Lee DeWyze Chicago Homecoming – Photos, Videos and Recaps

Sounds like a busy day for Lee. :)

Can’t wait to see more vids!

He’s absolutely adorable. :)

Hey MJ…I got VIP tickets to the concert tonight for LEE…Hopefull I will get some good pictures to share. What email address can I send the pics to?

Aaahhh… this is awesome!!! He is so fabulous and very cute this morning! I am a fantard LOL

The weather video is funny! Lee did a good job with the ad-libbing :)

Sold out concert tonight! allright! He is such a sweetie and did great with the interview and weather.

That weather video is about the most personality I’ve seen from him. Hope he (and the others) have a great time at their home visits.

Hey MJ…I got VIP tickets to the concert tonight for LEE…Hopefull I will get some good pictures to share. What email address can I send the pics to?

mjsbigblog at gmail dot com

Thank you! Have a great time. :)

Ooh, the weather vid is excellent–much better than the interview. Loosen up, baby! You’ll be fine.

The weather Lee is the Lee I saw when I saw him sing with his band in Chicago.

Oh my gosh… Lee is everywhere I turn today =)… He truly is a doll and I’m glad he is so loved here. I heard Arlington sold out in 12 minutes yesterday… Wow!! That’s huge.. He seems like a really nice kid and I wish him the best today and in the future. Good for you Lee !!

Lee just said he was single on the Q101 stream. Too bad for all the Siobhan/Lee rumor-kids….or is it?

Lee just said he was single on the Q101 stream. Too bad for all the Siobhan/Lee rumor-kids….or is it?

Siobhan has a boyfriend the whole time she was on the show.

water_sprite:
05/14/2010 at 10:40 am
Lee just said he was single on the Q101 stream. Too bad for all the Siobhan/Lee rumor-kids….or is it?

Well, since she mentioned in her post-exit interviews that she was going home to her boyfriend, I guess that’s to be expected. :)

The last thing these kids need right now is a new relationship. At least, that’s the way it seems to me. If you don’t have time to sleep, how can you have time for true love?

Aughh! I’m at work and can’t see the vids! I’ve been thinking about Lee all morning, and I’m happy to see the comments that he’s doing well. Thanks for the commentary…..keep it up for those of us without access. :) Glad there are some other Lee fans on this site.

“We have water.”

For some reason I LOL’d.

Actually, the entire weather segment was great. Loved it!

Flicker, do you know about the Twitter feed? It’s up at the very top of MJ’s post.

Very interesting that Simon will pick Lee’s song

I suspect that Simon sees those dollar signs when he looks at Lee.

A really telling photo:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1291/4606792528_bb1d7016b4_o.png

Awwwwww

he’s just the most humble person i have ever seen!! i’m crying!! i really hope he win!

simon cowell picked lee’s song. he’ll be singing ‘hallelujah’ on tuesday…
uhmmm it’s not what i was expecting, why hallelujah again in this season !! but i’m sure lee will rock with that song !!

Really, Simon? Hallelujah? Couldn’t be any more creative than that?

Simon’s choice for Lee is lazy – we heard Tim do it this season, Jason Castro in Season 6 – 2 guys with guitars/ukuleles (they are similar) doing the song recently…

I really like Justin Timberlake’s version, so Lee’s will be epic!

my girlfriend is gonna freak out over this. she loves lee and this is her favorite song.

i’m rooting for crystal though.

Simon Cowell owns the publishing (?) rights to the song, I believe. One of the most over-covered songs in recent memory. Well done, Simon. Can I say, AR$EH*LE???!!!

Don’t love the song choice; it’s been done… and Jason killed it on season 7! But Simon is looking for a “moment” and he’s been pretty successful in picking choices that deliver a moment… so maybe he’s smarter than we think.

can i just say UGH again? simon is nothing if not dated and consistent with his craptastic song choices… i love the song but if lee goes off pitch on it egads :(

I’ll quote Simon Cowell for this. “That was a lazy song choice.”
Ellen’s pick for Crystal is the best.

Lee’s just been hamstrung.

WTF is right! OMG that is a TERRIBLE pick! Then again, I personally thought Simon screwed up with Adam’s pick last year too (Wicked Game would have been way better than One – which was great, but Adam is not who I think of to sing U2).

But Hallelujah?!?!? WAAYYYY overdone on AI (including earlier this year), plus, Kiss from a Rose made it ABUNDANTLY clear that Lee’s voice is way too limited to actually be able to control a nice, gentle, sweet sound. It gets way off pitch, and sound quality is bad when he tries to do that. Yikes. You need a real tenderness of tone to take on that song, and Lee’s voice wavers like crazy whenever he tries that. IDK. I have images of Paige trying to get through Smile when I imagine this song choice.

The judges will probably gush like mad anyways, so what does it matter. This whole season I feel they’ve been selectively tone deaf with Lee. So freaking frustrating.

WTF! Hallelujah? really? why? I love the song but why did simon pick that song for him other than he owns the rights to that song. Simon seems to really like Lee so i don’t get it.

The secret to “Hallelujah” is to avoid the Jeff Buckley version. The Buckley version is all anybody does anymore. Lee should be true to the original Leonard Cohen version. It is beautiful and powerful. Even though truly original, it will be considered different.

and today he’ll sing the boxer and walk away…

i love walk away!!!!

Simon doesn’t care how many times a song has been done, if you watch the X factor you know that. Not surprised he picked that song for Lee, way too easy to get votes with that one.

The secret to “Hallelujah” is to avoid the Jeff Buckley version.

… the Jeff Buckley version, the Leona Lewis version, the Jason Castro version, the Tim Urban version…

Memo to Simon: Jeff Buckley is dead. And probably not reincarnated in any of the other people you keep recommending this song for.

