Canadian Idol Fans Watching American Idol

[ross 1]

I guess these concert impresssions are spilling out a little late.

One thing I figured out, now, is that if Allsion had stood still, more, I would have paid attention to her more. Because she stood in one place to sing So What, and I really enjoyed it (also, her voice was better when she didn't move as much). But once she started running from one end of the stage to the other, and bopping around, I lost focus. I think less would be more, with her.

I have to say, I was impressed by them all, which is something I wasn't expecting. I think the least by Lil, unfortunately. She actually sings better than some of them, though she probably could work on it. Her tone isn't beautiful. But anyway, she can't seem to put her personality across. I wonder what would happen if she sat on a stool and sang a soft ballad? Or sang with Matt and interacted with him at the piano? She's so cute, I can see her being a very likeable entertainer. If she could put that side of herself out there. I don't think she's ready to relax that much, yet.

This is the downside of AI, in a way. Giving people a big showcase who aren't ready for it. Then it's too bad when, later on, they get better, but nobody's looking any more. Or some of them who have potential give up too soon.

Compare it to athletes. There are some naturals, but most people need years of work to get to a level where they're at ease and natural doing difficult things. A few of the Top 10 singers just need time and experience. Look at Chad Doucette as an example of someone who -- to me, anyhow -- has grown a lot in a short time.

 

[SleepinIn]

One thing I figured out, now, is that if Allsion had stood still, more, I would have paid attention to her more. Because she stood in one place to sing So What, and I really enjoyed it (also, her voice was better when she didn't move as much).

I guess that's why so many performers these days don't sing live. It's hard to keep the voice up when you are moving so much.

RE: Lil - I don't think she's ready to relax that much, yet.

That's a very perceptive point - I think you're right. She doesn't let herself get immersed in the music it's still outside of her.

A few of the Top 10 singers just need time and experience. Look at Chad Doucette as an example of someone who -- to me, anyhow -- has grown a lot in a short time.

Yep, Chad was someone who I wasn't that interested in on the show although I really liked one of his songs (The Other Man) but since then he's really shown that he can be great. I'm addicted to his youtube stuff.

 

[SleepinIn]

Kris talking to WXPI in Pittsburgh

Video

Single to be released soon.

From TWOP there are also twitter rumblings of Kris being pitched a song from Nat Jay and Stephen Bishop (who haven't written it yet BTW).

 

[ross 1]

Kris talking to WXPI in Pittsburgh.

Oh, my gosh, he said "Don't hate me," again! Don't hate him, world.

Memo to Kris: See if you can do one interview and not mention Adam.

Best part: He says he's going to have a single coming out soon, and she completely ignores it! Great interviewing skills!! Um, let me help you, lady: "How soon is it coming out, can you give us a date?"

Who are Nat Jay and Stephen Bishop? How can they pitch a song that doesn't exist?

Do you remember around the time of the finale, the guy from Better Than Ezra saying he wanted to write with Kris? Wonder if he ever got in touch with Kris?

 

[missaddicted]

Do you remember around the time of the finale, the guy from Better Than Ezra saying he wanted to write with Kris? Wonder if he ever got in touch with Kris?

Kevin Griffin? Yeah, that sounds familiar. I hope he did. It wouldn't be his first time working with an Idol either, him and Cook wrote the song "Avalanche" for Cook's record. Actually, I think Griffin already had a version of that song, but Cook also has a writting credit on it, so they must've made some changes.

And LOL about the interviewer, a follow-up question on the single question would've been appreciated!

The Cook fandom is excited. He just joined twitter, after saying repeatedly that he didn't want to, but he still caved. His bandmate Andy also joined and they've already posted good stuff, random pictures and videos. Also, the band name will supposedly be announced next week. Can't wait for that one! I hope it'll really happen!

 

[ross 1]

So have you also decided to join the twitterverse, missaddicted? I think twitter is pretty entertaining.

David Cook is going to announce his band name? I wonder how it works, do they all go under contract to 19, or just him? Is this the first time an American idol winner has decided not to perform under his own name, but under a band name, instead? (Unless it's The David Cook Band, of course.) I think of him as a solo artist; it's weird to think of him as a frontman of a band.

