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Pia Toscano Had A ‘Weird Feeling’ She Was Going Home On ‘American Idol’

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer expects to make a pop/R&B album, hopefully with this season’s ‘Idol’ mentors. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: FOX While the rest of us may have been shocked that Pia Toscano was sent home on ” American Idol ” on Thursday night, the New York makeup artist and five-time “Idol” auditioner said Friday that she had a sense the end was near. “The night before, I had a weird feeling in my stomach,” said Toscano, even though she felt good about her attempt at Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High.” The raven-haired singer said she admitted to her parents Wednesday night that she had a feeling she would wind up in the bottom three, but they told her not to sweat it and that she should just be confident. “I kind of, like, expected it.” But, like so many “Idol” finalists, Toscano said she wouldn’t have changed anything she did on the show, even taking on the dreaded “big three” of Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, a challenge the judges have consistently warned contestants about. “I like to challenge myself and take risks,” she said, explaining that she grew up listening to and loving those divas and thought her attempts at their songs went over well. After weeks of hearing from the judges that she needed to show them another look, Toscano went uptempo during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode on Wednesday night and, wouldn’t you know it, that’s the week she got booted. When asked if the judges overemphasize the need for contestants to change things up and show other sides of their personality, Toscano said she didn’t think they did and that she doesn’t blame anyone for her downfall. “The judges were absolutely right; I needed to change it up. … I was really excited about this performance,” she said, adding that when she performed back in New York, she was actually doing more uptempo material than the sweeping ballads she became known for on “Idol.” If anything, what it might have come down to is the fact that, despite years of stage work, Pia is still admittedly a bit uncomfortable onstage and prone to bouts of stage fright. She was so shaken, in fact, after the cameras stopped rolling on Thursday’s emotional elimination show that she had to be helped off the stage by two staff paramedics after she had trouble catching her breath. Though leaving is bittersweet, Toscano was amazed and heartened by the support she’s gotten from a number of celebrities — from Tom Hanks to Snooki — and said “it just blew my mind” to see judge Jennifer Lopez shedding tears at her departure. She also revealed that in the commercial break before the news, fellow bottom-three dweller Stefano Langone kept trying to convince her that he was the one going home. For now, she plans to return home to New York and spend time with her family and then maybe move out to Los Angeles to pursue singing, acting and musical theater. If she had to guess what her major-label debut might sounds like, Toscano said it would definitely “be in the pop genre with an R&B influence.” She predicted a mix of big power ballads and dance hits, hopefully produced by such “Idol” mentors as Rodney Jerkins, Ron Fair and Ryan Tedder. Facing yet another season where there are only two women left in the top eight, with several men tipped to possibly win, Toscano was asked if a woman can ever win “Idol” again. “Definitely,” she said. “It’s anybody’s game right now.” Though voting has clearly been driven by young teen girls lately, Toscano said every remaining contestant has their own unique, strong voice and a good shot at taking the crown. Sure, it’s disappointing, but everything happens for a reason, right? “I’m happy that everything happened the way that it did,” Toscano said. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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Pia Toscano Unleashes Rock And Roll Mettle On ‘American Idol’

