Win a GritFX T-Shirt! Just answer "In what year did comedian Bill Hicks die?" for a chance to win...

So you want to win a GritFX T-shirt?! My friends over at GritFX are running a tee giveaway!! This is what they have to say...

Just answer this simple question: In what year did comedian Bill Hicks die? for a chance to win a GritFX T-Shirt of your choosing.

The answer can be found in a GritFX Magazine article by Decoy Spoon, or you can look it up on wiki. It's so damn easy to enter that there is no reasonable excuse not to. ("My dog ate my entry" is not a reasonable excuse...)

The competition closes at 11:59pm on 14th November 2009. So what are you waiting for?... ENTER NOW!

Farewell American Idol 2009 Tour Tees

Due to a new rule placed on what fans can and can not reference in our American Idol designs, all the Idology T-Shirts Tour range is no longer available.

I'm sorry to any fan who had intended on purchasing one.

MORE American Idol 2009 Tour T-Shirts

Hello American Idol fans!

I've finally loaded some more Idol Tour T-Shirt designs to the Idology T-Shirts shop!

In addition to the Tour T-Shirts set up for Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, Idology Tees now offer Tour T-Shirts for Danny Gokey and Allison Iraheta, with more dates available soon.



If you would like an Idology T-Shirts design that is not set-up with your concert date, please contact Idol Man (idolman@live.com.au) with your request.

Win an Official American Idol Fan T-Shirt - from Idology Tees

NEWS UPDATE: Mon 8th 2009
Some details of the competition have changed...

After receiving feedback that the questions were too hard, I've revised this so there is only one question - an easy one if I do say so!

The give-away is also now open to anyone, anywhere in the world - no longer restricted to the US :)


Here is your chance to WIN an Official American Idol Fan T-Shirt - from Idology T-Shirts!

It's easy. Here's what to do along with the rules...

1. Email the answer to the following question:
If someone is a fan of "KRADAM" which two 2009 American Idol contestants do they support?

Send your answer to idolman@live.com.au

*****

2. Leave a comment below indicating that you've sent in your email.

3. One entry per person. If you enter this contest more than once you’ll be automatically disqualified. Just one comment with one e-mail address please.

4. Contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world!

5. The first email drawn with the correct answer will win a t-shirt from Idology T-Shirts*.

6. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within two days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.

7. Competiton closes Sunday June 21st, 2009 at 11:59 PM ET.

8. Fans under the age of 18 need to have their parent or guardian enter on their behalf.

* Choose from any of the Idology Tee designs. Excludes Long Sleeved T-Shirts; Hoodies; and double-sided Tour T-Shirts.

Good luck Everyone!

New American Idol T-Shirts by Idology T-Shirts...

After being featured on the Official American Idol Website, myself and the others at Idology T-Shirts began work on a number of new designs, primarily for the winner of Season 8 - Kris Allen.




We also now have a large range of Merchandise for all the 2009 Idols, including buttons, magnets, tote bags and posters. American Idol Tour T-Shirts will also be available soon.





So visit the Idology T-Shirts online fan store and pick up your American Idol T-Shirts and Merchandise today!



by Idol Man

The Wrap-Up

Well, it's all over again. Another season of the phenomenon known as American Idol is complete and a new Idol chosen. After being the underdog all season, Kris Allen was voted by the public as the 2009 American Idol, beating out the clear favourite Adam Lambert. Kris was visibly shocked when his name was announced, coupled with, I think, a small dose of embarrassment. For Kris was a solid performer, an excellent vocalist to be sure, but not in the league of Lambert. And Kris knew this. He expected to lose and perhaps felt a little unworthy of the crown. Adam was extremely gracious in defeat, and it's a dead certainty that Season 8 of American Idol will not be the last time we see Lambert.




Week Nine saw the inevitable departure of Allison Iraheta, but not before her and Adam took to the stage for an absolute knock-out rendition of Foghat's rock classic "Slow Ride". It was a signature moment for the season, and Allison and Adam displayed the chemistry of artists who had been performing for years together. Their interaction on stage was intimate and natural, and for me, was the highlight of the 2009 Idol season.



The following week saw the somewhat surprising demise of Danny Gokey. Danny had performed well all season, but at times showed that he was relying on charisma alone, for his vocal abilities began to pale in comparison to the consistently maturing performances of Adam and Kris. To be honest, Adam had neither improved nor declined in talent since the start of the season - he was a superstar from day one. The only thing that changed in my opinion was his humility. At the beginning of the season he had shown arrogance and a rather large ego, elements that Simon would argue are prerequisites for success in the industry. Of course, Cowell is right, but that doesn't give anyone the right to be an asshole. I'm not saying Adam was ever that person, but as the season progressed and the Idols became more personally attached (which always happens considering they are housed together), Adam became almost humble.

