The Hot Blog

At the movie store, I noticed earlier today that the #10 rental was Escape From Alcatraz. Even Dr. Strangelove was in the top 100.

It should be noted though, that an Idol performance of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah directly resulted in Jeff Buckley's version of the song appearing in the #2 slot on iTunes (maybe even #1, I stopped paying attention.)

A song that the Idol demographic had likely never heard all of a sudden in the top 3? That certainly isn't idle.

It should be noted though, that an Idol performance of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah directly resulted in Jeff Buckley's version of the song appearing in the #2 slot on iTunes (maybe even #1, I stopped paying attention.)

A song that the Idol demographic had likely never heard all of a sudden in the top 3? That certainly isn't idle.

David - Interesting point, but I'm not surprised. I think there's a glut of Idol product out there, and recordings of rehearsals seem pretty disposable.

Mutiny - Escape from Alcatraz is so high today because it's this week 99-cent rental. Although you do occasionally see oddball old movies like that creep up the chart, which is probably a function of the iTunes Store's tiny selection. Even small variances probably count for a lot in the rankings.

Exigence - Hallelujah has been overplayed to the Idol demographic ad nauseum-- it's been on countless O.C. ripoffs' "very special episodes." At this point I cringe when I hear it-- a nice song has turned into such a canned, obvious choice.

For the first week, Apple disclosed sales popularity among those Idol videos and songs they were releasing. When users were using it to gauge the popularity of the contestants and thus attempt to predict who would be booted off that week, Apple removed such information from iTunes at the request of Idol producers.

So, just because you don't see the tracks making it into the charts doesn't mean they're not, they're just not including that material for metrics anymore.

Jesus, Eric you're right - I cringe too. I just read this as well, about it's ubiquity: http://www.clapclap.org/2007/04/hallelujah.html.

So, that embarrassing oversight notwithstanding, American Idol still was the cause of that particular version reaching #2 on iTunes, and with Mark's point is evidence that Idol still has an enormous influence on the young'uns.

Hallelujah was featured prominently in Shrek, which I assure you most of Idol's demographic has seen many, many times...

Very interesting, Mark.

Mark makes sense. Although I know in Australia songs that are performed end up on the iTunes charts usually if they are smaller lesser known songs. Tracks like Gary Jules' "Mad World" and "Under the Milky Way" by The Church have gotten pretty high after being sung by contestants (and sung well).

The official joint announcement by Apple and Fox stated:

“iTunes and Fox are committed to presenting contestants in a fair and balanced manner online and on-air. For this reason, sales performances from American Idol contestants from the current season will not be reflected in the iTunes charts.”

Not to belabor the point but if you log on to the American Idol section of iTunes as of 8:40p, they also state:

"American Idol contestants are presented here in alphabetical order...." They then proceed to repeat that they are "committed to presenting... as they had previously stated back in February when they removed Idol rankings.

AMERICAN IDOL OWNS YOUR ASS.

I'm rooting for Brooke, because she's hottest of the chicks left. I only root for HOT PEOPLE because UGLY PEOPLE are fucking WACK and in this season all the dudes are DOUCHEBAGS, not AWESOME like Daughtry, who OWNS FUCKING ALL.

Of course no one here watches. Quel suprise.

These kids should do more covers of fucking METAL, because any music that isn't HARDCORE is for weak, MEDIOCRE people with NO INTENSITY.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAWR. BE A GOD.

dial idol has been pretty inaccurate this season, does anyone think Vote for the worst is skewing dial idol because a disproportionate amount of vftw-ers use the online thingamajig dial idol uses to track contestants?

It's David Archuletta all the way!
That kid will make one helluva Frankie Valli if they ever get around to shooting a "Jersey Boys" movie someday....hopefully NOT directed by Chris Columbus.

LexG, converting people to atheism the world over.

Too bad about that awful soulless AI muzak not being in the top 100. I was waiting for this national pop nightmare to end.

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