We promised you yesterday that we’d be posting a video of American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle tearing up EW.com HQ with a rousing performance of her new single, "It’s Your Love." So without further ado, press play below for the latter half of our interview (in which Mindy Doo discusses her recent charity work and the special guest drummer who put a little extra oomph into her debut disc) and for the chance to see a powerhouse vocalist turn the hallway between our mail slots and our printer into a bona fide concert space. A daunting task, but Ms. Doolittle makes it look easy.
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Thank you! I went to her website and listened to the samples of all of the songs. I can’t wait to buy this CD!!!! Is Idol going to have her on this year? I really hope they do!
Damn. That was awesome. I forgot how good she was. Got some chills when she started riffing at the end of the song. As far as I can tell, she’s the greatest singer ever discovered on American Idol. Defintely will check out her album.
Idol needs to invite Melinda back to mentor this season. Or at least sing. None of the talent (that I’ve seen so far) holds a candle to her (though I do think that blonde girl, Deanna, has real potential).
Superb as always. Thanks for posting this. I will certainly buy the CD.
Wow- what a brilliant singer and such a great song. But the true genius at work here is her singing it while EW staffers casually walk around in the background, and a piece of garbage by the can. Love love love I-T!!!
I always thought she should have won that year, hands down. She is fantastic!
I agree with Lynny – she was my fave that year….I think she’s amazing…
geez that was really weak.
Melinda alway super on a interviews and gorgeous alway’s. Thanks to share the love we have for Melinda. Love it! Backups 741#
It wasn’t her vocals that was weak..It was the sound system. I had to put headphones on to hear it better. People that seen her on idol KNOW she’s a phenomenal performer
Melinda Doolittle = “Class Act”
Just not my style. The girl has pipes though.
American Idol lost so many millions of people last week because of shows that started. They are up against lost on Wednesday nights also. The ratings are just horrible from what my understanding is this year. Starting to get old?
Melinda’s voice is absolutely amazing. I cannot wait for my CD’s to arrive!!
Wow! She’s wonderful! Thank you, Slezak! (!!!)
Our Girl is giving us her all and she’s not even on a concert stage! No short-changing her audience (regardless of how many there are) or lip-synching, either. Be forewarned, you fix-it-with-Pro Tools singers: the W-O-M-A-N is Coming Back To You!
Absolutely stellar! Can’t wait for my pre-ordered CD to arrive. I agree with M. Slezak that maybe Idol should consider asking Melinda to give pointers to contestants on vocal control and phrasing.
Go Melinda! Go Slezak!
i just can’t get over the idea of walking to the copy machine to pick something up, and seeing melinda doolittle singing in the hallway. i would die. die die die!
I found her personality more appealing here than I did on Idol, but I still don’t enjoy her singing at all.
Miss Mel was my favorite singer in her season of “Idol” and I love to hear her blow, even if the music itself isn’t really my thing. But you’ve hit it on the head, Slezak: the whole album actually SOUNDS like it’s from the 60’s, whereas Adele and Winehouse throwback but still remain current. Melinda deserves success, but I don’t know that this album is gonna do it for her.
Ellipsian; I don’t agree at all. Retro is retro, no matter how you try to dish it up. Melinda just does retro more authentically than anyone around, including Adele, Joss Stone and Winehouse.
I’m sorry, but if Melinda were white, 22 years old and British, and came out singing “It’s Your Love” like she did on Idolatory, people would be all over her like a rash, saying she’s the next big thing in music. Because it’s okay to sound “retro”, as long as you come in the correct package. I’ve got Duffy’s album, and while it’s got some catchy numbers on it, it’s about as old fashioned as you can get (not that I mind). It might as well be a Dusty Springfield album from 1966. But Duffy is blonde and British, so I guess the rules don’t apply.
Anyway, I suspect Melinda will do fairly well with this album. Her reviews are excellent and she’s been in the top 5 on Amazon R&B sales chart for the last week, so there are people interested in her take on the retro soul sound.
I love that clip with Melinda Doolittle singing It’s Your Love! She still sounds great! I love her voice and can’t wait to hear her album! Very strong vocals that she has! She really gets into the lyrics and words of the song!
Her new CD ROCKS!! Melinda was my favorite @ the time but I think not winning was the best thing for her. She could not have made this as an Idol winner.
Spring Tour:
Former American Idol Contestant, Melinda Doolittle.
Melinda Doolittle (Season 6), Chikezie
(Season 7), Gina Glocksen (Season 6) and Phil Stacey (Season 6) will be
entertaining the masses once again as they embark on a Spring Tour which
launches March 15th in Fort Pierce, FL and will make stops in 14 cities across the U.S.
The “American Stars in Concert: Spring Break” tour dates and cities are at Melinda Doolittle official website http://www.melindadoolittle.com or fan website http://www.melindasbackups.com
she may be coming near you. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear her sing live!
Melinda Doolittle in her first-ever Nightclub engagement
November 17-21, New York City
FEINSTEIN’S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed “Best of New York” by New York Magazine, will debut MELINDA DOOLITTLE in her first-ever nightclub engagement from November 17 – 21. The “American Idol” finalist will perform an intimate evening of jazz standards, pop hits and Broadway classics, in addition to selections from her CD, Coming Back To You. All shows are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). For ticket reservations and club information, please call (212) 339-4095 or visit feinsteinsatloewsregency.com and TicketWeb.com.