Idols Better Live

pickpickler33 · 08-24-2006, 07:28 AM

'Idols' on tour: Better than TV for most part
A U of M senior is looking for that special something to set her apart as a contestant.
Jon Bream, Star Tribune
Last update: August 23, 2006 – 12:09 AM

'Idols' on tour: Better than TV for most part

As Bucky Covington waltzed into the sellout crowd crooning "Drift Away" at the American Idols Live concert Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center, Nikki Allen looked like her mind was drifting away.
Actually, the University of Minnesota senior was deep in thought, imagining what it would be like to be onstage -- to be an American Idol.

The Eden Prairie native, who turns 21 today, is not an idle dreamer. She has twice finished second in the Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest. She was a finalist for KARE-11's "Minnesota Idol" competition in 2004, and she plans to audition for "American Idol" in Minneapolis next month.

"I could walk onstage and sing but I gotta find what would set me apart," she said during Covington's set. "Every one of these Idols has something that sets them apart. Maybe it's something as simple as Bucky puts on a cowboy hat. The crowd went nuts."

For Lisa Tucker, it was her piano playing on two Elton John hits. For Paris Bennett, it was her dancing, the very contemporary moves to Beyonce's "Crazy in Love." For Ace Young, it was his hair and his twinkling eyes, Allen said.

For Kellie Pickler, it was her accent, said Allen. "She kept her personality throughout the [TV] competition and still has it on the stage.

"Like Kellie, Mandisa was really real. She has a magical presence."

The anticipation for the second half of the two-hour show "brought the energy up before anybody came onstage," Allen observed.

While the first set was fun and playful, Allen didn't take her eyes off the stage -- not even once -- in the second half. The star power of Idols' final four generated lots of heat with the 16,685 fans.

Rocker Chris Daughtry seemed to be the crowd favorite. Not only his shaved head set him apart, Allen noticed, but he also has a different timbre to his consistently strong voice. With Elliott Yamin as well, it was his voice, with passion and soul burning through, Allen said. "He sings with a purpose."

Allen was thrilled to hear Katharine McPhee's rendition of "Over the Rainbow," a song she, too, has done in competitions. "It's such an intimate song, and she stepped back and took her time with it," Allen said, adding she was envious because she usually doesn't get such a leisurely opportunity when singing in contests.

Allen's mom, Shirlee, had tipped her off about Taylor Hicks during the early part of the TV competition. In person, Allen was bowled over by the champ.

"The way Taylor is onstage is the reason so many people want to win this," Allen said after the concert. "He's having fun. He's so genuine. It's not scripted. He's well-rounded, playing several different instruments. I want his energy."

Idol dreams

At intermission, Allen wandered by an Xcel souvenir stand, where there were posters of McPhee and Hicks and buttons and 8x10 photos of each Idol.

"I want my face on a button," she said confidently.

Allen is studying classical voice at the U, minoring in music and majoring in communications. She made her singing debut in church at age 4 and started performing country in her uncle's bar band at age 8. She had the lead in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Eden Prairie High School and has sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Twins games and Gopher basketball and hockey games.

Seeing Idols live at Xcel changed Allen's view of the whole competition. "I have my work cut out for me," she said afterward. "You can prepare, but until you see how much work is involved, it increases the drive 100-fold."

Allen knows what it's like to sing in an arena because she did the National Anthem for the Frozen Five college hockey tournament in St. Paul last year. Next time she sings at Xcel she hopes it's onstage with American Idols. But, as she says, she's studying communications as a fallback to do promotions or events planning if her music career doesn't pan out. So if she doesn't make it to the final 10 in the Idol competition next year, she could end up in the Pop Tarts costume as the Idols mascot who runs through the crazed crowd.