Blog Posts by Justin Gutierrez

If there has been a television show that has changed the lives and fate of aspiring performing artists in a revolutionary way, it would have to be American Idol. Since 2002, your average Joe or Josephine can indeed become a superstar. Not by sweating night after night onstage in hopes that they will be scoped out by an industry rep, but by the vote of the people. Check out the videos created by past Idol contestants, some who have had marginal success while others have used their Idol status as a launchpad to climb even higher. 

For More music videos by past Idols, check out the American Idol Video Station:

American Idol Video Station

2011 Season 10

Idol has reached its 10 year anniversary! The show has only one of its original judges (Randy Jackson), though it now includes the much adored Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman, Steve Tyler. Contestants have been allowed to submit auditions via Myspace, in addition to the anticipated in-person auditions. Check out Reality Rocks each

2010 Nothing

N.E.R.D. (No One Ever Really Dies) is Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo (The Neptunes) and Shay Hayley. They released their fourth and latest album Nothing in late 2010. Their first single, "Hot N' Fun" features Canadian recording artist Nelly Furtado. The production tables turned for "Hypnotize U"... it was produced by electronic duo Daft Punk.

Make sure to check out N.E.R.D.'s Best Of album, just recently released on January 11th!

2008 Seeing Sounds

N.E.R.D. ended their contract in 2005 with Virgin Records over a dispute. Reaching into their own pockets, Williams and Hugo worked together again as production duo The Neptunes teaming up with band Spymob for another reinventive album. The name for the album, Seeing Sounds, refers to the phenomenon of synthesthia, during which individuals are able to experience seeing sounds, hearing color, et cetera. 

2004 Fly Or Die

Released in 2004, Fly Or Die captured both the voices and musical talents of Pharrell, Chad and Shay. The

2010 100 Miles To Memphis

Sheryl Crow's seventh studio album, is a soul-influenced work that pays tribute to the roots of her musical style. Though her past albums have had a pop and rock feel, Crow's daring new record debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.

2008 Detours

Sheryl made her prolific return to roots rock with the politically and environmentally conscious album Detours. Bill Botrell, who originally produced her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club and played in the group of the same name, reunited with Crow as her producer once again. Crow called for musical artists to reawaken and concentrate their creative process on issues affecting the world at large.

2005 Wildflower

Wildflower earned Sheryl a couple of Grammy nomminations: Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal for the song "Good Is Good". The album received a spike in popularity with the release of its second single, "Always At Your Side", which featured a vocal duo with former Police bassman Sting.

2003 The

Nelly

From St. Louis novelty to Billboard charts #1, Nelly has produced a highly successful array of albums since 2000. Here's a tribute to his ambitious career.

2010- 5.0

Nelly's sixth studio album, released November 12, 2010. The new album includes singles "Just A Dream" and "Move That Body".

Just A Dream

Move That Body

2008- Brass Knuckles

 The fifth studio album, released September 2008, featuring Nelly's sweaty and chiseled figure on the cover.

Party People

Body On Me

One And Only

Stepped On My J'z

2004-Sweat and Suit

Nelly's third and fourth albums, Sweat and Suit, respectively, were released the same year. Why two albums in one year, you ask? Sweat is where Nelly laid down his hip-hop lines, while Suit took a more laid-back, R&B approach. Ultimately, Suit grew far more in popularity, breaking through 3,000,000 sales in the U.S. (3x Platinum) and reaching Billboard #1 album for the third time, although the Platinum status of Sweat was not exactly what you would