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MTV News' #MusicMonday: Allison Iraheta Loves Portishead's Darkness

Posted 6/28/10 10:30 am EST by in Music


Really, you should be listening to music every day, but thanks to Twitter, Monday has become the best day of the week to discover new songs, show some love to the tune currently dominating your iPod playlist and quietly judge the listening habits of your closest friends. Yes, it's #MusicMonday, one of Twitter's most enduring trending topics. Hence "MTV News' #MusicMonday," a weekly look at the songs your favorite stars are currently crushing on.

This week, Allison Iraheta mopes around with Portishead.

"American Idol" has come a long way since its debut, not only in presentation and format but also in the types of singers the show attracts. Gone are the days when "Idol" was mostly a showcase for balladeers and Broadway babies looking for a big break. Not to discount early contestants, but the past few seasons have allowed for some singers who have been able to tap into some pathos and darkness. Allison Iraheta, who finished third during the eighth season of "Idol" (largely considered to be the best season of all time), is one such performer whose debut album Just Like You is full of the sort of muscle that you wouldn't normally associate with "Idol" contestants. So it's no wonder that the 18-year-old Iraheta chooses a darker, more complicated jam on this #MusicMonday.

"Portishead! Third. That's good," Iraheta told MTV News' Jim Cantiello. "It's very mellowed out. I know a lot of people said that it's very different from what they did before. But it's not. It's the same dark stuff. Very soldier, like 'I'm gonna shoot you.'"


What's your #MusicMonday jam? Let us know in the comments!

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Kris Allen, Adam Lambert And Allison Iraheta: The 'Kradison' Summit!

Posted 2/17/10 3:15 pm EST by in Music


Getting to interview Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta (or "Kradison," as "American Idol" fans affectionately call them) together was a personal career goal of mine. Last Friday night (February 12) at the Ryan Seacrest "Rock My Town" event, after a year of begging publicists, record labels and religious saviors, my dream finally became a reality.

What is it about Kradison in particular that made me want this interview so badly? For one, I'm a huge fan of their music. Before the eighth season, I've never rooted for three separate contestants in one "Idol" season simultaneously (even if it took me a little time to warm up to Adam's vocal prowess). Beyond their tunes though, when you put Kradison in a room together, sparks fly.

Adam's devilish sense of humor brings out Kris' naughty side (watch Kris joke about covering "For Your Entertainment," complete with whips) and Allison's teenage energy infects Kris and Adam with a goofiness you don't always see from the reserved "Idol" winner and arty runner-up. (Check out Adam's hilarious reggae version of "No Boundaries.")

You don't take my word for it — check out our seven-part Extended Play interview! Although I'm not sure I'd call it an interview so much as a collection of giggles, overlapping chatter and jaw-droppingly blue remarks. (Speaking of which, I hope Kris' mom doesn't find this interview. If she does, sorry Mama Allen! Blame those raunchy, "grab-happy" fans in Singapore!)

Seconds before our cameras began rolling, Kradison reminisced about how a little under a year ago, they were doing press together after being voted through from the same semi-finals group. Now they're too busy to shave, obsessing over picking a second single or looking forward to trips around the globe. Friday night's concert had a really cool "Goodbye 'Idol,' hello solo artists" vibe to it. Here's hoping my interview is one last memory for the fans before we all start obsessing over the new crop of "Idol" contenders while continuing to follow Kris, Adam and Allison's careers individually.

What's your favorite Kradison memory? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

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Adam Lambert And Kris Allen At Jingle Ball: The MTV News Outtakes!

Posted 12/18/09 6:00 pm EST by in Music


It's been a great week to be an "American Idol" fan. Kris Allen rocked "The Late Show with David Letterman" in Christmas sweaters on Wednesday (December 16), Allison Iraheta ferociously tore through her single on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" last night and Adam Lambert appeared on nearly every TV show on the air. (I spied Gokey performing his new country material in North Carolina, too.)

