Justin Guarini Announces Engagement

Justin Guarini announced on his Blogtalkradio show on September 30th that he is engaged to marry Reina Capodici, 26, of Doylestown, PA. The couple have known each other since high school but only started dating late last year. Ms. Capodici has a three year old daughter, Lola, from a prior relationship. They are planning a June, 2009, wedding.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

American Idol Season One Finale Nominated for Emmy's Most Memorable TV Moment

The Primetime Emmy Awards are recognizing the Most Memorable TV Moments this year, and the American Idol Season One Finale with Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson has been nominated. What's great is that we get to vote for the winner, with the top 5 nominees being featured on the Emmy telecast.




So, you might ask, what is it doing in this list of nominees? Does it belong among "All in the Family" and "Seinfeld?" We say yes, it does. It was the culminating moment on the season that launched a cultural phenomenon that changed both television and music. It featured the most genuine moment of love and support from runner-up to winner we have ever seen. Seven seasons have passed and it still stands out as something you will remember where and when you saw it and how it made you feel.

So, sure, it's a reality TV moment. One that will stand thet test of time. That's the definition of memorable. You can vote for it at the ABC site.

American Idol visits Task Force Warrior Headquarters

Master Sgt. Timothy Garcia, NCOIC of S1, poses with former American Idol contestant Justin Guarini at Task Force Warrior Headquarters Aug. 10.

American Idol visits Task Force Warrior Headquarters

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By
By Staff reports
Leesville Daily Leader
Fri Aug 15, 2008, 08:58 AM CDT

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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -
“Thank you very much for coming, your visit represents the resolve of the American people as we stand strong and defeat all who attempt to bring us harm,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Jeselink, Deputy Commander of Task Force Warrior, to the four former American Idol contestants visiting Brigade Headquarters today to entertain troops, pose for pictures and receive tokens of appreciation for their willingness to sacrifice time and efforts to show support.

Soldiers who may not be fans of the mega-hit television show American Idol, may at some point in time phone home to have a loved one respond, “I can’t talk right now, American Idol is on.”

American Idol, a reality-competition television show airing on Fox, seeks to discover the best singer in the country through a series of nationwide auditions. Debuting in 2002, American Idol has since become one of the most popular shows on American television.

One of the guests to Task Force Warrior today, Justin Guarini, emerged as a standout during American Idol’s debut season, ultimately becoming runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in 2002. He stood out as a very gracious and grateful visitor. When Soldiers sought Guarini out for specific poses and numerous photographs, he responded kindly and with a willingness to cater to Soldier requests.

The entire group of celebrities had very nice attitudes and they were not at all pompous. When traditional military Certificates of Appreciation and unit coins were presented, each former-Idol appeared genuinely moved.

Nadia Turner, Top Eight Finalist of Season Four, who recently was chosen to be a guest co-host on “The View” with Barbara Walters and Rosie O’Donnell and has had guest appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, spent time during the afternoon meeting and greeting Soldiers of Task Force Warrior.

Gina Glocksen, the ninth place finalist of the sixth season of American Idol, co-hosts the FOX Reality Show “American Idol Extra.” She was incredibly personable with the Soldiers, and her genuine candor and charming wit that made her a favorite of millions on the show came through to brighten the atmosphere at Brigade Headquarters.

Brandon Rogers, Top 12 on Season Six, performed as a backup vocalist on both Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera’s 2003 “Justified” and “Stripped” Tours. He makes guest appearances on the hit TV show “Bones” and is a travelling correspondent for the TV Guide Network, but took some time out of his schedule alongside other former idols to tour U.S. military installations in Southwest Asia.

Soldiers were smiling and laughing, and some spoke of anticipation to share the day’s experience with die-hard-Idol-fans back home. The visit was appreciated, and troops felt a thousand miles from danger if only for a few minutes.

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The 411 on the American Idol Tour - Salt Lake City

Justin Guarini goes behind the scenes at the American Idol Tour in Salt Lake City and talks with David Cook, David Archuleta, and Brooke White. Justin will be covering the American Idol auditions in San Franscico on July 17th, so if you see him, go say "Hello!" You may end up on TV, woohoo.

Revolve Acoustic EP - Review

F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that "the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." One of the most intriguing things about Justin Guarini's voice is that it consists of two opposing characteristics at the same time. It is at once raw edged and fluid. The fluidity has been on display in his recorded music, starting with "Justin Guarini," but too often, the recorded versions are sweetened and the rawness is lost.

