Paula Abdul's Return to "American Idol" Unlikely, Manager Says

What would a Paula Abdul-less American Idol look like next season? That was the question on Idol fans' lips this weekend after the singer's manager told the Los Angeles Times, "Very sadly, it does not appear that she's going to be back on Idol." Manager David Sonenberg was speaking out to express his disappointment about the slow-moving nature of Abdul's attempts to negotiate a new contract to remain with the show she's been a part of since Season One. According to Sonenberg, Abdul has not even received a formal proposal for a contract yet.

"I find it under these circumstances particularly unusual; I think unnecessarily hurtful," Sonenberg said. "I find it kind of unconscionable and certainly rude and disrespectful that they haven't stepped up and said what they want to do." Sonenberg reiterated that Abdul would like to remain with the program, and Abdul herself has said in the past that she "can't be replaced" on AI.

As Rock Daily previously reported, Idol recently re-signed host Ryan Seacreat to a lucrative deal, and seem poised to give Simon Cowell a monster contract when his current pact expires next season. However, Abdul and four judge Kara DioGuardi — who many thought was perhaps brought in to one day replace Abdul — haven't signed new deals. Season Nine auditions have already begun.

An entire Twitter movement has come out in full force in support of Abdul, the L.A. Times reports, with thousands of Tweets tagged with the trending topic #KeepPaula. Even former contestants like Danny Gokey, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud and Syesha Mercado added the tag to posts this weekend, helping the #KeepPaula rise up the trending topics section ("Bikini Girl," however, tweeted that she should be added as the fourth judge alongside DioGuardi).

After the outpouring of support from her fans, Abdul took to her own Twitter to write, "If it weren't for you, this specific time and situation would feel a whole lot worse! I'm actually moved 2 tears upon reading the enormous amount of tweets showing me your kindness, love,& undying support. God bless all of you!"

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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