Idol Thoughts, February 12: The Legacy of Bo Bice

You have no idea how happy I am that the audition shows are over. Or maybe you do! At any rate, this week, we move on the Hollywood rounds and will learn who has made the top 24. I love this portion of the competition. There’s great drama in the process, and certainly, a lot at stake.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Bo Bice recently. It was cool to see a clip of his amazing performance of “In a Dream” during the “Best of the Rest” show last Wednesday. Tami Gosnell’s excellent performance of “Whippin’ Post” was also a reminder of just how good Bo was during his run on the show. He made that season worth watching for me, that’s for sure.

In the past few weeks, there’s been a lot of chatter on various websites about Bo and his relationship with RCA Records. His name no longer appears on their artist roster (although his photo is still in the artist montage) and this has lead to speculation that Bo is no longer with the label. His publicist and management company have “no comment,” lending further credence to this observation.

For his part, Bo has been laying low. He’s shown up in the audience at a couple of Nashville Star shows, and recently, he performed at the Bluebird in Nashville along with Chris Tompkins, Gary Nichols, and Jason Isbell. It would appear that Bo is embracing the Nashville music scene, and it would not surprise me in the least to see him sign with a Nashville-based label. It’s possible that the announcement of his leaving RCA is being held until he secures a new deal. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

As I watched the audition shows this season, I realized just how important Bo was in changing the profile of American Idol contestants. Prior to season three, the composition of the top 12 (10 in season one) was decidedly not rock ‘n roll. The contestants were either pop or R&B or some combination of the two. They were also younger and had less performing experience. Song selections were somewhat predictable, and while entertaining, few performances offered the kind of electricity and excitement that Bo brought to the stage.

I remember thinking “wow” when Bo sang “Whippin’ Post.” It was the first time anyone had done anything like that on the show and certainly got him noticed. At first, the judges had no idea how to react to him. He didn’t fit the profile, but as he moved along towards the finale, the people behind the show couldn’t deny that he had talent and was attracting new viewers to the show. He went from being an underdog to being a frontrunner, and Idol hasn’t been the same since.

Bo is more than just a singer. He is a musician and songwriter, and although he was not able to utilize these talents while he was a contestant on Idol, he brought additional experience and maturity to his performances. Suddenly, critics who had been calling Idol a “glorified karaoke contest” were paying attention to this long-haired country rocker who seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Bo didn’t win, but his success on the show was instrumental in bringing a whole new segment of fans to the show and to the tour. For the first time, there were more than just a smattering of men in the audience at the live shows and they were rockin’ right along with Bo. He was the first to be allowed to play electric guitar on the road, and put on a mini-rock show that was unparalleled in the tour’s history.

Bo also made it a lot cooler to audition for the show and the producers became more open to putting rockers through to the judges. Bo opened the door for musicians like Chris Daughtry and Taylor Hicks last season, and Chris Sligh and Sundance Head this time around. Without Bo, they may not have even auditioned, let alone made it through to Hollywood and beyond.

Bo Bice smashed the stereotype of what an Idol should look and sound like. He broadened the musical scope of the search for potential contestants, and brought credence to a show that although popular, had been seen as somewhat of a joke by those in the industry. He became the first Idol to perform with established musicians once the tour was over and the first to perform with his own band on the road.

Bo Bice has proven he’s the real deal, and that there is ample room for a rocker on American Idol. Chris Daughtry’s post-Idol success is evidence that the show is an exceptional showcase for this genre. It will be interesting to see how this year’s rockers do in the competition. One thing is certain; they owe Bo a debt of gratitude for opening the doors for them.

NOTE: Bo will be doing a live acoustic concert on Stickam Entertainment on Tuesday night (February 13) at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, New York. While entertainment sustains her emotionally, she earns her daily bread by writing and editing web copy. Check out her new website at www.idolthoughts.net. Donna loves mail, so shoot her an email at foxydonna@earthlink.net.

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For even more news about American Idol, be sure to check SirLinksALot - American Idol. To read more about Bo, check out Celebrity Spider - Bo Bice!