Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Jim Verraros
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
====''Rollercoaster''==== {{see also|Rollercoaster (Jim Verraros album)}} According to ChicagoPride.com, Verraros pitched ''Unsaid and Understood'' to "every major label in the U.S. two or three times" without success.<ref name="Metzke">{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/3362481|author=Ross Von Metzke|title=Jim Verraros|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=November 29, 2005|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070710/http://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/3362481|url-status=dead}}</ref> Verraros then pursued a record deal in the United Kingdom, hoping that British labels would be more willing to work with an openly gay artist, although nothing materialized from this.<ref name="Metzke"/> New York-based indie label [[Koch Records]] began communicating with Verraros over the summer of 2004 about the possibility of featuring him on a compilation album of songs by ''American Idol'' finalists. Verraros sent Koch Records a [[demo tape]] and was signed to the label within a week.<ref name="Finding Fame"/><ref name="Metzke"/><ref name="Makeover">{{cite news|author=Don Kaplan|title=Extreme Makeover β First-Year Idols New Look|work=New York Post|date=April 6, 2005}}</ref><ref name="Megastar">{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2005/05/26/megastar-status-eludes-even-idols/|author1=Stephen Kiehl|author2=Abigail Tucker|title=Megastar status eludes even Idols|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=May 26, 2005|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref> ''Unsaid and Understood'' was then revamped and released through Koch Records as ''[[Rollercoaster (Jim Verraros album)|Rollercoaster]]'' on April 26, 2005.<ref name="Sing out"/><ref name="Five">{{cite web|url=http://www.nwherald.com/2010/08/26/five-on-the-side-our-top-5-local-reality-show-contestants/avh05f6/|title=Five on the Side: Our top 5 local reality show contestants|work=[[Northwest Herald]]|date=August 26, 2010|access-date=April 13, 2018|archive-date=April 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414010908/http://www.nwherald.com/2010/08/26/five-on-the-side-our-top-5-local-reality-show-contestants/avh05f6/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Constantine's Pre-'Idol' Band Gets Record Deal|work=Zap2It|date=April 22, 2005}}</ref><ref name="AllMusic Overview">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rollercoaster-mw0000342222|title=Jim Verraros β ''Rollercoaster'' β Overview|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>{{efn|An article for ChicagoPride.com suggested that the album was initially scheduled for a March release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/127|author=Jason Paul|title=B Scene: QE2 Unmasked|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=January 16, 2005|access-date=April 28, 2018|archive-date=April 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429024653/http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/127|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} This was marketed as Verraros' official debut.<ref name="Pride DC"/><ref name="Joins ChicagoPride"/> The album recycles several songs from ''Unsaid and Understood'', in addition to featuring new material.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.lib.rochester.edu/IN/RBSCP/Databases/Attachments/Closet/2006/2006_February.pdf|author=Sherrill Fulghum|title=CD Reviews: The East Village Opera Company|date=February 2006|magazine=[[The Empty Closet]]|publisher=Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley|page=10 B}}</ref> {{quote box|width=33%|'Idol' sort of cranks out these performers and then they become sort of forgettable, so I knew I had to find a way to stand out. I decided to do the whole rock star thing with makeup and mascara and sexed up my image a bit. I needed to grow up and change β and change is good.|source= βJim Verraros on his image change after ''American Idol''.<ref name="Atlantaboy"/>}} Several publications noted that Verraros went through a significant image change between his time on ''American Idol'' and the release of ''Rollercoaster''. Verraros explained that he had "come into [himself]" during that time,<ref name="Finding Fame"/> having improved his figure and become more involved within the [[LGBT community]]. ''The Advocate'' wrote that on ''American Idol'', Verraros had been "a slightly geeky kid with a stiff stance...[and] a preppy look [that] included dark- rimmed glasses, spiky hair and a [[stone-washed]] [[jeans jacket]]" β in contrast, ''The Advocate'' wrote, Verraros possessed "bad-boy good looks" and "long rock-star hair" when ''Rollercoaster'' was released.<ref name="Finding Fame"/> The ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' added that the "shaggy dark cut, [[eye makeup]] and slick threads" that Verraros had adopted at the time gave him sex appeal.<ref name="Houston">{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies/article/Jim-Verraros-turns-his-Idol-time-into-new-movie-1940130.php|author=Joey Guerra|title=Jim Verraros turns his Idol time into new movie, album|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=May 12, 2005|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> Verraros himself assessed his look on ''American Idol'' as having been "[very] Midwestern" β he said that he was wanting to distance himself from associations with the series<ref name="Makeover"/> and that he was excited "to see how people would react to such a crazy change".<ref name="Makeover"/> A release party for ''Rollercoaster'' was held on April 27, 2005, at the [[Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)|Roxy Theatre]] in Hollywood.<ref name="Pride DC"/><ref name="Finding Fame"/> The date was chosen to follow ''Eating Out''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Spring premiere in US theaters.<ref name="Out Review">{{cite magazine|date=June 2005|title=Music β Jim Verraros β Rollercoaster|magazine=Out|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dGIEAAAAMBAJ&q=verraros&pg=PA78|location=Los Angeles|publisher=Here Publishing|page=78}}</ref> {{quote box|width=33%|People assume that once you make it to the top ten, [you're] given these amazing opportunities...But we were the guinea pigs. Then it [''American Idol''] blew up and became this huge phenomenon. Now, as a solo artist, I would kill for that kind of exposure again.