American Idol Seasons 9

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.

Sometimes, you just have to let things have time to seed and grow. At least that is what I believe. Still once I did some research on Season 9, there was more out there than I had realized. Of course, I was aware of the music release by Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, but who knew about the rest?



I will admit upfront I was a supporter of Tim Urban during the season. Sure, he didn't always hit it out of the park - but few did this season. However, his understated performances were often shortchanged, focusing on his looks instead of what he was singing. That said, Urban went home in 7th place, and a spot on the summer tour. He must have been hard at work on the tour, for he had written songs and honed the arrangements of them for the late 2010 release, Heart of Me. The six-song EP slipped by my notice at the time, but giving it a listen now, it was good. It was certainly better than I would have expected coming out so fast. This is my favorite song off the EP, Blur.



Tim discovered, like many former contestants on the show, that being on Idol did not insure record sales. Tim had been quoted in a few articles earlier this year that he has been cast in several movies about to start filming this year, so we can look forward to seeing more of Tim. You can find out more about Tim on his official website. You can also find him on Twitter. You can find Heart of Me on iTunes and Amazon.



Siobhan Magnus had an interesting ride on the show. Her quirky style created a bit of a buzz right off the bat, and strong fans quickly followed. Her relationship with the judges, however, was a bit more sporadic, changing from week to week. However, no one was prepared for her leaving in sixth place, having never been in the bottom before. After the tour, she returned home, the first ever Idol finalist from Massachusetts. Siobhan continued to make music, and ended up in a recording studio in Nashville. In 2011, Siobhan released her single, Beatrice Dream, the first off her album, Moonbaby.



While the two singles came out in 2011, the album didn't hit iTunes until January 2012. As you can hear in the video, Siobhan stood by the style she had on Idol, which was clearly her very own style. You can find more about Siobhan on her official website. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook. Moonbaby can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.



I must admit that for much of the season, Casey James was my favorite on the show. I loved his Southern Rock stylized with the Blues and a smidge of Country. I thought it was rather unfortunate the producers allowed him to be a bit of a joke, the just-shy of harassment by Kara and the judges. Thankfully, Casey stayed above the fray, going home in third place. Soon after the show, it was announced he was signed by Sony Nashville, and working with some of the best songwriters in Nashville for his first album. He also opened for a Sugarland tour, as well as getting some dates of his own. In August of 2011, he released Let's Don't Call It A Night, his debut single that sold over 5,000 copies in the first week.



Casey's self-titled debut album will be released in two weeks, on March 20th. Honestly, I am really looking forward to it. I think he had the best single this season, seen above. You can find more about Casey on his official website. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. Let's Don't Call It A Night can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.



The early part of the season was odd for Crystal Bowersox. She was hospitalized early on, with complications from diabetes. A week later, Simon Cowell said she was clearly a frontrunner for the season. During the run, neither she nor eventual winner Lee DeWyze ever hinted at the bottom three. In the finale, it was also said her performance of Patty Griffin's Up to the Mountain (MLK Song) was easily the best of the night. However, she took second, and was signed by Jive Records. She worked hard on the album, and in December 2010 she released Farmer's Daughter. The first single off the album was the title track.



This was a tough season for the women, so it was impressive Crystal made it to the final. She was the only woman in the Top 5. While the album was met with good reviews, the sales were disappointing. At the end of last year, Jive was disbanded, and Crystal found herself without a contract. Her commercial with BB King promoting diabetes awareness is still playing on TV. You can find more about Crystal on Twitter and Facebook. Farmer's Daughter can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.



Although Idol was eager to promote the back story making Chicago resident Lee DeWyze the paint salesman, he was actually a successful area musician, with two albums on WuLi Records, and several appearances on Chicago television. While many, including myself, thought he had a weak beginning, by the end of the season, he was getting great reviews from the judges. He was named American Idol, never having been in the bottom three. After the tour, DeWyze was hard at work on his album, and in November 2011, he released his RCA Records debut, Live It Up. The first single was Sweet Serendipity.



Reviews for Live It Up were mixed, but sales were not good at all. Neither the single nor the album did well. In October of 2011, DeWyze was released from his RCA contract. This did not distract Lee from enjoying life, as he married Jonna Walsh in January of this year. You can find more about Lee on his official website. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. Let's Don't Call It A Night can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon. This also ended the 9-year contract between Idol and Sony Music, and all its various labels. Before Season 10, it was announced that Interscope Records, with involvement of chairman Jimmy Iovine.

American Idol Season 8

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.



When taking a look at Seasons 8, 9, and 10, it really is tough to make any long range forecasts, for the artists are just getting to their second album, while others are just getting to make their music available. That said, this season has yet to really establish itself in sales, with Adam Lambert doing well on the album sales, and winner Kris Allen scoring big with a single, yet beyond that, it is tough to crow too loudly. There was high hopes for several of the contestants in this season, but we have yet to see some of them venture back into the public eye. That cannot be said for the first singer I will discuss.



When Anoop Desai auditioned, his fans were immediately on board, ready to accompany him on his Idol journey. While there was certainly the frat boy side seen in his bold performance of Bobby Brown's My Prerogative, as well as the sweetness and honesty of Angel Of Mine. Despite gaining the endorsements of people like Ellen DeGeneres and Keith Urban, Desai finished in sixth place. After the season, he tried to keep connected with his fans, becoming active online. After the tour, he went to work, and in 2010 he released his independent EP, All Is Fair. the second single off it was All Is Fair (Crazy). Here is the official music video for the song.



The road to success for independent artists has always been a hard road, but with the economy in tough shape and the constantly shifting nature of the music business, it got progressively harder. The sales for All Is Fair were a bit disappointing, but Desai continued working. You can find Anoop's album All Is Fair on iTunes and Amazon. In 2011, Anoop released a second album, Zero.0. You can fin it on iTunes and Amazon. For more about Anoop, visit his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook.



