MTV News |
- Paramore Move Beyond 'Misery Business' With New Album
- Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam
- Lawyer For Man Who Shot Dolla Claims Self-Defense
- Kris Allen's Friends Are 'Freakin' Happy' About 'American Idol' Win
- Cool & Dre Move On From Christina Milian, Work With Lady Gaga
- Kristin Cavallari's 'Laguna Beach' Prom Wasn't Her First
- DJ Drama Already Working On Third <i>Gangsta Grillz</i> Album
- Drake Denies Romance With Rihanna
- Alchemist Says Touring With Eminem Is On 'Another Level'
- How Did Kris Allen Win 'American Idol?'
| Paramore Move Beyond 'Misery Business' With New Album Posted: 22 May 2009 03:51 AM PDT 'This record, I felt a lot heavier,' frontwoman Hayley Williams says of yet-untitled Riot! follow-up.
It is their biggest song, the one that put them on the map and got them to where they are today. But on their new album, Paramore are looking to put "Misery Business" behind them. " 'Misery Business' was a big step for me, because it was sort of an embarrassing, vengeful emotion, and I just felt really bratty. And it was good for me to get out. And I think a lot of girls related to it, and some guys too," frontwoman Hayley Williams said. "But with this record, it's different. I wrote ['Misery Business'] about a past experience, and I had already seen the outcome and gotten through everything. And that's the same with every song on the record, even the ones that weren't that personal. ... But this record, I felt a lot heavier.
"We'd be at practice, and I didn't even like some of the songs at first, because of my parts, because I was like, 'This isn't a feel-good song, because I'm writing about something I'm going through right now, and it's still painful,' " she continued. "And I confused that with actually not liking the songs, when actually I was prouder of them than I've ever been before. They're heavier emotions for me. ... I'm still going through some of this stuff, and these songs are really healing to me." Writing the songs on the new album was a therapeutic and terrifying experience — not just for Williams, who grappled with self-doubt throughout the process, but the band itself. The wounds were still raw from Paramore's near-split in early 2008, and now they were faced with the prospect of reopening the sutures to make the kind of songs they knew they had to deliver. So they sat down and talked. A lot. They hashed out old differences, made amends and came out with a batch of songs — likely first single "Ignorance," the heavy "Careful" and the lush "Exception" — that act as the spiky soundtrack to all those ups and downs. "If we took three years, we would probably have one-hundred-billion songs, and we wouldn't know what to put on the record ... so we decided to stop writing," guitarist Josh Farro said. "And what we had was really all over the place, which is what we were going for. Because Riot! was pretty 'same' the entire record. There wasn't a lot of dynamic. I think this record definitely has that. We have an acoustic song, we have the pretty songs, and then we've got the midtempo and the heavy ones. ... It's a good mixture." So while they're always going to be proud of their past, Paramore are moving forward. They had to, both as people and as a band. And the end result of all that soul-searching is a record they're endlessly proud of — and not just for the reason you might expect. "I'm not going to sit here and try to convince everyone that [these songs] are the best thing I've ever written and these lyrics are my masterpiece, but they're really helping me," Williams smiled. "They're helping our whole band." Related Videos | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 21 May 2009 12:17 AM PDT Jay is happy to be 'a completely independent artist' after buying out his contract.
Now maybe we can get that Blueprint 3 album. Jay-Z has officially parted ways with his home for more than a decade, Def Jam. On Thursday morning (May 21), Hits Daily Double reported in its Rumor Mill section that Hov — who owed Def Jam one last album — bought himself out of his contract for $5 million. On Thursday afternoon, Jay contacted RapRadar.com and confirmed his departure. "I can honestly say, working with Doug Morris and L.A. Reid has been a unique and fulfilling experience, and I respect them immensely," Hov told the Web site. "I've been in the family for almost my entire career. Doug and I spoke directly and had one of the most unique 'negotiations' ever." Jay said that negotiation included a coin toss. "Doug won the toss, but we both won in the end," Jay said. "I thank him for allowing me to be a completely independent artist. Not every artist can say they own or are given the opportunity to own all of their music." Jay started his own record company, Roc Nation, and has been working on the Blueprint 3 with Kanye West since 2008. In February, Jay joked that he was too free in making his latest opus. "If I don't have any time constraints, I'll mess around, I'll never get it done," he said. "I'll be Axl Rose out here! It'll be 12 years later, and we'll be talking about Chinese Democracy. I really like the [time constraints]. But whatever happens, [the album] may turn out better, 'cause it'll be done when it's right." Related Artists | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawyer For Man Who Shot Dolla Claims Self-Defense Posted: 21 May 2009 03:06 AM PDT Howard K. Price says his client feared for his life.
