http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/06/62894/index.html

Behind the Scenes of the 'American Idol' Tour

Copyright 2008 Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

When the 49-city "Pop-Tarts Presents American Idol Live! Tour 2008," hits your city, David Cook, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Michael Johns and the rest of the Top 10 will be performing mini-concerts, with just a couple of group numbers thrown into the mix. So each time an "Idol" finalist comes on the stage, it will have an entirely new look.

"I really like to dance, but I really struggle to dance in heels on a slippery stage with lights and dips," shares Brooke White. "We had a limited amount of time to learn things, so it was really interesting."

For her portion of the show, Brooke will be incorporating "Let It Be" into her set -- and she will be sitting behind the piano. "That is where I belong," she tells ET. "Nobody wants me out there flapping my arms around."

Surprisingly, David Cook tells us that his favorite performance from season seven was "Music of the Night." "Growing up with a theater background, I appreciated Andrew Lloyd Webber just like everybody else," says the rocker. "Then to be able to fall back on the singing training I have had, it was fun for me, but it is not something I am doing on the tour.

"I am doing a few things. Actually, I am going to be doing the single, 'Time of My Life.' I have been blessed to have that song do as well as it has. I am really excited about it. We pushed it up a little bit to try to make it something interesting for the people coming to see the show and we have a few surprises."

Laid back Jason Castro will be reprising fan favorite "Somewhere over the Rainbow." "That was my favorite," he tells ET. "That was the only performance I could watch and not cringe and have to shut off. Every other performance I was like, 'Eww.' That song I could actually watch all the way through and I was happy with it the whole way."

Runner-up David Archuelta tells ET he has spoken with our correspondent Donny Osmond since the competition ended. "He called while he was in London getting ready for his show there. He said he was proud of me and try to be a good example. Just to remember who to thank for all of this. He said if I needed help with anything to just give him a call."

Archie will be performing Robbie Williams' "Angel," while Chikezie reveals that his tour song is one of his favorites: "I Believe to My Soul" by Donny Hathaway. "I loved it before I even got on the show," he says.

Aussie hottie Michael Johns will be doing a Queen medley, but he says those songs weren't his favorite from the competition. "My favorite performance of the season was the Dolly Parton song. It came natural to me. There were so many things that went right. When I hit that blues/soul/rock thing in my voice that is what I get excited about."

Kristy Lee Cook's choice was an easy one. She will be reprising "God Bless the U.S.A." "My dad is a veteran, so I really was dedicating that song to him," she says of her decision to sing the song during season seven. "It is one of his favorite songs. I want to sing it on tour for all the veterans. It is the only patriotic song of the night."

Carly Smithson shared that she will be performing a song she didn't do on the show -- Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life;" while Ramiele Malubay is going to be doing the Jackson Five song, "I Want You Back.

And last, but not least, third place finalist Syesha Mercado is singing Alicia Keys' "If I Got You." "I've liked it for many years and I get to do a different arrangement to it, so it is going to be cool," she says.

Thanks for sharing, great interview.I love to read about the tour.

Yeah, I think Whoopie mentioned it on "The View" yesterday that they'll perform in the order they were eliminated, saving Archie and Cookie for the end. A producer must have handed Whoopie the info since she was clearly clueless about AI and company (I still love you Whoopie!)
It now seems that they'll throw in a couple of group numbers and we'll see DC peform TOML earlier (before his set)... did I read that correctly?
Good thing I love the rest of the top 9! I have no problem listening to Chikezie, MJ, Ramiele, Carly, Kristy Lee, Brooke, Jason and Archie first. Should be a lot of fun. Saving best for last!

I know this is a DC board but Daymn I want MJ to sing "its all wrong but its alright"!

There is a God!! I Thought I was gonna have to miss the concert because I have a wedding that night, but it looks like I can go to the church wedding and part of the reception (sneek out to the concert) and still see DC perform his songs!!! I am so shocked this is going to work out after all. If one of the early concerts lets me know the time the concert actually starts and the first time DC come out and when his final set starts, I think I can swing it!!!!

