Full disclosure: I am a huuuge Allison Iraheta fan.  It's obvious from the nickname I gave her in these parts (there's a reason why I call her Allie) and from the barely-known story of me almost welling up when she was eliminated from American Idol.  And I did say I'll be looking forward to her debut album, and I'll be buying it, which is a mean feat considering I haven't bought anything from an Idol graduate.

That said, I am slightly disappointed with the first single.

Allie's first single, "Friday I'll Be Over U", debuted today on PopEater, and you can listen to it there.  I'm seeing mixed reactions.  Some call it a very catchy tune, while some think it reminds them too much of Kelly Clarkson.

I call it both ways, really.  Kudos to everyone: it is a very catchy pop tune.  You know, the sort that makes you bounce without you knowing it, much like Kelly's latest, "I Do Not Hook Up".  It's good earworm material, something that will get stuck to your head once you've listened to it many times.  (And when the radio stations start playing it, I better prepare myself for many awkward "was I singing in the elevator?" moments.)

That aside, I was expecting something far more edgier.  Well, I should've expected a pop direction for her first album--I mean, a 17-year-old plus a rock sound equals an all-out Pink homage--I have a particular gripe with the way her voice sounds.  The one thing I love about Allie is her voice, a surprise considering her age.  (I was listening to Heart's "Alone" as remade on Glee, and I had goosebumps because I remembered how she nailed that song during Top 36.)  However, in this song, it's been mucked around a lot, that it sounds like--you guessed it--Kelly Clarkson.  I really thought, for a moment, I was listening to "I Do Not Hook Up".

Then again, as Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak points out, this song was produced by Max Martin, who's responsible for one of Kelly's biggest hits, "Since U Been Gone".  (See the similarity?)  With that in mind, I can forgive this a little bit.

In an interview with PopEater, Allie promises that there will be "some ballads and some upbeats, maybe you-can-dance-to songs" in her album, which I think is coming out this December.  Fingers crossed that won't be too produced, and she'll be given the breathing space to really shine.  I'm still sticking by my vow, though.  I'm still going to buy her album, whatever it takes.

Now, to the rest of the Idol fans, especially to the Glamberts: let's come together and demand that Adam Lambert give us a sneak peek at his songs.  We've heard from Kris and we've heard from Allie.  It's your turn, sir!








- Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of Jive Records)