Category: Music

American Idol Hits Ratings Low — An Inside Look at What Went Wrong

Many entertainment outlets have widely reported on the decline of American Idol, with The Voice now taking the talent-show crown. While viewer fatigue might explain the end of an era, there has to more. First, this year’s judging panel is the best in years, so it can’t be the cast. Can it be the contestants? American Idol eliminated an essential component of previous years, moving up the start date during “Rush Week.” It’s possible this served to freshen the format, but it also threw the contestants into the deep end of the pool too soon. As a result, the top picks are much less polished. In fact, there’s really no standout performer to take the top spot. This failing can also be attributed to the judges who picked these players to place in the coveted live shows. And though Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban are proven powerhouses in the industry with incredible inside knowledge of music, that doesn’t mean they are adept at A&R. Actually, The Voice is also guilty of this critique, given that after multiple seasons on the air, they have yet to find a star. Simon Cowell might have been liked for his caustic barbs, but he also has a proven A&R track record, which might explain why American Idol has produced a wide array of big-name talent through the years (see Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, and more). And since he’s also responsible for assembling One Direction, it’s clear the man’s still got it. As for whether the show can be saved, I don’t have a solution other than to suggest the format is still not fresh enough in a now-competitive environment. Plus, these singers simply aren’t good enough. Watch the videos below to see the only singers that stand a chance.


Alex Preston – Every Breath You Take – American… by IdolxMuzic


Sam Woolf – Time After Time – American Idol 13… by IdolxMuzic

Alex Preston and Jo Dee Messina are Cousins!????

American Idol front runner Alex Preston sang an original song on tonight’s American Idol, and he killed it. But before you ask yourself how he has yet to be discovered, there’s a little information that somehow slipped by the main press. He’s cousins with Jo Dee Messina! Who knew?! Plus, he’s written songs with her. To see a sample of his talent, watch below.


Alex Preston – Fairytales – American Idol 13… by IdolxMuzic

The Voice Battle Rounds Continue — ‘Say Something’

It’s no secret that The Voice has some of the best talent out there, so it’s shocking that they have yet to produce a star. It’s possible that the fresh format works against industry longevity, but my more educated guess is that NBC doesn’t have their post-show promotional materials in place, and the stars lose their luster rather quickly. Watch Ddendyl and Deja Hall sing ‘Say Something’ by A Great Big World. Shakira made the wrong choice.

American Idol Top Ten Perform — How’d They Do?

My favorite part of American Idol is Harry Connick Jr., who is the first judge in history to actually give constructive criticism. The other judges take his lead, upping the ante on their opinions. In fact, it gets even better when Harry challenges his sidekicks, especially Jennifer Lopez, who can easily contend with Harry’s critiques when they involve performance-related feedback. Watch two of my favorite judging moments below, including CJ Harris and Jessica Meuse.


Jessica Meuse – Pumped Up Kicks – American Idol… by IdolxMuzic


CJ Harris – Invisible – American Idol 13 (Top 10) by IdolxMuzic

Lady Gaga Gets Vomited On — Glamorizes Bulimia?

The irony of Demi Lovato being told to “lighten up” by the chick who “artistically” vomited on Lady Gaga during South By Southwest, is that she’s hardly in a position to educate anyone on normalcy. According to Millie Brown, her and Lady Gaga were simply trying to challenge one’s concept of beauty by vomiting on each other, and were not “glamorizing bulimia,” as Demi suggested. I have a few things to say. First, if Lady Gaga moved people with her music she’d make the news for something positive, instead of desperate shock & awe tactics. Second, if I were “art,” I’d be offended. Despite the now popular belief that all art is subjective, I’d like to hop off the crazy train and definitively suggest the opposite. Art is supposed to be aesthetically pleasing, and I find it extremely haughty for Lady Gaga to think for even a moment that she deserves any type of treatment in that category. Third, Demi Lovato is correct. Shoving your fingers down your throat for any arbitrary purpose is irresponsible, and I need not elaborate. Why? Because it’s obvious and I’d rather not waste my time on peons looking for attention. Lastly, I find the idea of combining genres to be captivating (i.e. ART AND MUSIC). It’s too bad Lady Gaga has no idea how to execute it. I’d post a video of the event in question or a simple picture of Lady Gaga, but I wish to no longer promote her in any capacity. This article will be the end of it.

Harry Connick Jr. Performs ‘One Fine Thing’ on American Idol

What makes Harry Connick Jr. a qualified judge on ‘American Idol?’ His voice, of course! Plus, he’s a known piano prodigy. Watch his performance on ‘American Idol’ below to learn a thing or two about a thing or two.


[HD] Harry Connick Jr.. – Medley – American… by IdolxMuzic

American Idol Top 12: Keith Urban v. Harry Connick Jr.

If you’re not watching this season of American Idol, you must start. Harry Connick Jr.’s arrival has upped the ante for the other judges, who now give specific, constructive feedback to each contestant. My favorite moment from the Top 12 came from their critique of Jessica Meuse, who apathetically sang ‘White Flag’ by Dido, resulting in a harsh critique from “Hatchet Harry,” who explained that it’s essential to sing in tune. Keith Urban then countered Harry’s critique with his own spin, saying that singing with passion can compensate for pitch problems, followed by Urban’s extemporaneous belt into the microphone to illustrate his point. Watch below.


Jessica Meuse – White Flag – American Idol 13… by IdolxMuzic

Pharrell Gets ‘Happy’ At the Oscars — WATCH PERFORMANCE

Pharrell stole the show at last night’s Oscars with a very upbeat, HAPPY performance that even managed to get a shimmy from Meryl. You can find the track on the ‘Despicable Me 2’ soundtrack or pick up Pharrell’s second studio album, ‘G I R L.’ Watch below to see him perform his record-setting hit.

American Idol Top 13 Performs With Serious Sound Issues

For a show that’s all about music, they certainly had issues with their sound. On last night’s American Idol, Harry Connick Jr. suspected that the performers were singing out of tune because they had trouble hearing themselves. That probably the case, since I also had trouble hearing them, as did the rest of America. In fact, Randy Jackson’s pre-performance advice could not even be heard over the applause. Perhaps the producers can make this sound less like a garage and more like a stage. I’ve attached the only listenable performance below.


Majesty Rose – Tightrope – Americal Idol 13… by IdolxMuzic

Harry Connick Jr. is “One Fine Thing” — WATCH NOW

Aside from Harry Connick Jr.’s status as a piano prodigy, he also has some hypnotizing pipes. Plus, he’s easy on the eyes. If you haven’t seen him on American Idol yet, be sure to tune in. This might be the first year in history that the judges give actual criticism instead of useless analogies. Watch Connick sing ‘One Fine Thing’ below.