It seemed like Allison Iraheta was in an interesting position this season. The youngster was putting in strong performances, only to have the judges question not her talent, but lacking their concept of a teenage personality. But Allison wasn't a sunshine and unicorns girl, no matter how much they wanted her to be. Her music reflected that, more Avril Lavigne than Britney Spears. She rode the wave to fourth place, leaving on a strong performance. After the tour, she was signed to a contract and in 2010, released her first album, Just Like You. The first single was Friday I'll Be Over U.



The album was met with good reviews, but it never seemed to gel with the audience. By the end of the year, Iraheta was dropped by Jive Records, but still was managed by 19 Entertainment. You can find Allison's album Just Like You on iTunes and Amazon. Allison is currently working on material for a new album. For more about Allison, find her on Twitter and Facebook.



It seemed like guys had a lock on the top this season, and on e of those was Danny Gokey, whose time on the show was peppered with controversy, much not of his own making. His big storyline during the audition was that he was still in recovery from the passing of the love of his life, his wife. It seems the producers would never pass on a chance of reminding everyone, and seemed to make sure this was mentioned endlessly, driving people to distraction. There were also reports of his congregation back home praying for him, and against his fellow contestant, Adam Lambert, the gay heathen. To be fair, Gokey seemed to not have an issue with Lambert himself. Well, it all came to an end when Gokey went home in third place. After the tour, he was courted and signed to make Country music. Well, more like a combination of Country and Christian music. In 2010, He released the album My Best Days, and the lead single, My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me.



The sales of the album were slightly disappointing, but there were plans to work on and release a second album in 2011. However, by the end of the year, Gokey and RCA Nashville had parted ways, and he was shopping for a new label. You can find Danny's album My Best Days on iTunes and Amazon. He also announced his engagement and subsequent marriage to Leyicet Peralta online. The two were wed at the end of January of this year. For more information about Danny Gokey, visit his official website here. You can also find Danny on Twitter and Facebook.



For much of the season, it seemed like the coverage of Adam Lambert was taking the air out of the room for the other contestants, leaving them little to breath. Pictures, clips and stories were everywhere, Stories of his being gay surfaced, only to be met with a deafening silence by the show itself let the chatter grow, fueled by his over-the-top performances, and the clarion call of his incredible voice. After placing second, Lambert was bombarded by the press, who stalked his every move. Finally, he could talk about his first album, For Your Entertainment. It was certified Gold, and sold over 800,000 units, peaking at #3 on the Billboard album chart. The second official single off the album, Whataya Want From Me, was the best chart performer, making it to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.



You can find Adam's album For Your Entertainment on iTunes and Amazon. In 2011, Lambert also released a live collection, Glam Nation Live. And it is said that next month, he will be releasing the follow-up to the debut, Trespassing. The first single off the new album, Better Than I Know Myself, has yet to really catch on, and will hopefully be revived by the album release. For more about Adam Lambert, visit his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. You can also pre-order Trespassinghere.



One of the interesting things about the season was that how little press eventual winner Kris Allen was getting all season long. While Adam kept the world abuzz, as did Gokey and the others, Kris kept his fans at a simmer, and ready to pounce when they could. They kept Allen out of the bottom three save once, during Rat Pack Week. Many thought Adam would be a huge favorite to win, but it was the quiet Allen who took home the big prize. His controlled and haunting acoustic covers of songs spoke to the audience, and they responded with support. While they were smart to not really release the piece of dreck that was his coronation song, he did release an eponymous first effort in 2010. The first single off the album was Live Like We're Dying, a song written by the Irish band The Script. It was a huge success, and was certified Platinum with over 1.6 million copies sold. It was also on the radio all the time, a tribute to the great recording. Here is the official video for Live Like We're Dying.



While the single did exceedingly well, the album did not fair near as good. However, on the strength of the single, Kris is still signed by RCA Records, and will be releasing a new album later this year. You can find Kris' self-titled album, Kris Allen, on iTunes and Amazon. Also, Kris has had success as a songwriter since winning Idol as well. He cowrote a song that appeared on Glee's Matthew Morrison's album, and was also sung by Morrison on the show. He also collaborated on a song that was recorded by The Voice's first winner, Javier Colon. For more about Kris Allen, visit his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook.

Next week, I look to finish up this series and visit seasons 9 and 10.

American Idol Season 7

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.



Season 7 in many ways couldn't be much more different than the previous two seasons. In other ways, it couldn't be more the same. For many, when you think of this season, it is the "Battle of the Davids" that comes into mind first, but there was plenty that took place on the show before that finale came to be. After the rumored curly-haired Irish girl was rumored for a while, she was finally going to appear on the show. In interviews during the season, the producers were also giving the behind-the-scenes stories, but they weren't always good. But they were always about American Idol and designed to keep the #1 show in the headlines. And overshadow when the world was abuzz with a story they didn't like. There are several people I don't mention in this report, but there is only so much space. So I focused on people who released music, and hope that includes your favorite. Which brings us to the first story that unfolded on the Idol stage, that of the third David of Season 7.



David Hernandez was a handsome young man making his way on the program, when news broke of a past. That past was said to involve making his living stripping in all-male clubs. There was lots of rumors of him being gay, too. Quickly, the producers stepped up and cut off the press on the matter, refusing to comment. Sites like Vote For The Worst were featuring him, as if being gay or having a past made him a bad candidate for the singing program. Just as quickly, the handsome singer went from being a contender to going home in 12th place. And as they have always done, the show neutered him, trying to trip him of his innate sexuality. The buzz was all over the internet, but there was only conjecture, with Idol steering clear of comment, which many felt was a comment in itself. When he left the show, stories of a conspiracy were everywhere, including on The View. But soon the powers that be had him banished to the shadows, waiting for the next controversy to erupt. Over the next few year, Hernandez released a few singles. Finally, last December, he released an EP named I Am What I Am, which I just discovered, and think is really quite good. Here is the title single, I Am What I Am.