The real question is how did Adam lose? There is always talk that the game is rigged, but I think that this season proved that the final voting is not. There may be situations within the season that are manipulated to gain viewer momentum - I mean, it is televison after all. It seemed, from talk and discussions on various Idol forums, that those who had been voting for Danny in the weeks preceding his departure, turned their votes for Kris in the final week - thereby sealing Adam's defeat.

But I'm not going to sit here and say that Kris was not a worthy winner of American Idol 2009. He gives the impression that he is a lovely guy, honest and genuine and extremely talented. But, as far as longevity as a recording artist, he may have a short career. Adam had the ability to transform himself, as many great recording artists do - but I can't see that happening with Kris Allen. Then again, so what? There are many artists who produce the same style and sound year after year and enjoy much success. Who's to say Kris Allen won't be taking home a Grammy for lifetime achievement in 2059?

So, all in all, it was an interesting season of American Idol, but it failed to reach the heights of last year. David Cook was perhaps the greatest Idol to ever grace the stage, and when he appeared on the show this year, solidified that opinion. One couldn't help feeling that people were looking for another David, and the fact that he was no longer around seemed to leave a gaping hole in the show. There is much conjecture as to whether Simon will be back again next year. I feel he was greatly disappointed that Adam did not win, for, in his purely Simon way, made a few comments in the last weeks that pointed towards the fact that in Adam they had found the complete package. And finding that is what American Idol is all about.




by Idol Man

Idology T-Shirts - Seen on the Official American Idol Website!

Idology T-Shirts were featured on the official American Idol Website! Needless to say we were excited to see them there...

Week Seven & Eight

Week Seven was a bore - I think I dread Disco Week more than Simon (if that's even possible). It was good to see the end of Lil and Anoop, leaving Matt to clutch his Idol dream for one more week. Lil, as Simon said, had become a shadow of the performer we had all seen in auditions and Hollywood Week. Instead of finding her own voice (and it was indeed a big voice to accompany her 'lil' name) she seemed to allow herself to merely perform caricatures of the artists of the songs she was singing, memorably demonstrated by that Tina Turner strut across the stage. Unfortunately for Lil, it was too late for her to find that voice, and she was rightly ousted from Season 8.

As for Anoop - well, the guy had gotten through many times by the skin of his charm, and he was easily the weakest vocalist remaining in the competition. With the double-goodbye of Week Seven, Anoop was (sorry to say) the deserved second departure.



Week Eight saw Jamie Foxx lead the Idols through their paces for the songs of the infamous Rat Pack. A charismatic actor, comedian and musician, Jamie lent his observations of the style of the era and was as smooth as Frank and Dean themselves. The remaining five performers did well, with Adam again the standout with his sleazy strut down the stairs onto the stage. Kris was also in fine form, and those who have been hailing this guy since the beginning must be ecstatic with how far he has come. A clear dark horse from early on, I can't really recall a week when Kris had a poor night. On occasion he has been (to quote Randy) "solid, dude" and hasn't hit the artistic heights of Lambert, but he has been consistently strong. He also seems as though every word he is singing is directed adoringly toward his wife, which may go a long way in securing his popularity for sheer sweetness.



Week Eight saw the departure of Matt, who had failed to really make an impression despite a groovy, crowd-pleasing rendition of the Bee Gees classic "Stayling Alive" during Disco Week. But his departure clearly left the four strongest contestants to battle it out until the end. I would have thought that Adam would be the favourite, but after he was relegated to the bottom three this week (eventually facing off with Matt), I am not so sure. Perhaps the 'schtick' and theatrics that I disliked early on has been picked up by others and will be his undoing. But, don't ya know - I kinda like the guy now...

by Idol Man

Week Five & Six

How time flies! Is this year speeding by or what?

The last two weeks have been spent working on new designs for the Idology T-Shirts online store, and the time to write has been scarce. But it has given me a chance to reflect on some of the contestants and in particular - Adam Lambert.

I have been ranting about Adam's theatricality since the first week, calling him this and that. But I gotta tell ya, the guy is a showstopper. After his performance of "Mad World" in Week Five, I was reluctantly becoming an admirer. Others here at Idology T-Shirts were lauding Adam from the get-go, but I was on the far side of the fence - now, I feel as though I am sitting on the fence, leaning towards the House of Lambert. I'm a fan of the song "Mad World", and Adam's rendition was magnificent. None of the theatrics had disappeared, but I can no longer deny the guys' talent.