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘You killed it!’ judge Steven Tyler says after calling ballad-loving finalist a ‘murderer.’ By Adam Graham Pia Toscano performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX Pia Toscano finally broke out of her comfort zone on Wednesday’s (April 6) “American Idol,” stepping away from torch-song balladry and moving into more uptempo territory, a transition the judges have been urging her to make for weeks. She did so by scaling, on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night, one of the grandest songs in pop music history: Ike and Tina Turner’s towering “River Deep – Mountain High.” The 1966 offering was considered by its producer, the legendary Phil Spector, to be his finest creation, and its subsequent failure in America helped kick-start his slow decline. It was ultimately recognized as a masterpiece, though its initial reception caused Spector to go into seclusion, sliding into a deep depression that would later consume him. Mentors Jimmy Iovine and will.i.am — the latter making his third guest appearance of the season — knew what was at stake for Toscano, who has made her mark in the competition by hitting glory notes in huge ballads (Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself,” Whitney Houston’s “Where Do Broken Hearts Go”). The Black Eyed Peas frontman warned her not to go out there “like Madonna singing Tina Turner, ’cause you’re just like, ‘What, boo?’ ” Iovine, meanwhile, said she had to go out and attack the stage. “Pia’s gotta get pissed off tonight,” he said. Toscano wanted to make a lasting impression as well. “I wanna shock everybody,” she said. “I can’t wait to show that other side to me, that performer.” However, it was that performer side that struggled to shine through. Toscano’s vocals were spot-on, and she showed she can keep up with a song when the beats per minute are cranked up past slow-dance terrain. But her moves were timid and she lacked spark onstage, which especially stood out when taking on Tina Turner, of all performers. When the judges weighed in, they urged her to focus on her physical presentation of the song. “Vocally, you proved to us — you proved to everybody — you can sing an uptempo,” Jennifer Lopez told her, but added that the New York native needs to “get that performance into it.” Randy Jackson, too, said she needs to “work on the movement,” but praised her overall. “Pia’s in it to win it!” he beamed. And Steven Tyler — on what was by and large one of the softest nights of critiquing in “Idol” history — labeled Toscano a murderer. “You killed it!” he gushed. “Pia, you’ve gotta know, there’s a million guys out there in a million bars havin’ a million drinks about you tonight.” Overall for Toscano, an important step was made during the show. Now that she has proved she can do something other than ballads, she’s moved one huge mountain out of her way in the competition. What did you think of Pia Toscano’s “Idol” performance? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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‘American Idol’ Recap: Paul McDonald, Pia Toscano Rock Out