Simon is a smart guy – I am sure he knows it will pay off(hopefully, possibly, who knows…LOL)

Walk Away? what song is that? the only one that comes to mind is Kelly Clarkson’s Walk Away.

MrRJ said:

The secret to “Hallelujah” is to avoid the Jeff Buckley version. The Buckley version is all anybody does anymore. Lee should be true to the original Leonard Cohen version. It is beautiful and powerful. Even though truly original, it will be considered different.

Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Leonard Cohen version – just the Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, and others that followed. This would be great. (Although I can already hear the judges complaining that he changed it too much from the Jeff Buckley version.)

MrRJ:

The secret to “Hallelujah” is to avoid the Jeff Buckley version. The Buckley version is all anybody does anymore. Lee should be true to the original Leonard Cohen version. It is beautiful and powerful. Even though truly original, it will be considered different.

Heh. Cohen… finally, a singer who’s more off-key than Lee is. I’m not even sure you could call what he does “singing.”

But that fact somehow has never stopped me from owning just about every song he’s ever recorded. It won’t stop me from buying Lee’s stuff either. :)

I have no doubt the boy from Mt. Prospect will do something lovely with that lovely song. Go, Lee!

At least it’s clear which judge is trying to wreck their candidate…

walk away is an original song…XD

… the Jeff Buckley version, the Leona Lewis version, the Jason Castro version, the Tim Urban version…

ALL of these ARE the Jeff Buckley version with no more than a slight variation.

The Leonard Cohen version is great. Haunting and dark. It’s a great choice for Lee, but I agree that he must avoid the Jeff Buckley version that is the better know if he doesn’t want to sound karaoke, and something close to the LN version would be perfect.

Hallelujah won’t require Lee to stretch his vocals much but he may have a problem sustaining notes without going out of tune.

If I were Lee. I would pull a Bo Bice and sing a capella. The song fits and deserves it.

WOAHHH, that’s an awful pick for Lee! My Jason KILLED that song in season 7 and Lee won’t be anywhere near as good!

(glad Casey got a kickass song..)

I’ve heard of Castaway by Lee but not Walk Away.

Well, I love this song, but Jason KILLED this on AI. He was fantastic and memorable. I think Simon didn’t do Lee any favors by giving this to Lee. Also, I don’t think Jason got enough credit for bringing this song back to the forefront of people’s minds. After he performed it, this song was suddenly very popular again, and now it seems everyone covers it. I hope Lee can give this song the delicacy and nuance it needs. Sometimes he tends to plow through songs. I don’t have a pony in this race, so I hope they all do well on Tuesday.

Well this might ruin my plans on having Lee sing Simple Man for his own choice. I wanted him to sing that with just his guitar. But now he’ll do this with just his guitar so there’s no point on doing two slowish songs with just acoustic. Thank you Simon for ruining that moment dream i had since i heard him sing Simple Man on Youtube.

Well, I love this song, but Jason KILLED this on AI…I hope Lee can give this song the delicacy and nuance it needs.

Catch-22. If he does the delicate version, people will accuse him of stepping in Castro’s turf. If changes it up, people will accuse him of ruining the song.

Catch-22. If he does the delicate version, people will accuse him of stepping in Castro’s turf. If changes it up, people will accuse him of ruining the song.

Yes. The song has been covered sooo many times that I think it will be hard for Lee to find something that is “his own” without it being “dreadful.”

ALL of these ARE the Jeff Buckley version with no more than a slight variation.

Good point, MrRJ! … Il Divo, John Cale, Rufus Wainwright, KD Lang … (I kid)

Too bad Cowell doesn’t own the rights to any more Leonard Cohen songs. “Suzanne” for example.

I like your positive outlook, MrRJ. So there just may be some hope!

UPDATE: Simon Cowell Chose “Hallelujah” for Lee’s Judges Choice song – Uhhh. Really Simon? A song that’s already been sung on Idol this year? WTF?

I think Simon only knows 3 songs. “Hallelujah”, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and whatever song was playing on the AC Oldies channel when he last turned off his car.

Didn’t he pick this song for the X-Factor winner last year (or the year before or something). Dude totally needs to get a new script. Between all his shows, he keeps picking the same songs.

The Leonard Cohen version is great. Haunting and dark. It’s a great choice for Lee, but I agree that he must avoid the Jeff Buckley version that is the better know if he doesn’t want to sound karaoke, and something close to the LN version would be perfect.

My sense about Simon’s affection for this song is that it’s *all* about the Buckley version and *zero* about Leonard C’s own version. Simon’s all about the pretty in music, so LC’s dark, singing-it-like-a-brilliant-actor-or-somebody-reading-his-memoir-out-loud style isn’t at all what Simon’s going for, I don’t think. That said, he must surely know that while JB was a kind of melodic god, Lee can’t carry a tune and, if he’s to make anything out of this song at all, will need to do it in quite a different way.

I’m tired of Simon’s stupid choices of songs he owns the rights too. I keep picturing him totting up the dollars he’s earning in a little black notebook during the performance, just peering up over his nose every now and again to check on how things are looking.

kirsten

I think Simon only knows 3 songs. “Hallelujah”, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and whatever song was playing on the AC Oldies channel when he last turned off his car.

lmaooooooo at the oldies channel lol

Here’s another vid – this time from the AT & T store. Singing, talking and choking up a bit.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/entertainment/american_idol/lee-dewyze-skokie-chicago-20100514

Simon is so bored with the whole season that he forgot that Tim did it way back. Not a good choice of song from him since it’s been done this season. I am looking forward to the recording though.

