American Idol also-ran Jason Castro recorded track for upcoming Mexican film

TORONTO — “American Idol” crooner Jason Castro made good use of his time in Toronto by recording a song for an upcoming movie.

The dreadlocked 21-year-old, who placed fourth on the singing show earlier this year, was in town last weekend to perform at the Air Canada Centre with his fellow Top 10 finalists.

The day before the show, Castro popped by a lakeside studio to record a track for an upcoming Mexican film, “Tierra de Tigres.”

Recording studio Cherry Beach Sound says the film is currently being shot in Mexico and is due to be released there next spring

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iDOCGR4eiKYgtf1B_-OVt1WCV-1w

Life after ‘American Idol’

Back in Indiana, Overmyer works on new album, plans wedding

After competing in the most recent season of “American Idol,” Amanda Overmyer’s main focus is pursuing a career in music.

Overmyer is currently in Mulberry putting together a new album, which she describes as “southern rock.” Her single “Play On” will be released on Apple iTunes at the end of September. The album, which has not been signed by a record label, is tentatively set to be released in December

Interviews with Season 7 American Idol finalists

I was fortunate to time the American Idol tour in Detroit, Michigan with a visit home to Ann Arbor. Luck was on my side, as an opportunity for an interview prior to the show was arranged. My good luck continued as the five Idols sent out for interviewing included my favorite Jason Castro!

After meeting at the media access door, we followed our contact to the exclusive Olympia Room, where we were seated in private booths. It felt like I was meeting all of them individually for lunch, except that we were under time constraints of about five – ten minutes apiece. I like to have long lunches, so it was hard to cut short what I wanted to unfold slowly

http://www.waltonsun.com/entertainment/american_1914___...ml/time_meeting.html

American Idol Top 10 to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell



http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6bdmr_top10nasdaq_news

While the American Idols Live! Tour makes it’s way through the New York area, the kids make time today to ring the Nasdaq stock market closing bell.

Catching Up With Ramiele

Once Ramiele Malubay was chosen as one of the top 24 contestants in season 7 of American Idol, life for her has been anything but dull. After competing for five weeks knowing that she would be on tour during the summer, Ramiele stayed in L.A. This worked out well for her, as rehearsals for the finale and the tour began in earnest before the season even ended.

Life in the Idol world is always fast paced. As soon as the finale ended, rehearsals really kicked up and then the top 10 Idols were on the road, touring America from coast to coast. Lucikly for us, Ramiele took some time out of her busy schedule while she was in Newark to share some thoughts about the past year.

http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/?pid=1386

According to WGAR radio, Kristy Lee Cook’s album comes out September 16 and will be called “Plant the Seed”.

http://www.wgar.com/pages/newreleases/

michael sang a new song he's working on! its hawt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6yk55MUlVw

thanks to mjonline!

Up Close With The American Idols - Carly Smithson

How has the tour been going?

Amazing. A dream come true, definitely. A lot more work than I thought it was gonna be, but you get to sing to everyday. That’s all I want to do: sing everyday in arenas like this. I think we’ll have to work really hard to ever play this size [venue] ever again. So I’m soaking it all up.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/08/04/231235.php

David Cook and Kristy Lee Cook are gearing up to release records in the fall.

Kristy Lee’s record, Why Wait, produced by songwriter Brett James, drops first on September 6. She’ll still be on tour with the Idols when that happens. Is that the quickest release on record by a Top 12 Idol? I believe it is. Kristy has said in interviews that the album took a speedy 4 days to record. Her single “15 minutes of Shame” will be available for download on August 12.

Keeping in mind, William Hung only recorded his in a day

Other tracks include Cook’s version of Lee Greenwood’s 1984 Top 10 hit, “God Bless the USA,” which she performed on Idol, as well as “Not Tonight,” a song that James and Chris Lindsey co-wrote with Carrie Underwood.

She’s already recorded “God Bless the USA”, a song she performed on Idol, as an Idol download. She’s currently performing it on tour.

The two [David Cook and Cavallo] are currently squeezing in studio time whenever the Idol summer tour allows, and Cook still plans to release the album in mid-November. As previously reported, Cook has had writing sessions with Our Lady Peace’s Raine Maida and Collective Soul’s Ed Roland, but there’s one person who isn’t involved with the album: industry vet Clive Davis, the man who executive produced several Idols’ debuts, but whose role at SonyBMG, where he’s currently Chief Creative Officer of SonyBMG Worldwide, has shifted. “I never heard his name brought up,” Cook said.

Date night with Jason!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5WRbCNiEDM

David Hernandez joins ‘Idols in Concert’ at the Rrazz Room

“I always feel most at home onstage, much more than in an interview.”