I can let you know in a PM... I'm going to the LA concert on Monday July 7th. Remind me the day before or earlier that day! I will give you a timetable but I don't want to give too much info so as not to ruin it for others, so I'll PM you (although a timetable probably won't matter). Someone will likely post all this anyway right after Glendale, Arizona!

I loved to know that Carly is going to do Evanescense, I love Bring me to Life, and Cook's 5º song choice is still a surprise, I loved it.

Saving the best for last.... Even though I will enjoy seeing the other participants I will be waiting with anticipation for our David.

I love to read about the tour too!
Probablly because I won't go ! And I really want to
Thanks for sharing

Yes, please post any tour details for us!!

Few things:

- MOTN was my favorite performance from him too. I get chills when I see it, I feel like he's peering through the screen and singing staight to me
- I would love to see MJ sing It's All Wrong But It's All Right! He was amazing in that performance.
- Carly singing Evanescence: that's like a dream to me.

This tour should be a lot of fun, too bad I can't be there.

yeah...that got me excited!

I can't go, but that needs to happen. Minus the ascot, it was sex personified. Yeah, Mikey, it's all right! And Chikezie needs to sing "She's A Woman" because that was awesome.

From what I've been able to find out MJ is probably going to get signed by 19. I'm not sure what the album would sound like but the press tour will be insane. Even more fun: a Mavid tour.

That "God Bless The USA" thing is soooo cheesy, omg!!

Interesting article... thanks for posting. I love it that DC is keeping his song choices (at least the 5th song) a surprise. But then, I'm one of those people who doesn't want to know what I'm getting for Christmas - I hate ruining the surprise.

It's as if KLC thinks she's better than the rest of them because she is singing "the only patriotic song". Kristy, hon, it's
a reality show pop-rock tour, not a 4th of July parade.

Its the only song she knows.

Bring me to life is SUCH a beautiful song, i love it! I would love to see Carly singing it!

Or does well.

Mavid Tour FTFW!!!

Don't feel bad shannabelle. That was his most awesome vocal and performance. Very sexy! I downloaded it from iTunes. I LOVE it and want to hear it, too!!



Yes, we will have to wait until the end of the concert to hear DC, but we heard on Larry King that he gets 5 songs! That's more than any other contestant! Archie gets 4 songs and everyone else gets 3. YAY! Gosh, too bad we can't have DC for a couple of hours. I cannot wait for him to headline his own tour in a few years!!!

Interestingly, when he said they would "push it up" my first thought was that they would jazz it up, rock it out more, do something different to the song itself. Didn't occur to me that they would change the order of appearance. What you said probably makes more sense, although I wouldn't be surprised if David does sing it differently each night, we've already seen three or four variations.

A few YEARS? Is it really going to take that long? I can't imagine that since he seems to have so much material ready to go! I would assume he would have to wait until the Idol contract is up, though. Man, this is going to be one long wait, no matter how long it is !!

No offense, but I think you're both worrying needlessly. Most working musicians, especially the ones with product to promote, tour CONSTANTLY! It wouldn't surprise me a bit if DC starts touring on his own after the new year, particularly if the CD takes off over the holidays. This is provided a backing band takes shape, that is. Maybe I'm wrong but I'd bet cash money on this.

thanks for this article!!!

hmmm...is this the first time he said MOTN is his fave performance? it sure IS MY FAVORITE!!! really great song and with such a great voice, he delivered a remarkably awesome and unforgettable performance!

hey, ladies & gents - do share with us (who can't go due to geographic or other constraints) your photos & vids of the tour...THANKS MUCHOS!!!

i feel the same way.
I can't attend the tour, so 'll have to make the best of it & read all there is to read about it.
Thanx 4 the post.