OK, the weather thing cracked me up. And who says this kid doesn’t have personality? People also said Kris didn’t have personality last year, and we know that’s not true.

Good for Lee. He is obviously very moved by everything. Hallelujah is a strange choice, but I think it could be the kind of moment that “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was for Cookie.

karrahbrooke:

Good for Lee. He is obviously very moved by everything. Hallelujah is a strange choice, but I think it could be the kind of moment that “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was for Cookie.

Please, no. I don’t know if I could handle getting that verklempt over a silly TV show ever again.

For those who are interested, Bill Zwecker, the entertainment reporter for Chicago Fox News, did mention that he met Lee at the top 12 party, and thought that Lee has a great personality. He said he mentioned to Lee that he needed to showcase that more on the show, and Bill Zwecker said that he thinks he has been doing that more so lately. They all said what a nice, down to earth guy he is. I must say he seemed very relaxed and happy this morning. No signs of jitters at all!

I really wish the best for all the top 3. They are a quiet, but sweet bunch.

I really wish the best for all the top 3. They are a quiet, but sweet bunch.

‘Introvert Idol’ as Slezak called it once.

Simon doesn’t care how many times a song has been done, if you watch the X factor you know that. Not surprised he picked that song for Lee, way too easy to get votes with that one.

Exactly, I think it is an automatic song. I don’t think anybody can screw up that song, just because it is so incredible.
But Simon’s choice for David C was amazing.

Bless his heart. I just watched him trying to sing the boxer thru all the emotions he’s feeling. this means so much to him, all three of them really.

A young man crying does me in. And me without waterproof mascara.

I’m at arlington. This place is going to be a madhouse. There are Lee shirts everywhere and the “free ticket” folks haven’t even arrived yet. There’s gotta be a way to harness all this estrogen for good. World peace or something.

wjmtv:
05/14/2010 at 4:08 pm

I’m at arlington. This place is going to be a madhouse. There are Lee shirts everywhere and the “free ticket” folks haven’t even arrived yet. There’s gotta be a way to harness all this estrogen for good. World peace or something.

Too funny! Keep us in the loop if you can. Watch out for tramplings and the like!

wjmtv, LOL! thanks for the update.

Oh, man that new The Boxer vid just did me in… whew

Go wjmtv! Thank you for updating all of us – enjoy yourself :)

So Lee threw out the first pitch? A high strike, huh, I wanna see video. Seeing David Cook throw out the first pitch in his home video had me thoroughly impressed, and was definitely one of the first times I realized (i.e. finally admitted) I had developed a bit of a crush =P. Something about boys and their baseball, and the ability to actually throw a pitch that makes it to home nicely is… hot. Anyway, I rag on Lee a lot, but if he looks good pitching, I may finally understand people’s attraction, LOL.

Liva: I think I am like with you. LC is my spritual guru.

Lee getting choked up singing The Boxer is so moving …. *sniff*.

I like Simon’s song choice. I’m not worried about Jason’s or Tim’s versions, because I know that Lee can pour his heart into it.

wjmtv, thanks for the crowd report!

That second song DeWyze did at St. James was “Use Somebody” by the Kings of Leon. #leedewyzeday

OMG! he sang Use Somebody as St. james.

I like Simon’s song choice I’m not worried about Jason’s or Tim’s versions, because I know that Lee can pour his heart into it.

EXACTLY!

Very emotional and touching watching him perform The Boxer. How can you not like this guy?

The Boxer video did me in, too. And the weather video is all kinds of win. He’s just so adorable.

I can’t wait to hear him sing Hallelujah. It’s a such an incredible song and really perfect for his voice. I’d much rather hear it again than some of the other dreck they’ve given these kids to sing this season.

My posts will be short because I’m on a tiny touchscreen but I just met a friend of Lee’s and she said he’s completely overwhelmed by all of this. I suspect I’m going to see a young man lose. his. shit tonight. Good thing I brought Kleenex.

I was there at the AT&T store, about three heads back from the front. It is about ten minutes from where I work, so glad I went there instead of the big thing at Arlington tonight. Had no idea he was going to sing, what a great surprise. He was just like he appears on tv, so humble & grateful. He stuck around to sign autographs and take pictures, etc., and kept saying thank you and “love you guys”. What a guy. Even cuter in person!!

Even cuter in person!!

I’m totally envious of you!

So Arlington Park is sold out … does anyone know how many people it seats? 30,000?

wjmtv, I’ll have my tissue ready when we see the videos from there. Thanks for the updates.

laurelG, 30k? really? that’s awesome!

MrRJ:
05/14/2010 at 4:45 pm

Liva: I think I am like with you. LC is my spritual guru.

We’re in good company – Glen Hansard (Falling Slowly) considers him one of his holy trinity.

Oh gosh, I just watched one of the videos and saw my backside in there. I’m the one with the long blond hair, purplish sweater, dark jeans, white purse. I got up right next to him afterwards when he was signing. Really wanted to ask for a hug, but so many people. The guy looks so astounded by the fame, seriously, he has no idea whats in store for him.

Arlington Park’s website says 45k

I wonder what Lees song is going to be on Tuesday (the one he picks). Use Somebody? I’d love to see him sing that.

I got up right next to him afterwards when he was signing.

ahhh janeeyre that must have been so cool! I am envious of you too now!!!! ;)
And it would be fabulous if he got to sing Use Somebody…

So who has Simon picked for over the years? Does he always pick for contestants he likes?

Arlington Park’s website says 45k

Whoa…. are you saying everyone at that stadium is there to see Lee only????

So who has Simon picked for over the years? Does he always pick for contestants he likes?

