I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the music stores in the next few months and I'm very excited about it. While I have started downloading a few singles, when it comes to a new releases I'm really looking forward to, I will always want to possess the physical CD with the booklet and all the art work.
I just bought the first one of the season last week when Leann Rimes latest CD called Family was released. I've been playing it in heavy rotation ever since. Every song is a catchy vocal extravaganza.
It's going to be one exciting release after another now. Carrie Underwood is next followed by Jordin Sparks and the highlight of the season will be the long awaited release of the new Mariah Carey!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Making an impact...
In today's music world in order to have any impact there has to be a huge media blitz. We just had the biggest sales week of 2007 because Kanye West went head to head with 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney. It's just the beginning of the big releases scheduled for this fall that should carry over into huge sales through the end of the holiday season.
Kelly Clarkson was supposed to be the leader of the pack, but her album, My December, has turned out to be a sales disappointment and is gonna need a miracle to show signs of life in December 2007. Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis have been pretty quiet all summer, but they are hoping to make a big impact in the midst of all the other releases they will be competing against. While no new beats have leaked from Blake yet, Jordin's new single, Tattoo, has been out for a month now. I am happy to report that every time I get in my car and listen to B96 they have been playing it. It's a catchy little song, but it isn't a stand-out instant smash. It's growth in airplay has been gradual thus far and it is at #40 this week on the POP Airplay chart. So far I haven't seen a video for it on MTV's TRL yet or on VH1's top 20 countdown.
Carrie Underwood is still making an impact with her phenomenal release from 2005, Some Hearts, and the numerous singles that have come from it. Even so, her highly anticipated follow up will be in stores on October 23rd. It's called Carnival Ride and the first single, So Small, has already hit #17 on the Billboard HOT 100. There's nothing small about the supreme Miss American Idol's talent or career.
I will be in line at my favorite music store to buy Carrie's, Jordin's and Blake's new releases. They aren't in competition with each other as far as I'm concerned, but I'm predicting that Carrie is heading toward her highest one week sales numbers so far.
In addition to supporting my favorite Miss American Idol's this season, no doubt about it, the most highly anticipated upcoming release has got to be the Sweet Soul Odyssey that is is the follow-up to the best selling album of 2005. Mariah Carey has set the standard that any American Idol would strive to live up to. It's been over two years since Mariah released The Emancipation of Mimi and I have started the countdown to December 4th 2007 when we can finally enjoy her new material.
Kelly Clarkson was supposed to be the leader of the pack, but her album, My December, has turned out to be a sales disappointment and is gonna need a miracle to show signs of life in December 2007. Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis have been pretty quiet all summer, but they are hoping to make a big impact in the midst of all the other releases they will be competing against. While no new beats have leaked from Blake yet, Jordin's new single, Tattoo, has been out for a month now. I am happy to report that every time I get in my car and listen to B96 they have been playing it. It's a catchy little song, but it isn't a stand-out instant smash. It's growth in airplay has been gradual thus far and it is at #40 this week on the POP Airplay chart. So far I haven't seen a video for it on MTV's TRL yet or on VH1's top 20 countdown.
Carrie Underwood is still making an impact with her phenomenal release from 2005, Some Hearts, and the numerous singles that have come from it. Even so, her highly anticipated follow up will be in stores on October 23rd. It's called Carnival Ride and the first single, So Small, has already hit #17 on the Billboard HOT 100. There's nothing small about the supreme Miss American Idol's talent or career.
I will be in line at my favorite music store to buy Carrie's, Jordin's and Blake's new releases. They aren't in competition with each other as far as I'm concerned, but I'm predicting that Carrie is heading toward her highest one week sales numbers so far.
In addition to supporting my favorite Miss American Idol's this season, no doubt about it, the most highly anticipated upcoming release has got to be the Sweet Soul Odyssey that is is the follow-up to the best selling album of 2005. Mariah Carey has set the standard that any American Idol would strive to live up to. It's been over two years since Mariah released The Emancipation of Mimi and I have started the countdown to December 4th 2007 when we can finally enjoy her new material.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Jordin Finally enters the ring!
