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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > February > 11
Monday, February 11, 2008
2/12: Hollywood baby! And update on Chris Sligh
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Finally! Ten long hours of auditions over four weeks. And we finally get to the bright lights of Hollywood for the 164 finalists tonight. That’s up from 132 a year ago. We get a big two-hour breakdown this year, up from one hour a year ago, when it felt unduly rushed. In past years, the norm was two hours over two nights. This time, they are doing two full hours in one night. Given the strike situation, Fox has no compunction adding that extra bonus hour from its meal ticket.
I’ll post a fresh blog later Tuesday so if you want to live blog about the show, feel free!
And Chris Sligh’s new single “Empty Me” hits Christian radio, Chris announces on his blog. He’ll be blogging about “Idol” for EW, too. I noticed he also wrote an open letter to the top 24.. It’s great stuff. The man knows how to write. Here’s an excerpt:
[D]on’t let it [the quick fame] go to your head. Unwittingly, I allowed myself to buy into the hype. I don’t think I was the typical butthole, I still cared about people and wanted to do right by people back home and my band…but I bought into the hype and my head grew and that is my greatest regret, especially since I have a large cranium to begin with. Don’t leave this experience with any regret, certainly not that one. Be confident, be in control of your career and your life, but do NOT allow yourself to think of yourself as anyone or anything other than what you were before this experience…you were a wanna-be and still are. Even if you win, you are still a wanna-be. Two of the most humble people I’ve ever met are Carrie and Kelly…for all their success, for their winning, still act as the people they were when they started. That’s the attitude America will fall in love with long-term. It’s the attitude you should try to cultivate in yourself.
Here’s another fun bit:
Song choice is key. Do not make the mistake I made. I specifically chose songs that no one knew because I wanted to be the anti-Idol. Be yourself, but pick some freaking songs that people can sing along with. I’ve realized that’s why people watch the show in the first place…they want to hear someone who isn’t polished sing a song they like and can sing along with. Oh, and they watch to hear Randy say dawg alot, to see Paula act loopy and to hear Simon’s crap. But they like to sing along, too.
And a really tasty bit:
When it comes to the judges, remember they are trying to get people to watch the show. However, as the judges said on Oprah last year, they watch dress rehearsal because they can’t hear in the performance. So, now that you know that, make sure your dress rehearsal kicks butt! Normally, Randy is pretty on. Paula is so sweet that it’s hard to get made at what she says. And Simon…well, Simon goes for the ratings, but he’s usually somewhat on…so block him out when he goes overboard.
Oh, and he admits he shouldn’t have spent so much time reading the blogs and boards DURING the competition. It messed with his head. He recommends a compromise—have a good friend glean bits and pieces for you to read though even that could be dangerous. It’s probably just as well to live in that bubble and focus on the prize.
Read the entire letter. It’s worthwhile!
2/11: Three Grammys for “Idol”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry—I missed the Grammy’s because I went to see Van Halen. See my review here.
Anyway, out of 16 nominations. “American Idol” finalists won three: Carrie Underwood took home best country song and best female vocal with “Before He Cheats.” And Jennifer Hudson won best song written for a motion picture with “Love You I Do.”
Daughtry, with four nominations, was shut out. And so was Fantasia, who had three. Mandisa and Kelly Clarkson didn’t win either. And in the biggest category, song of the year, Carrie’s “Before He Cheats” lost to Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.”
And kind words about Fantasia in this MTV story of the Clive Davis pre-Grammy party Saturday night.:
Fantasia momentarily stole the show with a record she performed for so many nights as the lead in the Broadway musical “The Color Purple,” “I’m Here.”
Barefoot and showing off a hairdo that mixed jet black and platinum blonde, ‘Tasia showed why she is recognized as one of the best pure singers in the new generation of R&B stars, and why “The Color Purple” sold out so many consecutive nights.
MJ has posted the Grammy performance of Carrie’s nominated song. They added a drumming group behind her, a twist on a song she must have already performed 100 times on other TV shows this past year. I almost half expected Kanye West to add a rapping section in the middle!
