Joss Stone turned down an invitation to appear on American Idol. Says the newly pink-tressed songstress, “I find these shows far too cruel. Music should be allowed to develop naturally.” Hmm. I don’t know if I agree, but I understand where she’s coming from and admire her for not selling out on her principles to promote her upcoming album, that’s for sure. (Of course, I’ll have to hear the rest of her music and see the rest of her “new look” before I can really turn in an opinion).
Where is Bo Bice? Rumors abound that he is no longer with RCA. His publicist won’t comment, the RCA page no longer shows him as a featured artist, and there’s no definitive word on a second album planned. It does sound like he and Clive have parted ways. I wish him nothing but the best and hope he puts out a fantastic, gritty Southern-rock-style album, and if he couldn’t do that under Clive, well, he couldn’t do it under Clive. I think it’ll be very important, though, to follow his career trajectory — if he gets picked up easily by an indie (or even another major) and gets more creative control, it’ll be great. If not, well…it won’t bode well down the road for Taylor’s future as a recording artist, unfortunately.
And you know what? Clive Davis really is a dick. You take an artist, you try to turn them into something 180 degrees from what they are and how they represented themselves on a television contest, and when the fans don’t buy it, you just dump the poor sod and cut your losses? Shit. Hey Sony, you listening to me? It’s time to take out the trash, guys.