24:

Fired Nigel Lythgoe on Access Hollywood

Fired Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe talks with Access Hollywood:

http://watch.accesshollywood.com/video/nigel-lythgoe-on-how-to-save-american-idol:-weve-got-to-get-the-family-back-together/2621148020001

Haley Reinhart "Oh My"

Here is Haley Reinhart's "Oh My" being used in a Lifetime TV commercial:

And here is Haley singing it live recently at CityWalk:

Angie Miller "Mamma Knows Best"

Here's Angie Miller on the Idol tour from Fairfax, VA, with "Mamma Knows Best:"

Country Girls In Houston

Here are the Idol country girls from Houston.

Janelle Arthur "Better Dig Two:"

Kree Harrison "All Cried Out:"

Girls Open The Show

The girls open the show on the Idol tour from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles:

Summer Tour Finally Starts

The American Idol Season 12 summer tour finally got started Friday, July 19, at Kent Washington. Last season, the tour started on July 6.

Here is a generally positive review from The Seattle Times:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/soundposts/2013/07/20/american-idols-tour-kickoff-a-mixed-bag-in-kent/

Another review from Dallas July 28:

http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/music/headlines/20130728-american-idol-isn-t-dead-yet-dallas-show-produces-some-magic.ece

Adam Lambert 80s Album?

This report from The Hollywood Reporter says Adam's record label is considering all 80s covers for his next (third) album:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/adam-lamberts-next-album-all-covers-581758

I've always said that an Idol's debut album should be 50% covers to ease the transition from Idol to "artist." But an all-covers album for Adam would be too much. Adam just needs to lay off the soft gay dance stuff and be more of a "rock god" to get some of his fans back.

Update: Adam parts ways with RCA over creative differences:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/adam-lambert-parts-ways-rca-584714

Here is Siobhan Magnus recording "Someday" from a musical called "The Reluctant Dragon:"

She performed this live on stage back in 2011:

Haley Reinhart Incognito

Here's a Haley Reinhart YouTube video from back in March where she sings for tips incognito. She might be unrecognizable, but her voice is unmistakable:

"The Glut" Crowns Yet Another Country Girl

"The Glut" Crowns Yet Another Country Girl

"The Voice," otherwise known as "The Glut" has crowned yet another country girl in Danielle Bradbery. Cassadee Pope, who won Season 3 not long ago in December, is still in the process of converting from rock to country, yet all of a sudden, here is Danielle who could derail Cassadee's efforts.

This is why I've said many times, The Voice is stupid for going twice a year. It might be good for NBC and the judges, but it's not doing any good for the contestants.

In addition, Idol is adding Kree Harrison and Janelle Arthur as well. And of course Lauren Alaina is still out there.

I've always felt Idol should be once every two years to give the contestants a chance to get going. Idol produced glut by itself. Now with X Factor and two seasons of The Voice, it's very difficult for the contestants to get going.

The Voice is especially selfish and uncaring for going twice a year without yet having produced a big-selling star. Will Danielle be a star? This Daily Beast article says no:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/19/danielle-bradbery-wins-the-voice-but-she-won-t-be-a-star.html

Allison Iraheta on NBC Latino

Here is a YouTube video of Allison Iraheta on NBC Latino:

Candice, Jessica on PBS

Candice, Jessica on Memorial Day Concert 2013 on PBS:

Candice Glover - National Anthem:

Jessica Sanchez - God Bless America:

Season 12 Post-Season Analysis

With Season 12 now over, Ken Barnes offers his post-season analysis with "Five ways to help fix American Idol:

http://social.entertainment.msn.com/tv/blogs/blog--five-ways-to-help-fix-american-idol

I posted this: When you see The Voice and Idol both dropping to around 11-12 mil, you know that viewer fatigue is a big problem. Idol's Thursday finale got 14.3 mil. But Idol's main problem this season was casting, casting, casting. Nicki Minaj turned off millions of loyal viewers without bringing in the younger viewers they were expecting. And casting a bunch of lame guys for a viewership that's at least 62% female was a big mistake. I know they really, really wanted a female to win, but the cost was too high.

Let me add that the viewers who left the show were likely Kree voters, so it's very possible that Kree Harrison would have won if Nicki had not chased away her voters.

Season 12 Week 18 Thursday Finale

Season 12 Week 18 Thursday - Finale Results

Group number.

The Band Perry performs. With Janelle Arthur.

Guys Sabotaged bit.

Top Five Guys perform. With Frankie Vallie.

Mariah Carey performs.

Amber Holcomb performs. With Emeli Sande.

Korean guy Psy performs.

Keith Urban performs.

Candice Glover performs. With Jennifer Hudson.

Angela Miller performs. With Adam Lambert.

Jessie J performs with Angie.

Judges bit.

Kree Harrison performs. With Randy, Keith.

Randy Jackson is Leaving bit.

Aretha Franklin from New York. With the Top 5 Girls.

Season tribute video.

Jennifer Lopez & Pit Bull perform.

Candice & Kree perform.

The Winner Is: Candice Glover.

The best singer of the season rightfully wins the season.

Season 12 Week 18 Wednesday Reactions

Season 12 Week 18 Wednesday - Top 2 Finale

Rankings:

1. Candice Glover
2. Kree Harrison

Details:

Simon Fuller picks:

Kree Harrison - Very nice. Finesse.

Candice Glover - Nice spin. Great job.

Carly Rae Jepsen performs.

Contestant Singles:

Kree Harrison - Kinda hokey song, but well sung.

Candice Glover - Kinda hokey song, but well sung.

Contestant Favorites:

Kree Harrison - Great job, very powerful.

Candice Glover - I really didn't want to hear that song, but well sung.

Candice has been the superior singer all season long and deserves to win this contest.