NEW YORK - Four more aspiring singers failed to convince viewers that they have what it takes to win the star-making talent contest "American Idol."
The voting public cut loose Alaina Whitaker, Jason Yeager, Robbie Carrico and Alexandrea Lushington, trimming the number of contestants to 16 Thursday night.
Whitaker, a 16-year-old from Tulsa, Okla., let out a sob after she heard the result.
"Sorry, this is so embarrassing," she told host Ryan Seacrest, who consoled her with a hug.
The other "Idol" female contestants gathered on stage to lend moral support to Whitaker as she gave a final performance of "Hopelessly Devoted to You." Several contestants wiped away tears.
"You are a gifted, bright young talent. ... This is the start of an amazing career from you," said judge Paula Abdul, who gave Whitaker a standing ovation.
Simon Cowell wasn't surprised by Yeager's exit.
"Your problem — quite simply — is that you don't stand out in the crowd at the moment," the cranky judge told Yeager, a 28-year-old single dad from Grand Prairie, Texas.
Cowell told Carrico, who sang Foreigner's "Hot Blooded," that his rocker act "just never ever felt real." Carrico, 26, from Melbourne, Fla., was part of the pop group Boyz N Girlz United.
Lushington, a 17-year-old Douglasville, Ga., resident (and a snappy dresser and favorite of judge Randy Jackson's), displayed a lack of confidence Wednesday, acting sheepish and uncomfortable onstage, following her cover of Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now." Jackson said the '70s song didn't suit her youthful style.
A standout this week was 17-year-old David Archuleta, who sang a soulful cover of "Imagine."
Brooke White, 24, also scored a glowing review from Cowell for her bare-bones performance of "You're So Vain."
Cowell joked he thought the song was about him.
"American Idol," now running three times a week, will return to a twice-weekly schedule March 11 for the elimination of the final dozen. The decision-making finale will be held in May. - AP
Thursday, February 28, 2008
American Idol cuts 4 more contestants
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Natalie Cole: Amy Didn’t Deserve Her Grammys
"I don't think she should have won. I think it sends a bad message to our young people who are trying to get into this business, the ones who are trying to do it right and really trying to keep themselves together," Natalie told People.com. "We have to stop rewarding bad behavior."
The “Unforgettable” singer admitted that she lost five years of her life to substance abuse. "I mean, she could die,” Natalie said. “This is about discipline and hard work, and you don't get to just do your drugs and go onstage and get rewarded."
The fact that Amy, 24, recently said “yes” to rehab wasn’t enough to satisfy the 58-year-old crooner. "I'm sorry. I think the girl is talented, gifted, but it's not right for her to be able to have her cake and eat it too. She needs to get herself together."
Natalie rated Amy’s performance as “fine” but said that she doesn’t think the beehived songbird deserved the awards. “I don't take anything away from her talent, but I just feel like she's stepping into a place that she hasn't earned yet."
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Josh Groban Sets another Record
December 27, 2007, 10:20 AM ET
Source: Chris M. Walsh, N.Y.
Josh Groban's "Noel" (143/Reprise) this week becomes the first Christmas album to top The Billboard 200 for five straight weeks, after moving 757,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Groban's total, which was up 13% from last week, helped hold off hefty competition from Mary J. Blige's "Growing Pains" (Geffen), the only debut to crack the top 10 this week. The R&B star's ninth album landed at No. 2 and shifted 629,000 copies.
Despite a whopping 62% sales spike, Alicia Keys' "As I Am" (J) slips 2-3 in its sixth week on the chart, selling 474,000. The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Co.) also slides down one spot to No. 4 with 313,000 (+30%). Moving 260,000 copies, Miley Cyrus' Disney double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" jumps 7-5 thanks to a 46% sales increase from the previous week.
The "Now 26" multi-label hits compilation slides 4-6, pulling in 235,000 copies (+22%) in its sixth week of release. Arista Nashville artist Carrie Underwood jumps to slots to No. 7 with "Carnival Ride," on a 57% increase to 216,000. Big Machine artist Taylor Swift remained at No. 8 with her self-titled debut, selling 187,000 (+35%).
