Yay! Another great Bshorty interview from Entertainment Weekly! Here’s one especially notable quote, re: the album.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Any response or feedback so far from the label?
BLAKE LEWIS: Every single idea that I have for this project, the company is in love with. I’m also making a documentary. We’ve been filming every single time I’m in the studio. We’re making a DVD that should be released with the album as well — kind of a journey through American Idol to the making of this album. It’s going to be great for the fans to pick up a copy of this album and see what I’ve been doing for such a long time.
And here’s a little something fun for your Saturday afternoon…yesterday, the Idols rang the NASDAQ stock market closing bell. View part one of the video here, and part two here.
That will be effing AMAZING if there is a DVD released with the CD!! I cannot wait!
I’m gonna be unpopular for a minute. Sorry :( But y’all know me well enough to know that I’m just itching for this DVD!
Does anyone else think that a DVD release from a new artist may make him appear arrogant and narcissistic? He’s already been (wrongly) portrayed as cocky and “obnoxious” due to the creative editing of his audition… a label that he’s had trouble shaking. I *really* don’t want any more bad publicity for our boy, and this seems like the perfect target since he really hasn’t done that much yet.
Thoughts?
Hmmmm. I don’t think so.
I remember Bo released a DVD with his studio tapings too.
I think it’s cool that Blake wants to release a DVD with everything that’s going on behind the scenes. I mean is his choice, but I don’t think that is arrogant at all. He wants to share the experience with the fans.
I am personally stoked about it. But anyways, people will want to think what they want to think. But I don’t believe this idea will hurt his image.
I am ready for A.D.D.! Yes!
There’s nothing unusual about releasing a DVD that comes along with a CD (and that’s what it sounds like it will be), they’re called Dual Discs, even new artists put them out. The content varies for some, but its not unusual. Often they contain behind the scenes stuff. Its not like this will be a splashy concert or music video DVD sold separately. If the label thought it was a bad idea he would be told right off the bat.
Okay the way he’s describing this album, it’s either gonna kick ass or we’re gonna wonder what the hell he was thinking.
But, the fact that the label has loved everything he’s suggested is a VERY positive sign.
I’m definitely gonna be interested to hear it. I hope it’s leaked a week in advance like Chris/Taylor/Katharine’s albums were last year.
I think it is a great idea since Blake is not just an artist but a character. His personality shines on screen and that will make the cd more personable and inviting. I think we want to see his journey and the fans can never get enough of seeing Blake. Bo did the same thing as well as many artist. But poor Bo didn’t get all the opportunity he would of gotten since music genre didn’t fit the
top 40 radio scene and his health wasn’t helping his career advance. I am a Bo fan and was lucky enough to see him in Tampa, but his cd was no really him. So hopefully Bo will get a second chance.
Blake is lucky to get to make the cd that he wants to make. It doesn’t matter how the sales will as long as it was made the way he wanted. So I think it is a great idea and I hope Blake does a skit on the dual cd. I just know it will be superb regardless on what he decides to do.
peace out,
sue
I can’t wait to see the dvd. Blake is just using it to give a chance to get to know him better.
jenlar, i see what you’re saying…i think it’s ok in blake’s case because of ai being on tv, plus his fanbase will lynch him if he doesn’t follow through now that he’s teased it :D anyway those who tag him as “cocky” have already made up their minds about him (and you know what, i bet you they will still watch the dvd if it’s put in front of them!)
now…i wonder if the dvd will just be with a special edition of the album, or if it will be packaged with all of them? and how that will affect price point? or if it’s not a very long documentary maybe it could all be squeezed onto one disc?
I don’t think releasing the DVD will hurt him in any way.. like someone said up there, many artists release dual discs. It seems to be the thing to do now! I think it can help boost sales. It seems like it’s going to be packaged with all of them..but I’ll go wherever to find it if it’s just special edition somewhere. :-P Other CDs that I’ve seen that are dual discs are usually around $17..?
Let’s look at it from some different points of view:
Arista’s POV: More media/product = more $$$$.
