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.

Season 12 Week 17 Thursday Reactions

Season 12 Week 17 Thursday - Top 3 Results

Group song.

Jimmy Iovine reacts for round one.

Lauren Alaina performs.

Jimmy Iovine reacts for round two.

Mariah music video.

Adam Lambert update.

Alicia Keys performs.

Jimmy Iovine reacts for round three.

Candice Glover - Safe.

Angie vs Kree - Kree Safe. Stunning. It seemed Angie was the most popular.

But Angie is now the highest finisher (3) from New England, surpassing Siobhan Magnus (6).

Season 12 Week 17 Wednesday Reactions

Season 12 Week 17 Wednesday - Top 3

Rankings:

1. Candice Glover
2. Angela Miller
3. Kree Harrison

Details:

Jimmy Iovine picks:

Kree Harrison - Not a great pick for her. Needed more edge.

Candice Glover - Very fine job. Made me wish she could scream like Fantasia, but that's ok.

Angela Miller - Odd choice for her. But good job anyway. I guess Jimmy was expecting her to sit at the piano. Yes, he was.

Judges picks:

Candice Glover - I don't get the song choice. But good job.

Angela Miller - From New England, like Katie Stevens and Siobhan Magnus. Great pick, great job.

Kree Harrison - Good pick, good job.

Producer picks:

Angela Miller - Nice job. Well-connected, very authentic.

Kree Harrison - Her vocal quality is too naturally soft for this. Needed more edge. She got some edge in there, but needed more.

Candice Glover - Very odd song choice. Put the girl on Broadway? But a very fine job anyway.

Season 12 Week 16 Thursday Reactions

Season 12 Week 16 Thursday - Top 4 Results again

Group song.

Jimmy Iovine reacts.

David Cook performs.

will.i.am performs.

Constantine Maroulis update.

Harry Connick, Jr. performs.

Angie - Safe.
Candice - Safe.

Amber vs Kree - Kree Safe.

Amber Out.

Not a surprise as Amber has been at risk for a while. Amber has serious talent, but needs more time to learn how to use it.

Season 12 Week 16 Wednesday Reactions

Season 12 Week 16 Wednesday - Top 4 again

Rankings:

1. Candice Glover
2. Angela Miller
3. Kree Harrison
4. Amber Holcomb

Details:

Songs from 2013:

Angela Miller - Very cool. Last week, she was pushing too hard, losing her tone. This time she didn't force it, and it was cool.

Amber Holcomb - I mean, it's just a vocal exercise with her. She doesn't really get it.

Candice Glover - Bruno's version annoys me. This was just fine.

Kree Harrison - Nice job, she but could have picked a more known song.

Standards:

Angela Miller - She's so finesse this week. But maybe too finesse for this song. But still good.

Amber Holcomb - Very nice. Very old-school good.

Candice Glover - Great job. Stellar.

Kree Harrison -  Somehow a little bland. Not stormy enough.

Group song - time filler

Season 12 Week 15 Thursday Reactions

Season 12 Week 15 Thursday - Top 4 Results

Group song.

Amber - recap.

Kree - recap.

Stefano performs.

Candice - recap. Drake visits.

Lee DeWyze performs.

Angie - recap.

Amber - left side.
Candice - left side.

Angie - right side.
Kree - right side.

Amber, Candice - Bottom Two.

Nobody leaving due to schedule.

Kree benefited from Janelle leaving.

Season 12 Week 15 Wednesday Reactions

Season 12 Week 15 Wednesday - Top 4

Rankings:

1. Candice Glover
2. Kree Harrison
3. Angela Miller
4. Amber Holcomb

Details:

Contestant's Choice:

Amber Holcomb - Awful song choice. All slow, long tones. Too easy for her. Lazy.

Candice Glover - Cool vibe. Nicely done.

Kree Harrison - Nice groove. Well done.

Angela Miller - For some reason, it didn't quite fit her voice.

Amber & Kree - time filler.

Angie & Candice - time filler.

One Hit Wonders:

Amber Holcomb - I think she's still a few years away from knowing how to use her great voice.

Candice Glover - Great groove. Everyone was groovin' to that.

Kree Harrison - Nicely done with the organ.

Angie Miller - Song is wrong for her voice. Nice try, though.

Season 12 Week 14 Wednesday Reactions

Season 12 Week 14 Wednesday - Top 5

Rankings:

1. Candice Glover
2. Kree Harrison
3. Angela Miller
4. Amber Holcomb
5. Janelle Arthur

Details:

Songs from Year of Birth:

Candice Glover - Very nice acoustic version.

Janelle Arthur - Nice, but sleepy.

Kree Harrison - Good, but not compelling.

Angela Miller - Nice job. Nice finesse at the beginning.

Amber Holcomb - Great vocal ability, but kind of choppy, struggling.

Songs of Divas:

Candice Glover - Very nice. Song is more difficult than it seems. Just ask David Archuleta and Siobhan Magnus.

Janelle Arthur - Should I say dumb song choice?

Kree Harrison - Fine job on this one.

Angela Miller - She would have been better off with the variant of that song, Kelly Clarkson's "Already Gone."

Amber Holcomb - Very well done, but why that song?

Season 12 Week 13 Thursday Reactions

Season 12 Week 13 Thursday - Top 6 Results

Group medley.

Angela Miller - Left side.
Lazaro Arbos -  Middle.
Kree Harrison - Right side.

Wonderful, a Nigel game.

Scotty McCreery performs.

Janelle Arthur - With Angie.
Candice Glover - With Kree.
Amber Holcomb - With Lazaro.

Kelly Clarkson performs.

Kree, Candice - Top 2.

Lazaro, Amber - Bottom 2.

Angie, Janelle - Safe.

Lazaro vs Amber - Amber Safe.

Lazaro sing for Save - Judges: NO.

Nightmare over.

Season 12 Week 13 Wednesday Reactions

Season 12 Week 13 Wednesday - Top 6

Rankings:

1. Candice Glover
2. Angela Miller
3. Amber Holcomb
4. Janelle Arthur
5. Kree Harrison
6. Lazaro Arbos

Details:

Bacharach/David:

Angela Miller - Nice job.

Amber Holcomb - Well sung.

Lazaro Arbos - Lame.

Kree Harrison - Sounds kinda messy.

Janelle Arthur - Sweetness.

Candice Glover - Great job.

Wish had Written:

Angela Miller - Very nice.

Amber Holcomb - Kinda noisy.

Lazaro Arbos - Mediocre.

Kree Harrison - Kinda sleepy.

Janelle Arthur - Okay.

Candice Glover - Great again.