Just last Friday (December 11), I caught up with Kris, Adam and Allison (also known as Kradison) before they hit the stage at Madison Square Garden for Z-100's Jingle Ball concert. (Kris was the only Season 8 "Idol" alum performing that night; the other two were tapped to show off their speaking voices by introducing other acts.) It was a fun gig, what with all of the artists in especially jovial moods, which means our interviews were especially conversational and loose. You know what that leads to: outtakes!

First up, enjoy some of the highlights from my Adam Lambert interview! Initially, we were told that Adam wouldn't be doing any press at the event. Lucky for us, it turns out that it was all a big misunderstanding. During our brief chat, Lambert and I gabbed about how excited he was to meet Taylor Swift, the drama surrounding the upcoming Seacrest-sponsored "Rock My Town" concert contest (On which city he's rooting for: "I really don't have a preference, to be honest with you") and his love of the Miike Snow album (even if he engaged in a little "oh no you didn't" over the band's pronunciation with my camera dude, Steven Roberts). It also wouldn't be a Jim Cantiello "Idol"-related outtake reel without a horrifically awkward, accidental come-on towards a contestant. I wanted a hug from Lambert. Can you blame me? Dude looks so dang huggable!

And finally, here's the latest installment of "The Krim Show." (For the uninitiated, Kris Allen nicknamed his "friendship" with me "Krim" in a previous interview. Get it? Kris + Jim = Krim!) Read More...

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The Elle Magazine 'American Idol' Contest Winners!

Posted 12/8/09 5:01 pm EST by in Music


When MTV News decided to hold a "Dress As Your Favorite 'Idol' Contestant" contest in honor of the December issue of Elle magazine, we were expecting the diehard fans to deliver the goods. And boy did they!

Fans paid tribute to the styles of stars Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta in really fun and creative ways, and we received entries from all over the world. Who knew there were Kris fans in Malaysia?

While there can only be one winner (for each "Idol" contestant), some of these pictures are too fun not to share. So take a gander at some of the great submissions from our contest, in addition to the grand prize winners. (Each of the winners will receive a signed copy of Elle magazine from their fave contestant.)

MTV.com user PriscillaF paid tribute to Kris Allen's patented "stank" face with a hilarious level of accuracy. She even has his Southern "chucking the deuce" hand gesture down. As we learned from my first sit-down interview with Kris, the dude is "pretty crunk." PriscillaF proved that she could hang with Kris' plaid shirt gang, too.

Ellelee said her closet lacked any "Glamtastic" clothes so instead, she opted to remake Lambert's campy album cover. Clever workaround! Speaking as someone who once attempted to re-crate Adam's CD artwork, the stickler in me has to point out that Ellelee's head tilt is all wrong. Their body language might be off, their hearts are in the right place. Gold stars all around!

JamieLambert's wallpapered bedroom reminds me of MTV's old (awesome) show "FANatic," where a lucky fan got the chance to interview the object of their obsession. Jamie, if "FANatic" was still on TV, you'd win hands down. Your bedroom shrine is epic.

Penny and Pam Pagona get a shout-out for "Best Accessory." Look closely and you'll see a snake wrapped around their thighs, just like Adam's Rolling Stone cover. Ha!

And now for the big winners!
Read More...

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Want An Autograph From Adam Lambert, Kris Allen Or Allison Iraheta? Enter MTV News' New Contest!

Posted 11/20/09 10:00 am EST by in Music


Attention all Kradison fans! Want your favorite Season 8 "Idol" star's autograph? MTV News and Elle magazine can hook you up!

In honor of the December issue of Elle — which features a three-page spread starring Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta — MTV News is holding a contest to find the #1 fan for each contestant. How can you show your level of fandom?

Easy! Pick up a copy of Elle, read Joey Zee's "A to Zee" column about each contestant's sense of style and do your best to replicate your fave's fashion in your own photo!

Are you gaga for Glambert? Flat-iron your hair, bust out the eyeliner and squeeze into your tightest leather pants. Are you a Krisbert? Rock the plaid and unbutton your shirt to dangerous depths. Or is Allison Iraheta your #1? You'll need a fiery red mane and an aura of general awesomeness.