Yes, he picked for Adam last year and Cook the previous. They were quite clearly his favorites those seasons.

unique28v:
05/14/2010 at 6:18 pm
Arlington Park’s website says 45k

Whoa…. are you saying everyone at that stadium is there to see Lee only????

I’m trying to figure out how to quote on this site! So forgive my copying and pasting until I get it worked out. Anyway, yes, the races end early at Arlington today, everyone will be there for Lee (all 45,000 people). Seriously, I don’t know how hes going to handle it. It will be the biggest crowd he has ever played for, by far. He is such a sweetheart. Also, saw his brother at the AT&T store too, took a picture of him. He looked overwhelmed as well!

I’ve got lots of pictures, MJ I don’t know if you need anymore.

I really hate to ask, but has he ever picked for someone who didn’t make the finale?

Did Simon pick for melinda Doolittle in season 6? She didn’t make it to the finale but it seems she was his favorite that year.

MLB’s Lee @ Wrigley write-up: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100514&content_id=10033990&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

And photo gallery: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/photogallery/year_2010/month_05/day_14/cf10034272.html

I wonder if the judges are able to work with the contestants arrangement this year like they did last year. Only Simon knew that he can work with Adam for his choice. And I’m still hoping Lee will sing Simple Man for his choice. If not, then he needs to pull of a Heartless moment.

Did Simon pick for melinda Doolittle in season 6?

According to Melinda’s Wikipedia page, Randy chose her song.

ETA – Simon chose songs for the following contestants:

Carrie
Katharine Mcphee
Jordin Sparks
David Cook
Adam Lambert

All of them made the final 2!

Thanks flicker, good to know! since Jordin won.

Anyone else following the twitter feed?

Ok- so I choose to be excited that Simon chose for Lee and not worry about the song choice…

And yippeeee- I just bought my concert tickets!!!

I’m trying to figure out how to quote on this site! So forgive my copying and pasting until I get it worked out. Anyway, yes, the races end early at Arlington today, everyone will be there for Lee (all 45,000 people). Seriously, I don’t know how hes going to handle it.

Thats amazing! And people thought 10,000 for Crystal was a lot! He’s definitely going to be nervous but it’ll be good practice for him.

Crystal’s got 10,000 and a livestream. What is WRONG with Fox Chicago? If Toledo can cough up a camera to follow the drama (and the tears), why the heck not Chicago?

We have a helicopter. The hostess claims he’s in his dressing room practicing Treat Her Like a Lady. Dare i hope????

I just watched The Boxer vid again. Damn, he sounds so good. His voice is husky with emotion. So, so good!

Here is the link to my photos from today:

Link for photos:

http://s967.photobucket.com/albums/ae157/eyrejane1/Lee%20Dewyze%2010/

janeeyre thanks for sharing your pics. You got really close to him. I’m so jealous. I wont see him live til 8/4.

Another lovely from the AT & T:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egipqjBqgC0

He seriously is extremely charming.
I can’t stop smiling when I’m watching his videos & my mom keeps giving me ll these weird looks. Haha.

& I loveloveLOVE the weather forecast video!
couldn’t help cracking up when he talked about the storms on monday :P

Liva thanks for that OMG! video moment. Is that an original? I tried to make out what he said at the end but couldn’t. If that’s an original that’s right up there with Flower Child and Annabelle for me. gorgeous song.

ok nevermind, i see it’s a Ben Harper song and Lee sang it really well.

Reading the twitter link… I so want to be at his concert!!!!!

Aladdict, it’s Ben Harper’s ‘Walk Away’.

#LeeDeWyze teases the crowd with a little Seal, “Kiss from a Rose”..”You remember what happened the last time I played that.” 2 minutes ago via TweetDeck

Hopes he made it worthwhile for us coming out #idol #leedewyze 1 minute ago via UberTwitter

When can we expect to see videos of his concert? The twitter feed is killing me…

“Am I smiling enough?” — #LeeDeWyze asks the crowd in mid song. 27 minutes ago via TweetDeck

When can we expect to see videos of his concert? The twitter feed is killing me…

I know, it’s like hovering around a Ham Radio.

Official attendance: 41,369 for #LeeDeWyzeDay at Arlington Park!

Hey-suess!

Should I be ashamed that I knew which of his original songs he was singing when they said he sang “I’m coming home”? So what now…

Shame, quiche2? Nevah! Did you happen to encode the first of his originals?

quiche2—No! I knew what it was too! no hints given on the other original he sang though.

41,369 there to see Lee, that’s amazing.

# angelich If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here.” ” Gotta thank the police” “really hard to swallow that you guys are here for me” #idol #leedewyze 2 minutes ago from UberTwitter

angelich He’s breaking down into tears #idol #leedewyze half a minute ago from UberTwitter

“I’m coming home!” croons #LeeDeWyze. How apropos. Crowd digs it. saw this tweet and knew- waiting for videos. What a way to spend a Friday night!!

Liva, thanks for all the updates! Times like this makes me wanna pack up my stuff & drive to Mt. Prospect ;)

Ok, one more…

There’s no crying in baseball. But there’s crying in #Idol. #LeeDeWyze is tearing up on stage. 2 minutes ago via TweetDeck

awwww…hugs for Lee.

That attendance figure for Lee is amazing. This has to be such an incredible moment for him. I love the home visits.

I lied… now, just one more…

angelich No more singing. They took the guitar away. “It’s hard to leave.” Get on a plane and go back & will be thinking of you #idol #leedewyze

Official attendance: 41,369 at Arlington Park!

Holy shit! Does that mean Lee is going to win? That is a lot of people!!! Should I change my overall pick again, lol. I should of stayed with Lee from the beginning. I did choose him to win back in the semis.

