Idol 12 - Allison Iraheta

12. Allison Iraheta

Season 8, 4th Place

Oh, Allison.. you, obviously, made it farther, and more fabulously, than I ever thought the show would let you. And yes, I had to take comfort in that because up until this moment, I still can't believe that Danny Gokey's primal scream during his dreadful performance of Dream On really got him more votes than this talented young girl.

Seriously. Just like Syesha Mercado, Allison Iraheta was, arguably, one underrated Idol finalist. Truth be told, she never won Simon Cowell's wholehearted approval and she never got a ''you could make it to the Finale'' critique from any of the judges no matter how fantastic her performances were. It came to a point where I was already tired of her NEVER getting enough credit, while if your name was Adam Lambert or Danny Gokey, you can do no wrong. It was so messed up.

Yes, I never really considered Allison a real contender when the Top 36 was announced. I mean, when the Group 2 finalists were revealed, I absolutely written her off the competition because she seemed to be one of those usual cannon fodders. I also find Group 2 extremely talented that I don't think Allison can pull an upset on any of the front runners that time, namely Megan Joy, Adam Lambert, Matt Giraud and yes, even Jasmine Murray - all of which had ample screentime prior to their first live performances.

But I have to say, she pulled out all the stops during the semifinals rounds. I did think her performance of Alone was a bit overrated, but I have to say that it was one of the better vocals that week. However, if I'm being honest, I was - shoot me! - disappointed when she got a spot in the Finals instead of Megan Joy or Mishavonna Henson because she, to me, appeared to be a one trick pony a la Ramiele Malubay.

Good thing, she proved me wrong when the Top 13 started. Yes, she still struggled a little bit during the first two weeks, but when she belted out Papa Was A Rolling Stone during Motown, I instantly boarded the Allison bandwagon and she suddenly became an obvious threat to the pimpage trifecta - Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds. Gorgeous tone, amazing range and her phrasing is probably one of the best of any Idol contestants - her vocal styling actually reminds me so much Pink.

Allison Iraheta became unstoppable, delivering one great performance after the other. I actually think that aside from her decent performance of I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, everything else she performed after Top 10 were all amazing. I still shake my head out of disbelief with the way I prematurely considered Allison as nothing more than a fodder at the beginning. I mean, people had no idea who this girl was and no one would have ever predicted such success she had in the competition. Her reaching the Final 4 was indeed a pleasant surprise.

Now, while I did like the Allison Iraheta during Season 8, her post-Idol album, Just Like You, made me appreciate her even more. I think she's got one of the better Idol debut albums. Sure, it wasn't quite Kelly Clarkson or David Cook or Kris Allen, but it's packed with quality songs. Oh, and when she visited the country a few months ago, I didn't hesitate to see her perform live and, needless to say, I was floored. I'll just say it: She was UNBELIEVABLE. Enough said.

Album Review: Just Like You

Favorite Performance(s): Hands down, her performance of Cry Baby after she got eliminated was probably one of the best swan songs EVER on the show. With tears streaming, she looked at the judges dead in the eye and wailed “CRYYYY BABAAAYY!!” with power and conviction. I also loved Papa Was A Rolling Stone, her impressive Slow Ride duet with Adam Lambert, the riveting Alone and the totally unexpected Someone To Watch Over Me. Her rendition of Hot Stuff was also really good.

Cry Baby

Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Slow Ride

Alone

Someone To Watch Over Me

Hot Stuff

#11 - Country

Idol News: Allison Iraheta Dropped By Jive Records

A few days ago, it was brought to my attention that Allison Iraheta's name no loner appeared on the Jive Artist list on it's webpage. Well, an article on Entertainment Weekly just confirmed that Allison Iraheta has parted ways with Jive Records.

Allison Iraheta, fourth-place finisher on season 8 of American Idol, has parted ways with her label, Jive Records, EW.com has learned. Rumors began to swirl in the blogosphere over Labor Day weekend, when fans of the red-headed rocker noticed she was no longer listed under the roster of artists on Jive’s official Web site.

“Allison Iraheta has parted ways with Jive Records, however she remains signed to 19 Recordings. Allison is currently on the road in the U.S. opening for Adam Lambert on the Glam Nation Tour,” a 19 spokesperson told EW.

Sad, but I'm not surprised. It is a business after all and she made the company - Jive Records - no money. In fact, with money spent on promotions and whatnot, she lost them money. But to be fair, Jive never seemed like a good fit for her. I mean, they never seemed to know how to market Allison. So, I somehow think that it’s best for her to part with Jive and still has 19M management behind her.

I don’t know if she’ll get another major label deal, though - her sales numbers may frighten people off. And I wonder whether it might be better for her to sign with a smaller label that will really concentrate on promoting her and helping her find the right musical direction to go in. If she signs with another major label, she could just get lost in the crowd again.

