I realize it's been a loooooong time since I wrote on my blog. I've been too busy actually watching TV. And going outside! But I had to revive it pay tribute to one of my favorite television shows of all time that is ending soon. So here it is, my love letter to American Idol.
As we near the end of 2015, I’ve been even more emotional when it comes to my favorite past time – television. Four of my top five favorite shows are probably nearing an end this spring. Although, so far the fate of only one of those is certain: American Idol is ending. Over the 14 years that it’s been on, I’ve been an avid viewer since season two (we didn’t get season one in New Zealand. Travesty). I’ve never missed an episode. And even put most seasons on DVD so I can watch in the off-season. It’s been the constant part of my life during ongoing change: switching jobs, moving countries, moving apartments, first loves, heartbreaks. It’s been there for over a third of my life and reminiscing on this brings me to tears (seriously, I’m crying right now).
Unlike some of their viewers, American Idol wasn’t just about the television show to me. Pop music and TV have always been two of my favorite things and Idol brought these two together better than I’d even dreamed. I’ve discovered so many of my favorite artists today thanks to Idol: Kelly (yes, we’re on a first name basis), Carrie (same here), Daughtry, Scotty McCreery, Jordin Sparks and David Cook are all mainstays on my iPod’s top Top 100 playlist. Carrie got me hooked on the amazing world of country music, which is now one of my favorite musical genres. And I’ve seen Kelly, Scotty McCreery and David Cook in concert this year.
I can genuinely say that American Idol changed my life. I once had the chance to meet Simon Fuller and I told him that. I may not be one of the winners or contestants, but being a viewer for the past 14 years has brought me so much happiness and the music from winners and contestants has gotten me through good and bad times. It's been the soundtrack to my life. Living in Los Angeles for the past nine years, I’ve also been lucky (and persistent) enough to see the show live over a dozen times and meet many of my favorite Idols. See below for a few of my favorite photos (of many!). There are so many favorite Idol memories that it’s hard to try and pick one. But the ones that initially spring to mind are David Cook’s ‘Hello’, Carrie’s ‘Alone’, Scotty McCreery’s ‘Gone’, Chris Daughtry’s ‘Making Memories of Us’, Katharine McPhee's 'Come Rain or Come Shine', Kris Allen’s ‘Man in the Mirror’, Elliott Yamin’s ‘A Song For You’ and ‘Somebody to Love’ and Paris Bennett’s ‘These Foolish Things’. Oh how I wish there were full-length recordings of these early seasons!
Of even more significance are the live experiences, like being in the audience for Simon Cowell’s final show in season nine, when almost all the winners (except my fave David Cook!) came out singing ‘Together We Are One’. That was another moment when I couldn’t stop the tears (yes, everyone around me thought I was crazy). I’ll also never forget the first Idol taping I got to go to, when I was in LA on vacation. It was the top five results show in season five, when Paris Bennett was eliminated and the group performance was the ‘Together We Are One’. Seeing David Cook perform ‘Music of the Night’ during that season’s top six show, then win in the finale was also a highlight.
I know that it’s time for it to come to an end, since the last few seasons haven’t been rating as well, but it’s still bittersweet and so surreal that this coming January will be the final time American Idol premieres. But I’ll never forget the amazing memories it’s given me and the magic of being at the live shows. And whenever one of my favorite Idols performs in LA I’ll be one of the first to buy tickets.
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| With the original Idol Kelly Clarkson! |
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| One of my season five favorites, Katharine McPhee. |
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| On the red carpet with Scotty McCreery. |
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| Tracking down another season five favorite, Elliott Yamin, after an Idol finale. |