SleepinIn, if you think the online Rolling Stone stuff favored Adam, you should see the current issue (or have you?). There is a huge picture of Adam that takes up most of a page, and then the photo essay is almost all Adam. The article hardly mentions Kris, except in passing. They call him "clean cut," I think.

Yeah, RS does have a jones for Adam. It would make more sense if he had a best selling album, or was in a hit movie, or something. But being the runner up on AI and being a hit on the AI tour usually doesn't get anyone such massive coverage. It's less like they're covering Adam because he's popular, more like they're working hard on making him popular.

Jann Wenner, the publisher of RS, is gay. He left his wife and kids for a young guy @ ten or more years ago, or so I remember. Maybe he has his own pro-gay agenda and Adam fits into it. Or maybe he's just a fan. But I suspect that there's some kind of corporate back-scratching going on between RCA or 19 and RS. After all, Kris is popular enough to have won AI, he beat Adam, so it would make sense that more readers would be interested in Kris. Yet RS mostly ignores him, almost deliberately. Fishy.

How much the RS cover and all their other coverage has benefitted Adam is hard to calculate. At the time of the AI finale, or right after, it did not seem like Adam was getting deafening cheers and screaming compared to Kris. Adam wasn't unable to go out without hysterical fans preying on him. People weren't chanting for Adam when the two of them had a press conference prior to the finale.

So I actually think the RS cover and then all the coverage by the TV entertainment shows is a lot of what helped create the Adam frenzy. In the US, at least, getting good press coverage is usually all it takes.

I think Wenner also owns US magazine. Wonder if US has been featuring Adam a lot, too?

 

[missaddicted]

So have you also decided to join the twitterverse, missaddicted? I think twitter is pretty entertaining.

No, I still have no plan to join, I don't really have any use for it. I can read the tweets/look at the pictures/watch the videos without joining.

David Cook is going to announce his band name? I wonder how it works, do they all go under contract to 19, or just him? Is this the first time an American idol winner has decided not to perform under his own name, but under a band name, instead? (Unless it's The David Cook Band, of course.) I think of him as a solo artist; it's weird to think of him as a frontman of a band.

I have no clue how it'll work. How did it work for Daughtry? He's probably in the most similar situation compared to David, even if he didn't win. I mean, his band didn't participate in the recording of his first record, they just joined for his first tour, but they've definitely been a part of the second record. And all five of them have their pictures on the CD cover now! I guess it could be the same for David. When asked recently if he would like for his band to be included in the recording of the second CD, David said that he would do eveything to make that happen. They've already been writing on the road and they even soundchecked a new song recently. His band members (they've yet to replace Joey, the bassist who left, but it should happen soon enough) are all songwriters and two of them have been his friends for several years. I don't see why he wouldn't want to have them included in his success!

I don't think it's going to be "The David Cook band" though, more probably "David Cook and ...", just to keep his name well in evidence. Like Daughtry once again.

And for me, I haven't even seen them live yet, but I've grown really attached to the band members as well. I love the things that they were doing before joining David: Neal and Andy's band MWK (I love their music!), which David joined for a while in 2006, Andy's solo project To Have Heroes, etc. I can't see David as a solo artist anymore, I definitely see him as a frontman now, after seeing his interactions with the band. And I could even see him share the frontman position with Andy, who has an awesome voice himself, and I would still be really happy.

Anyway, this is getting pretty long! But I feel pretty passionate right now about "The David Cook Band", which is why I was kind of sad when the bassist left (but he's been a bit of an ass since he left, posting weird comments on Facebook). I guess the chemistry wasn't there since they didn't know Joey prior to Idol (though they didn't know the drummer Kyle either, and the chemistry definitely seems to be there with him!). I hope they find someone great to replace him and make the new guy a more permanent addition to the band.

I also wondered if Andy and Neal would want to stay with David or if they would want to pursue their own thing. I guess naming the band in my mind makes it more concrete that this band could also be "their own thing" and would just confirm their involvement. I prefer this stability for David, so that he doesn't have to always change band members. He's got great chemistry and history with the ones that are already there, so it would just make sense for me if they were a band and not just "playing for American Idol David Cook".

