Idols make an impression

My friends and I joined thousands of other “arm chair judges” for American Idol Season 8 tour at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Aug. 4 to hear our favorite contestants perform.  Many had differing opinions about who should have won, but we were all there to show our support and enjoy an evening of good music.

We were not disappointed. With few exceptions every performer sounded surprisingly good with a full band and backup singers for support.

Of all the Idols, Danny Gokey surprised me the most. He looked like he was truly enjoying himself dancing and singing “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson and I was impressed by how well he related to the crowd making eye contact and covering every corner of the stage. During his set Danny briefly mentioned the tragic loss of his wife and encouraged us all “not to let tragedy define you” and “don’t let it keep you from following your dreams.” He then proceeded to sing “My Wish” (Rascal Flatts) with conviction and emotion. I enjoyed his full, throaty voice and sincere delivery.

Alison Iraheta worries me. It’s not that she didn’t do a good job. She remained true to her rocker style, playing guitar and belting out the lyrics. And she definitely took ownership of the stage with the maturity of someone twice her age. But not one of her songs varied in intensity. They were all fierce and it sometimes sounded like she was yelling. I hope she still has a voice by the end of the tour.

Judging by sound of the cheers and screams that accompanied his appearance it was obvious Adam Lambert was the house favorite. The show quickly went from G to R rated with his seductive movements and flamboyance. Adam really knows how to work a crowd and he certainly did during the opening number “Whole Lotta Love” (Zeppelin).  The songs “Starlight” (Muse) and “Mad World” (Tears for Fears) allowed him to show off his impressive vocal range and ability. Then he was joined by Allison Iraheta for “Slow Ride” (Foghat) and it was hard to tell who was having more fun — Allison or Adam. He wrapped up his set with a David Bowie Medley — “Life on Mars/Fame/Let’s Dance” shedding his jacket, strutting his stuff, and making me wonder how we’ve gotten here from the days when Elvis’ dance moves were considered shocking.

Kris Allen proved he was worthy of the Idol title when he opened his set playing guitar and singing “Heartless” (West/The Fray). His voice was full and strong. Kris delivered “Ain’t No Sunshine” with equal intensity and abandon, getting lost in the lyrics. It was obvious he was in his comfort zone behind either guitar or piano.  It was as if we were guests in his studio watching as he immersed himself into the music. If only he would look up and acknowledge our presence — but then it just might break the spell.

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For more photos and review of the American Idol Tour in D.C. see Cheryl’s blog at: http://picsandponderings.blogspot.com/