Music Video: This Time - Pia Toscano

Did I say that today is a big American Idol music video day? Haha. This time (!!!) it's Pia Toscano's music video for her debut single entitled This Time.

One word: GORGEOUS!! Is Pia Toscano giving Katharine McPhee a run for her money as the most gorgeous woman to ever be on American Idol? Haha. Sure, the music video lacks a solid narrative that's somehow connected to the theme of the song, but who cares? It's not as if ALL music videos have to have a story to appeal to the public. Sometimes, it's all about the visuals and Pia is stunning here. Plus, she shockingly has a good amount of presence that commanded the music video. That, to me, is more than enough. Enjoy!

Idol News: Pia Toscano Performed "This Time" on SYTYCD; Music Video Preview

I know this is a bit late, but whatever. Pia Toscano performed her first single "This Time" at So You Think You Can Dance. I thought she looked and sounded amazing, and she's obviously improved on her stage presence. Not all the way there yet, but at least there’s progress. Look at how Carrie Underwood has evolved.



Now, another Pia Toscano goodness! Here's a preview of her single's music video, which is set to debut on August 9, 2011 - same day as Scotty McCreery's music video for I Love You This Big. Yes, I'm excited to see this one!! Can't. Wait.

Music: This Time - Pia Toscano

UPDATE: Yes, I'll stick with what I said about the song a couple of days ago. The song is very Jordin Spark's Tattoo in terms of the production - not exactly a bad thing - and Pia does have a beautiful voice.

Distinct? Not really, but at least she has that voice to work with. Given the right material, I can really see Pia as a HUGE recording artist. To me, this is a pretty decent-to-good debut single for someone who finished 9th. Just saying.
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Two days ago, I posted something about Pia Toscano getting signed and the release of her song ON TOUR. Well, last night was the American Idol 10's first tour stop - Salt Lake City - and here's a live version (video!) of her debut single, This Time.

As for the song, I can hear a potential hit. Sure, there's nothing particularly groundbreaking about it - not a fan of the lyrics, to be honest - but  the melody is catchy and, yes, Pia's voice just soars on this song. The back track actually reminds me of Jordin Sparks' Tattoo with a little touch of Beyonce's Irreplaceable. I'm still reserving my final judgment until I hear the studio version though, but this is actually better than I expected.

Idol News: Pia Toscano Officially Signs With Interscope, "This Time" Will Be Her Debut Single

A couple of days after her early - and infuriating - elimination in this year's American Idol, I posted a news about Pia Toscano scoring a record deal with Jimmy Iovine's flagship label, Interscope. No one denied or confirmed the news.

Now, it's official! Pia Toscano is signed with Iovine's label and her first single This Time will debut on July 12, 2011. Plus, she gets to sing it ON TOUR! According to The Hollywood Reporter:

American Idol’s Pia Toscano has officially signed a recording contract with Interscope Records, THR has confirmed. She will release her debut single, “This Time,” on July 12 and perform the song as part of her set during this summer’s American Idol Live! Tour.

The track comes courtesy of Esther Dean, who has written several hit singles for Rihanna, including S&M, Rude Boy and What’s My Name, and is currently featured on Nicki Minaj’s  smash Superbass. Dean wrote and co-produced This Time, an acoustic guitar and beat-driven track.

An acoustic and beat-driven track for Pia as her first single? Very interesting. Obviously, this is good news and I really can't wait to hear her single. I'm also interested to see how this strategy plays out. I mean, to release a song out and in front of fans this early and perform it ON TOUR isn't exactly unprecedented, but a rare thing to happen.

Idol News: Pia Toscano Performed at Dancing With The Stars

While I'm still fixing my other posts about Glee and The Voice, here's another one that made my day completely crazy. Haha. This part of the week has never been this hectic. Too much things going on.

Anyway, Pia Toscano performed at Dancing With The Stars - once American Idol's ratings rival show. But I guess, they're both joining forces now to somehow trump the new reality show competition on TV, The Voice. Going back to Pia, I thought she sounded great - as always. Watch!

