The American Idol top 10 from Season 8 will perform in their first show this Sunday (July 5, 2009) in Portland, Oregon and I’m sure their fans are excited to see them perform live.  I never get to go since I’m up in Canada and they don’t have any stops here (but they should - Canadians watch the show too!).

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

I had never thought about it but I read on E! Online that there are just two tour buses (one for guys and one for girls) but the guys have it a little rougher since there are just three girls on the tour while there are seven of them!  Scott MacIntyre and Michael Sarver both complained that their bus was overcrowded with Sarver saying: “I just wish it was part of the budget to have a third bus. It’s like the testosterone tour this year. No one is looking forward to the cramped boys’ bus.”

In the article, they asked each of the 10 contestants about what they will be doing on the tour (lots of goodies so check it out) and it definitely sounds like it will be a tour with a lot of variety since each set is tailored to each contestant’s style.  During the season, I was so amazed by how different the contestants were from each other so I think it will be a fun concert.

We know that one of their group numbers will be “Don’t Stop Believing” but I thought that the info about Adam Lambert’s and Kris Allen’s sets was very interesting.  Lambert will be doing a David Bowie medley and I know it’s going to be incredible!  I love Lambert and I love Bowie so I’m super jealous of any of you who get to see it.  Oh well, there’s always YouTube.  Kris will be doing five songs including my favorite Beatles song “Hey Jude.”

For more tour information, check out the American Idols Live page on the official site.

The Top 10 from the eight season of American Idol are getting ready to go on tour and during a press conference, they sang Journey’s iconic hit “Don’t Stop Believing” as a group number.  I know that the acoustics in the room aren’t all that great and they are still rehearsing but I actually thought that they sounded pretty great! 

Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre were on the piano providing the only music but I think that, for the most part, they all go their harmonies down.  This is such a good song so I really enjoyed listening to it. 

During the results show of So You Think You Can Dance, it was announced that the Top 13 American Idol performances during “Michael Jackson Week” would be rebroadcast by Fox this Monday at 8pm to honor the artist who tragically died yesterday.

You may remember it well since there were some stand out performances (Adam Lambert’s “Black or White” comes to mind) and two contestants were sent home that week.

Here’s a list of the performances.  Do you remember which ones you liked the most/least?  I think the encore of this episode is a really nice tribute to Michael Jackson’s career.

• Lil Rounds - “The Way You Make Me Feel”
• Scott MacIntyre - “Keep the Faith”
• Danny Gokey - “Pretty Young Thing”
• Michael Sarver - “You Are Not Alone”
• Jasmine Murray - “I’ll Be There”
• Kris Allen - “Remember the Time”
• Allison Iraheta - “Give in to Me”
• Anoop Desai - “Beat It”
• Jorge Nunez - “Never Can Say Goodbye”
• Megan Joy Corkrey - “Rockin’ Robin”
• Adam Lambert - “Black or White”
• Matt Giraud - “Human Nature”
• Alexis Grace - “Dirty Diana”

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Michael Becker / FOX

Wilshire Records, the independent label that released the pre-American Idol music of this year’s runner-up, Adam Lambert, is trying to defend their decision.  Adam voiced his disapproval and 19 Entertainment issued the following statement on his behalf: "The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on."

It’s unfortunate because I can understand how having those songs released could be damaging to his career.  He’s obviously grown as an artist and, after being on the world’s most popular talent show, he wants to craft his image to be aligned with who he is today.  When you’ve got old stuff mixing with new material, it can confuse and even disappoint your audience. 

Wilshire teamed up with Hi Fi Recordings to release, On With the Show, an album that will feature 11 songs that were recorded by Adam before he appeared on American Idol.  Of course, Hi Fi has a different take on the situation.  They told Usmagazine.com the following:  "Adam is now enjoying the success that he and Wilshire Records hoped for.  However, he is now represented by high-profile companies who released a statement in Adam’s name saying the songs on On With the Show were recorded four years ago and Adam only contributed vocals. This is simply not true.

The songs were recorded in a professional recording studio with top notch musicians and producers since the music was always meant to be released. Of the 11 songs that will appear on the album, On With the Show, Adam co-wrote eight with Monte Pittman (Madonna’s guitar player).  As co-writer and performer, Adam will receive significant royalties just as any superstar artist would. He has the chance, finally, to make a fortune for his work — definitely more with this album than through a major label deal.

This pre-Idol work is a fantastic representation of who Adam is and what inspired him during the months before he became famous. We intend to see that Adam will still benefit from the success of ‘Want’ (on iTunes now), and from the sale of On With the Show, even though he is now part of a major franchise that only wants fans to hear the music Adam records for them."