The attorney representing the man accused of shooting and killing Atlanta rapper Dolla in Los Angeles on Monday claims that his client acted in self-defense. "If somebody has a reasonable perception that he is in danger of bodily injury or death, he has a right to defend himself," Howard K. Price, lawyer for Aubrey Louis Berry told MTV News on Thursday. Price said his client shot at Dolla (real name: Roderick Anthony Burton), 21, at a Los Angeles mall on Monday because he feared for his life when he ran into the rapper and his entourage at the Beverly Center.
Berry was arrested on Monday at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun, and charged on Wednesday with two counts of assault with a firearm and one count of murder. According to The Los Angeles Times, police allege that Berry, an Atlanta-based music promoter, had a fight with Dolla at an Atlanta strip club earlier this month, which precipitated Monday's shooting. However, police disagree with Price's claims of imminent danger, saying no other weapons were recovered from the crime scene and that Burton was not armed. The judge in the case set bail at $5 million (raised from $1 million on Wednesday) in the case and Berry faces life in prison if convicted. Price said he will go to court on Friday in an attempt to get bail reduced for his client, who he portrayed as "a good kid" who did not go looking for trouble. According to Price, the two men had a fight at the Platinum 21 Adult Entertainment club in Atlanta last month and then happened to run into each other on Monday in Los Angeles at a P.F. Chang's restaurant at the Beverly Center. Price said that Dolla threatened Berry, who left the restaurant after the incident and walked to the mall's valet area to retrieve his car when he noticed that Dolla and two associates were following him. He looked back and thought he saw Dolla reaching for his waistband, presumably to pull out a weapon, Price said. Berry then opened fire. "He felt his life was in danger because of the previous altercation and what this guy [Burton] is reputed to be, which is [a member of] the Crips [street gang] and the way he conducted himself in the bathroom and the way his crew approached him when they left the restaurant and followed him to the parking lot," the lawyer said. He added that Burton and his associates threatened Berry in the restaurant — though he would not go into detail about the specific alleged threats — and that another verbal encounter followed in the parking lot. Burton was unarmed at the time, but Price explained that if his client reasonably thought that his life was in danger, then he is not guilty of the murder charge. "If it is unreasonably held [that his life was in danger], but he truly thought that, then the case boils down to no worse than manslaughter," he said. "He did not go there to look for anyone to kill. He was not there to encounter this guy, and this is the weirdest happenstance I've ever encountered in my career, because the videotape of what happened in the restaurant clearly shows my guy coming back from the bathroom and leaving his friends there to go get his car, and shows the other guys following him. If he was seeking to do anything, he wouldn't have left first." The manager of Platinum 21 told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the fight occurred two weeks ago and that it was over before it even started. "No one seems to know who [Berry] is," said manager Robert "Bull" Shaw. Police claim that Berry shot Dolla several times. No one else was injured in the incident and the rapper died of his wounds a short time later at nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The AJC also reported that the assault charges stem from Berry taking aim at Dolla's cousin, Wilbert Robinson, and a friend and recording partner, Sidiq Abawi (a.k.a. DM Shabazz). Though Price claims that Dolla was a member of the Crips street gang, the rapper's stepfather told the Atlanta paper that his stepson's street persona was merely a character. "To us he was just Roddy," said George Viera. "When he was home, you couldn't pry him away. Loved to play with his nieces and nephews, loved to play on the Wii." The family, who are planning a funeral on Saturday for the rapper, said they learned of his murder from his longtime girlfriend, Crystal Jackson, who lives in Los Angeles and is a student at Clark Atlanta University. Dolla was reportedly planning a birthday party for Jackson in Los Angeles, where he was working on his debut album. His stepfather said Dolla was shot in the back and that the bullet pierced his heart. In addition to finishing the album, Viera said Dolla was planning to go to theology school. "He was very interested in religion. People think rapper, they think hard, but he wasn't that way," said Viera. Price refuted the claims about Dolla being shot in the back and described his client as an Atlanta resident who often visits Los Angeles for business and to see family, and who has a permit for his weapon in Georgia, and mistakenly believed he had the