The silver lining in this black rain cloud is that I hear Usher will be guest mentor in Top 10 week.
Because I have no life, I periodically peruse (as in every week) the Billboard charts to see how Adam is doing. As a public service to the more data oriented readers (yes, I am talking about you, Jenny), this week I also thought I'd check in on Kris Allen and Danny Gokey and give a report. My biggest test of an Idolist is whether they can generate sales and not just text votes (see my March 14 entry). So in order of their finish (with commentary because I can't help myself):
Kris Allen - his hit single Live Like We're Dying is having a good run but may finally be losing steam after 20 weeks. It's currently #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 after peaking at #18 last week and has peaked on eight other Billboard charts. His album is #172 on the Billboard 200 with a high of #11 in the week of it's release. This was the lowest opening ever for an Idol winner.
Commentary - he's a singer-songwriter but his first hit was a song he didn't write. Can another hit song be found on an album that hasn't sold well? The good news is that in a digital download world, albums don't mean what they used to. Still, it's legitimate to wonder if Kris' career has already peaked.
Adam Lambert - Whataya Want From Me is #22 with a bullet (rapidly increasing sales) this week on the Billboard Hot 100 and is also rising on six other charts. His first single For Your Entertainment peaked at #61. It was no doubt sabotaged by his controversial performance at the AMA's and was quickly replaced by the current single. Looks like a good move. His album is #71 in the Hot 200 after opening at #3.
Commentary: controversy is good and controversy with a hit song and great marketing is even better. His album is loaded with songs written by hit machines like Lady Gaga and Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) so it will be interesting to see if he is just the flavor of the day or long-term pop music force.
Danny Gokey - in a stunning move suggested by Randy Travis no less, Danny recorded a country album and Randy's foresight is being validated. Danny's new CD had the best first-week numbers for any new male country act since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. It is currently #16 on the Billboard Top 200 and #4 on the Billboard country chart. His single My Best Days Are Ahead of Me has risen to #29 on the country charts but has yet to crack the Hot 100.
Commentary: It's a simple question - Does Danny really have street cred in Nashville? I will be following his sales numbers with great interest.
Wow - I just woke up out of this horrible nightmare where I saw Miley Cyrus giving singing advice to Tim Urban. I mean, that really couldn't happen, right? Right?
5 comments:
Have never seen American Idol, nor do I plan to, but I will continue to read regularly your blog anyway, as I love your wit and style.
I second what the other Jenny said. Well, except for the watching AI part :) - I'm hopeful that Danny's numbers show that he should have been #2. I agree that Adam should have been 1.
I'm trying, unsuccessfully, to prepare myself for this week's guest {cough, choke} star. Could this be the sign that Idol has jumped the shark??
Like anybody, Gokey will have to earn some street cred but so far seems he is doing ok.
His record sales speak for themselves by Nashville terms, he's been invited twice to sing at the Opry already, and he's about to tour with Sugarland.
Ray, when I heard that Miley was mentoring, I genuinely wondered if I could get through the show this week...I may have to mute the TV while she's speaking. Her nasally voice grates on my nerves, and I find her personality and attitude intolerable. Jaime and I laughed out loud at the idea of her "mentoring" Crystal. What the what? lol
I'll grit my teeth and get through it...
not expecting too much out of tonight so am open to being surprised but I don't think it will be by Miley
Post a Comment