That is not true of Revolve, the new three song EP Justin has released through his new label, Revolutionary Entertainment. The songs, "Sweet Time, " "Rock Bottom," and "When She Cries," are performed with a simple acoustic guitar accompaniment. Written and produced by Justin and his close friend, Shaun Ingram, the project is an examination of the complexities of relationships. On first blush, that description might seem rather commonplace, addressing well-worn themes, but these songs move beyond the typical "she loves me, she loves me not" lyric qualities of popular music.



"Sweet Time," a folk-soul song that could well have appeared on one of fellow Philadelphian Amos Lee's albums, opens with an immediately relatable expression of exasperation: "Haven't we done this once? Let's not do this again. All I want is sweet time, babe." In "Rock Bottom," Justin sings of destructive emotional obsession:

You shattered my innocence, you laughed at my tears.
You broke down my last defense, you wasted my years.
But you got something that money can't buy.
I feel just like a junkie, do anything, anything to make you mine.

The song then leads into a chorus that aggressively analogizes desire to facilitation of addiction, culminating with Justin's falsetto lamenting "You keep me fixed, you run my life."

The final song, "When She Cries," offers a blues-rock take on the male view of woman as cipher. It is on this song, perhaps, that the two opposing qualities of Justin's voice are put to their strongest test, displayed in the closing moments of the song.

Oh then she cried, then she cried, do you believe that she cried?
Oh, and a part of me died, a part of me died, oh, just a part of me died, oh every time.

When music is performed in this stripped down style, it cannot hide. Throughout the EP, the songs have the strength of storytelling and imagery. The lyrics avoid cliche, and the melodies linger. All this with the just the power of an instinctive voice and insightful songwriting.

If there is any frustration with this project, it is the prospect of not enough people hearing it. Unfortunately, no matter how compelling his music is, Justin doesn't have the platform to launch a new project that others from American Idol are fortunate to have. His work doesn't have the immediate public ear the way a David Cook or a Daughtry project does, for example. For some others, the fact he was an Idol will be reason enough to pass by a Justin Guarini project, regardless of its storytelling and execution.

It shouldn't be a zero-sum game. In fact, it isn't. This is good stuff - go check it out if you haven't. You'll enjoy it more than the empty calories of the Starbucks you might buy instead.

Revolve Acoustic EP - Digital Download Link

From Justin to David

As much as we are tired of that play on words, it couldn't work better than in circumstances where the first runner up shares the stage with the current runner up, who sang for him way back in the first season. Justin Guarini interviews David Archuletta right after the American Idol Finale. Not to be left out, David Cook opens the segments with his own play on FJ2K. Don't stop with the interview - there's a great video to also watch of Justin accompanying himself on guitar as he sings the moving original song, "Missing You." We're pretty sure he wasn't singing about this season's AI, but you never know.

Two American Idol Runners Up Sharing the Stage

Justin Guarini and his Idol Tonight co-hosts have a conversation with Bo Bice prior to the Final Four elimination show outside the American Idol stage door.

Idol Fever - FOX News

Justin Guarini comments on the American Idol Top 10 in this video from FOX News Channel.

Carly Smithson and the Idol "experience controversy" - who cares?

We were going to do a complete blog about how ridiculous the Carly Smithson "experience controversy" is, but Justin did it better. Check out his detailed taking apart of the relevance of this issue.

http://thebiz.fancast.com/2008/02/_so_usa_todays_marco.html

Just to make part of the observation we had intended, the media bias toward Smithson seems to be that because the MCA/Universal album she recorded as a teenager flopped, she shouldn't be trying again through her Idol appearance. Here's the thing: no album scans a mere 400 sales unless there was a massive corporate failure to promote it. The Wall Street Journal has reported on the complete screw up that MCA made of this project.

The success or failure of a major label pop release depends first and foremost on how well it is marketed, and that falls primarily on the shoulders of the record label. Carly didn't have any control over what the money was spent on. She didn't have control over what singles were released and how they were promoted. It doesn't sound like she had much control over what songs she recorded, the producers chosen by the label instead making those decisions.

On Idol, she is seeking to make it on her own talent. If she's good, she should. It would be ridiculous to refuse to support her because of what happened with her contract at MCA. To the contrary, it's a reason to give her the second chance.

Carly and Justin Guarini recently had a chance to talk at the Top 24 party. They can certainly commiserate, both having had their first real shot at success jerked away from them by corporate incompetence. Both deserve their chance to emerge from the hole into which they were pushed.

Of course, we do note that Justin's advice might well have been to avoid being signed by 19 Entertainment/BMG at all cost. But Carly is female and white, so she will probably be just fine.