Mariam94:
05/14/2010 at 8:55 pm

Liva, thanks for all the updates! Times like this makes me wanna pack up my stuff & drive to Mt. Prospect ;)

Reading tweets is *almost* like being there, no? ;-)

Ten songs! He’s playing like he’ll never see that size of crowd again. Not taking anything for granted. Well done, young man!

Those tweets are great! Except it really makes you want to be there, doesn’t it? I can’t wait til we see some more videos and recaps of this epic day for Lee!!!!! I knew he was “all that and had IT” right from the first time I heard him :) Lee for the freaking win!!!!

It’s like I’ve hit a vein or something… MP Parade vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onYBun4K1-U

I can’t believe he performed Stay. Stay is my favorite song from his album, Slumberland. Perfect song to perform and wish i was there to experience it.

Thanks so much, MJ, for all the hometown coverage!

Ten songs! He’s playing like he’ll never see that size of crowd again. Not taking anything for granted. Well done, young man!

Did he seriously play ten songs? Wow. Good thing his voice was raspy to begin with! :)

Do they fly back to CA tonight? They must be exhausted.

Am I the only one who finds it interesting that Simon chose a song he owns the rights to for Lee to sing? Makes you wonder about those itunes sales…

That picture of Lee at the top of this thread? He looks like Billy Joel in 1975.

Am I the only one who finds it interesting that Simon chose a song he owns the rights to for Lee to sing? Makes you wonder about those itunes sales…

Simon thinks he’s helping both of them but he’s really being a money-grubbing, selfish bastard. Lee is going to have to be so careful on his pitch with a super slow song like that.

I teared again singing The Boxer a second time. I don’t think he can ever sing that song again without tearing, lol

I teared again singing The Boxer a second time. I don’t think he can ever sing that song again without tearing, lol

He’s so sweet. I couldn’t help going “awwwh”.

Yet another vid! ‘Use Somebody’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtKl35EvAQo

I haven’t had a chance to read all the comments but I just got back from Lee’s concert and I have to say he is AMAZING!! So charismatic and funny and a true artist. His original songs were sooo good and held so much meaning…I loved every minute of it. I have never seen so many people in one place…It was wall to wall people….

Oh and also Lee is donating all the money made from sales of tshirts and all other paraphenalia to charity. He was truly humbled by all the support and broke down down a couple times.

Lee FTW!!

And… batta, batta, batta. First pitch:

http://cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100514&content_id=10033990&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Holy Crap. I still can’t believe over 40,000 people showed up to hear Lee Sing. Thats more than even Danny and Kris got last year. I think they got around 30,000. Lee has a bigger fan base than I thought!

Everyone (especially the media and most idol bloggers) have already declared Crystal the winner. You would think that with what happened with Adam last year people would have learned that its way too early to say who has this competition in the bag.

I do hope Lee left some voice left for Tuesday. 10 songs is a lot! lol

Just watch the vid of him singing Hey Jude. He said he dream was to get a bunch of people to clap during his performance. After they all did, he breaks down to tears. Such an emotional day for him. He’s already a winner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1YOhqcRZxQ

Wow. I’m finally home. Back to a full-size keyboard and a computer that’s plugged in instead of on a battery that dies just before things get good.

Ok, here we go…

6:30 start time came and went. And that’s after the park hostess teased us with the “he’s in his dressing room rehearsing ‘Treat Her Like a Lady’” business. It’s creeping up on 7:00, and I’m watching the Jumbotron (which is smack in front of me) like a hawk, because I just know he’s going to come down the chute. It makes sense. The stage is right there.

Then I hear a kerfluffle off to the left. Jeez. They’re bringing him in through the crowd. He’s surrounded by about 12 guards and they’re all being led along by…brace yourselves…a bagpiper. Ohhhhhh yeeeaaaahhhhhhh. So they worm their way through the crowd (passing about 20 feet in front of me, not that I could see him through the forest of 10’ men. I did glimpse his hair and a cheekbone) and he finally gets up to the stage, takes a look around, and puts his head between his knees for the first of what will be about 15 times. For the next hour, I saw a lot of emotion, but not one hint of nerves. He was certain, he bantered, and he owned his tears.

He managed a word or two about how amazing this is, then some dingdong stage manager lady (who my benchmate was ready to kill before the night was out) made him step back so some school superintendant could say a few words. Amazingly, he did just say a few. The mayor of Arlington Heights was not so brief. Then the mayor of Mt Prospect got up and gave him a key to the city and he lost it again. He stepped up to the mike, then shook his head and said, “I can’t talk right now,” and stepped back. She went on a little longer and then, hallelujah, everybody left and Lee picked up his guitar.

He opened with “Use Somebody,” then an original song that must be off the first album because I didn’t recognize it. But I may have been distracted by the fact that a little girl was on her dad’s shoulders exactly keeping me from a perfect shot, AND SHE WASN’T EVEN WATCHING HIM. First time I’ve ever wanted to kill a kid who didn’t actually belong to me.

He sang “Lips of an Angel,” which I loved the first time he sang it and I loved it again tonight because I don’t listen to the radio and had never heard it before, so I wasn’t sick of it. During this song was when I understood that phenomenon that gets talked about so much on tour: the sounds we hear through our TEEvee do not begin to do these kids justice. Mr. Lee DeWyze has some seriously powerful pipes, and he knows how to use them.

Next, he did a Ben Harper song I’ve never heard before. For all the doubters, there was a note he hit, and held, and his voice was clear and strong and pure and on the money as steadily and as long as anyone could ever ask a singer to be. It was glorious.

