Three More Join Danny in the Top 12

Danny was in attendance tonight for the Top 36, Group 2 result show wearing his white glasses and those cute little wristband thingies, no less Ahem, excuse me for my fangirl moment.

Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta and shocker of the night Kris Allen were the top vote-getters in Top 36 Group 2.  Adam and Allison were standouts of Wednesday’s performance night but the third spot was well-debated.  Matt Giraud and Megan Corkery were two I think we’ll be seeing more of in the wildcard round but Kris Allen secured his spot in the Top 12 tonight.  I think we may indeed have an awesome Top 12 this year!

Danny in Attendance for Top 36 Group 2

Danny was in fact in attendance at the Group 2 performance tonight.  Ryan introduced the first 3 of the Top 12 at the top of the show.  He wasn’t mentioned except Simon said in passing after Kris Allen’s performance that he was a better singer than Kris.  See a few screencaps in the gallery.

Danny Spotted in Milwaukee

Well, it’s from last weekend and obviously after seeing him on tonight’s show, he’s back in LA but for what it’s worth…

We have a pretty strong network of spies here at OnMilwaukee.com, and we rely on them for scoops, tips and gossip.

One of our better undercover agents attended a charity function last weekend at the InterContinental Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., and guess who he bumped into …

“American Idol” contestant Danny Gokey.

“He got out of a SUV with a security guy and someone I think was a publicist for the show,” our spy said. “A few people saw him and just about everyone recognized him right away.”

We’re not sure what brought Gokey to town. Maybe he likes to eat the “Big Boy Burger” at Kil@wat.

Source

Danny Gokey is True “Hero” of American Idol Round 1

It’s a bold step when singers step out of their own genre and belts out a tune that you wouldn’t expect from them. It’s an even bolder step when that song is by Mariah Carey and the singer is a male, but that’s exactly what Danny Gokey did on Tuesdays airing of American Idol.

Singing Mariah Carey’s “Hero” Gokey relied on a controlled emotional performance (His wife passed a few days before auditions had begun), using runs sparingly yet effectively. Gokey’s voice was crisp and emotional, a welcomed changed from the attempted “polished” renditions oftentimes undertaken by Idol Contestants.

Throughout his performance, Gokey appeared to know the stage well playing to the audience, judges and cameras all in tandem while never straining to find his voice.

Was his pitch perfect? Far from it. Was his song breathtaking? Only in its simplicity and that’s why I loved it, he didn’t try to make himself look like the next American Idol, instead he sung like he was already the winner, that’s what I consider the true working of an Idol, you don’t have to show America you deserve to win, you already know you do.

Danny has relied on the more emotional offerings throughout his auditions, it will be interesting to see him sing Broadway tunes or happy-go-lucky songs as the season progresses. Right now, however, I find him to be the main contender to watch.

Source

Simon Cowell Predicts A Guy Will Win Idol

Let’s hope that boy is Danny!

After the battle of the Davids — Cook and Archuleta — on last season of American Idol, isn’t it time for the women to rise to the top again? Not yet, says Idol judge Simon Cowell.

“[It will be a] boy this year,” Cowell told PEOPLE at the Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar party on Sunday night. Fellow judge Randy Jackson agrees. “I think it’s a dude, too. He’s [Cowell] copying me. Tell him to stop it!” says Jackson.

via Simon Cowell Predicts A Guy Will Win Idol – PEOPLE TV Watch.

Early favorite Gokey is in a tough position on ‘Idol’

Danny Gokey is an early favorite to win this season’s “American Idol,” which is a tough position to be in.

Just ask David Archuleta.

Gokey is a favorite not just for his vocal talents but for his personal story. And, believe it or not, he’s already getting criticism in some quarters for “using” his personal story to advance his career.

Gokey, 28, lost his 27-year-old wife, Sophia, last July. (She died during surgery intended to correct a congenital heart defect.)

Four weeks later, he auditioned for “Idol” in Kansas City. And the show’s producers, knowing a good story when they hear one, made a big deal out of Gokey and his personal tragedy.

“Honestly, I do feel like that I was highlighted. There’s no getting around that,” Gokey said in a conference call with TV critics.

But he didn’t ask them to highlight him any more than he could have prevented them from doing so.

Read the rest

What is up with all the Danny Gokey Haters?

I’m going to have to agree here…I think from now on, less is more.  I’m not sure if he can completely stay away from it as it IS a part of what he’s gone/going through but the less Ryan and producers highlight it, the better.  There’s definitely a beast of a backlash going on and the less it’s fed, the better.

Why is all of this animosity being directed at Danny Gokey instead of “Idol” producers, who are clearly fanning the embers of this emotional back story to create a more engaging show? My best guess is that they feel that he shouldn’t have fed the beast in the first place. Message boards are buzzing with “Idol” fans comparing how former contestants handled the telling of their personal stories. David Cook kept a fairly tight lid on his brother’s illness, but remember the focus put on Elliott Yamin’s ailing mother? The lesson here is that when it comes to sharing information about your personal life, less is more.