Blake’s POV: He probably just views it as another way to communicate his art to his fans/audience. Blake just wants to let his fans in, so that they can see the creative process. He really is at home not only on stage, but also behind the scenes. He loves tinkering around with different beats and sounds, and I think he really wants us to see the work that goes into the wonderful music that he makes. He’s also said that he’s got Cisco (and Ethan, I think?) lined up to do the art production on his CD, so he’s spreading the wealth - just like he did while he was on AI by wearing shirts for bands like The Mob Law, Panda Conspiracy, etc.
Cisco’s POV: This is going to get his name out there, so that it is recognizable to bigger names in his industry (film), as well as give people hard copy proof of his film-making skills. Being a talented and creative friend of Blake’s is definitely paying off!
Listeners POV: I say “listeners” instead of fans or audience, because Blake’s music will be on the radio, most likely Top 40 stations. Not everyone that hears Top 40 radio consciously makes the choice to listen to that station…and hopefully, when one of Blake’s songs come on, they are pleasantly surprised and instantly have a compulsion to find his album! (Ok, wishful thinking here!) Listeners that have no background knowledge of Blake, IMO, will be impressed with the inclusion of a behind-the-scenes DVD, because it will give them some of the background information that they would have to search for otherwise. Of course, there will always be varying opinions, some will dislike Blake as an artist, some may view the inclusion of a behind-the-scenes DVD as an assumption of success. Oh well. You can’t please everyone. OTOH, there are those listeners that you can further define as “Blake fans” - and I don’t think that we really need to worry about that POV, cause we’re all pretty much ADDicted and will snap Blake’s debut CD up regardless of the inclusion of a behind-the-scenes DVD. Although, most of us Blakers would *squee* our little hearts out over the footage on said DVD. :-D
ETA: I’m perfectly fine with Blake pulling me in and wanting to show me a little behind-the-scenes stuff. Even if it’s in DVD form, I’ll take whatever I can get! :-D
I think that if the DVD was sperate from the album, then maybe people would (just a minor few) would think that he was arrogant. But then again, I bet there are so many people who are curious about what takes place behind scenes, so I think they would buy it either way.
So im guessing if Blake is going to have a dual disc album. Then Im also guessing that with Chris’s R. album he would also have one.
Before you guys said that if was a DVD, I had thought it was going to be something posted online, like on their myspace. Thats what I got from Chris’s and Blakes bulletin. But whatever..
Im buying whatever it is, dual or not, then Im also gonna go wacko and buy it from itunes.
What, there are people out there in this world that dont know who Blake is? What that is outragous! Thats Blasphemy. J/K.
I agree with you Laura, Especially with the whole Cisco POV. And I do think its more like another way for Blake to communicate with his fans.
I agree too. Its definitely another way for B to communicate with us.
Hahaha. Clearly, there is something wrong with you if you don’t know who Blake Lewis is.
Don’t want this to get buried, and I’m not sure if it’s been linked yet: E. Ruth, NJ concert - Cake duet
Blake’s in-ears are hanging out his collar when he walks on stage…? He pulls them out because he obviously can’t stop to put them in. I think Chris also ends up taking his out. Has anybody else seen the other idols have to totally get rid of their in-ears? I know they sometimes take them out of their ears to hear the audience, but I haven’t seen them totally disconnect them. Anybody else?
ETA: Everyone should watch that vid on full screen mode. I *heart* that vid, majorly!
Please put concert footage in the concert threads. There are usually discussions going on in more than one thread at the same time, so there’s no need to worry that anything will get lost. Please keep these threads on topic. Thank you.
I think Blake including a recording DVD of the studio process included is to share with us, his public, the process and journey he has been on to get where he is. He knows people want to see him “get there”, and so including footage of the process recording esp lets them in on the Victory of the moment. :-)
Shoot, if they put out a seperate DVD of the process, 2 hours long, we would prolly buy it! So its nice they are including it in with the record. Some artists are, nowadays, and it is always nice. Me personally, I really really love to hear Blake speak, and talk to people, and interact in situations. I think watching the bonus footage will be neat, and i will no doubt want more!
I have to agree. Blake is the type of artist tries to find any way he can to connect with the fans and I guess he thought there was no better way to do it than with the documentary. Also, someone else in here said this too if Clive were against the documentary I think most of us feel he would have given it a thumbs down with the rest of Blake’s concept for the album from the get go. So I don’t see it as a bad thing.
