Paul_Raphel's Blog

We are only hours to the American Idol Season 7 first finale show and it is very obvious that the idol excitement is building.  Die-hard fans have come as early as FIVE hours before the show starts and many have their signs ready to support their favorite finalist!

So that brings us to the BIG question...Which David is it going to be?  Emphasis on WHICH. If I hear another person in an interview say 'David is definitely going to win', 'bet on a David', 'my money is on David'...I may go crazy. We get it...they are both named David...very funny...but not really.  Ok enough ranting.

So who is it going to be and how important is tonight's performance?

The fans seem to be split and each performer attracts a different fan base. I think big question is who are the Syesha fans going to support. In My opinion, the singer who is better tonight will gain the popularity of AI fans who once voted for Syesha.

Enough about what I think...tell me what you think? Cook or Archuletta?

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If you didn't catch us today on FOX-5 Morning News and the Midday show...don't worry there is much more to come from out here in Cali! Holly, Mike and I have hit the road...well the skies...and are living large in LA for the American Idol Season 7 Finale. It is my first trip to the west coast and although we are all business this week you can imagine I'm still super excited.

Today through Thursday we'll be talking to stars, former idols, and the people who make AI happen each week. Not only can you see all our interviews and stories on TV but I will also be taking behind the scenes pics so you can see everything that goes on leading up to the finale and afterwards.

Check out our first pics posted at: http://media.myfoxdc.com/IDOL/monday_idol/album/index
.html

I will continue to upload them throughout our trip. Send me picture requests and I'll do my best to show it all.

That makes it catchy? You know what I’m talking about. Certain songs have that ‘something’ that get them stuck in your head…whether you want it to or not.  Is it the talent of the band or singer? Is it because the chorus or hook is just THAT good? Is it because you secretly have a crush on someone in the band? I think that is the only reason I could stand the Spice Girls...Posh Spice. (Great now I am going to have 'Wannabe' in my head the rest of the day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFpu0ROaPLQ).

I have no idea what makes a song more memorable than another but I am not sure if any of my suggestions apply to the CATCHIEST song of ALL TIME…and over three million people agree. ‘Chocolate Rain’ is a youtube hit and this song has been in my head for about a week. I can’t stop singing it…it’s weirdly addicting. Now wait, before you check it out you need to know that this isn’t some great, elaborate piece of music. It’s a keyboard and a guy with a very…let’s say unique voice.  

You need to see it. Where can you find the link? My5 of course! http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html

What do you think makes a song so catchy that it gets stuck in your head?

Looking to express your inner DJ but don't have the cash to buy all the expensive equipment? Well I found a website with a FREE soundboard for you to make the next big remix!  This site allows you to upload songs and sounds to mix together and you can even use the songs and sounds that others have uploaded to add to your library.

Once you have all the elements you need you can put them all together to make a song that gets stuck in your head more often than Rihanna's 'Umbrella' (ella ella eh eh eh).

Wondering where you need to go to be the next Timbaland? Check out my5 to get the site! http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html

Summer time means summer concerts and I have the PERFECT website for all you music fans. On the site all you do is search a band or a venue and a profile page will come up. You can check out when and where your favorite band is playing next or what bands are coming to your favorite spot. Not impressed…well neither was I until I saw that they give SPECIAL OFFERS on tickets! The site looks for the cheapest ticket vendor for you and then you can pay right through the site. Next thing you know you are rocking out with the Parrot Heads at the Jimmy Buffet show to Margaritaville!

Ready to start concert hunting? Well find out what this very cool site is by checking out this week’s my5.

CLICK IT! http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html

Well if you watched FOX-5 Morning News around 7:18am (yes I know the exact time because I was so excited) you know that Lauren and I were LIVE on TV for the first time to promote our new web segment my5 http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html . Let's just say we both were a little nervous...and by a 'little' nervous I mean a lot of nervous.  I was SO nervous that right before we were on live my leg decided to have a mind of its own and shake like a Polaroid picture. Luckily I didn't let it affect my delivery and Lauren and I got through our first TV spot without any bloopers. 

