July 24, 2011 –– Orlando, FLA –– Twelve year old Rachel Wilkes and her best friend Victoria Raykin made the trip from Hollywood, FL to Orlando to watch their favorite American Idols during tonight's American Idols Live show at the Amway Center show. For the first time in the shows ten seasons, eleven contestants made the Idols Summer Tour and for the two youngsters one singer stood out above the rest."Hailey because I thought she'd win it all. She's the one who put it all out there," Wilkes said.
Wilkes and Raykin were in the majority at the Amway Arena that resonated with the sounds of teenage girls screaming at the top of their lungs. Raykin says she has been watching since season six and has been drawn in ever since."My favorite part is that these are just common people and that to me is inspiring."
After some brief video intros on three LED screens, the ladies of Idol laid out the opening number. Lauren, Hailey, Pia, Thia, and Naima strutted out in white outfits adorned with sequins and belted out Lady Gaga's hit "Born this Way".
Three songs later Paul McDonald rocks the crowd with his rendition of the Rod Stewart hit "Maggie May". McDonald's performance was one of the best of the night. In true rocker style, McDonald came out in a black leather jacket jumping, swinging, and shouting to the fans, "Ya'll stand up this is a rock and roll show."
To break up the action, song sets were intertwined with video comments from each of the three judges. Jennifer Lopez welcomed the Orlando audience to the show and set up a perfect segue for Naima Adadapo to perform J-Lo's " On The Floor". To me this was one of the surprise performances of the night. Idol fans must have heard that song a dozen times throughout the season and when Lopez performed it, it was average at best. Adadapo danced her way onto the stage dressed in traditional African attire and told the nearly sold out crowd, "I want to see everyone on the floor." Her folklore style dance definitely kicked up the song and at the end on the line, "straight to Africa", the singer showed her acrobatic side doing a cartwheel and then the splits. She was aided in the dancing by a spectacular showing on the drums by the American Idol band.
Pia followed with an original song entitled "This Time". Of the three original songs of the night, this one was the least memorable. She was known on season 10 of Idol for her ballads, but this pop tune might set the tone for the genre of music fans can expect to see from Pia Toscano.
Carefree Casey Abrams rounded out act one with a trio of songs. He started off a capella playing his favorite instrument the stand up bass to the Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana smash, "Smooth". Then Abrams showed off his smooth charisma in a duet with Haley Reinhart. Abrams and Reinhart were believed to have been dating, but that rumor has since been squashed. None the less, following the duet, Abrams said, "She is beautiful and if you sang that song you'd find it hard to breathe." Whether it was a transition Maroon 5 song he sang next or a subtle hint as his to affection for Reinhart can be left up to the imagination.
At the conclusion of the act one finale ( a group rendition of Cee-Lo's "Forget You", minus Scotty), was a twenty minute intermission. I took this time to explore the venue. It was my first time in the new Amway Center and I must say it is a beautiful arena. Concession prices were reasonable for a venue; $4 .25 for a soda, $4.50 for a good size popcorn. However, I found the $25 price for a souvenir program pretty unreasonable. It was about ten pages in length with bios and a brief message from each of the top 11, but still for that amount I'd expect a real autograph or two. The seating layout was typical for a concert; normal seats, and floor seats. Several of the seats in the new Amway Center have leather backs and leather cushions which if you plan on sitting it really does make it a comfortable experience.
After an introduction video, Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina graced the stage with her country style. The 16 year old from Rossville, Georgia started off by singing former Idol star Carrie Underwood's "Flat on the Floor". Then with her mother in attendance Lauren belted out her new single "Like My Mother Does" in emotional style. She pointed to her mom as she sung the lyrics that summed up all the great qualities a mother has and does to care for their daughter.
Following Lauren was another rocker James Durbin. Durbin is a true definition of the word performer. He got the place on their feet and rocking out to the Guns and Roses hit "Sweet Child of Mine". Paul might have kicked off the rock portion of the show earlier in the night, but James converted the non believers. " Uprising" by Muse was his next performance, but it was more than a song, it was what he was beginning to start in the arena. Durbin another huge fan favorite, continued on stage with a tail attached to his back, and led the revolution aside two smoke jets that set the tone.