Read the rest

Who’s got Danny Gokey fever?!

This article didn’t really offer any news but I thought it was an entertaining article from local media.

Milwaukee media isn’t perfect, but there are some stories our tireless local reporters simply won’t let fall through the cracks. Take the weather, for instance—they cover the hell out of that. We can also rest assured that those vital “high school kid uses Facebook to blackmail classmates into having sex with him” stories that affect each and every one of us won’t be swept under the rug.

Then there’s Danny. Our forefathers did not grant the American people freedom of the press so the Milwaukee media could stand idly by and let the public to sleep on Danny. For those that don’t follow national election news, “Danny” is 28-year-old church music director Danny Gokey, who recently was named to the top 12 on American Idol. (He’ll attempt to move deeper into the competition starting tonight.) And—OMG!—he’s totally from here, just like Gene Wilder, the Violent Femmes, the Fonz statue, and the mom from Malcolm And The Middle. You, me, or Fox 6 could totally hang outside of Gokey’s house like a jilted ex-lover turned stalker if we wanted.

Read the rest

Danny Has 2 to 1 Odds of Winning

Well, at least according to the Associated Content

With the second round of live performances for American Idol 8 coming up, I thought it was time to go out on a limb and predict who will make it to the top 12. OK, so 25% of the American Idol finals have already been chosen, which is good for me because that means I can only get a maximum of nine wrong. (I don’t think so.) When American Idol resumes live performances with group 2, the voters will set the next 25%. Before that happens, here is a list of who you can expect to make it to the final 12.

First up, the easy ones. These three made it out of group one on the first American Idol live broadcast of the season. Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver, and Danny Gokey. Of these three Danny Gokey has to be the front runner with Michael Sarver, good as he is a long shot to be the next American Idol. Alexis Grace came out of nowhere with her Group one performance to secure a spot in the final twelve, but who will be joining them.

Out of Group two you can expect Adam Lambert, Kai Kalama, and Megan Joy to advance. Joining them from group three and the wild card entries will be, Anoop Desai, Felicia Barton, Jasmine Murray, Lil Rounds, Mishavonna Henson and Scott MacIntyre.

So there are you twelve American Idol finalist,. Since I have chosen the finalist what are the odds for each of these to actually win American Idol Season 8? Totally not scientific predictions leave us with these odds:

Danny Gokey 2 to 1
Scott MacIntyre 2 to 1
Lil Rounds 2 to 1
Alexis Grace 4 to 1
Michael Sarver 5 to 1
Anoop Desai 6 to 1
Megan Joy 6 to 1
Adam Lambert 8 to 1
Kai Kalama 10 to 1
Jasmine Murray 12 to 1
Felicia Barton 12 to 1
Mishavonna Henson 12 to 1

As it stands at the moment the best talent on the men’s side is Danny Gokey and Scott MacIntyre. On the women’s side it is less clear, but Lil Rounds and Alexis Grace are the current stand outs. I would like to see Lil Rounds or Scott MacIntyre be the next American Idol, but Danny Gokey has the look and the feel of a winner and is currently the person to beat.

Surprised he didn’t go with Ricky Braddy for the wild card.  He’s getting a lot of attention this week.

American Idol’s Danny Gokey Has Heart

Danny Gokey has lived through a roller coaster year, experiencing extreme lows and highs. You cannot help but admire a young man who takes tragedy and turns into triumph. When his much too young wife passed away from a heart condition, Danny established the Sophia’s Heart Foundation, in honor of his wife and her love for children.

I checked it out at www.sophiasheart.org and was touched by the hope and help it offers to so many. Let’s all be a part of something so wonderful it touches the lives of those who need it most, the children.

Has there ever been an American Idol contestant with this kind of compassion and heart?

If Danny does not sweep American Idol, I know he will not be soon forgotten.

Check out the incredible foundation he began after the passing of his wife, Sophia.

Even during American Idol there has been a bit of the bittersweet in it for Danny. While he and very close friend Jamar Rodgers made it all the way to the mansion together, that is where it ended, and the two had to part company. Jamar is a very talented singer and honestly I was surprised that he didn’t make it all the way. Another turn for Danny led him to sing Mariah Carey’s song Hero. And I am certain that it was talent and not heart strings that made it possible for him to be voted into one of the coveted top 12 spots.

Danny is from Milwaukee, where I am sure they are all very proud of him. But his message is universal, and I think it can be summed up as “keep the faith, keep going.” It really is as simple as that.

Source

Group 2 Performs Wednesday

If you haven’t already read, American Idol is not on tonight due to the President’s State of the Union address.  You can catch Group 2 perform Wednesday at 8.  I haven’t heard one way or the other whether Danny and other Group 1 members will be at the performance since Group 2 and 3 were not in LA for Group 1’s performance.  I’m assuming he’ll be there though.

Artwork: Danny Gokey Banner

Tara sent me this artwork that a friend made for us.  It’s awesome!  Anytime anyone wants to make some artwork for the site, I’d love to feature it!  Thank you Tara and friend!!

Next Page »