Yes, we're a little shocked, but Kris definitely deserves it! CONGRATS!
Well guys it's been a fun season. We can't wait to see Michael in the Idol Tour in Dallas. SEE YOU THERE!!!
Till next season
-Enterprise out
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
One show to go, one Idol to name
This is the final performance show.
This is the final performance blog.
And thissssssssssss is American Idol.
As Ryan said, it's the battle of the guy next door versus the guy liner.
Tonight Adam Lambert and Kris Allen each sang three songs: they're favorite from the season, the producer's pick, and this season's "cover" song, written by judge Kara Dioguardi.
Adam started out with his most favorite performance of the season, "Mad World" by Gary Jules. The judges did exactly what the judges do - Randy gave his dawg some props, Kara talked "artist," Paula looooves him, and Simon gave bad news with his good news (this time Adam was too theatrical).
Kris' favorite was "Ain't no sunshine," by Bill Withers. We remember this as the first time we heard Kris sing and stopped to say, "Wow."
Randy: Dawg.
Kara: Artist
Paula: Looooove
Simon: Good news. Bad news.
Simon called the first round - as Simon always calls the finale rounds - and gave it to Kris.
After Adam's second performance, the producer's pick (with a name we totally missed because we ran for beverage, sorry), the judges all hailed him as the best thing to hit the music scene since the electric guitar. Paula said he will be "iconic." Simon said he was back in the game. We love Kris as much as the next fan, but after hearing his version of "What's going on," think Adam was much better. Simon did, too. "Too laid back," he said, giving points from the second round "a million times" to Adam.
The third song is the season's title track. The first single. The uplifting, motivational song that could double as the anthem for the Olympics. Dioguardi's "No boundaries" is this year's choice. Judges' comments went something like...
Randy: Didn't like the song, but you sing your face off, dawg.
Kara: I wrote that song. It's so cool that you sang it. Kelly didn't do as good with my other songs.
Paula: Adjectives can't express. I don't know them anyway. Fan forever. Loooooove.
Simon: You rock, Glambert! You ROCK!
Like Randy said, Kris was a better fit for the final song. And all the judges agreed, he's done an amazing job this year - coming from someone we never saw on camera until the group rounds to the final two. Essentially it sounded like...
Randy: You aren't going to win, but we like you.
Kara: Thank you for making my song sound better than he did.
Paula: Fan forever. Looooooove.
Simon: Second place out of like 3 million is pretty awesome, lad.
We made a little sideline observation: Did you think the other judges were sort of making fun of Kara's song? She looked tight-lipped and a tad upset as she listened to the other comments about the song not being right.
So... place your bets.
Who will be the next American Idol?
Tomorrow is going to be a humdinger of a show, with lots of performances and a sure appearance from Michael Sarver! Join us here to talk about it after the votes are handed out.
Until then, Enterprise out!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Who will make the final two???
Danny and Adam?
Adam and Kris?
Danny and Kris?
Who's it gonna be????
We think last night's show deserves a little water-cooler talk. And it's not Adam and Danny we want to talk about, it's Kris! All we can say is: O-M-G. What a fantastic performance of Kanye's "Heartless"!
DialIdol predictions are sketchy today, since the final three are apparently running a pretty tight race. Probably the closest Idol has ever seen at this point (that's an Idol Chatter prediction, of course).
But we want to know what you think.
Who will be heading home tonight?
Monday, May 4, 2009
The misadventures of Sassy Sarver
Michael Sarver is getting a new nickname.
Forget Pork Chop. We're rollin' with "Sassy Sarver: Jasper Diva."
One of our Enterprise Idol fans found a story earlier today on KJAS.com about the Parade Grand Marshall for Jasper. This story somehow disappeared shortly thereafter (and we're thinking the reason can be tacked to the bottom of that diva list), but a true Idol fan has copies of such things.
According to the story, Michael Sarver is going to be the only Grand Marshall for the Lions Club 63rd annual Jasper Lions Club Rodeo Parade. Awesome, right?! That's a pretty cool accomplishment!
Wait... hold the applause.
Apparently Michael was supposed to share that title with Jasper's new head football coach Mike Bickham. But, and we quote, "Lions Club Vice President and Parade Chairman Lequin Hilderbrand said on Monday that the change occurred after receiving a telephone call from Michael Sarver Monday morning."
Bickman will instead be "Parade Boss," along with JISD Athletic Director Thomas Brooks.
We certainly don't want to make assumptions, but it sounds sort of like Michael went all Diana Ross and pitched a hissy for not being the coolest thing in town. And let's be honest here, we're super proud of Michael and we back him 100 percent. We can't wait to hear his first CD. But 10th place doesn't exactly call for an event contract and a dressing room full of Evian and fresh fruit. And lets not forget this is Texas. Idol is great, but football is right under God.
