Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance

American Idol Season 7 Top 2 Finalist, David Archuleta, is releasing his first book, a memoir of his musical and personal journey to date, on June 1st!

I know I will be purchasing this book. David has so much to offer  - his enormous vocal talent combined with his genuine strength of character is a rarity in the music business.

Sometimes when I watch the music award shows, the polluted musical nonsense  masquerading as “freedom of art and expression” is enough to make me cringe.

Is the ability to plant your two feet on stage and just sing from your heart becoming a lost art?

Oh wait, David Archuleta can do this!  Jason Castro can do this, David Cook can as well and so can Michael Buble and Josh Groban.

And, let’s not forget Britain’s Got Talent winner, Susan Boyle, who’s first CD out-sold everyone’s CD during the Christmas/Holiday season.

Thankfully, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel as many more pure and true vocal artists begin to emerge and thus discovered, hopefully marking an end the to flash in the pan music stars and their equally flash in the pan songs.

So, in the spirit of musical excellence, I truly hope that everyone rushes out and purchases many copies of this book to give as gifts. David Archuleta is a rare gem and I ache for the day when I can see vocal excellence comparable to his on live television once again.

Pre-Order is available on Amazon now!

Well, apart from the little expletive at the beginning of this song, I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with this performance by Top 3 American Idol Season 9 Finalist, Crystal Bowersox.

“Farmer’s Daughter” is an original composition penned from the musical heart and soul of one Crystal Bowersox.  If this song is any indication of what she will be able to contribute to the music industry, then I feel that she will be extremely successful. 

Marketing is key here!   Initially, her distinct talent will work extremely well within a smaller,  intimate environment.  I can’t see her filling huge arenas as of yet,  but time and planning will take care of this aspect of her career.

Listening to Crystal’s relaxed, liberated performance, I was reminded how confining these theme weeks can be for the Idol singers.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of them could sing with the style of music that suits them best? 

Jason Castro is a prime example of this very fact!  He has grown s0 much as a performer since his last appearance on American Idol two years ago.   Time and nurturing makes a monumental difference in the comfort level of a performer – that and the opportunity to perform music that is meaningful to them as artists.

Perhaps the producers should consider an  original song week. The singers  could sing one of their own compositions  or one written specifically for them by an another artist.  If some of the singers are not true songwriters, then they should  be  encouraged to become  involved at some level  in the writing process. This would further showcase their creativity as an artist.

Further to this thought, how about taking a well-known cover song and ask each singer to arrange it to suit their singing style?  They would have to start with a blank slate – making decisions about the flow of the melodic line, key change, instrumental accompaniment and background vocalists. That would certainly separate the artist from the artist-in-waiting, wouldn’t it?

Think about this as you listen to Crystal sing this song. It really is beautiful, the words and music flowing from the depth of her heart and soul.

I was so impressed with Jason Castro’s cover of Tom Petty”s “Learning To Fly” that I had to  brag about it here on MasterclassLady.Com.  He performed at Joe’s Pub in New York yesterday and, from all accounts, it was a terrific evening of music. Apparently, his manager confirmed that the New York performance was organized on Tuesday, May 11th, leaving them only a dayto prepare.  Nevertheless, the evening was a huge success!

Jason has certainly has evolved into a magnetic performer and an expressively musical vocalist.

Backed by stellar musicians, this song highlights everything we have come to know, love and appreciate about Jason – his passionate artistry, his respect for the music, his even greater respect for his audience and his genuine and sensitive persona.

Why he has never been featured on American Idol remains a ridiculous mystery. Do they want ratings or not? (sigh)

At any rate, enjoy Jason’s entire set of tour songs here and if he comes to a stage near you, run don’t walk to see him live and in color.

Special thanks to ReReader for sending along this video clip!

Picture Courtesy Of The Ellen Show. Click To Watch

American Idol Season 7 singer, the very talented Jason Castro, stopped by the Ellen Show  today to perform his single, “That’s What I’m Here For” from his new debut album.

As always, Jason sang from his heart in the customary laidback style that we have all come to know and love.

He may not be the most technically perfect singer , but what he lacks in technical finesse,  he makes up in his openly communicative performing style.

Jason performs with  honesty and enormous respect for the emotional core within his lyrics.

And he exudes an enormous charisma and presence on stage that is hard to beat. I am so happy that he is living his dream and I can only envision continued success for this talented young artist. 

Congratulations, Jason! Now, drop that jaw!

The theme this week is Inspirational Songs and you can find the list of available songs over at MJSBigBlog.Com.  The one song that flew out at me was Carole King’s, “You’ve Got A Friend”.

Maybe Crystal will go back to her keyboard and deliver a soulful, bluesy rendition of this number. I can’t see anyone else capable of performing this number and it just seems so logical in my mind.

Also, upon reading the list, it confirmed in my mind that Katie Stevens did indeed select “Over The Rainbow” as her Top 7 number. She performed this song so beautifully on the Ellen Show earlier today.

But let’s not be sad folks! Both Top 9 eliminated contestants, Katie Stevens and Andrew Garcia, have tweeted that they will be part of the 2-hour Idol Gives Back extravaganza on Wednesday.