 

[ross 1]

Why am I still awake?

Good points about David and the band. You're right I imagine the Daughtry situation must be similar, re 19.

I need to go to bed but I'll be dreaming of David Cook...

Hm. Maybe not.

 

[missaddicted]

Why am I still awake?

I'm asking myself the same question... I wasn't planning on writing an essay on "The David Cook Band" tonight, thanks ross

I need to go to bed but I'll be dreaming of David Cook...

Hm. Maybe not.

Well, I hope not, it could be awkward.

Good night!

 

[ross 1]

missaddicted, when I said "Why am I still awake?" of course you know I was talking abou how late it was. Not your 'essay"! Your essay on On The David Cook Band, I mean (I really like that name, actually).

I liked reading about that. I actually know very little about David Cook, since I didn't watch the show last year. Except a couple of nights. I was so blown away by the sets and lights, on AI, compared to little old CI, that I couldn't really give all my attention to David. And, besides, Jason Castro was so dreamy. (joke)

Don't hate me. (Kris and I don't want to be hated.)

But, yeah, defintiely fill me in on D. Cook and all his activities. It gives a lot of perspective to what we talk about in the current (past, I mean) season. Seeing where Cook is along his road a year later is very interesting, and any personal observations you care to share are, of course, always great.

Wow, I have just returned from an early morning Sunday trip to the alternate universe of mj's blog!!! Some nonsense, in the headlines thread, that goes on for pages, about Adam and Drake tweeting, or something. Who the hell cares??! The minutiae!!! Or however that's spelled.

Hey, could it have been only yesterday, or was it Friday, that the smelly-fan debate happened? Now it's the Drake tweet controversy?

I had a friend in high school who had a controversy practically every day. Why, I don't know. He shared that trait with Adam, though. Well, that, and he also wore makeup. And sang. (In a band.) He got attention, of course, but, like with Adam, you always come back to the question of: is he being dramatic, colorful and controversial to get attention? Or is he just getting attention because he happens to be dramatic/colorful/controversial?

Anyhow I'm going off on a tangent, because what I wanted to mention was the posts I always read over there pn mj's saying Kris has had a comfortable life and/or no life experiences, or isn't very deep, or isn't interesting, whatever. Usually, in comparison with Adam, of course. Now that I see where I was going with this, it actually seems pointless! We all know Kris has had some amazing life experiences, and has grown a lot from them, and is a lot deeper than many other guys his age.
It would be nice if he told stories like, "There was this one time in Thailand..." I guess, but I find it cool that he doesn't exploit his personal experiences, much, for public consumption. They're his, he knows what they are.

Kris being a guy who flies under the radar, by his own admission, must drive his publicists nuts, though. "Can we tell the story about when this happened?" "Um, no, I'd rather not." "How about when you..." "Nope."

 

[SleepinIn]

Best part: He says he's going to have a single coming out soon, and she completely ignores it! Great interviewing skills!! Um, let me help you, lady: "How soon is it coming out, can you give us a date?"

Seriously. Kris couldn't have let that little nugget slip with Michael Sleazak? He would have been all over that.

Who are Nat Jay and Stephen Bishop? How can they pitch a song that doesn't exist?

Apparantly Nat Jay is a Vancouver artist Nat Jay on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads - I've never heard of her before but just from looking at her myspace - since she's doing the war child busking tour - she may have some things in common with Kris. The Busking for Change for War Child is something that Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace is very invovled in.

YouTube - Raine Maida busks in Toronto for War Child Canada
Kalan Also did it..
YouTube - Kalan Porter - Devil Went Down to Georgia - Nov 24, 2008
so did Brian
YouTube - Brian Melo - Emily

Stephen Bishop is an songwriter signed to Universal - rumoured to be this guy.. allmusic ((( Stephen Bishop > Songs > Songs Composed By ))) no idea if he actually is this guy.

and pitching a song - I guess they are going to write the song together geared towards Kris`s style. Then pitch it to his peeps.

