Glee Season 2: Teenage Dream Sneak Peek

Get your first look at the Teenage Dream performance by Blane (Darren Criss) and the Dalton Warblers. According to reports, Blane will be Kurt's legit love interest. Nice! Anyway, this performance blew me away!! Seriously. I think New Directions should really watch out! Enjoy!

Random Fact: Darren Criss is part-Filipino. Yes, he is. He confirmed it via twitter last July when he was asked by someone. Proof HERE. 

Ugh! I can't upload the video on YouTube!! What is wrong? Anyway, I'll just post the one I found in Perez Hilton's site for the meantime..

Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Song Preview

So, the Glee cast will be releasing its own Christmas album on November 16th. The album will feature Christmas songs sung by the Glee cast themselves,and yes, very random, KD Lang. Haha!

Here's the song preview of the album and the official track listing. Also, Kurt and his rumored love interest, Blane (Darren Cris), has a duet in this record. Interesting no? Anyway, the album hits stores November 16th and will be the second album to be release for second season while the episode will air in December entitled, Yuletide.

1. We Need A Little Christmas (Jenna Ushkowitz, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer)
2. Deck The Rooftop (Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, and Jenna Ushkowitz)
3. Merry Christmas Darling (Lea Michele)
4. Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Chris Colfer and Darren Criss)
5. The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year (Chord Overstreet, Mark Salling, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Heather Morris)
6. Last Christmas (Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Chris Colfer)
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Lea Michele, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, and Jenna Ushkowitz)
8. O Christmas Tree (Matthew Morrison)
9. Jingle Bells (Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, and Kevin McHale)
10. You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (k.d. lang and Matt Morrison)
11. Angels We Have Heard On High (Amber Riley)
12. O Holy Night (Lea Michele)

Idol 6 - Vonzell Solomon

6. Vonzell Solomon

Season 4, 3rd Place

I know this may raise some eyebrows but yes, Vonzell Solomon has been one of my favorites since, of course, Season 4. Come on! Just watch the videos below and it'll just speak for itself. Really. Ha!

I thought Vonzell sounded extremely controlled with all of her runs when I first saw her in Orlando. But really, it took a little while for her to become my absolute favorite contestant during her season. I mean, throughout the early parts of Season 4, I was all about Mario Vasquez, Nikko Smith and Anwar Robinson. Sure, Vonzell was my favorite girl, but it wasn't until Top 12 that I was completely a fan and rallied behind her for an American Idol win.

I knew right away that Vonzell wouldn't have much of a fair shot on Idol from the get go. For understandable reasons, Idol wants a variety of winners, so it was too soon for another black female RnB singer to win right after Fantasia Barrino. Even though I expected that and understood it, it didn't make it any easier to watch. I really think Vonzell gave only one lackluster performance throughout the whole season, but you definitely wouldn't think that if you just had Simon Cowell's comments to base it from.

Seriously. Pretty much every single performance he found something pointless to harp on her about. Whether it was the way she was dressed, subtle things about the way she performed, one or two off notes, you could count on Simon Cowell to blow it up into something bigger - while ignoring the same flaws or even worse ones from the precious chosen ones. Ugh! Oh, and it was especially hard when he still managed to criticize her after some of the very best performances of the season - Don't Leave Me This Way is one glaring exaple. It was beyond annoying.

Now, even though I knew the odds were against Vonzell, I still supported her every week. Actually, she did MUCH better in the competition than I had ever anticipated. I think I predicted her to be voted off around sixth or seventh place at the beginning of the finals - I even though Nadia Turner would place much higher than her.

A few early Bottom 3 appearances didn't make me feel any more optimistic. But she overcame the odds and landed in a pretty good spot. Frankly, Vonzell didn't really need to win Season 4. All she needed to do was to make the Top 2 to get a contract. Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood were going to be signed regardless. So, it's definitely not a surprise to me that Vonzell's career has been non-existent, despite being one of the most talented contestants EVER to be on the show.

I do think that she, by far, has got one of the best controlled voices of any American Idol contestant when it comes to melisma - probably the best female. I mean, she seriously did some ridiculously amazing runs and I just wish people would recognize how difficult they can be. She deserves much more credit than she gets. Now, I've said that visual performance skills don't really matter to me, but I can still recognize that Vonzell is a natural performer. Other than Bo Bice, she probably had the best stage presence of anyone on Season 4.

Truth be told, if she had been on just about any other season except for Season 4, she might've gotten more respect than she did. I think she's certainly better than people like LaToya London - who definitely got on the shrieky side a bit - and yes, I'll even go there, Jordin Sparks. But alas, Idol isn't ever going to be completely fair and unbiased. Sad. Anyway, here's to hoping that we get a Vonzell album soon because I can really see her as a very viable RnB artist. Heck, she would even pass as a member of Destiny's Child. Sigh.

Check this out!  