If anyone knows if  the entire Top 12 are coming back for an encore, give me shout here in the comments section and I will update this blog topic ASAP.

I am hoping that Alicia Keyes can inject some soulful inspiration into the remaining singers -Aaron Kelly, Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, Lee Dewyze, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus and Tim Urban.  She is such a gifted artist and these singers are so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to learn from her.

Best of luck to the Top 7 Finalists and feel welcome to add your comments before, during and after the live telecast on Tuesday, April 20th.

UPDATE: SONG SPOILERS FOR TONIGHT”S SHOW

I would once again like to express my appreciation to faithful MCL reader and supporter, ReReader, for sending me this heartfelt performance of Southern Accent by Jason Castro.

Although Jason’s technical skills need further refinement, no one can deny that this young man sings with sincerity and passion.

These artistic characteristics are imperative in every good singer. It is the vocalist’s way of communicating the essence of the song to his audience and Jason does have a gentle, genuine way of capturing and relaying these essential ingredients so very well.

I particularly love Jason’s vocal tone when he navigates the lower part of his range -it is so resonant and so true. Like velvet!

Jason is real; he is fully sincere and genuine as a performer and as a person. In this quirky industry called the music business, this is extremely rare and graciously welcome.

This song emphasizes the Jason that we came to know and love through his adventure on American Idol.  There never was – nor will there ever be – another contestant like Jason.   His self- effacing comments throughout the show and the casual manner in which he connected with his mentors and peers greatly endeared him to his growing legion of fans.

I love his new single so very much. It is an extremely commercial recording and I expect it to do very well. The video is a blast and captures the essence of Jason so well.  His voice sounds wonderful and, although it is not a technically secure instrument, the expressiveness of his vocal instrument and performing demeanor transcends the incidental technical flaws.

Click here to watch the full video

ember to leave a comment or two after the view.

However, now that the Fall season has begun and my schedule has been finalized, I can now get back to the business of keeping MasterclassLady.Com current and alive!

Let’s see now, since last we spoke, so many wonderful people have left us, including superstar Michael Jackson and super politician, Senator Edward Kennedy. And, I must say that both the memorial and the funeral services for these gentlemen were absolutely exquisite – tastefully done.

Although both came from entirely different backgrounds, both were justifiably respected and applauded by their fans and followers for their contributions – one to the world of music and the other to the world of politics. Their legacy will remain with us for a lifetime.

Interestingly enough, Senator Kennedy was buried on Michael Jackson’s birthday, August 29th, which also happens to be the birthday of my dear father, Henry Giallonardo. My father, who was an extremely intelligent, gentle and caring individual, passed away on July 8th 2000 and I do miss him every single minute of every single day.

Additionally, Paula Abdul will no longer act as a judge on American Idol. I’m not sure if I like this scenario, but, I suppose, time will tell. I just hope and pray that this season’s show will fare better than last – I am still shaking my head over the Season 8 fiasco!

I am very excited for David Archuleta’s Christmas album, “Christmas From The Heart”, set to drop on October 13th, 2009.  I can only imagine how wonderful and inspiring this CD will sound with David’s glorious voice and musical passion at the center of this recording.

And we cannot forget about Adam Lambert. His new CD should be ready for release soon but details weren’t available on Amazon.Com. His website is rocking though! Have a “look-see“!

And, it appears that Jason Castro has released a new song, “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again“.  His fans are relentless in making certain that I have a ‘heads-up” whenever talented Jason inches a step forward to his escalating career.

“Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” is a great, great number and Jason’s voice sounds terrific.  Even though his voice is not as “open” as I know it could be,  Jason sings with musicality and expressiveness. And his diction is crystal clear!

Finally, there’s Jay Leno who is set to take over Prime Time every weekday with his new show. Finally, something to watch on TV at 10:00 P.M. besides Frasier and Seinfeld re-runs – although I worship these shows everytime I watch them for the zillionth time.

As always, I would like to welcome everybody back to the MCL site, as well as express appreciation for those who stopped by every so often during the course of the summer to say “hi” and left comments or news items.  You can’t buy this kind of loyalty!

Below, you will hear and see a new and improved Jason perform the Gnarls Barkley hit, “Crazy”. Listen to his soulful vocals – the timbre is so rich and full, it resonates freely throughout the room. He has obviously grown and matured as an artist and has fully internalized a much needed boost of confidence in his stellar vocal ability.

His voice sounds so open and focused now and, as a voice teacher, I fully appreciate and applaud how hard he has worked to further refine the technical projection of his voice. He loves those pure vowels now – cherishes them, actually – and he cohesively molds his voice throughout the melodic line with increased assurance and consistency.

But, it is the nucleus of his soul that I feel more than anything else in this performance. This is a sensitive and intuitive young man and I am so happy that his career is continuing to move forward, as it deservedly should!

Special thanks to ReReader for making me aware of this video!

Through this vocal performance, it was exciting to hear the advancement in Jason’s vocal development. His breathing skills and the roundness of his vowels have clearly improved and his nuanced approach to this song was a testament to the heightened progression of his dynamic range.

