Carrie Underwood Wants to Popularize Country

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Editorials, Country,

Carrie Underwood wants to make country music appealing around the world.

The 29-year-old singer - who has sold over 14 million albums since winning American Idol in 2005 - thinks it is sad the genre isn't as popular in other countries as it is in the US.

"It's always fun to expand your resume. Country music isn't too popular outside the US and that's something I'd like to change. It's a shame other people aren't exposed on a daily basis to such a wonderful form of music," she said.

Carrie admits she was told she would find appearing on American Idol difficult because of her country roots, but she always had the backing of then-head judge Simon Cowell and didn't have to change or conform.

"From the beginning I was told, 'It's going to be rough for you, it's a pop TV show.' But everything I did just came out country. And Simon encouraged me to stick at what I do well. My goal is to make country music everyone can get into," she added.

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Mark Foster Doesn’t Feel Song Pressure

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Alternative, Rock,

Mark Foster never feels under pressure when making music. The Foster The People frontman has enjoyed success recently with hit single "Pumped Up Kicks," but insists he isn't worried about emulating it when it comes to writing new songs.

"I never let that stuff influence me. It's out of our control. If people like it, then cool. I wrote 'Don't Stop' just like I wrote 'Pumped Up Kicks' - I didn't try to make either a hit, I just wanted to write a song I liked," he said.

Mark also revealed how he would happily wrote a song for the winner of American Idol even though he would never audition for the talent show himself.

"To try out for American Idol. I never did that. I heard that all the time when I went home to Ohio. My aunts and uncles were like, 'You've got such a great voice - why don't you try out for American Idol?' I'd say, 'Because I'm a songwriter, not a puppet.' Even if I won and became really successful off a show like that, I'd be miserable. I'd rather be a poor singer/songwriter doing what I love than get rich from selling my soul. But I'd write for any of them. I can step into their world without attaching myself to it. I don't have to get up there. Writing for other people is easier than writing for myself - it's not as personal," he replied when asked what was the worst piece of advice he'd been given.

Gallery: Mark Foster Doesn’t Feel Song Pressure

Music Video: American Idol’s Top 2

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Pop, New Releases,

Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, runner-up and winner of American Idol’s season 10, croon “Whenever You Remember” in the final Ford music video of the season. Hear them, and view clips of all the Top 13 Idols, above.

Get all the recaps from the tenth season of the show -- read all our American Idol 10 posts.

Gallery: Music Video: American Idol’s Top 2

Music Video: American Idol’s Top 3

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Pop, New Releases,

Gallery: Music Video: American Idol’s Top 3

Music Video: American Idol’s Top 4

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Pop, New Releases,

American Idol’s Top 4 crooned “Be Yourself” in this week’s somewhat bizarre homage to driving Ford and enjoying laser lights. Sure it’s not their best work, but the reality TV contestants are readying themselves for an exciting finale, so we’ll let it slide. Watch the quartet stand out against a black background in the music video above.

Keep up with the current season of the show -- read all our American Idol 10 posts.

Gallery: Music Video: American Idol’s Top 4

Music Video: Steven Tyler Debuts “Feels So Good” on American Idol

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Rock, New Releases,

For decades, Steven Tyler has been shrouded in the mystery of fame -- an elusive, larger-than-life stage presence who fills magazine covers with big hair and grimaces. Thanks to reality TV, we now know he’s the type of guy who rhymes “gaga” with “yaya” (granted, there aren’t a lot of places to go with that), isn’t afraid to drop an F-bomb on the Fox Network and actually makes Jerry Seinfeld’s puffy shirt look vaguely cool.

Still, we weren’t prepared for the weirdness of above music video. It’s for Tyler’s “(It) Feels So Good,” and it’s strangely compelling. The video debuted on American Idol's Top 4 results episode (recap on TV Envy). The song is currently available for download on iTunes.

Gallery: Music Video: Steven Tyler Debuts “Feels So Good” on American Idol

Music Video: J-Lo Teases “I’m Into You”

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Pop,

American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez debuted a piece of her music video for “I‘m Into You” during Thursday’s results show, following her performance of “On the Floor” on the stage. We can’t decide who’s the show’s bigger diva -- Lopez or Steven Tyler, but we've got the entire music video for your enjoyment. Watch the stylish production in the video above.

Gallery: Music Video: J-Lo Teases “I’m Into You”

Music Video: American Idol’s Top 5

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Pop,

American Idol's Top 5 performed “Be Yourself” for the week's Ford music video, a tribute to magical tricks and marching to the beat of your own drum (we guess). Watch the video above and see if you can pick up on the message.

Read all our American Idol 10 posts to keep track of all the show recaps, gossip and elimination results.

Read More | American Idol

Gallery: Music Video: American Idol’s Top 5

Music Video: American Idol’s Top 6

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music Videos, Videos, Pop, New Releases,

American Idol's Top 6 sang "Our House" for this week's Ford music video. The number isn't so hot, vocally, but the video's theme was much more simple and identifiable this week at least.

Get all the spoilers, gossip and recaps from the current season when you read all our American Idol 10 posts.

Gallery: Music Video: American Idol’s Top 6

VIDEO: Pia Toscano Performs on Dancing With the Stars

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Performances, Videos, Covers,

Watch the video above to hear ninth place American Idol finisher Pia Toscano belt out “I’ll Stand By You” on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. The number became Pia’s most talked-about Idol tune.

Read More | Vote For the Worst

Gallery: VIDEO: Pia Toscano Performs on Dancing With the Stars