It’s Idol season again!

It was shaky for a while during the last few seasons. Judges were coming and going. There were mostly lackluster finalists and even winners. So a lot of us thought that those, plus the diminishing ratings and the arrival of new exciting talent shows, The Voice, X-Factor, were messages telling American Idol (AI) that it is time to hang up the gloves. Best is to retire while you are on top and then bask in the glory of 11 successful years.

Looks like AI though, is not ready to do that yet. And I am glad to note that there are lots of exciting things going on in the Idol front that have put the Philippines in excited Idol mode nowadays. First off, Jessica Sanchez, the Fil-Mexican discovery, who placed second in Season 11 will be arriving to perform at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 14. Set to be her special guest is Colton Dixon who was also a finalist last year.

Jessica, whose mother comes from Samal, Bataan, became a worldwide sensation because of her sweet, crystal clear voice and us Pinoys readily jumped on the bandwagon to proclaim her our own and then help her get to the finals. Jessica lost to Phillip Phillips but her Filipino countrymen did not care at all. In fact, when the Season 11 finalists came over to perform at the Big Dome last September, Jessica was the standout.

Ovation Productions thinks that we have not had enough of the talented teen-ager and that is why she will be back in her own solo show this Valentine’s Day. Expect her to do her hits from AI like, Change Nothing, Sweet Dreams, Stuttering, I Will Always Love You and maybe if possible also Jump In featuring apl.de.ap, which will be the first single from her upcoming album. For details, call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph. 

Still on Idol. The most talked about item about the show is the supposed feud between new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj and maybe the imminent catfight anytime soon. Truth to tell though, I believe that the most exciting addition to the show is country music star Keith Urban. For the first time in 12 years, AI has a resident heartthrob. 

Of course, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest and ex-judge Simon Cowell are all attractive men but having a sexy singer who is married to Nicole Kidman as a judge is something else. Urban might just change the demographics of AI. Catch Season 12 of Idol and Urban, too, on Thursdays and Fridays with replays on Sundays on Star World.  

There is also the recent release of Greatest Hits Chapter One by Kelly Clarkson. This is a two-disc set with a CD and DVD containing the official videos of the biggest hits of the very first AI winner. She certainly lived up to the title with one big hit after another, impressive songwriting skills and recordings that have gotten better over the years. I must also say that male or female, Kelly has one of the best voices in Idol history. This album is excellent proof of that and of what can happen to the life of a deserving winner.

Get a load of this list. Since You Been Gone, My Life Would Suck Without You, Miss Independent, Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), Behind These Hazel Eyes, Because Of You, Mr. Know It All, Breakaway, Walk Away, Don’t You Wanna Stay, a duet with Jason Aldean, Catch My Breath, People Like Us, Don’t Rush featuring Vince Gill, Dark Side, A Moment Like This, I Do Not Hook Up, a live recording of Beautiful Disaster and others.

After the first, let us now go to the most recent winner of AI, Phillip. His first album, The World From The Side Of The Moon, is out and it is simply divine. Made up of originals that were mostly written by Phillips, this is the sort of CD that you can enjoy again and again. The sound is a jazzy kind of pop rock that is very contemporary. Though seemingly an easy job, you can tell that this guy knows his music and what to do with it. Finding out the kind of artist Phillips will mature into should be interesting.

Best cuts are Man On The Moon, Home, Get Up Get Down, and A Fool’s Dance. There are also Gone Gone Gone, Hold On, Tell Me A Story, Where We Came From, Drive Me, Wanted Is Love, Can’t Go Wrong and So Easy. Listen to this and I am sure you will willingly forgive him for beating Jessica.