We're not sure why the story was removed. We could be wrong. We're hoping so.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Idol tour skipping Houston
Tickets for the American Idol Top Ten Summer Tour, which includes Jasper's Michael Sarver, go on sale May 9. But Southeast Texans will have to drive to Dallas for the concert.
Houston isn't on the list of 50 cities the tour will hit, according to the American Idol Web site. There also are no dates booked in Louisiana.
At a welcome home event in Jasper April 8, Sarver told fans he expected the tour to have a Houston date and that he hoped to hear his Jasper fans there. The tour begins July 5 in Portland, Ore., and the group will be in Dallas July 23.
Are you as upset as we are? Leave a comment below and we'll forward them to Idol producers.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Photo recap: The historic save
"We're going to sing this group song now, which has gotten way awkward since we got busted lip-synching."
"Who's gonna go? Who's gonna go? We don't know!(But we know who won't...)
"Welcome Jennifer Hudson - proof that winning Idol isn't everything. Jennifer was voted out in 6th place and still makes way more money than all of us!"
"Here's your bottom three. Some of them are getting used to this."
"You're safe, Noop Dog.Go, Dog, Go."
"And here we have teen queen Miley Cyrus: Proof that Allison really is the only teenager who can actually sing."
"Oh no, say it a'int so! Lil is STAYING?"
"Welcome back, Lil. Please don't mess it up again next week."
Matt gets to sing the very song that got him voted off the showin hopes that the judges somehow missed it the night before...
"Save him! Save him! None of us are ever going to need it!"
"What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?"
"No, really, what are you gonna do?"
"Oh my God, they saved him! History has been made! But next week is Disco Week and everyone except Adam is going home!"
Two-judge format for ever?
The Associated Press released this story this week:
Kara Dioguardi says the two-judge format could be a one-time thing on “American Idol.” Tuesday’s show switched things up by allowing only a pair of judges to review a singer because of time constraints. But Dioguardi, the fourth addition to the judges’ panel, expects the series will return to normal next week, giving everyone a chance to chime in. Dioguardi, who was paired with Randy Jackson, says she learned of the format change shortly before the telecast. She says it was a “safety” measure because last week’s performance show ran over schedule. Simon Cowell blamed her and Paula Abdul for talking too much. Dioguardi jokingly responds that Cowell will never blame himself for “Idol” snafus.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Matt Giraud saved by Idol judges
It was Disney Channel night on Idol tonight with appearances by Miley Cyrus and Zac Efron.
We kid of course. Oscar-award winning Jennifer Hudson brought up the caliber of talent with a hit off her 2008 album.
Surprisingly, some of the Idol contestants sounded better to us than the two stars with recording contracts. Unfortunately, America could not vote Miley Cyrus off. Her rendition of "Climb" was so pitchy it made us want to 'climb' behind our couch until her segment ended.
No, tonight America tried to send Matt Giraud home. Callers apparently did not "really, really looovvvve" Matt.
The poor woman's Justin Timberlake, however,seems to have swayed the judges.
Simon told Matt: "I really don't think you have a chance to win this ... but, it's good news."
Following the big announcement, Simon cautioned all Idol contestants not to "celebrate too much". Next week is "Disco week" and two Idol wannabes are going home.
Our prediction, it won't be Adam Lambert!
We're predicting a Gloria Gayner "I Will Survive" surprise from Adam. Can't wait.
Until then, Enterprise out!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Top 7 perform songs from the movies
The Top 7 took on songs from the movies tonight, with director Quentin Tarantino as their mentor (which had us sort of scratching our heads, seeing as how he doesn't sing).
The ever-rockin' Allison kicked off the show and was praised for Aerosmith's "I don't wanna miss a thing." Paula said she's a lot like Matt, keeping it real every week. Simon said she's the only girl that can really win the competition. Seeing as how she's one of only two girls, and the other is Little Miss Tina Turner, I'd say that's a pretty good prediction to make. According to DialIdol (and her frequently sitting center stage), Allison fluctuates from super safe to bottom three week after week. Allison fans, you need to spend a few extra minutes voting tonight.
Anoop took on the well overdone "(Everything I do) I do it for you" by Bryan Adams from the Robin Hood soundtrack. And just like Randy, when we heard he was singing this we sort of clenched our teeth. But, while we really haven't been Anoop's biggest fan these days, we have to give him credit for this one. Probably his best performance.
Our Idol extrovert Adam Lambert is "Born to be wild." Adam doesn't actually have to sing anymore to impress us. He could just stand on stage and smile and we'd give him the award for best act of the night. He hit notes that might have cracked our TV. Once the star-struck teenagers stopped screaming, the judges gave him big props. Paula said he's one of the bravest contestants ever. Simon said he's becoming incredible, but did say it was a bit like something from Rocky Horror Picture Show. But as far as songs go, this really wasn't his best. Either way, we'd vote for Adam if he sang "Mary had a little lamb," and bet it'd be the best &%$# song we've ever heard. We're just sayin'.
