American Idol Profile: Who is Season 10 Finalist Paul McDonald?

Paul McDonald was selected as a top 11 finalist for Season 10 of "American Idol," the popular Fox Television musical contest and reality TV show, in 2011. As such, McDonald is listed for the 2011 "Idols Live" nationwide tour.

Standing tall and lean onstage with his scruffy blond beard, clad in his creatively embroidered and rhinestone-embedded rock star suits, McDonald quickly became a formidable force on "Idol" Season 10. Many fans were shocked to discover the "Idol" finalist had shelled out $4,500 for a flamboyant white floral suit, inspired by the designs of Nudie Cohn.

Bringing a unique voice to "Idol"

Singer-songwriter McDonald tried out for "Idol" in Nashville, singing Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti." The 26-year-old's appealingly raspy audition was not aired on the show, but The Grand Magnolias lead singer earned the famous golden ticket to Hollywood.

McDonald says he dreams of performing with The Rolling Stones. Having already performed at such venues as Austin's Antones, the Georgia Theater and New Orleans' Tipitina's, he confesses he would love to sing at the Hollywood Bowl, Nashville's Ryman, Los Angeles' Troubadour or even Madison Square Garden someday.

His favorite recording artists include Ryan Adams, Norah Jones, Gram Parsons, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. With no formal vocal training, McDonald points to a variety of artists and styles as his musical inspirations.

McDonald plays the banjo, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, piano and other instruments. Ever since Gibson Guitars presented all Top 11 finalists with custom guitars, he has found a new place to pluck.

His bright smile, reflecting his upbeat nature and love of performing, is perhaps due to calcium derived from his passion for macaroni and cheese, skim milk and strawberry Pop Tarts. A couple of years in orthodontic braces as a child probably didn't hurt, either.

Former dental student turned megawatt stage smile

Born August 29, 1984, in Huntsville, Alabama, William Paul McDonald is a true Southern boy. He grew up listening to a mix of country, folk, gospel, rap and R&B music. Graduating from Huntsville High School in 2002, McDonald enrolled at Auburn University, intending to study Biomedical Sciences and prepare for a career in pediatric dentistry.

By 2005, however, McDonald had formed the Hightide Blues, a Southern rock band later renamed as The Grand Magnolias. He dropped out of college in 2006, needing just two more classes for his degree, and moved to Nashville to record albums.

McDonald's band has toured with Sara Bareilles, The Zac Brown Band, JJ Grey, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Days Grace, T-Pain and other acts.

In the early weeks of "Idol," McDonald sang Stewart's "Maggie May," Ryan Adams' "Come Pick Me Up," Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" and The Miracles' "Tracks of My Tears."

Clearly, this boy has musical chops, but he also knows how to care for his teeth.


source:Linda Ann Nickerson, Yahoo! Contributor Network

American Idol's Paul McDonald Visit LIVE with Regis and Kelly

Paul McDonald kicked off his New York City media tour by visiting Live with Regis and Kelly where he sang an acoustic version of Smokey Robinson's “Tracks of My Tears” and answered questions about dating Twilight star Nikki Reed. Robert Pattinson, Nikki's Twilight co-star, was a guest on the show as well.

Miss seeing Paul McDonald on American Idol? Can't wait until summer to see him on the American Idols LIVE! Tour? Then get Paul's two pre-American Idol albums by his bands The Grand Magnolias and Hightide Blues

Paul sings “Tracks of My Tears” on Regis & Kelly

Paul McDonald visits Regis and Kelly and performs Smokey Robinson's hit “Tracks of My Tears".

Jacob Lusk, Paul McDonald, Stefano Langone and James Durbin sing “Sounds of Silence”/”Mrs Robinson”

American Idol Season 10 contestants Jacob Lusk, Paul McDonald, Stefano Langone and James Durbin sing Simon and Garfunkel's hit songs “Sounds of Silence” and ”Mrs Robinson” from the movie The Graduate.

American Idol's Haley Reinhart & James Durbin together make up 13 of the Top 25 most popular iTunes singles this year.

"We’re getting down to the wire, so this is about the time when we all start to speculate on how successful our beloved contestants will be when they are done with the show. The first step to achieving success, at least for most, is fairing well in the recording studio.

The great part about Idol is we get a glimpse into what these kids’ recordings will sound like, as each week, the contestants release full-studio versions of their live performances.