After finding this, I thought this was David's poking back at the rumors about his private life. After listening, I think it is just a damn good song. You can purchase the I Am What I Am EP from iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. You can find David Hernandez on Twitter and Facebook. And I might be writing more about his EP now that I have heard it!



Kristy Lee Cook showed up to the audition with dreams of Carrie Underwood driving her. But this was not her first time at the rodeo, so to speak, for she had previously been signed by BMI and RCA/Arista Records, but had never released an album. So she auditioned and made it through to the show. However, inconsistent performances had her in the bottom three three times before leaving in seventh place. Not long afterwards, it was announced she was signed once again to Arista/Nashville. She released Why Wait, which had limited success. The lead single, 15 Minutes of Shame, saw some success, taking it to #28 on the Billboard Country chart.



Kristy and Arista once again parted ways, and left her shopping her music to other labels. She went on to host some television programs, including Outdoors 10 Best for the Outdoors Channel. She has since signed with Broken Bow Records. For more about Kristy Lee, visit her official website here or on Twitter here. You can find her album Why Wait on iTunes and on Amazon.



For much of Season 7, Carly Smithson was my favorite singer. I loved the tone and fullness of her voice, and she had an interesting phrasing. However, it seemed she was the center of a bit of an Idol hurricane, all in the blogosphere. Word had come out that Carly had been signed by MCA, as Carly Hennessy. She was the focus, although Kristy Lee Cook, Brooke White, and Michael Johns can all say the same. After that contract ended, she went on to marry Todd Smithson. After taking some time for herself, she auditioned for Idol. However, it seemed Carly never really caught on with the viewers, and she went out in 6th place. After Idol she was talking to several producers about a solo album, one of whom was Ben Moody. He was fresh from a break up of his last band, Evanescence. Soon Carly was the lead singer on his next band, We Are The Fallen. In 2010, they released Tear The World Down. The album featured the first single, Bury Me Alive.



The sales on the new stuff were not what was expected, and soon it was announced that the band was dropped by the label. Not long after that, it was announced that Moody had reunited with Amy Lee, and released new Evanescence music. That said, there is still talk of more music from We Are The Fallen. You can find Tear The World Down on iTunes and Amazon. You can currently find Carly singing 8 shows a week in Las Vegas, for the Cirque du Soleil show, Viva Elvis. Myspace and Twitter.



There was a period of time in the middle of the season that it seemed as if Jason Castro was an unstoppable force is the competition. The nadsome guy with the dreadlocks and beautiful blue eyes was pulling out his own brand of folk, pop and rock, all with an easygoing twist. But soon there were rumors spread of need for naps, and perhaps a lack of drive. In weekly Producer interviews, it was suggested perhaps Jason wasn't meant for the hard work. His fans didn't agree, and kept him in the competition to finish fourth. After the tour, it seemed like there were a couple of labels looking to sign him, and soon he was under contract with Atlantic Records. In November of 2010, he released Jason Castro, a wonderful collection of music that really speaks to the artist he is. It blends his music with his strong faith. The first single was Let's Just Fall In Love Again.



And while the album as met with reviews that were good to very good, the sales were somewhat disappointing. But Jason continues to tour and write new music, and looks to another release. You can find Jason on Facebook and Twitter. You can find his eponymous debut album on iTunes and Amazon.



But by the time the season hit midway, all the talk was about the two Davids, the first being the very talented 17-year-old, David Archuleta. From his audition to the finale, the beauty of his voice was unmistakable. When he sang John Lennon's Imagine, the nation stopped to listen. When he sang Robbie Williams' Angels as his Inspirational song, he brought many to tears. But by the middle of the season, it seemed as though David would be upstaged by his father, who the producers let on was causing some issues backstage. Soon he was banned, and the focus returned to the talented young singer, who finished second. Soon he released a self-titled debut, which featured the first single, Crush. The song was amazing, and made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.



The album was certified Gold, selling over 760,000 in the US alone. In 2010, he released a second album, The Other Side Of Down, but had much less success for that one. He is looking to release another album later this year, and then take a two-year hiatus from the music business as he embarks on a mission in accordance with his Mormon faith. For more about David, visit his official website here. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter. You can find The Other Side Of Down on iTunes and Amazon.



This, of course, meant the winner of the season was another David, rocker David Cook. The self-confessed word-nerd charmed and delighted his fans throughout the season, and never landed in the bottom three. Part of the charm was the obvious close ties to his family, especially his brother Adam, who was struggling with his cancer battle, but still managed to cheer on his brother. David was the first rocker to take the title, building off the success of Season 3's Bo Bice. Cook took command of the stage whenever he was on it, and looked like he was loving making music. After winning the title, his first single was the Idol song, The Time of My Life. It wsa hugely successful, largely a testament to his skills as a singer and musician. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 236,000 copies the first week alone. The eponymous first album made it to #3 on the Billboard Top 200 albums, certified Platinum with sales of over 1.3 million copies in the US alone. Last year he released his long-awaited sophomore effort, This Loud Morning. The last single off the album was Fade Into You. Watch the video here.



In the year following his win, David took some time off following the passing of his brother. But that is some of the rare points during the last several years when he was not hard at work. He has continued to tour and bring his music to fans old and new. For more about David Cook, visit his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook. You can find his latest album, This Loud Morning, on iTunes and Amazon.

American Idol Season 6

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.