TV Guide Network Set to Premiere Its Highest Rated Series, ‘Idol Tonight’ for Season Three

Hosts Kimberly Caldwell, Justin Guarini and Rosanna Tavarez Are Ready To Fire Up American Idol’s Biggest Fans With Brand New Show Segments, Interviews and the Network’s Biggest Marketing Campaign of the Year

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TV Guide Network®, a leading network providing entertainment programming to more than 83 million homes, is gearing up to premiere its highest rated original series and viewer favorite, IDOL TONIGHT on March 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Hosted by Kimberly Caldwell (American Idol season two finalist), Justin Guarini (American Idol season one runner-up) and Rosanna Tavarez (winner of Popstars), IDOL TONIGHT airs live from the doorstep of American Idol, satisfying viewers’ and fans’ appetite for the hottest show on television.

IDOL TONIGHT‘s marketing campaign will be the largest of the year for TV Guide Network. It will include a new logo, opening, and Idol theme weeks.

Justin Guarini and Rosanna Tavarez joke with
American Idol Vocal Coach Debra Byrd on Idol Tonight

In addition to featuring interviews with the most recent Idol eliminee, vocal coaches, fashion stylists, industry insiders and more, the show will include the following segments:

• “Idol Flashbacks” will feature never-before-seen footage of the most outrageous auditions and former contestants.
• “Idol Worship” will highlight current contestant reactions to fun fan questions.
• “Where Are They Now?” will feature former Idols making regular visits to the IDOL TONIGHT set to talk about what they have been up to after leaving American Idol.

IDOL TONIGHT is the exclusive, live Red Carpet preshow to America’s favorite talent competition, American Idol and TV Guide Network’s highest rated original series. Last season the premiere averaged a .4 HH coverage rating, an increase of 33 percent compared to 2006.

About TV Guide Network

TV Guide Network reaches over 83 million homes and is the premier television entertainment network for viewers seeking the latest information on the best programs, hottest stars and latest trends on television. Headquartered in the heart of Hollywood at its TV Guide Studios, the network combines original programming with comprehensive program listings information - all of which deliver on viewers' need for an entertaining and easy guide to what's on TV. TV Guide Network is owned and operated by TV Guide Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.

About Gemstar-TV Guide

Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. is a leading global media, entertainment, and technology company that develops, licenses, markets and distributes products and services that maximize the video guidance and entertainment experience for consumers. The Company's businesses include: television, publishing, and new media properties; interactive program guide services and products; and intellectual property licensing. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.gemstartvguide.com.



link

The Best American Idol Blog, Dawg

No, not us. Forget the couch cushion cowboys, the wannabes and the pretenders. The new king of American Idol blogs is from by someone who has lived it, from the inside, from the very beginning to the finale and six seasons thereafter. Someone who knows what Simon Cowell is really like, whether Randy Jackson's vocabulary is larger than six words, and whether Paula Abdul really . . . er, skip that. (He probably also knows if Clay Aiken . . . er skip that, too.)

Check it out: thebiz.fancast.com

Don't go expecting light weight fluff. He's bringing it ON.

And they're off . . .

Ironically, the first American Idol show of the seventh season is called a wrap. As in Idol Wrap, on the TV Guide Network. The show, hosted by Justin Guarini, Kimberley Caldwell and presumably Rosanna Tavarez, features highlights and probably lowlights from the auditions as well in-the-know guests who share insights and gossip about Idol. It premieres Friday, January 11, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. eastern.

But for the writers' strike, the seventh season of Idol might well have seen the beginning of a distinct downward trend in viewership. With the dropping of season two winner Ruben Studdard and season five winner Taylor Hicks from J Records, and with more rumored to come, the shine has definitely come off the hit-making machine. In fact, with the exception of Carrie Underwood, no Idol has managed to maintain sales momentum from their prior albums. As anyone who follows Idol knows, the only thing that matters is how many units you move (tm Clive Davis).

Will season seven reverse the trend? Just as they learned from the unbelievably stupid way Davis and RCA handled Justin's first album (releasing it after season two ended, on the very same day the season two finalists' singles were released for sale, with no lead single and no video support), perhaps they will learn from the relative failure of both the season five and season six top two. This year's gimmick is to let them play their own instruments during the semi-finals. Only time will tell if this gimmick ultimately pays sales dividends.

Meanwhile, enjoy the TV spectacle if you will. Starting with the Wrap this Friday.

OMG, someone is doing what they love, call the blog police!

So, Justin Guarini and Kimberley Locke are giving a concert tonight as part of the grand opening celebration of the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso. Predictably, TMZ.com (which stands for "this matters zilch") jumps on the news. This is followed by a number of other blog postings, mostly just TMZ news feeds or blogs run by fans of other Idols who somehow feel their own lives are made better by suggesting others are less than successful.