Matt Giraud took on Brian Adams as well, with "Have you ever really loved a woman?" from Don Juan DeMarco. The truth is, he didn't do a really fantastic job. Judges agreed, with Randy saying he failed in more places than he won and Kara saying something we completely missed because we were watching Simon make really strange faces in the background. But we don't want to openly admit the truth, because it might jinx him. And we love him. So we are pretending he raised the roof. Robert Downey, Jr. Danny Gokey came out sans glasses for Lionel Riche's "Endless love." There were harps. It was...hmmm...well...we snored. Honestly it was something we'd have expected in the waiting room at the dentist's office. Paula loved him. Paula always loves him. We don't trust Paula's judgement where Go Go Gokey is concerned. Simon was disappointed with the traditional take on the song. We're starting to like Simon more and more. Simon did the forbidden and brought up Danny's wife, and so the votes will flood in. I can almost hear the crying women dialing now...
Kris Allen earned extra points immediately for choosing the awesome but not-so-well known song, "Falling slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (one of our favorites...lets add a few more points). Randy said he wasn't sure about the performance. We don't like Randy right now. We agree completely with Kara in that it was one of his best performances. Kris has been bringing some serious competition the past few weeks. We recently made the statement to another Enterprise Idol fan that Kris was "vanilla" - always a great flavor, but just not as good as chocolate. We have officially upgraded him to "The Great Divide" - a fine mix of chocolate and vanilla that makes us stand up and cheer.
Much to our surprise, Lil Rounds didn't pick the Titanic song. Instead she went with the equally hated "The Rose" by Bette Midler. This song painfully reminds us of 7th grade choir. But once she hit her second verse, we had to stop and say, "Whoa." Paula said something we totally didn't understand. Simon said she got it wrong again. While we don't agree completely agree with Simon, we just can't put Lil high on our list anymore. We didn't care much for her back talking, either. Brooke White, anyone?
Here's how we're ranking tonight's performances:
1. Kris
2. Allison
3. Anoop
4. Adam
5. Matt
6. Lil
7. Danny
And for the big one...
Who do we predict will go home tomorrow?
(drumroll, please)
LIL ROUNDS!
Or maybe we just hope.
Ready... set... vote!!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
8 becomes 7
Your bottom three.
Will it be Anoop? Will it be Scott?...
...It's Scott.
America said goodbye to Idol-hopeful Scott MacIntyre last night, bringing our Top 8 to a Top 7. While we've secretly hoped for Scott's elimination for some time, the actual event was a bit tearful and sad. A great musician and inspiration to all, Scott just didn't belong on Idol's pop star platform. But we expect to see him more in the future.
Some contestants stepped up their game Tuesday night, and some just seemed to quit playing.
Here's how we rate Tuesday's songs from the year they were born...
Great Performance of the Night: Adam Lambert, who made it snow in hell when he brought Simon to his feet for his first standing ovation in 8 years.
Great-But-Not-Quite-Adam Performance of the night: Allison Iraheta, who at just 16 years old, makes us feel a bit like failures every time she opens her mouth. Randy said she sang her face off. We agree. We also feel a little old when she sings "I can't make you love me" as a song from the year she was born.
Most Under-Appreciated Performance: Kris Allen's "All she wants to do is dance." The judges said he was overshadowed by the horns and strange arrangement. We disagree. We think the arrangement was a nice change to the otherwise karaoke song.
Most Over-Appreciated Performance: Danny Gokey's "Stand by me." Okay, so he can sing, but the man has his limits. The judges praised his performance like it was the best thing he's ever done. We expect to hear that version as a free gift when you buy 3 or more CDs from Hallmark.
Most Oh-My-God-That-Did-Not-Just-Happen Performance: Lil Rounds with "What's love got to do with it." Even if we weren't sorta over Lil, we'd have stood their with our mouths on the ground. There's almost no way to make that song original, but that doesn't mean be Tina. From her walk to her eye movements, Lil Rounds became Ms. Turner's shadow. It was like watching Angela Bassett in the closing credits of the movie. Not good, Lil. Not good.
Most Please-Let-Him-Be-Next Performance: Anoop. He can sing. So could the guy that wore the sparkly headbands. Doesn't mean he needs to be there.
Most Can't-Wait-For-Him-To-Make-A-CD Performance: Matt Giraud. It doesn't matter what he sings, we love him. And we totally think he would win... if Adam wasn't there... and Danny dropped out... hmpf.
Most-Like-The-Year-They-Were-Born Performance: Scott's version of "The Search is Over" was a flashback to the 80s. We think he could rock a REO Speedwagon or Air Supply cover band.
Rumor is next week will be "Songs from the Cinema" night.
