Idol Stalker - Watching American Idol

Simon Cowell’s Birthday Letter To Himself

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:28 AM PDT

Simon Cowell is about to turn 50 and to celebrate, he wrote a letter to his younger self (and LENGTHY letter) to reflect on his journey over the years. I actually think it's a pretty cute idea, to be honest, and I enjoyed reading about how difficult life was for him at one point.

It's incredible to get a glimpse into the humbler side of the most acerbic American Idol judge and, while I won't print the whole letter here (read the whole thing on the Daily Mail website) I will share some highlights:

Dear Simon,

First things first, how are you? On second thoughts, don’t answer that. I know exactly how you are feeling. It is the early Nineties and you are frustrated, exhausted and worried sick. Life at this moment is not great. Yet just a few years ago, you felt like you were the king of the world!

However, your dazzling reign turned out to be rather short-lived, to say the least. The record label you co-owned went bust and you lost everything – the big house, the car, everything.

So the sun went down on your shiny empire and you had to go back to living with Mum and Dad. That was, as I am sure you and I agree, humbling to say the least. Yet what is harder – much harder – is trying to claw your way back up the ladder…

Everyone knows you have lost your company, so you don’t exactly have a glowing reputation. You are depressed and your confidence is in shreds.

You feel that everyone is laughing at you behind your back. Do you want to know something, Simon? That’s because they are.

You have this idea about television. In some strange way, you vaguely grasp that at some point television is going to play an incredibly important role in your future.

And in an industry where everyone sells their records primarily through radio, you are just beginning to work out that if you sell them through television instead, there could be an incredible business. A very profitable business…

Next week, you are throwing a fabulous bash to celebrate your 50th birthday. Your great friend, Sir Philip Green, and his wife, Lady Tina, are organising it for you but, contrary to some reports, he is not paying for it. Simon, you would never let anyone pick up that tab. Are you kidding? Old habits die hard.

You are tremendously excited about this party. When you were a small boy, your parents lived next door to one of the bosses at Elstree film studios. You remember peering over the garden wall and seeing the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at a fabulous party.

And what you remember, most vividly, is that you wanted to be at that party. You wanted to join in. Well, this time the party is all yours. It is going to be a great night. So happy birthday!

Love Simon

Pretty sweet, isn't it? Make sure you visit the Daily Mail to read the whole thing. It's incredibly interesting!

Post from: Idol Stalker

David Archuleta Already Atop Christmas Album Pre-orders

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 12:15 AM PDT

A little while ago, I asked if any of you would be buying David Archuleta's upcoming Christmas From the Heart album and every single one of you said yes! I'm not surprised, therefore, that it's already at the top of the Amazon holiday charts!

The album features some traditional songs, including what's sure to be an incredible duet with Charice Pempengco, as well as the original song, "Melodies of Christmas" which David wrote with his father Jeff and two other writers.

Here's the track listing:

Joy To The World
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Come All Ye Faithful
Silent Night
First Noel
O Holy Night
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
I’ll Be Home for Christmas featuring Charice Pempengco
Pat a Pan
What a Child Is This
Riu Riu
Ave Maria
Melodies of Christmas

The album drops on October 13, 2009 but you still have time to pre-order it! In the meantime, watch this live performance of David singing "The Christmas Song"." Maybe he'll put it on the next Christmas album!