Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol Season 8 finalists Adam Lambert and Kris Allen will be in the spotlight over the next couple of weeks as their second albums land (March 15 and March 22, respectively).

But they aren’t the only Season 8 Idols with new music.

Last week, Megan Joy released an impressive debut album.

This week, Michael Sarver joined the party with a new single off an upcoming second album.

The song is a country ballad called “I Wanted You to Know,” and it’s available on iTunes, where everyone who has reviewed it so far has loved it.

And, yes, there will be another album  “coming in a few months,” Michael told fans via Twitter yesterday.

Since finishing 10th on Idol, Michael has been one of the most prolific Season 8 contestants in terms of releasing music.

His self-tilted country debut album landed in July 2010, but couldn’t climb higher than 58 on Billboard’s country album chart.

Still, it wasn’t without highlights.  I’d suggest checking out “Watch Me” and “Always Surviving,” two songs about underdogs determined to make good.

It also features a fine ballad called “Tell Me” about a son confronting a father who abandoned his family.

Michael also released a Christmas album in 2010.

York area Idol fans were supposed to get a chance to watch Michael live a couple of weeks ago at a Celebrate Motown show featuring him and three other former Idol finalists, but it was canceled because of slow ticket sales.

But he has a big gig coming up Memorial Day weekend in Wildwood, N.J., where he’s one of the featured attractions at a  Celebration of Heroes Festival.

The concert is Sunday, May 27.  Tickets are $25-$50 and are available through Ticketmaster.  Also scheduled to perform, country star Lee Greenwood and another former Idol finalist, Haley Scarnato.

Now, here’s a live performance of “I Wanted You to Know.”