Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Danny Gokey enjoyed another solid week on the Billboard music charts.

His debut album dropped of course, from number four to number 16 on the Billboard 200.

But a second-week drop was expected.

And, consider this, his second week performance was better than any of the other season eight Idols in terms of chart position on the Billboard 200.

* Adam Lambert debuted one spot higher, but dropped to number 22 on the Billboard 200 in week two on the charts.

* Kris Allen debuted at number 11, the lowest ever for an Idol winner, then dropped to 35 in week two.

* Allison Iraheta’s “Just Like You” debuted at number 35, then dropped all the way to 148.

And, according to AmericanIdol.com, Danny’s album recorded the highest five-week album sales by a debut country male artist in 18 years. Quite a feat, considering what’s happened to album sales overall in the last 18 years.
Wal-mart Soundcheck has posted a new eight-minute video interview with Danny. In it, he talks extensively about his choice of an album title and the lead single, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me.”

Remember, Danny’s wife died unexpectedly, a month before his American Idol audition.

“The thing I want to tell people now is, ‘Look at all the good that came out of something so tragic and so sad,'” Danny says. ” Listen, I’m enjoying life again. What almost took me out didn’t take me out.”

Not that he’s forgotten. His best vocal of the album might be the final track, “I Will Not Say Goodbye.” The reference to his wife is obvious. You can go here to watch the video.

Meanwhile, he’s the best news for Danny Gokey fans in the south-central Pennsylvania area. He’ll be performing at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., on Sunday, May 16.

The show also features Jake Owen and Sugarland, the latter of course as the star attraction. Tickets are $56 and $75, with lawn seating going for $36. Go here for info on the show.

Other stops on the tour include a Saturday, June 12, show with Sugarland and Luke Bryan at the Toyota Pavilion in Scranton. Go here for more info on that concert.