Have you ever had your wisdom teeth pulled?  If so, you can probably relate to David Archuleta’s nerves about the whole procedure.  My own extraction was pretty awful (it took 3 hours!) and I was swollen for days so I hope Archie fares better than I did, although I’m sure there’s a ton of you who wouldn’t mind taking care of him while he heals!

Poor David has needed to have them out for a while now but his schedule has kept him so busy that there wasn’t enough time for him to have the surgery and then recover afterwards.  Obviously, singing isn’t a great idea after mouth surgery!

This video blog of David is pretty darned adorable (as usual) so if you are a fan, make sure you check it out!

American Idol season 8 finalist, Matt Giraud, was interviewed earlier this week about his experience since appearing on the show. 

He said that he’s been enjoying a little time off since the grueling 52-date Idols Live! tour ended.  He said it was great being able to actually meet the Idol fans since he was used to performing and going straight home when he was on the show.  I can imagine that it was fun to see how people were truly reacting to them in real life!

Matt talked about his upcoming show, Make the Cut, which is a Michigan-based online singing competition.  He was asked to be a mentor and a judge which he said is like being on the other side of his Idol experience.  Of course, on a far smaller scale…

He talked about his writing and said that we can expect some bluesy music in the future.

Simon Cowell is about to turn 50 and to celebrate, he wrote a letter to his younger self (and LENGTHY letter) to reflect on his journey over the years.  I actually think it’s a pretty cute idea, to be honest, and I enjoyed reading about how difficult life was for him at one point. 

It’s incredible to get a glimpse into the humbler side of the most acerbic American Idol judge and, while I won’t print the whole letter here (read the whole thing on the Daily Mail website) I will share some highlights:

Dear Simon,

First things first, how are you? On second thoughts, don’t answer that. I know exactly how you are feeling. It is the early Nineties and you are frustrated, exhausted and worried sick. Life at this moment is not great. Yet just a few years ago, you felt like you were the king of the world!

However, your dazzling reign turned out to be rather short-lived, to say the least. The record label you co-owned went bust and you lost everything – the big house, the car, everything.

So the sun went down on your shiny empire and you had to go back to living with Mum and Dad. That was, as I am sure you and I agree, humbling to say the least. Yet what is harder – much harder – is trying to claw your way back up the ladder…

Everyone knows you have lost your company, so you don’t exactly have a glowing reputation. You are depressed and your confidence is in shreds.

You feel that everyone is laughing at you behind your back. Do you want to know something, Simon? That’s because they are.

You have this idea about television. In some strange way, you vaguely grasp that at some point television is going to play an incredibly important role in your future.

And in an industry where everyone sells their records primarily through radio, you are just beginning to work out that if you sell them through television instead, there could be an incredible business. A very profitable business…

Next week, you are throwing a fabulous bash to celebrate your 50th birthday. Your great friend, Sir Philip Green, and his wife, Lady Tina, are organising it for you but, contrary to some reports, he is not paying for it. Simon, you would never let anyone pick up that tab. Are you kidding? Old habits die hard.

You are tremendously excited about this party. When you were a small boy, your parents lived next door to one of the bosses at Elstree film studios. You remember peering over the garden wall and seeing the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at a fabulous party.

And what you remember, most vividly, is that you wanted to be at that party. You wanted to join in. Well, this time the party is all yours. It is going to be a great night. So happy birthday!

Love Simon

Pretty sweet, isn’t it?  Make sure you visit the Daily Mail to read the whole thing.  It’s incredibly interesting!

image © 2008 FOX BROADCASTING CR: FOX

A little while ago, I asked if any of you would be buying David Archuleta’s upcoming Christmas From the Heart album and every single one of you said yes!  I’m not surprised, therefore, that it’s already at the top of the Amazon holiday charts!

The album features some traditional songs, including what’s sure to be an incredible duet with Charice Pempengco, as well as the original song, “Melodies of Christmas” which David wrote with his father Jeff and two other writers.

Here’s the track listing:

1. Joy To The World
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. O Come All Ye Faithful
4. Silent Night
5. First Noel
6. O Holy Night
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
8. I’ll Be Home for Christmas featuring Charice Pempengco
9. Pat a Pan
10. What a Child Is This
11. Riu Riu
12. Ave Maria
13. Melodies of Christmas

The album drops on October 13, 2009 but you still have time to pre-order it!  In the meantime, watch this live performance of David singing “The Christmas Song".”  Maybe he’ll put it on the next Christmas album!

Nigel Lythgoe tweeted that Paula Abdul has agreed to be a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance.  Nigel wrote: “I saw Paula @ the “Power of Women” event yesterday. I asked her to come on SYTYCD again and she said she would. I hope she means it ?”

image: Zuma Press

I hope she does as well!  I think she fits in more with a dance show than a singing competition anyway since she’s got so much experience as a dancer and choreographer.  I loved her on American Idol but, hopefully, this will lead to bigger and better things for her!

Next month, Carrie Underwood will be making an appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, where she’ll be turning everything from a country barnyard atmosphere, to something pink in support of breast cancer recognition.

This will take place during her performance at the Opry on  Friday, October 2nd.  Gracing the stage, Carrie will flip a switch, turning the whole stage pink and will be supporting the Women Rock for the Cure and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charities.

Carrie will be joined by Terri Clark among other performers. What can you do to help? Order tickets! When you order the tickets either by phone or online, make sure to include the “OPRYPINK.” They will give $5 from every purchase to the charities.

Make sure to grab tickets online from opry.com or by calling in at this number: 1-800-733-6779.

That’s amazing! Hopefully they’ll be able to raise a bunch of money for the charities!

  Image: Bauer-Griffin

Do you think you can sing along to the tracks on Kelly Clarkson’s newest album, All I Ever Wanted?  If so, you could be chosen to do a live soundcheck with Kelly on-stage.

Kelly created a video tutorial for how to enter the contest using the new “Kelly Clarkson Open Mic” singing game on the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Plug in any pair of headphones and you’ll be ready to compete for the highest score on five songs from the album!

When I first heard about this song, I have to admit that I got it confused with the Tim McGraw hit “Live Like You Were Dying” but after hearing Kris Allen’s new single “Live Like We’re Dying” it’s clear that these songs are nothing alike. 

First of all, can I just say that I’m so glad that Kris is putting “No Boundaries” behind him?  Yeah… and it’s not that I think the song isn’t good (although I really am not a fan of it) but it was clear that he was uncomfortable with it which really is a bad way to start a career.

Anyway, I really like this song and I think that Kris’ talent really shines through.  I think that he’s got an amazing voice which is incredibly radio-friendly so hopefully this song will do quite well for the most recent American Idol winner.

David Archuleta took home the “New Artist Award” at the 2009 Alma Awards last week and he performed this acoustic version of “Contigo En La Distancia” and it was absolutely, unequivocally beautiful.  If you can listen to this and not believe that David is incredibly talented you must be deaf.  Even if you don’t like his style, you gotta admit that this kid has got some pipes!

Of course, he also looked so adorable!  He’s gotten so good at conveying emotion in his performances too.  So, sooooo good!

American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, had a little fun with her friends covering Miley Cyrus’ hit song “The Climb” from her Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack.  This is just yet another reminder of what a great singer Kelly is and, of course, this was informal but I thought the harmonizing was pretty great.

Have you heard it?  Listen to it and tell me what you think!