Another fan favorite, Haley Reinhart had the challenge of proceeding Idol champion Scotty McCreery. The sultry Reinhart didn't disappoint showing off her sexy personality and singing two of her staple songs from season 10, "House of the Rising Sun", and "Benny and the Jets". Reinhart received three standing ovations from the judges in three consecutive weeks and is reported to be the only Idol contestant to have over one million views of her Idol performance videos.
Then it was the moment for the headliner, the winner of American Idol season 10, Scotty McCreery. After a brief intro that showcased the seventeen year olds journey to stardom, McCreery sang his signature Idol song, Josh Turner's "Your Man". Idol fans fell in love with his deep country voice and the lyrics, "baby lock the doors and turn the lights down low." Wearing jeans, a blue plaid shirt, and what else cowboy boots, McCreery sang "Are You Going To Kiss Me Or Not" by Thompson Square before letting the crowd in on his newest single, "I Love You This Big". McCreery gave a shout out to his family who was in attendance and then went into the uncharacteristic ballad that contained lyrics about love and relationships. Then Scotty teamed up with Lauren Alaina for a duet between the top two contestants on Idol. The pair stuck to their country roots with Allison Kraus's "When You Say Nothing At All." McCreery then finished his set with Montgomery Gentry's "Gone".
Randy Jackson said in a video clip before the finale that, "This was the season of remix. There was a different flavor for everyone."
The eleven finalists returned to the stage one last time and showcased that variety singing a medley with such hits as "Here I Go Again", "Faithfully", "Walk This Way", "Anyway You Want It", and "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin".
Wilkes and Raykin stayed loyal to Hailey saying after the show she was still their favorite. For Raykin the trip from South Florida was worth the memories. "It was my first Idols concert and I will definitely be back for another one."
AMERICAN IDOLS LIVE AT THE AMWAY CENTER SET LIST:
ACT 1:
1. Opening Number - Lauren, Haley, Pia, Thia, Naima - Born This Way - Lady Gaga
2. Pia Toscano - Empire State of Mind - Alicia Keys
3. Pia Toscano & Stefano Langone - California King - Rhianna
4. Paul McDonald - Maggie May - Rod Stewart
5. Thia Megia - Who Says - Selena Gomez
6. Haley, Pia, Thia, Naima - Tightrope - Janelle Monae
7. Stefano Langone - Grenade - Bruno Mars
8. Stefano Langone with background vocals from Thia, Haley, Naima, and Pia - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher
9. James, Jacob, Casey, Stefano, Paul - Animal - Neon Trees
10. Naima Adedapo - On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez
11. Pia Toscano - This Time - Pia Toscano
12. Lauren Elaina, Pia Toscano, Thia Megia - Firework - Katy Perry
13. Casey Abrams - Smooth - Santana and Rob Thomas
14. Casey Abramas and Hailey Reinhart - Moanin' - Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross
15. Casey Abrams - Harder To Breathe - Maroon 5
16. Finale Act 1 - Group Number (everyone minus Scotty) - Forget You - Cee Lo
ACT 2:
17. Lauren Alaina - Flat On The Floor - Carrie Underwood
18. Lauren Alaina - Like My Mother Does - Lauren Alaina
19. Lauren Alaina with background vocals from Haley, Stefano, and Tia - If I Die Young - The Band Perry
20. James Durbin - Sweet Child of Mine - Guns and Roses
21. James Durbin - Uprising - Muse
22. Jacob Lusk - Never Too Much - Luther Vandross
23. Jacob Lusk with background vocals from Pia, Stefano, and Naima - You're All I Need To Get By - Marvin Gaye & Tammy T
24. Haley Reinhart - House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
25. Haley Reinhart - Benny and the Jets - Elton John
26. Scotty McCreery - You're Man - Josh Turner
27. Scotty McCreery - Are You Going To Kiss Me Or Not - Thompson Square
28. Scotty McCreery - I Love You This Big - Scotty McCreery
29. Scotty McCreeery & Lauren Alaina - When You Say Nothing At All - Allison Kraus
30. Scotty McCreery with background vocals from Lauren, Haley, Thia, and Pia - Gone - Montgomery Gentry
31. Finale Act 2 - Group Number - Here I Go Again, Faithfully, Walk This Way, Anyway You Want It, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
Concert Review by Todd Grasley/FloridaEntertainmentScene.com - © 2011 Florida Entertainment Scene - All Rights Reserved.