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Scotty McCreery also goes uptempo as James Durbin slows things all the way down. By Gil Kaufman “American Idol” top 9 Photo: FOX There are plenty of ways that “American Idol” is mixing things up and dragging the highest-rated show into the present this season. But after taking a bedazzled trip to the 1970s last week with Elton John, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame theme on Wednesday night’s (April 6) performance episode was yet another example of why “Idol” is your granny’s favorite show. The search for today’s new star made yet another pit stop in the past, inviting the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am in to mentor the top nine as they dug into rock’s back pages. Some balladeers rocked it out (Pia Toscano, Paul McDonald), while the rockers got mellow (James Durbin, Casey Abrams) and Scotty McCreery proved he’s no one-trick cowboy. Jacob Lusk was up first and he worried about his not-rock background. But Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” was firmly in his warbly gospel sweet spot. Uncomfortable with the song’s blunt lyrics, however, he went with Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” instead, wearing all-white as he wrapped his breathy falsetto around a spare acoustic guitar arrangement. Singing the song as a duet with a female backup singer (the song’s co-writer, Siedah Garrett, in fact), Lusk showed off some newfangled hip thrusts and then unleashed his gospel flavor as he rumbled around the stage. Steven Tyler loved it, Jennifer Lopez said Jacob proved again that believing in yourself is the key and Randy Jackson gave Lusk props for sticking to his moral convictions. After looking for a “Jacob Moment” last week, Randy said those moments were all over Wednesday’s performance. After getting a lot of Janis Joplin comparisons all season, Haley Reinhart picked the oft-sung JJ nugget “Piece of My Heart.” She had the right growl and swagger, and looked the part in leather leggings and flouncy top, but her blues-mama belting came off a little too cheery for the gritty tune. “What you’re showing everybody is that you’re a contender,” Lopez told her. “You’re coming on strong.” Randy said Haley finally brought out the cool, bluesy vibe the judges fell in love with early on and congratulated her for finding her lane. After will.i.am turned the Police song “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” into a beatboxing rumba for Casey Abrams, mentor Jimmy Iovine wasn’t feeling it. Like Jacob, Casey changed his mind, too, and went with Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” plucking his upright bass alongside a gently strummed mandolin and keeping the vocals in the non-crazy eyes zone for a second week. It was pleasant, but perhaps a bit vanilla at this point in the competition. Fellow bass player Jackson said Casey did the song justice while singlehandedly making the upright cool. “The whole world’s watching you because you’re not just a singer, you’re a true musician,” Tyler told Abrams. Lopez said Abrams was also right in the pocket playing his bass and said that’s exactly where he belongs. Talk about a perfect fit! Teen Lauren Alaina sought to wed R&B and country on Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Doing a slow walk down the stage and holding the audience in the palm of her hand, the 16-year-old poured more sensuality and feeling into the slow-burn classic tune than, well, someone her age should even be able to. “Four months ago you came in here an immature little girl and tonight you are a natural-born woman,” Tyler gushed. Jennifer wasn’t sure how Lauren would handle the song, but labeled it, simply, “amazing,” and Randy said after choosing one of the toughest songs of the night, Alaina did a solid, “good” job on it. You might have expected rocker James Durbin to go even more over-the-top, so he took it the opposite direction with late Beatle George Harrison’s slinky “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Sitting on a stool and shrouded in shadows, Durbin did, indeed, gently croon the song over a weepy string section, but while slowing things down and saving his rebel yell until the very end showed another side of vocal his personality, it also pointed out that James’ instrument has some obvious flaws. Jennifer liked seeing the other, vulnerable face of James, saying it helped make the rocker aspect of his personality that much stronger and Randy appreciated seeing how the emotion of the song lived in Durbin’s eyes. “Taking chances like that are extremely important,” he said. What would country boy Scotty McCreery do? An Elvis Presley tune, of course. A lifelong Elvis fan, McC chose “That’s Alright Mama,” and the gospel-tinged rockabilly arrangement fit Scotty’s voice to a T. Despite his awkward microphone technique, he worked the stage like a seasoned pro and totally won over the room. It helped that a gaggle of squealing tween girls were let loose on him at song’s end to give him a group hug. “Scotty is in it to win it!” Randy said. “Anybody that thought that you were a one-trick pony, that all you did was the country thing, dude you can perform … this was amazing!” Steven agreed, saying that Scotty made Elvis feel new and fresh again and Jennifer sensed, well, a little bit of hip-hop flavor in the teen’s moves. She’s made a reputation for singing ballads, but Pia Toscano came out of the box for Tina Turner’s high energy “River Deep, Mountain High.” Planting herself confidently center stage, Toscano indeed showed a whole other side of her personality, unleashing the passionate soul diva within. That titanic note at the end didn’t hurt her, either. “Murderer, murderer! You killed it,” Tyler yelled. “There’s a million guys in a million bars out there having a million drinks about you tonight.” Lopez said the “amazing” vocals proved that Toscano can handle the uptempo songs as well and encouraged Pia to keep researching the greats to figure out what else she can do to make her performances special. Stefano Langone needed to knock it out of the park this week after some close elimination calls, and for a sensitive ballad singer, Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” seemed like the right call. Leaning on his crisp falsetto, Langone showed more feeling and emotion than he has in weeks past, stepping out of his cruise-ship zone into a meatier, more personal space. J.Lo was blown away, squeaking, “Baby, baby, baby, I knew you had it in you! That was beautiful!” She felt that extra layer of emotion and said she could tell he was singing it about or for somebody. Randy wasn’t jumping up and down as much, dubbing the first bit of the tune uneven and encouraging Stefano to ease up and save his big punches for the end. After a shock trip to the bottom three last week, Paul McDonald attempted to come back with Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” with Iovine encouraging him to sing it like he was out of his “f—in’ mind!” Unable to stop smiling and be anything but his loveable self, McDonald nonetheless let loose a bit and was more ragged than usual as he furiously strummed his acoustic, stomped his feet and got the crowd clapping along. “I loved it!” Randy shouted, getting an amen from Tyler and Lopez. So, who will go home Thursday night? Check back tomorrow to find out. Who was your favorite on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night? Tell us in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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Funny And Fine: Comedians Who Catch Our Eye

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

When you think about the qualities you want in a man you usually think about the serious ones first. You know, is he honest, loyal, respectful and kind? But once you get past the ‘is he genuinely a good person’ part you’ll want to be sure he’s not BooorrRinng!! Because as many of you know there is nothing worse than a sweet, kind-natured man who has the personality of a dead sloth. (Yeah. Not just a sloth, a dead one.) You want somebody who you enjoy being around; and the best people to be around, are those that make you laugh. So while you look for or enjoy the man who makes you slap your thighs and clutch your stomach check out this list of brothers who make us laugh in one breath and lick our lips in the next. ( Continue… )

