Thursday, May 31, 2007

'American Idol' Finalists Invade New York City

They're everywhere! They're everywhere!

Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, and Melinda Doolittle have hit Manhattan big time this week. They've been on every morning show, performed in the plaza for the Today show, and more.

Today seemed to be Blake-centric. I think his performance on the FOX morning show wasn't as live as it was set up to be, though. The singing continued after he stopped. He sang the same Maroon 5 song in each appearance I saw. No, I didn't go into the city to see them live -- I've been playing delivery tag with the FedEx guy and had to wait for a package.

Earlier this evening, Melinda Doolittle was on the local FOX 5 news. She seems a lot less nervous and was very upbeat. She'll be performing on tomorrow morning's early FOX show, but I'm unsure if she'll make the same all-network circuit Blake and Jordin did. Alas, even if she does sing live at the plaza tomorrow, I'll be at work.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Saw Blake on Regis this AM. He was lip-syncing there, too. Same song.

Sydney said...

Hey Jackie -- I caught Melinda on Regis this AM and was so impressed with her maturity and her utterly positive yet genuine take on everything. I wish I could answer every question with that kind of grace.

dla said...

I was watching The Today Show, and then get caught on the phone when they were performing!!! Darn!

Bo Bice just performed here last weekend, and one of my coworkers went with his wife and daughter, and said it was a good show, and very entertaining! He said he would have preferred Carrie Underwood, but... ha

Jackie, do you watch So You Think You Can Dance?? Is anyone else up for a discussion page if Jackie is willing? There is just so little to get excited about during the summer months... With the exception of BB, of course!

I tried to watch that Pirate show tonight, but just couldn't get into it. Did anyone watch?

Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

dla,I am up for a SYTYCD discussion spot. I enjoy watching and even the tryouts. I think they(the judges) try to be a lot more sympathetic when letting these people down. Even the really,really bad ones,they try to have something positive to say. I think what really gets to them the most is when these people get up there and are awful and then tell the panel that they TEACH dance to others! I think that makes them see red and they have no problem telling them they shouldn't be teaching little ones.I am glad to see that they make most of the hip hoppers go to choreography,becasue sometimes they can only do the crumping adn popping. I was glad to see the one Asian guy back from last year who had trouble with his green card. I think he has real potential.

I watched Pirate Master and kind of liked it.I wasn't surprised John was voted off,but I'd be ready to mutiny myself if some got the lion's share and I got to swab the decks....lol.

Deanna said...

Watched Blake on all their NYC spots. He wasn't lip-syncing, he uses the box at his feet which captures his voice and by pushing pedals he can warp it in many ways. He gave himself the sound of a back up track. Their is a clip on Youtube of him on his Seattle hometown visit where he explains the box on a local TV morning show. He was singing, but also creating an echo and back up track as he did. Just thought Id let the Blake fans out there know.... Love this guy and cant wait for an CD release. YEAH!

Anonymous said...

Missed the Idol stuff as I have to work (sigh...)

Enjoyed Pirate Master, I think I'll have to watch every week from now on.

Has anyone caught the commercials for "Hey Paula!" on Bravo, June 28? I'm gonna have to watch that one. Paula Abdul unplugged! Jackie, have you heard anything about it? All I can find is some press releases, but no dirt...

dla said...

Hi orkmommy! I actally just saw some information about the Paula Abdul reality show today, and tried to find the link for you, but could not find it again. Probably not much more info than you already have seen, as it was an inclusion in a post discussing her latest debacle with the release of the recorded phone call with her team...

Very scary to think that now we will not only get to SEE what these celebrities are doing, but we will also HEAR their most private conversations with those that support them... I guess there can be a leak almost anywhere.

Makes me happy to be plain old me!

Anonymous said...

A SYTYCD discussion post would be great. I got hooked on it last year, and just loved Benji and Heidi.

Couldn't get into Pirate Master, probably because I was trying to watch the Spelling Bee at the same time. Those kids are super smart! Nice to see 13 year olds who look and act their age, and not like mini-adults.

Only 34 days til Big Brother!

Anonymous said...

I saw Blake on Regis's morning show. He later showed Regis how the box worked. But when he was singing WITHOUT the beat-box, his lips were not in time to the music playing. I'm in no way saying Blake can't sing. There are various reasons one may lip-sync. Hoarseness or maybe Regis couldn't afford to pay a whole band. Who knows? All I'm saying is, the box was not used through the whole song and the words
i heard sung did not match the movements of his mouth.