SleepinIn, if you think the online Rolling Stone stuff favored Adam, you should see the current issue (or have you?). There is a huge picture of Adam that takes up most of a page, and then the photo essay is almost all Adam. The article hardly mentions Kris, except in passing. They call him "clean cut," I think.

Ha yeah, I saw the scans for that somewhere. They seriously love them some Adam.

more like they're working hard on making him popular.

I do get this feeling too. But that`s okay, since that`s actually what they do to every artist that they like. Adam sold them a ton of magazines so they are going to like him. Adam has that quality about him though too - he`s a charming guy, and yes, there aren`t a lot of current American pop artists in the states that are out and sell a lot of records. I`m having a hard time thinking of any to tell you the truth - whereas there are quite a few Canadian artists that I know about. So there is a vacumn there that Adam could fill. Adam`s always been popular but the RS cover really boosted him up a lot in profile for the non AI people and I agree contributed greatly to the current hysteria - there is also the Elvis hair - which seems to be quite popular.

After all, Kris is popular enough to have won AI, he beat Adam, so it would make sense that more readers would be interested in Kris. Yet RS mostly ignores him, almost deliberately. Fishy.

I was re-watching the last Hollywood week episode of AI where the judges make the final decisions just because I don`t know if I ever watched the whole thing and it`s funny how little screen time Kris did get. I think there were two extremely brief glances of him in the background. It`s actually sort of amazing on a show like Idol that he made it through to the top 10 at all - based solely on his music.

 

[missaddicted]

missaddicted, when I said "Why am I still awake?" of course you know I was talking abou how late it was. Not your 'essay"! :icon_smile: Your essay on On The David Cook Band, I mean (I really like that name, actually).

LOL, this is such a misunderstanding! I know you were refering to the late hour! And so was I. I was "thanking" you because you asked some questions about how it would work for David and his band, which led me to write this long post about that subject, hence delaying my own bed time!

On The David Cook Band, I mean (I really like that name, actually).

Knowing the boys (well, I don't know them, I "know" them), this is not going to be it for sure. Actually, the radio host who is supposed to have the scoop on the band name has been revealing clues since yesterday (and driving the fandom crazy), and the name has apparently something to do with "epic" or "big" and today, he tweeted that he couldn't spell if he was asked to do so. LOL! This all better not be a joke, I'm definitely ready for the band name now.

But, yeah, defintiely fill me in on D. Cook and all his activities. It gives a lot of perspective to what we talk about in the current (past, I mean) season. Seeing where Cook is along his road a year later is very interesting, and any personal observations you care to share are, of course, always great. :icon_smile:

That's good, because I can't really help myself anyway! I find it much more interesting to follow David's career now than one year ago during the Idol tour, which is probably what will happen with Kris also. And yes, I like having the perspective of having followed closely what happened with a previous AI winner when thinking about what's happening to Kris.

Adam and his controversies: I couldn't care less about them, honestly. Fandoms can create such huge stories over the tiniest things sometimes and that drives me crazy.

Thanks for the info on the two songwriters SleepinIn!

 

[ross 1]

Wow, SleepinIn, thanks for all that info. I love it when you do research that saves me from having to do research. Three cheers for SleepinIn. Yay!

I haven't read it yet. I have to go out soon. But I'm looking forward to it.

...more like they're working hard on making him popular.

I do get this feeling too. But that`s okay, since that`s actually what they do to every artist that they like. Adam sold them a ton of magazines so they are going to like him.

Yes, but why do they 'like' him? I guess I still see something calculated in their original interest in him. Before they knew if he'd sell magazines. (Those issues with Adam are still on the shelf in my record store, anyhow.)

If you go back and look at how Adam was given the choice of deciding to come out during the show, or after he was eliminated (or won), well, he decided to wait. And when he came out, it was well orchestrated, and RS was there to do their cover story. It all went off without a hitch, nothing sloppy, no missteps. It all seems carefully worked out.There were stories about Adam in RS weeks before he was on their cover, saying he had the competition sewn up already. Why?

A lot of other magazines haven't followed suit and put Adam on their covers immediately, or featured big stories about him. Which, if he's so incredibly popular with the public, would be something you think might have happened. It's like RS was given exclusive rights, or else for some reason is trying to build him up when nobody else gives a crap. Why?