Season 6 came to life just as we were starting to get the music of Season 5 out there, so the flood of songs by Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, and Bucky Covington was playing on the radio around the country, we were getting to know this group. And speaking of getting to know the group, the first name on my list is a name you had to learn fast, for he was a surprise elimination and not around for the finals.



Handsome Jared Cotter came to the attention of everyone pretty quickly, when he auditioned singing Stevie Wonder's Lately. Immediately fans were lining up, enamored by his dashing good looks. So when it was time to name the Top 12, many were stunned when other made it through, and Jared did not. And it was rather ironic that his Stevie audition got him on the show, and his performance of If You Really Love Me got him voted off. And while this might have sent some off into oblivion, it was not the case for Jared. He rebounded with a job on TV, hosting The Sauce on Fuse TV. He wasn't stepping away from music, and had, in fact, written some songs for artists, including for Jay Sean. He wrote Jay Sean's Down, a huge hit, the 9th best-selling song of 2009.



Yes, in this case, you are watching the video to a song he wrote, not that he recorded. Jared has continued to host for Fuse TV, and write music. In 2010, he wrote Do You Remember, which went to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. To learn more about Jared, check him out on Facebook or Twitter. You can download Jay Sean's album All Or Nothing on iTunes or Amazon. And Jared was not the only writer on the show. Chris Sligh, who finished in tenth place, co-wrote Here Comes Goodbye, which made it to #1 on the Billboard Country chart with Rascal Flatts.



I am not exactly sure where to begin talking about Sanjaya Malakar. I think the jury is still out as to whether he was picked as cannon fodder, or if he was cast as the whipping boy, for they always manage to put both on there after seeing it work so well in the early seasons. No matter which, that child was certainly not prepared for what he was getting into, nor for flack that would be coming his way. That said, none of it, not the constant criticism from the people who picked him as one of 12 out of thousands, the mocking from online communities. But none of that seemed to get Sanjaya down, nor his rampant group of Fanjaya. It seems it was time for Sanjaya to go home in seventh place, assuring him a spot on the tour. He released an EP in 2009, Dancing To The Music In My Head. Last year, he released the single Tempted, a cover of the great song by the band Squeeze, in preparation for his album Life - Love - Music. This is a clip of him singing the song live.



To the best of my research, I can see no proof the album actually followed. In 2009, he was a contestant on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Outta Here. In early 2011, he joined the off-Broadway musical Freckleface Strawberry at New World Stages. Later in the year, he toured with the band, The Brave Chandeliers. To find out what Sanjaya has been up to, check out his official website here. You can also find his latest single, Tempted, on iTunes and Amazon.



Many remember Melinda Doolittle as one of the best voices of Season 6, and were stunned when she went home in third place. Melinda, who had made her living singing background vocals prior to the show, was looking to step into spotlight. Her performances all had a wonderful depth, and she never seemed to let a note get away from her. After Idol, she continued to work, touring with Michael W. Smith and others, and in 2009, released Coming Back To You, an album with a retro-soul feel perfectly suited to Melinda's voice. Not only does she recall some of the great voices of Motown, but there is also a taste of Memphis soul, and a dash of Nashville, too. Check out the video for her single, It's Your Love.



In April 2010, Melinda's autobiography, Beyond Me: Finding Your Way to Life's Next Level, was published. She has also continued her work for various charities, including Malaria No More. For more about Melinda and when you could catch her singing live, check out her official website here. You can find her album Come Back To Me on iTunes and Amazon.



When it comes to breaking the mold, few have done it quite like Blake Lewis did. A beatboxer from the Pacific Northwest, the diminutive young man had a look that was more Carnaby Street than flannel, and his sound fairly eclectic, blending the sounds of the Seattle streets with the British New Wave and the sound of alternative rock spreading on the radio. Blake sailed through the competition, only hitting the bottom three once, during Country week. Two weeks later, Blake delivered an unconventional and some say brilliant performance with his beatbox interpretation of Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name. He went to the finals with Jordin Sparks, and finished in second place. After the tour, he went in to the studio and the result was A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream). The album went to #10 on the Billboard album chart. The first single, Break Another, went to #85 on the Pop charts, and the second single, How Many Words, went to #8 on the Billboard Dance chart. Late in 2009, he released his second album, Heartbreak on Vinyl. The second single was the title cut, and it reached #1 on the Billboard Dance chart. Give a listen to Heartbreak On Vinyl.



Since coming off Idol, Blake has been a strong supporter of Seattle Children's Hospital, and their cancer research efforts. For more about Blake, check out his official website here. You can find his album Heartbreak On Vinyl on iTunes, Amazon and on BeatPort.



The amazing thing about 16-year-old Jordin Sparks was that she spent much of the season flying under the radar. But not too far, for she never hit the bottom three all season long. After being crowned the winner, she released a self-titled debut, which sold over two million worldwide. The first two singles off the album, Tattoo and No Air, both sold like crazy, and were certified Platinum. The album went to #10 on the Billboard album chart. Here she sings No Air, a duet with Chris Brown.



That was followed by Battlefield album in 2009, which went to #7 on the charts. The title song went to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 2009, she had a beautiful duet with Australian star Guy Sebastian on Art Of Love, which was certified Platinum. While it appeared on Guy's album, the song is an amazing blend of two very talented singers.



Jordin spent a bit of time on Broadway, in the hit musical In The Heights. That seems to have prepared her well, for in August, the film Sparkle will premiere. Jordin plays the lead role, and early buzz has been great for her performance. Her mother will be played by Whitney Houston, in her final movie appearance, so this movie will definitely be looked at. For more about Jordin, check out her official website here. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter. You can find her single The World I Knew, the theme from Disney's African Cats, on iTunes and Amazon.

American Idol Season 5 Take 2

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.

