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'Idols' Give Glossy, Crowd-Pleasing Show In Tampa

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 22, 2008

The "America Idols Live" tour defies criticism because it's a love fest for the undemanding teen fans of the various singers. The "Idol" finalists could be singing the nutritional chart off the back of a box of Kellogg's Corn Flakes and get screams and squeals.

The seventh tour rolled through Tampa on Thursday night. It was safe, predictable, and barely tolerable for those who aren't enamored with the performers. But it probably was entertaining for the 12,054 filling seats at the St. Pete Times Forum. And you might applaud the performers for trying to show enthusiasm after singing the same songs through 40 performances.

It was an evening of cover tunes and replays of musical highlights from the past "Idol" season. With each performer, the crowd grew more responsive until the excitement peaked with Idol winner David Cook, the biggest crowd pleaser of the night.

Cook noted that Tampa was a special stop for him because he met with Lindsey Rose Belcher, a Palm Harbor fan battling leukemia.

Cook, who has been wearing a bracelet in support of her, dedicated Foo Fighters' "My Hero" to Lindsey Rose, the 7-year-old daughter of reporter Charley Belcher, who covers the "Idol" competitions for WTVT, Channel 13.

Lindsey Rose had a special backstage visit with Cook. "She was thrilled," said Charley Belcher. Cook told the audience that wearing her "Do What You Got to Do" bracelet meant a lot to him.

The concert was a homecoming of sorts for Idol finalists Ramiele Malubay, who went to Zephyrhills High School, and local favorite Syesha Mercado, a Miami theater student from Sarasota. Both thanked the Tampa audience for all the support. But much of what they said was inaudible, lost in the vast cavern that is the Forum.

Highlights before the two Davids (Cook and Archuleta) took the stage included:

•Tattooed Carly Smithson delivered a spirited version of Heart's "Crazy on You" and a decent cover of Cyndi Lauper favorite "I Drove All Night."

•Sarasota favorite Syesha Mercado, exotic in a short shimmering dress, nailed Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" and sizzled on Beyonce's "Listen." She told the audience that because of them she is living her dream.

•Flaky dreadlock dude Jason Castro was endearingly corny on a ukulele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and The Lovin' Spoonful's whimsical "Daydream" suited him.

The audience went wild for baby-faced David Archuleta, the teen with the puppy dog eyes and mellow voice. He rose dramatically from beneath the stage billowed in smoke (from dry ice) and playing a piano while he crooned Robbie Williams' "Angels." He was smooth and sounding all grown-up on Josh Groban's "When You Say You Love Me" and he had young girls' hearts racing with "Stand By Me."

The best was served last. The king of the 2008 Idol competition, Mr. Cook, thundered onto the stage dressed in white "Metal Maven" T-shirt and jeans. He was cool, confident and cocky during a set that included the obligatory (and forgettable) written for "Idol" song, "Time of My Life." He got better response and a lot of love from the crowd with the familiar tunes such as "Billie Jean" and Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing."

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at wbelcher@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7654.

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