Now it's up to you to help us out. We need you to check out the site each week and spread the word about the NEWEST AND HIPPEST page on the web. Tell your friends, tell your family...hey tell strangers (unless you are a kid because you shouldn’t talk to strangers). Just spread the word and we'll see you each week!

 

What up bloggers,

You HAVE TO checked out this week's my5 http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html . We have a very cool youtube video you should check out. I won't tell you too much because it will ruin the video BUT I can tell you when you watch more is going on than they lead you to believe. Check out my5 and the video and let me know if you figured out what was going on...OTHER than just the card trick. Good luck watching!

Ok we ALL do it. Take a break from our day for a minute or two...or ten...and peruse the internet looking for entertaining sites. Well I am here to cut back on the looking time and getting you right to the entertainment. Our new segment my5 will bring you 5 great sites each week. Finding them is not always an easy task so my question to you is do you have any websites that you think could make my5? Send them to me and don't forget to check out the segment each week!!!!

http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html

I wish I could say it happened overnight but it didn't. Lauren and I have been practicing and producing for a few months now and they have finally given up on saying 'no' and have said YES to my5. It’s the newest segment on myfoxdc.com and it will be the new buzz. Each time we will give you our 5 favorite sites to check out . Let us know what you think and let us know how we are doing (be gentle though). I hope you like the segment and hit us up when you are looking to kill some time during the work week…wait I mean on your own time when you are not on the clock.

If you haven't seen it yet. Click on the entertainment tab and look for the my5 on the right below our scrolling banner!  http://media.myfoxdc.com/my5/my5.html

 

American Idol fans have spoken, well voted, and the Top 12 are set.  And although there is some debate if the BEST 12 were picked (?SANJAYA?),  it doesn't matter anymore because they are here to stay so lets talk about what is going to happen next.

 

So far it is very obvious that the ladies are blowing away the guys, but have we seen all the guys can do? My answer, correction my HOPE is no...and I hope I'm right or they are all going to get booted before the girls….ok except for Haley, she is bad. SO WHAT ARE THE GUYS WAITING FOR???? Is there some secret singing strategy that we are missing? Two guys in particular, Chris and Brandon, have definitely not showed us there best and I caught something interesting last week that makes me think it might be on purpose. Chris stated that he wanted to 'build on each week'...so does this mean he was intentionally holding back to just cruise into the top 12 and now he plans on showing us his real talent? And what is up with Brandon’s strange song choices? None of them have showed off his voice…he sung with Christina Aguilera he has to have some pipes right?

 

Do you think that saving the big performances is a good idea? Do you think each performer should give it their all every time? Do you think I’m crazy with my idol conspiracy? Who knows but I think it’s safe to say we all want the competition to heat up!

 

American Idol Fans,

Randy, Paula, and Simon have picked the Season 6 Top 24 and now its time for us to pick the next American Idol. Since we'll be talking about these 24 contestants for the next FOURTEEN weeks (the Season Finale is planned to be on 5/23) I figured I would make a cheat sheet with a quick description of each person...ok I admit it, I really took these notes for our Idol Chatter segment but why not share the info with all!

 

 

Guys:

 

AJ Tabaldo (22) - Audition five times for idol

 

Blake Lewis (25) - Beat boxer

 

Bradon Rogers (29) - Former back-up singer for Christina Aguliera

 

Chris Richards (22) - He was told in the NY auditions he would be "possibly surprise" from Chesapeake, VA

 

Chris Sligh (28) - the big curly-haired guy who has a thing for the Hoff

 

Jared Cotter (25) - Known as a strong R & B singer

 

Nicholas Pedro (25) - Bowed out of the competition last season

 

Paul Kim (25) - Said he was inspired by William Hung's embarrassment to Asian singers

 

Phil Stacey (29) - Petty Officer 3rd Class Phil Stacey's wife had a baby while he was at audition in Memphis

 

Rudy Cardenas (28) - In a boy band based out of L.A. called m-pact http://www.m-pact.com

 

Sanjaya Malakar (17) - Brother who made it and sister did not

 

Sundance Head (28) - son of Roy Head who had a No. 1 song in 1965, "Treat Her Right"

 

 

Girls:

 

Alaina Alexander (24) - has been pursuing a career in music but almost gave up her dream until she made it on American Idol

 

Antonella Barba (20) - best friend Amanda did not make it and attends Catholic U

 

Melinda Doolittle (29) - she has been a backup singer on stage and in the studio.