So, without further ado, here are American Idol Season 10’s most popular studio recordings on iTunes:

(NOTE: Rankings are based on the number of iTunes song ratings (as well as their star ratings) and the number of file-sharers to account for total popularity)

1. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals — Haley Reinhart (Top 5)

What an awesome song! Just like her live version, the song starts out a capella and builds from there. She also belts out a few more big notes than in the live version (since she was forced to cut some parts out), and I honestly believe those are the best parts of the studio bit. The Animals’ version is pretty epic, but Haley somehow tops it 46 years later.

2. “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John — Haley Reinhart (Top 11 Redux)

Haley haters: you should really check out her studio recordings. She growls a lot less! Just so you know: she doesn’t have to growl, she just does it because it adds so much character to her voice. I happen to love the growl, and even though it’s almost non-existent in this version, it’s still extremely catchy. As well as Haley sang this one live, her studio version might even be better. Her vocals are perfect and everything about it sounds really modern. It’s also quicker than Elton John’s.

3. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele — Haley Reinhart (Top 7)

It sure does bode well for Haley that she can take the #1 song in the country, put her own twist on it, and make it sound at least as good as the original. I liked that there is a lot more variety here than in Adele’s. Her phrasing is gorgeous (she seems to be the best at that), and the liberties she takes with the runs are quite impressive. If the radio has destroyed Adele’s song for you, give this one a go!

4. “The River” by Garth Brooks — Scotty McCreery (Top 13)

This is Scotty’s first studio recording, which explains why it is so high in the rankings. The first time you hear his studio voice, you can’t help but bop your head up and down with the song. Even if you don’t like country music, he has a much deeper, richer tone than any of the current pop-country stars we have today. His lower register is showcased brilliantly in this song.

5. “Uprising” by Muse — James Durbin (Top 7)

James was a bit clumsy with the notes in his live performance of this song, and those screams actually turned screechy. I enjoy a good on-key scream, but it was a bit much. In his studio version, his notes are obviously spot-on, and there is no overcooked scream at the end. Also, his lower register sounds infinitely better in the studio than it does on the stage, which really helped make this one sound superb. He left the song virtually unchanged from the >Muse version, but I still like it a lot.

6. “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney and Wings — James Durbin (Top 13)

The lower parts of the song sound really nice, but when he goes into his upper register, his voice sounds strikingly thin for a studio version. This song’s ranking is a bit inflated because of James’ “shock boot”. He sang this one for his swan song, so a lot of people came back and downloaded it.

7. “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by Carole King/The Shirelles – James Durbin (Top 6)

For the most part, James’ voice sounds excellent in the studio. He has showcased some weaknesses live, such as a thin lower register, wobbly notes, and screechiness, but you should definitely check out his recorded stuff. Since he doesn’t have to belt it out as much in-studio, his voice has a much crisper tone, and his lower register sounds really strong. There’s a lot more substance in his recording voice, which could help him land a good contract. One thing he has to do is lose the excessive screaming in his recordings, as that’s built more for live performances, not for my iPod’s ear buds.

8. “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen/Celine Dion— Pia Toscano (Top 13)

Oh. My. God. This is just unreal. Everyone knows that Pia has an amazing live voice, but she is just as good here. There’s a pureness about it that is so pleasing. Her high notes in this bit are incredible. The power notes are, of course, spectacular, but her soft highs are even more enjoyable. Great build up to the finish. I can see why it cracked the Top 10. Celine Dion has a new rival.

9. “Can I Trust You With My Heart” by Travis Tritt — Scotty McCreery (Top 12)

Meh. This one puts me to sleep. It feels like he is singing the same three notes over and over again. That’s the thing about Scotty – he has such a limited range. The first couple of times you hear him, he sounds outstanding, but that fondness wears out rather quickly. How else do you explain that after his FIRST TWO studio recordings, none of his songs appear on this list until #24? And that #24 song is “Gone” – way out of the box for Scotty. Even though he can stay in his comfort zone right now without risk of penalty, he can’t do that if he wants to be a post-Idol success. He needs to keep things fresh; hopefully he realizes that.

