Clay Aiken, Fantasia and David Archuleta

It was a very good Christmas this year because I finally got some of the great CD's released in 2010 by some of the Miss American Idol finalists. In these three releases, you can see the broad range of diverse and high quality talent that is coming out of American Idol.

David Archuleta: The Other Side of Down - This is the second album released in October 2010 by the Season 7 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up. From his first album he had a hugely successful single, Crush, that hit #2 on the Billboard HOT 100, but he had no such success with this release. The first single called Something 'Bout Love is a very catchy song with a great beat, but it just didn't connect with radio and music buyers. David is a very talented young man with a great voice and with a fresh, young innocence that it would appear is just too pure for the mainstream. I am very glad to add this fresh, young and innocent music to my collection as it is very enjoyable and you can feel the sincerity in every word David sings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J1-eYBbspA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhRvd0bzIoE&feature=channel

Clay Aiken: Tried and True - In June when this collection of pop standards was released by the Season 2 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, he stepped out in front of all the others by having 5 Top 10 albums hit the Billboard charts. Being a collection of covers like Misty, Moon River and Who's Sorry Now, it's no surprise that none of them made a dent on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. Having come out as openly gay, Clay is more at peace than ever doing the kind of music that he wants to do and that he does best. He exhibits his exceptional and pure vocal range on every track and the big band, jazz arrangements are outstanding. He is definitely a singer that does not need to rely on studio production at all to sound amazing. Clay is a great live performer and he makes each one of these interpretations into a fantastic showstopper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MT7vyxzxEY&feature=related

Fantasia: Back To Me - With her third release in August, the Season 3 Miss American Idol winner reached her highest position on the Billboard albums chart 8 years after her win. The years of hard work in the music business and her personal struggles have all contributed to the creation of a raw, gritty and genuine R&B album. On each track you can hear the emotion in her voice and you feel all of it as if it were happening to you. Fantasia has never been and will never be a product that is put together by a record company. She is a REAL down to earth artist with deep down in your heart SOUL. Her performance of I'm Here from the Color Purple that is included on the album illustrates her unique ability to tell a story and bring a song to life with her passionate voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84KUK3Cq0fg

Crystal's BIG Debut!

The first album from Season 9 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up Crystal Bowersox makes it's debut on the Billboard albums chart at #28 this week. She had one week sales of 58,000 copies which puts her at almost 20,000 more than the Season 9 Miss American Idol winner, Lee DeWyze was able to move in his first week. For the third year in a row, we are now seeing the Miss American Idol 1st Runners Up making a bigger splash on the music scene than the winners are.

After only 5 weeks on the chart the debut album, Live It Up, from Lee DeWyze is at #119. The latest album, Back To Me, from Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, is at #123 after 17 weeks on the chart.

Leave it to the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood to be making the most significant impact on the charts to still be at #63 after 59 weeks on the chart.

Go Back Home in New 'Idol' Winners Special

All nine "American Idol" winners, from Kelly Clarkson to Lee DeWyze, traveled to their hometowns and reflected on what life has been like since being crowned America's favorite singer on "AI: Welcome Home," a special that aired on Fox affiliates over the weekend.

In the special, the Supreme Miss American Idol, season four champ and country star Carrie Underwood visits an animal shelter with her mother and gushes about her home state of Oklahoma, saying that it "has the best people. They're wonderful and nice, and throughout my whole career you can still, at any given moment, walk down Main Street and see signs in store windows and things like that. They're very supportive."

"I love Texas," first-ever "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson gushes of her home state. "I always call it my Tara -- from 'Gone with the Wind,' you know, it's the place where Scarlett O'Hara finally went home and felt at peace. That's what Texas is for me."

Season three victor Fantasia says her goal is to "always make High Point, North Carolina, very, very proud. They support me during 'American Idol.' They support me during anything. I don't care what happens, they got my back," she laughs.

Reigning "Idol" champ Lee DeWyze, meanwhile, talks about what winning season nine meant for him. "I look at American Idol as a huge stepping stone for me," the Chicago native says. "It was a huge stepping stone and a great experience. But now it's onto the next goal."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Smq5gJ3pDY

Use the link above to see the full special.