Additionally, ReReader, who is a a devoted MCL reader and contibutor, sent me a link to an article, explaining the filmakers’ reasons for choosing Jason’s performance of this song over the numerous covers by other artists.

It is a good read and precisely explains why Jason has distinguished himself as an artist. In his shy, unassuming way, he has fully managed to carve a distinct niche for himself and attract a pronounced, yet ever-evolving fanbase in the process.

Special thanks to the videographer, hmess88 for exquisitely capturing this remarkable performance by one Jason Castro. And another round of applause for ReReader and cj4jc for making me aware of this video.

However, if you wish to access all the videos assembled on one page, click here at the YouTube.Com site and many of the songs that Jason performed at the Garland concerts will be available, gallery-style, for your viewing pleasure

.

The first song that I had a listen to was “Tell Me So” and, before I move on to comment, please know that this concert featured all of Jason’s original song material. And this song was an outstanding testament to the strength of Jason’s songwriting skills. The song is musically fluid and the lyrics blend just beautifully with the melody line. Jason is such a sensitive artist and so in touch with his emotions. His genuine, relaxed manner is transmitted through his musical compositions and his voice is expressive and dynamic during this performance.

One can easily sense Jason’s comfort zone – he is performing music that he truly loves and to which he is obviously committed. This is music that pours forth from his heart and soul and, as a result, he is a relaxed, accommodating presence on stage during the course of this concert. It really is a shame that, during the course of American Idol, we never really saw Jason in true form. He was a shy, almost awkward young singer on stage and yet, when listening to the remainder of songs, I realize that he is very far removed from the “character” we saw on American idol.

During the Garland and Tulsa concert, Jason is in command on stage, enjoying friendly, often comical banter with the audience. His voice sounds absolutely perfect and he has adopted a very sophisticated approach in his songwriting profession. There is real evidence of depth and sensitivity in his music and I can hear so many of these songs as number one hits. Listen to the beauty and passion of “Love Uncompromised” and `“Sweet Medicine”`and the dynamic variation Jason achieves with his voice when he is inspired with the right song material – his own. His head tone is just gorgeous and so clear and transparent. Mmm, mm!

Oh, and as an aside, I have reviewed “Sweet Medicine” previously. Have a click and read – it`s all good, very good!

And what a kick of nostalgia and sentiment to hear Jason`s superb soulful performance of White Christmas. in the middle of a very cold January. This is one of the best renditions of this number I have ever heard and it chased away my January blahs in a monumental way. It is gorgeous and speaks to the distinct artistry of one Jason Castro. Oh, and yes, I heard and loved how he grabbed every vowel in the word “Christmases” – really grabbing the “àh” vowel in the 2nd syllable.

As Jason’s voice matures and settles, his voice is going to grow in stature and depth. More important, if he finds a good voice teacher to hone his technical skills while preserving his natural musicality and relaxed singing style, he will be truly unstoppable. This is important, because what we do not want to see happen is for Jason to lose his natural spontaneity when he sings, as evidenced in songs like the beautiful “It’s All Right With Me”. His voice resonates with strength and passion during this number. Listen to the lovely ad-lib portion a the end of this number. Just outstanding!

All he needs is further study in the correct breathing skills when he performs, coupled with the very important circular mouth formation/relaxed jaw combo when grabbing those vowels. All in time, however, and I sense that Jason will wisely protect his voice. It is indeed a precious commodity.

I might add that I really loved his performance of Leonard Cohen`s “Hallelujah”- it was heartfelt and full of the angst that is at the core of this song`s story. Beautiful performance, Jason!

This was a great way to begin a very busy week here at MasterclassLady.Com and I do apologize for the delay in writing this article. Sometimes, 24 hours a day and seven days a week does not afford one time to do everything one wants to do.

And, I have received a “heads up” that Michael Castro, brother of Top 4 Season 7 finalist Jason Castro, will be making a long-anticipated appearance on this leg of the tour. And, to make things even more interesting, Jason decides to support his bro’ and come along for the ride. More on this later.

As in yesterday’s Arizona auditions, this article will be written in real time and published immediately after the end of the 2-hour show. Therefore, unlike the full-length Vocal Masterclass articles for the Top 12, my first impressions from the Kansas City Auditions will be abbreviated. I will leave it up to you to fill in the blanks and add your comments.

The show opens with an appearance by Jason Castro. Wheee! It is good to see him again and, for a minute, I am transported to the magic that was American Idol Season 7.

Chelsea is our first delusional singer of the day. God Bless her sweet heart. Her problem is that she is a complete nervous wreck and, if there is a voice in that sweet young body, it has yet to be unleashed. She needs to find a way to manage her nerves or else the party is indeed over.

Ashley Anderson is a 20-year-old singer with a lovely mellow voice and she is not afraid to sing with a variety of nuances. I’m not sure how far she will go in this competition, but it was definitely a very good audition for the television judges. She performed “Footsteps In The Sand” expressively well and left a strong impression on all four judges. On me? Too early to tell.