Anonymous said...

Blake was not lipsynching. He loops vocals. The box at his feet allows him to sing/beatbox 16 beats or so...record it...then loop it over and over. That allows him to sing harmonies on top of harmonies. Sometimes there are echo effects. Sometimes not. He wasn't lipsynching. I saw the show. I didn't see any moment where I would have thought that he was. If you believe he was then that's probably a compliment to him.

Deanna said...

ANON 9:34- Thanks! That is exactly what I was trying to convey here. On the Regis appearance, you can see him throughout the song looking down at different times to use the pedals at his feet. You can also at different times get a close up of his mouth and his tongue is vibrating (which means he was actually singing.

Anonymous said...

I taped the show so I could see him later in the day. I watched it several times. He was lip-syncing.

Deanna said...

I can see how people who are not familiar with the instrument Blake used on Regis, would think he was lip-syncing. If you pay careful attention, you can see his mouth moves with the words, but that it also seems as if the words go on longer than his mouth moves. The instrument he uses, captures the words and w/ a touch of the foot pedals, he can drag out the notes, overlap the words and create echo effects. You may also take note of how he somewhat either makes a mistake or pauses with the strumming of the guitar and both his hand movement and the sound from the guitar match that pause.

Not being under the rules laid down by A.I. he was able to use both instruments and display a completly different sound than just his incredible beat-boxing mouth. American Idol viewers have never heard this thing (pedals) before and it is a relativly unknown tool to most people. Ive watched another clip of his hometown visit where he performed a song on a local news station. The station's sound system wasnt that great and Blake probably should have lip-synced, but he didnt and the same sound you hear on Regis is what you hear on this stations version.

Here is the link to Regis: (Pay special attention to his guitar strumming and constant looking down as he manuvers the pedals)

http://tv.popcrunch.com/blake-lewis-on-regis-and-kelly/

Anonymous said...

Melinda Doolittle just releases her first song on i tunes My Funny Valentine she is amazing. You want more news about her news CD come out June 2008 listen to the radio show first page on www.melindafan.net

Anonymous said...

Melinda Doolittle will released her album at the end of the summer with Holiday one. She is powerful singer and a fantastic person in heart. New website to support her www.mdstreetteam.com Fans of her you welcome to supporting her.

Anonymous said...

This past week Melinda did finish the vocals on her CD! . All of that happens quickly then we will see her CD on shelves this Fall! Also, keep your eye out for her first official single that should be hitting airwaves in the coming weeks. Melinda is going to be throwing a lot of music at us in the coming months so get ready!

New website to support Melinda Career www.mdstreetteam.com You are very welcome to join us . Check in the forum to read what Melinda have to say. She is amazing singer

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Good news for you Melinda Doolittle fans! She’s set to release her debut album titled, Coming Back to You on Hi-Fi Recordings in January 09. Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Mike Mangini (Joss Stone, Run DMC, The Jonas Brothers), Coming Back to You was recorded with a team of live musicians in Nashville and New York City.

The first single, “It’s Your Love” will be released to radio in October.

“Keep yourself updated with Melinda’s career at melindasbackups.

melindasbackups.com is a web site owned by Melinda Doolittle. Melinda’s Backups™ is a non-profit supportive association inspired by Melinda and authorized by her to operate this web site on behalf of her fans.

Anonymous said...

Good news for you Melinda Doolittle fans! She’s set to release her debut album titled, Coming Back to You on Hi-Fi Recordings in January 09. Produced by Grammy-nominated producer Mike Mangini (Joss Stone, Run DMC, The Jonas Brothers), Coming Back to You was recorded with a team of live musicians in Nashville and New York City.

The first single, “It’s Your Love” will be released to radio in October.

“Keep yourself updated with Melinda’s career at melindasbackups.

melindasbackups.com is a web site owned by Melinda Doolittle. Melinda’s Backups™ is a non-profit supportive association inspired by Melinda and authorized by her to operate this web site on behalf of her fans.

Anonymous said...

Melinda Doolittle in her first-ever Nightclub engagement

November 17-21, New York City

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, will debut MELINDA DOOLITTLE in her first-ever nightclub engagement from November 17 – 21. The “American Idol” finalist will perform an intimate evening of jazz standards, pop hits and Broadway classics, in addition to selections from her CD, Coming Back To You. All shows are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and TicketWeb.com