legal right to carry a concealed gun in Los Angeles. "He has a reason to have a gun there [in Atlanta]," Price said. "He has a permit. He has been victimized physically and there have been robberies on numerous previous occasions. He comes from a decent, wonderful family ... his grandfather was the ex-assistant chief of police of Houston." Price was not clear on why his client, who he described as a college graduate who has never been arrested before in his life, has repeatedly found himself in situations where a gun was necessary for protection. "He was not looking for trouble, I'm not sure how trouble finds him. He's not a gang banger." Asked why his client fled after the shooting, Price said Berry panicked and, fearing that other gang members might come after him, "he called his sister and in a bad bit of judgment she told him to get out of town and he listened to her and went to the airport. He should have probably turned himself in." Though Price said Berry typically carries his weapon in a lock box, when police approached him at LAX, he told them he was carrying the loaded gun on his person. Jane Robinson, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, said the evidence for the murder charges was strong enough, "otherwise we wouldn't have charged it," she said. "We only charge what we believe we can prove." Robinson added that her office asked for the unusually high bail because Berry has no ties to Los Angeles and is considered a flight risk. She said Berry is scheduled for arraignment on Friday, at which he will enter a plea in the case. A representative for Dolla's family had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time, but the family said in a statement released Wednesday that it would not be commenting at this time. "There have been numerous false claims of information floating around the 'net and also reported in reputable media outlets," the statement reads in part. "Part of this was due to someone who was not authorized to speak on the family's behalf and who claimed to be the publicist of record decided to disseminate false information on her own and without the consent of the family to several media outlets. "Due to the circumstances of the situation no other information will be released at this time," the statement continues. "We are grateful for your continued support in these trying times." Related Artists | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kris Allen's Friends Are 'Freakin' Happy' About 'American Idol' Win Posted: 21 May 2009 12:00 AM PDT 'We lost it, we screamed, we jumped, we cried,' says Allen's college roommate, who went to the finale.
Kris Allen's friends knew he was going to win "American Idol." They said so more than a month ago when MTV News visited Conway, Arkansas, and they proudly restated it Thursday morning (May 21), after a sleepless night of celebrating the victory. Still groggy from the late night, former roommate and good pal Charles Browder, 25, said he got a bit nervous during Wednesday night's interminable wait for the results, but he never really lost faith.
"Honestly, the way they pimped out Adam [Lambert] the whole night ... here's a ditty with [Kris and] Keith Urban and here's pyrotechnics with [Adam and] Kiss?" he said Thursday morning from Los Angeles, after attending Wednesday night's show with two dozen of Allen's friends and family from Conway. "We were like, 'What the heck? Are they pimping him out to win or giving him one last good show because they know Kris is going to win?' " But when host Ryan Seacrest called for the lights to be dimmed, Browder said he knew they were going to call Allen's name. "Even though they weren't giving him enough airtime, the whole time we thought he was going to sneak in to the top two and he's going to take it," Browder said. And when he did win, Browder said the Allen supporters simply flipped out. "A girl grabbed my arm and was jumping higher than I was and [accidentally] punching me in the face, and we were so freakin' happy for him, I didn't even care," he said. Another hometown friend of Allen's, former college roommate JP Davenport, 24, also attended the show and said the wait for the results was maddening. But she also walked around Los Angeles all day on Wednesday feeling very confident that Allen, 23, would pull it out. "We kept telling ourselves that, but then we had to figure out, 'How are we gonna handle that?' " she said. "It's indescribable. All I heard was 'K ... ,' and I'm pretty sure the top blew off. We lost it, we screamed, we jumped, we cried. Everyone had tears in their eyes." Though she wasn't able to congratulate Allen in person on victory night, Davenport said the Conway contingent went out to dinner after the live broadcast and watched the taped West Coast rebroadcast at a restaurant a short time later. "We were all standing around this little TV in the restaurant, and when it came on, we threw our hands in the air again, and we all just took it in," she said. "Everyone was numb. No one can explain how it feels. Kris is the American Idol!"