Casey Carlson is an extremely attractive 20-year-old singer who has a very sweet voice and demeanor. And, as Kara DioGuardi says, “I see a package here” and just like that she is off to Hollywood. She didn’t exactly nail her song – a few nerves got in the way of a steady pitch-centered performance – but she did “keep it together” for the audition. I concur with Kara – she shows great, great promise.

Brian is a classical singer who tries to sing Aretha Franklin’s “Think”. And I emphasize the word “tries”! What a mess! And now he wants to sing Josh Groban and it is truly frightening. Oh my – why don’t these singers hear and see what we hear and see.

This is followed by lots of crying and screaming and yelling by a variety of “singers”. It’s just a show people! You haven’t been sentenced to death! Lighten up!.

Von Smith is 20-year-old who sings a dramatic version of “Over The Rainbow”. To me, it is an “over the top” performance. I would love to see what this guy could do with an upbeat song. He is different, but the question is: “Is it a good kind of different?” He seems gimmicky to me. So, the judges put him through, but he better cut back on the screaming or he won’t have a voice come Hollywood week.

Michael Castro is up next, along with his superstar brother, Jason. They make a cute couple, don’t they? Then Michael sings a Gavin DeGraw number and he has quite the set of chops. He is a bit nasal, at times, but he can really, really sing. He is more rugged in appearance than gentle Jason, but that is a very good thing. It will stifle the comparisons between brothers, as both have a distinct vocal style.

Matt is 27-years-old and is following his dream to be discovered as a singer. And he sings “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. He has a decent voice, but he has mucho vocal problems. And he is off to Hollywood because of his heart and ambition, according to Simon. We shall see what happens. He is going to need to read a ton of Vocal Masterclass articles in order to get his voice on track. That’s why I get paid the big bucks! HA!

Jessica is an 18-year-old singer who absolutely nails a Janis Joplin song. A great powerful voice combined with a genuine persona! She will demonstrate great promise and resilience over the course of this season. This gal is a fighter! Plus, she is good to her grandmother and that touched a soft spot in my heart. There is nothing greater than watching a young person ineract with a senior citizen in such a loving and caring manner.

Asia and India are sisters and they couldn’t look and sound more dissimilar. But they are a hoot to watch. Asia can’t sing at all and India can sing. So, it’s no surprise when little India moves forward to Hollywood. But, Asia is a really supportive sister -what a sweetheart. You can’t buy love people and this segement is evidence of that.

Jamar- screams his way to Hollywood singing “California Dreamin” . What more can I say? It was a screamfest, but the judges loved it. Whatevuh!

Danny is a 22-year-old music teacher who just lost his wife after a lengthy illness. He performs a very good version of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Full of rhythmic soul and a voice that truly impresses. The best heard by the judges to date! Now those are great credentials to carry with him as he makes his way to Hollywood.

Anoop is a 21-year-old vocal major who performs a great “Boys To Men” number. Another soulful performance, but he needs to expand his performing skills. But, all that in time,right?

At this point in the show, I have just about had it! Two hours is way too long and it’s all getting old very quickly. And, truth be told, I haven’t found one singer that I have fallen head over heels in love with! Although I have heard Michael Castro’s songs over on hi MySpace site and he is very good. Those Castro boys are extremely talented indeed.

Andrew brings his own cheerleaders and they are as annoying as whatever! He belts out “My Girl” by The Temptations while the ladies in red provide background distraction. He is a great singer, but why he felt the need to bring these babes is beyond me. The judges found him too theatrical. I didn’t, but it was a huge mistake to bring the gals, dude. I cannot stand gimmick auditions.

Asa is a 28-year-old band director who sings a very good version of Michael Jackson’s “The Way you Make Me Feel”. He has a great tone to his voice – very passionate and full of natural head tone which I love!

Oy vey, when will this show end so I can watch my Frasier and Seinfeld re-runs? Is it just me or is this evening’s episode a boring mess. I want out of Kansas City. Maybe if I click my heels I will be transported to the land of Oz.

Michael is determined to prove that he can sing and can become a star. He is related to Hank Williams Jr.. Well, that’s impressive. However, his singing is not and, to add fuel to the fire, he sings an original composition. Oh dear, this is not good and it really tugs at my heatrtstrings. Hopefully, he can find his true path in life! Chin up, buddy

Dennis sings “With You” by Chris Brown and I love him. Simon does not? Hmmm. It looks like he could be a tad annoying, but I think the kid can perform. Who knows how far he will go? It’s a crap shoot at this point, but he is off to Hollywood.

The show ended with a strong performance by Lil Rounds. And, the judges are in love with her. She has a superb voice and a neat throwback sound in her singing style. I don’t see a whole lot of star power yet, but, the fashion police will take care of that if she finds a spot in the Top 12.

So that is it for Kansas City. I loved all the clips of David Cook and it was great to see his parents. Such wonderful memories from such a wonderful season.

Now, to you the readers, this is your forum as well. What say you? The Masterclass doors are now open.

Now that the Christmas and Holiday season is in full swing, I thought I would add a special sticky post, so that everyone can share the joy of the season and everything it has to offer.

You are welcome to add links to your favorite performances, favorite songs, favorite food (yum) and so much more, so please stop by and share your memories with us at MasterclassLady.Com.

