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Site Updates
The O-Town Obsession will be updated regulary again very soon. Thanks for sticking with us. [discuss this]
O-Town Hits New York
On Friday, November 26th, O-Town will perform "These Are the
Days" on Good Morning America. O-Town's official street team is encouraging all loyal O-Town fans in the NYC area to "stop by GMA's Times Square studios to show your support for the guys". If you're not one of those lucky fans, you can still catch them that same day on GMA from 6 AM to 8 AM central time. [discuss this]
O-Town Depending On O2
It would appear that J Records recording group, O-Town, may be shut down rather soon. The group’s sophomore album 02, is drowning on the charts and Clive Davis is getting ready to make the cut. "It’s possible Clive will stick this one out. Their first single didn’t really match the success of the previous album but, radio is changing. I believe O-Town is worth another shot," says a source. Others claim now that Clive has absorbed J into RCA Music Group, cuts are more likely to fall toward O-Town, "He has no use for them. They had a great run with their debut album, due in part to ‘Making The Band?but TRL is just not interested anymore," says another source. The group was planning on shooting a second video during December but that has been put on hold. [discuss this]
"O2" Compared To "O-Town"
O-Town's second album, "O2", debuted at number 28. Their first album, "O-Town", debuted at number 5 in 2001 and sold 144,529 copies during the first week of release. "O2" sold 52,000 copies. [discuss this]
Consumers Want "O2"
As the holiday season bears down on us, record labels are pulling out their big guns, and of the high profile albums released last week, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott's "Under Construction" (Elektra) is the one fans are most likely to pick up, according to a Billboard.com poll. Of 17,818 votes, Elliott pulled in 29%, putting her project ahead of sets by Pearl Jam, TLC, O-Town, and Jay-Z, among others.
Pearl Jam's "Riot Act" (Epic) was second in the poll, with 23%, followed by TLC's "3D" (Arista) and O-Town's "02" (J), each with 13%. Jay-Z's "The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse" (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) nabbed 11% of the tally... [discuss this]
O2 Track List
The official track listing for "O2" is as follows:
"From the Damage", "These Are the Days", "I Only Dance With You", "Favorite Girl", "I Showed Her", "Been Around the World", "Make Her Say", "The Joint", "Suddenly", "Craving", "Over Easy", "Girl Like That", and "You Can't Lose Me". Don't forget to pick up a copy of "O2" tomorrow! Save money on your purchase by using an official coupon. [discuss this]
"These Are The Days" Stats
On Monday, TATD debuted on TRL at #9. Over the weekend, TATD jumped up 5 spots on the Rick Dees Top 40 countdown, to number 33. The previous week, it had debuted at #38. If you want to help O-Town and have a chance to win an autographed copy of "O2" and a phone call from O-Town, join O-Town's official street team and read message 192. Don't forget to vote for TATD on TRL. You can also help out by calling toll-free, 1.800.DIAL.MTV (1.800.342.5688) from 2 PM to 2:30 PM Central time. And, please don't forget to go out and pick up a copy...or two copies...of "O2". Read the entry below to find out about "official coupons" that you can use when buying "O2". [discuss this]
Official Coupon
You can pre-order O2 right now through this link for the advertised price without a coupon. If you plan to buy the CD in-store, you can print out the official coupon and present it during check-out by November 17th to receive $2 off the sale price or $4 off the regular price of O2. [discuss this]
American Idols, Or O-Town Knockoffs?
In response to American Idol producers' admitted intentional overexposure of the American Idol rejects, David Segal of The Washington Post writes, "it's enough to make you wonder if the whole show was rigged, an end-around for the unveiling of a brand new O-Town knockoff". [discuss this]
TATD TRL Premiere
On Wednesday, November 6th, O-Town will be in New York promoting for their new album that hits stores on November 12th. While in New York, they'll stop by TRL to premiere TATD. If you can't wait that long to see TATD, you can see it now in Windows Media or Real Video. Don't forget to stop by the message board to discuss all things O-Town. [discuss this]
O-Town Back With 'These Are The Days'
O-Town is back with a new sound and a new single titled "These Are The Days." The track was penned by Steve Kipner (Christina Aguilera) and Wayne Hector, the latter of whom co-wrote O-Town's hit ballad, "All Or Nothing."
O-Town singer Ashley Parker Angel told LAUNCH that "These Are The Days" is closer to being a rock song than it is to being a pop song. "It is more instrument-driven. There are flavors of rock," said Angel. "It's sort of a throwback. It's got sort of an '80s sound to it. It's very rock-driven."
Singer Jacob Underwood added that it took a little while for the group to feel comfortable with having "These Are The Days" as the first single from their upcoming album, O2. "I'll be honest--I don't think any of us were head over heels for it at the beginning. It took a couple of listens, but after we went in the studio and put down the vocals and took the time to sing the lyrics and get really compassionate about it, it was like a no-brainer. It set the mold for what people are about to see and hear from us for the rest of the year," he said. "It's kind of like our start."