10. “Blue” written for Patsy Cline; by LeAnn Rimes — Haley Reinhart (Top 13)

This is going to fluster the Scotty/Lauren fans, but some may argue that Haley Reinhart owns the best Country performance on the American Idol stage this year, with this LeAnn Rimes song. The recorded version isn’t quite as strong as her live performance, but it’s still great. Some people don’t appreciate the yodel, but it’s very difficult to do. You’re moving in and out of falsetto with each note, so making smooth transitions and staying on pitch can be a nightmare. But this was done perfectly. Believe it or not, this is the first recorded song I downloaded this season, and apparently I wasn’t the only one.

11. “With a Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles — Casey Abrams (Top 13)

12. “Your Song” by Elton John; in the movie Moulin Rouge — Casey Abrams (Top 11 Redux)

13. “I (Who Have Nothing)” by Ben E. King/Tom Jones/Shirley Bassey — Haley Reinhart (Top 4)

14. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles — James Durbin (Top 9)

15. “I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi — James Durbin (Top 12)

16. “River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner — Pia Toscano (Top 9)

17. “Living For the City” by Stevie Wonder — James Durbin (Top 11)

18. “Harder to Breathe” by Maroon 5 — Casey Abrams (Top 7)

19. “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus — Lauren Alaina (Top 8

20. “Come Pick Me Up” by Ryan Adams — Paul McDonald (Top 13)

21. “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin — Haley Reinhart (Top 9)

22. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival — Casey Abrams (Top 9)

23. “You and I” by Lady Gaga — Haley Reinhart (Top 5)

24. “Gone” by Montgomery Gentry — Scotty McCreery (Top 5)

25. “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John — Lauren Alaina (Top 11 Redux)

source:idolheaded

American Idol's Paul McDonald Soars to New Heights with "Rocket Man" on Top 11 Revived

Paul McDonald, American Idol Season 10's 'Man with the Bright White Smile' performs "Rocket Man." Idol contestants take on classics by the legendary Sir Elton John in this week's 'Top 11 Revived' Show.

"My band (Hightide Blues) covered this song years ago," said Paul, adding, "and it was a disaster." Hmmm...I'm torn on this one. First, the tweaky suit. We've seen it already on Idol, and in old videos of his band. Paul, you have stylists and designers throwing free clothes at you now! My advice: Take advantage!!! I liked Paul's arrangement and the quiet, intimate vocals, but that ending just freaked me out. The whisper was creepy. Randy Jackson said, "We just got some quiet comfort from Paul. There were a couple of things that were a little pitchy, but when you get into that tender zone, that quiet, that soft voice it's very infectious. But you’re holding back."

Jennifer Lopez interrupted to say, "I wonder if you're holding back in a way? There’s a little bit more to your voice than you even know. And I think you haven't gone there." Steven Tyler, with his usual dry wit asked, "So have you been watering that suit? Cuz there's a lot more flowers on it this time. I love your voice. You always do a little something. When you start singing, hitting every note, that's the day I'm not gonna like you anymore. I like the character where you sometimes hit a note and sometimes you don’t. That's my cupa tea." So Steven Tyler like off-key singers. Who knew?

Getting to Know American Idol's Paul McDonald

American Idol Season 10's singer-songwriter Paul McDonald is 26 and comes from Huntsville, Alabama, and currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where he auditioned. Paul received his 'Golden Ticket' to compete in Hollywood by singing an original song, "American Dreams".

Paul ~ with his huge, bright white smile ~ is stealing hearts across America! Not only is his smile infectious, his sexy crooning reminds many of a young Rod Stewart. With his colorful taste in clothing and wild dance moves, Paul is one of the most unique and charismatic of the Season 10 Idol contestants.

Steven Tyler has always liked Paul's individual style, saying, “You define a cool dude in a loose mood. Your swagger up there is way cool. You’re very distinctive. And I like that!" Steven also said, "I love the character and the rasp in your voice. I love that character in you.” Jennifer Lopez raved, “You have real character in the way you move too. Your smile lights up the whole place. You bring joy to the world. You're the most well-rounded, seasoned performer.” And Randy Jackson said, “One of the things I love about you…you were so unique and different. I’m glad that Idol can embrace this kind of singer…quirky and different.”

Paul McDonald's favorite quote comes from Bob Dylan: "A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between he does what he wants to do." Paul's musical influences are all over the place! They include Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel and Rap!


BIOGRAPHY
American Idol's Paul McDonald (born William Paul McDonald) was born on August 29th 1984. Since 2005, Paul has been the lead singer of the band Hightide Blues, which was renamed The Grand Magnolias in 2010.