That was a slightly snotty statement, if you ask me.  Clearly, they don’t respect how former contestants are treated by 19 Entertainment but they shouldn’t assume to know what arrangements Adam has made. 

Will you buy Adam’s pre-Idol music?

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

Last season of American Idol is barely over but winner, Kris Allen, is already working on his debut album.  It’s got to be tough to be planning such a big release when you’re also getting ready to embark on your first real tour (American Idols Live!).  I wonder how he feels about being separated from his wife all this time.  They are still newlyweds after all!

Anyway, I thought he looked absolutely adorable as he went into Center Staging rehearsal studio in Los Angeles with his Robeks Juice smoothie in hand.

image: Bauer-Griffin

There was all sorts of news yesterday about the contracts given to this year’s American Idol finalists.  I wrote about Kris Allen and Adam Lambert and now I’m happy to report that Allison Iraheta has also been signed to 19 Records. 

Like Kris, Allison has been licensed to Jive Records (Adam is with RCA).  All three albums are expected to drop some time this fall.  “I think I’m still in shock that this is happening — getting to record my first album and this whole awesome experience is a dream come true!” Allison said in a statement. 

Okay, so that takes care of the winner, runner-up and fourth place finisher but what about Danny Gokey, who finished in third place?  So far, I haven’t heard anything about him being signed and I think it’s too bad.  Surely, there is a place for Danny even in the gospel industry.  He has a good look and a great voice so I hope he gets some sort of deal soon!

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

If you’ve been watching American Idol, you probably know that AT&T is one of the show’s biggest sponsors.  Now that season eight is behind us, The New York Times is claiming that the telephone company might have helped secure a victory for Kris Allen.  The allegedly “provided phones for free text- messaging services at two Allen parties in Arkansas on the night of the finals” and that “AT&T reps showed party-goers how to "power text" — cast 10 votes at the touch of a button — which violates show rules.”

Wow.  That’s a pretty serious allegation considering that the article goes on to say that those power texts "have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the shows toll-free phone lines."

So far, no one has come forward about seeing anything like this at any of the Adam Lambert parties.  Of course, Adam’s fans are now saying that the competition is rigged.  I can’t remember a year, though, when these types of rumors didn’t surface after the finale.

Fox hasn’t addressed the controversy but AT&T said: "In Arkansas, we were invited to attend the local watch parties organized by the community. A few local employees brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested."

Interesting… That sounds very close to admission of guilt to me.  What do you think?

UPDATE:  Fox has released a statement which can be seen here: http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/05/american-idol-a.html

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

American Idol season 8 runner-up, Adam Lambert, performed “Mad World” for the outdoor crowd on The CBS Early Show.  This video that I found isn’t the best quality but I find it amazing that he not only sounds incredible but he’s able to block out the windiness and the sounds of traffic around him in downtown New York City.  His voice is so absolutely beautiful performing this song.  I got goosebumps listening to it.  I hope you enjoy it too!

The newest American Idol, Kris Allen, will be on Ellen tomorrow (but these videos are already up!) where he sat down with her and talked about the experience and also performed his new single “No Boundaries” and his revamped version on Kanye West’s “Heartless.”

I thought that Kris sounded a little more comfortable performing “No Boundaries” (the key was a little lower than it had been on that final performance show).  He actually made it a lot more likable.  What do you think?

Of course, “Heartless” was as great as I remembered from when he was on Idol.  It is so hot, I wish he could release this version himself.  Watch the performance here:

Runner-up, Adam Lambert, also spoke to Ellen last week (via telephone) and her audience erupted in applause.  The talk show host mentioned how surprising it was to see Kris win but what she really wanted to say was that she really respected how Adam handled losing.  She couldn’t resist the urge to be funny so she offered him some make-up tips.  Hilarious!

American Idol season 8 winner, Kris Allen and runner-up, Adam Lambert were being interviewed on Larry King Live tonight. Filling in for Larry was Idol’s host, Ryan Seacrest, who also interviewed this season’s top 10 contestants.

Kris Allen admitted that being crowned the newest idol has not fully sunk in yet for him, and of course he was as humble as ever. Ryan asked him if he thought that the Christian vote played a big part in him winning, and he says that he really hoped it didn’t. He says that religion shouldn’t have anything to do with American Idol, and I’ve got to agree with him.

Adam’s attitude was great! He showed absolutely not bitterness or anything, which was great to see. He said that all he wanted to do was just do his best. Paula Abdul also joined the two after a while and said that the judges were happy no matter who ended up winning. Enjoy the videos!

Part 1:

More after the jump!

Read more