Artists of the Year - Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood:

The producers of American Idol got very lucky the day that young Carrie Underwood left Checotah OK to go to her very first audition for the show. She has become the living and breathing example of how the show can discover a phenomenal talent who becomes a superstar.

Carrie took her place right from the beginning as the Supreme Miss American Idol and Season 4 winner and here it is, 5 years later and she is still raising the bar higher and higher. In 2010 she not only gave an example for what the American Idol finalists can hope to achieve, but she is coming out on top of all of the others in the music business as well.

The collection of awards she has won in 2010 is staggering! She is the ACM Entertainer of the Year for the 2nd year in a row. She won the CMT Video of the Year Award for Cowboy Casanova. She won the favorite Country Album of the Year for Play On at the American Music Awards. She was honored with the CMT Artist of the Year. She completely cleaned up at the American Country Awards taking home all 6 awards that she was nominated for including Artist of the Year. And she is ending the year with another Grammy nomination for Best Female Country Vocalist - something that she has won three times and has been nominated for every year that she has been eligible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM7NQQ0Lfu4

In 2010 Carrie followed up Cowboy Casanova with a string of outstanding singles from Play On. The 1st one was the emotional ballad, Temporary Home, that Carrie co-wrote and holds a very special place in her heart. Her live performance of Temporary Home from Invitation Only won the CMT Award for Best Live Performance of the Year. The next single was Undo It and it was a favorite song to do a fun and sexy shadow to at Charlie's. The latest single, Mama's Song, is a wonderful song for a smooth and sweet two step with a favorite dance partner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraOiHUltak&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywtJYvDBKek&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpFW4Yhy08k&feature=channel

Carrie Underwood showed the world in 2010 that she is an all-around amazing superstar talent. She has flawless beauty and she looks stunning in everything from runway fashions to jeans and a t-shirt. She has a pure and versatile vocal talent that is unmatched. She has built up an impressive and diverse catalog of songs from her first three albums. These songs have become classic standards that people will be listening to, dancing to and being emotionally moved by for many many years to come. And along with all of this, Carrie Underwood is beloved by so many fans because she is a true sweetheart and a genuine class act.

Artists of the Year - Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum:

As 2009 was coming to an end Country super group Lady Antebellum finally crossed over onto the pop charts with their amazing ballad, Need You Now. It easily claimed a place in my 2009 Top 10 Favorite Songs of the Year. From the very first time I heard this song it was so much more than just another love song. It speaks to me, like it does for so many others, of that deep feeling of desire to be with the one you love when you are apart from each other. Hearing just the first few notes played at Charlie's, you can see the wave of emotions come over the room as everyone looks around to find that special dance partner with whom to share a very meaningful two-step.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWWDm9x48ak

This connection that people have with the song propelled it into the upper stratosphere of super huge mega smash hits. When the Album, Need You Now, was released it shot to #1 on the charts and became the best seller of the year. Need You Now is a wonderful collection of songs from beginning to end. The other singles all have become dance floor favorites at Charlie's. American Honey is a warm and sultry shadow and Our Kind Of Love is the undisputed favorite county line. They are now touching our hearts again with their latest single, Hello World.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzzr7RbzUTs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaOKbvpxnTo&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HXw3EIQoZk&feature=related

These fantastic songs have lead to many well-deserved awards throughout the year including the CMA Group of the Year, CMT Group Video of the Year and the CMT Artist of the Year. Lady Antebellum is also nominated for Grammys in the Album of the Year and Record of the Year categories.

Artists of the Year - Katy Perry

Katy Perry:

I cannot imagine what 2010 would have been like without the bouncy and vibrant music of Katy Perry! With each new single and video released she kept on entertaining us with more and more unapologetic pure FUN! Back with her debut album two years ago she developed a solid base of fans and with her second album this year those fans just multiplied and took over the world!

It all started with the colorful trip to candy land and California Gurls that kept us dancing and singing all summer long. It was such a huge smash that it seemed impossible for her to follow it up with something even better, but with Teenage Dream, that's exactly what she did. When California Gurls and Teenage Dream dominated the radio airplay and the sales charts they both became #1 hits on the Billboard HOT 100 and she finished up the year with the third single, Firework, quite literally exploding onto the scene and becoming her third #1 hit song in a row.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4SAW4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98WtmW-lfeE&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw&feature=related

In addition to the fans not being able to get enough of her, she earned the respect of her peers who honored her with multiple Grammy nominations including Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year! She is truly the feel good success story of the year and I still can't get enough of these great songs!