Disney's "High School Musical 2" fell 6-9 on 185,000 copies sold (+4%) and Jive artist Chris Brown rounded out the top 10 after a 65% leap to 176,000 for "Exclusive."
After an 11-5 jump last week, Mannheim Steamroller's American Gramophone set "Christmas Song" stumbles to No. 14 with 151,000, a 16% fall. The set was only one of three releases in the top 50 to post fewer sales this week from last. The other two were Bow Wow & Omarion's "Face Off" (T.U.G./Columbia) -- last week's top debut -- which fell 11-29 to 83,000 (-22%), and "Audio Day Dream" (Arista/J) from "American Idol" alum Blake Lewis, which drifted 32-44 and sold 55,000 (-4%).
Other debuts this week include Jaheim's Atlantic debut "The Makings of a Man," which moved 176,000 at No. 11, Lupe Fiasco's sophomore Atlantic effort "Lupe Fiasco's The Cool" at No. 15 on 143,000 and "The Fight of My Life" (Gospocentric) from gospel artist Kirk Franklin, new at No. 33 (74,000)
Sales during the pre-holiday week were 25.57 million units, a 42% over last week, but lagged behind the same week in 2006 by 18% (31.26 million).
Groban's total, which was up 13% from last week, helped hold off hefty competition from Mary J. Blige's "Growing Pains" (Geffen), the only debut to crack the top 10 this week. The R&B star's ninth album landed at No. 2 and shifted 629,000 copies.
Despite a whopping 62% sales spike, Alicia Keys' "As I Am" (J) slips 2-3 in its sixth week on the chart, selling 474,000. The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Co.) also slides down one spot to No. 4 with 313,000 (+30%). Moving 260,000 copies, Miley Cyrus' Disney double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" jumps 7-5 thanks to a 46% sales increase from the previous week.
The "Now 26" multi-label hits compilation slides 4-6, pulling in 235,000 copies (+22%) in its sixth week of release. Arista Nashville artist Carrie Underwood jumps to slots to No. 7 with "Carnival Ride," on a 57% increase to 216,000. Big Machine artist Taylor Swift remained at No. 8 with her self-titled debut, selling 187,000 (+35%).
Disney's "High School Musical 2" fell 6-9 on 185,000 copies sold (+4%) and Jive artist Chris Brown rounded out the top 10 after a 65% leap to 176,000 for "Exclusive."
After an 11-5 jump last week, Mannheim Steamroller's American Gramophone set "Christmas Song" stumbles to No. 14 with 151,000, a 16% fall. The set was only one of three releases in the top 50 to post fewer sales this week from last. The other two were Bow Wow & Omarion's "Face Off" (T.U.G./Columbia) -- last week's top debut -- which fell 11-29 to 83,000 (-22%), and "Audio Day Dream" (Arista/J) from "American Idol" alum Blake Lewis, which drifted 32-44 and sold 55,000 (-4%).
Other debuts this week include Jaheim's Atlantic debut "The Makings of a Man," which moved 176,000 at No. 11, Lupe Fiasco's sophomore Atlantic effort "Lupe Fiasco's The Cool" at No. 15 on 143,000 and "The Fight of My Life" (Gospocentric) from gospel artist Kirk Franklin, new at No. 33 (74,000)
Sales during the pre-holiday week were 25.57 million units, a 42% over last week, but lagged behind the same week in 2006 by 18% (31.26 million).
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Groban Remains No. 1, Becomes '07's Best-Seller
December 19, 2007, 11:20 AM ET
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Josh Groban sets a new record on The Billboard 200 with "Noel," becoming the first Christmas album to top the chart for four straight weeks. The 143/Reprise set moved 669,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, a 15% increase from last week's sum. Elvis Presley's "Elvis' Christmas Album" also sat on top for four weeks, but non-consecutively.
With total sales at 2.77 million, "Noel" has now surpassed the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack as this year's top selling album.