“The Boxer.” Just as tough for him as it was at the AT&T store. I lost count of how many times he stopped singing, and at a few points couldn’t even play any more. That was when I decided he has a lock on Season 9’s David Cook Memorial “I’m Going to Cry Again” Award. For those who are asking, “Can he get any cuter?” the answer is “No.”

And as if that weren’t enough, he started strumming the next song with no intro. I heard about three notes and lost my shit. Ohmygod Ohmygod Ohmygod he’s doing “Crash Into Me.” (…………………………if you’re among the folk wondering what else he should sing on Tuesday so he’ll be a lock for the finale, I just found it. Sweet jesus.)

Next, another original, “So What Now.” One of my favorites. It sounded awesome, and I could tell he was loving the chance to do some of his own stuff. He especially seemed to like the lines about “I’m going home.” I think it was after this song that he first said, “They’re telling me to wrap it up, but I ain’t gonna.” He intro’d “Holiday in Spain” as his all-time favorite song. I’d never heard it before, but it was lovely.

He did just a few bars of “Hey Jude,” then I think he realized he wasn’t going to be able to make it through, so he did another original that I didn’t write down and can’t remember. Something about “…it’s hard when you find love…”

At one point, he told us about Hallelujah, and promised, “It’s going to be awesome.” He sang two lines of “Kiss From a Rose,” then asked if we liked how things went the last time he sang that. Judging from the crowd response, we liked it just fine. Then he asked us for a favor. He said it had long been a dream of his to have everyone clap along to one of his songs. So he set the tempo and everyone started clapping, and he started playing. He stepped up to the mic several times but had to step back again because he couldn’t sing yet, then he eventually had to stop playing too and bow his head for a while. God, if people like their Idols to be overwhelmed and humble, he’s got this thing in the bag. I haven’t been told “I love you” that many times in one night since my honeymoon.

He set down his guitar for an extended thank you, talking about how if it weren’t the power of the love he gets from back home, he never would have made it this far. He was actually pretty damned eloquent, and talked for several minutes. Then he looked off to the right at the stage manager lady and said, “They’re telling me I really have to go.” He stepped back, turned stage left, and walked away from the mic. I thought, “What the hell? That’s good-bye???” then he bent down and picked up his guitar and said, “Not yet.” Then he did “Stay,” belting out the “I haven’t slept yet” chorus with such intensity that I thought he was going to sprain his larynx.

Then he tossed his guitar strap into the crowd, said hi to his grandma, told us he loved us 6 more times, and that was it. He finally left the stage after almost an entire hour of the most emotional concert I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend. In a word: uneffingbelieveable.

Fun Fact: Lee’s been holding out on us. He’s a MUCH better guitarist than we’ve seen so far. When we were clapping, he was doing some seriously intricate fingerwork, and at a stage in the evening when it was cool enough and he’d been out there long enough that I don’t know how he did it.

Tuesday trivia: He said he’s going to step up to the mic on Tuesday and wave, and that wave is for us. Awwwwww.

My pictures are at flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25199330@N07/

Good find, Jon! I don’t even know what to say – it’s almost like he doesn’t think he deserves what’s happening to him. I hope every one of those in attendance knows how to ‘power’ vote.

wjmtv. such a great recap. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it all down. What a difference 40,000 people make to a performer, hey? If he can channel the energy/power/charisma you describe onto the idol stage, he’ll be amazing next week. Lets hope this experience has ripped any shred of nerves left in him.

Here’s a good quality of him performing an original, So I’m Told. He’s just amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlsccryHgp4&feature=channel

he did another original that I didn’t write down and can’t remember. Something about “…it’s hard when you find love…”

It might’ve been “Flower Child”… One of the lines is “You gotta go find some love, there’s a whole lotta love to be got.” I hope that’s what it was, it’s my favorite of his originals.

Thanks for the great recap, wjmtv. I wish I could’ve been there too! I’m so happy for Lee.

Awe Lee. He really won me over today. Amazing guy. Amazing crowd. Huge career ahead of him.

Radio show, if anyone’s interested:

http://b96.radio.com/2010/05/14/american-idol-lee-dewyze-with-j-julian-showbiz-shell/

Scored another great one, Jon!

Hey guys here are my pics from the concert:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7165685@N02/?donelayout=1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7165685@N02/?donelayout=1

Lee butchered Use somebody. I think my heart is bleeding. What the hell was that? If you don’t have the skills for it, DO NOT SING IT!!!!! *crying*

wjmtv, I really enjoyed your recap! I really love this kid.

So I watched the youtube video of the clapping and seriously lost it. I can’t imagine what it must be like to have all of your dreams come true in one day…

Sigh… to each their own – is he supposed to be perfect on everything? I think he was pretty damned close to perfect today – Do we critize emotional performances that are so heartfelt and sincere too? I am glad he didn’t sound exactly like Kings of Leon… he is not supposed to is he? I am so happy when he makes these songs his own, with his own take and nuances. I am glad he got so much love today in his home town – love that is felt around the country and Canada too
I thought Lee did excellent work on ALL his songs tonight! Can you imagine how awesome that was for him?
nad, thank you for the beautiful pictures and wjmtv – awesome recap. And to every one who contributed to this thread in a positive way for the rest of us, I thank you too. So many great comments, pictures, and videos to enjoy :)

Lee can perform “Use Somebody” straight up just fine, he was obviously just messing around. Here’s video of him doing a straight cover on it, and he sounds fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2RpG-vTkqE

Thank you everyone for photos and videos! I really enjoyed them all!

I guess here http://www.youtube.com/user/meridith19 are all the videos from his concert!

Dear wjmtv,

Thanks so much for your detailed and eloquent recap! I wish I lived in Mt. Prospect/Arlington and could have attended, but reading your description, seeing the pics and videos really captured the feeling. AWESOME! especially for our Lee!!