After her debut single, This Is My Now, very quickly came and went on the charts, it seemed like Jordin's time in the spotlight was going to be very short. She is the first Miss American Idol to NOT have her first single hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100. But she's also the youngest, so she'll have many opportunities to make up for the slow start. The first opportunity is coming this weekend. Listen for her new single called Tattoo released to radio this coming Monday! I can't wait to see if it lives up to my high expectations....
Season Three Miss American Idol, Fantasia is someone who has exceeded everyone's expectations as her smash single, When I See U, has just finished 8 long weeks at the top of the Billboard R&B singles chart. This wonderful ballad also peaked at #32 on the HOT 100.
Another Idol finalist that has ended up with a surprise hit is Season Five Miss American Idol 2nd Runner-Up, Elliot Yamin. He finished the competition behind Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee, but there he is at #13 this week with his boring little slow jam, Wait For You. And VH1 totally loved him. The video for the song has been near the top of the Top 20 Countdown all summer.
I don't know what to say about Season One Miss American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. I really like her and her new album, My December, was supposed to be the huge smash of the year, but it just didn't happen. I bought it and I think it's pretty good, but it's just not very much fun. I'm feeling quite disappointed that it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that radio will pick up one of the singles and breathe some life into the album.
Speaking of high expectations, the first single from Season Four Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood has already made its debut on the Billboard HOT 100. There's just no way this one will end up being a disappointment.
Season Three Miss American Idol, Fantasia is someone who has exceeded everyone's expectations as her smash single, When I See U, has just finished 8 long weeks at the top of the Billboard R&B singles chart. This wonderful ballad also peaked at #32 on the HOT 100.
Another Idol finalist that has ended up with a surprise hit is Season Five Miss American Idol 2nd Runner-Up, Elliot Yamin. He finished the competition behind Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee, but there he is at #13 this week with his boring little slow jam, Wait For You. And VH1 totally loved him. The video for the song has been near the top of the Top 20 Countdown all summer.
I don't know what to say about Season One Miss American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. I really like her and her new album, My December, was supposed to be the huge smash of the year, but it just didn't happen. I bought it and I think it's pretty good, but it's just not very much fun. I'm feeling quite disappointed that it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that radio will pick up one of the singles and breathe some life into the album.
Speaking of high expectations, the first single from Season Four Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood has already made its debut on the Billboard HOT 100. There's just no way this one will end up being a disappointment.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Season 7 begins....
Yep, that's right. It's already time for the Miss American Idol Season 7 auditions! They start this coming monday in San Diego. If it was up to me there would be some big changes.
1. I would change the age limits. Presently, Miss American Idol wannabes can be anywhere between 16 and 29 at the time of the audition. I think that is WAY too broad. I don't want to see the immature high school kids get up there. I think the finalists should be required to have graduated from high school before making it to hollywood. It's a terrible message to send kids that they can drop out of the middle of the school year and run off to the show. I also don't want to see the older contestants who have been working in the music biz for years up there. Many of them have already been professional back-up singers. They have already had their chance to make it and they didn't. I want to see new and undiscovered talent. Ideally, the age range, in my opinion, should be from 18 to 26.
2. When it comes time for the auditions to be aired in January, I think there should be a requirement that every single person who makes it to hollywood gets at least 20 seconds of air time. These are supposedly the good ones and most of them never get to be seen by the audience. When it gets narrowed down to the top 24, there are at least half of the finalists whom we've never seen before. This would also mean that there would be less time for the lame no-talents who are just trying to be funny. But they aren't funny and I don't care to see them and have them waste my time.
