Happy Birthday, Amanda Overmyer!

Amanda Overmyer will undoubtedly go down in AI history as one of the most memorable Idols to grace the stage.  Dubbed the Rock N' Roll nurse by Randy Jackson, Amanda became known as the Harley-riding rocker that wasn't about to conform to anyone's standards--even the judge most live to impress, Simon Cowell.  Her raspy voice and intense stage presence quickly earned her a lot of Janis Joplin comparisons. Although Amanda was eliminated just shy of making it on the AI tour, she has been anything but idle since her time on the show.  In fact, she has finished recording her first album, which was written and composed by Amanda, and produced by Rocco Guarino (Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver).  In an article in the Pharos Tribune, Amanda said her album is "straight forward rock-and-roll," with ballads as well as "funky" rock songs.  The record will be released under Amanda's own record label, Chile Records, in December.  In the same article, she describes the meaning behind a few of the songs from the CD.  “‘Iroquois Lane’ is a song about a bad area, one you’re mom always tells you not to hang out at.  'Love me like you want’ is a typical rock-and-roll song about meeting someone one night. ‘Fight like a son’ is a tribute to female soldiers in Iraq: A woman can do what a man can do.”  Her first single, "Play On," is a dedication to her now-husband Casey Taylor. Amanda headlined the Women of Rock show at the famous Hollywood club Whiskey-a-Go-Go in May, and drew some rave reviews.  She also sang the National Anthem at the Indianapolis Colts opening game in August. Amanda considers herself one of the lucky ones who was able to parlay her passion into a career.  “Music is my job now,” she said in the Tribune article. “’Idol’ allowed me to make a living out of it.” Happy Birthday, Amanda!