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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > May > 27 > Entry
5/27: More on Josiah Leming, David Cook
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Welcome back from Memorial Day Weekend. I’m more or less off this week, out of town, but throwing in a few tidbits when I can. I’m also going to miss Jordin Sparks opening for Alicia Keys tomorrow at Philips Arena. Bummer.
-Josiah Leming talks about his Warner Brothers record deal with mtv.com.
“I signed my deal with Warner Bros. about a month and a half ago, and I’m glad to finally announce it. The songs are written, the arrangements are done, and right now it’s time to work with the producers,” he said. “I’m so excited. I’m just beaming inside right now. Since I signed the deal, it’s been a lot of wait, wait, wait. Now it’s finally come. I’m in this awesome studio, working on songs. … It’s amazing. This is everything I ever wanted.”
Then he goes all “indie” and critiques the show as “glorified karaoke” because it doesn’t allow original tunes by the singers. That’s true. And since he got this record deal from the exposure, he has zero complaints:
*”As everyone clearly saw, I poured my heart and soul into the process and into the competition. But looking back now, things could not have gone any better. Things happened perfect,” Leming said. “I got the exposure. … People liked me, which was amazing, and I love my fans more than anything. I’m happy I didn’t make it.”
More about him and his ill mom in this USA Today story.
Already a soulful songwriter, Leming says his mother’s condition has further sharpened his senses. “Her being close to death brings me closer to death,” he says. “It makes every single moment, every word and melody, count as if it were the first and last ever.”
-And here is David Cook on “Ellen,” on his whirlwind trip through TV talk shows, courtesy of MJ’s Big Blog:
And Linny, yes, Cook’s coronation song is No. 1 right now on iTunes, not a surprise. He also has two other songs in the top 10, including the song he sang on Tuesday.
Comments
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
May 27, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
what timing, LOL!!! I closed my browser, reopened it, and voila! a new thread!!!!
Rodney, any info to verify this? I heard last night or this morning that DC’s “coronation song” was the #1 download for the week on iTunes.
By harrietth
May 27, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
It is unfortunate that some folks forget so quickly that which helped them light their way to success. He should get down on his knees every day and give thanks for AI.
By flats
May 27, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this
3RD!!!!WOOOOOHOOOO!!!!
By Vicki
May 27, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
What a patronizing twit (aka “poser”). I saw a video clip of Josiah trying desperately to get into the American Idol finale bash last week to no avail… I think this young man has some talent, but if he is already dismissing AI’s impact in the industry as though he is some kind of “sage and seasoned prodigy”, I think harsher awakenings than being cut before the Top 24 are in store for Josiah. I can only sigh at his amaturish, ego-centric press releases and believe he will likely be dropped from his label faster than Ruben Studdard or Taylor Hicks were.
By Deirdre
May 27, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Vicki…nicely put…I agree!
By Negativo
May 27, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Is that the annoying, dillusional little baby who did nothing but cry in Hollywood? If so, I was very glad he never made it to the top 24, and I can assure you I’ll never be listening to his records. Not my kind of guy, or performer, at all.
Vicky, remind me never, ever to p** you off.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
May 27, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
actually, i agree to some extent — but then, if the lad doesn’t sell himself (so to speak) who will do it for him? a certain amount of ego is required to make it in that business, imho… sort of like lawyers — who HAVE to feel they are always right, or else who would hire them!!!??
and btw — if i’m not mistaken, TMZ reported that Josh’s efforts to get into the party were finally rewarded… he got someone to say it was ok for him to be there, after several attempts to convince security that it was ok and being rejected.
just being fair.
By JLM
May 27, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
You know, I used to like Josiah. It was sad that he didn’t make it to the top 24 - and yet I understood and agreed with the reason behind it. But now? Oh man has he gotten cocky! Who does he think he is? He’s openly bashing the show that gave him his “in”. Sounds pretty ungrateful to me. I wish him all the best, and yet all this negative talk is going to come back to bite him in the butt.
By Deirdre
May 27, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
I think a certain amount of ego is necessary to a successful career in show business but that should NOT include bashing the show that got you the attention in the first place. His statements about Idol were childish and petulant.
By flats
May 27, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
I really thank he turned too many tricks in his living in his car days!!!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
May 27, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
and the part i ABSOLUTELY agree with is that he’s an A$$ for dissing AI, when we ALL know if he hadn’t cried on the show, he’d still be living in that car and hoping someone would throw him a buck or two.
(to clarify, since i didn’t say that to begin with, LOL!)
By Negativo
May 27, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
BTW, how good did DC sound on Ellen. I don’t think there has been an Idol winner that generated this much expectation and excitement since Kelly after season 1.
Also, Ellen looked practically ready to go straight the way she panted over him, repeating over and over how he’s going to “sell so many records”. The guy is flat out good.
By Woodpappy
May 27, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Deirdre, I watched the L. King group and the DC interviews on the site you told me about. Thanks, they were really good interviews I thought.
By Harmony
May 27, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
Hi
Anyone here?
I see they are going to rename American Idol.
Neg, Are you going to get any say so in how the show will be run?
By Harmony
May 27, 2008 10:52 PM | Link to this
I saw a preview for AGT tonight, they showed two guys from New Orleans,one of the guys was spinning the other guy on his head,I mean the guy was standing in the upright posistion spinning the other guy around in the air using his head as the base for the other guy to spin on!Did that make any sense?
It was awesome to watch.
By Deirdre
May 28, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
Morning!
Woodpappy, glad you got a chance to see the interview. And you’re welcome.
I am gearing up for the Lost finale tomorrow night!!!!!
By Deirdre
May 28, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
This story is EVERYWHERE so I thought I’d add it to the blog:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Cook says he’s dating an “American Idol” alum.
The newly crowned “Idol” winner said Tuesday on “Live With Regis and Kelly” that he recently had a dinner date with former “Idol” contestant Kimberly Caldwell.
Cook, 25, said he met Caldwell through the show. When asked if he had a good time, Cook replied: “I did. We’ll probably hang out again. So we’ll see.”
Caldwell, 26, appeared on the second season of the top-rated Fox singing competition.
Cook, from Blue Springs, Mo., defeated 17-year-old David Archuleta last week in a landslide victory. The rocker became the heartthrob of the seventh season around the time he restyled his hair and displayed more confidence onstage.
By Lara
May 28, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
I am so over this Josiah kid. I had no respect for him in the first place - he quit school and quite frankly….well, just think that is stupid. There are people living in their cars because they HAVE to….
Anyways! DC was awesome on Ellen. I find it interesting that they did not make him do the winning AI song! YEAH for him!!!
Finally watched SYTYCD last night - man, that one kid can really bend!!!!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
May 28, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Lara, you talking about that one kid at the very end??? he was (to use Mia Michaels’ terms) STUPID#!!!
[#STUPID: apparently in dance, this means incredibly GOOD]
tho’ i have to admit, i could never understand why dancers want to be called “stupid”, LOL!!!
By Lara
May 28, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Yes, Linny - that STOOPID kid at the end. He is very, flexible. But I wonder how he will do with the choreography that this show requires?
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
May 28, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
I was thinking the same thing…over the last 3 years I’ve seen some street dancers who did not make it the first year come back after having actually studied “formal” dance and done really really well. What’s harder, i think, is for some of the “formal” dancers to perform the “popular” dances (break/pop/crunk, etc) when asked to during choreography, LOL.
I mean… a formally trained ballerina/ballroom dancer doing crunk is FUNNY sometimes!! they just canNOT get the “rough” action, everything they’ve been trained to do is smoooooooth!
later!