Idol Chatter & Voice Views

We’re fresh off a week in which Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Hicks released new albums, and more new Idol music is on the way.

Bucky Covington has announced a Sept. 8 release date for the followup to his 2007 self-titled debut album.

But fans won’t have to wait that long for new music from this season five Idol contestant.

Bucky announced last week that his first single off the album, “I Want My Life Back,” will be released sometime in April.

For an eighth-place finisher on Idol, Bucky did pretty darn well with his first release. It yielded three top 11 country hits, “A Different World,” “It’s Good to Be Us” and “I’ll Walk.”

———-

David Cook is in the middle of his Declaration Tour and has just wrapped up shooting the music video for “Come Back to Me.”

In his latest vlog, David says he’s planning a dual release of “Come Back to Me” and “Bar-ba-sol;” the latter will be released to rock radio.

David’s tour lands at Penn State York’s Pullo Center Tuesday, March 24.

Meanwhile, his debut album is clinging to number 45 on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and has been on the chart for 13 weeks, peaking at number three.

———-

Chris Daughtry posted a vlog last week announcing that his band, Daughtry, has wrapped up recording sessions for its second album.

The band is shooting for a June-Julyish release. Chris says they’ve recorded 19 “fantastic” songs, which they now have to whittle down to the 12 or so that will wind up on the yet-to-be-titled album.

He also talks about writing sessions with Richard Marx and with Chad Kroeger of Nickelback. And he urges fans to vote for Daughtry in the Kids’ Choice Awards.

Daughtry is one of four nominees in the favorite music group category along with Linkin Park, the Pussycat Dolls and The Jonas Brothers.

Well, good luck there, Daughtry. With the Jonas Brothers in the same category, I’d rate you a mighty big underdog.

Oh, American Idol is also nominated, in the Reality TV category. The awards show is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28, on Nickelodeon.

———-

And whatever became of season seven contestant Ramiele Malubay, you might ask.

Well, she ignored my advice that she put her crying skills to good use and become a spokeswoman for Kleenex.

Instead, she has released her first single, Kaya, in the Philliphine language Tagalog.

Ramiele also has two other songs available for download, “Here I Am” and “More to Me.” Judging from the titles, I presume they are not in Tagalog, but I couldn’t find sample clips anywhere to make sure.

Here’s a link to Ramiele’s Web site.