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  • Lawsuits, Taped Calls and Murder. Doesn’t Anyone Just Sing Anymore?

    In a week that should have been marked by good news — the start of the summer concert season, new albums from Linkin Park, Bon Jovi and Wilco, reunion tours from The Police while Kenny Chesney and Beyonce hit the road as well — this is summer. Even Jay-Z is around more and more often. Look for his very cool multi-part interview on Joost if you have have a beta copy.

    Instead of the tunes, though, we have the trials.

    Brandy, whose auto accident 6 months ago left a man dead, is being sued and is countersuing for all sorts of things. We haven’t seen an album out of the almost 30 something for 3 years now. I would rather her sing than sue.

    Meanwhile, Phil Spector’s role in the latest Trial of the Century drags on in Los Angeles. There are diaries and secret codes and Phil looking like the picture of Dorian Gray. Ultimately, though, popular opinion everywhere seems to believe he did the deed. The trial begin May 19, shows no signs of slowing down and will be haunting the gossip columns for weeks. In case anyone cares, the dead woman’s name is Lana Clarkson. Spector gets all the attention so it only seemed fitting that we actually recognize Clarkson.

    And in terribly minor news, George Michael actually admitted guilt to a British court when he was found slumped over in his car. Perhaps he can give Lindsay Lohan his number.

    Spinning In The CD:

    Still laughing at Jon Bon Jovi’s reaction to Blake Lewis modernizing You Give Love A Bad Name on American Idol, one would assume he doesn’t mind the songwriting royalties pouring in from the country’s #18 song this week. The best part — Jordin Sparks yodeling This Is My Now is only at #15. Granted, the original went to #1 when Jon, Richie and the gang released it, but that was 20 years ago. Time for a b-b-b-beat, beat, beatbox arrangement.

    **Alert: Look for TV Help Web’s blog this weekend on the sale of American Idol**

  • More Than Jordin Beats Blake, Music In May

    Paul Simon with guitarJordin beat Blake. You should know that. Melinda will cut a great R&B (or gospel, if she feels so inclined album). Jordin will sing some big AC ballads. Blake will have a 10-20 year run on the charts. But there was much more to music this month than American Idol, even if Fox would hae you believe otherwise.

    Here are some quick hits on music news that happened in May that you should know:

    Here come The Police! Fans of the British trio that made Sting a household name opened up their world tour in Vancouver — their first show in 20 years. Speaking of 20, that’s about how many dates there are in North America, so get your tickets now! Remember, they’ve not only broken up once, but guitarist Andy Summers is 64 years old. At some point, he is just as likely to decide he doesn’t want to tour after collecting this tour’s bazillion.

    Lindsay Lohan hit a curb, then got hit with an arrest when Beverly Hill Cops who looked nothing like Judge Reinhold or Eddie Murphy popped her for various charges. Looking especially bad for the rehabbing Lohan was a substance media reports identified as cocaine in the vehicle.

    From young diva to old diva: Barbara Streisand bailed on a concert in Rome, citing tour production delays. The fact that Italian consumer groups were protesting ticket prices in the hundreds of dollars had nothing to do with anything according to Babs’ spokespeople. You won’t find her in Rome, however. Good going, Italian muckrakers. The Streisand opens in Zurich. And like Andy Summers, she is no spring chicken, so if you haven’t seen Streisand live, one of these days is going to be the last possible day.

    Paul Simon (above) has been honored as the first ever winner of The Gershwin Prize, an award from the United States Library of Congress to celebrate “popular song”. DC saw his concert live last week while the rest of the country can tune in to the special, including duets with ambivalent partner Art Garfunkel, later this summer.

    And finally, if your name isn’t Akon, JT or you’re not from American Idol, you’re just not happening on the charts right now. A couple of exceptions: Maroon 5 (who still enjoyed their AI connection through Blake Lewis and a performance on the show), Avril Lavigne and new releases from Fall Out Boy and Ne-Yo. You read it here first: Ne-Yo is going to win Grammy hardware in February.

    Spinning In The CD:
    I’m like Maroon 5’s new single, Makes Me Wonder. Adam Levine has grown by leaps and bounds since his Kara’s Flowers days.

  • It’s Blake vs. Jordin with Dolittle Cast Aside

    To be perfectly frank, my projection from at least the 12, if not earlier, was a Blake-Melinda final. Jordin came on strong the last few weeks (wow, she’s only 17 doesn’t count in pop music), but if anything the final is okay.

    The two most salable singers in the contest are Jordin and Blake. They’re in the finals. That makes sense. As I told a Help Web publisher tonight, everyone watches the show, but it’s the under 35 crowd who votes. Sure, some may have thought Melinda was safe, but ultimately today’s audiences want Beyonce, not Tina Turner, much less a goody-goody Tina.

    Jordin’s biggest disadvantage is the same thing. When asked about jamming with Sir Mix-A-Lot, Blake casually shrugged off the show saying they had played together before. Blake, like everyone else in the group every year, is not an amateur. He’s a local artist who does okay. Jordin is as close to amateur status as anyone.

    But even were Jordin to win American Idol, her competition would no longer be Melinda Dolittle or Haley Scarnato but Beyonce, Shakira and Mary J. Blige. Bo Bice never learned that lesson. Neither did Chris Daughtry, even if last year’s results were just horribly jumbled up. Carrie Underwood could go pro while Bo Bice could play in a bar band. Taylor Hicks may join him for vocals one night. Both are entertaining — neither is a star.

    Blake Lewis can be a star of the Kelly Clarkson / Carrie Underwood variety — someone who comes out of the chute and sells millions of CDs. He should be the next Idol. What do you think? Leave a comment and let us know!

    Spinning In The CD Tonight:

    Elliott Yamin’s album is back on after watching the now-shaggy haired singer command a stage. Last year’s most salable artist finished third. Pity that.