When the thousands of people show up for auditons, they are all hoping to be the next Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson. It's very doubtful that they are aspiring to be a Taylor Hicks or Jordin Sparks. They may have won the crown, but it hasn't translated into huge success. (Maybe Taylor is too old and Jordin is too young to be an immediate smash) There was a great article in the July 27th Entertainment Weekly about the real winners of American Idol. Sadly, it doesn't say anything too hopeful about the future success of Jordin Sparks or Blake Lewis. These people coming to the auditons don't really care about winning. It's just about having a chance to gain exposure and then make something of it.
I'm happy to report that Fantasia is in her 5th week at #1 on the R&B chart with When I See U. It's a great song from an overlooked album. I'm also happy that a release date has been set for the second album by Carrie Underwood. Mark your calendar for October 23rd! Now I just want to know how long we have to keep waiting for the hot new music from Jennifer Hudson???
1. I would change the age limits. Presently, Miss American Idol wannabes can be anywhere between 16 and 29 at the time of the audition. I think that is WAY too broad. I don't want to see the immature high school kids get up there. I think the finalists should be required to have graduated from high school before making it to hollywood. It's a terrible message to send kids that they can drop out of the middle of the school year and run off to the show. I also don't want to see the older contestants who have been working in the music biz for years up there. Many of them have already been professional back-up singers. They have already had their chance to make it and they didn't. I want to see new and undiscovered talent. Ideally, the age range, in my opinion, should be from 18 to 26.
2. When it comes time for the auditions to be aired in January, I think there should be a requirement that every single person who makes it to hollywood gets at least 20 seconds of air time. These are supposedly the good ones and most of them never get to be seen by the audience. When it gets narrowed down to the top 24, there are at least half of the finalists whom we've never seen before. This would also mean that there would be less time for the lame no-talents who are just trying to be funny. But they aren't funny and I don't care to see them and have them waste my time.
When the thousands of people show up for auditons, they are all hoping to be the next Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson. It's very doubtful that they are aspiring to be a Taylor Hicks or Jordin Sparks. They may have won the crown, but it hasn't translated into huge success. (Maybe Taylor is too old and Jordin is too young to be an immediate smash) There was a great article in the July 27th Entertainment Weekly about the real winners of American Idol. Sadly, it doesn't say anything too hopeful about the future success of Jordin Sparks or Blake Lewis. These people coming to the auditons don't really care about winning. It's just about having a chance to gain exposure and then make something of it.
I'm happy to report that Fantasia is in her 5th week at #1 on the R&B chart with When I See U. It's a great song from an overlooked album. I'm also happy that a release date has been set for the second album by Carrie Underwood. Mark your calendar for October 23rd! Now I just want to know how long we have to keep waiting for the hot new music from Jennifer Hudson???
Friday, July 6, 2007
Fantasia, Tayor and Kelly
I bought the latest Fantasia CD finally. It's been out since December 2006 and I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad to add it to my collection. It's a great edgy collection of R&B jams. One of the songs could be ready to crossover to the pop charts. The track When I See U is #1 on the R&B chart. It's a song that follows the formula set by Mariah Carey's We Belong Together. Mary J. Blige copied it last year with Be Without You and now Fantasia is having success with it. Good stuff. :)
Have any of you bought the Taylor Hicks CD? I have it and I think it is pretty good. There's some funky songs on it that have a good beat and some energy. If you haven't given it a chance, I am suggesting that you do. Why do you think that after he was crowned the Season Five Miss American Idol with the highest amount of people calling in for him, the Soul Patrol hasn't gone into the stores and bought his CD?
The first week numbers regarding Kelly Clarkson are in from Billboard. Here's what they had to say:
In a battle between two top-selling female acts, Miley Cyrus triumphed over Kelly Clarkson to score the No. 1 position on The Billboard 200 with the confusingly titled double album "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus." The Disney project sold a whopping 326,000 units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Clarkson's embattled "My December" (RCA) opened at No. 2 with 291,000.
A Debut at #2 is nothing to be ashamed of. What do you guys think?