Thanks!! Sue

PS – you really made me smile with this one: God, if people like their Idols to be overwhelmed and humble, he’s got this thing in the bag. I haven’t been told “I love you” that many times in one night since my honeymoon.

Thanks to all who uploaded pics, videos…he’s adorable…I too like the way he sang “Use Somebody”, he switched it up to more of a folk sound…like that!! I also love when he said “Am I smiling?” Seems like a great guy, with a very humble personality…really has no idea just how good he is……

A million thanks to everyone for sharing their pics/video, and a big thanks to MJ for posting them here.

I am blown away by Lee. It is like seeing a whole new side to him. He is so humble and emotional. Yet, he seems real at ease performing before that monster crowd.

Got to love the fact that he is singing some of his own music. He is going to take this one. I can feel it.

Casey and Crystal are great too. Saw a new side to them too, in their hometown visits, but this one is in the bag for Lee.

Huge shout out to wmjtv… thanks so much for your recap!!!

Awww…Lee is a pretty cool kid. I didn’t like his cover of “Use Somebody”. The desperation and longing in Caleb Followill’s version is completely lost when done up tempo. I appreciate an artist putting their spin on things but sometimes it doesn’t work. Nothing to do with vocals…he sounds great. Lee seems to be the one to beat.

No “likes” and “you knows” in his thank you speech to his fans. Who knew speaking to 41,000 fans would cure a person of that? I can’t say it enough, so happy for the dude.

I’ve seen some of the videos and will watch the rest later. Thought they were good, much better than what we’ve seen on the show. It seems to me he gets nervous when he is being judged. I like his voice, but do agree he needs a little more vocal control, and some more stage presence, but still really like him, I have his cds and like his original music also.

THis is just a question, though. Is he the first contestant that was allowed to do original music while still on the show at their homecoming? I know they didn’t the last couple of years even though David Cook and Kris did have their own albums also, but I wasn’t following before that. That and the fact that Lee’s cds are still available. Maybe either they changed what is allowed, or that there is something that if they have preidol music still released it’s part of the deal if they get signed and others decided they didn’t want this? I don’t really know, just wondering if there is anything to this. Not good or bad either way, just a difference I noticed.

I believe Crystal sang originals at her homecoming as well. (Casey, too?) I think this year AI fans are crying out for a change, and all three finalists are, to their core, singers, songwriters and musicians. Nice one Idol for allowing them to sing their own stuff, if this is indeed the first year.

I haven’t had a chance to watch anything else but the weather bit was cute. It looks like Lee had a lot better weather for his homecoming day than Casey did.

He’s probably the person I hate the least that’s left-homecomings are so emotional

I think he’ll probably choose Use Somebody to sing for his second song.

Bethlyn:

I am blown away by Lee. It is like seeing a whole new side to him. He is so humble and emotional. Yet, he seems real at ease performing before that monster crowd.

Yes, and yes. As I said in my recap, no nerves whatsoever. Apparently, Lee just needs to be shown a little love, and he blooms like a rose. :)

I’m glad y’all enjoyed my recap. It was truly a great night. I had a moment on Thursday when I thought, “Do I really want to do this? Drive 45 minutes and fight that crowd so he can sing 3 songs?” But I decided I had to go, because he’s a local boy, so I went. Am I (obviously) glad I did.

Re: singing original songs…I think the PTB have recognized a sea change in both the contestants and what the viewers want. I’m guessing it started with Cookie (but then for me, all things Idol start with Cookie) when AH did so well underground, then last year they took a risk with Kris letting him have a solo writing credit on his album and, lo & behold, people still bought it! Wow!

I think it was before Lee did his 3rd original song yesterday, he said, “I’m not supposed to do my own stuff, but too bad,” which made me smile. I guess they have a teensy bit more leeway in the bubble than we thought, or somebody figured, “If he wants to give up sleeptime to play for these guys, we may as well let him.” I don’t know. But four originals were more than I ever would have dreamed I’d get to hear. They were also playing “Slumberland” on the PA when I arrived at the park at 3:00 when the races were still going on.

I’ve liked Lee from the beginning, but I’ve read so many people complaining about how he can’t hold pitch that I was starting to wonder, “Were the judges wrong to pick him? Am I just not listening closely enough?” But now that I’ve heard him live, and heard what they hear when they’re sitting in that theatre, I’ll never doubt again. The dude is phenomenal.

Reminder:

Looking for links to Lee’s pre-Idol work? Click this link:

http://mjsbigblog.com/lee-dewyze-pre-idol-the-making-of-annabelle-video.htm

Please do me a favor: No links to iTunes or Amazon in comments. Why do you ask? My own crass commercialism! I am a iTunes and Amazon affiliate, so I would appreciate ya’ll using my links.

Thank you!

Can we take much more?

http://twitpic.com/1o2ng8

Simon’s a whore. I’m sure this has been discussed, but yeah, he owns rights in “Hallelujuh.” Where’s an eyerolling emoticon when you need one? Or, a vomiting one?

Re: singing original songs…I think the PTB have recognized a sea change in both the contestants and what the viewers want. I’m guessing it started with Cookie (but then for me, all things Idol start with Cookie) when AH did so well underground, then last year they took a risk with Kris letting him have a solo writing credit on his album and, lo & behold, people still bought it! Wow!

And David Cook had a solo writing credit for A Daily Anthem, also. And both cowrote most of the songs on their cds.

And all idol things start with Cookie for me too, he is the first Idol I have become a real fan of after the show. Even though I did watch the show on and off since the beginning, I never really became a fan of anyone afterwards, the only one that I followed a little was Daughtry.

