the 31 best of 2007 – 28: Katharine McPhee – Katharine McPhee

Before I get to talking about the lovely Katharine McPhee, I have a question; would you guys that are following my list like me to add or subtract anything from these posts? I could add a song or two, or something like that. Just give me some feedback! We are a few entries in, and I want to see what people think; good or bad, let me know!

Alright, now to Katharine’s self titled CD, which comes in at number 28 on my best of 2007 list!

Like many other Americans, I have always found myself somehow sucked into the spectacle that is American Idol, and every year, I say that I won’t do it again; either because of the results, or the sheer absurdity of the competition itself. However, the year that Katharine McPheewas on the show, I was reeled in, not only by her beauty, but her amazing singing ability. The girl definitely has a voice, and until they handed it to Taylor, I really thought she might go all of the way, and win the competition; because she really was the best singer on the show.

Even though Katharine didn’t win AI, which I think may have been a benefit for her, she still hit the top two spots, which guarantees a record contract. However, after listening to her debut album, I have to think that since she came in second, she wasn’t obligated to make that “AI-winner record”. This is substantiated again, by what she released, and I must say, that I am glad she didn’t win; it is a great record. The songs are catchy, well written, and clearly showcase her beautiful voice and great singing ability. If you like pop music, you will really like this CD, because not only does she have a voice for pop, but they teamed her up with great producers and writers that were able to capture her talent.

There are many songs on the record that have a great upbeat feel, which is refreshing, since they tend to force these idols to sing ballad after sappy ballad. While there are definitely some ballads there, I am glad to see that they let her have a little fun. Some of the songs are just down right silly (Open Toes), but they work for Katharine, because she really convinces you that she is just a girl out to have some fun during a night out; mostly because she IS a girl that wants to have fun on a night out! There’s a reason many of these more uptempo songs work; they snagged great producers, such as Timbaland’s amazing protege Danja to work on them. As a friend of mine said about a few of those songs, “you don’t want to like them, but you can’t help it, because dammit, they ARE fun, and they do get you moving!”. It is so true, and it really is pretty consistent throughout her entire debut. Given what is going on throughout the rest of the world with regards to pop music, I have to say it: America doesn’t have a great track record for doing proper pop. Fortunately for us, Katharine McPhee’s debut is a huge check in the plus column of what good pop should be.

Finally, I must say again, that Katharine’s debut record really speaks highly of coming in second on AI; because (as evidenced by her record) you may not be trapped by that “tried and true” formula that they force on every idol winner. With her release, she has a record that is filled to the brim with radio ready singles, and even a few truly great songs that are ready for the club. I have loved her voice from the moment I heard her sing, and thanks to a brilliant album, I can enjoy it over and over again on my ipod. It is great to see a truly talented singer utilized for her ability; this truly is a great pop record, and I am very happy to have found it.

Favorite songs from Katharine McPhee’s self titled debut:
Love Story (one of the best singles of the year IMHO), Not UR Girl, Open Toes, Over It, and Home. (clicky-clicky linky-linky for youtube videos)

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