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Katy Perry’s ‘E.T.’ Video Look Inspired By Jellyfish, Stylist Says

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I just wanted [Katy] to look really odd … but still fashionable,” Carol Beadle tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry in her “E.T.” music video Photo: Capitol Katy Perry leaves Candyfornia for outer space in her latest video, “E.T.” The otherworldly clip follows an alien woman played by the Teenage Dream singer as she falls to a planet to find her lost extraterrestrial lover. While fans are used to seeing Perry in dresses made from cupcakes and cotton candy, this time around she sports flowing gowns, metal body armor and lots of intricate makeup. Stylist Carol Beadle, who worked with director Floria Sigismondi on the style for the video, explained to MTV News that she wanted to take things to a more “avant-garde” level in the clip. “I just wanted [Katy] to look really odd, unreal if we could, but still fashionable,” she said. “I was looking at jellyfishes and amoebas; those words were constantly used and we wanted it to look like a flash of an amoeba and then it coming to life,” Beadle explained about the video’s fashion inspiration. “It’s like falling to the sky and the amoeba brought in the color palette and I wanted to hit it with a bit of color, so that it would pop. But to make it look 2011, it has to have a context and a reference point.” While Beadle kept Perry in mind when thinking up looks for the video, she also wanted to make sure that the fashions would fit the clip’s themes and story. “I tried to see her body type and her personality and how she’s perceived but, really, the main focus was on the director and I and making the story work and making her the lead,” she said. “I designed her first outfit and last outfit,” Beadle continued, adding about the flowing red dress Perry is first seen wearing, as she falls from space to the planet where her lover waits for her, “We wanted her to look like she was on fire and falling from the sky.” Soon the red dress becomes this “one massive white piece” by Viktor & Rolf, which, Beadle said, was “one of the most interesting pieces from the runway.” Perry’s next look is a flowing gown combined with metal pieces. “I built all the metal,” Beadle revealed. “All the skirts and stuff were designed and built by me.” While Perry went spacey glam in the video, her “E.T.” collaborator Kanye West kept his look decidedly Yeezy. “I went and talked to him and went through his things and his stylist had gone shopping,” Beadle said. “I’ve worked with him before [on ‘Love Lockdown’]. I did one of his other videos. He’s got very good style. I always find him very lovely. He’s got good taste, a good eye.” Related Videos MTV First: Katy Perry’s ‘E.T.’ Related Artists Katy Perry

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Kelly Clarkson ‘Will Sing Her Butt Off’ On New Record, Songwriter Says

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘When it comes out, the fans will be happy … it’ll be good times,’ Claude Kelly says. By Jocelyn Vena Kelly Clarkson Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage While fans may have to wait until September to hear Kelly Clarkson ‘s new album , songwriter Claude Kelly is revealing some details about what fans will hear once the album drops. He recently worked on the album with Clarkson, and while he’s not completely sure which tracks will make the final cut, he said that Clarkson will be back bigger and better than ever. “I’m not surprised ’cause the music industry is full of unexpected things,” he said of the delay. “I will say that I’d be willing to bet that the reason it was pushed back was not for anything as horrible or earth-shattering as people think — it’s probably [just] a better setup.” Describing the current pop scene as “congested,” Claude Kelly thinks that a slightly delayed release will work in Clarkson’s favor. “They want to make sure that the arena is clean for Kelly Clarkson’s return, ’cause when she comes back, she always comes back pretty big,” he said. “They want to make sure when her first single comes out, there’s nothing out there that’s competing with it. I don’t know for sure, but Kelly always does it big, so when it comes out, the fans will be happy and she’ll sing her butt off and it’ll be good times.” Kelly and Clarkson have been working on some fun up-tempo tracks for the album. “The songs I did write for her were in true Kelly Clarkson form, singer records that showcase her voice, but also show her edge and her attitude and her personality,” he explained. “[It’s] always up-tempo for me when it comes to Kelly. I like to hear her in kick-butt mode. She has an edge to her voice that you want to hear her sing high and get in your face.” Over the weekend, Clarkson debuted a ballad titled “Why Don’t You Try” at Muhammad Ali’s 17th Annual Celebrity Fight Night in Arizona and it definitely displayed big voice. The track is a cover of songwriter Eric Hutchinson’s 2009 tune. Related Artists Kelly Clarkson

