Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Maddie Poppe, Idol’s Season 16 champ, released her new album Friday.

At noon, 12 hours after its release, “Whirlwind” was number 14 on iTunes’ overall albums chart and number two on its pop albums chart.

“Whirlwind,” of course, is Maddie’s first album since winning Season 16 of American Idol. The title, Maddie has said, stems from the fact that the last year of her life feels like a “whirlwind.”

The album features her current single, “Made You Miss” (#39 on Billboard’s Adult Pop chart) and two other previously released songs.

But it also features seven new tracks we haven’t heard before. And it’s easy to see that some of those — “Not Losing You,” “Postcards from Me” and “Nothing Good Comes out of California” — were influenced by her time on Idol and the romance with runner-up Caleb Lee Hutchinson that blossomed from that experience.

“I had a short amount of time –- about two months –- to write about my feelings,” Maddie told USA Today in a new interview. “I tried to write about other things, but the only things that were on my mind were my relationship and also just my lifestyle this past year, how it’s been really crazy and hectic.

“I think the best songs come when your emotions are high and you can really feel it.”

Meanwhile, some fans are feeling anger toward American Idol for not having Maddie perform on Sunday’s season finale.

I still think that tarnishes what has otherwise been a fine season for American Idol. You’ll note that Carrie Underwood and Adam Lambert are performing. I understand their drawing power, but this version of Idol should owe more allegiance to Maddie than either star from Idol’s days on FOX.

And watch what happens to their new singles after they perform. They’ll roar up the charts on iTunes. Which is precisely why a performance would have been so helpful to Maddie. Remember, she’s the show’s first winner since it moved to ABC.

There are plenty of other non-essential performances planned for Sunday, including the newly announced performance by Katy Perry and Daddy Yankee.

So, Idol, you’re more interested in promoting a judge than your first winner on ABC?

That’s not the message you should be sending.

Meanwhile, be sure to check out Maddie’s album. Here’s the excellent lead track, “Not Losing You.” Pretty sure Maddie’s singing about Caleb.