David Hernandez just wants to sing. He’ll do just that when he performs at the Nikko Hotel’s intimate Rrazz Room with fellow American Idol alumni Constantine Maroulis and Vonzell Solomon, August 12-16, part of an extensive tour of popular finalists in the hit TV show.

http://www.ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=music&article=513

Former American Idol Brooke White Releases First CD

Brooke White, a former contestant on American Idol has reportedly released her first album. The show contestant who placed in the top five finalists, issued a new album on the label New Millenium Records Group.

White’s new album is called “Songs From the Attic” and is the singer’s first attempt at a full length CD. Also included on the debut CD is two cover songs of poular hits form the past. The song “Dream On” by Aerosmith and Coldplay’s “Yellow” are reported to be included as bonus tracks.

http://media-newswire.com/release_1070113.html

Cook keeping busy with tour, new album

After a long journey on “American Idol” - that often left her anxiously waiting in the bottom three - Kristy Lee Cook was finally voted off the show on April 16. But that was hardly the end of the road for the aspiring country artist.

As if the frenzy of “American Idol” was not enough, in the months following the show, Cook signed with Arista Nashville Records, produced her first single and made her first professional album.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/08/08/f...s/encore/encore1.txt

Big congratulations go out to Kristy Lee Cook and David Archuleta. Both debuted singles on the Billboard charts this week (I’ll have a full chart posted at the end of today). Kristy Lee’s single “15 Minutes of Shame” debuts on the Hot Country Songs chart at #58, and Archie’s single “Crush” on the Pop 100 at #93.

Some very interesting tidbits came to light when ABC News Radio recently spoke with David Archuleta, Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson and Michael Johns. To find out who David Archuleta’s real role model is and why he refuses to be pigeonholed, the real skinny behind the nightly Mavid show during the American Idols Live! Tour encore, PLUS, more on David Cook’s upcoming album…


From ABC News Radio:

David Archuleta elaborates on the reports that he wants a “Miley Touch” on his album. It seems his real role model is Jordin Sparks. He says, “She’s someone I’d love to follow in the footsteps of, because I love the way she balanced her record and it really showed different sides to her and hopefully, I’ll be able to do that. Jordin’s just such an amazing, emotional, mature vocalist, performer and artist.”

Archie admits that because he’s so pressed for time, he isn’t personally contributing a lot to his debut CD, but he hopes to correct that on his second album. He says, “Since there isn’t a lot of time put into this, and not really a lot of chance to have a lot of say in it, like trying to write with different people, hopefully, [this album will] be kind of like an introduction to what’s up ahead. If this album works, I’ll be able to work on more stuff in the future that has more input from me.”

Archie thinks his new single “Crush” will prove some naysayers wrong. As he puts it, “A lot of people were wondering if I was able to pull off pop and I think this song…shows people that I can.” But he also doesn’t want the fact that the song is a pop song to pigeonhole him in any way, “Hopefully, it doesn’t limit me to anything, ’cause I’d love to show my variety, like Jordin did.”

All about Mavid –Michael Johns says it was his idea to start doing the dances with David Cook during the group number. He says, “Every day, we do soundcheck to that song [”Please Don’t Stop the Music”] and I usually go loopy around five o’clock at night, and so I always just come up with these stupid dance moves, and Dave’s like, ‘What are we doing tonight?’ And it’ll just come to me. I’ll go, ‘This is what we’re doing: we’re gonna pull our shades out….we’ll do this dance’ and he goes, ‘OK, I’m in.’ And then sometimes, he comes up with the idea. And anytime we try to force it, it doesn’t happen.”

Michael Johns wants to put out a single in November, with an album due out January and February. He says he has “investors” backing the CD, which he’ll self-release.

Kristy Lee Cook now seriously doubts she’ll get married next June as planned because she’ll be so busy with the album and then a subsequent tour. She says she and her fiancé are “taking it slow.”

Carly Smithson doesn’t want to rush her album out. She says, “I’m gonna be very particular in what I choose because I do believe this is a big chance and I don’t want to waste it.”

An clip of what Michael wrote to us a few nights ago. You can read the whole thing here: http://michaeljohnsonline.com/2008/08/08/michael-johns-...m-his-brand-new-mac/

quote:

I will be posting acoustic diddy’s here and there and new songs i am working on for my new record. I have been so lucky to work with some talented people. We are hoping to have the record done by Thanksgiving. Hopefully the single will be ready in November and the record in stores Jan/Feb.

Im going back to OZ in October to do this big charity event called Telethon. Its so important to me to give back as much as i can. All of us Idols are big on that idea. There may be a chance i get to play an acoustic show in Sydney too.