O-Town's sophomore J Records album, O2 is due out November 12. [discuss this]
"We Fit Together" On TRL's Top 10
Vote for "We Fit Together" for MTV's "Favorite TRL Video of All Time". The top 10 retired TRL videos with the most online votes will be shown in a countdown on October 23rd at 2:30 PM CT. You can vote as many times as you want, so start voting now. [discuss this]
"These Are The Days" Video Shoot
While in their hotel on Monday, September 30th, O-Town sent an e-mail to their official street team to announce that they will begin shooting the video for TATD very shortly. They stated that by reading the script for TATD, "it looks like it could be the BEST OTOWN VIDEO YET!!!". They asked that we request TATD and thanked all of their loyal fans for sticking by them. [discuss this]
Billboard On O-Town and "O2"
Before there was "American Idol" there was "Making the Band," the reality television series that spawned the J Records group O-Town. The act has slated Nov. 12 as the release date for its sophomore album, "O2," with first single "These are the Days" heading to U.S. radio outlets Monday (Sept. 30) for airplay consideration.
Unlike the group's self-titled debut, its members -- Ashley Angel, Jacob Underwood, Trevor Penick, Dan Miller, and Erik-Michael Estrada -- contributed as songwriters on more than half of the tracks on "O2." Producers who helped to flesh out the sound of the new material include Nelly, Jamie Houston, Damon Sharpe, and Steve Kipner. "Since each of us came from such diverse influences, we have strengths that lie in different areas," Angel says, "and because of that we can pull off a lot of different music.
Released in February 2001, "O-Town" debuted at No. 5 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.6 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. [discuss this]
"These Are The Days" Stats
These Are The Days has been added to 3 more stations this week. Keep requesting! TATD officially hits airwaves nationwide on September 30th. Over at O-Town's official street team, they've started two request campaigns and contests. One of the contests gives fans the chance to make the official banner for the TATD request campaign. The winner and his/her banner will be featured on O-Town.com. In the other contest, the fan who posts the most messages to other non O-Town fans, will win a phone call from O-Town. To be eligible and to read the full details about the contests, you must be a member of O-Town's official street team. [discuss this]
These Are The Days
Listen to "These Are The Days". According to O-Town and their official street team, the video for TATD is to be made in a few weeks. Go to the lyrics section to sing along with O-Town, and don't forget to call every station in your area to request it!
[discuss this]
O-Town Remembers September 11
O-Town was one of the numerous acts scheduled to perform in New York City on the evening of September 11, 2001. The show at the Hammerstein Ballroom was postponed due to the terrorist attacks, and the members of O-Town watched the events that unfolded that day at the World Trade Center from their hotel just across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
Singer Dan Miller told LAUNCH that 9/11 was a day that the group will never forget. "It made us look at what we do and totally revaluate. I mean, we were very close and it was a very scary thing because we were so close and nobody knew what was going to happen," he said.
Jacob Underwood told LAUNCH that he still clearly recalls the images he saw from his hotel room window and on the local news channels that day. "Just the images of the people and just how desperate they were. I couldn't help but just think of all my family, and thinking that just waking up and having a family and people to call is just enough to be happy for. I'm watching these people and how desperate they were and how sad an incident that was, and I can't believe people had to live through that pain," he said. [discuss this]
O-Town: A Killer Lineup
KJ Bryant of Wild 104 says that "the best promotion was our 2001 PXY Summer Jam, which was my last! We had a killer lineup, including O-Town, Wyclef, Run DMC. It was the largest PXY event to date. The crowd was INCREDIBLE that night…and it was all about what we'd created!" [discuss this]
O2 Release Date Changed One "Final" Time
The O-Town Online Street Team asks all O-Town fans to use the "O2 banner" to spread the word about O-Town's official release date for O2. As of September 11th, the "final" date is November 12th. Please use the "O2 banner" everywhere that you can, and link it to o-town.com. The link to the "O2 banner" is
http://members.aol.com/JTeamsAndrea/o2button.jpg [discuss this]
O-Town To Tour To Promote O2
O-Town is currently scheduled to tour Southeast Asia from November 3rd to November 16th to promote O2. For a look at their U.S. tour schedule, see the appearances section. [discuss this]
These Are The Days
The O-Town Online Street Team released lyrics to what is supposed to be O-Town's first single. "These Are The Days" was written by Steve Kipner, David Frank, and Wayne Hector. Check the lyrics section for the full lyrics.