Hey, here's the thing: they love to sing. They love to perform. They get paid for doing both. It's a way better life than working for TMZ.com. When is the last time you made a crowd of people excited and happy that didn't involve you delivering pizza? Yeah, that's what we thought.

Everyone going tonight, enjoy.

Make-A-Wish Foundation Fundraiser Benefit!

Justin Guarini, Kimberley Caldwell, Mikalah Gordon, and Brandon Rogers from American Idol will be performing. Tickets go on sale this weekend.

The Missouri Theater is a beautiful restored theater in downtown St. Joseph, MO.

Official website:

www.stjoeidol.com

If you can't go, the website will have a link to donate for this great cause.

A Trip to David Hughes' Foreign Shores

In 2005, Justin Guarini released an album of reinvented jazz standards. That album lead Justin to hire a friend of his drummer, a bassist named David Hughes, for a local LA gig. This in turn lead David Hughes to discover that Guarini had exactly the voice and the improvisational skills he needed for two songs on the solo album he was recording. Thus explains how an American Idol runner-up ended up making a guest appearance on a new contemporary jazz album.

David describes tbe album. "Foreign Shores," as "creative and original melodic jazz with funky grooves and energetic improvisations." Indeed, that is an apt description. There are funk, r&b, soul, and pop influences to be found across the album. The music is melodic enough to let you become familiar with the songs, yet not so familiar that the music fades into the background. The bass plays a prominent role, which brings out the funk factor. At the same time, this is not a "bass album," as David gives each of his guest musicians a chance to break out.

The song for which the album is named, "Foreign Shores," is a great example. It takes you on a journey, begining with a bit of banjo, a true American instrument, and then adds some chiming, Asian-inspired chords and a lively flute, throws in a drum section in the middle, and ends with extended improvisation that takes it beyond so-called smooth jazz (which, to some, means elevator music). "Snowflakes," a personal favorite of this blog's author, starts with a bright bass line joined by sustained atonal piano scales that add a slight touch of chaos - just like a snowfall.

"Your Sweet Voice" sounds more like instrumental pop and could easily be reinvented as a ballad heard on your local Adult Contemporary station. "Grace Peace Earth" is a meditation played entirely on the bass.

Then, there are the two songs for which Justin provides vocals. "Brazil" is David Hughes' own composition (should you be familiar with the classic samba version, this is not that). It is not all that common to include vocals on contemporary jazz recordings, so David explains how he come to include them on "Brazil:"

"From the start I only heard piano, then piano and flute. Then piano, flute and vocal. It is pretty typical for me that a melody comes quickly, but the actual arrangement gradually takes shape."

When recording the vocals, David had ideas in mind but knew he had a great improvisational vocalist, and wanted to bring that out:

"My arrangements tend to have sections that are very specific and sections that are very open to the musicians' ideas. On 'Brazil,' I instructed Justin exactly what to sing for the melodies, but during the solo trading I wanted him to be totally free."

That solo trading, between Justin and Katisse Buckingham on flute, ends with Justin's own flute-like vocalization taking off into the stratosphere.

The other song on which Justin provides vocals is "I wish," which unlike "Brazil," has written lyrics. David explains why he decided to cover a Stevie Wonder song as follows:

"I have always loved that song and I consider it a 'bass player anthem' due to the strong bassline with essentially constitutes a counter-melody. It would be extremely presumptuous to think Stevie's song can be improved, but it is nevertheless possible to infuse a little of your own musical personality by rearranging the song. I changed the chords and melody a little in the second half of the verse, because I like songs with unexpected harmonic progressions. The groove in the first half of the chorus is changed to emphasize what I perceive as the 'funkyness' of the song. I wanted the bridge to contrast with the energy of the choruses, to allow for a little relief. The last chorus modulates up a half step, it's an overused trick to kick the energy level up a notch, but if you do it right it's very effective and refreshing. I also added a few syncopations in the drums and bass, something inspired by Earth Wind & Fire."

He was very pleased with what Justin added to the song:

"Justin deserves accolades for his performance. I think the original key is Eb, and my arrangement starts out in that key, but then modulates up a half step...That is definitely high! I think Justin brought the perfect interpretation of the song to the table. He is a great musician who instinctively understands what the arrangement calls for on his behalf. He sticks to the melody enough to make is sound like a song and not just a jam, but improvises the right amount to keep the excitement up and make the song more interesting."

While not a jam, in the sense that term suggests a lack of direction, the horns and sax and Justin's singing make "I Wish" a hell of a lot of fun.

In other words, if you are a contemporary jazz fan, there is a lot to discover on this album. If you're a Justin Guarini fan, there is a lot to love on this album, beyond the tracks on which he sings.

