What the American Idol Contestants Should be Singing

Author: Eric de Fontenay

Randy, Paula and Simon are always talking about song selection, and the right choice can make all the difference - just ask Syesha. With the help of some top songwriters ("Love Is A Battlefield," "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"), we choose specific songs that will wow the judges. Some of the advice:

http://www.songfacts.com/writing/2008/04/american-idol-song-selection.html

Make It Your Own - you probably don't know who sang "I Can Dream About You," which makes it a perfect choice.

Futz With The Arrangement - It worked for David Cook with "Billie Jean," and it can work for lots of other songs, including "Torn" and "Bizarre Love Triangle."

Avoid The Overdone - "Unchained Melody" has run its course.

Does a great Karaoke song translate to Idol? Not according to the folks who do it for a living. Kimberly Starling of The Karaoke Informer explains: "The typical good karaoke songs tend to lack the uniqueness needed for an Idol contestant to stand out." Her list of songs that work in Karaoke but would bomb on Idol include "Friends In Low Places," "Santeria," and a surprising choice by The Ramones that works every time.

http://www.songfacts.com

About the Author:
Eric de Fontenay built in 1997 what has become some of the leading voices in the growing debates shaping the entertainment industry through its trade e-publications MusicDish and Mi2N. He later expanded MusicDish LLC into brand development and artist development, while diving into personal management with World Calypso band Kobo Town. Eric is a regular speaker at conferences worldwide ranging from MIDEM to the Harvard Law School as well as in print with his last paper "Peer-to-Peer Networking and Policy" published by Kluwer Academic Publishers.

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