Anyone wanna vote Lil for "My heart will go on"?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Finally ...
...the right person went home at the right time. Goodbye Megan. You held so much promise and we were excited about the originality you could bring to the show. But alas, you failed to deliver.. again. (See ya on the tour)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
You asked, Michael answered
Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for us to ask Michael today in our one-on-one interview. Here's what he said. Watch for the full audio of the interview later and read the story in tomorrow's Beaumont Enterprise.
QUESTION: I recently viewed a clip interviewing Danny Gokey about your departure; he spoke of a song that you had written that he wants on his 1st album. With all the talent in the top 10, besides Danny, because its apparent that the both of you have become friends, do you see yourself working along the side of other top 10 performers from Season 8? Will the opportunity exist to write for, and even perform with, these other contestants besides the releasing of your own material?
ANSWER: Yeah, I could see myself working with Allison (Iraheta), definitely; Kris (Allen), we have some things in common musically. If they’ll have me, I’ll be there. They probably say the same thing about me. There’s a mutual respect between us. If the opportunity arose, absolutely.
QUESTION: I loved Michael on American Idol. I enjoyed his singing but even more than that was his personality. He has the best attitude I've ever seen. I can tell Jesus just flows out of him. My question would be would he consider Contemporary Christian. I think he would be great at that. I'd love to hear him sing it.
ANSWER: I actually would, But I’ll tell you this much. People will be surprised to see when my album comes out, it will have some inspirational on it. I am choosing the secular music world just for the sake that I believe that once you gain a voice you can speak about those things you believe but until you gain a voice and the respect of people. You can’t just expect them to listen to you just because you are.
QUESTION: When will we know dates and places for the tour?
ANSWER: – That’s actually a question I’d like to ask. We’ve not received any information ourselves about dates.
More interview videos
Here's some more of Michael's TV appearances this week. We're looking for more, as there have been a lot. If you see any other videos online let us know at DConstantine@BeaumontEnterprise.com and we'll get them up. Thanks!
A murky future
DialIdol's prediction of who will advance tonight is a little (read a lot) unclear. Five of the nine contestants are said to be in danger of being eliminated, with Megan in the most danger. Who's safe: Danny, Kris, Adam and Lil. (Of course, they said Matt was safe last week and he ended up in the bottom 2).
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Top 9 perform
We really missed Michael tonight. Sorry, but we just don't enjoy watching the show as much now. Here’s how we ranked tonight’s contestants Kris, Adam, Allison, Danny, Michael, Scott, Lil, Matt, Anoop, Megan ... can't blame us for trying.
Speak to Michael
We have our first interview with Michael tomorrow and we want your help. If you were able to ask Michael one question, what would it be?
Although we can’t promise to ask him everything, The Enterprise will try to include some of your questions in Wednesday afternoon’s interview.
Submit your questions to DConstantine@BeaumontEnterprise.com
Welcome home party planned
A Welcome Home Celebration for Michael will be held on NEXT Tuesday, April 7 at 6 p.m. on the courthouse square in Jasper. This celebration will be hosted by the Jasper Chamber of Commerce and Harvest Church. Michael is being awarded a resolution by County Judge Mark Allen. Following this presentation and introduction, Michael will answer a few questions and sign autographs. Michael will not be performing at this time.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
.jpg)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Michael not ready to return to oil rig
By the Associated Press
Michael Sarver, latest castoff from "American Idol," isn't ready to go back to the oil rig.
"I don't think it would be a great idea to get out there and take a chance on hurting myself and not being available for the tour," he told a teleconference Friday, a day after being eliminated from the Fox singing competition.
"I'm going home, and I'm going to take some time off to spend with my family. I believe they deserve my undivided attention for a little while and that's exactly what they're going to get."
Sarver will take part in the "Idols Live" tour with the rest of the top 10 contestants this summer. Dates have yet to be announced.
He said he didn't take it personally when judge Simon Cowell told him this week that there's no way he could win. "It didn't necessarily tick me off, nor did it insult me, but it kind of made me giggle, because he knows better than that. We didn't get there by mistake," Sarver said.
And he's not just an oil worker who sings. "I am a serious writer, and I have written over 890 songs since the age of 14," he said. "There's a lot of stories, a lot of ... hard-lived life, good-lived life, and my happiness that I experience in life now all through my music and I'm going to share it."
His favorite "American Idol" moment? Shooting hoops with the guys. Danny Gokey, Anoop Desai and Sarver would play basketball to blow off steam.
"It was quite fun. I was horrible, of course," he said, adding that Desai is an intense player. "When Anoop missed, he did not like it. He would beat himself up until he got it."
Michael interviews
Michael begins a week-long press tour today. We'll posts video and snippets of his interviews as we get them:
Quotes from today’s press conference:
Is having young kids a disadvantage?