Sure, I did love her album and I love her sound and style, but the market is all about status quo. Certain market only want certain style of songs and certain image to go with it and different audiences have certain rigid expectation for their artists too. So, if you’re a teen girl, then there is pop princess opening but if you want to be a rocker, you have to write your own songs and have your own rock band. Well, Allison is somewhere in between - a teen girl that has the attitude, swagger and the mannerism that characterizes a rocker.

Truth be told, Allison is sensational and hopefully another label will pick her up right away - RCA, please! - and get her some great music to work with. I have faith that, in the end, she’ll land on her feet and will put out some amazing music. But it might take a little while for this to happen. I'm positive, still.

Music: Don't Waste The Pretty - Allison Iraheta (ft. Orianthi)

A few weeks ago, I posted the album version of this song HERE. Now, check out the new and improved version of Don't Waste The Pretty with Orianthi on guitar! Fanboy alert!! Orianthi’s guitar riffs and Allison’s amazing vocals.Wow.

I personally loved this version. This song was easily one of the best tracks in her album to begin with but this upgrade made me appreciate it even more. Orianthi’s inclusion actually peps the song up, and it’s surprisingly better than the album version, which is also a pretty good version. Thank God! I’m glad Jive seems committed to her - even if she hasn’t had a storm of publicity - and they are doing a good thing having her open for Adam Lambert and pairing her up with Orianthi. I'm just wondering though, how could Jive get this right and royally screw up on Kris Allen’s The Truth with the vocal inclusion of Train's Pat Monahan, which is a horrible idea for his single. Sigh.

LISTEN:

Music: Don't Waste The Pretty - Allison Iraheta

Here is her official third single, Don't Waste The Pretty, off her debut album Just Like You.

Ok. Color me surprised, but I didn't expect her to get a third single. I mean, I adore her and all but after her first two single flopped on Top 40, I expected Jive to stop issuing her another single. David Archuleta had one massive hit with Crush and then flopped with A Little Too Not Over You and then they just didn't release another single for him after that. Strange. I assume the people at Jive think that Allison could still crank out a Top 40 hit.

That being said, I'm glad that this is her new single. I think this is one of the best and most radio-friendly songs on her record. It could be a hit - fingers crossed. I just hope Jive pushes this one properly. Boy, did they even promote her last single, Scars, AT ALL?

LISTEN:

Idol News: Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta on Oprah's special “No Phone Zone” live show

Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta performed Coldplay’s The Scientist at today’s “No Phone Zone” Rally in Los Angeles. Lisa Ling, one of Oprah's correspondents, interviewed the two and will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Jaw drops to the floor!!!! Seriously. That was just gorgeous! I’ve been waiting awhile for that duet. Allison killed that bridge and beautiful harmonies. I thought the arrangement really highlighted each of their strengths as a singer - Kris’ lower register and head voice and Allison’s raspy tone and wailing ability.

Sigh. Videos like this makes me want to dismiss Season 9 for the sheer lack of "talent". Haha. Kidding.

Watch the videos after the jump!!




BONUS: Rehearsal video

Idol News: Allison Iraheta To Perform In Manila on May 4, 2010?

Wow. I just learned this now. Allison Iraheta will visit Manila next week!! How crazy is that?

I'm not so sure how true the news is but Philippine Entertainment Portal already confirmed it in one of their articles. According to the article:

"American Idol Season 8 finalist and fan favorite Allison Iraheta is set to conquer Manila with her spunky personality and music on May 4, Tuesday, 5 pm at Midtown Atrium, Robinsons Place Manila.

Presented by Channel [V], Robinsons Malls, Sony Music, Magic 89.9 and Mellow 94.7, this one-day event will have the red-haired rocker perform cuts from her debut album titled Just Like You.

Wow. David Cook, David Archuleta, Michael Johns, Taylor Hicks, Chris Daughtry, Kris Allen, Jason Castro and Elliott Yamin are some of the Idols who have headed to the Philippines to perform after their Idol runs.

I wonder why I've never heard or read anything about it just until now. Anyway, I’ll post more news when it’s available.

Album Review: Just Like You - Allison Iraheta

Wow. This definitely exceeds expectation. Considering previous Idol releases, like Diana Degarmo's, I think she's got one of the better debut albums. Not quite Daughtry or David Cook or Kris Allen, but it's packed with quality songs.

Most songs are well written and really allow Allison to showcase her vocal prowess. She can reach those notes but at the same time, she sings with so much passion and emotion, it’s infectious. These songs were made for her, and she elevates them to a level few artists are ever able to. She is no Disney pop princess, she's one true rock princess!

