Swedish~ Stereo~

Idol-winner Jay Smith's album "Jay Smith" is out. You can find there all the biggest highlights Jay delievered on the show - all performances except Creed's cover (probably the most boring Jay's performance) and 3 retro-covers - Elvis, Sinatra and The Beatles. I think it's a shame "In The Ghetto" isn't on the album as it turned truly great cover - charming with Jay's vocal but different from usual Jay's growling range. But let's come back to what's included in tracklist. Expectedly it's "Black Jesus" - the biggest hit that made Jay winner already on auditions stage, epic "Like A Prayer" that sounds not any weaker in studio, the same about "Bad Romance" but in this case it sounds even more powerful than it was in live, previously released orchestral "Heart Shaped Box", boysband-goes-rock "I want it that way", All Saints' "Never Ever" as bonus-track and some other covers of rock-songs perfectly fitting Jay's voice. Oh, not to forget winning song "Dreaming People". But doesn't Jay want to forget it himself? If for a moment we'll try to look at this album without Idol-background we'll see the album of international level artist - does it sound any worse than any Nickelback's (or put any American radio-rock band here) album? I don't think so. But the problem that now Idol-label will be hard to erase from Jay's career. Wasn't "Dreaming People" with words "So, they threw you off but you got back up trying again. So, against the odds turned your face to the wind." sounding much more personal for Minnah - last jury's attempt to make sensation pulling her to the first place? We're not gonna know it as everything has gone due to the odds and now it's Jay who's gonna fight with his Idol-status by his rock-ground. What we see now watching Jay's performances is his complete lack of interest to hardly promote his first single - his winning song. Earlier Jay said that he doesn't really feel the song but why doesn't he try to stand for his release? The only answer I find here is attempt to trying to cut out all his Idol-side but is it right decision when it's what he worked for week by week? However hope it won't destroy his career before it has started as (I said it before) Jay has great rock-voice and if Sweden will need its own Chad Kroeger here he is.
Below you can listen Jay's studio version of "Dreaming People" and check tracklist of whole album.

Single of Idol-2010 winner Jay Smith "Dreaming People" is out in Sweden (we still haven't got in on youtube but as soon as it'll happen I'll give a tips) and here starts hot period for Jay with promoting his cover album coming out this week, touring, performing on TV and so on. So here is one of the first steps - visiting XL live with acoustic set. Being initially rock-singer such acoustic performances are completely his water to swim in so expectedly they it's very confident, professional and enjoyable mini-gig.

UPDATE: Later today Jay was involved in live performance for another huge media-source Aftonbladet performing his acoustic cover of "I Want It That Way" from Idol. Here it is.

Jay Smith and Minnah Karlsson have met this year in the final battle of Swedish Idol, battle to get a new winner in 7-years history of the show and though due to different polls and odds Jay was huge favorite Minnah still was a dark horse of the show who was expected to leave the contest almost every of the last 6-7 weeks but she managed to surprise again and again constantly growing and here we got Minnah in the final!
Firstly contestants performed songs they've chosen themselves and when Jay performed Creed's "Higher" that looked more like static rock-performance in a way and sound Jay performed before Idol, Minnah has decided to bring more dynamic show with Gwen Steffani's "What You Waiting For?" - moves, lights, glitter and massive choreography that impressed jury much more. Second part of the show was performing songs chosen by audience and it was quite obvious choise of Minnah's "Twist and Shout" and Jay's "Like a Prayer" - both performances unfortunately looked weaker being presented not in especially hard times for Minnah and Jay they used to initially (Jay's problems with drugs and Minnah's comeback after elimination) but it wa time for Jay to get huge audience response. But finally it came to singing winning ballad "Dreaming People" written this year by Svante Halldin, Jakob Hazell, Sharon Vaughn and Christian Walz and though Minnah sang it like a real Idol-ballad, like it had to sound from touching start to huge culmination when Jay turned it more to rock-ballad nothing could stop him already and Jay became new winner of the Idol getting chance to release album with his Idol-covers already this Friday but Minnah has got this chance as well and her album will be released two days later on Sunday. Both artist has got their new sites (site of Jay, site of Minnah) and Jay's version of "Dreaming People" has already got #1 on Swedish iTunes.

Few days ago I told about first two Idol participants who were selected by audience and got their tickets to Friday shows stage. Here we have another 4 successful contestants.
This year contest from the first sight from audition looked in my opinion lacking unique commercial characters but on pre-final stage it turned so that vocal level of chosen artists was very stable and strong so many who deserved to go further couldn't do it. However they still have hope to get through as jury's wildcards and we'll know these lucky contestants already this Friday.
Huge favorites Alice Hagenbrant and Jay Smith haven't deceived expectations of public and got to the final together with Andreas Weise (son of popular tv-host Arne Weise) and Minnah Karlsson - girl with one of the best auditions this year in my opinion. However I should mention as well amazing performance of Daniel Norberg, loveliest Elin Blom and very nice performances of Simon Lingmerth, Sassa Bodensjö and Michaela Osberg who unfortunately haven't qualified but hope will be supported by jury.
Watch second evening-show here and third here.