Images from the American Idol Simon Mall Tour 2003
On April 2003 some of the contestants
from the hit TV. show American Idol did a tour of Malls run by Simon Management
(no connection whatsoever with Simon Cowell from the show). In the tradition
of American Idol they had local talent at the mall try their hand at singing
and the audience would vote by cheering and the other talent would judge
them. Some of the talent was locals who wanted to try their hand and at
least one of the "contestants" was one of the 234 from the 2003 season
and word has it that she may have made it to the 2004 season. More on that
later.
One of the stops was Charles Towne
Center in Charles County Maryland in Waldorf. I didn't know at the time
about Simon Management but did know about the appearance at the mall. But
thought it was odd that they would pick this mall in Charles County instead
of a more popular mall like Arundel Mills Mall near BWI Airport.
The talent from the show included Vanessa
Olivarez and Charles Grigsby and from the 2002 season there was someone
else who I apologize for not knowing his name but I will be the first to
admit that I didn't watch the 2002 show. I didn't even know who Kelly Clarkson
was until she released her single "A moment like this". Which brings me
to another issue which is that not everyone watches the show contrary to
what the demographics may show.
Other talent was from a local radio
station WIHT 99.5 FM. The hosts of the Morning show known as the "Morning
Mess" were on hand. The host Mark was nice enough to take my picture with
Vanessa Olivarez, thanks Mark, thanks Vanessa. I also had the honor of
meeting Charles Grigsby. I wish I had some time to talk to him, maybe one
day.
The major drawback to doing this in
the mall is that the acoustics were horrific and most of the singers who
may sound fantastic in a studio sounded terrible in the mall. One of the contestants
sang "God bless America" which works very well in the mall acoustics because
it has long syllables.
All these images are 320X240
Click on the image to see the larger view.
Stand up comic Matt B. Davis and help from WIHT FM
She keeps the audience excited.
More shots of the stage. I will narrate more of this later
More of the same.
Vanessa tells it like it is.
I shot a lot if pictures because it takes quite a few to get that one
good shot.
Vanessa look away to one of the members of the audience.
I was lucky enough to fire the camera at the right moment.
I believe this gal sang God Bless America and did a good
job considering the acoustics of the mall stank.
This same gal lets loose with all she has.
I believe that this guy sang "I want it that way" by
N'Sync and in the words of Randy Jackson he "sang his face off".
Cheryl Bak from near Rockville Md. who made it to the
final 234 in the 2003 season, according to her Candice Coleman calls her Little Bits. I forgot what she sang but with all her intense
effort she was no match for the lousy acoustics in the mall. I am willing
to bet that if she could get into a recording studio she could do a fantastic
job.
This image is Blurred due to the auto focus in the camera
not seeing her but instead the backdrop. I will try to fix it with Photoshop.
At this point she looks like she is giving it all she
has. Maybe in the 2004 season we will see more of her.
She relaxes. I wish her all the best on the 2004 season.
More local talent. I should have taken notes.
She does quite the job.
Vanessa Olivarez, Charles Grigsby and someone from the
2002 season who I am embarrassed to say I don't know his name.
Maybe someone will email
me with this info.
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