Some final words from David Hughes on his guest vocalist:

"I was blown away when I heard [Stranger Things Have Happened, Justin's jazz album]! Greg Gordon Smith helped come up with some fantastic, creative arrangements of songs I've played a million times, and a few that were more unusual. Justin adjusts his voice quality to suit the mood and sound of the songs and his improvising is on par with that of a great instrumentalist. I would compare him to another great jazz vocalist, Kurt Elling, but since Justin is younger, there is a different timbre in his sound and perhaps a little more daring approach."

Daring? Yeah, that describes Justin as a vocalist. It's great to hear him in the company of accomplished and equally daring musicians. Pick up a copy of this album for all of the journey on which it takes you.

Justin Guarini at the Heart Expo in Japan on 07-07-07

American Idol Runner-Up to perform a hymn for which he composed the music.

Justin is performing on the symbolic date of 07-07-07 at the Heart Expo, a charitable benefit taking place in Ishikawa, Japan.

The event is sponsored by Global Harmony, an organization founded by a Buddist monk known as Cealo. HH Cealo is a believer in "direct action," which means he doesn't just talk about the needs of the underprivileged or get his picture taken while visiting them as an "ambassador," he goes to the poor areas of the world and does whatever he can do to help as many as he can. This excerpt from his website explains in more detail:

His Holiness Gayuna Cealo is a Buddhist monk best known as an advocate for children and women in Burma and Cambodia, bringing much-needed support in the way of rice, vegetables, blankets, medical supplies, books, pencils, toys, clothes and most importantly, education for a self-reliant society. His hands-on, heartfelt approach has moved people from all walks of life to get involved in creating an infrastructure for change in poorer countries, including the President and Royal Family of Cambodia. The Prince and Princess were so moved by Cealo’s direct action and kindness that they have agreed to work with him to develop a new city for the future. They had originally heard of the monk giving hundreds of meals to street children, though this is an illegal act in Cambodia. (Permission from the government is needed before giving food to street children there.) Rather than fining him or putting him in jail, they asked to consult with him on what to do about the homeless problem. Such direct and positive action from a single individual to affect change made them realize this was a man worthy of listening to and learning from. “Giving food or money is not the only answerE he insisted. “If one truly wants to heal the sick and needy, one must give hope and a sense of purpose. This is true of all people, not just the poor. Access to higher education or vocational training is critical.

When Cealo met Justin, he declared that Justin was "pure of heart" and asked him to compose the music for one of Cealo's hymns, entitled "Hymn to Oneself #14." With the assistance of jazz pianist and producer Greg Gordon Smith, Justin recorded a moving version of this hymn. You can listen to it on youtube, accompanied by wonderful imagery.



The Hymn is also available for sale at the Global Harmony website shop, with proceeds benefiting the organizations' peace and child welfare efforts.

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

The immortal words of Yogi Berra (go google him, youngsters) were never more true than describing this week's American Idol finale between Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. A belter and and an all-around performer went at it, with the belter prevailing after the two were both required to sing the same power ballad coronation song. Now, where have we seen that before?

Oh, yeah, on the first season of American Idol, in the showdown between Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini.

The similarity was made all the more mind-blowing by the fact that American Idol Rewind ran its finale episode not more than a week before the regular AI episode, reminding viewers that Justin was actually screwed twice in his finale with two songs chosen especially for a young female singer, not just one. (We've talked about this before.)

Justin has been characteristically gracious about what was done to him. It is not part of his life philosophy to dwell on past bad acts of others. Even in our recent interview with him, where the subject of the two season's parallels came up, he merely commented on how they were "working out a lot of bugs" the first season.

Justin is also way too self-deprecating about his vocal performance, implicitly suggesting it was on par with Lewis'. As Debra Byrd made sure to point out to him when she appeared on the season finale of Idol Tonight, "You held your own, dude. I have to make sure you get props for that."

Indeed, he did. Justin has an incredible vocal range, and the only problem for him vocally with "A Moment Like This" was where the arrangement was placed relative to his head/chest voice break. We love to see what he and Greg Gordon Smith (his jazz album arranger) would do with the song without constraints.

In any event, Blake Lewis did the best he could with the song and surely knew (and probably hoped) he would come in second. What is somewhat bothersome is how free he has been to talk about what was done to him, relative to the straight jacket Justin experienced. If Justin had said this:

Lewis agrees. "'This is My Now" is definitely not my style, a song I would never sing if I didn't have to," he says. "It fit [Jordin] like perfectly. And I honestly think they should have had two songs that were tailored to both of us, but I'm so happy with being second place." link

he would have been pilloried. He has been pilloried, by press that has so far shown little regard for fair and balanced reporting.