After that i get back to play a private show with Carly in Vegas. We would love it to be for the public, so sorry guys. Then a really cool thing that i hope you guys can get to is on Oct 25th i’ll be doing a show at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Pep Boys 400. I will also be singing the national anthem on ABC. So keep your eyes and ears out for updates.

Carly Smithson: Classic rock dreams

When the American Idols Live tour comes to Hartford’s XL Center tonight and to Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard on Sept. 6, the talented Top 10 finalists will stick to a format that, for one, sixth-place finisher Carly Smithson enjoys.

The Dublin, Ireland, native said contestants will perform individual sets in the order in which they were eliminated from the hit TV series, beginning with 10th-place finalist Chikezie Eze and continuing through Smithson. At that point, the bottom six will perform U2’s “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” before the countdown resumes.

http://www.newstimes.com/entertainment/ci_10134755

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Oye Vei Another Day

So before I start my normal randomness of a blog I am going to answer the most asked question in my last blog.
Q: WHY DO YOU CALL DAVID DARREN?
A: Top 24 he decided during a group number rehersal, that my name was just too long to say. So he asked if I had any nicknames. i gave him a couple of options but none were to his liking. SO then he called me Darren. But me being the not so clever of a nick name person, I called him “Darren” back. He said there couldnt be 2 darren’s so it stuck to him and long story short after nick names from him like “uuungawa, poi, and moogoo gai pan” my new name which seems permamnent, is RAMAMA.

Now to my oh so random blog. Yesterday as I was doing my after shower routine getting ready while still in my towel, with my music on, I heard running up and down the halls. I was assuming it was the bellman since it was near bag call time. So just to make sure i told my bf (whom I had been on the phone with the whole time having a full on conversation) that I would look out to see what was going on. I looked through the peep hole and there were two kids around probably 10-13 outside my door with their ears stuck on it. I was SO MAD.This is where NICE ramiele goes away. It was a total invasion of privacy, I was on the phone for one, and two, when we arent on the bus the hotels we’re put up in are our homes. So why in the world would they think it was okay to do that. I then screamed through the door and said “Can I freaking help you” I was mad. What people dont seem to understand that when we are on tour the buses are our homes but the hotel’s we’re put up at are our homes as well, even if for that one night. Im happy to sign autographs 24/7 and take pictures if capable but not in our homes. Its as if someone would go to our front yard look through the window and holler at you to come out and sign for them. Its just not human. And completely disrespectful. I really was so bummed that people would stoop so low. Anyways we’ve been informed that from that point on we are not allowed to stop for pictures and autographs at our hotels. So there should be no point to be making your way to the hotels.

I other news… MY BDAY is coming up. I was so excited that a fan gave me a blank music book so now I can finally write music. Only problem now is Im instrumentless. My sister tought me before I left how to play the guitar. Im not amazing at it but I know enough to make up a song or two. So Im hoping for my birthday I can get an acoustic guitar. My sister has like 5. But those are her babies. So there goes that. I guess I’ll wait for my mom or bf or something to get me one. Hopefully!!! I cant wait to spend my bday with you guys

ramiele


http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&...090&blogID=422893242

Up Close With The American Idols - Kristy Lee Cook

For most contestants American Idol is their once in a lifetime shot at stardom. But for some, like Kristy Lee Cook, it is also a second chance. Cook, along with fellow contestants Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, was signed to a record label in the past. Seven years ago Cook was signed with Arista-Nashville under Britney Spears’ Superstar label. As with Michael Johns (who recorded an album with Maverick Records), Cook’s deal fell apart before an album was ever released.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/08/11/083134.php

jason myspace post:

everydays like an open door! haha name that movie. anywasys so im in baltimore! a day off! woohoo! long drive last night…. we pulled in around 8 am and i was full of energy! i ended up staying awake listening to music, eating pancakes, playing guitar and listening to some more music, starting a cup of coffee and falling asleep halfway through it. haha but ya so hey, for the last 3 days i have been listening to the same song over and over again and i thought id share. its by my favorite band, mothers anthem! i hadnt heard it and i checked out their myspace the other day and i cannot get enough!!!! what an infectious melody and the passion in kirks voice is magic. he is one of my biggest inspirations. you guys should chek out the song its called “holding you hostage” another guy that ive been dipping into in the last week is a fella name justin nozuka. if you havnt heard him you should check him out too.
cant wait to share some of my music but until then ill jsut have to share others! stop by and give me some plays too if you dont mind

hollerrrr!

jasonnn.

www. myspace. com/mothersanthem

www. myspace. com/justinnozuka

Kristy Lee Cook Embraces American Idol Jumpstart

Kristy Lee Cook, finalist from the last season of American Idol, is releasing her first Country Music single, “15 Minutes Of Shame,” to radio today.

Cook is currently on the American Idol tour, and credits the show with launchi