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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > November > 06
Thursday, November 6, 2008
11/7: David Archuleta album reviews, Idol starts up January 13, 2009
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The David Archuleta album reviews are starting to trickle in. These two are so-so.
The Salt Lake Tribune gives it a B-minus:
This isn’t an album that takes risks. Archuleta is to be commended for co-writing two songs, but those sound more filler than killer, with lyrics that settle for platitudes. But then again, who are we to look for answers for the meaning of life from a 17-year-old from Murray?
Entertainment Weekly gave it a C-plus:
On American Idol’s seventh season, David Archuleta had some personality — something you’ll struggle to remember while taking in this bland, amnesia-inducing collection.
His liner notes got on for 3,500 words. He’s truly a thankful teen!
As he told ew.com: “I completely ramble, even in my interviews or just explaining things. And I didn’t want to forget anyone! Gives you something to talk about, I guess.”
Here’s a USA Today story about him with the album due out Tuesday.
His take on the media onslaught against his dad:
“That was rough,” the younger Archuleta says. The uproar was “rude and weird, because my dad is so laid-back. There are still people who think he’s abusing me or something. I don’t think they realize I’m almost 18.”
-Season eight of “American Idol” starts on January 13 and 14, both two-hour extravaganzas. We’ll get our first look at Kara Dioguardi!
-Here’s a quick overview of how the “Idols” did last week in sales and airplay
David Archuleta sees his single stuck at 13 on the Radio & Records top 40. Idol Chatter provides the download and sales data: “Crush” is the top-selling download, moving 56K last week and now is up to 861K total.
Jordin Sparks sees her single “One Step at a Time” drop from 10 to 17 and 38 to 43 in download sales, moving 27K and 931K total. “No Air” sold another 11K and 2.38 million. Her album moves another 4K and is up to 945K. It’s going to be a slow slog to 1 million at this rate unless she gets a fourth hit out of the album.
Jennifer Hudson saw sales go up to 32K, partially from all the sad news. She dropped to 14 because of all the new albums. She is up to 387K. She’ll breach 500K easily. The single sells another 20K and 260K total. “Spotlight” drops from 6 to 8 in the urban charts.
David Cook’s “Time of My Life” single drops out of the top 40 and “Light On” has yet to break the chart. “Light On” falls to 66 from 35, with 19K sold and 208K total. “Time” moves another 10K and 980K total.
Carrie Underwood’s “Just a Dream” remains at No. 1 for a second week, soon to be superseded by either Taylor Swift or Atlanta’s own Zac Brown Band. Download sales move 18K and 328K total. Her latest album sells 11K for the week and 2.4 million total.
Daughtry’s “What About Now” falls from 28 to 30 with sales of 10K and 451K total. His album falls out of the top 100 for the first time to 102 with 5K and 4.27 mil.
Bucky Covington’s “I’ll Walk” edges up to 11 on the country chart.
Kristy Lee Cook’s “15 Minutes of Shame” is up to 28 from 30 on the country chart.
Josh Gracin’s “Unbelievable” edges up to 36 from 39.
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11/6: Did “Idol” help fuel real voting? And Justin Guarini joins “Gone Country”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A National Republic writer Alan H. Fleischmann thinks all that voting for “American Idol” helped inure younger viewers into voting for something that really matters, like a Presidential election.
And as much as some might scoff at the deleterious effects of Idol on our culture, it has created a culture of voting among our young people. Where past generations of youth might have felt cynically about their ability to affect change, the millions of Idol voters can see the palpable impact of their vote — live in prime time and with Ryan Seacrest as their Walter Cronkite. With Idol, voting becomes a habit, something done week after week, season after season. Votes are taken seriously, discussed at length at the water cooler, on Facebook and on blogs. Civics may have faded from the curriculum. Thankfully, Simon, Paula and Randy have risen as tutors of small-r republican virtue.
Do you agree? I figure it’s more Obama than any “Idol”-fueled mentality but it’s a theory. Who knows?
As this story said, there were 2 million more voters under the age of 30 than in 2004. But older voters came out en masse, too, so 18 to 29 year olds represented about 18 percent of the entire electorate vs. 17 percent in 2000 and 2004.
-Following the footsteps of Diana DeGarmo and Mikalah Gordon, season one runner-up Justin Guarini is joining season three of CMT’s “Gone Country.”
He joins funk legend George Clinton, Miss USA Tara Conner, R&B pop ’80s singer Taylor Dayne, Monkees singer Micky Dolenz, R&B drummer/songstress Sheila E and actor Richard Grieco. The show will debut in January 2009.
Do you think Justin has any potential in country? I’m a little bit skeptical given his penchant for jazz and R&B. But it’s publicity and a paycheck!
-And JTesla, you’ll hopefully enjoy this one. Carrie Underwood on the cover of Elle:
Her fantasy is to meet someone who doesn’t know who she is. “If I meet somebody, and they don’t know anything about me, that’s like, ‘Oh, you’re going to actually get to know me a little bit before you go Google me?’ ”
