In years past, immediately after an “American Idol” season was over, there would be a commercial single release of the original songs that the final two contestants performed. Typically, these rocketed to the top of the charts. Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken (besting actual winner Ruben Studdard), Fantasia, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks all scored chart-toppers with their initial releases. The first sign that there had to be some kind of retooling came last year when Jordin Sparks’ initial release, “This is My Now”, broke the string.
So, what the “Idol” folks have done in conjunction with iTunes is make all the performaces from each show available digitally, but the sales were not reported to Soundscan until the week of the show finale, which results in one amazing fact for eventual “Idol” winner David Cook, and one other sort of stinging reality.
Cook has 11 songs enter the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week, setting a modern-day record for most songs on this chart at one time. The previous record was 8, set by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus about a year and a half ago. I quote this as being a modern-day record because The Beatles actually placed 14 songs on the singles chart back in ’64.
At any rate, this becomes a semi-dubious distinction because none of Cook’s songs make it all the way to the top-where Lil’ Wayne holds for a second consecutive week with “Lollipop”. “The Time of My Life” slides in at #3 this week. Impressive? Yes, but not a number one, and considering the massive slide that “event” singles generally have in their second week, expect Cook’s number of charted singles to halve on next week’s chart.
By contrast, David Archuleta was only able to place three songs on this week’s Hot 100-led by his rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at #36.
I didn’t plan on writing about this show, but after I thought about it, it’s a huge show (some 2 1/2 hours in length) and it’s for a great cause. If I should write about any American Idol show, this is probably the one. You can donate at AmericanIdol.com. You can also call 1-877-IDOL-AID.
– I wonder if Kanye West will show up thinking it’s another awards show and get angry early when his name doesn’t get called.
– Let’s hope Ramiele isn’t nervous tonight. You can’t get kicked off again Ramiele, don’t worry.
– David Cook singing Rihanna – where amazing happens!
– Why is it that when the show started and all these dancers from If You Think You Can Dance were hot steppin’ on the dance floor, I immediately thought, “Where are the Jabbawockeez when you need them?”
Act Like Ya Know
– By the way, Paula’s boobs aren’t popping out as far tonight. Arsenio Hall just turned off the television.
– Why is Maria Shriver on my television in the year 2008? Oh yah, she’s married to Arnold. Her cheeks have a life of their own by the way.
– Ryno just said that you can donate money by buying some of these performances on iTunes. David Cook singing Rihanna can be yours and it’s right at your fingertips.
– The es-en-double-o-pee and Charlie Wilson Can’t Say Goodbye. Charlie’s wearing one of MJ’s old glitter derby hats while rockin’ the mic.
– Teri Hatcher just finished singing Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats (this song has to be about Tony Romo) and Kristy Lee Cook just called her pitchy. Isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle dark skinned? I’m kidding. KL Cook probably thought it was great.
KL Cook’s Favorite Singer
– Let’s see. Billy Crystal is an old school comic. Miley Ray Cyrus is the hot new thing. And they can’t find anything entertaining for them to say for a very long five minutes. Well, it was still better than Forget Paris.
– They kick Chikezie off the show, but they still make the brother work the phones.
– Since this isn’t the time to necessarily be making fun of folks, I’ll hold off from saying that Fergie’s face resembles Secretariat. And plus, she did a decent job with Finally, with help from John Legend on the piano.
(She also performed with Heart who Idol owes some love considering all the female Idol hopefuls jack their songs. Fergie Ferg is also wearing a glitter wrap around her wrist. Yet another ode to MJ.)
– You know this is a big show when Eli and Peyton Manning take the big stage. Let’s just say they are better with the Xs and Os than they are at reading queue cards.
– The story about the kids who lost their parents to AIDS and were worried about being positive themselves was tough to watch. Yes, I can write this up without joking around. I haven’t shed a tear though. Yet.
– Celine Dion is on the show again this year, but she didn’t bring Elvis this time.
– Jimmy Kimmell just said that on some nights, it looks like Simon is smuggling the Olsen twins underneath his shirt.
– Sheila E. just came out and she still has it.
– The Idol contestants are singing Seasons Of Love. Teri Hatcher tried to get on stage and join them, but Dean Cain swooped in and saved the day. (That didn’t really happen by the way, but you know it would’ve been 10 shades of awesome if it did.)
– Dane Cook is still in show business? I just want to hear him say Daisuke Matsuzaka one more time.
– Miley Ray Cyrus again? Isn’t it past her bedtime?
For Our Young Demographic
Save for Brad Pitt wearing a Kangol (don’t worry Brad, I can’t really rock it well either), this was a very compelling TV show. I know, I know. Because it’s Idol, they’re going to get lots of money donated. And while they are going to get good ratings out of this, it’s still a great thing to do. I’m off to download some songs from iTunes to give back.
To show you how much I’ve been keeping up with this stuff, the only thing I knew about this show before hand was that Jimmy Kimmel was hosting. Hopefully there will be an Adam Corolla appearance.