Davenport said a group of Allen's friends stayed up late into the night, and at one point, they tried to figure out how their unassuming friend was able to pull off a come-from-behind victory against the season-long favorite. "Maybe some of Danny [Gokey]'s voters pushed to Kris," she speculated. "Maybe Arkansas really did push him over. I don't know. I think people can actually see who Kris is, and America responded to him. When they really saw them go head-to-head, people decided that Kris was the one they wanted." Much has been made of Allen's humble, quiet persona, and Davenport was confident that the bright lights and instant stardom that comes with an "Idol" crown won't change her friend. But just in case, she joked, she'll always be there to remind him that he's no celebrity. "I think the only thing that will change is just him being busy," Browder said. "I'm sure he'll get distracted, but he'll still be one of those celebrities signing a billion [autographs] when he should be moving on. I think he'll stay true to himself just like he did the whole competition." Still a bit in shock over the victory, Browder recalled that when a reporter asked Allen recently what keeps him grounded, he said "my friends." "There wasn't a dry eye in the house," Browder said of Wednesday night. "The whole rest of the night at the restaurant, we just kept saying, 'Our best friend just won 'American Idol.' " Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cool & Dre Move On From Christina Milian, Work With Lady Gaga Posted: 22 May 2009 03:51 AM PDT 'It's giving me and Cool a chance to showcase our ability,' Dre says of working with big collaborators, in Mixtape Daily.
Behind the Beats: Cool & Dre It must feel great to be hate-free. Even though he and Christina Milian are no longer making beautiful music together — personally or professionally — Dre of the production duo Cool & Dre says he's OK with her moving on. "I think it's gonna be a good fit for her," Dre said of her pair-up with The-Dream. "His pen is amazing, especially when it comes to writing records for females," Dre added. "If he does a majority of the album, it's gonna be big. We have nothing but love for Christina. I know people may wanna throw all kind of stuff out there [about our relationship], but we've got nothing but love for her and her family. We wish her the best and we're definitely looking forward to what she's got going on. The last record we did with her did pretty well — top 20 on the charts, 'Say I' with Young Jeezy. But Dream is a hell of a songwriter, Tricky Stewart is a hell of a producer. I'm sure she'll be alright." Cool & Dre are doing damn good these days as well — the two have invested a hefty sum of cash into a new studio, Lake Oasis, in North M.I.A. It's actually a luxury home converted into a music lab — on a lake. "We're gonna make it so when the artists come down to Miami, they're going to have to come here," Cool smiled. Amenities aside, MCs such as Young Jeezy and the Game get beats from the two because there are so many different ways the Florida natives can attack you sonically. They can come as hard as Albert Pujols home-run swing (like on Ja Rule's "New York") or supply the soul (as they did on the Game's "Hate it or Love It" and Jay Rock's "All My Life"). "Musically, I don't wanna say we've made our mark in hip-hop. There's people before us that have accomplished way more. Cool and I feel as though we've grown a lot from what we're known for and we continue to still make music like that. We worked with Jeezy on his next album, we've submitted records for T.I., but we feel as though this is an important time," Dre explained.
