Sideshow: Singing sensation: Obama

January 31, 2012|By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer
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  • Since the president showed off his pipes, the song's sales have soared and he's been asked to do an encore on "American Idol."
Since the president showed off his pipes, the song's sales have soared and he's… (HARAZ N. GHANBARI / Associated…)
  • Since the president showed off his pipes, the song's sales have soared and he's been asked to do an encore on "American Idol." (HARAZ N. GHANBARI / Associated…)
  • Tony Luke got a TV shout-out for his act as a would-be Eagle. (See "SAG smiles on Tony Luke.")

Is President Obama poised to become the next American Idol-packaged musical sensation? Obama proved his warbling prowess when he surprised guests at a New York fund-raiser on Jan. 19 by breaking into a rendition of Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together."

Obama has inspired a nation to take another listen: Billboard says sales of the 1971 tune increased 490 percent last week with 16,000 downloads, while a YouTube clip of Obama's performance has drawn more than 4 mil hits. The president's aides have been quick to capitalize on the news: You can download an Obama/Al Green ringtone from the Obama campaign website. And USAToday.com says a cadre of congressional Democrats have pressed a CD of their own versions, which they gave their leader on Friday.

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Now American Idol czar Nigel Lythgoe wants a piece.

Nigel on Monday tweeted an invite, asking Obama "on to American Idol this Season for a duet with Al Green."

The Demi Moore files

Demi Moore, 49, has left the hospital where she was treated last week for a mysterious ailment allegedly caused by smoking some stuff. But the G.I. Jane star ain't back home. E! News says she's entered "spiritual counseling" while her ex, Bruce Willis, takes care of their kids, Tallulah and Rumer.

Rude Music: Newt Gingrich a thief

Has GOP hopeful Newt Gingrich done a bad, bad thing by rocking out at his campaign stops to the '82 single "Eye of the Tiger," which was used to such moving effect in Sylvester Stallone's Rocky III?

TMZ says Rude Music Inc., which owns the rights to Survivor's stirring American rock anthem, filed a lawsuit Monday against Gingrich, claiming the politician never secured rights to the song.

Gingrich has yet to comment.

Parenting classes for Halle, Gabriel

Halle Berry and ex-beau Gabriel Aubrey were due in court Monday in their never-ending custody battle over their 3-year-old daughter, Nahla. Halle is trying to strip Gabriel of visitation rights after Nahla's nanny claimed Gabriel pushed her in anger while Nahla was in her arms. The judge's decision has yet to be announced.

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