Below you will see some articles I have written, highlighting some exceptional seasonal performances by some of my favorite singers. I hope you enjoy these performances as much as I do and I will add many more as the holiday season intensifies – ooo, I love that word!

This Holiday Blog is now open for comments

Brimming with soulful flavor and the ringing clarity of his beautifully centered head voice, this is an impressive interpretation of the Christmas classic.

I have always loved this song – it was written by Irving Berlin and became phenomenally popular, especially for the Armed Forces who were involved with World War 2.

The lyrics evoke comforting images of home and grabbed the listeners far and abroad.

It was an enormous success, becoming the only single in history with three separate runs at the top of the U.S. charts.  Also, until the death of Princess Diana, it was the best-selling single in musical history; however, upon her death, Elton John’s musical homage to Diana via “Candle In the Wind”, surpassed “White Christmas” in sales.

Jason adds a new and refreshing twist to this beautiful song and demonstrates enormous sensitivity through his expressive voice.  It is so gratifying to hear Jason perform songs that speak to who he is as an artist. His relaxed, effortless vocal style is just perfect for this song and the words come alive in a very special way through his poignant interpretative skills.

And, for added effect, he brings his ukelele along for the sleigh ride and, by doing so, showcases yet another distinct dimension to this song.

You can download the song here on Amazon.Com – it’s a free gift from Jason to you. Make sure you play it around the fireplace, as you bask in the magical glow of the Christmas season with family and friends.

Special thanks to ReReader for sending me this song.  As it is only available to USA residents,  I  was unable to download the song off the Amazon.Com site.

So, I thought I would offer a December “to do” list for MasterclassLady.Com and, as each project is completed, I would “cross it off” my list and provide a link to the blog topic.

Also, please feel free to add your requests in the comments section – in case I missed anything.

So, here we go – Masterclass Lady’s December “To Do” List:

• BREAKING NEWS: Live Chat With Dean Kaelin and Masterclass Lady At Counting David’s Character On Wednesday, December 10th: Click here to read the transcript
• Review David Archuleta’s CD All Done. Click here.
• Clean My House All Done! Woo! Out To Purchase or Download Cookie’s CD after Church Services
• Snuck in a review of David Archuleta’s “O Holy Night” Performance Click here
• Review David Cook’s CD
• Decorate My Christmas Tree Done ahead of schedule because I missed my beautiful white and gold tree
• Review Jason’s Castro’s New Music
• Review David Archuleta’s AOL Performances
• Babysit My Almost 3-year-old Granddaughter For A Week
• Recover From Babysitting My Granddaughter for A Week. haha
• Bake, bake and bake some more
• Review David Archuleta’s Jingle Ball Performances
• Wrap My presents
• Review the Canadian Tenors’ New CD
• Plan Music Liturgy For Advent And Christmas Church Services All done!
• Review Jaydee Bixby’s New CD
• Anything Else?

This is a great song – really catchy and extremely radio-friendly. And Jason’s voice sounds wonderfully expressive and artistically distinct. When given the opportunity to perform songs that address his folksy, bluesy style, Jason’s voice sounds absolutely stellar and his performance level increases immensely.

Although the video is very blurry, the audio is excellent and Jason looks and sounds confident and relaxed.

I just loved this number so much and I know you will as well. It is a strong indication of where Jason is headed in his performing career. His ability to capture a cohesive blend of melody and lyrics is quite remarkable.

Excellent work, Jason! Keep adding your songs to YouTube. We want more! Also, special thanks to ReReader for making me aware of this video.

American Idol News

DRESS UP DAVID FOR HALLOWEEN……POLL RESULTS: HAIR POLL AND “TOUCH
3 hours ago by Jenny
and posted them here, I am beginning to fear the day when David Archuleta (the debut CD) hits the internet. Believe me, FOD staffers are makings plans already, and hoping that the whole thing doesn’t crash (but that would be kind of …
Fans of David Archuleta – http://fansofdavid.com – References

David Cook puts the finishing touches on his upcoming album
Entertainment Weekly – 19 hours ago
David Cook has been pretty quiet since the American Idol tour wrapped Sept. 13, but with his debut due on Nov. 18, the season 7 champ is preparing for …read more

Decoding ‘American Idol’ Winner David Cook’s Song Titles
MTV.com – 18 hours ago
We’re not going to pretend we know what goes on in “American Idol” season-seven winner David Cook’s swirly little head. But a peep at some of the song …read more

Jason Castro: The ‘American Idol’ torch is passed!
Los Angeles Times, CA – Oct 13, 2008
Matea Gold, Maria Elena Fernandez, Lynn Smith, Greg Braxton, Kate Aurthur and Martin Miller are Los Angeles Times staff writers who track news…

Broadway News

Chicago’s ‘Forbidden Broadway’ is fresh and funnier than ever
Chicago Tribune, United States – 2 hours ago
In one of the many inspired pieces of goofery in Chicago’s hilarious new version of “Forbidden Broadway,” the pianist takes up “Part of Your World” from …

The Footlights: Broadway business slips, movie adaptations to the …
Entertainment Weekly – 9 minutes ago
Or at least that’s what seems to be happening, but how does that affect Broadway? Quite directly, it would seem. As of now, Xanadu and [title of show] have …