The real delight of Week Five was the departure of Scott MacIntyre. Another dull (and this time awkward) performace with the guitar sealed his fate. I was also growing tired of listening to him constantly retorting the judge's comments, trying to justify his choice of song or what he brought to it. His actions could partly be attributed to nerves, but it also comes from a place of misguided self-belief. The judges are there to give constructive criticism to help the Idols become better performers/artists, and for the most part, the contestants accept and acknowledge the critique. Lil was guilty of the same thing last week, painfully attempting to save herself in the public eye. The pursuit of celebrity at it's worst.



Quentin Tarantino's appearance on the show as "musical director" for Week Six was rather cheesy. Sure, the guy has a brilliant ear for music to accompany the visuals in his movies, but what's he doing advising Idol contestants? In a time-constrained show, Adam was again the stand-out with his version of "Born To Be Wild" - for the umpteenth time breathing new life into a tired tune. The other contestants had a wealth of inspiration to draw from, but most chose standard film tracks that left the entire show feeling a little flat. The real event of the week was the judge's use of the controversial "save", allowing Matt Giraud to remain in the competition. If Matt steps up next week and delivers, he could easily knock Lil out of Season 8 of American Idol.

by Idol Man

Idol T-Shirts and Flair

Hey there, Idol fans...
Don't forget to swing by the Idology T-Shirts online fan store and peruse our range of Season 8 T-Shirts and Flair. Designs are available for all the Top Ten contestants, so get into some unofficial fan merchandise and show your support for your favourite Idol.

Week Four

OK, I said last week that Megan was growing on me. I also said after Week One that she would be more suited fronting a folk-rock band. I think that opinion still stands following her woeful performance this week. She was in tears at the end of the show, but not before displaying some downright childish antics in an attempt to mask her insecurities. She is young, sure, but the one person she should have been listening to (and who had been championing her since the auditions) was instead shown no respect. Simon is the most revered judge on American Idol, and even though he may receive a "boo" from the crowd whenever he lends his opinion, it's just part of the show. He's the guy you love to hate, but you don't really hate him anyway.

So, bon voyage Megan. It was definitely your time and maybe we'll see you again in a more appropriate environment.



As for the Week Four performances - well, for mine, it was a rather lacklustre event. None of the performances were truly memorable, save for Kris. Ending the show with his lovely version of "Ain't No Sunshine" - a song that has been sung almost to death - was a real delight. Kris' work on the arrangement was simply great, breathing new life into a tired tune. Well done, young man.



But the real delight of the week was the appearance of David Cook, last years' Idol winner. David is a bona fide star - charismatic and articulate with a powerful set of lungs. Simon's assertion that one must be conceited to be a star is not lost on Cook, but neither are his humble beginnings. He has confidence to spare but at the same time, brings a humility to his presence that is infectious and admirable. David is a true American Idol.



by Idol Man

Week Three

Well, we said goodbye to big Michael Sarver this week - and frankly, it was no surprise. Mike was never going to win Season 8 of American Idol. He was clearly one of the weaker performers, and if he didn't go this week, he would've departed next week or the following week. But he was never going to be there at the end. He seemed to know it was his time. Michael appeared accepting of the fact that he was unable to compete with the likes of Adam, but was obviously proud of how far he had come in the competition - and rightly so.

I have been describing my dislike of Adam Lambert since the beginning of Season 8. And even though I still stand by the opinion that he seems somewhat fake and almost a caricature of a performing artist, the boy can certainly sing. His performance of "Tracks Of My Tears" was nothing short of sensational. This is a song that can easily be murdered by a lesser vocalist, but Adam was up to the task, delivering a soulful version that seemed to make Smokey Robinson himself trace his own tears of joy at the rendition. However, appearing on stage dressed like some 21st Century Elvis was again a clear depiction of Lambert's penchant for theatrics. Far from being original, Lambert is 'playing the game' - but is there a real Adam Lambert inside the shell?



It was a shock to see Matt in the bottom three this week. This guy, as Randy pointed out, has been a strong contender since the beginning. Matt has delivered a great performance every week - so what gives, America? Of the 30-odd million votes, were 20 million of those just for Lambert or Gokey? Lend your support for Matt, because he is only going to get better and better as the competition progresses.



Some of the other contestants, such as Megan, need to choose their songs a little better. Megan has grown on me after her "kooky" beginnings, and she definitely has the looks and an unusual voice to propel her to the top. But her performance this week was rather dreadful, as was the perpetually boring Scott, who must go next week.

by Idol Man