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Atlanta Idol concert review: Been there, did that and loved it.
#476 - 1--ed--Atlanta Idol concert review: Been there, did that and loved it.--2008-08-20 11:44:12
#Even though I got snuffed from backstage this year, (Sorry Carly) I still went to the concert anyway and loved it.
- Every year I make that fun trek to the Gwinnett Center here in Atlanta (Technically Duluth ,Ga.) to the Idol concert. And every year with a different anticipation. But the fact that this was my favorite season to date, I was not looking for a concert comparable to the season. It just never seems to work out that way. I had read reviews of the concert before hand so I pretty much knew what to expect. I was actually wondering how my opinion of the concert would parallel George’s. As you read on you will see. I was fortunate enough to get floor seats 6
th row from the stage and I bought them right before the concert. They were great seats so I could see everything well.
Would there be any surprises or would it be just how I thought it would play out? Here’s how I saw it and heard it. I will not be commenting on every song as George did but just their overall performances. And I will say this is the first time ever the sound mixer got it right. The music was not too loud. The only time I need to cover my ears was when Michael, Jason, Carly, David and David came on stage. Ear splitting screams I tell you. In fact I will give you the scream scale for the 5 Idols who got real screams. The gauge will be from 5 to 1 with1 being the loudest.
Since they always, except last year which I really liked, go from 10
th place to winner in singing order,
Chikeze is up first. And he is also up with my first surprise of the night. I was not his biggest fan on the show and actually thought David Hernandez would have been a better choice to make the top 10. But Chikeze really put on a show. He was entirely entertaining, exuding confidence without cockiness. He sang every note in tune and was quite enjoyable and a great start to the show.
Grade B+
Ramiele is up next and we got just what we saw on the show. Nothing more, nothing less. But with my seating I could see Ramiele up close and she is so cute I didn’t care how well she sang. And while I don’t think she was as bad George opined, I actually liked her last song best. I saw some of the power she seemed to leave at the top 24. Not bad, but not great.
Grade C+
The entirely too early ejectee
Michael Johns was up next reprising 3 songs he did from the show. The ear splitting begins with hometown fans and feminine screams. And again I like his last song “Dream On” the best. He actually mentioned that this was the song that got him the boot. Michael has tons of charisma and stage presence but his voice gets lost in the crowd. Still very enjoyable and in tune. You know I like in tune. And since he is from Atlanta (His buds were sitting in front of me) he had his own private meet and greet of about 100 of his closest friends after the show. Too bad I wasn’t one of them.
Grade B/ Scream Scale 4
Kristy Lee Cook saunters up on stage next looking smoking hot. Me and George are on the same page here. And when she starts singing……..Oh My! Here is the second real and biggest surprise of the night. Again I’m with George. She sang unbelievable! Every note strong and every note spot on in tune. It was impossible for me to take my eyes off her during her entire time on stage. This is nowhere near the Kristy we saw on Idol. This was a Country superstar in the making. Her stage presence was that of a seasoned Country or Pop star. Unlike Carrie in the Season 5 concert (You know I love Carrie) Kristy was not the least bit stiff. She looked totally at ease and dynamic. As I was watching her sing “God Bless the USA” I felt I was watching an already star. Her voice is something very special and I will make a prediction here. Even though I presumed it during the show when many hated her so, I will boldly portend she will be more successful than Bucky, Kellie, Josh, Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert. None of these I mentioned can touch her vocally. Not even close. In case you didn’t know 19E did sign her. Listen to her first single "15 Minutes of Shame"
here Her CD should be ready around Christmas. Christy is ready now.
Grade A+
Carly Smithson is next, rising from the bowels of this ultra cheap set. I had to get that in. Being my favorite from season 7 I knew she would be good. I had already seen one of her performances on YouTube. Like Kristy before her, Carly made me feel I was watching a Carly concert. She too is vocally spot on. Was it any different than the show? Not really. But for me that’s surely good enough. I love her and can not wait for her CD.
Grade A /Scream Scale 5
Brooke arrived on stage via pneumatic rising center stage along with a grand piano. Brooke was exactly the same as the show. For me, just OK. She sang well enough. She sang …….well …like Brooke. Nothing very special. There were times she did show some power I guess, that she never let lose on Idol.
Grade B-
After Brooke’s set, she reminds us that Idol gave Back. With a montage of some of the people I guess they gave back too, the eight that had given their performances did a group song that I loved. I would buy that song with these guys singing it. It was great. I personally would like to have many more group songs along with duets and trios especially with this group. Just think: Carly and Archuleta, Cook and Cook, and the list goes on. But alas, oddly it’s intermission after eight singers. I guess the top 4 are now Idol tour hallowed ground.
