Tacoma farewell: The Idols Live Tour rides off into the sunset

On the second night of the American Idols Live: 2009 Tour, the 10 were settling comfortably into their lives as wandering rock stars.   At 3 p.m., the day was gray, frigid and windy outside the Tacoma Dome.  The subdued crowd of a hundred or so leaned in eerie silence against the metal barricade as Megan Joy walked down the row singing autographs and posing for pictures. 

Inside, the ancient Dome seemed like it was just waking up, a universe away from the frenzied hub of activity around the tour kickoff at the Paul Allen-built Portland stadium.  In a cafeteria-like room set up with round tables and folding chairs, half the Idols came to visit the four members of the press corps on hand.

Building up to Show 2, gone already was the repressed frenzy of anticipation the Idols felt in the hours before opening night.  Now that it was over, nearly all confessed to fighting back serious attacks of nerves, either from excitement or fear, in the countdown to Sunday night’s show.  The giddiness that followed opening night seemed to have led the Idols' emotional roller coaster on a long loop-the-loop; the group reported staying up until 5 a.m. Monday, despite fatigue, to celebrate their their bow.



On Tuesday morning, the tour buses made their maiden voyage, ferrying the group on the three-hour drive from Portland to Tacoma.  Most reported sleeping through their first trip, and there were many bleary eyes to be found in the press room, although the irrepressible high jinks of Matt Giraud and Danny Gokey were evident in full force.

By show time however, the group was focused and present, the thrill of the still-new show keeping them fresh.   Although the Tacoma Dome seemed perhaps half the size of the Rose Garden, the enthusiasm level was, if anything, even higher than the night before, with the crowd’s roar building to eardrum-damaging levels by middle of the second act.  And another crowd would leave all aglow from another flawless review. 

An audience made up mostly of children and middle-aged Americans might not be expected to enjoy some of the musical styles and bands  covered in this show – including Amy Winehouse and Led Zeppelin, Muse and Kanye West, Beyoncé and Pink.  But I suppose that is one of the Idols' tasks, to bring different styles and different types of music to a broad audience.   And if this tour took a risk by introducing more diverse,  contemporary styles, it appeared to pay off as the audience rode along on this tour through America’s musical landscape without flinching.


And again, one is struck by how much better each one of these gladiators of song is here in a genuine concert setting than he or she ever was on the TV show.  Which leads one to wonder, does the competition so brutalize the contestants that we never really know what they are capable of, or is the competition truly meant as a prologue to the tour that follows and their careers to come?

As the concert ended, the 10 ventured outside the stadium, where a crowd of at least several hundred stood in the cold and darkness waiting for autographs, photos, an Idol to sing happy birthday into the phone for a friend.  Just a year ago, they were waiting, each a face among thousands, unable to imagine how their lives was about to be utterly transformed, so that a year later, they would be in the process of accepting as routine the life of a rock star – living on a bus, doing interviews, greeting fans, performing nightly for thousands.

Which is ultimately why "American Idol" remains so durable and still able in its eighth season to generate throngs of fans in 53 cities waiting in the cold for a glimpse of its stars.  

Because for all the hoopla around the show each year, the stories of these human transformations remain real, authentic and untouchable at the core of the show. 

The "Idol" producers consistently say in interviews that if it were not for the audition episodes, the entire "Idol" narrative would never work.  If you didn’t meet these people at their homes (and "Idol" is perhaps the only show on network television which regularly travels to Middle America), see them still in obscurity standing among the masses, if we first met them on stage in Hollywood, the dream would never be clear.  

And for all we spend time each season talking about the judges contracts, rule changes, scandals, production glitches, ratings, profits, marketing and staff shake-ups, none of these things really have anything to do with what about the show grips the millions.   At the center of the show, year in and year out, we see remarkable human tales, of people with flaws and heartache and dreams and past struggles, see their lives utterly transformed forever.



Watching up close this final 10, called forth from the millions, it is hard not to feel that somehow the show works, that on some basic level, it found the 10 who were ready for their lives to change and for the hard work it would take to make that happen (51 shows to go).   

