New URL for the American Idol buzz blog!
Please go to the new American Idol Buzz blog at http://blogs.ajc.com/american-idol-blog/
Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > November > 11 > Entry
11/11: David Archuleta’s album out today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I gotta say that MJ is making me feel lazy! Actually, I have had three other non-“Idol” stories to juggle today and am only now getting to this blog. Shame on me!
Anyway, here’s what’s going on:
-Of course, we have to acknowledge David Archuleta and his first album out today. it’s ranked #5 right now on Amazon.com. behind Enya, Taylor Swift, David Cook (at #3 and out Nov. 18) and the Twilight movie soundtrack.
Ken Barnes over at Idol Chatter liked the album, gave it three stars.
The songs — fashioned by writers ranging from Disney teen-pop specialists to the co-writer of Olivia Newton-John’s Physical, ’60s Australian rocker Steve Kipner (a teen idol in his own time and place with his band Steve & The Board) — suit him well. They sound alike for the most part, just skirting the edges of blandness, but it’s an unfailingly pleasant sound, a lush cushion for Archuleta’s sincere emoting and smooth falsetto glides.
Jim Farber at The New York Daily News also gave the album three stars.:
This has nothing to do with the album but his description of Archuleta is apt:
Though Archuleta is actually 17, he looks no more than 12. And, as a personality, he seems innocent enough to make the kids in “High School Musical” look like embittered crack ho’s by comparison. The twinkly singer exudes a presexual purity more appropriate to the puppy love of ’50s pop than anything from today.
Farber’s a discerning fan and musical expert—just check this graf out:
It might have achieved even more of that had the album’s producers not larded Archuleta’s vocals with so much echo. One of the singer’s most appealing qualities has always been the slight dustiness in his tone, the bare scratch that hints at soul. That, and his dead-on ability to connect to the emotion behind a song, made Archuleta the best singer in this year’s competition - the guy who should have won. Here, though, they’ve planed down his timbre, losing some of the intriguing sadness that, no doubt, lost him the competition but which made him a deeper singer.
MJ notes in her blog that David’s dad “Jeff appeared to be very involved in the production and song selection process for David’s album.” David had his hand in writing four of the songs.
Jeff notes there were some differing opinions with the label, and that he and David had to negotiate and compromise on songs. He stresses, however, that the label really tried to be fair. He says they did listen and let him and David have creative and production input on at least half the songs.
-And though we see “Idol” related stuff on YouTube all the time already, Fremantle has signed a deal with YouTube, according to this report.
Video sharing site YouTube has inked a deal with Fremantle Media, the producer of “American Idol” and similar programs, Reuters reports.
London-based Fremantle and YouTube — now owned by Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) — will work together to produce programs to show on YouTube. They’ll split the revenue from the shows.
-“Idol” producers say they didn’t mean to try to block Josiah Leming’s Warner Bros. album due out in January.
In Leming’s case, his contract with 19 expired “a few months ago,” the spokesperson continued, “so we are not sure what controversy people are talking about.” And in an e-mail, the spokesperson told MTV News that “19 Entertainment wishes Josiah the best of luck on his album release.”
In other words, much ado about nothing from the original New York Post report.
Comments
By Deirdre
November 11, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
So Idol never sent a letter to Josiah trying to stop his album? Did Josiah and his handlers make it up? Or was a letter sent and nobody’s talking about it?
By JTesla
November 11, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Best of luck to Archie!
I think Josiah was looking for something to cry about, and when tearing up an onion didn’t cut it he decided to hatch a conspiracy theory.
By linny@home
November 11, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
watching DWTS — Ohhhh Benji and Lacey were AWESOME!!!! wonder how Len would have scored THEM, LOL~~~ and LACEY is in the semifinals…woooooohooooooo!!!
i’m a happpy campppper …. Warren and Kim and Lance and Lacey — you KNOW Brooke is moving into the semis…so will it be cody or maurice on the dance floor next week????
So, much ado about nothing (josiah leming) indeed. And you’re NOT lazy, Rodney, just busy, and boy are we happy you are!!!!
By linny@home
November 11, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
and that was a fabulous demonstration of the strength agility and stamina of dancers in the realm of “athletics”
By Harmony
November 11, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Can I be excused from blogging? I’m really tired tonight.
