American Idols Tour 2006

After our Aladdin adventure, we left Disneyland late Saturday afternoon to meet our friends for the American Idols Live 2006 concert at the Staples Center in L.A. We went with Jon, Amy, Amy’s mom Kathy and Amy’s sister Ashley.


The American Idols Live Tour 2006 was a little disappointing. (08/26/06)

I really enjoyed last year’s American Idols Live concert, and had been looking forward to this one for months! Mostly, I was excited to see my two favorites from this season: Chris Daughtry (who should have won) and Elliott Yamin.

Unfortunately, despite some really fun moments, I have to say I found the show to be disappointing. First of all, the acoustics really sucked. I don’t know if that was a problem with the Staples Center or the touring company (probably a little of both). Secondly, many of the performances were a little disappointing.

Mandisa started the show with “I’m Every Woman,” (and she looked it), but I couldn’t help feeling that it was a little unexciting. Ace came out next and kind of shook things up a little with George Michael’s “Father Figure” and the Maroon 5 hit “Harder to Breathe.” But even then, it was just okay.

I was pleasantly surprised with Lisa Tucker. After a kind of boring, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” she actually performed two really nice Elton John covers while at the keyboard: “Your Song” and “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.”


Tim, Jon, Amy, Amy's mom Kathy and Amy's sister Ashley outside of L.A.'s Staples Center. (08/26/06)

Paris came out next, performing a nice version of “Midnight Train to Georgia.” But her follow-up song, Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” complete with really bad choreography, was dreadful. I remember when she performed it on the show, Simon said it was awful. I wish she had listened to him and left it out of the live show.

Bucky came out next and performed a couple of songs. Since he’s not a great singer, he had to rely on singing really good songs (i.e. “Superstitious,” and “Drift Away”) which worked out just okay. Although I do have to admit I enjoyed his duet of “You’re the One That I Want,” (from Grease) with the next soloist, Kellie Pickler.

I don’t even remember what Kellie Pickler sang, that’s how forgettable she was. But she closed the first half, leaving the heavy hitters for Act 2.

After the intermission Chris came out and the audience went bonkers. Clearly he was the most popular person in the entire lineup. He sang some good songs, like Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive,” among others. Elliott came out next and did an awesome job, especially with the difficult-to-sing “Moody’s Mood for Love.”


Bucky, Mandisa, Elliott, Kellie, Taylor, Paris, Ace, Chris, Katherine & Lisa. (08/26/06)

Next, all the guys with the exception of Taylor came out and did a number, followed by Katherine McPhee. She did well enough with “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree,” but her version of Aretha Franklin’s “Think” fell flat. But she made up for lost ground when she sang her beautiful version of “Over the Rainbow.”

After that, Taylor emerged from the audience singing a rather unmelodic version of “Jailhouse Rock.” I guess walking through a crowded arena, surrounded by bodyguards and people reaching out to touch you doesn’t make for great singing.

For his set, he did his usual prancing and dancing around the stage to songs like “Taking it to the Streets.” Sure, he’s entertaining live. But can that translate into a CD that you enjoy listening to? I doubt it.

Much like the other Idol live shows, the entire ensemble came out at the end to sing a catchy rock tune with a patriotic spin. For Season 2, which took place during the onset of the Iraq war, it was “Proud to be an American.” I skipped Season 3, but last year it was “R-O-C-K in the U-S-A.” And this year was no different with the unfortunate “Living in America” with James Brown.


Staples Center, home of the L.A. Lakers. (08/26/06)

It had some moments, but otherwise I could have easily sat this one out.