Dirtbag - Vonzell Solomon


Favorite performance(s): Hands down, her version of I Have Nothing was, arguably, the best on that Idol stage. I like the nuances in her vocals and the control and power was spot on. Not too loud (Jennifer Hudson) but not too weak (Katharine McPhee) not too bland and predictable (Trenyce) but not too over-the-top (Lakisha Jones) and certainly not shaky (Leah LaBelle). I also loved her fun performances from Chain Of Fools, On The Radio and of course, the riveting I'm Every Woman and Don't Leave Me This Way. Her more serious performances were also really good like People and I'll Never Love This Way.

I Have Nothing

I'm Every Woman

Don't Leave Me This Way

Best Of My Love

On The Radio

Chain Of Fools

I'll Never Love This Way

Glee Season 2: Never Been Kissed Song Preview

Here's next week's song preview for the episode, Never Been Kissed, and yes, we get to hear Blane (Darren Criss) already - the rumored love interest of Kurt. Dalton Warblers - New Directions' competition - sings a Katy Perry song. Not too shabby. Ha!

Songs:
- Teenage Dream (Dalton Academy)
- Stop In The Name Of Love/Free Your Mind (Glee Guys)
- One Love (Puck and Artie)
- Start Me Up/Livin’ On A Prayer (Glee Girls)

Idol 7 - Jennifer Hudson

7. Jennifer Hudson

Season 3, 7th Place

Yes, it's the Dreamgirl herself at #7!!

I didn't become a fan of Jennifer Hudson after her successful album and Grammy nominations. It also wasn't after her movie debut and Oscar win. Heck, it wasn't even after she sang A Circle of Life. Haha. Yes, I've been in love with Jennifer's voice since the first time I saw her. Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

Like what I've said several times, Season 3 was the very first season of Idol that I watched. I was mildly impressed with the Idol hopefuls throughout the auditions, but as they were wrapping up, Leah La Belle was actually my favorite contestant that time. That was until I got to see the Best of the Rest episode and that was the very first time I laid my eyes on Jennifer. I had a feeling I'd like her - because I love a good, rich black woman's voice - and boy, did she not disappoint. Jennifer's rich timbre sent shivers up and down my spine as she sang Share Your Love With Me. Every single note was just beautiful. By then,  I just knew she would have to make the finals with such a brilliantly soulful gospel voice like that!

Soon enough, I realized that Jennifer wasn't quite the front runner that I had hoped she'd be. Her group one performance though good wasn't that spectacular, but I still thought it was enough for a spot in the Top 12. But to my dismay, she didn't even make the Top 3 - by sheer votes - the following night. And yes, thank God for Randy Jackson for bringing her into the Wild Card round. I figured that there was no way the judges would let such an undeniably unbelievable undiscovered talent go unnoticed. Ha! She got her spot in the Top 12, just like what I expected - but it was, arguably, a bumpy ride.

In my opinion, Jennifer never gave a bad performance. Every single performance I saw from her was very good. Sure, some were better than others, but she did NOT deserve the harsh criticisms she got from Simon Cowell - not by a long shot! Her early Bottom 3 appearances were quite disappointing for me. Had people forgotten that incredible sound that came out of her mouth during her audition? Fortunately, everything was soon about to change!

Elton John Night was such a special night for Jennifer Hudson. It was so amazing to hear a musical legend of John's caliber lavish praises upon her and yes, she absolutely deserve those praises. Jennifer set the bar so high for the competition when she finally brought the house down in the way I knew only she could. Her gospel-tinged Circle of Life was so full of power and richness, that only a deaf person could deny her talent. Oh, and it's one thing to give a showstopper like that, but Jennifer kept on delivering for the remainder of her time on Idol. Without a doubt, she left just when she was about to reach the peak of her potential than anyone on Idol, EVER.

Which brings me to THE most shocking elimination night in Idol history. Seriously. Ryan Seacrest had prefaced the Top 7 results show as a shocker, but it still didn't prepare me for what was to come. It was a no brainer that the three divas - Fantasia Barrino, LaToya London and Jennifer Hudson - were crushing the competition during Season 3. Obviously, they were consistently head and shoulders above the other competitors. So, when they were all placed into a group, it was obvious that they would be safe. But when Ryan announced that they were, in fact, the Bottom 3, my jaw literally dropped. I can still vividly remember that moment. Yes, I know it was just a TV show, but it felt so surreal.

That time, my only prayer was that LaToya London would be sent packing. Then, to my horror, Latoya was told she was safe and it suddenly felt like a kick in the stomach. A total abomination! Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia Barrino were supposed to be the Final 2!! It was a serious WTF moment on Idol, but I just knew that Jennifer was doomed, though. I was seriously upset to a point where I wanted to cry - I know! Haha. I asked myself, "what in the world did I just witness?" It was, to say the least, a total travesty.

