Thursday, February 26, 2009

American Idol - Chris Sligh Fans!

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Calling all American Idol & Chris Sligh fans! Would you like to win a copy of his latest album? Read on!

I enjoy watching American Idol and look forward to going to the newly opened American Idol experience at Disney World in a few weeks! I also enjoy seeing what happens to AI contestants after the show. And Chris Sligh is one that has definitely prospered!

As an AI fan, I know you will remember Chris Sligh from season 6. You know..... "Fro Patro!"

Chris Sligh is a genuine original, blessed with a golden voice, a style of songwriting that communicates even as it defies the commercial “rules,” and a world view that encompasses edgy humor, rebelliousness, and rocksolid faith.

All these elements breathe life into every moment of his new album, Running Back to You. From the soaring resonance of “In a Moment” to the sly rhyming of “Love is Raining Down,” Sligh manages to be funny, entertaining, provocative, inspirational, and maybe a little cheeky, all at the same time. His music is rich in character; his character overflows with music. His reverence is no less real for being at times irreverent.

From the beginning, Chris Sligh’s story didn’t conform to the norm. He was born into a musical but conservative family. His father was a gifted guitarist, singer, and songwriter who nonetheless banned non-classical music from his household. At night he would play recordings of works by Mozart or Beethoven as bedtime music; Chris, at age four or five, would listen, picking out and singing along with individual parts of the composition – maybe the second violin or lead viola – until finally falling asleep. Growing up in Germany, where his father worked as a chaplain among American troops, Chris was in his own words a “typical jock.” His enthusiasm for sports mirrored that of millions of guys his age back in the States – yet being far from home, he also developed a complex way of looking at life, in which elements of skepticism and worldliness tempered his church-based upbringing.

“When you look back at past leaders, both church and historical, they all had a rebellious streak. Obviously, I wouldn’t put myself in the same ballpark as those leaders, but I have always had that rebellious streak…I want to find truth and that makes me ask a lot of questions. In asking a lot of questions, you sometimes question authority. But I’d rather err on that side than be led blindly down the wrong road.”

Beginning his college study in pre-law at Pensacola Christian College in Florida, Sligh transferred in his sophomore year to Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, an equally fundamentalist institution but one that also offered more advanced opportunities for achieving his goals. “I wanted to major in music,” he says. “This freaked my parents out, because music is the most unmarketable degree there is. But I told them, ‘I don’t need jobs. I’m going to be a singer!’ And of course, that freaked them out royally.”

Despite having had no previous formal instruction, Sligh progressed rapidly in the school’s vocal performance program, to the point of understudying major baritone and tenor roles in student opera productions and being invited to audition both for The Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. At the same time, he pursued a parallel interest in theater, going beyond the Shakespeare roles he had tackled in high school to earn an A in playwriting and explore the Stanislavsky Method of stage performance.

All these efforts came to a sudden end in December of his senior year, when Sligh was expelled for attending a Christian rock concert, apparently as great a transgression at Bob Jones as joining a coven. Looking back, though, he believes now that it was the best thing that could have happened to him: “Probably a year before that, I’d realized that I’d wanted to leave,” Sligh says. “So getting kicked out was a blessing in disguise. And four months later, I recorded my first album.” That debut, Vessel, was a solo acoustic project, self-produced and self-released. Touring at first on his own, building a following through coffeehouse gigs and word of mouth, he stretched his musical and lyrical range.

Over the next few years he put several groups together, leading eventually to Half Past Forever, whose dynamic shows stirred major label interest and elevated Sligh toward a breakthrough into the mainstream pop/rock market.

But then, in 2006, Sligh auditioned for American Idol, more or less on a whim. To his surprise, his performance swept him onto a fast track to the final rounds. His willingness to take chances, his ironic wit, and his startlingly powerful vocals embedded him into the popular imagination. And his distinctive blend of talent, humor, confidence, and unpredictability led to an exchange with Simon Cowell that astonished and delighted the other judges, host Ryan Seacrest, and much of America.

“There had never been a smart aleck on American Idol,” Sligh says, chuckling at the memory of the night he stood up to the notoriously acerbic Idol judge. “They’d never had someone who would come back to Simon in a genuinely funny way. But I had no problem being who I am, no matter what good or bad consequences that would bring.

This moment, like a bravura theater performance, stemmed from both careful preparation and a willingness to seize the moment. “I’d done a ton of research,” Sligh says, chuckling at the memory of the night he stood up to the Idol judge. “They’d really never had someone come back at Simon, so I’m thinking, ‘I can sing as well as just about anybody, so I’m going to make this about being funny. There’s no way I’m going home before the top 24, because I’m going to make them need me.”

Though he didn’t win, Sligh did captivate and stir discussion among the millions of American Idol viewers. He also demonstrated that he knew how to do whatever needed to be done to turn a performance, whether through singing or spoken words, into a home run. “With a song, you have three minutes to cram in as much information as possible,” he observes. Sligh’s willingness to challenge convention and to take creative risks is evident throughout Running Back to You. Produced by Brown Bannister (Amy Grant, MercyMe, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Afters), with guest coproduction from renowned musicians Will Owsley and Stephen Leiweke the project will evoke other artists of passion and commitment, from Switchfoot to the Killers. In the end, though, the lesson is reaffirmed – namely, that Chris Sligh simultaneously touches the heart and rocks the house.

As a fellow Christian, I am excited to see what he has done & see where his career will take him!

Want it? Click here to visit Chris Sligh's site & shop.

