'American Idol' news and links for Tuesday, Feb. 2

This post on MJ's Big Blog tracks the "Idol" alumni -- including Jordin Sparks (who tweeted about it) and Carrie Underwood -- involved in the remake of "We Are The World," which was apparently recorded last night in Los Angeles.

Speaking of Underwood, the video has just been released for her song "Temporary Home." It's a tearjerker! Check it:

• Season 7 finalist Carly Smithson is singing for the band We Are The Fallen these days. The group just released a new single on iTunes called "Bury Me Alive." Give me your opinion of the song in the comments. Me? I hit the stop button about two minutes in. Sorry.

• Are you sick of "Pants on the Ground" yet? I hope not, because you should listen to this. It's supposedly an official studio version of the song by General Larry Platt, and it's pretty cool! Unfortunately, there are reports floating around that the song is being released to radio without the General's consent. Let's just hope the General sees some of the royalties.

• And why was I not invited to this? Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert reportedly celebrated his 28th birthday in style (natch) in Hollywood Saturday night. Happy belated birthday, Adam!

• Another Season 8 finalist, Matt Giraud, released his first single on iTunes last week and it almost immediately jumped up to No. 1 on the Jazz top singles chart. It's called "You Don't Know Me." If you dig jazz, Giraud and country-jazz singer Anna Wilson, you will absolutely love this new song (it's my personal favorite of all four songs featured in this post today):