Idol News: Pia Toscano To Sing On Dancing With The Stars Next Week

Wow. Once American Idol's biggest rating competition, Dancing With The Stars apparently hired Pia Toscano to perform on their show.

According to TMZ,

He’s doing her, and now… she’s doing his show!

TMZ has learned, Pia Toscano will be performing on "Dancing with the Stars" next week ... and get this, her new BF Mark Ballas will dance to her music.

It's been in the works for a while -- but the President of Marketing and Communications at Fox Joe Earley initially put the kibosh on the collaboration ...  but an hour ago, the deal was sealed.

Pia's performance signifies a borderline incestuous cross-pollination between the two biggest shows on TV ... "American Idol" and "Dancing."

And if that's not enough -- Pia will be back on "Idol" tomorrow for a special cast-off reunion.

This was later confirmed and announced by the show's host Tom Bergeron during the Results show last night.

Let me get this one out first: Very tasteful writing there, TMZ. "He’s doing her, and now… she’s doing his show!" Really, TMZ?

Truth be told, Pia Toscano's early elimination probably has worked to her advantage. I mean, she is getting he best promotion of any Idol cast off in American Idol’s history.

As far as I can remember there has never been a case like this in the history of the show, when a contestant booted so early was allowed this kind of promotion while the competition was still in full swing.

If she’s getting these kind of opportunities at this stage of things I can't imagine the promo she’ll get when she has her own music out? Isn’t she getting endorsement offers too? I don’t think she would have gotten these opportunities and buzz if she had left later in the competition. She got more mileage from leaving the show early, than if she had actually won or at the very least a Top 3 finish.

Good for her! Make the most out of it, Pia!

Idol News: Pia Toscano Reportedly Scores A Record Deal With Interscope

UPDATE: According to EOnline:

Toscano's rep tells us that chatter about a done deal is "all rumor," but E! News has learned that while a record contract hasn't been signed just yet, Interscope does want to produce a single with Toscano and release it while American Idol is still on.

19 Management has yet to approve this, however.

Once 19 Management figures out their marketing plan for Toscano, though, Interscope Records exec Jimmy Iovine wants to get her in the studio to record a single asap, according to an Idol insider.

Well, this is what they did with Chris Medina. They released a single after he got cut from the competition. But the question I have is how much promo money will Interscope be willing to put into the single? I mean, it is pretty expensive to promote a song to radio. Unless, Ryan Seacest is going to mention it on the show, this may go unnoticed. Makes me wonder.
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According to US Magazine, Pia Toscano will be signing a recording contract with Interscope Records.

"Pia is being signed to a deal with Interscope Records who are rushing her into the studio to record an album ASAP," a source familiar with the contract talks tells Us. "Starting [Thursday] night after the show, Interscope told her they wanted her and first thing [Friday] morning Interscope brass started calling every top songwriter and producer in town to get an album together and rush release it."

Moreover, "Papers are being finalized. It's basically a done deal. She's signing. They rushed everything but she's so excited."

This is an interesting (and pretty fast) development for Pia Toscano. Before Season 10 even started, Universal said from the get go that they intended to have a bunch of the finalists get music out quick and start recording during the run of the show because viewers are forgetting about the contestants faster than they used to. So, I'm not really surprised that Jimmy Iovine and Interscope has latched on to Pia.

It's the way Idol works now. They know that American Idol voting doesn't necessarily produce commercially viable winners (see, Lee DeWyze) so they override the vote and sign whoever they want. So I guess the rest of the contestants should just give up. Haha. It's silly, I know.

But seriously, I really don’t see a bad side to this at all. If she’s successful, it will be another feather in the cap of the Idol brand. If not, she’ll fit in nicely among the MANY who tried to break through after Idol. I just hope the label doesn't simply rush out a quickie album for the sake of releasing one. Handled right, I really think Pia could be a relevant and successful pop act.

Oh, and Interscope records is where Lady Gaga, Eminem, Timbaland, OneRepublic, Black Eyed Peas, Dashboard Confessional, Keri Hilson and James Morrison are in..