Carly Smithson Finally Has A Hit

Posted Sat Feb 23, 2008 10:25pm PST by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks

Financing a music video with more windy special effects than the director's cut of Twister: $250,000

Marketing an artist who sells only 370 albums: $2.2 million

Getting on American Idol: PRICELESS

Hey all. As I'm sure you all know by now, back in 2001 Carly Hennessy--or Carly Smithson, or Carly Hennessmithson, whatever you want to call her--released a $250K video rather inaptly titled "I'm Gonna Blow Your Mind." (From the looks of it, $249,000 of that budget was spent on a wind machine.)

I say "inaptly" because, as many articles (including one in Reality Rocks) have reported, Carly only blew about 370 minds...if the appallingly not-so-high record sales for her album Ultimate High are any indication.

Ah, but what a difference a few years--and a suspicious, controversial placement on television's most popular talent competition--can make.

Outraged interest in the conspiracy-theory-sparking American Idol contestant (who was signed to Randy Jackson's old label, whose song "Just Missed The Train" also appeared on Kelly Clarkson's debut album, etc.) has caused the "I'm Gonna Blow Your Mind" video to skyrocket from spot #999,999 (or thereabouts) on the Yahoo! Music video chart all the way up to the #2 spot:

Yes, more people have probably seen Carly's six-year-old windblown video in the past week than did in 2001, back when MCA Records was squandering more than $2 million trying to get her on TRL.

So I guess, in a way, Carly's already won, huh?

 

28 Comments

1. Yahoo! Music User -
I'm the 1st to leave a post. Yahoo!

As for the article, insightful as always, and I'd agree in some ways Carly's already won.

2. Yahoo! Music User -
Her semipro status proved good for AI ratings, and now, also for her.

3. Yahoo! Music User -
Yeah, she's already won [enough].

Come on Michael Lee Johns & Jason Castro! Let's see the two of you in the Kodak Theatre come May.

'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.''The Dreadlocked one'.'MLJ.'

4. Yahoo! Music User -
She's gotten plenty of publicity out of this already. She does not need this show like some of the others.
Vote her off, make it seem "shocking" like it was when Daughtry got voted off, give her the record deal she's probably already been promised anyway .... and then clear the way for a TRULY deserving winner. Like Ramielle or Michael!

5. Yahoo! Music User -
Now will she just blow away!!!

6. Yahoo! Music User -
"Financing a music video with more windy special effects than the director's cut of Twister: $250,000

Marketing an artist who sells only 370 albums: $2.2 million

Getting on American Idol: PRICELESS".

LOL. You've got me hollering Parker. Enjoyed your spin on the latest Carly Smithson news.

7. Yahoo! Music User -
#4, you said it buddy. Way to go!!! Let's clear the way for a TRULY deserving winner.

8. Yahoo! Music User -
I hope this affects votes in favor of the other, more talented vocalists in the Top 20. As #4 (see above) aptly said: "She's gotten plenty of publicity out of this already." Enough is enough.

9. Yahoo! Music User -
Although she is not the only semipro who made the Top 24, the level of money MCA records invested in her puts her in a category all her own. For this reason, I see this latest news as one more reason why she should soon get cut. In my opinion, her vocals are not enough to warrant her staying around as we can see from her Idol performances thus far and the aforementioned video. I know her many fans will disagree, but this is honestly how I feel. In the final analysis, the voters will decide.

10. Yahoo! Music User -
turn off that damn wind machine!

i feel sorry for whoever had to sweep up that video set LOL

11. Yahoo! Music User -
She does not need this show like some of the others. Vote her off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12. Yahoo! Music User -
Just one more reason to hope Castro or Asia'h wins it.

13. Yahoo! Music User -
Who's Carly?*



*Yeah, I wish I weren't joking.

14. Yahoo! Music User -
I wish The Rising's (avec Michael Johns) "Cradle" was on the list. It would be there for the right reason! Because it's great.

15. Yahoo! Music User -
Just one more confirmation that her pro status is problematic.In fact her level of professionalism makes even the other semipros look like newbies.

16. Yahoo! Music User -
"I really, really wanna kiss you," goes the lame lyrics as her hair does the even lamer wind-blow thing. But luckily for Carly, because of her AI exposure, "Ultimate High" has now sold 2,400 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan. While I'm certainly no fan, I can sorta' see how she might appeal to some with her quintessential [Irish-]American story: Failure after failure, and now maybe success.

17. Yahoo! Music User -
I guess the most important question remains: "Will Carly Be the New American Idol?" I sure hope not.

18. Yahoo! Music User -
how could carly sell 2400 more copies of her album? i thought it wasn't even in print anymore. i thought the only way you could still get it was a 1-cent sale on ebay or amazon marketplace.

19. meangirl0108 -
asasasasas

20. Yahoo! Music User -
Another terrific blog. But you usually get more comments, especially when it comes to Idol news. I'm actually glad to see less comments/reaction than usual, simply because Carly's gotten so ("too") much attention already. I'm sick of hearing about her (though, of course, I wish no one - not Carly or any one else - harm or hate). I do think this is an interesting part of her Idol story though, and I'm very glad you brought it to our attention. You likely will get tons more responses to it. But compared to your blogs regarding Josiah; your predictions/picks for the men; and the recent Abdul story, the reaction to this news is far from quick and passionate. People generally do not appear to have strong feelings for Carly one way or another, and are not rushing to respond. Thanks to bloggers like you, the likes of Garrett Haley and the other Top 24/50 do get attention. Keep up the great work Lydnsey and please know you have many fans out here. One final thing, I think it is pretty obvious that morbid curiousity is likely the reason behind so many people logging in to the see Carly's video. I - for one - tried to look at it 3x, but alas, got bored each and every time. I really was trying to give her vocals and talents a fair shake. I wanted to see what the fury & fuss was all about. I don't get it. She's got talent, but she isn't the second-coming like so many protray. I hope all the contestants find success but she seems to be riding on her laurels. There may be good reason she didn't make it the first time 'round.
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