Keep in mind we're not looking for exact copies of the photos in the Elle spread. Be creative! Whoever captures the essence of their favorite singer will be handsomely rewarded.

With what you ask? Three winners (one for each contestant) will each receive a copy of Elle signed by their favorite "Idol." The Kris fan will get a John Hancock from Kris, the Adam fan will get a signature from the Fierce One and the #1 Allison follower will get a copy signed by Her Royal Rockness.

Here's how you enter: Go to Your.MTV.com, create an account (if you haven't done so already) and then upload your photo! The deadline for submission is November 30, 2009 at Noon EST. I'll be going through the pics and selecting a winner personally, so make them fun, friends!

The contest is officially underway, so Kradison krazies, get your dress-up on now!

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Allison Iraheta's Just Like You: The Album Snippet Preview!

Posted 11/12/09 1:11 pm EST by in Music


Dye your hair with Kool-Aid and start joking about cutting, because 30-second snippets of Allison Iraheta's major label debut Just Like You have hit the web. Everybody knows I was less-than-thrilled with the super-poppy, heavily-processed vocals of Iraheta's Max Martin-produced single "Friday I'll Be Over U." But will the rest of her album make me happy? Let's go through these too-short snippets and see.

» "Friday I'll Be Over U"
This.

» "Robot Love"
In this pulsating electro-pop ditty (which samples Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part II"), Iraheta is pissed that her boyfriend is in love with a robot. Whether said robot is an actual lady cyborg or just an iPhone is to be determined. Also TBD? Whether this song will have a discernible melody. We're on track two and I'm already thinking "filler?" Ruh-roh.

» "Just Like You"
Good news: I'm finally hearing Allison's voice without a bunch of studio trickery around it. Bad news: The mid-tempo chorus is as generic as it gets, both melodically and lyrically. Good news again: The verse sounds more promising, where the sassy teen sings about deleting a dude's texts.

» "Don't Waste the Pretty"
Whoever gave Iraheta this bland track should be choked. (Like this!) Did Roxette or Savage Garden write this? Was this left over from a Natalie Imbruglia CD? (It turns out the offending parties are Michael Dennis Smith, Stefanie Ridel, Miriam Nervo and Olivia Nervo.) "Don't waste the pretty on life/ 'Cause soon it's gonna fly on by." How did this new-age feel-good gunk make it on to the Rocker's album?
Read More...

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David Archuleta Says Allison Iraheta Has 'Spunk'

Posted 10/27/09 5:09 pm EST by in Music


The David Archuleta outtake chronicles continue!

One of the fun things I learned about the "American Idol" star during our Christmas carol extravaganza is that he is ceaselessly curious. When he wasn't stopping to look at every single bulletin board or framed poster hanging on MTV's walls, he would turn the tables and casually interview me. "Know any good New York City restaurants? What music are you listening to these days? What kind of bird do you have?" (Long story.)

But this line of questioning was my favorite from the day, if only because it sparked us having a brief chat about recent "Idol" rocker, Allison Iraheta.

If you remember, Simon Cowell went out of his way to knock Allison's personality during her "Idol" journey. Despite the fiery-haired rocker delivering some of the best vocals of the season — and displaying more authenticity than any other teenage "Idol" contestant — the cranky Brit would go on and on about how he didn't think she was appearing particularly likable. This insane, illogical and frustratingly recurring talking point led to several angry fist pumps from my living room couch.

Clearly, David Archuleta is on Team Allison with me. His face lit up when he talked about how much "personality and spunk" she has. And when I brought up how adorable it was when she jumped out of her "bottom three" chair to give him a hug when he showed up during an episode, Archuleta smiled and — dare I say it? — blushed.

Cue the "Awwwwwws!"