If you look at the Adam-Kris in NYC story, there's no way it would have detracted from the story to have featured both of them prominently. It would actually have made it a better story. And all it would have done is reflect reality. They are both prominent, they were both featured in the Central Park concert. And like I said, plenty of people want to see Kris just as much as or more than Adam. (We do. So, are we alone? I doubt that.)

It makes no sense to give Kris less space, unless the intention is to build up Adam and to downplay Kris. That's not accidental, obviously, it's got to take effort to downplay the winner. You don't downplay the person who got the most votes for no reason, nor do you build up the runner up over the winner for no reason. I'm surprised more people don't find this suspicious.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist and have no idea what the reasons are. I just am not buying it.

Digession: A guy on my college paper became an editor at RS. He was also my editor on the college paper. (I did film reviews). In addition to editing the entertainment section, he wrote music reviews. Even then, I was really surprised by his tastes. They were very mainstream. The only young guy heavily into music that I've ever met who basically liked only mainstream, Top 40, Ryan Seacrest-approved music.

Not saying this in relation to the topic, just thought you guys might find it interesting.

LOL, this is such a misunderstanding! I know you were refering to the late hour! And so was I. I was "thanking" you because you asked some questions about how it would work for David and his band, which led me to write this long post about that subject, hence delaying my own bed time!

Hey, no, I knew what you meant, I was just making sure you didn't think I was being snarky.

there is also the Elvis hair - which seems to be quite popular.

LOL. In the concert Adam looked exactly like Kurt Russell when he played Elvis.
I'm not sure that's the look he's going for.

I've always thought Adam's hair looked bad in all its incarnations. Emo hair is something he's too beefy for, most emo guys being skinny. Not to mention younger-looking. Plus, there's something else I can't put into words. He's just too straight for that look, if that makes any sense. He's posing, he isn't emo. Then the Elvis hair. Elvis rocked it better.

I also figured out it's black hair and black eye make up that help make Adam's skin look worse than it probably is. Being an old movie fan, whenever I see 'old' Adam, the strawberry blond, he reminds me of this dude, Van Johnson. Also a freckled, strawberry blond kind of guy. People with this kind of coloring look fine with their own hair. Because I guess it softens their looks, or something, I'm not sure. But if you dye their hair black something doesn't work about their skin. Even if you cover the freckles with makeup. Just saying. Not trying to be too much of a fashionista. Or anything. ;-)

 

[SleepinIn]

I'm interested in the David Cook stuff too. I haven't really followed him that closely but I always liked David and it's interesting to see where the Real life music world takes him.

I love it when you do research that saves me from having to do research. Three cheers for SleepinIn.

LOL - it's more of a cut and paste research than actually going looking for it. But I have to admit to being really interested in anyone who mentions Kris in the slightest way in regards to writing. lol

For example, if you go back and look at some of what Adam said, he was given the choice of deciding to come out during the show, or after he was eliminated (or won). So after he decided to wait, at what point did RS come after him? --or did AI or 19 go after RS? Anyway, the entertainment business is pretty heavily inter-connected and it seems a deal was made.

I absolutely think that Adam made a conscious decision to come out to RS and it may very well have been arranged by 19. If you think about it. He was never in, so coming out -- not really that big of a deal - unless you do it on RS's cover and on 20/20. 19 and all the other business people knew they had a big story that would play in the press, so yeah I think they did all they could to help that along.

the RS article should have actually featured all of the Idols, or Adam, Kris and David from NY's GMA show. But it is clearly Adam that they are into.. glad Kris could sneak into camera frame for a few shots.

I do find that interesting about your former editor Ross. RS is actually a pretty mainstream magazine isn't it? It's not even one that I read consistently - as a lot of my music news now comes from websites like Stereogum or blogs or twitter links. I wonder how their circulation is doing? Maybe they need the push that AI would bring much like the artists that are now clamouring to be on AI that once scorned the show. AI brings a lot of viewers eyes to the table that's a powerful thing. Did either of you ever watch the movie American Dreamz? I watched it last night and in a B movie kind of way it was pretty hilarious. The thing I think is very similar in both Kris and Adam is that they both see AI for what it is warts and all - a very big platform.