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Robert Pattinson Wonders Why He’s At The Oscars In His #3 MTV Moment

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

RPattz will debut an exclusive ‘Water for Elephants’ clip and answer fan questions live Friday at 8:56 p.m. ET on MTV.com. By Eric Ditzian Robert Pattinson at the 2009 Academy Awards Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage If you ask us, Robert Pattinson officially arrived in Hollywood when “Twilight” won five Golden Popcorn statues at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards — including RPattz’s nods for Best Kiss, Best Fight and Breakthrough Male Performance. But others might argue his Tinseltown coming-out party occurred a few months earlier. In late February ’09, after a weeklong series of rumors had whipped the Twi-nation into a frenzy, Pattinson walked onto an Academy Awards red carpet for the first time. He was not there because he was nominated, but simply because the Academy could not ignore the vampire phenomenon that had ignited the box office — and too many tween hearts to count — the previous fall. It was the biggest night in Hollywood, after all, and its biggest new star just had to be there. Not that he could quite wrap his head around the idea. “It’s insane,” Pattinson exclaimed when we caught up with him on the carpet. “When they first told me about this, I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, you’re joking’ — or ‘I’m going to have to do something really stupid like get gunged!’ ” Assuming he’d need to get doused with slime to justify an Oscars appearance, for that reason alone, this awards-season moment deserves to make our countdown of favorite Pattinson moments before the debut of “MTV First: Robert Pattinson” at 8:56 p.m. ET on Friday. But RPattz’s self-deprecating humor aside, it was at the Oscars that his status as the rising young actor in town was solidified. During the ceremony, he took the stage alongside Amanda Seyfried to present a montage of the year’s romantic films, everything from “Mamma Mia!” to “Revolutionary Road” to, yes, “Twilight.” Yet even though footage from the film that made him a star played at the Oscars, he couldn’t quite believe the situation. “I’m so surprised that it worked out the way it did,” he told us of becoming a crush-worthy Hollywood presence. “I was thinking the whole time, ‘I don’t really have the personality to fit into that.’ I’m not really afraid of it. I don’t even know how to play up that. I don’t know if I could ever be cast in a heartthrob role, apart from ‘Twilight,’ which I didn’t know was a heartthrob role.” Don’t miss “MTV First: Robert Pattinson” this Friday at 8:56 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Tune in to see RPattz introduce a new “Water for Elephants” clip, followed by a live 30-minute interview on MTV.com. Tweet questions using the hashtag #askrob to get in the conversation! Related Videos Get Ready For ‘MTV First: Robert Pattinson’ RPattz Being RPattz: Our Favorite Pattinson Quotes

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Rick Ross Lining Up Maybach Music Roster For Self Made

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Miami don tweets Wale, Meek Mill and Pill set to appear on compilation album due May 24. By Alvin Blanco Rick Ross Photo: Jemal Countess/ Getty Images Rick Ross is wasting no time in getting his Maybach Music Group rolling. The Miami rap don announced that he’s releasing a compilation album called Self Made that will be in stores May 24. The Bawse delivered the news about the new album via Twitter , including his latest signees — DC rapper Wale, Philadelphia’s Meek Mill and Atlanta MC Pill — in the tweet. After a bidding war that included Bryan “Baby” Williams’ Cash Money Records and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records, the Def Jam artist decided to pass on aligning with another hip-hop mogul, choosing instead to partner with the Warner Music Group to distribute his Maybach Music Group imprint. “We are thrilled to be in business with Rick Ross,” said Todd Moscowitz, co-president and CEO of Warner Bros. Records, in a statement last month. “We were drawn to his hustle. Ross is an entrepreneur who built his company from the ground up. He’s a music magnate, a lightning rod, and an empire builder. Our partnership with him is about building a brand that endures. We back his vision all the way and are ready to give him the resources he needs to pursue that vision.” Of the aforementioned artists, Wale was the first to sign with the Bawse’s label, followed by Meek Mill and Pill, who was already a Warner artist. Other acts on MMG include Gunplay, Torch and Young Breed of rap group Triple Cs as well as R&B singer Masspike Miles. Last July, Rick Ross released his fourth solo album, Teflon Don, which featured the hits “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)” and “Aston Martin Music” as well as the street anthem “MC Hammer.” Beginning March 18, Ross will be heading out on the road with Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Travis Barker for the I Am Music II Tour . Are you excited for Ross’ Maybach Music compilation album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)