“Actually, I would consider myself at an advantage because I have a level of inspiration from something that someone without kids doesn’t get to experience. They are rock solid and they are the core of my purpose. They’ve driven me into this and have been so inspiring in the way that they love me and support me and if anything it would be an advantage rather than a disadvantage. Without a doubt difficult and very hard to deal with at times, missing them, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
He describes the album he’ll make, “It’s definitely gonna be an R&B pop soul album. I really like the R&B pop style of Justin Timberlake, all the way across the aisle to Gavin Degraw and bringing in some of that soulful rock, just a combination of those kinds of things.”
Does Simon and Paula’s horsing around frustrate him?
“Number one, I enjoy that because what people need to understand is that this is supposed to be a fun thing. It’s supposed to be enjoyable, it’s supposed to be the time of our lives and they help make it that by goofing around–like Simon coloring on Paula’s face. That was just absolutely hilarious. It does make it complicated sometimes when, if you may feel like they’re not really listening to you, but overall the fun that they’re having on the show makes everybody smile and that’s what entertainment is all about–bringing a positive light to the TV world.”
He and Danny and Anoop played basketball the other night. What kind of player is Anoop?
“Anoop can play some ball, but I’ll tell you he’s a very intense basketball player…and when Anoop missed he did not like it. He would beat himself up until he got it. Very intense, very passionate about a sport that he loves very much.”
Michael is a songwriter, “There’s something that America does not know so much about me, but they’ll find out. I am a serious writer and I’ve written over 890 songs since the age of 14. And there’s a lot of stories…a lot of life, hard lived life, good lived life and my happiness that I’ve experienced in life now all through my music and I’m gonna share it.”
Michael's final hurrah
After weeks of love from the judges and fans, the roughneck is going home, just in time to celebrate his birthday Saturday with his family.
Motown night proved to be an unexpected stumbling block for Jasper's Michael Sarver, and, coming hard on the heels of Grand Ole Opry night, his crooning just wasn't enough to keep him safe. The 27-year-old sang "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," but it wasn't enough for the fans, apparently.
The judges weren't particularly happy either. The grace Sarver has received from Simon Cowell for most of the season was gone again this week as he told Sarver he had "no chance of winning" the competition.
Sarver was on the hot seats with Matt Girard and Scott McIntyre, but in the end, it was Jasper's own singing for his life. "I think they almost decided to keep him," said Jo Helen O'Gilbert, a member at Harvest Church, where Sarver has been a praise and worship leader.
Fellow church member Rosa Mijares agreed. "I thought that was not fair that Simon just blurted out he was going to make a decision and Michael was going home," Mijares said by phone.
"The good thing was, you looked at him, looked at his face, he was so secure and calm. We're so proud of him even though he didn't make No. 1." For the judges to save someone, the decision has to be unanimous. So, though Paula Abdul and Kara DioGuardia looked to be pulling for him, Simon's dissent was enough to send Sarver home.
Read the full story HERE.Thursday, March 26, 2009
LIVE BLOG - Motown Results Show
6:49 - Alright folks, thanks for joining us again tonight! Stay tuned with us - and FOX too, of course - for the next hour as we find out if our own Pork Chop, er, Michael Sarver will stay or go.
7:01 - Seacrest kicks things off by telling us that over 36 million votes came in...the most in the history of the show.
7:03 - Seacrest, Simon and Paula...awwwwwkward! Time to revisit last night.
7:06 - BUT FIRST...we MUST have a medley! Along with some really bad choreography. The ladies look great. The guys, mostly look like they just rolled out of the frat house.
7:14 - Oh Lord...now we have to sit through this heinous commercial/music video.
7:15 - Give it up for Ruben Studdard! It was nice of him to top by "Idol" before going to party at the Playboy mansion later...Sorry...we're being told he's actually wearing a suit and not fancy pajamas. Our bad.
7:19 - Time for the bottom three...dim the lights, please. No rejection in brightened hues, please.
Adam...is safe!
Matt...is NOT???? Whoa!
Kris...is safe!
Lil...is safe!
MICHAEL...is NOT!!!! YIKES!!! Not good folks.
7:27 - Smokey Robinson and Joss "Shoes are not my thing" Stone sing "You're the One For Me" and the sound great, but OH MY GOD WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH SMOKEY'S CRAZY EYES??? Seriously.
7:35 - Time to find out who else is in the bottom three.
Allison...is safe!
Anoop...is safe!
Danny...is safe!
Scott...is NOT!
Megan...is safe!
7:38 - Scott, Micheal and Matt are in the bottom three. Randy doesn't think Matt belongs. TOO BAD DAWG...because SCOTT is safe...it's now down to Matt and Micheal.
7:44 - Simon says that they judges will decide to use The Save based on their final performance. BUT FIRST...and Motown medley featuring Stevie Wonder! Who...we have to say, sounds a bit off key...he's probably still traumatized from performing with The Jonas Brothers at the Grammies. Still...Stevie rules.