 

Stephanie Edwards (19) - sang at the famed Apollo Theater when she appeared on It's Showtime at the Apollo

 

Gina Glocksen (22) -  tried out for American Idol last season and made it to Day 4 of the Hollywood Round and has a crush on Simon

 

Leslie Hunt (24) -  is a dog walker who is studying to become a dog trainer

 

Lakisha Jones (27) - single mother of a 3 year-old girl

 

Amy Krebs (22) - attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City

 

Haley Scarnato (24) - recently became engaged, has been performing as a freelance singer since she was 15 years old

 

Jordin Sparks (17) -  won the "Arizona Idol" contest

 

Sabrina Sloan (27) - performed across the country with the touring production of Hairspray.

 

Nicole Tranquillo (20) - where she is a vocal major at the University of the Arts

Ok well it’s not THAT big...but it sure was a monster HIT!  I was out at each of the five locations, working not singing, and I could not believe the number of singers and the great talent we have in the area. We had our biggest turn out at the last 'Mic at the Mall' in Largo and that was during an ice storm!!!!! BUT ITS NOT OVER. After Tuesday we'll have five finalists and then it is up to you to pick our 1st MIC AT THE METRO WINNER.  You can check out the five finalists live on our 5pm show this Tuesday and then all week you can watch them and vote on myfoxdc.com under the entertainment tab.

 

Now that you have seen the competition, you might think that YOU could have been the big winner. Well no one ever said this was the last one so stay tuned and check my blog because as producer of 'The Mic' I'll be the first to know. Happy Singing!

 

 

Super Singers,
Its time for another edition of THE MIC tonight at the Silver Spring Metro starting at 5pm. With the numbers we had last week, you better get there early if you want a chance to sing. Did I mention Jazz Musician Marcus Johnson is going to be there and he is the one who will be helping out at Studio 8121! We'll also have Jimmy Alexander from 107.3 entertaining the crowd, and of course FOX-5's Sue Palka will be hosting the event LIVE for our 5pm newscast.
Hope to see you out there!

Ok so I said that last week's Mic @ the Metro was a hit...but that would be a HUGE understatement if I said the same for our second edition of 'The Mic' (that is what all the cool kids are calling it). It was CRAZY last night. People actually showed up a thirty minutes before our show to get a place in line and the chance to sing. FOX-5's Sue Palka mingled with the singers and their supports throughout the whole show and we had some great live guests sing for our 5pm newscast. If you watched the show, what you didn't see is mass of singers who sang off-air to compete to be a finalist. We were up late sorting through the contestants but after much deliberation we picked our 5 finalist for the week. Check them out under our 'entertainment tab' and then you can vote starting at 5pm this evening. Mic @ the Metro: Week 2 was a blast and I can't wait to see the talent that comes by next week at the Silver Spring Metro. SEE YOU THERE!

Mic @ the Metro premiered this Tuesday LIVE at the Clarendon Metro Station on our 5pm News and it was AWESOME! I was out with FOX-5's Sue Palka searching for super singers and we had no trouble finding talent. We picked out our five finalists for the week and now its time for you to decide who will compete for free studio time!!!!!!
Go to myfoxdc.com and click on the entertainment page to vote!

BUT the competition is FAR from over. We will be 'taking it to the streets' (as Taylor Hicks would sing) each Tuesday for four more weeks so you still have time to choir your way into the competition. Next Tuesday we'll be at the Dupont Circle Metro Station looking for our next five weekly finalists so come out to get your chance at STARDOM!