|source= βJim Verraros in November 2005.<ref name="Metzke"/>}} "You Turn It On" was released as ''Rollercoaster''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s first single.<ref name="Finding Fame"/><ref name="Houston"/> The song debuted at number forty-eight on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Dance Club Songs|Dance Club Play Chart]],<ref name="Pride DC"/> where it spent eleven weeks,<ref name="Billboard Chart">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/jim-verraros/chart-history/dsi/|title=Jim Verraros You Turn It On Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 5, 2018}}</ref> peaking in early June at number twenty-one.<ref name="Billboard Chart"/><ref name="Megastar"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/american-idol-finalists-make-chart-debut-wbna8077178|title='American Idol' finalists make chart debut|work=[[Today.com]]|date=June 2, 2005|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Catching Up">{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/gallery/american-idol-catching-13-former-contestants/jim-verraros/#jim-verraros|author=Sandra Gonzalez|title='American Idol': Catching up With 13 Former Contestants!|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 22, 2010|access-date=May 1, 2018|archive-date=May 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502064823/http://ew.com/gallery/american-idol-catching-13-former-contestants/jim-verraros/#jim-verraros|url-status=dead}}</ref> "You're Getting Crazy (Estas Enloqueciendo)" was released in October as the album's second single.<ref name="Metzke"/><ref name="Billboard Crazy">{{cite magazine|date=October 22, 2005|title=Singles β Dance|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ERUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22You+Turn+IT+On%22+%22Billboard%22&pg=PA74|page=74}}</ref> ''Billboard'' wrote that it "treads in similar territory [as "You Turn It On"] stirring the beats into a simmering frenzy."<ref name="Billboard Crazy"/> The song received multiple remixes by Mike Cruz and L.E.X, which Edgemedianetwork.com called "as slick, upbeat and professional as anything else currently climbing the charts."<ref name="Metzke"/><ref name="Billboard Crazy"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edgemedianetwork.com/news///44466|author=Rick Dunn|title="You're Getting Crazy" Remixes|work=edgemedianetwork.com|date=October 20, 2005|access-date=May 7, 2018}}</ref> ''Billboard'' suggested that the song could become a hit, if Verraros released an accompanying music video,<ref name="Billboard Crazy"/> although no music videos were ever released for any of the songs on ''Rollercoaster''.<ref name="Speak Free 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.speakfreewithjb.com:80/jim2.html|author=Jeremy Bradley|title=SpeakFree Celebrity Sightings β Jim Verraros pg. 2|work=speakfreewithjb.com|year=2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308145834/http://www.speakfreewithjb.com:80/jim2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2008}}</ref> Shortly after releasing ''Rollercoaster'', Verraros moved back to Crystal Lake, where he lived with his family for a time.<ref name="Punk Globe"/><ref name="Finding Fame"/> Over the summer of 2005, he performed at the [[wrap party]] for ''American Idol''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[American Idol (season 4)|fourth season]],<ref name="Finding Fame"/> served as a judge during the finals of "Windy City Gay Idol" (held by the ''[[Windy City Times]]'' at the Circuit Nightclub in Chicago),<ref name="Joins ChicagoPride"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/American-Idols-Jim-Verraros-at-Gay-Idol/8338.html|title=American Idol's Jim Verraros at Gay Idol|work=Windy City Times|date=May 25, 2005|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref> attended a pride ceremony held by the [[New York City Council]],<ref name="7 Days">{{cite news|title=7 Days 7 Nights|work=[[Gay City News]]|date=June 23, 2005}}</ref>{{efn|The ceremony was held in honor of [[Laurel Holloman]], [[Mathilde Krim]], [[Christopher Sieber]], Joyce Hunter (a founding member of the [[Hetrick-Martin Institute]] and the [[Harvey Milk School]]), Luis Freddy Molano (who founded the [[Community Healthcare Network]]'s Bronx Health Center Transgender Program), and Miriam Yeung (who served as director of public policy & government relations at the [[Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center|LGBT Community Services Center]]). Verraros attended the ceremony as a guest.<ref name="7 Days"/>}} and also served as a judge at the World of Chocolate, a charity event for the [[AIDS Foundation of Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/229|author=Jason Paul|title=B Scene: At the World of Chocolate|work=ChicagoPride.com|date=December 20, 2005|access-date=May 4, 2018|archive-date=May 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070104/http://chicago.gopride.com/entertainment/column/index.cfm/col/229|url-status=dead}}</ref> He participated in several local events around Chicago during this time<ref name="Joins ChicagoPride"/> and performed in multiple [[pride events]],<ref name="Punk Globe"/><ref name="Finding Fame"/> including the [[LA Pride]]<ref name="Punk Globe"/><ref name="Joins ChicagoPride"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baywindows.com/filth-62141|author=Billy Masters|title=Filth|work=Bay Windows|date=June 23, 2005|access-date=May 13, 2018}}</ref> and [[Chicago Pride Parade|Chicago Pride]] parades.<ref name="Joins ChicagoPride"/> He also performed, along with ''American Idol'' [[American Idol (season 2)|second season]] third place finalist [[Kimberley Locke]], at the Kansas City Gay Pride Festival in June and at the New York City Gay Life Expo in November.<ref name="FOFA"/><ref name="Finding Fame"/><ref name="Metzke"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitch.com/news/article/20607154/cake-for-a-cause|author1=Sarah Smarsh|author2=Rebecca Braverman|author3=Andrew Miller|title=Cake for a Cause|work=[[The Pitch (newspaper)|The Pitch]]|date=June 2, 2005|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> A club tour was considered to promote ''Rollercoaster''.<ref name="Punk Globe"/>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)