American Idol Tour to Hit Northeast Pennsylvania Twice
T he “American Idols Live” tour will visit the Wachovia Arena on Tuesday, and like the tour’s previous stops in Wilkes-Barre, it was a near instant sell-out. In fact, tickets moved so fast that another show was soon added for Sept. 24. It too was a near quick sell out, and at press time, only limited seats remained for each show.
“American Idol,” which recently completed its fifth season, remains an enormous pop culture phenomenon. It has helped produce a bona fide pop star in Clay Aiken, a Grammy winner in Kelly Clarkson and has made a national celebrity out of the cranky judge, Simon Cowell. And the show was just renewed by the FOX television network for at least four more seasons, and possibly six.
Current “American Idol” Taylor Hicks, the winner of the show’s most recent season, says he’s loving the current tour and his sudden brush with fame. He’s also enjoying the ride, both figuratively and literally.
“I’ve always wanted to be on a bus. My home has been on the road since even before ‘American Idol,'” the 29-year-old Alabama native told AP Radio in a recent interview. As a struggling musician en route to gigs, Hicks told AP he had hoped to travel on his own tour bus one day.
“You would see buses on the road in Alabama going to their next destination, and I would always dream about being on one and now I have the opportunity,” he told the AP.
With those buses rolling into Wilkes-Barre on July 18 and Sept. 24 and with 16,000 expected to attend, we thought we’d hit the streets and find out why Americans still love their idols.
Why we Love it
Jill Wydra, 22, of Dorrance Township has watched almost every season. And, the recent Wilkes University grad also had the chance to intern at the Wachovia Arena during a past Idol tour. She feels Idol is so popular because it makes fame seem achievable.
“(It’s popular because of) the fact that it takes ordinary people who have extraordinary talent and makes them well known. It makes the ‘ordinary’ person feel as if they can have an equal opportunity to become famous,” she said.
Adam Skuba, 21, of Hazleton watches occasionally; he likes the entertainment value of the auditions.
“I think it’s popular because you get to see both very talented people, and not so talented, which is pretty funny,” he said.
Kristin Derlunas, a NEPA native who now lives in Washington D.C., says that American Idol is exactly the type of programming Americans like to indulge in.
“The American culture loves instant gratification. What’s more instant than making your very own pop star?” she said. “I am not a huge American Idol fan, but have watched it. I, like the rest of America, like mindless entertainment.”
The Talent
There’s no question that past and present Idols have had success with radio airplay, single and album sales, digital downloads, concert ticket sales, award shows and even in television, Hollywood and Broadway. Although everyone has a favorite, many feel Idol No. 1, Kelly Clarkson, set the bar high.
“Kelly Clarkson (is my favorite)]. She was the first, and I feel she was the best,” said Wydra.
Derlunas chooses her favorite by their background. “I liked any of the idols who were sincere and humble. I am a fan of the rags to riches story. Kelly Pickler of this season was a perfect example,” she said.
The rags to riches story, some say, is a little quicker through Idol than the traditional method of gaining stardom: paying the dues as a starving artist in New York City, LA, Nashville, Austin or whichever music city suits their format.
Derlunas said, “Absolutely (it’s quicker)! There are a handful of successful past American Idol contestants who broke through, but either way, it is great exposure. You get 15 minutes of fameâÂ?¦.”
How are this year’s Idol’s doing? Rocker Chris Daughtry is making some serious noise in the rock world, and was offered but turned down being the new lead singer of Fuel. Runner-up McPhee signed a record deal and her first single, a remake of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” potentially is making over 47,000 people tear up, just like her father did. The single sold that many copies in its first week out, plus there were 28,000 (legal) downloads. Hicks’ “Do I Make You Proud” sold 190,000 copies the first week, along with 38,000 downloads. And, he’s already selling Ford trucks with a flashy new TV ad.
Choosing the Idol
When it comes down to the finals, the competition can get rough. In Season Two, there was uproar when Clay Aiken lost to Reuben Studdard. This past season, when Chris Daughtry was voted off the final four, swarms of fans swore they’d never watch again. So, does anyone in NEPA think contestants were voted off prematurely?
“Hands down Katherine McPhee. She was my Idol pick this season. Taylor was alright but I thought she sang better than he did. I think his Jay Leno look appealed to the audience,” said Wydra, adding that she attempted to vote, but could never get through.
“I tried but it was busy. Makes me wonder!”
Skuba didn’t feel strongly about anyone not winning. “America voted, and that’s that,” he said.
Derlunas also didn’t feel slighted by any one person winning or getting booted. “Someone has to win and someone has to lose. It’s the nature of the game. It may come down to talent, looks, or personality. Whichever it may be, the votes are the only things that countâÂ?¦And thank you Mr. Ryan Seacrest for reminding us every week,” she said. Despite Seacrest’s urging, Derlunas has never voted.
The Judges
If not for the vocal talent, people tune into Idol for the judges. When it comes to NEPA, everyone we spoke to likes Simon the best.
“I love Simon. I know lots of people hate him, but I gotta say he’s usually right on with the calls. Plus he’s cute!” said Wydra.
Skuba agrees. “I like Simon, he calls it like he sees it and even though he is brutal, so is the rest of America,” he said.
And, Derlunas says she liked Simon best, but says that the judge’s stereotypes got old after a while.
“âÂ?¦After five seasons, they are almost like stereotypical characters. You expect the ‘dawg’ from Randy Jackson; you expect Paula Abdul to love everything about everyone, and you expect Simon Cowell to sit miserably watching the contestants,” she observed.
The Music
It’s quite obvious that local radio station program directors are recognizing the fan base and marketability of Idol by adding Idol songs to their rotations. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Josh Gracin are all played often locally. Clay Aiken was too when “Invisible” first hit the waves. Kimberly Locke also had some airplay.
Skuba, who runs a mobile DJ business, Skuba Entertainment, says that he gets requests quite often for Idol songs at his events.
“Especially with the younger crowdsâÂ?¦a lot of Kelly Clarkson, a while ago Clay Aiken ‘Invisible’. None for Taylor Hicks yet,” he said.
And, it’s not just on the radio, on iPods or CD players. People also want to see their Top 12 idols of each season, live on stage. The tours have historically sold out in most cities they are slated to play, NEPA included. Wydra, who last summer interned at the Wachovia Arena, was thrilled to be able to work the Idol show.
“I interned during the Season Four tour with Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice. I thought that the concerts were very well prepared and that everyone did a great job vocally; it was very full of energy. While interning, I got to meet Carrie Underwood, Anthony Federov and Constantine and they were as real as ever. I only wish I could this season because I’d love to meet Ace!” she said.