7:50 - This just in...Stevie loves Barack Obama. Despite being finalists, contestants lack rhythm while dancing.
7:56 - Who will sing for survival tonight...it's Michael! NO! Now he's got to sing to stay. Let's see how he does...don't think this was the performance that would win the judges back. But...if they didn't like this the first time around, why would hearing it again change their minds?
7:58 - Looks like Micheal Sarver's time in LA has come to an end...WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU MICHAEL AND ALL YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED!
Seriously man...we've had a lot of fun on this blog, but are in awe at what you've accomplished. You should be proud of yourself...WE are ALL proud of YOU!
8:00 - With sadness and pride for our hometown boy...Enterprise out.
A dire predication?
Ok, we've got DialIdol's prediction of who will leave us tonight. Click "Read more" below if you want to see. 
So it doesn't look good for Michael. DialIdol puts him at the bottom of their list behind Scott and Megan. BUT there's been some confusion during the past few weeks about what DialIdol's prediction means. DialIdol does NOT predict the exact order the contestants will finish in that week. If you look at the last column, you'll see a range of numbers that predict what placeS (more than one) they might finish in. This is where they are usually very accurate. So they predict Michael will finish in places 8-10. They also predict Scott and Megan could finish 10th. So don't despair. He's not out yet.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Michael's church cheers
Friends and family of Jasper's Michael Sarver gathered at Harvest Church on Wednesday to watch him sing on "American Idol."After he hit the bottom three last week, Sarver needed a big comeback to stay in the competition, and those watching from his hometown think he got it. But the judges had fewer assurances.
"I think Michael did a good job," said Jo Helen O'Gilbert, a fellow church member from Jasper. "This week, the judges, I think they were a little bit harsh on everybody.
Read the story here.
LIVE BLOG - Top 10 Performance
6:52 - Awww yeah Southeast Texas! It's almost time for our LIVE BLOG EVENT! Tonight the "Idolaters" are singing songs from Motown. We think Micheal should do well - the boy's got some soul, after all. Adam...let's just say we're curious about the spectacle he turns out.
7:00 - THISSSSS...is Seacrest being a massive tool. Seriously. We can't wait until he falls down the stairs. Simon says the singers have to make the songs original. Let's see how they do...!
7:05 - Or...we can pause for a Motown Montage. Time for a ROAD TRIP TO DETROIT!
7:08 - Let's just get this out of the way...Smokey Robinson is a legend. But what's the deal with his eyes? Is he part Lynx?
7:09 - Matt Giraud starts if off with "Let's Get it On"...wow. BIG song choice for him. He slows it down at first with the piano - good choice. Than he brings it home with the mike at center stage all while wearing Mr. Rogers' sweater.
JUDGES - Randy dug it. Kara liked the piano and than when he stood up. Paula thought he was classy and spot on. Simon thought he cemented his frontrunner status.
7:14 - Kris Allen is up next. He's also going with Marvin Gaye and "How Sweet it Is." Let's see if he's got the soul for this performance...he does a fine job, but our thing with him is that when he sings, he kind of looks like a toddler trying to form words for the first time...just saying.
JUDGES - Kara says he did everything right. Paula is proud of him. Simon thinks he needs some more confidence. Randy thinks he hit his zone.
7:30 - Next up is Scott McIntyre...singing "You Can't Hurry Love"...in pink pants. OK we're not so in favor of this version starring Happy Peppy Scott McIntyre and the Crazy Giddy Peppettes.
JUDGES - Paula thought the backup singers brought something different. Simon thinks he's better than that performance. Randy thought it was average. Kara thought the execution was imperfect. Than Paula gave Simon colors and a coloring book...?
We just decided to make this a drinking game. Clearly the judges have.
7:42 - Here's Megan Joy singing "For Once in My Life"...and, sure this song might have actually been in a Carnival Cruise line commercial once...but she didn't need to interpret that literally. She sounds like the afternoon entertainment on the Lido Deck.
JUDGES - Randy thought it was a train wreck. Kara thought it was all over the place. Paula thinks she's stunning, but agrees. Simon thought it was horrible.
7:50 - Next up is Anoop Desai...and he'll sing "Ooo Baby Baby."
(PAUSE - OK...seriously, Smokey's eyes are CRAZY, right?)
Back to Anoop...He sounds really good...yet he's dressed like a Math-lete.
JUDGES - Kara thought it was pretty good. Paula wants to see more confidence. Simon liked it, but wanted more showmanship. Randy liked his lil' "Anoop Dawg."
ONE HOUR WRAP-UP: So far, we think they break down like this: Matt, Kris, Anoop, Scott, and Megan. BRING IT ON PORK CHOP!