This year, we have been given 10 young people and 10 stories, each of which contains enough human drama to fill a few volumes of Dickens.  In this group, suddenly standing in the first glow of stardom we have:

-    An oilfield worker and family man.
-    A tattooed, single-mother, charming, eccentric, Mormon Amy Winehouse fan.
-    A blind Oxford graduate
-    A tornado victim and young mother whose early promise of genius seemed to wane only to burst forth on this tour in enormous glory
-    An R&B nerd and collegiate preppy dreaming of becoming the next Kanye West.
-    A mischievous charmer and dueling piano player now stepping out of playing hotel lobbies.
-    A Latin teenager and marathon runner who sings like Miley’s evil twin.
-    A church music director widowed just a month before auditions who fought through the competition to forge something bigger and help the ailing in his wife’s memory.
-    A musical-theater prodigy who, despite seeming like a fish out of water on the G-rated "Idol" stage, transformed the show in his image, barreling out of the show the biggest phenomenon "Idol" has seen in years.
-    The soft-spoken, quiet young singer from rural Arkansas who, without anyone seeing him coming, rose on his talent to the very top of the competition and found himself holding the keys to the kingdom.

There is no saying where the future will take these 10 singers.  If they are smart and focused, they may be able to make a living singing for the rest of their lives. It is said if you have been in the top 12 on "American Idol," there will always be people who will come to see you perform.  Not all will be stars playing arenas, but they might make their living singing and entertaining – something that is a dream beyond imagination for many of the tens of thousands who lined up last month to audition.

Half an hour after the lights went up on the Tacoma Dome, each of the 10 was still clearly riding the giddiness of being on stage and connecting with an audience through the music. At last, it is not about the judges or the ratings, and at this point, it is not even about the hits or records to come but just about that lonely impulse of delight and the infectious joy each of them feels, coming from where they come, having been through all they’ve been through, to have the chance to sing their best. 

That the show can still grant that dream to such a deserving  group, and let us share in the journey, is why "American Idol" still matters. 

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo: Justin Brady / Rose Garden Arena

Comments

[JKRio]

Very well said. I like how you wrote so many good stuff about the 10 finalists.
The journey continues...

But where's the piano men (Matt & Scott)? Can't find them at the pic, must be with the piano :D

[ks]

wow - the BEST article written about any of these guys yet!

thankyou

wonderfully written....gave me goosebumps!!

[ryeco]

Honestly, I'm getting a bit tired of the Paula Abdulish commentary from RR. These are not critical reviews, sounds like he's just afraid to offend anyone. When a self acclaimed critic says everyone is good, one loses the credibility of critiquing. BTW, even paula seems more forthcoming this season than this guy, plus paula is endearing to watch where RR just appears to be insincere in his flattering tone. I'm seriously disappointed at la times, probably won't be reading any of its content in the future by RR.

[brandon]

ryeco, this is not a review, it's more like an op-ed piece. Anyone can give their views of a concert, RR is giving his impressions of the Top 10 and their experiences. It's journalism.

Very nicely written. This gives well-deserved credibility to these people, as people and as talents.

I think RR's writing has been some of the only good writing on AI I have read.

[Deez]

Don't understand why some think RR must include some bashing for this to be considered legit.
I've watched several of the videos, and yeah, it looked like great fun! From what I could see and hear, the crowd loved it...and the Idols sounded better than I thought. What wasn't to love?

The competition is over, no critique is necessary. Rushfield basically just let us know that these entertainers, as a whole,delivered. (info some of us might appreciate) Sounds like he had a good time and I am happy he is a fan. I don't like reading articles by snobs who are above indulging in a little pop-culture fun.

Now, if one of the Idols shows up drunk and does a header off the stage, he might have a criticism...but otherwise if the show was good, why can't he say so???? I loved the article.
Thanks Richard!

[guiltypleasure no more]

Thank you Richard, for this wonderfully written article. I really believe that this year's AI, in large part due to Adam Lambert's phenomenal talent, has been the most captivating. I am in academia and have found people openly "admitting" they followed AI this year, and even though the conversation might focus on Adam at first, there is enough talent among most of the others to warrant serious consideration about attending...gasp...an AI concert for the first time ever. While the instant gratification of youtube videos might make some wonder if it is worth attending a concert when all of the perfomances can be found online for free, most of the people I talk to wonder how much they are willing to splurge to get really, really good seats. Count me in as one of those looking for good floor seats to experience these performances upclose!