I am personally excited about it, the more Blake there is, the happier I’ll be.
“I am personally excited about it, the more Blake there is, the happier I’ll be.”
Amen to that!
OK… good discussion! I hoped that I was wrong, so it’s good that y’all think that most listeners will approve. FWIW, I don’t think that it’s arrogant at all and can’t wait for it!
I watched AI everyweek and have watched interviews etc. of Blake over and over on youtube. I am so surprized to read that some of the fans think Blake is cocky. I always thought that he came across as very humble and grateful. I do think he is getting a bit restless with the tour. It has been a long time and I think he needs a break.
DJ, I couldn’t agree more. He has *never* seemed anything but gracious even when he is obviously tired and grumpy. He puts up with a lot… far more than most would. He *does* appear confident, but not in an “i’m-better-than-you” way. He just seems like someone who has very definite ideas about what he enjoys and what the wants to create.
Yeah, with everything we’ve heard, I have never once thought of B as cocky or ignorant. I think fans just get the wrong impression sometimes when he is tired or having a bad day or whatever. It’s almost as if some believe that he isn’t allowed to be in a bad mood EVER. He’s just like anyone else, he has bad days too. Also, I doubt that he’s used to all this attention yet. He probably still thinks of himself as a “guy who sings”.. and I’m sure he always will, too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Entertainment Weekly interview with Blake. If you have a subscription to the actual magazine, there is a brief write up about Blake’s signing with Arista and his upcoming album in the News & Notes Deals section.
I am looking forward to the DVD along with the CD. The only thing that concerns me is the possibility that the album won’t be released until December. The last two (and as far as I know only two) American Idol albums to be released in December as opposed to November following their respective seasons were Bo Bice and Taylor Hicks. I think we all know that those albums did not fare well in the marketplace and I don’t want to see Blake’s CD get lost in the holiday shuffle and swept under the rug.
Is there any type of confirmation that Simon Fuller will continue being his manager after the AI tour? 19 seems to take better care of contestants who sign both management and recording contracts and I hope that will work in Blake’s favor if he ends up with an after Thanksgiving release.
The NY Post article that gave the heads up on the Arista signing said both he and Jordin are managed by Simon - and Simon wouldn’t have spoke on his behalf in the press release if he wasn’t his permanent manager.
Lisa is correct. Fuller manages both Jordin and B. This has been a known fact for quite sometime now. Fuller picked up B on the management side sometime in early June.
Bo Bice and Taylor were not the only ones who released in December. Idols releasing CD’s in December are not that uncommon. I know that November may seem that it’s more in B’s favor, but we don’t want a rushed CD. As long as it’s out by December, I’ll be satisfied. I think TBTB probably think that Jordin needed the pre-Thanksgiving sales more and another thing with this tour going on and the fact that about 6 shows were added since it started, they have to squeeze in time to write and record which can’t be easy, but Blake has managed to do that.
Blake is not going to release a CD he isn’t satisfied with. He made that very clear in the People Q & A interview. I’ll be somewhat satisfied as long as we get this CD by the end of the year as is being promised.
There is a great review of last nights show, but there isn’t a thread up yet. It is very favorable of all most of the idols.
Yeah.. where’s the Allentown thread? :-P
I know, we need a new thread to post a great review from last night.
Also somE great Chris Sligh comments regarding Blake’s CD from TWOP.
I read the Sligh comments. He was so sweet. :)
I just started a thread for Allentown. Sorry.
I read what Sligh said, and I thought it was really good. Prolly apt too, even if it comes across as a little condescending he was just being candid– aren’t we tweens/teens/girls/women/soccer moms people who like Blake? yeah.
If that’s what swung the buying public for Daughtry, then that would be alright, huh! :-) The rest will simply be assimilated.
I liked what Sligh said about Blake but not so much about Chris Daughtry. I’m so tired of people saying his sound is just like Nickelback.
I think as long as Blake is satisfied with the outcome, we will be too.
Here is the link to an article that Donna All City from TWOP posted on J. R. Rotem this morning. It’s very interesting.
http://www.rapindustry.com/production_3.htm