Artists of the Year - Usher

Usher:

Some would say that Usher peaked in 2004-2005. Back then he had a multi-platinum album with a string of huge #1 hits on the Billboard HOT 100, but I never really liked any of those songs all that much.

He started out 2010 releasing a couple of singles from his upcoming new CD Raymond Vs. Raymond, and once again they weren't really impressing me. But then, he appeared on American Idol to mentor the Season 9 finalists and he performed his single, OMG. Now he finally had my attention. This song had a great beat and energy like he has never shown before. OMG skyrocketed to #1 after this appearance and he released an equally high quality next single in DJ Got Us Falling In Love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RnPB76mjxI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-dvTjK_07c

But it wasn't just his own career that he kicked into high gear in 2010. Usher is also the mastermind behind the success of teen idol, Justin Bieber! He literally ushered his young discovery and himself to huge success in 2010 and it was all pretty great.

Artists of the Year - Fantasia

Fantasia:

At the start of 2010 the Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, was completely off the radar. It had been a few years since her last big hit and it didn't seem like there was anything on the horizon. But then it was announced that she was going to have her own reality show on VH1, Fantasia For Real. On the show fans had the chance to see how hard she has worked to maintain her career and support her family.

We got to see an up close and personal look at her working on the release of her new album, Back To Me. It ended up making a very strong debut on the sales chart. The first single, Bittersweet, is one of the best singles she has ever put out there. It's very catchy and she performs the heartfelt lyrics with amazing depth and emotion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80lh4Oj2Ys4

She is ending 2010 with Fantasia For Real being one of VH1's highest rated shows of the year. In addition she has three Grammy nominations for Back To Me and Bittersweet. And her latest single, I'm Doin Me, is making impact on the charts as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6EVk2yHTk&feature=channel

Crystal Bowersox - Farmer's Daughter

We interrupt the Artists of the Year series for this important update:

The Season 9 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Crystal Bowersox, has her debut release, Farmer's Daughter, ready to hit the shelves on December 14th.

She played a big role in writing most of the songs on this collection so it will truly be a reflection of who she is as an artist. We know she has a great voice, but is lacking somewhat in the area of showmanship.

While it would be great if this catapults her into being one the Artists of the Year for 2011, but we'll have to wait and see what kind of reception this gets at radio and how good the sales are.

From Season 7, the 1st Runner Up, David Archuleta did much better on the HOT 100 with his single, Crush, than anything released by winner David Cook.

From Season 8, the 1st Runner Up, Adam Lambert is completely blowing the winner, Kris Allen, away in all areas from sales and airplay to media buzz and awards.

The Season 9 Miss American Idol winner, Lee DeWyze, has already set the bar pretty low with the release of his first album and single, so there's a very good chance that Crystal could continue the pattern of the 1st Runners Up doing better than the winners.

Artists of the Year - Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars:

He was just a featured vocalist on the first single, Nothin On You, from rapper B.o.B., but in 2010 Bruno Mars stepped right into the spotlight all by himself. Nothin On You is incredibly catchy, it shot to #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 and it has earned a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. And that was just a taste of what's to come....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTDv_szmL0&feature=related

The first single from Bruno's solo album, Just The Way You Are, also leaped to the #1 position on the Billboard HOT 100 and it has earned a Grammy nomination for him in the Best Pop Male Vocalist category. And once again, just the tip of the iceberg...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk

Bruno's album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, is sure to be a hit factory moving into 2011. The next single from this outstanding collection, Grenade, is already in the top 5 with a bullet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs&feature=channel

The TV show Glee has already covered his songs twice so he is definitely one to watch and enjoy!

Artists of the Year - Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber:

Yes, that's right. I am living in the real world and I see no point in denying that 2010 was the year of the Bieber Fever epidemic. Just stating the facts here - his two albums: My World and My World 2.0 were huge sellers - he swept the American Music Awards which are voted on by the fans taking 4 awards including Favorite Artist of the Year and he even got two Grammy nominations which are voted on by an Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences big wigs. He is up for the Grammy for Best New Artist.