They've given Lil Wayne a bunch of records for his always-evolving Rebirth LP and have cooked up Queen Latifah's next album in its entirety. Lloyd and Justin Timberlake's new rock group Free Sol are also on their to-do list ... and don't be surprised if you hear that the fellas are collaborating with Bon Jovi. Right now, though, they're excited about Wale's "Chillin'," featuring Lady Gaga. "She's, like, on a rocket to space right now," Cool said about the pop siren. "Just jump in and let's take it up there." "We did a good three or four records on Wale, who we feel is exceptionally talented," Dre added. "It's giving me and Cool a chance to showcase our ability." Family Reunion? In a recent interview posted on the Internet, Dirt had horrible things to say about the producers. However, the duo harbor no animosity toward him. ""Dirtbag is a member of our family and we love him," Cool said about their former signee. "I have nothing ill to say about him. We love him," Dre added. Whatever situation that led him to do what he did ... we understand when things aren't going your way, you get frustrated. Unfortunately it was a public frustration. But we understand. Cool and I aren't into back and forth. If Dirtbag was to come here right now, we'd have open arms." Patiently Waiting The Duo have three acts they are putting out on their own Epidemic Music — rapper C-Ride, a female group called Hot Revolver that Dre calls a "Apollonia 6 type" and rock group 11-11, with a lead singer will remind you of Steve Perry from Journey. Five-Star Stellar Cool & Dre Hits » "New York" - Ja Rule featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss Hottest Streak Thus Far From 2005 to present, when they worked on such LPs as Tha Carter III, All or Nothing and The Documentary. Related Videos | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kristin Cavallari's 'Laguna Beach' Prom Wasn't Her First Posted: 22 May 2009 03:51 AM PDT 'I actually went to five proms, which was a lot,' the future 'Hills' star recalls.
It's May — you know what that means. It's getting warm, the flowers are blooming and the time-honored tradition of prom is back again. So get your corsages, turn up the cheesy music and fuel the limos, because this week we're catching up with your favorite stars and helping them relive their prom memories. Many people capture their prom in photos that they later share with their friends and family on Facebook, but some people had a whole crew documenting every second of the dance — like Kristin Cavallari did when she was on "Laguna Beach."
But the soon-to-be "Hills" star went to more proms than just the one we all saw on MTV. "I actually went to five proms, which was a lot," she told MTV News. "My favorite was senior prom, and I wore a dress similar to the color of my shirt, like a peach dress." She also talked about her date for the night — who most fans of the show will remember. "I went with Talan, who was on 'Laguna Beach,' and I think most of my prom was on an episode of [the show]." Despite having cameras in her face all night, Cavallari said she had a blast. "Senior prom was just a lot of fun," she said. "It was just all your friends right before you graduate ... and it's, like, the last thing." We'll have lots more celebrity prom stories rolling out throughout the week (and check out even more celebrity prom coverage on the MTV Buzzworthy blog)! Related Videos | |||||||||||||||||||||
| DJ Drama Already Working On Third <i>Gangsta Grillz</i> Album Posted: 22 May 2009 04:49 AM PDT 'I got songs that didn't make this one that's already on deck,' he says of second GG LP, which dropped Tuesday.
"Whatever happens, we making history, like always," DJ Drama said about the first-week numbers of his album and all the other rap releases that came out earlier this week. Gangsta Grillz: The Album, Vol. 2, Redman and Method Man's Blackout 2, Eminem's Relapse and Busta Rhymes' Back on My B.S. — hip-hop poured it on heavy Tuesday. There were a lot of releases by traditionally dope lyricists and Drama, a DJ who has a history of working with the best MCs.
"It's going crazy, man," Dram told us about his promo tour. "Different city every day. I'm taking over every radio station I go to. Doing the club thing at night. I'm out here working heavy." While trekking, the Philly native-turned-ATL mayor is getting video ideas ready for his next single, "Ridiculous," which features Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Lonnie Mac and OJ Da Juiceman. "That's what it's about," Drama said about letting a song's heat in the streets determine singles. "Me being a DJ, it makes sense for me. A lot of times, we as DJs can co-sign songs we believe in, but we also work for the people. I'm used to that — something just taking off and commanding its own attention and taking it from there." Drama is readying album number three as we speak. "We're already in motion on that," he said of the third Gangsta Grillz LP. "I got songs that didn't make this one that's already on deck. I have a classic Philly song that didn't make this album that will definitely be on the next one. I really wish it would have made this album, but it didn't due to constraints and clearances. And I already started putting the calls to get the next one poppin.' " But before he gets too far ahead of himself, Mr. Thanksgiving is thankful for Vol. 2. "To be on my second one, working on the third one, I feel like now it's not about proving what I'm about," he said. "It's about keeping the culture moving and keeping the quality going. The first one was an accumulation of everything in my career. This one, with the responses from it, it's like it's time to work. I'm back at it." Related Videos Related Photos | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Drake Denies Romance With Rihanna Posted: 21 May 2009 09:34 AM PDT '[She's] just a friend, that's all,' Drake says.
