Well, it’s about time we heard from Anoop Desai, and now we have, as a matter of fact, as Anoop performed in his hometown of Chapel Hill, N.C. for his homeboys and homegirls.
The nice thing, about his new song, “L.U.V.R.,” is that it’s produced by someone other than an Idol clone who seemingly would put out the same stuff already heard from Adam, Kris, and Allison.
This song, however, is actually better than the stuff I’ve heard from the Top 3. Is that possible? Yeah, if a singer has a competent staff with which to work with.
While it’s too early to speculate if Anoop Dogg is going with this approach, it is great to hear that he hasn’t given up his roots of R & B enitrely, although I’d put money on Idol trying to make his music more poppy in the long run.
Nevertheless, listen with glee to this offering below:
It’s catchy, but if it gets on his first album it could seriously have some staying power on the radio.
American Idols Live! visited the Boardwalk of Atlantic City this weekend, and from the sounds of it the crowd wasn’t as crazy as other audiences.
Nonetheless, the Idols put their all into the show, especially Adam Lambert, who sang five songs and busted out “Starlight.”
Blake Lewis was in the audience as well, giving the Idols some encouragement. I mean, it wasn’t the crowd’s fault; apparently security told the crowd to sit down at some point during the show.
Also, Boardwalk Hall is usually reserved for acts like the old Miss America Pageant and other old-ass acts. WTF were the Idols doing there?
Shouldn’t they have been playing somewhere larger? Some questions should probably be asked and will be asked after that show. Dear God, what were the producers thinking sending the Idols there?
Anyway, the tour rolls on and I’m cure it will be better at the next stop.
Anoop Desai headed home to North Carolina last night, playing to a packed house in Charlotte.
He looked dapper and seemed deeply moved that he was performing back at home and that the fans were deeply into his performance.
There have been some really good shows that have come from singers going back to their hometowns; this one was also part of that elite group.
Anoop Desai - “Always On My Mind”
We also have a good video of Michael Sarver, the oil roughneck we haven’t heard from much on the tour, largely because the big three of Adam, Kris and Allison get all the kudos.
So here is Sarver singing his song in Charlotte last night.
American Idol 8’s resident R & B man, Anoop Desai, rocked the Lone Star State last night and brought the flava.
He sang a little Ne-Yo at the American Airlines Center, too. It’s here below. But first, check out the interview he did with MTV’s Jim Cantiello, a friend of our blog.
In the interview Anoop Dog tells Jim he doesn’t really know where he came up with the “Air Grind,” his own little dance move, but that it’s more “refined” than the other R & B stars you might see.
The STAPLES Center has been a busy place in the past few weeks, with the Michael Jackson Memorial and all.
So now the American Idols Live! Tour sets up shop there, and all the national media converge on L.A., presumably to get away from the scorching temps going on in whatever city they reside.
Matt Giraud hasn’t gotten as much press as the others on the tour, so I thought it would be nice if we showed his performance.
Matt Giraud - “Georgia”
Anoop Desai is another singer who hasn’t received as much pub as Kris and Adam, but his songs are great, nonetheless.
So here he is, singing Bobby Brown’s signature piece de resistance, “My Prerogative.”
Enjoy, and remember that American Idols Live! tickets are still available and you can buy them here!
The Bay Area was the next stop on the American Idols Live! tour this past weekend, with Oakland being the first stop of two.
Oakland is of course the home to MC Hammer and to Keyshia Cole, so the town knows how to get down.
And Danny Gokey certainly can get down himself, as he shows in the Michael Jackson cover of “PYT (Pretty Young Thing)”
I think this is Danny’s best song on the tour and he should try to put a version of this on his album, even though there have been reports he’s doing a country album.
Danny Gokey - “PYT (Pretty Young Thing)”
Other than Gokey’s solid performance, there were scattered reports of anti-gay protesters bum-rushing the show outside. But it turned out that there were only 3 to 5 people protesting.
The American Idols Live! Tour has some interesting news of late. Things are kinda dead in Idol land at the moment (for once!) and my apologies for not getting anything up yesterday.