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‘American Idol’ Castoff Ashthon Jones Sees Grammys In Her Future

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s not always a bad thing to be the first person’ voted off, 25-year-old diva says. By Gil Kaufman Ashthon Jones performs on “American Idol” Photo: FOX Ashthon Jones is what you might call a glass-half-full kind of gal. Whereas some might consider being a wild-card pick and then the first finalist eliminated on season 10 of “American Idol” a bummer, the 25-year-old Nashville native said Friday (March 11) that she’s choosing to see this as an opportunity to get her career started in earnest. After winning the judges over early with her diva style and voluminous hair, Jones stumbled on Wednesday night with a weak version of the somewhat obscure Diana Ross song “When You Tell Me That You Love Me,” which she sang only marginally better on Thursday’s show in her last-ditch effort to stay in the running. But what’s done is done, and now the former teenage runaway said she’s eager to leave her hardscrabble life (and retail job) behind and get on to the next thing. Q : Are you going back to your store job in Nashville? A : No, I’m not! I left it there, and I left it there to stay. I’ve worked and worked all my life, and now it’s time for me to be the artist and the performer that God put in me a long time ago … and hopefully opportunities are there for me. Q : What do you think America was missing about you during that top 24 round? A : I don’t know! I was thinking the same thing. I just wanted people to see my personality, and I don’t think the show showed my personality as much as I wanted it to. … I’m kind of glad that the judges saw that personality of a diva, but I didn’t want the world to see me as diva-like, like I’m all that. … I have faith and confidence in myself. I’ve never been timid onstage. Q : A lot was made of your song choice, but it was not as obscure as some of the other songs the contestants chose. If you could go back now, would you have chosen a different Diana Ross song? A : As I look back at it now … I chose that song for a reason. I listened to all the Diana Ross songs, and that one, for some reason, spoke to me. … I related it to my life and my experiences and my faith and the love that I have around me. As I was singing that song, the lyrics is what spoke to me. Q : What was the best piece of advice you received from one of the judges? A : Steven and Randy told me some great things, but Jennifer always had something real to say that came straight from her spirit. … She always told me, “You’re amazing, you’re gonna go far … I see it, I see it, I see it.” And last night she told me, “It’s all about the songs in the music business.” Even when you get that first record, make sure it’s a hit before you put it out, because that’s what America will remember, those great songs, and they’re never gonna go away. Q : If you could describe Steven Tyler in one word, what would it be? A : Fabulous. He was fabulous. From his clothes to his shoes [to] what he said. He didn’t care what people thought and said exactly what he felt. And behind the scenes, he was the most humble and sweet person. Q : You looked like you were in such pain when you found out that you were going home. What was going on with you at that moment? A : It really was not pain. It was more so leaving the stage and my friends that I had made. I just had to let it out. I always hold stuff in, I’m a very, very strong person … [but] sometimes you have to let it out, you have to show your emotion. Q : What about the fact that you were the first person voted off? Is there any stigma to that? A : I think it’s not always a bad thing to be the first person. It can be a good thing. Everything that I went through on the show, now I’m going to take it and put it to work in my career. Q : Where do you yourself in two to five years? A : I really see myself performing. I see myself going overseas performing. I see myself helping my mom out with her businesses that she wants to do. I see myself continuing to be a songwriter and a motivator. Q : Do you see yourself winning a Grammy, being a big, big artist? A : It’s possible. You can’t really say, “I’m going to do that.” But I’m a firm believer in speaking everything into existence. … Yes, I believe that I’m going to have a Grammy, I believe that something great is going to come out of this experience. Were you sad to see Ashthon go? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With Jim Cantiello And Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Top 24 ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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Can Pia Toscano Or Thia Megia Win ‘American Idol’?