Canadian Idol News

Canadian Idol’s Jaydee Bixby is coming to the Algonquin Theatre …
Huntsville Forester, Canada – Oct 15, 2008
Canadian Idol fans will have no trouble remembering Jaydee Bixby. He’s the teenager with the heart-throb looks (a young Leonardo diCaprio comes to mind), …

Jaydee Bixby in Moncton Nov. 28
Times and Transcript, Canada – 4 hours ago
Canadian Idol 2007 runner-up and Alberta singing star Jaydee Bixby will be in Moncton Nov. 28 to perform hits from his debut album “Cowboys and Cadillacs. …

General Entertainment News

Alicia Keys In The Lead For American Music Award Nominees
TopNews, India – 5 hours ago
Jimmy Kimmel host of the American Music Awards was joined by Jesse McCartney and Julianne Hough for a press conference held at the Beverly Hills Hotel for …

MCL NOTE: My personal pet peeve. Banish earplugs!
Can listening to personal music players damage hearing?
Categorynet.com (Communiqués de presse), France – 17 hours ago
In the EU, some 50 to 100 million people listen to personal music players on a daily basis. While most users choose volume settings which are unlikely to …

Macy’s heir’s estate sues Jay Leno over car
The Canadian Press, NEW YORK – 9 hours ago
NEW YORK — The estate of a Macy’s heir has sued Jay Leno and others, saying the “Tonight Show” host was illegally sold a valuable automobile at a sham …

Leno: Everyone should have a voice, celebrity or not
Jackson County Chronicle, WI – 17 hours ago
The wife of “The Tonight Show” host, Jay Leno, said she was compelled to fight for the rights of Afghan women starting in the 1990s because she thought …

Television News

Biden coming to town for Leno, DeGeneres taping
Contra Costa Times, CA – 11 hours ago
He will tape an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” that will air Thursday night, opposite an appearance by Republican presidential …

Politics

After debate, mixed reaction to McCain and a tilt toward Obama’s …
Christian Science Monitor, MA – 1 hour ago
John McCain and Barack Obama. Senator McCain brought a pugilistic attitude to the night and took nearly every opportunity to hit at Senator Obama. …
Obama, McCain debate campaign smears CTV.ca
McCain, Obama duel in caustic debate finale Los Angeles Times

Wall Street expects an Obama victory
Daily Nation, Kenya – 6 hours ago
By MACHARIA GAITHO in New York (email the author) Top players in the US financial industry are convinced Senator Barack Obama will beat Senator John McCain …

I welcome your news items in the comments section below this article.

American Idol News

David Will Sing “God Bless America” in Tomorrow’s Devil Rays Vs …
2 hours ago by Jenny
Local saxophonist BK Jackson will perform the national anthem before the first pitch, and American Idol star David Archuleta will sing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch. Ceremonial first pitch lineups for the weekend …
Fans of David Archuleta – http://fansofdavid.com

Margret Cassidy Robinson, Eva Cassidy’s Sister, In an Exclusive
4 hours ago by Jenny
In anticipation of Margret’s interview, FOD’er KT emailed me a beautiful, poignant story about seeing Eva Cassidy perform live and then experiencing the power of David Archuleta. The Call that Did not Happen …
Fans of David Archuleta – http://fansofdavid.com

Cook-ing up tunes
The Sun Daily, Malaysia – 10 hours ago
AMERICAN Idol winner David Cook, 25, who hails from Blue Springs, Missouri, will release his debut album on Nov 18, 2008. The first single, Light On, …read more

Jason Castro — Brother Michael Castro Auditions in Kansas City
51 minutes ago by Rickey
Jason Castro made an appearance at the Kansas City, where his brother Michael Castro auditioned for American Idol. Did Michael make it to the Hollywood Round? Video from MJ’s Big Blog.
rickey.org — American Idol 24/7 – http://www.rickey.org

Broadway News

Oliver Platt will star in ‘Guys and Dolls’ revival
The Associated Press – 10 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway has found its Nathan Detroit for the upcoming revival of “Guys and Dolls” — Oliver Platt. Platt will portray the unapologetic …read more

Canadian Idol News

General Entertainment News

YouTube introduces music downloads
NME.com, UK – 3 hours ago
Video sharing website YouTube bosses have introduced a new feature that allows users to download music via the site. Through the new program users are able …read more

EMI Plans to Launch Online Music Service
Wall Street Journal – 10 hours ago
By ETHAN SMITH Music company EMI Group Ltd. is planning to launch an online music service later this year, wading into an increasingly crowded field of …read more

Television News

Late Night Political Humor
7 hours ago by Iron Knee
-Jay Leno. “This was what they call the town hall format, and that means that the candidates get to walk around on stage, and it was pretty successful, John McCain only wandered off twice.” -David Letterman. “It’sa town hall format, …
Political Irony – http://politicalirony.com

Politics

Palin May Face TV Lookalike Fey
Sky News, UK – 2 hours ago
Sarah Palin may come face to face with her chief impersonator, Tina Fey, in an appearance on TV comedy show Saturday Night Live. …
Will Palin play Fey playing Palin on SNL? Globe and Mail

Obama leads in spending, polls
USA Today – 47 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama is far outspending Republican John McCain in TV advertising, allowing him to better target the swing voters who will …read more

Polls say Obama won debate
Baltimore Sun, United States – 2 hours ago
According to two polls, Barack Obama beat John McCain in Tuesday night’s debate. CNN’s national poll of debate watchers found that 54 percent said Obama did …read more

I welcome your news items in the comments section below this article.