My son is in the hospital with jaundice and has been under bilirubin lights for over a week.
The only real Idols making news at the moment are the Top 10 on tour.
Kris Allen has had his “No Boundaries” song bounced from his set list for the tour for the foreseeable future and it has been replaced by The Killers’ “All These Things That I’ve Done.”
The song change surprised me, but the song itself is a good one for Kris, and since he’s so versatile the change should actually help him rather than hurt him.
I know some peeps will be bummed by the change, but I really do think it’s for the best.
Kris Allen - “All These Things That I’ve Done”
Also, we have some photos from the Sacramento show above, so enjoy.
The American Idols Live! Tour 09′ continued rolling along last night, with a performance at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. Watch some videos from the concert below.
Kris Allen - “Hey Jude”
The Allen video is quite shaky, but we appreciate the video nonetheless and it beats having to pay $200 for a ticket, doesn’t it?
And then the pyrotechnics went off like crazy for Adam Lambert, who came out dressed to kill like usual amid a sea of flashing lights.
Adam Lambert - “Whole Lotta Love”
And Scott MacIntyre may be destined for singing theme songs for sitcoms, but he’ll have a great time doing it, as evidenced from his performance of “10,000 Miles”
Scott MacIntyre - “10,000 Miles”
Well, that’s it from Tacoma. Much more if you go to eum442’s YouTube channel. Many thanks to eum442 for the video!
The top 10 from American Idol season 8 kicked off the annual ritual of performing as a group around the country.
This year it was in Portland, Oregon at the Rose Garden. Some of the songs they played included:
Michael Sarver: “I’m in Love with a Girl” by Gavin Degraw, “Closer” by Neyo
Megan Joy: “Put Your Records On” by Corrine Baily Rae and “Tears Dry on Their Own” by Amy Winehouse
Scott MacIntyre: “Bend and Break” by Keane and “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
Lil Rounds: “Be Without You” by Mary J Blige, “No One” by Alicia Keys, “Single Ladies” by Beyonce
Anoop Desai:”Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson, “Mad” by Ne-Yo, “My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown
Matt Giraud: “Hard to Handle” by the Black Crowes “Georgia” “I Found You” by the Fray
Group Medley: Megan and Lil sing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” Matt and Scott on duel pianos for “Tell Her About It” by Billy Joel, Michael sings “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley, Anoop begins singing Madcon’s “Beggin”, but it’s in the style of the original 1967 4 Seasons version–Matt, Scott and Michael join in. Lil sings the Madcon rap, and Megan joins her.
Allison Iraheta: “So What” by Pink “Cry Baby” by Janis Joplin, “Barracuda” by Heart
Danny Gokey: “P.Y.T.” by Michael Jackson, “Maria Maria” by Santana, “What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts, “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts.
Adam Lambert: “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zepplin “Starlight” by Muse “Mad World” by Tears for Fears/Gary Jules “Slow Ride” by Foghat w/ Allison, Bowie Medley: “Life on Mars”, “Fame”, “Let’s Dance”
Kris Allen: “Heartless” by Kanye West, “No Boundaries”, “Bright Lights” by Matchbox 20, “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles (the Idols join Kris for the “na nas”)
“Don’t Stop Believing” The Top 10 - Encore
Also, watch an interview with Anoop and Kris prior to the concert in Portland.
The Idols got together this past week for a rehearsal and it was the first time that the public has been allowed to hear them before they embark on their Idols Live! tour in early July.
I’ve gotta say…I’m impressed with their harmonies! This is some of the best stuff we’ve had the pleasure of hearing from any of the Idols tour groups, now or ever. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey is a phenomenal song and the Idols handled it with aplomb.
Season 8 was definitely special and ground breaking and I think at a time where so much change happened in this country in such a short period of time, it was nice to have this diversion.
Couple that with the sudden news of Michael Jackson’s passing, most of which the American public is still coming to grips with, and season 9 will have to be extra special to top this group.
So get out and see these season 8 performers, because they can bring the noise!
Stumble It!