I think the next step in this would be to have the top contestants write or at least cowrite their own coronation song. This would give them a song that was really their own, and avoid them not having a song that fits them, especially after what happened last year. It would also really show what kind of artist they are. Some contestants would handle this better than others, so that’s why it would be good to have cowriters. I haven’t heard what their doing for this year.

MJ, u need to put up Lee’s cover of Crash into Me. It’s so good.

The sound qualities on these videos is really good! And Lee is having no trouble giving his all in this concert(except for the emotional parts and I love every time he chokes up)
I say we “skip the Idol tour” and go straight to his own tour – he has more than enough excellent original material- the songs fit into his Idol journey, like they were written for this.

I think the next step in this would be to have the top contestants write or at least cowrite their own coronation song. This would give them a song that was really their own, and avoid them not having a song that fits them, especially after what happened last year. It would also really show what kind of artist they are. Some contestants would handle this better than others, so that’s why it would be good to have cowriters. I haven’t heard what their doing for this year.

I think that’s a good idea. The song would also have more meaning to the contestants. I think it would have more emotion for them and their feelings about the Idol journey and like you said, fit more to their strengths.

Thanks to everyone for all the videos and pics and to wjmtv for the wonderful recap. Lee is amazing in all kinds of ways.

I hope that he does Crash Into Me for his second song on Tuesday. Or maybe he’s saving something for us. But Crash Into Me is one of my favorite songs ever (<3 DMB) and I loved his version of it. I want a studio version!

Lee is such an emotional guy. The dude cried more than Josiah Lemming back in season 7. lol. :) It’s all good, I’m just teasing. I know he was overwhelmed by all the love he was getting. He definitely has the voice that is ready for radio right now and it looks like that his chances for winning is pretty big considering the crowd that turned out for him. The crowd was singing so loud during most of his set that I didn’t really hear him, lol. “Walk Away” sound pretty good.

Re: singing original songs…I think the PTB have recognized a sea change in both the contestants and what the viewers want. I’m guessing it started with Cookie

Not that it matters but it’s been going on for years. I recall both Bo Bice and Taylor Hicks singing their own songs when they went home, and I’m sure there were more if I had a good memory!

As much as I would also love to hear “Crash Into Me” on Tuesday night, I don’t see that happening. Some of the lyrics aren’t exactly G-rated, if you know what I mean. Good ol’ Dave, that naughty boy.

But I can’t wait for Tuesday, no matter what he does. The emotion he brings to a song is going to do amazing things to “Hallelujah.” And if we can get another song that shows off his energy like “Treat Her Like a Lady” did, he’ll make the finale for sure.

ETA – Simon chose songs for the following contestants:

Carrie
Katharine Mcphee
Jordin Sparks
David Cook
Adam Lambert

All of them made the final 2!

Actually, Simon picked for Vonzell in Carrie’s year. Randy picked for Carrie.

sallysimmons:

Not that it matters but it’s been going on for years. I recall both Bo Bice and Taylor Hicks singing their own songs when they went home, and I’m sure there were more if I had a good memory!

When I said that for me, “Everything starts with Cookie,” I meant that literally as well as figuratively. The first time I ever saw the show was the night he sang “Little Sparrow.”

But I had a feeling that Taylor at least would’ve had some original stuff in the bag. And I knew someone would be along to set me straight! :)

Lee is doing some serious finger work on that guitar on his song SO WHAT NOW. Listening to the recorded version i thought there was lots of guitars on that song but it’s just him. wow!

Here’s a cute article about Lee’s pre idol days:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=381054

As much as I would also love to hear “Crash Into Me” on Tuesday night, I don’t see that happening. Some of the lyrics aren’t exactly G-rated, if you know what I mean. Good ol’ Dave, that naughty boy.

This is true. I noticed Lee left out the line “Hike up your skirt a little more and show your world to me.” He also changed the line in “The Boxer” to say “girls” instead of “whores.” Good thinking, keep it family friendly, Lee. :)

Hopefully Lee has a surprise in store for his second song on Tuesday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgBptursCJM

Have you guys seen this video of Lee? His dance moves at the beginning is adorable! I’ve just started watching some of his kareoke videos & they’re incredible! The guy’s got talent ;)

Mariam, that was cute! I love the hand in the pocket.

I like to think that if I’d been in that bar, I would’ve woo-hoo’d loud and long. I’m pretty sure I would have. I always appreciate a passionate voice, even if it’s on karaoke night. :)

WuLi Records just recently put this new single up of Lee’s it’s called GREEN WITH ME. what do you think? I think it sounds like a commercial for recycling or using energy saving light bulbs. Still love that voice though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3TV1JL6vjs&playnext_from=TL&videos=09XR-1v8y-k

Boy, that’s an odd choice for a single. WuLi have got a really good opportunity here; you’d think they align more with the tone of what Lee is presenting on Idol. Surely “So I’m Told” contains songs with more impact? The song ‘Stay’ is from this record? That’s a good ‘un.

‘Green With Me’ reminds me a bit of Shiny, Happy People (REM circa 90s). WuLi, I’d love to know why.

Maybe they are just pulling out everything they have recorded by Lee in order to capitalize on his fame. But I have to say, this is my least favorite Lee song..lol.

I agree, Liva. If they’re going to put something on the radio, it should be “Stay.”

Green with Me is a song he donated to a recycling campaign

Ah, gotcha glamertitis. Perhaps he can spin this ditty into a Ford eco-car commerch.

I always enjoy a passionate voice, even if the first night.The karaoke I H’ve seen the show was the night he sang "Little Sparrow.&quot.
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