The music snobs can't stand him, but the fans can't get enough of him. In my expert musical opinion, I think the songs are fun and catchy so I have nothing to complain about. That being said, I can also acknowledge that his success is due in large part to contributions from many talented musical collaborators. He hasn't actually had a big solo hit. He also has not had a song that reached the #1 position on the Billboard HOT 100. His biggest hit, Baby, managed to get into the top 10 and it featured a guest rap with Ludacris. Other hits that failed to make the top 10 are Eenie Meenie which is a duet with Sean Kingston (who had one of my favorite hits of 2009 in Fire Burnin) and Somebody To Love which didn't become a hit until a remix was released as a duet with Usher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prmmCg5bKxA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOI4OF7iIr4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkyhvCdJ_vM

So Justin may have gotten a lot of help in 2010, but the songs were good and he deserves some recognition as one of the Artists of the Year.

Artists of the Year - Taio Cruz

This is the first in a series of entries where I will be listing my favorite artists of 2010. I hope you enjoy it!

Taio Cruz:

2010 got off to a very slow start where all the best music on the radio at the start of the year was holdovers from 2009. Things were looking quite bleak and I was getting close to accepting that 2010 was just going to be the end of my being able to find and enjoy new hit music every year. I was so happy when that ended up not being the case when Taio Cruz burst onto the scene with the exhilerating club dance beats on his #1 smash Break Your Heart. It was like the dark clouds were clearing to reveal the bright and colorful spotlights on a million mirrored disco balls!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_SI2EDM6Lo

And it was even better when Taio showed that he's not going to settle for being a one hit wonder when the exhuberant sounds of his follow up song Dynamite started to get airplay. This song became THE definitive dancefloor anthem of the year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vysgv7qVYTo

Who knows what's in store for Taio Cruz in 2011, but he will always go down in history as one of my favorite artists of 2010. :)

2010 Year End Charts

The #1 album on the Billboard charts for all of 2010 is I Dreamed A Dream by Susan Boyle. None of the Miss American Idol finalists managed to get into the top 10 on the year end albums chart, but it's no surprise to see who got closest...Coming in all the way up at #12 is Play On, the hit packed third album from the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood.

Further down at #29 for the year is the fun and energetic debut release by Season 8 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Adam Lambert, For Your Entertainment. And still going strong into another year, the second album by Season 5 Miss American Idol 3rd Runner Up Chris Daughtry, Leave This Town, lands at #59. The third album, Back To Me, from the Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, checks in at #105 while the debut from Season 8 Miss American Idol winner, Kris Allen, ends up at #115 for the year.

The Top 5 singles for 2010 on the Billboard HOT 100 are: #1 Tik Tok by Ke$ha, #2 the most spectacular song Need You Now by Lady Antebellum, #3 Hey Soul Sister by Train, #4 California Gurls by Katy Perry and at #5 OMG by Usher.

The Miss American Idol finalist who makes the highest showing on the year end singles chart is the Season 8 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up Adam Lambert at #45 with his top 10 smash Whataya Want From Me. Also landing in the top 100 songs of the year is the Season 8 Miss American Idol winner Kris Allen at #48 with Live Like We're Dying and the Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson #74 with Already Gone. Carrie Underwood lands at #88 with her crossover hit Undo It and Daughtry manages to squeeze in at #96 with Life After You.

With all of this Miss American Idol success on the albums and singles charts, they also did very well on the Billboard 2010 Top Artists of the Year chart: The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood comes in the highest at #23, Adam Lambert is at #27, Daughtry is at #51, Kris Allen lands at #57 for the year and Kelly Clarkson makes the list at #90.

Idol GRAMMY Nominations!

This year's Grammy nominations have been announced and some of the Miss American Idol's were lucky enough to hear their names:

The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood is once again being recognized in the Best Female Country Vocalist category for her hit Temporary Home.

The Season 8 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Adam Lambert is getting the first Grammy nomination of his career in the Best Male Pop Vocalist category for his smash Whataya Want From Me. While this is a very exciting nomination, he unfortunately was not nominated for Best New Artist even though he should have been.

It has turned out to be a very big year for the Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia who ended up getting three Grammy nominations! She is up for Best R&B Female Vocalist, Best R&B Album for her latest release, Back To Me, and Best R&B Song for her fantastic single Bittersweet.