I sometimes wonder if the Elvis look isn't intentional. I know my dad during the show really remarked on how much Adam reminded him of Elvis and I've seen a lot of comments saying the same. It might be the Idol demographic - lol. I like the emo hair better - but I also like the natural Adam look. He's a good looking guy. He just doesn't look like Adam when I see pictures of him as a blonde. If he went back to blonde - he could totally go to the mall and not get hassled - very boy next door.

Breaking news: Adam and Kris.. both boy next door music geeks as kids - film at 11.

 

[missaddicted]

Band name reveal just happened! And why am I not surprised that these boys chose a name like that LOL.

David Cook and The Anthemic.

Short video of the reveal here (I love the double confirmation with his publicist/manager that it was OK to reveal it): http://musicbyd.com/videos/DavidCookBandName.wmv

Still waiting for reactions from fans if they like it or not. Personally, I like the oddness of it (and the ambition behind it too), but I'll understand that some could be like, WTF?

 

[ross 1]

Haha, I actually edited the one part of my post you quoted, SleepinIn. I have no idea why I changed it, it seems pretty clear, Anyhow, it's not there any more. Just like Wolfgang.

I wonder how their circulation is doing? Maybe they need the push that AI would bring much like the artists that are now clamouring to be on AI that once scorned the show.

Good point and I think you're right. I think all magazines are suffering due to the internet, aren't they?

How's your circulation, by the way? Mine's okay.

Sorry. :roll:

Did either of you ever watch the movie American Dreamz? I watched it last night and in a B movie kind of way it was pretty hilarious. The thing I think is very similar in both Kris and Adam is that they both see AI for what it is warts and all - a very big platform.

Never saw it, but maybe I'll check it out. What's it about?

Yes, neither of the guys seems naive about AI. But...

[Yes, he's off on another tangent:]

You know, people just assume both these guys aren't scared, and have 'who they want to be' all figured out, but that's crazy. No way they aren't scared and apprehensive, and confused about a lot of things, I'm sure.

With Kris right now, this is what I think, maybe I'm crazy. I'm trying to put myself in his place. I'm guessing: he does his best on the tour and gives it everything, but when he's not onstage he has this record to deal with. And he's probably getting tons of advice from all sides about what it should sound like, what style it should be. He's probably just feeling his way along, trying to judge what is not his style. When you've been at it 20 years, then you know. So I'll bet the one thing he's nervous about is whether he's doing right, or not. And there's nothing to go on, but gut feelings and what other people tell you.

My feeling is if he's tired from anything it's from thinking. Not touring or recording. Thinking and decision making, and creating.

Okay, now the important stuff: Adam, and conscious Elvis emulation, with the hair:

Elvis himself dyed his hair originally because he was apparently trying to look like Tony Curtis, or so I've read. I myself am not overly reminded of Elvis, except for the Kurt Russell thing, by our Adam. Kris has some Elvis similarities, too: acoustic guitar, piano, southern accent, church music. And the soulful voice. But no gyrations. Too bad!

Sorry if I put those pictures in your head. Don't think about Kris doing that! No!!!! Bad. Think about missionary work.

I miss Wolfgang.

ETA:

Band name reveal just happened! And why am I not surprised that these boys chose a name like that LOL.

David Cook and The Anthemic.

Is there still time to change it to The David Cook Band?

 

[ross 1]

How about David and the Cookies?

Simon and the Sarcastics?

 

[SleepinIn]

The Anthemic, eh? hmm.. Have to test drive that one for awhile. It's good for them to have a band identity though, I think it really does help. Sounds a little hair metal though

Never saw it, but maybe I'll check it out. What's it about? Yes, neither of the guys seems naive about AI.

It's pretty much about American Idol. There is also a terrorist/crazy president angle. It's pretty tongue in cheek. Hugh Grant and Mandy Moore. I laughed.(not Hangover type laughter.. but laughter) like it isn't going to change the world or anything but it was amusing.

So I'll bet the one thing he is nervous about is whether he's doing right, or not. And there's nothing to go on, but gut feelings and what other people tell you.