8:05 - Here's Mr. Chop himself...he sings "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"...and it's solid! His vocals are good. He sounds a bit out of breath, but we'll chalk that up to nervousness. This, Pork Chop, was WELL DONE!
JUDGES - Paula didn't think he dominated enough. Simon doesn't think he can win with performances like that. Randy thought he made it too corny. Kara didn't think he showed who he was as an "artist."
8:17 - Lil Rounds is next...she sings "Heat Wave." Actually she belts it out. She goes low in a couple points, which is original, but mostly she just owns the song.
JUDGES - Randy didn't think it was her best. Kara thought she should have nailed it more. Paula disagrees and also thought she owned it. Simon thought she should have chosen a different song.
8:31 - Adam Lambert is next and...umm...he looks interesting - more 1950's and less vampire. Sort of liked he's double booked for a sock hop-themed DVD release party for "Twilight." He's singing "Tracks of My Tears." Great song. Great arrangement. And he sings it really, really well. We'd have to say it's the best of the night.
JUDGES - Kara thought it he showed artistry. Paula thought it was exciting! Simon thought it was the best of the night. Randy dug that he showed his range.
8:40 - Danny Gokey is next to sing...and he's going with "Get Ready." His voice sounds great and he works the song in his favor. But his movements are a bit awkward...how's his eyesight?
JUDGES - Paula thought it was first-class. Simon didn't love it. Randy was feeling the energy. Kara thought good, not great.
8:50: - Last one to go is Allison Iraheta singing "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Perfect song choice for her gravelly, soulful voice. She's up there with Adam as the best of the night.
JUDGES - Randy thought it was blazing hot. Kara thought it was amazing. Paula thought she was awesome. Simon thought it was one of her best performances.
That's all folks! Lines are open for the next couple hours. So CALL AND VOTE! Based on the judges comments, here's how we see them stacking up: Adam, Allison, Matt, Kris, Anoop, Lil, Danny, Scott, Michael, and Megan.
Thanks for watching with us...ENTERPRISE OUT!
Mikey likes ice cream, excited about tour
From The AP
The top 10 "American Idol" finalists say they already count themselves as winners: They've earned a place on the show's nationwide concert tour. For Adam Lambert, the summer tour means the chance to buy a condo. Danny Gokey sees it as a financial boon as well. Michael Sarver fervently echoes that and looks forward to his version of a rock-star perq — ice cream, and lots of it.
"I have a major problem with ice cream. I should probably go to Ice Cream Anonymous meetings," he said. Sarver and his fellow contestants laugh when asked about any divalike demands, but they're serious about the opportunity ahead of them.
"I didn't know my situation if I had to go back home without the tour. ... things are not easy right now," said Sarver, 27, an oil-rig worker from Jasper, Texas, who's married with two children. "This says I have work this year. It's a blessing."
Lambert, 27, of Los Angeles figures it's about time he owned his own home. Megan Joy, 23, from Sandy, Utah, is looking forward to a little personal space for her and her toddler. "I get to finally move out of my mom's house," she said, gleefully.
Dates and tour locations have yet to be announced for the tour, which follows the show's May 20 finale. On this week's shows the contestants were set to perform Motown tunes. What they'll be paid for the tour is kept under wraps by producers. Even the contestants were uncertain a week after making the cut.
"I keep hearing that it's plenty," said Kris Allen, 23, of Conway, Ark. "That's nice."
Of course, there's more than money at stake — the chance to connect with fans and to build a career are the real plums, the finalists said. "It still seems like a dream. ... I can't wait to see what I learn doing it," said Matt Giraud, 23, of Kalamazoo, Mich.
The tour is "an amazing opportunity," agreed Anoop Desai, 22, of Chapel Hill, N.C., calling "American Idol" the "biggest stage and best stage of all." The typical "Idol" concert swing lasts more than three months and includes 50 or 60 concerts, including stadiums. The contestants travel by bus.
"That's what I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid, is going on the road and playing night after night ... to share my music with whoever will listen to it. That's what I'm here to do," said Scott MacIntyre, 23, of Scottsdale, Ariz.
The finalists have bonded as housemates during the course of the TV show and expect the camaraderie — and the fun — to continue on tour, Lambert said.
Asked if he expects to be the demanding pop star, he laughed. "No, I take what I can get. I only like to play the part of the diva when I'm actually performing, but I don't like to act like that otherwise," he said.
Most expect to travel light, with cell phones and computers among the items mentioned as must-haves. Gokey, 28, of Milwaukee, whose wife died shortly before he auditioned for "American Idol," says his computer has "all my pictures on it. Basically, my whole life's on it."
The youngest finalist, 16-year-old Allison Iraheta of Downey, Calif., will be bringing along her schoolwork and maybe a parent.
"My mom might be going on tour with me, so it will be interesting," Iraheta said.