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Allison Iraheta Unveils Album Cover For Just Like You

Posted 10/20/09 6:05 pm EST by in Music


By James Dinh

It was just last night that a representative for 19 Entertainment confirmed to MTV News that former "American Idol" contestant Allison Iraheta's debut album would be called Just Like You. Now Entertainment Weekly has revealed the the cover of Iraheta's debut album, which is due in stores December 1.

With necklaces, wristlets and belts, Iraheta gives us a smirk that says, "Yeah, I was on 'American Idol,' but I'm also just your average friendly rocker girl next door." She poses in front a scratchy maroon-colored backdrop with streaks of red, blue, and purple in her hair. It's quite a colorful entry from one of the more dynamic personalities from the last season of "American Idol."

The angst-filled first single "Friday I'll Be Over U" leaked earlier this month. Produced by Max Martin, the "AI" alum sings about a guy who lied and deceived her — a topic many 17-year-olds like Iraheta can relate to.

Allison, who seemed pleased with the final product, talked about producer Max Martin in a recent interview with Popeater. "He came up with an awesome song and sent it to me and we cut it and it was just amazing. He definitely knows how to put himself in other people's shoes," she said of Martin, who is responsible for some of the biggest hits from Britney and Kelly Clarkson.

What do you think: Does Iraheta's album cover beat Kris Allen's cover? Leave your thoughts in the comments or head over to Your.MTV.com to make your voice heard!

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Allison Iraheta's 'Friday I'll Be Over U': Does The 'Idol' Rocker Deserve Better?

Posted 10/5/09 1:33 pm EST by in American Idol, Music


Allison Iraheta was my favorite "American Idol" contestant this past season. (Kris Allen fans just had a collective heart attack.) I loved her husky, mature voice and her authentically awkward 17-year-old attitude. The Kool-Aid hair, the squeeing over meeting David Archlueta — despite Simon's insistence that she had no personality, Allison seemed like the most real teenager "Idol" ever featured.

An extended sneak peek at Iraheta's rockin' first single, "Friday I'll Be Over U," is now streaming at PopEater, and not surprisingly, the song is geared toward listeners her age. The Max Martin-helmed tune has the feisty teen dissing a dude who didn't turn out to be who he claimed to be.

The song reminds me of a lot of things — Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend," Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," even a Le Tigre track. What it doesn't remind me of, however, is the Allison Iraheta I fell in love with on "American Idol." My favorite "Idol" performances had the rocker wailing complicated melodies and infusing them with a touching vulnerability. (See: "Someone to Watch Over Me" or "Cry Baby.") "Friday I'll Be Over U" keeps Allison's volume at 11, save for a too-brief breakdown around the two-minute mark. In the chorus of the song (which sounds just as '80s-inspired as anything Blake Lewis ever released), Iraheta tells her boy, "You got me/ To forget me/ So Friday I'll be over you." I can't help but think that Allison could be singing that about Max Martin, who seems to have forgotten that Allison Iraheta can saaaaang.

Read More...

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Who Will Be The Next 'American Idol' To Sign A Record Contract?

Posted 6/10/09 12:17 pm EST by in American Idol, Music


By Eric Ditzian

"American Idol" veterans are making the transition from amateur sensations to paid professionals. Champ Kris Allen, runner-up Adam Lambert and fourth-place finisher Allison Iraheta have all signed record deals with 19 Recordings. So, which contestant from the show's eighth season will be the next to ink a recording contract? Which highly ranked singer will get left out in the cold? Let's discuss.

Who's Next?
Those who play it safe probably have their finger on Danny Gokey. With his velvety singing voice and heartstring-tugging backstory, he was among the front-runners all season. Gokes was never in the bottom three until he got booted off the week before the finals. But I'm not convinced about his viability as a commercial recording artist. A recent conversation I had with producer Howard Benson (who has worked with Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry) only solidified my thinking that Danny's going to struggle in his post-"Idol" career. Will he get signed? Sure, on name recognition, if nothing else.

But I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the next "Idol" crooner to make it big will be fifth-place finisher Matt Giraud. Read More...

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