American Idol News

Jason Castro latest video blog
By talk(talk)
Jason Castro updates us with this video blog he did in Dallas. Go Jason!

David Cook’s ‘Light On’: Resistance is futile!
By Michael Slezak
It’s no secret that I thought America Idol voters did the right thing by handing the season 7 crown to David Cook last May. After all, I reasoned at the time, the show needed a champ who’d be ready from…Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch – http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/

Fans react as Clay Aiken reveals that he’s gay
MLive.com – MI,USA
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY AP NEW YORK (AP) — The revelation that Clay Aiken is gay hasn’t fazed Simon Cowell. The “American Idol” judge reacted in typically …read more

Broadway News

Canadian Idol News

Canadian Idol finalist to perform at fundraiser
Owen Sound Sun Times – Owen Sound,Ontario,Canada
An upcoming Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser will feature an appearance by Canadian Idol finalist Drew Wright. Pink Pearls and Parfaits, billed as “an …read more

General Entertainment News

MySpace Music Could Shake up Digital Music
PC World – USA
MySpace Music represents a promising next step in the tumultuous integration of the Web into the music business, but its success hinges on a number of …read more

Carnegie opens season with tribute to Bernstein
The Associated Press
With his music, he still seems to reach out and embrace us.” From the Carnegie podium, Thomas couldn’t resist borrowing a page from Bernstein’s iconic Young …read more

Steve: Thu September 25 ’08 – But Come Ye Back
My good friend Patricia O’Callaghan, as well as Mike Ross and Dennis Lee, The Apostle of Hustle, the legendary Don Francks, Sarah Slean and Melanie Doane will all put on fantastic sets. Hope to see you there. …BNL Blog – http://www.bnlblog.com

Jennifer Hudson Sheds ‘Effie’ For Aretha, Thanks Whitney Houston
Singersroom News – New York,NY,USA
If you were wondering if Jennifer Hudson’s debut would sound like an extension of ‘Effie White (Dreamgirls)’ you’ll be in for a surprise according to the …read more

MySpace Music relaunches, tries to turn up revenue volume
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
When it came to music, “you guys are basically in our rear-view mirror; we’re going in different directions,” DeWolfe recalled Iovine saying…read more

‘America’s Got Talent’ Announces Live Show in Las Vegas
Entertainment Tonight News – USA
NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent” is bringing the competition to a live stage, and viewers can buy tickets to see all the action! For one night only, …read more

Cowell Confirms Spears Show
WHAM – Rochester,NY,USA
Simon Cowell has confirmed Britney Spears will appear on his British talent show The X-Factor, admitting she’s the “number one booking in the world”…read more

Television News

MCL NOTE: Neal should win! He is absolutely an amazing classical vocalist.
Piers Morgan: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Isn’t Fixed
BuddyTV – Seattle,WA,USA
The latest rumor floating around is that opera singer Neal E. Boyd has been picked to win season 3 of America’s Got Talent since entering the competition…read more

Ricky Gervais To Host The Oscars?
Access Hollywood – USA
But Ricky could face strong competition for the show job as the Academy Awards heads to ABC — the same network “The Tonight Show’s” Jay Leno is rumored to …read more

Google lands deal to sell ads on Bloomberg TV
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
On the heels of last month’s deal to sell advertising on some of NBC Universal’s cable networks, Google has hooked up with Bloomberg Television to sell some …read more

‘America’s Got Talent’ recap: Who’s going to win it all?
Entertainment Weekly – USA
So, your season-long America’s Got Talent recapper Jaya Saxena has left us — left the country, in fact. I don’t think it’s because of this show — or the …read more

Late Night Political Humor
By iron
Due to a phone book misprint, callers to the New Jersey Democratic party actually got connected to a sex phone line. Ironically, on the sex phone line, you could still talk to former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey.” -Jay Leno …Political Irony – http://politicalirony.com

Letterman Mocks McCain for Bailing on Late Show Appearance
About – News & Issues – New York,NY,USA
Letterman had unusually harsh words for John McCain after he canceled his appearance on the “Late Show” Wednesday night. McCain told Letterman he had to …read more

David Letterman’s Thoughts on McCain’s TV Cancellation
By TheInsider(The Insider)
Letterman’s “Top 10″ centered on what questions people would ask the McCain presidential campaign, and the talk-show host even talked about the cancellation with guest Keith Olbermann. As always, Letterman managed to weave in jokes …The Insider Featured News – http://www.theinsider.com

Politics

Barack Obama Declines To Follow John McCain’s Lead In Suspending …
MTV.com – USA
… focus on the economic-bailout package being hammered out in Washington, his rival, Democratic Senator Barack Obama, said he would not be following suit…read more

Obama Says Now is the Time for a Debate
ABC News – USA
Barack Obama, D-Ill., will not match Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in suspending his campaign to work on the economic crisis in Washington DC, and made clear …read more

McCain campaign gives thumbs-down to Tina Fey’s dead-on …
The TV Guy – Orlando,FL,USA
Witness the routines of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and “Saturday Night Live…read more

Bush summons Obama, McCain for crisis economy talks
AFP
… US President George W. Bush called unprecedented emergency talks for Thursday with the two men vying to succeed him, John McCain and Barack Obama…read more

Special thanks to Wadahoot for this wonderful idea. I welcome your news items in the comments section below this article.