So, we issue a challenge to the press. When you are talking about the Lewis/Sparks showdown and the producers' manipulation of the outcome, let's see you acknowledge that Justin Guarini was subjected to the same sort of set-up. If you don't think it reflects on Blake's talent, than how can it possibly reflect on Justin's? No person can shine when the people in control are shoving his light under a barrel.

Justin is right, though. They have worked out the bugs. The major bug they worked out was their fear of non-winners' success. Blake Lewis will not live out the nightmare that Justin did the end of the first season. He will have a successful album release, no doubt. More power to him. But, press, here's another request. Let's get our facts right when the inevitable comparisons are made by you come album time. As much as they appear the same, things have substantially changed. Thanks in advance.

Dishing the Idol Finale and Making Music with Justin Guarini

Essential Justin caught up with American Idol first season runner-up Justin Guarini, who is currently hosting Idol Tonight on the TV Guide Channel. Despite his hectic schedule, Justin was gracious enough to spend some time talking with us about Idol, then and now, and the summer of music he has planned.

EJ: You’ve been a busy guy lately. Are you enjoying it?
Justin: Sure, of course! It’s always nice to work, no doubt about that. I’ve been working pretty consistently, mostly below the radar, but now this year, I’ve really gotten to work on a national level with TV Guide Channel and it’s lead to a lot of good stuff.

EJ: That’s great. From what I understand, next week you guys have a lot of Idol Tonight you are going to be doing with TV Guide. It sounds like you’re going to leave no Idol stone unturned.
Justin: (laughs) Exactly. We have four days, two hour shows each day that we’re going to put on the air. Then on top of that, there’s going to be a lot of press, we have radio junkets. We’ll obviously do the MSNBCs, the FOXes, the national news outlets, so it’s going to be very busy. But it’s that way every single year when it comes to Idol and, you know, I don’t mind because it’s an interesting balance because you have a lot of work but with that work comes a lot of exposure. I can’t thank TV Guide enough for helping me out, I mean they offered me this job and I took it and it’s really really helped bring my brand to a national audience again.

EJ: Right, well, they seem to like you, so it looks like . . . .
Justin: (laughs) Yeah, they’re nice. I’d really like to continue working with them. We’re working on hammering something out right now.

EJ: So, let’s talk about Idol a little bit. Very early on, you picked Jordin Sparks as the dark horse, and you’re looking pretty darn astute right now.
Justin: Yeah, yeah I picked Lakisha, I thought Lakisha was going to win because she started out so strong in the beginning, but, I think, yeah, I was (laughs) I was pretty right. But you know what I think it was? I sort of had some inside help, because I did an event in Arizona and was out to dinner and I randomly met some of Jordin’s relatives out there. This was way early in the competition. I think it was just as the Top 12 was getting started. And they were like we haven’t, you haven’t seen anything from Jordin yet, she hasn’t really started to sing yet. I thought, “Well, that’s interesting.” And, I started paying closer attention to Jordin at that point and you know, the numbers added up. She seemed like . . . I was waiting for her to do what her family said she was going to do and as she started to do it, it confirmed my suspicions that she would be a dark horse. And here she is, just like Kelly [Clarkson], actually, in the finale. No one paid attention to Kelly early on and it became evidently clear that she had what it took to be in the finale.

EJ: In fact, that is what I was going to comment on. It’s strikes me that there is a lot of comparison between the finale this season and your finale in the first season.
Justin: Yeah, yeah, you have a woman who is very much a singer, she is a great, great vocalist, Jordin is a great, great vocalist and somebody who is more of an entertainer, who sings well but is more of an entertainer. It’s an interesting parallel. From the top 4 on, it was almost the same thing although you have Tamyra [Gray] being voted off fourth as opposed to Melinda [Doolittle] being voted off third. So there is the same sort of shock value there. But, uhm, yeah, it’s interesting you know. Three girls, one guy, and the guy ends up being in the finals.

EJ: Although, I have to say, I think Blake Lewis ought to count his blessings that he doesn’t have to adapt “A Moment Like This” to his style.
Justin: (loud laugh) Yeah, no, it was tough that first year. They were working out a lot of bugs. Ever since then they have not had the finalists sing the same exact songs because they realize that just isn’t the way to go. They have two very different artists. You can’t make them sing the same songs. But, it’s just, you know, they’ve worked out the bugs and we’re really expecting a great finale this year. I think it’s going to be thee closest in Idol history.

EJ: You think so?
Justin: I’m going to go out on a limb and say that.

EJ: Go out on a limb. It would have to be, what, less than one percent to beat Season 2?
Justin: Something.