Getting back to business,
Jason comes on stage with Ukelele in hand. This “Over the Rainbow” didn’t quite match his show version and not in the league of Katharine McPhee’s Idol tour version. I know it’s apples/ oranges but Kat’s version brought the house down both shows. I do like the fact Jason did do a song (“Crazy”) that he didn’t do on the show. But personally, his final song, “Daydream” was his best and I actually kind of got Jason.
Grade B / Scream Scale 3
Syesha starts her set of with a song I’m sick of, “Umbrella”. That’s the bad news. The good: I like Syesha’s better than Rhiana’s. But it was nothing new from her that we hadn’t seen on the show. Her next tune was more of the same. But next comes the performance of the night. I am not familiar with this song “Listen” but it was utterly fantastic. She started it off very quaint but blew the freaking doors off about ¾ in. It was an unbelievable vocal extravaganza. Too bad she didn’t sing this on Idol. She would not have broken the bottom 3 appearances record if she had. Even as I write this I am still blown away. In fact, I can’t remember a performance from any contestant in any Idol tour that could stand up to this except maybe Kat’s “Rainbow” and maybe a Clay song. It was flat out brilliant. I could see the dawg giving a standing O on that one. Until this song in her set the audiences was like “Yeah, yeah, get on with it so we can see Archie”. With about 10 seconds left everyone stood and gave Syesha thunderous applause. That last performance woke us all up and scored her a
Grade A
Before we even saw him, the scream factor had my head ringing and ears shattered.
David Archuleta pulls a
Brooke and comes out of the ground riding a piano singing “Angels”. Very good and the purity of his voice cut through all the music. The kid can truly sing. But like so many others tonight it was his last song that impressed me the most. He was majestic. Hitting the highs and lows out of the park. There is no doubt David will be a staple in American music for years to come. It was cute to see him try to speak in between songs giving that little giggle when some bopper yelled “David I love you!”
Grade A / Scream Scale 2
David Cook comes on stage to Scream factor 1 which kind of surprised me. I thought for sure Archie would be #1. Anyway David was David but unlike the show we were able to feel the real David Cook. David gave us the same singing as on the show but in person he is more fun to experience while we listen. He of course did his “Time of My Life” which is played non stop on the radio. I don’t mind because this is by far my favorite Idol winning single ever. It has also been used on “So You Think You Can Dance” and the Olympics.
Grade A Scream Factor 1 Presence A+
We end the night with another group song that again was fantastic. In fact I would say that these two group songs were better than any one done on the show this season. Overall the show was excellent. We saw competition potential grow past potential in a few Idols. I have no doubt that
Syesha will be a real star on the stage, film and even TV.
Kristy Lee finally showed me what I always believed was there. So Carrie Underwood, watch out.
David Cook will be the most successful Idol winner since Carrie. I would pay to see a Cook concert. I think America will too. My thoughts about
Carly remain the same. She is already there and I would pay to go to a Carly concert right now.
Like George I will rank my Idol concerts from best to not the best. I did not see season 1. Before I do that I want to say that this year’s group from top to bottom is the most talented ever. There is no reason that every one should not be able to make a good living singing. I think this is the only season that could be said. Not one of these guys was bad. As usual I am glad I went and I almost didn’t. I’ll be buying an inordinate amount of CDs this Christmas……for me!
Idol show rankings:
1. Season 6: This was the only concert I saw where they did not go from 10
th to 1
st. And there were so many great group songs with duets and trios. Who would have thought a duet between Jordin and Chris Richardson would be so good?
2. Season 3: Even though I consider this the weakest season to date, their show was top notch. Hearing Diana, Jasmine, and Fantasia sing together was incredible. And who would have thought Jasmine singing and playing the piano would blow me away. And JPL?
3. Season 7: See above but you should already have read that.
4. Season 5: I still didn’t get Taylor after the show but Kat McPhee gave the best performance I have ever seen on an Idol tour stage. And there were quite a few trios and duos. I actually went to this show twice.
5. Season 2: Like most everyone in the audience that night it was all about Clay and Ruben for me. But there was one special thing we got in the Atlanta show that no other city got. Atlanta native and way too early bootee, Vanessa Olivarez was in the audience and the group brought her on stage. It was a very touching moment. In fact when Josh couldn’t do the tour because of his military duty Charles Grigsby got to tour in his place. So when Cory Clark would not get to tour for obvious reasons, it was unfair that Vanessa did not get to take Cory’s place make it 10. So we also got shorted that Show.
6. Season 4: It is odd that the most successful Idol of them all would be in my least favorite show of them all. And why was this? Well, I can even really remember much about it. Enough said.
Well look for me CD reviews as they come out and look for major Idolhead Ed.com changes and additions for next season. And let your friends know about us. We will be giving a lot of cool stuff away next season and you too could get some floor seats, CDs, and who knows what else.
Please answer my poll question and Clay fans, please be objective.
Is it Season 8 yet?
Idolhead Ed
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