American Idol News

A superfan meets her ‘Idols ‘
Tulsa World – Tulsa,OK,USA
But even sweet-natured teen David Archuleta gets teased. Archuleta was holding a yellow rose that his publicist passed along “Is that for me? …read more

Ford Day Stories, Pictures, and Videos; Fan Stories Pictures from …
By Jenny
About eight of us came to her rescue and all at once shouted to him, “this is David Archuleta’s mom.” The look on his face was priceless. He said “oh sorry mom,” Lupe just smiled at him, she is stunningly beautiful in person. …Fans of David Archuleta – http://fansofdavid.com

‘Idol’ star Daughtry headed to ‘CSI: NY’
United Press International – USA
20 (UPI) — “American Idol” star Chris Daughtry will soon be back on US TV screens in a guest appearance on “CSI: NY,” People magazine says…read more

David Archuleta Releases New Music Video For Song “Crush”
AHN – USA
Los Angeles, CA (CNS) – Last year’s “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta has just released his first music video for his song “Crush…read more

David Archuleta Unveils His New Music Video
People Magazine – USA
By Marisa Laudadio In the clip for his upbeat ballad “Crush,” Archuleta plays piano on a dock and strums a guitar as a group of fresh-faced teens frolic in …read more

Broadway News

Dolly Parton Warbles, Wins Starry Crowd at `9 to 5′ Premiere
Bloomberg – USA
22 (Bloomberg) — The thrilling Los Angeles premiere of “9 to 5: The Musical” will be hard to duplicate on Broadway, for reasons having nothing to do with …read more

Tix for Broadway’s White Christmas On Sale by Phone and Internet …
Playbill.com – New York,NY,USA
By Kenneth Jones Tickets for the Broadway premiere of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, playing the Marquis Theatre Nov. 14-Jan…read more

No Day But Today
Seattle Post Intelligencer – USA
RENT was filmed live during its final incarnation on a Broadway stage and is going to be a special movie event, coming to a theater near you…read more

Canadian Idol News

General Entertainment News

Jennifer Hudson: The ‘Dreamgirl’s’ Rise To The Top Still Feels …
Blackvoices – USA
By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com Those who have followed BV Buzz since its inception know I have a long history with Jennifer Hudson…read more

Dolly Parton loves her ’9 to 5′ gig
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
In light of all this, it’s almost shocking that Parton’s only now coming to Broadway, decades after conquering both Hollywood and the crossover pop charts…read more

Television News

Cable Makes a Statement as Television Hands Out Its Emmy Awards
New York Times – United States
By EDWARD WYATT LOS ANGELES — The theme of the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday was a celebration of the Golden Age of television…read more

Late Night Political Humor
By iron –Jay Leno. “Due to the current crisis on Wall Street, President Bush announced just a few hours ago that he’s canceled a trip to Alabama. That’s true. Yeah, Bush said, ‘Under the circumstances, I didn’t think it was right to leave the …Political Irony – http://politicalirony.com

Late-night comics on Wall Street
Kansas.com – KS,USA
Jay Leno “I don’t think President Bush gets it. He doesn’t really understand these economic issues. Like today, he was asked if customers should be …read more

Politics

MCL NOTE: THIS BLOG SITE IS HYSTERICAL. A MUST-READ!
Late Night Political Humor
By iron -Jay Leno. “See, that’s the problem in this country. You see, Washington is out of touch with the common people. They have no idea what regular people are doing or thinking on a regular basis. You know, just this morning, I was telling …Political Irony – http://politicalirony.com

Kanye West and Other Stars Sing for Barack Obama
By TheInsider(The Insider)
Kanye West and Sheryl Crow are among the big names heard singing on a new CD that will raise money for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. They’re joined by Stevie Wonder, John Legend and other stars on “Yes We Can: Voices of a …
The Insider Featured News – http://www.theinsider.com

Crisis? What crisis?
Toronto Star – Ontario, Canada
Shares of Royal Bank of Canada shot up $3.44 (Canadian) to $51.43, while stock in insurance giant Manulife Financial Corp. jumped $1.53 to $36.87…read more

Obama Says If He Wins Florida, He Wins the White House
CBS News – New York,NY,USA
(MIAMI) – Barack Obama will be campaigning in Florida for the second day in a row today, making up for lost time during the Democratic primary, …read more

Special thanks to Wadahoot for this wonderful idea. I welcome your news items in the comments section below this article.