Have any of you bought the Taylor Hicks CD? I have it and I think it is pretty good. There's some funky songs on it that have a good beat and some energy. If you haven't given it a chance, I am suggesting that you do. Why do you think that after he was crowned the Season Five Miss American Idol with the highest amount of people calling in for him, the Soul Patrol hasn't gone into the stores and bought his CD?
The first week numbers regarding Kelly Clarkson are in from Billboard. Here's what they had to say:
In a battle between two top-selling female acts, Miley Cyrus triumphed over Kelly Clarkson to score the No. 1 position on The Billboard 200 with the confusingly titled double album "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus." The Disney project sold a whopping 326,000 units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Clarkson's embattled "My December" (RCA) opened at No. 2 with 291,000.
A Debut at #2 is nothing to be ashamed of. What do you guys think?
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Is this it?
Jordin Sparks may have been crowned the Season Six Miss American Idol, but she hasn't been given much of a chance to relish in her success so far. It seems like her biggest honor so far has been the cover of Entertainment Weekly.
All of the momentum from the win is gone and it seems very unlikely that she will get a #1 song with her debut. Maybe she will get another shot at topping the charts when she releases her full CD in December.
For now the only marketting and promotion the American Idol producers could come up with was a brief appearance on the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, and she had to share the stage with the first runner-up Blake Lewis. To make her victory as the Season Six Miss American Idol even more insignificant, she and Blake even had to allow the second runner-up, Melinda Doolittle, to sing along with them.
I am an eternal optimist so things can only get better from here....
All of the momentum from the win is gone and it seems very unlikely that she will get a #1 song with her debut. Maybe she will get another shot at topping the charts when she releases her full CD in December.
For now the only marketting and promotion the American Idol producers could come up with was a brief appearance on the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, and she had to share the stage with the first runner-up Blake Lewis. To make her victory as the Season Six Miss American Idol even more insignificant, she and Blake even had to allow the second runner-up, Melinda Doolittle, to sing along with them.
I am an eternal optimist so things can only get better from here....
Thursday, June 21, 2007
One Year Ago This Week
It was exactly one year ago this week that Taylor Hicks, the Season Five Miss American Idol, made a hot shot debut at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 Singles chart with Do I Make You Proud. It was the fifth #1 single on the HOT 100 for an American Idol Finalist.
Kelly Clarkson topped the chart with A Moment Like This. The Season Two Miss American Idol, Ruben Studdard had to settle for #2 because the First Runner-Up, Clay Aiken, had massive sales and stole the #1 position with This Is The Night. Fantasia topped the charts the next year with I Believe and the Season Four Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood, had her own #1 smash with Inside Your Heaven.
And here we are, Season Six has barely wrapped and it seems like there's no chance at all for Blake Lewis or our new Miss American Idol, Jordin Sparks, to have their place in chart history. I wanted to be optimistic, but looking at it realisticly, the momentum is completely gone. There's going to need to be an entirely new marketting campaign to generate enough sales and airplay for the Season Six Finalists to make a significant impact.
Who knew that when Jordin sang This Is My Now it was going to be a literal interpretation. Back on that winning stage, that was her now. I'm glad she at least won that moment of cheers and glitter.
Kelly Clarkson topped the chart with A Moment Like This. The Season Two Miss American Idol, Ruben Studdard had to settle for #2 because the First Runner-Up, Clay Aiken, had massive sales and stole the #1 position with This Is The Night. Fantasia topped the charts the next year with I Believe and the Season Four Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood, had her own #1 smash with Inside Your Heaven.
And here we are, Season Six has barely wrapped and it seems like there's no chance at all for Blake Lewis or our new Miss American Idol, Jordin Sparks, to have their place in chart history. I wanted to be optimistic, but looking at it realisticly, the momentum is completely gone. There's going to need to be an entirely new marketting campaign to generate enough sales and airplay for the Season Six Finalists to make a significant impact.
Who knew that when Jordin sang This Is My Now it was going to be a literal interpretation. Back on that winning stage, that was her now. I'm glad she at least won that moment of cheers and glitter.
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