By Nana
November 12, 2008 4:52 AM | Link to this
Happy Hump Day (Wednesday)!!
I wish only good things for Archie. May his CD do really good.
Josiah either dreamt the letter or he did in fact receive one. We all know how things are covered up.
Have a great day, be good, be safe and as always, drive careful.
By Deirdre
November 12, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
Morning blogsters(to borrow Lara’s expression with, I hope, her permission)
I really have to say that the DWTS recap show before the elimination show is very annoying. I mean, even Idol figured out that stretching the elimination show too long makes for bored viewers.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
November 12, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
that’s why i usually take that hour to watch NCIS or something, LOL!!! I absolutely agree — however, for those who are not able to watch on Monday, at least they get SOME idea of what went on.
and i’ll say again, i absolutely LOVED Lacey and Benji’s dance, and Julianne and Derek’s Jive!!! and great job on those outfits, and how sweet of them to pull the couple on the dance floor for a second of extra thrill and fame!!! that was sweet!
and i figured cody would get sympathy votes for julianne to get a chance to come back, but unless Lance really REALLY blows it next week, Cody’s gone and it will be Warren and Brooke plus Lance in the finale. But even if it’s not, at least Lacey held her own to the semi’s and against fairly strong odds — Lance is NOT a dancer; and Lacey IS unconventional (in the ballroom sense!)
Not too long now until AI starts up… I’m almost scared to see what it will be like … this will be a critical year… CAN they make it past the 7-year itch and succeed? Will they make some of the changes fans have been clamoring for? Will Paula manage to make it through another season? How many times can Randy say “Duuuuuude” or “Dawwwwwg” ?? Will the contestants be as varied as season 7 or as similar as season (was it season 3 with all the divas?)
will a “new judge” make it better or worse? will the faux feud between Simon and Ryan continue or will a peace exist and let us move on to something else?
Will the band still be in the penthouse while the performers are in the “lobby”, making the sound weird? will the tv sound mix be better — or worse! — than last year?
By Deirdre
November 12, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
I gonna throw out a “what if” to y’all.
What if the new judge was brought on because one judge will be leaving at the end of this season? Seems like a very strong possibility to me, especially considering Randy’s lack of contribution and Paula’s ding-y critiques.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
November 12, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
i kind of had that thought cross my mind too… or even before the end of the season … what if they’re going to manufacture some “drama” in the judges’ panel? oh jeez are we ever cynical!!!
i just know i REALLY don’t want to hear any more bickering picking stuff between Simon and Ryan; I REALLY don’t want to hear the word “pitchy” ever again in my life… and that’s just the start of my list, LOL!!!
By Lara
November 12, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Good Wednesday morning fellow blogsters (D - you can absolutely use this, open for everyone!)!!
Personally, I think not enought people were paying attention to Josiah, so he had to make some controversy…
Archie’s album - not gonna buy it myself, but I hope the boy does well.
JOKE TIME!!! What do you say to a guitar player in a 3-piece suit ? “Will the defendant please rise …”
By Nana
November 12, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Let us not forget karaoke and cruise ship performance. Need I say more?
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
November 12, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
hear hear!!!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
November 12, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
or…
“you sound like a Broadway singer”
… and this is a problem, why??
By Deirdre
November 12, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
“I don’t know, dawg” Can we please get rid of that phrase when said as a supposedly legitimate form of criticism?
By Lara
November 12, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Anyone read the article about the body of a Paula Abdul fan being found in a car near her home!?
By Nana
November 12, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
New Office Policy
1.You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.
2.If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are making to much and do not need a raise.
2.If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better so that you can buy nicer clothes, and therefore, you do not need a raise.
Sick and Personal Days
We will no longer accept a doctor’s statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you can come to work.
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.
Bathroom Breaks
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict 3 minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of 3 minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and your picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin under the “Chronic Offenders” category. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company’s mental health policy.
Lunch Breaks
~ Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more.
~ Normal size people get 15 minutes to get a balanced meal to maintain their figure.
~ Chubby people get 5 minutes, because that’s all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.
Thank you for loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a postive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.
The Management