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Experts weigh in on the top 12 women and their chances of making it through to the finals. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: Michael Becker / FOX Thursday night is when some “American Idol” dreams will come true, and a dozen or more will be crushed and sprinkled all across the seizure-inducing new IdolDome stage. But before all that carnage and celebration, we once again turned to some of our “Idol” experts to make some predictions about this season’s front-runners after the top 12 women did their thing on Wednesday night. Because he just can’t get enough of all things “Idol,” we turned to MTV News’ resident expert Jim Cantiello for his take on which ladies soared and which ones crashed and burned. Despite a few serious stinkers, JC said he continues to be shocked by the caliber of vocalists on the show this season. “You believe that these were the finest singers they found while on the road,” he said, noting two “atom-bomb-sized surprises” on Wednesday night. His first revelation was former housekeeper Lauren Turner, whose choice of Etta James’ “Seven Day Fool” he deemed perfect and full of attitude. “[She] stood out from the pack with her gravelly blues voice and in-your-face performance style,” he said. The other big surprise was show-closer Pia Toscano , the raven-haired beauty who sang the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You,” which he said, “dug deep and showed off her pitch-perfect pipes. Her range was sick, she had confidence, she effortlessly hit some major power notes. America stood up and noticed, as did the judges, who gave her the first official standing ovation of season 10.” If he had to pick a stand-out front-runner, though, at this point, Cantiello is still going with 16-year-old sassafras Lauren Alaina. “[It’s her] race to lose,” he said. “She’s everything ‘Idol’ is looking for. [She] got up onstage and looked like she could have commanded a live audience 10 times bigger without flinching. She has stage presence, a powerful voice, and she has a unique ability to live somewhere in between R&B, pop and country.” And while he thought the Carrie Underwood/Kelly Clarkson comparisons from Randy Jackson were not off the mark, Cantiello wondered if Alaina’s need to always be the center of attention might start grating on voters’ nerves? As for the other 16-year-old, Jim said Thia Megia has great pitch and a large fanbase, but he just can’t “picture her at the Nokia, covered in confetti. Unless she steps up her personality.” A great measure of how polarizing “Idol” contestants can be is the list of hot prospects submitted by Top Idol blog founder Melinda Green. One of her favorite performances was from this year’s obligatory oddball, Rachel Zevita. Though the judges thought Zevita blew it with her jazzy, off key take on Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” Green loved it. “I really hope we see more of her. Alas, I think the judges would prefer sending through Ashthon Jones,” Green said of the Nashville native with the giant, blow-out hairdo whose sultry cover of Monica’s “Love All Over Me” earned raves. Green wasn’t sipping the “Idol” juice, though. “Every performance I’ve seen of this girl has been the same tired R&B diva wannabe shtick we’re treated to every season,” she said. She also liked Naima Adedapo, but is looking for more personality from the Erykah Badu-like singer and clothing designer. Lamenting how many of Wednesday night’s singers opted for tunes we’ve heard a dozen times in past seasons, Green said Karen Rodriguez made it interesting by singing half of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in Spanish, but wondered if it was a bit too obvious pandering to judge Jennifer Lopez. Green agreed with Cantiello that Alaina might start to strike some viewers as a “precocious coquette as taught by her stage mother” and said despite her “perfect tone,” Thia Megia may not have the emotional maturity to connect with the songs she’s singing. “With this year’s emphasis on youth and the show’s clear aim of getting a viable female winner, we’ll be forced to see more of both Thia and Lauren Alaina,” she lamented. Bottom line, Green agreed that Toscano can go far and just needs to show more personality and that Turner has the goods that could take her deep into the competition. “She’s got the kind of voice I love,” she said, agreeing with Randy Jackson’s description of Turner as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch. “If ‘American Idol’ wants current, they best do everything they can to keep Lauren Turner around. She’s the real deal, no theatrics, just raw talent.” Do you agree with our experts? Who do you think is headed for elimination tonight? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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Can Pia Toscano Or Thia Megia Win ‘American Idol’?

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