Yeah, I bet all three of them are apprehensive - it's such a big change from where they were last year. And the stakes are really high for all of them.

LOL - wolfgang. I wonder what actually happened to him. Did he get thrown out like yesterday's news? Is he living happily in a forest? Will he make a comeback?

 

[missaddicted]

Is there still time to change it to The David Cook Band?

LOL. Yeah, the reaction is not overly positive right now! It does sound weird and it's not the easiest thing to say. It's also kind of funny that it took them months to come up with that name, they really didn't think of something else?

We'll see. I like it. It's totally David I believe. And at least, it's a name, which is what I've been wishing for for the last few months.

 

[ross 1]

Wolfgang. On the side of a highway somehwere, lost and forgotten under the blanket of the great American night. Thinking of Kris Allen.

I want to see the photos that never were. Wolfgang playing guitar. Wolfgang eating at Chik-fil-a. Wolfgang taking a shower with Megan...

....Where was I?

Oh, yeah. I think someone mentioned on mj's that Wolfgang was a fan gift, and that other fans got a little put out their gifts weren't being shown. I find that unlikely. Or there was a fake twitter page for Wolfgang with 1000 followers, and that this is verboten. More likely. But no reason to retire Wolfgang.

Yeah, I bet all three of them are apprehensive - it's such a big change from where they were last year. And the stakes are really high for all of them.

Yeah, but my take on it is they're highest for our boy Kris, don't you think? Ever since I went to that concert, one thing clear to me is that Adam could have gone onstage and farted, at this point, and he would have a ready-made audience. Those cheers, you have not heard anything like it. You would think Bobby Orr and Larry Bird had just entered the Garden together. With Carl Yastremski. And Marilyn Monroe.

Of course, in my opinion, what he did do was to kind of go onstage and fart, artisitically, but that is, as always, my opinion.

[Digression: Speaking of old movies again, I kind of have this analogy. Suppose Ingrid Bergman followed Marilyn Monroe, onstage. Marilyn (like Adam) would get these incredible whistles and screams, while Bergman would get huge cheers, but people wouldn't scream for her like Monroe. Yet she was a brilliant, incredibly popular star. This is like Adam and Kris, and their respective applause, to me. Both talented, but Adam is the sex, and a little fakey, and Kris is the class, and very real and sincere. Or you could say: Marilyn vs. Audrey Hepburn, for instance. Marlon Brando vs. Gregory Peck. Same thing.]

Anyhow, when he gets that response, you know they don't give a crap what his album sounds like. They'll all buy it.

Kris came from total obscurity, and his risk is to go back to that. Adam came from the position if being a (so I gather) respected actor/singer in musicals, a club performer, basically someone known to his peers as good, but mostly unknown to the public. He really has the least to lose, because at worst he goes back to what he did before, only much more well known, now, and with a lot more work and more money. I don't think that will happen, I think he's established himself. (Thanks, in part, to RS, but, it doesn't matter thanks to what, in the end.)

After seeing him in the concert I thought: it doesn't matter at all what happens with his CD. His career as a performer is assured. He will always have the reputation of being a great performer, now. ("Oh, that Adam Lambert, he puts on one hell of a show.") The only thing that could screw up his future is him. (And I think he's not beyond doing that. I think he has some self-destructive tendencies.)

Kris has to make a good CD and it has to sell, or he's back to the state fair, or wherever. He's picked up many fans on the tour, but he's not a hugely dynamic live act, good as he is, so he has to succeed as a recording artist, which will then make him succeed as a live act. Add to that, he has no desire to act, or do anything other than be a singer-songwriter-musician, and he has more riding on this.

Plus, he's the American Idol, and if he tanks, that's a special pergatory. He has to succeed because we've already named him the best. Now he has to prove it and live up to the name. Be an idol. The other two don't.

Allison. I have a feeling fate might be surprising, and Allison, who everyone is not that interested in, almost ignoring, at this time, will make a huge hit record and become a star. Or at least a player. Just a weird feeling I have.

I don't think she has all that much to lose, at this point, either, being only 17. Even if she bombs now, and it takes her ten years to make it, she'll still only be Adam's age by then.