Lil Rounds, 24, of Memphis, Tenn., is hoping her husband and three children can visit her when the tour is close to home. "The babies understand what I'm doing and they're proud," Rounds said. She and her fellow contestants are just beginning to grasp their sudden shift in fortune.
"I went from singing at a church in front of maybe 70 to 80 people to a national tour. It's absolutely amazing," Rounds said.
For all the excitement the concert tour promises, the contestants want to believe it's just the start of something big.
"I'll definitely be sticking around, I hope, after all is said and done. I'm not stopping," said MacIntyre.
Gokey wants the same.
"It's so exciting to be on the road and fulfilling the dream that I've had. I'm hoping it's just the beginning," he said.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Top 10 tour golden for Michael
From The Beaumont Enterprise
Although all aspire to be the next "American Idol," making the top 10 is no small accomplishment. Making it that far on the show gives contestants the chance to go on a national tour, and Michael Sarver of Jasper is no exception.
No matter what happens in the coming weeks, Sarver will still be a part of the tour that made 53 stops last year with the 2008 Top 10 singing to more than 490,000 fans. The 2008 tour was the 24th highest grossing tour of the year, making more than $29.9 million, according to Billboard Boxscore.
Figures differ as to how much the Idol Top 10 make on tour - estimates run from $2,000 to $5,000 per appearance, a range that will put Sarver earning in the six-figures. Although those numbers aren't official, the not-so-tangible gains are as good as gold for mostly-green participants.
Read the full story HERE.
Michael sings TOMORROW
Just a reminder that American Idol is on Wednesday and Thursday this week due to President Obama's speech tonight.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Motown artists
Michael's already sung from Motown's catalogue this season with songs by Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men song. Here's a list of some of the more popular Motown artists that Michael could choose from this week.
Commodores, Four Tops, Funk Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Jackson 5, Rick James, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Teena Marie, Marvelettes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Temptations, Stevie Wonderj, Aretha Franklin, Lionel Richie, Billy Preston, Boyz II Min, Queen latifah, Erykah Badu, 98 Degrees, Ashanti, Nelly, Shontelle, Brian McKnight, 702, India.Arie.
Or see a list of Motown singles that hit No. 1 in U.S. here. Have a song suggestion for Micheal? Let us know.
More on church support
By Corey J. Hodges, pastor of New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Utah
In a recent article, MTV.com highlighted the Christian singers on this season of Fox Network's "American Idol." The piece pointed out that a number of the contestants are either worship leaders or have strong affiliations to their church. The story was ridiculed by some for its suggestion that the contestants' faith will resonate with viewers and affect the final outcome of the show.
For world-renowned singers such as Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston and Amy Grant, the church was their initial exposure to public singing. Houses of worship have always been a training ground of sorts for up-and-coming musicians; choirs, worship teams and church bands afford artists a unique and invaluable opportunity to hone their skills. There is of course mutual benefit -- the musician is seeking experience and most churches do not have the money to hire professional musicians and are happy to accommodate aspiring artists.
But opportunities for religious musicians outside the church are even scarcer than in the secular industry. Incomes are considerably lower and thus many religious-bred artists opt to pursue their careers in more mainstream genres. Not surprisingly, some of these aspiring singers end up on shows such as "American Idol."
Previous "American Idol" success stories such as Academy and Grammy award winner Jennifer Hudson, who began singing in her church choir at age 7, seemed considerably more polished than her peers not only vocally but also with her stage presence throughout the competition. What usually allows such individuals to break away from the pack is experience; the typical church vocalist sings in front of audiences each week and has had plenty of practice. Not only are majority of this year's finalists church singers but three of the seven "American Idol" winners -- Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino and Jordin Sparks -- were all known to have started singing in church.
In a follow-up article, MTV noted that some readers did not believe that a contestant's faith had anything to do with their singing or their ultimate standing on the show. This is debatable. For some contestants, their religious influence is evident during their performance either because they choose a Christian song or because of their musical style. When watching Barrino, the season three winner who began singing in her church at age 5, it was clear her singing was influenced by gospel music.
Fox also occasionally highlight's the finalist's personal lives, which sometimes reveals a commitment to faith. Some readers responding to MTV's column criticized Christians for voting for a contestant simply because of a shared faith, but this is a reality of human nature; last season most Utahns were rooting for the runner-up David Archuleta of Murray.
If "American Idol" was strictly about technique, then the singer with the best combination of talent, experience and training would always win, but popularity plays a big part. Were the stakes higher this may be problematic, but in this context, a person of faith rooting for another person of faith is natural and has no real consequence.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Michael's church support grows
The LA Weekly is reporting that Michael and his wife Tiffany attended a service at Los Angeles megachurch Angelus Temple yesterday where Mike Huckabee was the guest speaker. During the service Pastor Matthew Barnett brought Michael Sarver and his wife to the stage, urging worshippers to vote for Sarver. Now we know how Michael is getting so many votes in California!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