Alicia Keys' "As I Am" (J) sits tight at No. 2 for a second week with 292,000, a 24% sales hike. The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Co.) stays at No. 3 with 241,000 (+18%) and the multi-label "Now 26" hits compilation keeps No. 4 warm for a third week with 191,000 (+21%).
Mannheim Steamroller's American Gramophone set "Christmas Song" rockets up 11-5 with 180,000, a whopping 98% increase as the Christmas holiday draws near. "High School Musical 2" holds tight at No. 6 for a fourth week straight with a 39% sales boost to 178,000. Moving 177,000 copies, Miley Cyrus' Disney double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" slips 5-7 despite a 34% advance.
Big Machine artist Taylor Swift's self-titled debut ascends 9-8 with 139,000 (+40%), while another country effort, Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" (Arista Nashville), falls 7-9 with a 29% increase to 137,000. Garth Brooks' Pearl set "The Ultimate Hits" drifts down 8-10 despite a 14% uplift to 119,000.
Bow Wow & Omarion's T.U.G./Columbia collaboration "Face Off" is the week's top debut, entering at No. 11 with 107,000. Last December, Bow Wow's "The Price of Fame" started at No. 6 with 262,000 while one week later, Omarion's "21" bowed at No. 1 on the chart with 119,000.
Other debuts this week, which are largely hip-hop and R&B efforts, include Birdman's "5*Stunna" (Cash Money) at No. 18 with 86,000, Mario's "Go" (J) at No. 21 with 77,000, the Wu-Tang Clan's reunion album "8 Diagrams" (SRC Records) at No. 25 with 68,000, The-Dream's "Love/Hate" (Def Jam) at No. 30 with 59,000 and rapper Beanie Sigel's "The Solution" (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam) at No. 37 with 49,000.
Sales this week (17.98 million units) are down 23.1% compared to the same week last year (23.39 million). This week's sum is up 24.4% from last week's.
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
Josh Groban sets a new record on The Billboard 200 with "Noel," becoming the first Christmas album to top the chart for four straight weeks. The 143/Reprise set moved 669,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, a 15% increase from last week's sum. Elvis Presley's "Elvis' Christmas Album" also sat on top for four weeks, but non-consecutively.
With total sales at 2.77 million, "Noel" has now surpassed the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack as this year's top selling album.
Alicia Keys' "As I Am" (J) sits tight at No. 2 for a second week with 292,000, a 24% sales hike. The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Co.) stays at No. 3 with 241,000 (+18%) and the multi-label "Now 26" hits compilation keeps No. 4 warm for a third week with 191,000 (+21%).
Mannheim Steamroller's American Gramophone set "Christmas Song" rockets up 11-5 with 180,000, a whopping 98% increase as the Christmas holiday draws near. "High School Musical 2" holds tight at No. 6 for a fourth week straight with a 39% sales boost to 178,000. Moving 177,000 copies, Miley Cyrus' Disney double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" slips 5-7 despite a 34% advance.
Big Machine artist Taylor Swift's self-titled debut ascends 9-8 with 139,000 (+40%), while another country effort, Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" (Arista Nashville), falls 7-9 with a 29% increase to 137,000. Garth Brooks' Pearl set "The Ultimate Hits" drifts down 8-10 despite a 14% uplift to 119,000.
Bow Wow & Omarion's T.U.G./Columbia collaboration "Face Off" is the week's top debut, entering at No. 11 with 107,000. Last December, Bow Wow's "The Price of Fame" started at No. 6 with 262,000 while one week later, Omarion's "21" bowed at No. 1 on the chart with 119,000.
Other debuts this week, which are largely hip-hop and R&B efforts, include Birdman's "5*Stunna" (Cash Money) at No. 18 with 86,000, Mario's "Go" (J) at No. 21 with 77,000, the Wu-Tang Clan's reunion album "8 Diagrams" (SRC Records) at No. 25 with 68,000, The-Dream's "Love/Hate" (Def Jam) at No. 30 with 59,000 and rapper Beanie Sigel's "The Solution" (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam) at No. 37 with 49,000.
Sales this week (17.98 million units) are down 23.1% compared to the same week last year (23.39 million). This week's sum is up 24.4% from last week's.
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