And now the real results begin...

The finale is long over and even the summer tour ended months ago. Now is where the real fun begins. Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze has released his first single "Sweet Serendipity" and his album "Live It Up" will be released in two weeks on November 16. This will start the true "results finale" where we see how well the contestants will do in the real music industry. I have listened to Lee's first released single and it is much more "pop" and radio friendly than I expected. It sounds like a good upbeat single for pop radio, but I have no idea if it will become a hit or not. That is really not up to even Lee that much any more, as it is to his label and how they market and push his music. I don't know if his whole album will sound this "pop" as compared to his two previous indie albums, but the different sound may help him and it may hurt him -- it could go either way. Since I am somebody who actually does not like most typical "pop" music anyway, I am definitely not a good judge of how well he might do. Personally, I preferred the more folksy, old fashioned sound that Crystal Bowersox favored, so I am also quite eagerly awaiting the December 14 release of her debut album titled "Farmer's Daughter" (after one of her previously released songs which will obviously be on the album.) If she comes out with such a pop friendly single like "Sweet Serendipity" I would truly be shocked. I am also curious what Casey James' album will sound like when it is released next year. He has been quite silent in the press since the tour ended (compared to Lee and Crystal), but being signed with BNA Records in Nashville, I am guessing he is going to be aiming more country. Being a tall blond Texan who can sing and play a guitar with ease and who has the looks to attract many female fans, I could see him being a big instant country success story, and may be the top seller out of the top three from Season 9. Plus, I find it interesting that his artist name on the BNA site is not simply "Casey James", but "The Casey James Band".  I wonder why he wants it named more like a band than a soloist? Another Season 9 who could easily be a big country music star in a few years is Aaron Kelly. I think he may have been too young to realistically win in 2010, but he has the potential to be big in a few years. Stick a cowboy hat on that boy and have him start working out with weights. He can be another country heartthrob in no time.  Siobhan Magnus is also a big wild card. Under the right guidance she might become huge as well, but I am not sure if sticking with her current band, Lunar Valve, is the best direction for her. It should be interesting to see how all these contestants succeed in their musical careers.