Here's my track-by-track review: 

Personally, this song is a good representation of who she is musically. It has great energy and got that "in your face" quality that she seems to like. I like the simple kinks-like guitar riff with a cool melody of old school sounds. I'm also digging the fact that her husky alto is front and center here. Cute. Catchy. Having said that, I'd say that this track, specifically, isn't the strongest in the album. 7/10

At first listen, I didn't care much for this song. The lyrics seem to pander directly to 5-10 years old. But after awhile, it actually makes me smile. Ha! Sure, the song on the surface sounds poppy - and it is - but the lyrics are actually smart and the beat is totally infectious. 5/10

I wish the acoustic version is on the album. It's just so good. I love the guitars and her back-up harmony on the acoustic version. This. Not so much. It's okay. The piano at the beginning makes it sound like she's auditioning for Glee and the synthesizer in the middle is just cheesy for my taste. Just seems lacking a little something. 7/10

It was one of the few songs that I wasn’t totally feeling from the 30 seconds snippets I heard weeks ago. Well, color me impressed and I take it back. This is now officially my personal favorite! I love that there are more stuff going on in the bass, but more than anything else, the harmonic arrangement of this one is fan-freaking-tastic. Delicate. Soulful. I just hope the song didn't just abruptly ends. Ha! Still, Major Winner! 10/10

This song is gorgeous!! Stunning vocals and so much emotion! She sings like an old soul. The strong full-bodied unique voice is always in front and never overpowered by the instrumentations. This is a classic example of simple but powerful recording. I LOVE how raw her vocals sound. AMAZING. 10/10

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not but the first 10 seconds of the song reminds me so much of King Of Leon's Use Somebody. I don't know. The chorus is somewhat overdone, but it’s still good. The verses are great, interesting bridge and it has got excellent drums. 5/10

PURE LOVE. I knew from the first listen of the clip that this was going to be a favorite. Damn Good! And although the high pitched whistle noise during the verses bothered me a bit, I still love it to pieces. Bewitching and Enticing. Oh, and you have to catch her riffing during the fade. Really nice. 8/10

Apparently, this song was first recorded by Dilana - Rockstar: Supernova. Interesting. The song kicks some serious ass. It blew me away! I like it a lot more now that I've heard it on a good system. This is easily one of the best songs on the record. 9/10

This, I believe, sounds like Daughtry's Over You with a girl singing. Just like Pieces, the chorus are way overdone but I like the verses and the bridge is cool - but too short! This one veers closest to the generic Daugthry-type stuff that puts me to sleep, but it's still way better than that, thanks in no small part to her delivery. 7/10

This is fantastic! A beautiful song backed with so much feeling. I think I'm going to need someone to wave some smelling salts at me every time I finish listening to this because I fall over dead every time. Ha! Really really well written song with a full-bodied voice to it. This has got to be a single at some point. I see it potentially being THE Big Ballad Hit. 10/10

I'm still kind of working on this song. I'm liking it a bit more than I did though. It just strikes me as one big cliche, but it does have some classic pop harmonic structure in the chorus that I just can't resist. I love the different elements going on, especially the reverb on the guitar parts and the vocal dynamics with a great deal of emotion. 7/10

Wow. I know Chris Brown made it taboo to talk about bad relationships. But, the song just screams Top 40 Hit! Maybe after she gets established on the radio, and we get a full year away from the Chris Brown/Rihanna incident, they will release this. I really think this track should be IT! It's catchy and fun to bop to for sure , and it's really well produced. One of my favorites. 9/10

I just love her voice and the lyrics on this song. Heck, I could see this being an Idol exit song. Ha! I'm also thrilled that she co-write this song. Great. It's one of the best on the album - really rockin', but with softer parts and without being overproduced. 9/10



Seriously. I enjoyed the album - for the most part. It's a little too shiny sounding in spots, but it's a really good record. Like really, really good. I’m just so happy that her voice shines through in this first debut efforts. There are lots of really glorious moments - plenty of the real Allison to love. The whole thing hangs together amazingly well, especially considering the usual mish-mash of producers involved. A good, strong album overall. I just never dared dream it would be this good. Light-years ahead of Adam’s, and at least as good as Kris’. Haha!

Sales really aren't that important to me at this juncture – only because she has little to no visibility outside the American Idol bubble. Finishing fourth after a strong finale finalists in Adam and Kris - unlike a pair of weak Taylor and Katharine, Daughtry was fortunate - with no visibility and no Idol machine to ride, her direction given all the data, has to be routed as a new artist - like Kris Allen - and not as a glamrock god or the second coming of an icon - like Adam Lambert.

All I have to say is this: Instead of buying the FAUX rocker’s - Adam Lambert - album. People should buy the REAL rocker’s record. Allison Iraheta was definitely the real rocker from this season, and her music proves it!

RATING: 7.9/10