CONTEST CLOSED

Win it!
I have a copy of Chris Sligh's new CD, "Running Back to You" to give to a lucky Gift Closet reader!
CONTEST CLOSED

1. Leave a comment here and be sure to include your email address. Winners will only be notified via email.
2. Want an extra entry? Visit one of the awesome sponsors on my right sidebar. Come back here and tell me the sponsor you visited and what your favorite product they offer is.
3. Contest ends Wednesday 3/4/09 at midnight & is open to US residents only.

Click here to shop with some awesome Mom-prenuers!

51 comments:

Unknown said...

my husband would LOVE it! we live in the same city as he grew up.
camagee07@hotmail.com

Gosfam said...

Anything music I would love. I do remember Chris from AI and would love his CD.

mattles22@yahoo.com

Melissa said...

I enjoyed him on AI and would love a copy!

msaunders72(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carol said...

Ooh, we love American Idol here. I also really enjoy Chris Sligh's music. He's great.

Thanks for the contest.

carol_busse@yahoo.com

Carol

Carol said...

Hi,
We watch AI as a family and really love it. Chris Sligh is great! Thanks for the contest.

carol_busse@yahoo.com

Carol

Carol said...

Oops! I didn't know my first comment was saved, so i wrote it again.

Anyway, I visited Cocoletta Company and really love the "Brown Girl Visor Beanie with Large Silk Flower Clip". Thanks again.

pmorse5 said...

I would love to win this cd!

The Merry Death said...

Cool giveaway!
meredycat*lycos*com

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I soooo need some new music!

Unknown said...

First off I am an American Idol fan and I loved Chris Sligh. I would love to have his CD.

Unknown said...

I visited Bracelet Stories and WOW I love that site and will be making a purchase soon. :D

Vetstadium said...

I thought he was good on Idol, I still think he could have a role as a comic on tv. He seemed smooth in his humor.

mverno said...

love to have this cd

wendy wallach said...

I remember him well. He was a good singer with a unique personality. I am glad he did not just fade back into the woodwork.

madamerkf at aol dot com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

would love this mrs.mommyyatgmail

Princess Golden Hair said...

oh what a great cd.

teechbiz at gmail dot com

Sheila Hickmon said...

Sounds great, please enter me!!

hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com

Sheila Hickmon said...

I visited Bracelet stories, and I love the Mothers Bracelets!

hawkgirl_16 {at} hotmail {dot} com

AuBien said...

Thank you for the awesome link! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Chris's voice! I downloaded ALL of his AI songs and purchased Take A Chance on Something Beautiful. I love it. I am so excited to learn Chris has a new album and I'd love to win it! Regardless - thank you for the info!

AuBien said...

I visited vistaprint.com. I didn't realize they had post it note holders. Love those things! I'd like to have one in every room for those forgetful days!

silverbele said...

I would love to own the CD

Melinda said...

I hear his music on the christian radio stations...love to win!
Thanks

Michelle said...

What a great giveaway. Often we don't hear about what former Idol contestants are doing if they are not one of the "big" names. It is great to see Chris has made an album. I would love to hear this CD.

Sunnyvale said...

How nice this would be

Ken said...

Please accept my entry. Thank you.

mmentor said...

what a neat site

Jessica Cote said...

I'd love to win this! I love his song Empty Me and am sure there are many other great songs on his cd!

jessicabcote@gmail.com

frozenman20 said...

please enter me in this great contest thanks

Becca said...

I absolutely loved him on idol. If I don't win this I will be buying it. Thanks!!!!! sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com

Becca said...

I don't know if my comments are being added cuz it doesn't say my comment will be added after blog owner approval. I would love to win this cd...I was routing for him until he got voted off!!! sbcashortie (at) hotmail (dot) com

ky2here said...

Awwwwww, gotta have it.

Heather S said...

I lvoe Chris! He's very talented with an amazing voice! Thanks

e-mail: hmahan @ yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I loved Chris on American Idol - I'm definitely interested in hearing the music on his album.

nic0ler917[at]aol[dot]com

Nickolay said...

He was my favorite contestant on the show. I am glad to see he moved on and is still working. great giveaway

jason@allworldautomotive.com

Anonymous said...

i really like his sound

mjharvey26 at yahoo dot com(please use this email, my aol account is acting up)

Joy

sachidewey said...

Sounds like a great album.

Candie L said...

I cannot believe you do not have more entries for this. I have been listening to his music on KLOVE recently. I think it is fantastic. THank you.

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Heather B said...

Fro Patro! Loved him on AI!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the opportunity! My email is dsalazar5@san.rr.com Thanks :)

Unknown said...

I would love to win this CD. garrettsambo@aol.com

Karen said...

I love all kinds of music.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

masonsgranny59 said...

great cd !ty 4 the entry:)

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I voted for him on Idol! Was heart broken when he got cut!

I love the fact that he has morals & stays true to his self & his music!

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I follow you!

zestywonderland@gmail.com

/\Heather/\ said...

I think it's amazing that this show brings out such talent...even if they don't win. Thanks for the chance to win.

Donna M. Clark said...

My sister would love this. She loved him when he was on American Idol. Thank you for having this giveaway.

lilyk said...

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

ms.lilyk@gmail.com

lilyk said...

I love the red leather Hibiscus necklace from Munique Fashions!

ms.lilyk@gmail.com

Unknown said...

great contest

phowell13 said...

great contest

typicalchick said...

Great contest! thank you!!!

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