As I said in yesterday's post, it could easily be argued that Season 5 of American Idol is the most successful of all ten completed season. While there certainly been individuals with much greater success, the sheer number of artists continuing to work in the industry is impressive. Yesterday, I featured the music of Bucky Covington, Mandisa and Kellie Pickler, as well as offering a few insights into some other contestants. Today we get to look at the remaining Season 5 veterans, beginning with the most successful of the lot.



Chris Daughtry might have been the shocking elimination in fourth place this season, it certainly didn't spell the end of his career. On tour, he often stole the show rockin' Led Zeppelin, and was quickly signed to a music contract. By the end of 2006, he had released a single and an album, and both were flying off the shelves. His first single was It's Not Over, written by Greg Wattenberg and Mark Wilkerson, with additional work by Daughtry and his good friend, Ace Young. The song went on the earn the #4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and went on to be nominated for Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.



The album proved to be more successful than anyone could have dreamed. Daughtry sold just shy of five million copies in the US alone. In fact, Daughtry earned two more Grammy nominations, for Best Rock Album and for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group on the song Home. The band also went on to win three American Music Awards and six Billboard Music Awards in 2007. They were not the last for the band either. In 2009, the band released Leave This Town, and at the end of 2011, they offered Break The Spell. The first single off that album is Crawling Back To You.



While it is true that neither the second or third album had the same sales numbers as the first, Daughtry continued to get good airplay, and keep the record company happy. For more about Chris Daughtry and his band, check out their official website here. You can also find their latest album, Break The Spell, on iTunes and Amazon.



While the season went on, Elliott Yamin proved to be a tough one for the judges to get. Well, for Simon, anyway. But his quiet charm and steady performances really caught the attention of the audiences, who liked his jazz-tinged stylings, his R&B flavor. He completed the season in third, in what might be seen as the closest vote of the the final four, separated by fractions of a percent. After the show, many assumed he would be scooped up by a label, but that was not the case. He went the independent route, and released an eponymous first album, which did remarkably well for an indie release. With success of singles like Wait For You, it seemed like Elliott was getting more radio play than winner Taylor Hicks. By 2010, Billboard.Com put together a list of indie releases for the decade, and Elliott Yamin placed #39. In 2009, Elliott released Fight For Love, but the marketplace had changed. It was far tougher to break the hold major labels held on radio, and with no airplay, sales were definitely hurt. Just a few weeks ago, Elliott released a new single on a new label. This is the video for 3 Words.



3 Words debuted at #29 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. For more about Elliott, check out his official website here. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. You can also find his latest single, 3 Words, on iTunes and Amazon.



Interestingly enough, the final two were really the lightning rods of the season, starting with the runner up, Katharine McPhee. She had a roller coaster of a season, at times shining bright, while at other times barely glowing. Her fans were stalwart in their defense, while others were less kind. When she missed a part of the tour, rumors of diva syndrome flew. After the tour, the attitudes calmed down a bit, and by the beginning of 2007, her first album was finally ready for release. Katharine McPhee came out, and six of the twelve songs was written by future AI judges Kara DioGuardi. The first single, Over It, made it to #29 on the Bilboard Hot 100, while the second single, Love Story, did not make the charts. At that point, sales for the album stalled as well. Soon, McPhee and RCA Records parted ways, and in 2009, she released her first album on Verve Forecast Records. The sales went nowhere fast. It included the single Terrified, written by DiaGuardi and Jason Reeves, and Reeves joined McPhee on the song for the album. In 2010, the song was re-released with actor Zachary Levi joining her. Here is the music video for the re-release of Terrified.



Katharine has been more successful as an actress than as a recording artist. She had great reviews for he work in The House Bunny. Currently, she is starring in the much-hyped NBC show, Smash. There she gets to join her two interests, singand and acting. For more about Katharine, check out her official website here. You can also find her latest single, Terrified, on iTunes and Amazon.



The winner of Season 5 was, of course, Taylor Hicks. However, it must be noted that this was the first time the winner had little backing of the judges, and none from Simon Cowell. The voters felt differently, and made sure Taylor was the only one never to have been in the bottom 3. His fans, a vocal group called the Soul Patrol, became a force to be reckoned with, all over the internet. Taylor took his time on the tour, entering from the back of the house through the crowd, wanting to share his win with the fans. Do I Make You Proud, the winner's single, scored big with the fans, making it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the Pop chart in Canada. His self-titled album made it to #2 on the charts, the first winner to not hit #1. The two singles released from the album did not engage the public, and both failed to make the Pop charts. With no single, the album sales stalled at 700,000. Soon, Taylor and Arista Records parted ways. In 2009, Taylor went the independent route, and released The Distance. The first single off the album was What's Right Is Right.



Hicks' brand of southern blues didn't seem to catch on with the public. Soon, Taylor was found on the Broadway stage, playing the Teen Angel in Grease for a limited run. Once it closed, Taylor returned to the role for the national tour. After the show, he would often perform a few numbers from his album. Hicks continues to tour with his music. For more about Taylor, check out his official website here. You can also find his latest album, The Distance, on iTunes and Amazon.

Next I will catch up with American Idol Season 6!

American Idol Season 5 Take 1

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.

It could easily be argued that Season 5 of American Idol is easily the most successful of all ten completed season, and has numbers that would make it difficult for any other season to match. When you look at the Top 10, there are seven of note, and two of the other three have released music, and the other made an appearance on a hot television show after the show. Heck, even eleventh place finisher Kevin Covais has picked up some acting work. Season 5 has eight Grammy Nominations among them. One of those nominations belongs to seventh-place finisher Ace Young, who helped write the chorus for Daughtry's megahit It's All Over, as well as appearing i Grease and Hair on Broadway. His own music, however, went relatively unnoticed, even when he was co-hosting the Labor Day MDA Telethon. Sixteen-year-old Lisa Taylor finished in tenth, but also appeared on The O.C. after her time on Idol. Paris Bennett, who finished in fifth place, released Princess P in 2007, although few noticed.