[discuss this]
O-Town Delights Crowd Of Mostly Teenage Girls
For those still trying to recover from "American Idol" overkill, the idea of a made-for-TV band might be a little too much to handle right now. But for a few hardy fans at the Utah State Fair on Saturday, O-Town is something worth screaming about.
O-Town, the pop-rock boy band result of ABC's reality talent show "Making the Band" two years ago, has managed so far to outlast its fifteen allotted minutes of fame. The band could have disappeared quickly, like the TV series that spawned it, but its self-titled debut sold 2 million copies and gave O-Town a chance to open for Britney Spears on tour.
This year, the five 20-something performers -- Ashley Angel, Dan Miller, Erik-Michael Estrada, Jacob Underwood and Trevor Penick -- have recorded a second album, "O2," due to hit stores Nov.12.
At the Fairpark on Saturday, a heavy rain shower cleared just in time for the concert's start, but apparently convinced a lot of people to stay home -- a fact not lost on the O-Town boys, who thanked the audience several times for braving the weather.
They also precisely tailored their performance to the small but high-energy crowd, mostly teenage girls who screamed with delight at the personalized attention. The biggest cheer Saturday came when blond surfer-type Ashley said, "You know, Trevor, Utah does have some of the hottest girls I've ever seen."
The band played songs from both albums, most of them about thwarted teenage love, with sounds ranging from traditional rock to smooth and syrupy.
O-Town doesn't quite have the thunder of the Backstreet Boys or the polish of 'Nsync, but its performance was more heartfelt.
Despite its manipulated beginnings, O-Town claims to be something more than just another boy band. On Saturday, they stretched their wings just enough to show that might be possible, as when Jacob did a credible Robert Plant impression in a tribute to Led Zeppelin. This concert didn't give much of an indication about the band's future. But you get the impression they've enjoyed the ride so far. [discuss this]
The State Fair Is Cool, Darn It
On the surface, the Kansas State Fair doesn't have a lot of sex appeal. Cows. Pigs. Quilts. A canned relish competition.
It's not exactly the stuff most party-aged people's Friday night dreams are made of.
But I'm here to say something that you might find shocking -- even unbelievable -- especially if you're under 30, have never lived on a farm and couldn't even venture a guess at what any of the 4-H's stand for.
The Kansas State Fair rocks.
It's OK if you don't believe me. When I started working as a reporter at the Wichita Eagle, I was disappointed to learn that State Fair coverage was among my responsibilities.
Having never been to the fair in all my Kansas life, I imagined long, hot days in Hutchinson with nothing to show for my suffering but corn dog-induced heartburn, an Oak Ridge Boys autograph and a lame-o story about pig races.
Who races pigs, anyway?
But that was then.
Five years later, I love the fair. It's a fun and worthwhile place to spend a day, an evening, even a week no matter your age, gender or position among young Wichita's social hierarchy.
It's not that the fair, unlike the rest of the commercial world, particularly tries to market itself to those of us in the coveted 18-34 age demographic.
In fact, the fair's general manager, Bill Ogg, told me last week that the fair doesn't do anything special to try to draw younger people. The fair's inherent variety, Ogg said, usually does the trick all on its own.
He's right. The fair's entertainment options always seem to hit the right note with our generation.
Even if you hate the sugar-pop phenomenon, you have to give the fair credit for bringing both 'N Sync (1998) and Britney Spears (1999) to Kansas just before they made it too big to ever consider returning.
This year, the fair's got boy band O-Town, straight off the reality-TV series "Making the Band," for the teen set and Nickelback for those who crave more musical edginess.
The fair's also got the state's best carnival rides, complete with a mega-Ferris wheel that would add romance to any date and at least one ride death-defying enough that anyone who tries it gets bragging rights for the whole year.
The fair's got free stuff, too. What college student couldn't use a complementary Tim Shallenburger tumbler or some free Butler County Community College pencils?
Even the fair food appeals to younger stomachs -- stomachs still sturdy enough to handle a greasy plate full of butterfly fries washed down with a milk shake and followed by a fried Twinkie. (Yes, they're actually serving those at this year's fair.)
The fair's also got kitsch to spare. Young people with a healthy appreciation for the unusual can remain entertained for hours at those darn pig races. Or gazing at the giant butter sculpture. Or marveling at the oddity of the state's biggest gourd.
Most of all, the fair is a good place to make good memories with friends. My friend Travis and I bonded over the Def Leppard concert a few years ago, surprised to learn we both still knew all the lyrics to "Pour Some Sugar on Me."
My friend Jaime and I bonded over a Midway game. She threw a Ping-Pong ball into a fishbowl, winning a goldfish, which she gave to me. We named him Ralph, bought him a deluxe fishbowl, and then shed a few tears 12 hours later when we found him floating.
Check out the fair this year -- you still have a week.
If you don't have any fun at all, don't blame me.
It just means you didn't try hard enough. [discuss this]
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