EJ: Something like that.
Justin: I don’t know what it is going to be but I think it’s going to be closer than Clay [Aiken] and Ruben [Studdard] even.

EJ: Okay, well, there you go.
Justin: Mmm-hmm.

EJ: So, have you heard anything about the finale you can share with us?
Justin: I’ve heard that Beatles songs have been cleared. So, it’s very possible Sir Paul may show up. I’m not sure, they may just be singing Beatles songs. But they keep very tight lipped about everything that’s going on on that finale, so who knows?

EJ: Even hanging backstage, you’re not getting any of the inside scoop?
Justin: (laughs) No, no, backstage is closed off to everyone but the producers and the contestants.

EJ: Let’s go back a little bit in time this season, because the earlier sensation was of course Sanjaya [Malakar]. And here’s another parallel to your season. The fervor that surrounded him, the pop culture fervor that surrounded him seemed an awful lot like what you experienced in your season. But I noticed afterwards, he’s on some shows, looks like he’s getting some stars in his eyes. It must have been really hard not to lose your head when you have that kind of frenzy surrounding you?
Justin: They kept us pretty insulated from a lot of that during the show and we didn’t see a lot of that during the show.

EJ: But afterwards . . .
Justin: Afterwards, for me, it was just work. I worked for almost a year, straight, going from the Vegas show to the tour to my album to trying to promote my album, and that little movie. It was straight work so I didn’t really have time to go to parties and do the things that Sanjaya is doing. But, you know, it’s was interesting, it really comes down to how you were raised and who you surround yourself with while you are going through that kind of craziness. Sanjaya seems like good people, very nice, and I hope he realizes that this is, uh, fame and fame is fleeting if you don’t respect it. And so, I think we’ll see some good stuff out of him, he’s a just nice guy on top of being a pop culture (laughs) sensation.

EJ: Enough about Idol, let’s talk about the music you are working on. I understand you are going to do some recording today. You released a “teaser” of a new song, “Eventually,” so . . .
Justin: Yeah, yeah!

EJ: Just how long do you plan to tease us?
Justin: (loud laugh) Well, trust me, I’d love to put all the music out right now but it’s, it’s coming together. The picture is coming together. I don’t want to rush it. Honestly. I’m going to the UK in about a month, writing and working over there for a couple of weeks, and it seems the more and more I write, the more and more I travel, the better and better the songs get. So, I’m just, it’s kind of like, uh, it’s kind of like a nice turkey. You know? (laughs) It’s just you gotta wait a while but it’s just so good at the end. Oh, that’s a horrible analogy.

EJ: Yeah, it was! (laughs)
Justin: (laughs) It just keeps getting better and better the more and more I work and write and as soon as Idol is over I’ll really be able to focus more on the writing process. It’s just, and you know, the picture is becoming clearer and I’d like to have an album out next year, but I’d really like to do it properly. I’d like to spend the next couple of months really writing and putting together a great demo. Then I’ll go and shop it to the labels both here and abroad. And we’ll see who bites. But it’s a process, you know? It was a process that was rushed the first go round and you see the results, so I am not going to make that mistake again. Fortunately for the people who want to hear the music, I’m going to be doing concerts over the next couple of months, and I’ll definitely be sneaking some of those songs in there.

EJ: Are you still considering some of the songs you did in [in concert in] September or are you evolving beyond those?
Justin: I think we’ve really, I don’t know. Those are on the table, but I think it’s more evolving beyond that. I love what Greg [Gordon Smith] has done. Greg is a phenomenal writer and a great arranger, and he is going to be at the concerts. He’s still my go-to guy for being my musical director. So he’ll be there and you know, we’ll probably put some of that stuff in the concerts. Kinda the good music. The picture just constantly evolves, the music is constantly evolving, so we’ll see.

EJ: I take that to mean when you say concerts, then, you mean actual concerts this summer?
Justin: That’s what I’ll be performing at, the festivals and the shows. It won’t be me touring alone. Concerts, festivals, things like that.

EJ: What I meant was that your band will be with you at these concerts?
Justin: Oh, yeah, yeah! Not all of them. Some of them, they will be, yeah. Actually, I think I don’t (laughs) I have to figure out which ones they’ll be at and which ones they’re not. I have to talk to [my manager] Nelly, she has all that information, I’m just so Idoled out right now, I don’t know much what’s going on beyond next Wednesday. (laughs) But there are definitely going to be some concerts that have the band there.