[Mary]

What a wonderful piece! I was touched by the recap of the Idols and where they came from. This is the first season of AI that has really gotten me involved (and actually voting) and I think you have captured well what I have loved about this season. It's easy to forget that these performers are kids who had the guts to get up before 25 million people each week (granted no one is forcing them to), perform, and wait to get ripped new ones by the judges. And they have done it with class and musicanship. Bravo to them and to you for capturing it.

[Fritter]

Richard, I think you're one of the best Idol bloggers in large part because you don't conform to the goupthink that characterizes so much of elite, urban opinion regarding Idol. You understand that AI is about more than finding a musical superstar. It's a cultural phenomenon involving the hopes and aspirations of real, eager young people, and that their journey through the Idol experience is worth celebrating regardless of how many albums they may sell in the future.

According to the standard groupthink, comments on Idol 2009 should follow a script like this:

* Adam is terrific and should have won.
* Kris is bland and dull.
* The rest are barely worth mentioning.
* And be sure to include words like karaoke and make snarky comments about how the non-Adam kids will have a future singing at state fairs.

When you write articles that fail to conform to this script, you must be prepared for people like ryeco above dismissing it as "Paula Abdulish commentary." But please don't let this deter you. Just as you wrote previously about how "Kris Allen gives American Idol back its heart", you are one of the few writers that bring true "heart" to Idol commentary.

[Calli]

Your tour reviews are part of the reason I decided to buckle and buy tickets this year. Thanks for highlighting the positive about all the contestants. Even though there are some I like more than others (some a LOT more), I hope the best for all of them, and I hope I find something to enjoy in all performances.

[Masieta]

Thank you, thank you for a professional piece that captures the essence of why I have been drawn to this season's American Idol. These kids have defied the odds and graciously stood up to heavy criticism that would wilt the less determined. Let's celebrate their success instead of comparing apples and oranges and denigrating those who aren't our favorites. I, a grandmother of seven, will be attending a concert with two friends, the first concert of this magnitude I have ever attended. I'm going not only to hear my favorite, but to celebrate with them all. They love what they're doing. Their excitement is infectious. Bravo!

[AEvangelista]

Kris Allen got past Danny Gokey with a trick gimmick called "Heartless," then borrowed Danny's fans to beat Adam.

Kris is the lamest winner in Idol history, by a wide margin.

[Jon]

Yes, this was not a review, it was more a commentary on the AI phenomenon and what makes it work. Even so, when I take the time to read something I usually expect "critical" thinking even if it is not a critique. What I got from this is that you liked the show and that you liked all the participants -- especially because you knew their back stories. That kind of equanimity is heartwarming but not all that interesting to me. I was in the music business for years and basically tolerated the show because I love music, love to sing along etc. This year I and my wife (who previously hated the show) were almost riveted -- from the first moment Lambert appeared singing "Satisfaction" (my wife fell in love, as she had been with Mick Jagger, so I had to re-live that unfortunately). There was a lot of drama this year, most of it swirling about Lambert because he was so unusually provocative and exciting -- as a singer, performer and personality. Much of what you dismissed in your article (like the voting rule fiascos) was gripping for many people who got involved in the show for the first time. -- And here in NYC I can assure you there were many new groups that began to talk about it. I'm not sure AI is just about finding the heartland kid who comes from behind; how they all struggle, overcome and go on to (hopefully) rosier futures. There are many other equally, or even I would say more compelling issues in this COMPETITION (that's a very big part of what it is, is it not? Even on the tour, do they not appear in order of elimination -- and get show time based on their "standing"?) that you consistently seem to prefer to skirt.

[Ocean]

Bravo! Mr. Rushfield I 'd like to read your articles everyday. It is educational!

BTW, I think eventually (may take some time) those single minded fans here (ex. Cough Adam cough) will be inspired from your thoughts.