Drake didn't sound all that convincing, but he's sticking to his story. The fast-rising rapper/singer called in to New York's Hot 97 Thursday morning (May 21) and denied gossip that he and Rihanna are an "item." On Wednesday, the New York Post published an item in its gossip column claiming that Drake and Rihanna were spied kissing all night on Monday at New York's Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge bowling alley. One of the paper's spies was quoted as saying, "She was drinking whiskey and apple juice and making out with him all night. ... They were really cute together." Drake downplayed the rumor mill on Thursday morning, while also promoting his Hot 97 concert next Tuesday. "It's not like that at all," Drake told show hosts Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg. "I'm being honest. [She's] just a friend, that's all. A great artist." Drake did admit he was at the same place as Rihanna, but reiterated nothing was going on between them. "Nothing at all. I have the most respect for her. I think she's so talented." Drake said he was also "honored" that Page Six would choose his name to put in a romantic Rihanna rumor. Neither Rihanna nor her team have commented on the report. Meanwhile, Rihanna plays the leading lady in Kanye West's new video "Paranoid." The clip was debuted Wednesday night in New York at a Def Jam Records event. Also, R. Kelly has added vocals to Drake's "Best I Ever Had" to make an unofficial remix. Related Artists | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Alchemist Says Touring With Eminem Is On 'Another Level' Posted: 20 May 2009 10:59 PM PDT 'Rolling with Em is the best,' says DJ/producer, who also nabbed Slim Shady for his upcoming compilation album.
Alchemist has reached the top. He's backing Eminem as Slim Shady's DJ during the Detroit legend's recent promo run. "We did a bunch of shows in Europe. It was incredible, amazing," Alchemist told MTV News earlier this week as he was pulling up to "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," where Eminem was performing.
"Crazy dope," Al, also an acclaimed producer, gushed of Em's run on the road. "Rolling with Em is the best. Another level. All the years being with Mobb [Alchemist was Mobb Deep's former show DJ], then being with Em, seeing the next level of what it is, it reminds me of when Mobb was on the road with 50. They had that relationship that was really connecting. Now I feel we're on that level. Clear mind and a connection of all the positive energy that's going on is quite amazing." On Monday, Al told Mixtape Daily that during Em's shows, the new record "Underground" is a highlight for him. "When I first heard [Relapse], that was the song I said, 'This is gonna shut mutha----ers up.' Straight up," Al said. "It would not be an issue. Nobody would be like, 'I didn't like this, I didn't like the flow.' ... When we perform that song, Em takes a spot on the stage, and that's it. He picks a spot and dumbs out. There's not a lot of moving. When we're rehearing the song, you know, 'This is gonna be something crazy.' He says, 'Turn the lights down,' they put the spotlight on Em, and it's just snap rap. In the current day and age, you don't hear songs like that. It doesn't seem like any of that other sh-- going on in the world or in the music industry was going on in his mind when he [made the song]. He was strictly into the craft. I don't think anybody is f---ing with that."
Em and Al have become so tight, the Shady One raps on the title track to Al's June 16 LP, Chemical Warfare II. "Being that the album is more of a compilation-style album, it wasn't too much pressure," Al said about the track, which he also produced. "I felt like I wanted him to snap out on the beat. It was no direction, I just fed him some sounds, and he sifted through some stuff, and he felt what he felt. He just dumbed out on it. It was more of, let's say, his album is done and he gets a hard beat, he just wants to flip on it. It wasn't having to write a whole song. He got that done with his album. This was more like, 'I'mma get an Alchemist beat and dumb out and say some fly sh--.' Which was dope to me too, because that's the essence of him." Jadakiss, Prodigy, Maxwell, Three 6 Mafia, Fabolous, Tha Dogg Pound, Lady of Rage and Kid Cudi have also contributed to Al's upcoming set. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists | |||||||||||||||||||||
| How Did Kris Allen Win 'American Idol?' Posted: 21 May 2009 08:56 AM PDT Reader responses give hints.