Hightide Blues

In the spring of 2005, Paul McDonald and fellow student Jonathan Pears began writing songs together, forming the band Hightide Blues. Adding two other members, Phillip Gayle and Scott Rollins, they began touring small clubs around the state of Alabama. In 2006, McDonald put his education on hold to pursue a full-time career in music. After releasing a limited edition self-titled EP (Hightide Blues) in 2007, the band released a self-produced album, Love Come Easy in 2008. This album was recorded in an old boarding school turned recording studio called the House of David in Nashville, Tennessee. Hightide Blues saw some radio play from the songs "Dreamin' Alone" and "Let It Roll". Also included was a song called "Dancing with the Angels (Meg's Song)". Paul McDonald wrote this song the night before the funeral of a very close friend to the band, Meg Ingram, who passed away from cancer at the age of 21. The band performs annually at the Meg Ingram Memorial Scholarship benefit concert in Huntsville, Alabama.

Hightide Blues has also had success on the Internet, winning multiple awards on OurStage.com, including over fifteen Top 10 placements, as well as reaching #2 on Best of Pop for 2011. From 2007-2010, the band continued touring around the country, performing with musicians such as the Zac Brown Band, Sarah Barellis, and JJ Grey and Mofro. Hightide Blues also played festivals such as the Bonnaroo Music Festival, the Florida Music Festival, the Hangout Festival, and the Lynyrd Skynrd Simple Man Cruise. Between 2007-2010, Hightide Blues averaged around 150-200 shows per year.

The Grand Magnolias

In August 2010, Paul McDonald and his band members moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and launched a campaign to let their fans choose a new name for the band. The group's first album under its new name, entitled The Grand Magnolias, was released in 2011. The songs were written by McDonald and band member Jonathan Pears and produced by Dan Hannon and Ken Coomer. The album has seen a boost in sales since Paul McDonald's appearance on American Idol, and it reached #16 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and had sold 4,000 copies by March 23, 2011.

Paul McDonald Sings "Tracks of My Tears" on the American Idol Top 11 Show

American Idol Season 10's Paul McDonald performs “Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles on the Top 11 Show. This weeks theme was 'Songs of Motown'. "Motown is good times," says Paul with a grin, adding, "I grew up listening to a whole lot of Motown music. It's the kind of music that makes you wanna move. It's good for your soul kinda music."

Paul said he couldn't sing "Tracks of My Tears" like Smokey, "so we kinda turned it into a kind of vibe that's more up my alley," and made it a Folk Rock version. Paul takes the stage with an acoustic guitar, but learning the chords of a new song may have been the reason he forgot the words to the song... But Paul kept his cool and showed what a 'Cool Cat' he is.

Randy Jackson liked that Paul wasn't dancing around, but was still "doin' his thing. You’ve got a distinctive, different kind of voice. You're so unique, the tone is so unique. I was a little worried when it started, cuz I was like, "Where's this gonna go?" But you kinda took it to a cool kinda Paul, kinda Rod Stewart>-y kinda place. When you sing tender..oh my God dude. It’s so cool. Bring more of that out." Steven Tyler loves Paul because they're alike ~ eccentric characters. Steven praised, "Very different, like Dylan, like Willie Nelson. Your voice is that different. And it's beautiful in that sense. I love it. I love what you did with the guitar today. Just great." Jennifer Lopez raved, "You're the most rounded, seasoned performer we have. You’re kinda the complete package. All you need is a good producer, and there you go."

America Idol's Paul McDonald Sings "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues"

America Idol Season 10's Paul McDonald Sings "I Guess That's Why They call It the Blues" by Elton John on the Top 12 show. Idol contestants got to choose any song from their birth year. Paul was born in 1984. "Some killer tunes came out that year," says Paul.


"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is a song by British singer Elton John featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The song received largely favourable reviews, with Bill Janovitz of Allmusic declaring the song "likely to stand the test of time as a standard." It was one of Elton John's most-played songs on the radio in the 1980's. It is also quite well known for being played at Chelsea FC's home matches (soccer).

The song appeared on the album Too Low for Zero. Released as a single in April 1983, the song reached #5 on the UK chart and #4 in the US chart six months later. The music video features two young lovers that are separated when he leaves for military training, and then they are finally reunited at the end of the song. It was filmed in the The Rivoli Ballroom in London and it is one of the very few times Elton John was filmed or videotaped without wearing his trademark eyeglasses.