Now, One thing Jennifer has taught me is that you can't keep a good girl down and yes, she showed that to the world! Five years after her untimely exit on Idol, she's won an Oscar, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Grammy Award - plus over 20 more awards. She's had a number one single. A gold selling debut album. She's even sang at the Super Bowl. Clearly, she's been completely and utterly unstoppable. Jennifer Hudson has shown everyone that she is a world class star. Furthermore, she's proved that she is an amazing strong and determined person on the inside. I mean, back when the news first broke about her family's murders, my heart just ached for her. Her comeback a few months after that completely floored me especially when she sang You Pulled Me Through at the Grammy Awards - that was that time I could not contain myself. I love her and can't wait to see what other successes will come her way!

Favorite performance(s): My absolute favorite performance from Jennifer was definitely Circle Of Life. It was the performance she is most remembered for and with great reasons, of course. She completely blew me away with this one. Weekend in New England was absolutely fantastic. The arrangement fit her so perfectly. The way it gradually built up into this monstrous whirlwind of power and passion still sends me chills. It's the biggest joke in Idol history that she was sent home after this performance. I Have Nothing was also really good.

Circle Of Life

Weekend In New England

I Have Nothing

Spotlight

If This Isn't Love

You Pulled Me Through

Music Video: I'm Doin' Me - Fantasia

Here is Fantasia's music video for second single, I'm Doin' Me, off her third studio album, Back To Me. 

I have to say, this is very different from her first music video, Bittersweet, which was more throwback in terms of the visuals used. In this video, it was both light and somewhat fun - something I've never seen in any Fantasia music video. It was actually kind of refreshing. Enjoy!

Idol 8 - Kelly Clarkson

8. Kelly Clarkson

Season 1, Winner

Just like Carrie Underwood at #11, I expect to receive a couple of criticism soon for putting the original American Idol at just #8. Again, let me explain..

Kelly Clarkson is possibly among the Top 5 most popular contestants to ever come out of Idol - even after 9 years - and is often called the best contestant EVER. Well, I would say she's had an amazing post-Idol career - possibly one of my favorite post-Idol contestants. But somehow, that doesn't play into my favorites. Yes, it can affect a little - case in point, Brooke White - but it can just do so much.

Kelly was an absolute stand out on Season 1, even from her very first live performance. She was definitely my favorite of the night, and I was so glad she moved on. Really. Imagine what the competition would have been like without her! Travesty. Haha. Well, it's kind of hard for me to really analyze the progression of Season 1, since I knew all of the results before even watching, but from what I understand it took a while for Kelly to become a frontrunner. Somehow, it seemed that even after a few weeks into the Finals, Tamyra Gray and Justin Guarini were still the ones who were expected to do better than any other contestants. I even read somewhere that Tamyra lead the betting odds, followed by Justin, then Kelly.

I guess the main thing that disappointed me about Season 1 was - well, the main thing was really the lack of great talent in the Top 10 - but the other worst thing about that season was how karaoke Idol was. Haha. I mean, when did Kelly or any of the other contestants, for that matter, really show any musical relevance? Probably never! At least, not that I can think of. Quite frankly, Kelly would've killed it in a more recent season, I think. I would've loved to hear the types of performances she would do and I wonder if she would've gone the pop-rock route on the show. Anyway, my point is that watching Season 1 back, all I got from Kelly Clarkson was an outstanding karaoke version of the songs and not much more. It was a bit disappointing although it's not her fault.

Now, was Kelly the rightful winner? Honestly, a part of me would've liked Tamyra Gray to win Season 1 - or at least make the final two - but I don't think she could've had nearly the success Kelly did. So, yes, Kelly was the right winner. But if I'm being honest, when the name Kelly Clarkson comes to mind, I instantly think of everything she has done post-Idol and that's not to say she wasn't great on the show because I thought she had an amazing voice. However, the first season, as I've said, was definitely more karaoke compared to the seasons after that and the song choices were much more limited since the show was still in its incipient stages and hadn't yet earned its credibility. Therefore, Kelly just got to live up to her true potential after the show. 

That's why I cannot rank her any higher than this if I'm being completely real. When I first set up my rankings a few months ago, Kelly was about a couple of spots higher than this - just like Carrie Underwood. But a big part of that was because I almost felt obligated to have her that high. But alas, I am keeping my list 100% real! So, deal with it. Haha.

Now, as I've said, I didn't watch Season 1 but I definitely liked what I already knew about Kelly, and it just got better with her debut album, Thankful. Yes, I wasn't entirely a Kelly Clarkson fan convert after that - even though I really enjoyed her single, Miss Independent - but it was her second album, Breakaway, that got me into the whole Clarkson bandwagon. Then, she released My December, and I thought I got to appreciate her as an artist even more. Truth be told, her progression as an artist really made me admire her more than anything else - aside from her amazing voice, of course.

Favorite performance(s): Kelly absolutely gave a ton of showstoppers in the first season. My favorite, however, was her sassy take on Stuff Like That There. Of course, Natural Woman was a classic Kelly performance and so was her coronation song, A Moment Like This.

Stuff Like That There

Natural Woman

A Moment Like This

Because Of You

Never Again

My Life Would Suck Without You