Today's Pick

James Durbin, the man who brought heavy metal to 'American Idol' last season, has released the new video for the rebel rocker's first original song "Stand Up," a perfect tune for smash mouth football, is a high energy, stadium-ready, fist-pumping anthem. The 23-year-old The Santa Cruz native gives his devotees a double treat, and there are two versions for "Stand Up". He rocks a leather jacket in one video, and trades his rocker attire with a football jersey in another clip.
So far on last season of American Idol, we have yet to find this year's answer to Durbin, who had pretty much everything one looks for in a finalist: miles of personality, a tear-jerking sob story, a sense of style and killer pipes. His new single, "Stand Up," is included on both his debut album "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster" and the Official Gameday NFL Music compilation, which explains why he decided to shoot two versions: one in his typical rock garb, the other featuring him and his band wearing football jerseys.
"I'm becoming a fan of the way the 49ers play, rather than just the name, the likeness or the image," he said. The track is quite a stadium-ready anthem. Not so much in that Durbin could and should fill arenas at this point, but that this song should be blasted through any and all kind of sports. It's adrenalized, fist-pumping rawk! "It's a pipe dream to be the anthem for the NFL," Durbin told ESPN.com. "'Stand Up' is just what it says, it's that song to get you pumped. It's the fun, get the f**k out of your seat kind of song."
The new video, featuring Durbin and his band performing in a warehouse type atmosphere, mixed with single shots of Durbin, suits the overall rough and tumble vibe of the song. There's lots of guitar shredding, hair whipping and of course that signature Durbin scream. Thunderous, chunky rhythms propel the song and Durbin’s got total control over that wild voice of his! Durbin attempts to rouse crowds. It's a big, bold, riff-fattened anthem, steered down the fast track by the Durbin's high pitched wail.

James Durbin, the 'American Idol' heavy metal castaway, has released the first video for his new single "Love Me Bad," the second track from his upcoming debut album, "Memories of a Beautiful Disaster," which which comes out next Tuesday. Don't make Durbin angry. On American Idol,' 22-year-old Durbin waved the flag for rock and it was that devotion to rock that helped him overcome his private struggles. The fiery video showing off Durbin performs the song with his band, surrounded by the smoldering remains, and his voice that allowed him to reach the final four in Season 10 of 'Idol.'
The fourth-place finisher in last season's 'American Idol' competition is a huge heavy metal fan, but "Love Me Bad" is more of a pop-rock song with a few other influences tossed in, like the grunge-sounding guitar intro. Durbin's large voice joins louder guitars on the hook, "In the middle of the night when I feel you by my side, well it's nothing but a memory." He also shows off his high-pitched wail a couple of times throughout the song. The full band chimes in behind Durbin's soaring chorus of longing and regret, creating a sonic boom of broken hearts.
"Love Me Bad" is about missing an old flame and wanting her back, but the video apparently catches Durbin in the middle of the 'anger' phase of recovery. The track is a bit formulaic, following the quiet verse/soaring chorus template established by successful acts like Daughtry. While the song doesn't take any chances, its huge vocals and polished production make it a worthwhile debut effort. That's the message of the "Love Me Bad" video, which finds the former "American Idol" contestant setting everything in sight on fire in a fit of rage.
The rocker races out to the desert in a convertible and turn the desert heat up a couple degrees as he sets fire to his memories in his new video. When he stops, he unloads a series of personal effects from the trunk that presumably used to belong to his ex. "We shot the video for 'Love Me Bad' in the Coyote dry lake bed out in the desert of Barstow, California," Durbin told Loudwire recently. "We were, like, 90 minutes away from Las Vegas and it was a day full of rock 'n' roll debauchery. I accidentally blew up a 1971 Dodge Charger by driving it too hard! The hood was on fire and there was smoke everywhere. It was insane."