EJ: I know your fans are looking forward to that. I know you have to run, so let me just sort of wrap up a couple things here. You’ve got some concerts coming up, you’re traveling to the UK, what else are you going to do this summer? Do some hanging out at the pool?
Justin: Traveling to Japan in July, it’s going to be pretty crazy. Then, I’m just focused on the music, 100%, really, over the next couple of months, and I’ll be traveling the UK, Japan, and then around the US doing some festivals and some arena shows.

EJ: Are you going to be working on your music in Japan or is that a personal trip?
Justin: That’s actually for the Heart Expo. It’s another thing I’m doing with Cealo, the monk I wrote the hymn for. It’s going to be more of a personal trip, actually for for him. I promised him a year ago so I’ll be making the trip.

EJ: One last question. You have the movie, Fast Girl, coming out. Any news on its release?
Justin: Oh, yeah, you know what? I don’t know when it’s coming out. They’re just really finalizing everything right now. It should be out probably in the next couple of months. They are going full bore on it last I heard from the producers. It should be done inside of a month and then they start to distribute it and that will probably take a month, so I’d say easily before the end of the summer it will be out.

EJ: We got a message from someone who had seen a rough cut of it and she was very excited about it.
Justin: Oh, good. I’ve seen a scene from it, a scene, but it’s like movies can go, the only people who really see the movie before it comes out are the producers, until it’s finally finished.

EJ: Okay, then, well, thanks so much.
Justin: No problem.

EJ: Looking forward to seeing you [on Idol Tonight] next week and then hopefully catching you in concert this summer.
Justin: Definitely. Thank you so much and tell everyone I said hello.

Idol Tonight airs on the TV Guide Channel Monday through Thursday next week. Check your TV listings for air times in your area. Also be sure to catch a special Close Up, Justin Guarini, which premieres on the TV Guide Channel Saturday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. eastern and repeats several times.

photo credit: JEBexcited4J

American Idol Country Night - No Excuses

American Idol once again has Country Night, and most of the performances were, well, not so good. Of course, Melinda Doolittle did great. She proved, though, that it's not the music, it's the singer.

If you're called upon to sing a different genre of music, you've got to find a way to connect. That doesn't mean you have to suddenly start singing with a twang, wearing a cowboy hat and line dancing. But you do have to discover what you can do with your voice that compliments the style of the music. Remaking it entirely into your comfort zone doesn't count.

Here's a little seen gem. While the first season of Idol did not have a country music night, they did do a country segment in the (in)famous American Idol in Las Vegas special. Justin thrilled the audience by breaking out a warm baritone for this sincere, lingering version of Desperado. It was different from his usual style, and it was gosh darn good (to put it in country terms). Plus, he didn't use nasally as a form of singing, if you know what we mean.

Justin Guarini sings Desperado

Hooking Up on Myspace Can Lead to Artistic Pleasure

Hey, we're not above using a little titillation to perk up interest. Heh.

This week, Justin debuted a brief version of a new song on American Idol Extra, called "Eventually." You can watch the video below.

As he explains, he wrote the song with a British writer/producer named Pete "Boxta" Martin. Although Boxta is making a name for himself in England, working some of the best artists in the UK neo-soul movement, Justin didn't hook up with him any old-fashioned way. He didn't have an A&R guy at a record label arrange a meeting; he didn't run into the guy at a concert or some industry function. He saw Boxsta's myspace icon on another writer's page and looked him up.

Myspace, not just for teen angst, garage bands, and dating site spam.

Justin Guarini debuts a new soul/R&B song called "Eventually"


One thing you can tell even from that short snippet is the difference it makes when an artist is part of creating the music from its inception. At the time, it wasn't noticeable, but comparing to now, you can see how little Justin enjoyed singing most of the material from his first album. It wasn't chosen for him as much as tossed at him with a "here, record this." Now, you can see how much Justin loves performing his new material, both this song and those written with Greg Gordon Smith. A light exudes from him on stage.

Something else intrigues us about this new song. If you think about it, "eventually" isn't exactly the most musical word. Among other things, you've got the rhythm issue. Is it "e-ven-tu-al-ly" or "e-ven-chally"? Then, it's just a rather vague adverb. You have to build a story around it because it doesn't exactly tell one on its own.

The title "Eventually" brings to mind a great groove track by Amos Lee called "Sympathize." "Sympathize" is similarly not a particularly musical word, and it needed a good story to sell it. Amos did pretty good, don't you think?

"Sympathize" by Amos Lee

We've only heard a minute thirty seconds of "Eventually," but it seems Justin and Boxta also found a hook that works. Justin the singer tells the object of his affection he's going to stick around because "Eventually" she'll figure out she should love him. Guess we have to wait for the remaining three or so minutes to hear the rest of his appeal, but here's hoping she figures it out by the end of the song. That would be "eventually" enough for us.