However, it must be said that many have noticed the music made by the woman who finished in ninth place, Mandisa. While some thought her performance of Mary Mary's Shackles (Praise You) that shortened her stay on the show, it is Christian Music that has allowed Mandisa's voice to be heard. Since her run on the show, Mandisa has released three albums, all of which have garnered her a Grammy nomination for best Christian/Gospel album. That includes her latest album, What If We Were Real, had the hit song Stronger, which made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, as well as the Christian Adult Contemporary chart. Yes, I hadn't realized there was that specialized niche either.



I also read that while Mandisa was interested in maintaining a healthy spiritual life, she also opted to live a healthy total life, and has lost 100 lbs. since her time on Idol. To catch up with what Mandisa is up to, check out her official website here. You can find What If We Were Real on iTunes and Amazon.



I really enjoyed Bucky Covington while he was on the show, apparently much more than the judges did. Once the show was completed, Bucky almost seemed forgotten, until he was signed by Lyric Street Records. Soon Covington was being featured on the GAC Country Christmas Music Tour, and working on an album. When his eponymous debut was released in 2007, it made it to the top of the Billboard Country album chart, and to #4 on the Pop album chart. He had the best debut week by a man since Billy Ray Cyrus made his debut fifteen years earlier. On the strength of the singles A Different World, It's Good To Be Us, and I'll Walk, all making it in the top 11 of the Country chart, Bucky seemed to be on a strong career track. In 2009, he released an EP, Live From Rockingham, which was quite good. It is a great part of my collection. Here is the video for the song It's Good To Be Us, from the debut album. I think it a great song.



However, while working on his sophomore effort, Lyric Street closed it's doors, leaving Bucky without a label. That was only a temporary setback, for he was soon signed by a label owned by the Disney Music Group. To catch up with what Bucky is up to, check out his official website here. You can find Live From Rockingham on iTunes and Amazon.



Ah, that Kellie Pickler, another Country success story for the Idol franchise, although one that took a slightly different road to success. On the show, Kellie was the girl with the hard-luck story. Her daddy was in prison, and her mother she hardly remembered, so she was living with her grandfather with dreams of being the next Carrie Underwood. Kellie made it to sixth place, and once off the show, she truly seemed to bloom. She was soon guest host on The View, and popping up everywhere. When she returned to the Idol stage the next season to promote her country album, even Ryan couldn't help but noticing the bloom included a visit to the doctor for a breast enhancement. That first album, Small Town Girl, was a certified hit, making it to the top of the Billboard Country album chart, as well as #9 on the Pop album chart. The album was certified gold and went on to over 877,000 in sales in the US alone. Her eponymous second album was released in 2008, and sold well on the strength of great singles like Best Days Of Your Life, her first Top Ten Country single, which was certified Platinum. A few weeks ago, Kellie released her third album, 100 Proof, and the first single, Tough.



Kellie's life has been changed since the days of the back story on Idol. Just over a year ago, she married songwriter Kyle Jacobs and continues to have a successful career. To catch up with what Kellie is up to, check out her official website here. You can find W100 Proof on iTunes and Amazon.

Tomorrow, look for my thoughts on the Top Four from Season 5, Chris Daughtry, Elliott Yamin, Katharine McPhee, and winner Taylor Hicks.

American Idol Season 4

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.

In 2005, we had Season 4 of American Idol, basking in the glory of Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson and her second album, Breakaway, which was selling like hotcakes, with massive singles like Since U Been Gone, Behind These Hazel Eyes, and Because of You, all Platinum-sellers. And with the auditions, we saw that Idol was also looking to expand on what they have been presenting. There were different types of singers being seen, and getting through. This was lining up to be an interesting season, indeed. If that wasn't enough, the season also began with a bit of intrigue while still in the semi-final stage.

From auditions through the semis, Mario Vazquez was thought be be a front-runner. The handsome Latino from the Bronx has a great look, and a wonderful voice. HE was delivering some great R&B-flavored vocals, easily the most contemporary male voice the show has seen so far. He fared well during the Top 24 and Top 20, and sang well for the Top 16. However, rather than signing an exclusive contract with 19 Entertainment after making it to the Top 12, Mario decided he was better off without the show, and quit. This sent shock waves in Idoldom, for it had never happened before. Mario disappeared for a bit, and Idol said there was family matters he needed to attend to, but few believed that. By the end of the summer, with the tour going on, it was announced quietly that Mario had been signed to J Records by Clive Davis. In the fall of 2006 his eponymous album was released. The first single, Gallery, got some good airplay.

Turns out, I thought it was a pretty good album, one I am listening to as I write. However, it did not catch on with the audience, and sold shy of 60,000 units. In 2007, there was a controversy involving sexual harassment, and Mario was released from his contract with J Records. I found he recently had a few dance tracks, working with DJ Sharam. You can find his album on iTunes and Amazon. To catch up with Mario and the music he is making now, check out his official website here. You can also find Marion on Twitter here.

One of the things about the season was that there were a couple of serious contenders thought to be rockers. One of those was Constantine Maroulis. Constantine was featured during auditions, not only for the audition, but also when the cameras returned with him to announce to his band, Pray For The Soul Of Betty, that he was leaving the band to compete on Idol. They were not pleased, making for a notorious beginning to Constantine's time on the show. He made it to 6th place on the show, and many of his performances were legendary, both for his fans and those who didn't seem to appreciate his work. From his non-stop flirtation with the camera, to the different choices he made, it seemed the voters never really figured out the rocker. After the show, he went back to the band for about a year, when he opted to go the solo route. In 2007 he released Constantine on an indie label, and went on to The Young & The Restless soap opera to promote it. This is the video fro the single Girl Like You, which features his Y&R costar.