We may never know the exact margin of Kris Allen's win over Adam Lambert on "American Idol," but on the morning after the surprise victory, what we do know is that fans of the chummy singers remain bitterly divided over the result. Based on the many responses we received to our story about the finale, the Glamberts are either a) glad Adam lost so he doesn't have to release "No Boundaries" as a single, b) miffed that his "otherness" might have turned some voters off, c) adamant that the competition ended up being about popularity more than singing (have they been paying any attention these last seven years?), or d) all of the above.
But how did Allen pull it off? How did the unassuming 23-year old married college student from tiny Conway, Arkansas, beat the ready-for-primetime 27-year-old theatrical rocker and judges' season-long favorite? (Some comments have been edited for clarity.) "Kris did not win because America voted for the one with the better voice," wrote xThexFurxIMMERx. "He won because America voted for the 'cuter' one, the 'normal' one, and because they are homophobic. If anyone voted for Kris, they didn't care to listen to Adam's vocals, because if they did, they would have seen how more superior and broad his range is than Kris." Though only 1 million votes reportedly separated the two singers last week, it appears from the nearly 100 comments that the Glamberts compose the overwhelming majority of online advocates for their choice. And some of you were really, really fired up about Lambert's loss, including rabid poster Ebova, who huffed, "I watched this show only because of ADAM and will never watch it again ... whatever is the name of the guy who 'supposedly won' this karaoke show — it is obvious that ADAM IS THE BEST EVER AND FOREVER ... while that other guy will be forgotten before you know it." Many of you also wished both men well in their respective careers, but Yoyoball suggested that one reason Lambert may have come in second was because he was just so unusual. "Adam is the true artist and performer," 'ball wrote, "and unfortunately that's why the majority of [the] population is having a difficult time accepting him." But then, 'ball also went on to compare Lambert to Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo and Vincent van Gogh, suggesting that the glammy singer was simply "way beyond his time." Though Lambert has made a point of not responding to queries about his sexuality other than to say "I know who I am," Heath was convinced the androgynous singer lost because of homophobia. "I guess we're overpopulated with retarded little girls who vote for a boy they think is cute, and homophobic wastes of space who will vote if he's not gay, regardless of his bland, mediocre singing skills," he wrote. Forget all that, Snookie wrote, the real reason, based on an allegedly close observation of voting patterns, was simple. "Young voters, especially girls, like cute faces like Allen's and will vote for him regardless of his singing and the judges' assessment," wrote Snookie. "As they represent a significant proportion of voters that is large enough to determine the outcome of the competition, Allen naturally will win the competition." There were the usual fair share of conspiracy theorists who swear the show is rigged, and that despite the nearly 100 million votes, "Idol" producers made the ultimate decision. Pac4lyfe begged to differ, expressing joy at Allen's win and explaining it this way: "We have had our share of rockers on 'American Idol.' It was time to switch it up. I like Kris' mellow, soulful style over Adam's anyways. Many assume because Kris doesn't shout through the whole song, that he is not as good as Adam. Look at Jack Johnson, Gavin DeGraw, etc. They are just as talented."
There were many reasons that Allen won, but Yokwe_123 said it came down to a simple equation. "Even though stupid young girls around the country prefers cute guys that can kinda sing over talented dudes like Adam, it really shows what American girls are like," Yokwe wrote. "Adam is different like how he walks and his choice of clothes ... [but] about four weeks ago that I started listening with my ears and not my eyes, it was then that I realized even though I don't like this dude, I must say that his vocal ranges are outta this world and there was not one person on the show that can compete with such great talent." Despite that talent, though, Yokwe suspected that "America's young teenage girls" were one deciding factor in Allen's win, but that the other might have something to do plain old dollars and cents and that record companies prefer a singer they know they can sell to those young girls. (We kinda doubt that big record label bosses were burning up the phone lines, but a good theory, anyway.) Forget the wild conspiracy theories, the alleged fixes and the stealth homophobia, Nicki wrote. The answer to Allen's win is way simpler than all that mumbo jumbo. "People are ... saying he just won because Adam is gay and too many people don't like him because of it. I'm sorry but I'm sure that I speak for almost everyone that it has nothing to do with who's and who's not. It's a fricking singing competition not a sexual orientation competition or whatever u wanna call it. If Kris were gay I still would have voted for him and wanted him to win. He's the better singer." Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos | |||||||||||||||||||||
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