American Idol Daily: Idols everywhere
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After a momentous few days in the history of Idol Nation, the news front fell relatively quiet.
The biggest news, in this reporter’s opinion, was the announcement of a mini-tour of ex-Idols, The Idol Mania Live tour. Actually, thus far it seems to be more of a show than a tour with only one date announced yet on the website -- in Sarasota, Fla., on Dec. 6. According to the website, the concert will feature, unlike the official tour, songs written by the Idols themselves. The participating cast includes Justin Guarini, Blake Lewis, Gina Glocksen, Vonzell Solomon, LaKisha Jones, Ricky Smith, Mikalah Gordon and Melissa McGhee.
Writing on her MySpace blog about the show, season five finalist McGhee tells:
I can’t tell you how awesome it feels to jump back in. I took a little time off to regroup after Idol, but I have definitely missed it and can’t stay away! With a new sound and new music I am totally psyched to be starting back on tour with amazing performers and being able to share our hearts with everyone! Thank you everyone for all of your support and I am completely excited to get the album out!
For season six’s runner-up, Blake Lewis, who has been very outspoken in his criticism of Idol in recent interviews, returning to perform under the Idol umbrella, even in this unofficial version, must provoke some mixed feelings to say the least.
The tour is the largest incidence I have seen of what seems to be a trend of outside-the-tent, unofficial Idol conclaves. While season seven was still in progress, a few of the also-rans from the top 24 put together a mini-tour of a few cities. The lounge of Hotel Niko in San Francisco featured a different lineup of former Idols each week. The ability of the Idol brand to fill a room and curiosity about and enthusiasm for those who have battled and bled in the Idoldome is endless.
Meanwhile Idol Mania tour member and stalwart of the show’s smallest caucus (female rockers) Gina Glocksen has released her first self-written song. She says of the number on her MySpace blog:
I just posted my first recorded original called, ‘Taking the Keys’. I really hope that you enjoy it! I’ve just been through the situation too often where I’m out with someone, and they embarrass the hell out of me, so, I wrote about it! I hope you’ll share it and let it be known that i’m NOT even CLOSE to being ‘done’ with music. I’m here to stay and this is just the beginning!
The song can be found here. Congratulations to Gina -- an Idol pioneer and one of the bright lights of a difficult season.
55 days to season eight!
-- Richard Rushfield