Judges: Nicole Scherzinger, host Steve Jones, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, & L.A. Reid.
Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are reunited, and I bet it feels so good. I am looking forward to the premiere of X-Factor USA at 8PM/7PM Central on Fox. Will they be able to rekindle the magic they had together during the early run of American Idol? Will the rolling drama camp that is Simon Cowell keep America interested in yet another singing competition?
The series is a raging success in the UK, although it has only produced one winner who has captured the attention of music audiences. The stunningly beautiful Leona Lewis topped season three of the British flagship, and had international success with Bleeding Love. But if you are only going to have one, it might as well be a singer as gifted as Ms. Lewis.
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Leona Lewis, Will Young, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Anthony Callea.
On this fine Sunday morning, I thought I would pull some great swing music from unexpected sources. Namely, the Idol programs from around the world. Well, there are representatives from American Idol, the UK's Pop Idol, Australian Idol, and the UK's X Factor. I picked some of my favorites from these series, at least the ones I could find clips on YouTube that might apply. And I could not think of a better way to start this post than with Anthony Callea swinging on Route 66. The song was written by Bobby Troupe, husband of torch singer Julie London. It was first made popular by the great Nat King Cole, but Anthony does an amazing job with it.
In the third season of the UK hit show X Factor, Simon Cowell and company introduced us to a beautiful young lady whose talent was soon heard 'round the world. After winning the season, Leona Lewis was soon releasing Bleeding Love, which topped the charts and earned Lewis fans world-wide. While on the show, she made it through Big Band week singing Summertime, the classic song by George Gershwin.
In late 2001, we were introduced to the series that started it all. Pop Idol crowned the first winner in February 2002. Will Young crooned his way into the hearts of the British public. And, I might add, they had good taste, for Will is so very talented. And he did a lovely version of We Are In Love, a song written and performed by Harry Connick, Jr, for his 1990 album of the same name.
In the second season of American Idol, we were introduced to North Carolina native Clay Aiken. He charmed the fans enough to stay out of the bottom three for the entire season, and finished in second behind winner and good friend Ruben Studdard. When it came time to perform as part of the Final Three, he did an incredible version of Mack The Knife, the famous song by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht from their masterpiece, The Threepenny Opera.
The first season of American Idol ran during the summer of 2002, and in September, winner Kelly Clarkson was crowned. Kelly waded through the musical waters with poise and panache, like when she blew everyone away with Stuff Like That There, the song by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, originally sung by Betty Hutton in the 40s. Kelly took the song and made it her own.
Hope the music got you into the 'swing' of this fine Sunday!
After winning the third season of Simon Cowell's X-Factor in the UK, the gorgeous Leona Lewis took on the world and won with a hit single, Bleeding Love. After winning the show in 2006, Cowell saddled her with the same winning single as Kelly Clarkson, A Moment Like This, a song that had been pretty much played out with non-stop radio-play in 2002/2003. But her first single off the debut album, Spirit, went straight to the top of charts around the globe.
The good news for whomever wins this season of American Idol is that it is possible to parlay a start in reality programing to a thriving career - ask Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino and a handful of other contestants on American Idol. However, the sad news is few could name more than three of the runner's up, with eight hanging out there somewhere. But you never know, win and you could start out their career with a hit like Bleeding Love!
Simon Cowell produced the single Everybody Hurts with an all-star roster of UK stars including Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Mika, Michael Buble, Joe McElderry, Miley Cyrus, James Blunt, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jon Bon Jovi, James Morrison, Susan Boyle, Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kylie Minogue, and Robbie Williams.
It is scheduled for digital release on February 7th, with physical CD release on February 8th. Not sure if that is UK only, or worldwide.