While Maroulis had not followed up that album with a new one, he has certainly found himself a solid career on Broadway. First he got rave reviews when he went in to the show The Wedding Singer, for the Fall and Winter of 2006. He went Off-Broadway next, in Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris, before he joined Y&R to promote the album. Soon he was back on Broadway, this time starring in the original cast of the Rock Of Ages, first Off-Broadway, then moving to Broadway in 2009. He earned a Tony Award nomination for his fine work, the first AI alumnus to achieve that honor. Later this year, he is scheduled to be star in Jekyll and Hyde on tour before bringing it to Broadway in 2013. You can find Constantine on iTunes and Amazon. You can keep track of him on his official website here or on Twitter here.

Much was made of the cute Ukrainian boy who finished in fourth place, from his early childhood in the Ukraine, including the tale of the young boy with the tracheotomy, and fears he wouldn't speak again, let alone sing. That is the backstory of Anthony Fedorov. To many, it seemed like Anthony went quiet for a few years, until last year, when he released Never Again, a six-song EP. Here is a clip of Anthony singing Never Over, a track off the EP.

While some might have thought Anthony was laying low, that was far from the truth. He was doing many things, including joining the Off-Broadway production of The Fantasicks, the world's longest running musical. He also appeared in various productions of touring shows, including Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Japan at the time of the earthquake/tsunami. There have also been appearances in production of Cinderella and Hairspray. And he has shown non-stop support for the Sarcoma Foundation of America, battling the disease that took his brother, Denis. You can find Never Again on iTunes and Amazon. You can keep up with all that is new with Anthony on his official website here. You can also find him on Facebook here.

Early on in the competition, Constantine was dominating the coverage, being the rocker. However, during Hollywood week, I heard a voice I had not heard in the auditions, and it was certainly one that grabbed my attention, and made me want more. That voice belonged to Bo Bice, the long-haired rocker from Alabama, who was more Lynyrd Skynyrd than Jim Morrison, and easier for the producers to ignore. His audition for the show wasn't seen until the later in the season. However, the viewers never did, liking his easy-going nature, combined with a natural and easy sensuality that had the women screaming for more. Bo went on to finish second this season, always making music on his own terms, and never letting the judges or producers put him in a box. A couple of his performances are looked at as iconic and quite memorable, including his brilliant acapella version of Badland's In A Dream. After the tour, he was signed by RCA Records, and released The Real Thing, an album of Pop/Rock music. Here is a version of the title song, The Real Thing (Unplugged).

Bo and RCA agreed to part company, and he was quite happy to have his music back under his own control. He released a self-produced album in 2007, See The Light. The album had strong reviews, but without the big label support, he sold much less. It was the music Bo wanted to make, with a strong flavor of southern rock and a bit of roots music. He continued to tour, and as a working musician he has taken few breaks. In 2010, he released 3, his third album. His music continues to be bold and strong. You can learn more about Bo on his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook.

And while some of the guys might have been looked at as front-runners at some points in the season, it seems as though someone forget to send the memo to the eventual winner Carrie Underwood, who never was in the bottom three for the run of the season. While she ventured into all the genres covered on the season, Carrie was also the first strong contestant to come in as a Country singer, and when she was crowned the winner of Season 4, Nashville was waiting for her with open arms. Her first release, Some Hearts, was practically flying off the shelves, selling more than 7 million copies, and serving up hit after hit, playing on both Country and Pop radio. Here is the video for one of the hits off that album, Before He Cheats.

Carrie followed up that album with two more hits, Carnival Ride and Play On. Both sold in the multiple millions, and has kept her at the head of the list of Country artists today. She has had her own television special, hosted awards shows, won just about every award possible, and has not yet reached 29. She has found the time to be courted by and marry NHL hockey player, Mike Fisher. He plays for the Nashville Predators, making their home in Nashville convenient for both. And here is the 2010 video for Undo It, off the Play On album.

This whole time, Carrie has never backed away from the Idol franchise, always proudly wearing the banner. Recently, Carrie played CMT Crossroads with current Idol judge Steven Tyler. And Idol has been proud of her, as well they should be. She is the #1 selling Idol, with only more to come. You can learn more about what Carrie has been up to since the show by visiting her official website here. You can also find her on Facebook here. You can purchase her latest album, Play On, on iTunes and Amazon. She is also scheduled to be releasing a new album later this spring.

American Idol Season 3

As we approach the competition starting up on the most recent season of American Idol, it allows me to do something the other similar shows can't do. That is to look back over the last decade of the show, and visit with the performers I really thought were due another look and listen. Hard to believe it has been a decade, but this summer, it will be 10 years since Fox aired the show that caught the imagination of the viewers.



Season 3 gave us the most unusual success story of the run of the season during the audition process. It involved a young man who was born in Hong Kong, but moved with his family the the United States when he was quite young. After completing his high school education in Los Angeles, he went to college at UC Berkeley. But during the third season of Idol, he went to audition for the show, and was put through by the producers to sing in front of judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul, for the benefit of audience. He performed Ricky Martin's She Bangs, and at that point, William Hung became an instant sensation across the world. His off-key, bloodless singing, coupled with his stiff and uncomfortable movement lit up the internet, and he became the first "star" of the season. He was dismissed by the judges, but not by the public. Fansites were popping up all over, and he was in demand to be a guest on television shows across the dial. He was signed to a record deal, and in a surprise to no one, his first single was his cover of Martin's She Bangs.