They just announced that Fergie was the hottest female pop star. That Fergalicious got me suspicious, check it out.
It’s not Thanksgiving, but I’m thankful that I don’t have HD yet. I bet Fergie is even scarier in HD.
Actually, I’m probably just as thankful that I don’t have a stereo receiver, because she’s singing Big Girls Don’t Cry live. She misses me like a child misses his blanket.
Now it’s will.i.am’s turn and the crowd goes completely quiet. Dude, you have to sell more than a handful of your solo record to be solo on this show.
The dude is trying to be James Brown and maybe if James were drunk, or had half of a right leg, he’d come close.
Nicole Schwarchenegger is out next and she could be naked on stage and I wouldn’t care because I’ve pretty much seen everything in that Blender spread. And I don’t like the song very much.
Now that was as flat an opening as I’ve ever seen.
I just found out that Souja Boy is on this show. Someone needs to kick his ass.
Speaking of Soulja Boy, he just did the Soulja Boy dance with Jimmy Kimmel, Jordin Sparks, and Kelly Pickler. I just heard the words, “Superman that ho” on the Disney owned ABC. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Carrie Underwood is giving out the Best New Artist award, but before she gives it out, she claims that Tony Romo had a minuscule penis and kissed like a walrus.
Daughtry wins by the way.
That boy band, Rascal Flatts is performing tonight as well. I mean, that country group.
The single greatest man on earth just took the stage. His name is Ryno Seacrest.
Adam Levine has a great voice, but if you were to point to one guy who would be proof that white guys shouldn’t shave their heads, you’d point at him.
Ashanti (remember her?) just presented the Male R&B award, which Akon won, and he said that T-Pain deserves this “reward”.
Some young cats named the Jonas Brothers are out (and the lead singer bailed trying to get to the mic). Ah, I remember them from about 15 years ago when they had blond hair and were called Hanson.
They introduced someone presenting as a, “number one rapper from Brooklyn” and nope, it wasn’t Jay-Z. It was FABO. I’d call that trickery.
Beyonce is in the audience. The Dreamgirls Soundtrack better win the soundtrack of the year. Dammit! High School Musical 2 just won. Maybe Beyonce can float some naked Vanessa Hudgens pictures out there. Wait, she already did that?
I really hate it that Rihanna loves Ne-Yo too.
Carrie Underwood just won the award for Best Female Country Artist, but this time, Faith Hill wasn’t around to give her the gas face.
I wonder how much they paid Beyonce to sing Irreplaceable with Sugarland? Especially the honky tonk version?
You know it’s a popularity contest when Daughtry beats out John Mayer in any sort of category.
I’m not surprised to see that Celine Dion is out here singing live. She knows she has a record to sell. But why is Lenny Kravitz out there singing live? When’s his record coming out? And where’s Denise Huxtable?
Who knew that Sean Kingston was really Keenan from Keenan and Kel?
Dancing With The Stars has really turned the clock back on Kelly Taylor. The woman looks almost fantastic enough to be married to Brandon Walsh now.
I’m the biggest MJ fan in the world, and I can still give Chris Brown props for his dancing. Now he just has to get that making songs that people want to hear part down.
Will Miley Ray Cyrus ever be able to be anything but Hannah Montana?
Carrie Underwood just won the very prestigious T-Mobile Text-In Award. I mean, I think Elvis Presley won that one back in ‘65.
Did Daughtry win again? I don’t think he’s thanked Randy or Paula yet.
It’s reggae night with Alicia Keys!
I Don’t Worry ‘Cause Everything Is Gonna Be Alright
Carrie Underwood is cleaning up tonight. Tony Romo is in the locker room, staring at Terrell Owens’ naked backside. I wonder who’s having the better night?
Usher just presented Beyonce with the International Artist Award. Well, that’s what got her up there to perform with Sugarland.
You know, Mary J. Blige is blatantly stealing from Off The Wall era Michael Jackson with her new song Doin’ Fine, but you won’t find MJ in those stunna shades. Maybe that shade of lipstick though.
In 2007, how can Bone Thugs-N-Harmony win any sort of award? And more importantly, how can an award where Pretty Ricky and the Shop Boyz are also up for the same award, get on the television broadcast? You’d think that one gets presented right after Kirk Franklin wins his award that they gave out at the morning breakfast buffet.
You know that pop music sucks when Queen Latifah sounds ten times better live than Fergie, and the Queen wasn’t rapping.
Uh oh. Jay-Z’s in trouble. Rihanna just beat out Beyonce for Best Female R&B. And Rihanna thanked Jay, while Beyonce didn’t. Hmmmm.
Daughtry has the best selling album of 2007? Jeez, and here I thought it was Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
I can actually fast forward through their performance because I only heard it at the end of every single elimination episode of American Idol. Where’s Daniel Powter when you need him? Having a bad day?
Fergie didn’t win an award all night that didn’t have to do with her having a resemblance to a toothy animal, and she wins the big one for the females. And she even thanked Tad Hamilton.