Although he quickly became the poster-child for bad auditions, William Hung released the albums Inspiration and Hung For The Holidays in 2004, and Miracle: Happy Summer From William Hung in 2005. Inspiration made it to #34 on the Billboard album chart, and #1 on the US Indie chart. He also starred in a couple of Chinese-made movies, but had little success. Controversy also seem to follow him around, from people feeling his and other auditions were broadcast solely to mock people, to some people of Chinese ancestry thinking he was used by Idol for his being the epitome of the Chinese stereotype, and it hurt Chinese people. Neither were ever resolved. You can find out more about what Hung has been up to on his official website here. You can purchase his first album on iTunes and Amazon. While he might occasionally show up on a sitcom or a cartoon, I was unable to discover what Hung has been up to for the last few years.




Our next contestant was part of a completely different type of controversy. In season three, there were three talented young ladies who could fall into the "diva" category. Not because of attitude, mind you, more because of the big-voice nature of their performances. On the sixth week of competition, all three ended up in the bottom of the voting, and it was Jennifer Hudson who was dismissed. Elton John immediately jumped into the press, claiming that having the three African-American ladies in the bottom was showcasing the bigotry in the US. I would argue that point with Elton, and say that you had three women who were fighting for the same voting block, so it was inevitable that one had to go. And this was Hudson's third trip on the bottom in 6 weeks. After the show, Hudson kind of slipped out of the public eye, time spent working at her craft. It did her well, for she reappeared when the Christmas 2006 release of Dreamgirls, the musical starring Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Fox, yet it was Hudson performance as Effie White who stole the attention, and Jennifer was given just about every award possible, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her performance of And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going was brilliant, one for the ages. One of her latest releases is the song I Got This, which you can hear her singing on Late Night with David Letterman.



Hudson continues to get work as an actress, securing big roles and great reviews. She is also recording and releasing music that has great reviews, although she has yet to have a huge hit song, her albums are selling well. In 2010, she became a spokesperson for Weight Watchers, after reportedly losing 80 lbs. She is most certainly looking good. You can discover more about Jennifer at her official website here. You can find her latest album, I Remember Me, on iTunes and Amazon.



Our next contestant is another controversial figure from the season, in some ways a featured player in the Diva drama. When the sixteen-year-old auditioned for the third season of Idol, the redhead had no idea what he was in for. He was just a cute kid who enjoyed singing the classics with his Grandparents, singing along with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. What started out as charming, soon became the butt of Simon's displeasure. After Jennifer Hudson was sent home and Elton joined in the mob, the teenager started getting death threats because he was singing on a television show and getting votes. Websites were springing up, and the birth of the Vote For The Worst site, giving voice to malcontents everywhere to mock and cyber-bully young kids on a television show. The next week, after performing a song by Gloria Estefan, Stevens was sent home in sixth place. Immediately after the tour, John was signed by Maverick Records, and released the album Red in 2005. Here is a song from the album, the Lennon-McCartney song, Here, There And Everywhere.



The album made it to #5 on the Billboard Hot Jazz Albums chart, while the cover of Come Fly With Me made it to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100. I have to admit that I have the album, and think he did a very nice job. But the youngster realized he had much more to learn, and decided to attend the Berklee College of Music. He finished in 2009, and is now singing with the Beantown Swing Orchestra in Boston. He also released a Christmas album that year. You can catch up with John at his official website here. You can also find him on Twitter. You can purchase the latest album by the Beantown Swing Orchestra featuring John on iTunes and Amazon.



We have yet another teen to discuss next. Perky Diana DeGarmo was an energetic seventeen-year-old from Snellville, Georgia, who took Idol by storm, finishing out the season in second place. Diana combined the combination of cute, down-home looks with the big and bold voice few can match. It was a no brainer that she would be singed to a contract, and put out an album. So Blue Skies was released at the end of 2004, and her first single, Emotional, made it to #54 on the Billboard Hot 100.



Blue Skies did not fair well in the marketplace, and Diana soon became a noted performer on the Broadway stage. Her first role was in Hairspray: The Musical, when she played Penny Pingleton. After that run, she went on the road as the lead in Brooklyn: The Musical, touring with Melba Moore. When she came back to New York, She returned to Hairspray. She had a lead role in the off-Broadways musical The Toxic Avenger in 2009. In 2010, she went into the cast of Hair, where she met current boyfriend and Idol alumni Ace Young. For much of 2011, she could be found as Doralee in the Broadway Touring Company of 9 To 5, written by Miss Dolly Parton, based on the movie starring herself, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. She is also trying to make her mark in music, only now in the genre that is her true love, Country music. You can find out more about Diana on her official website here. You can also find her on Twitter. You can find her latest release, Unplugged In Nashville, on iTunes and Amazon.



The winner of the third season of American Idol was no stranger to controversy herself. Fantasia Barrino, who quickly decided to just go by Fantasia, had bloggers typing away with her interesting voice, and her back-story as a single Mom. Fantasia was a lightning rod, with people loving everything she did, and others waiting to pounce at any sign of imperfection. Well, they negative was hard to come by during the season, for she put in one great performance after another and earned the top prize. Her performance of Summertime still ranks for many as one of the best of the show. In fact, it is Fantasia's performances that inspired a young blogger to start recapping the show. That blogger was Rickey, and the blog became Rickey.Org. Her first hit was I Believe, written by Tamyra Gray, the producer's favorite from the first season. When Fantasia sang it on the season finale, she tore the roof off the place. Her latest single was I'm Doing Me, off the album Back To Me.



Fantasia remains under contract with J Records, having released three albums. She is the fifth highest selling artist from American Idol, and continues to get rave reviews no matter what she tackles. Her records have all been well received, and here time on Broadway in The Color Purple set box office records. Her style and bravado has made her standout no matter what the forum. But she has also become a staple in the tabloids, with money troubles and relationship issues trying to overshadow the music. You can find more about Fantasia on her official website here. You can purchase her most recent album, Back To Me, on iTunes and on Amazon.