Unlike Britney Spears, American Idols Really Sang

Jim Derogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times reviewed the ‘American Idols Live’ show at Allstate Arena on Wednesday, giving the show’s 10 finalists decent reviews, at least compared to some of their pop peers. “As teen-pop spectacles go, the show should be lauded for eschewing canned, pre-programmed backing music in favor of a live and kicking eight-piece band,” Derogatis said. “Yes, there were the requisite giant video screens, and the fireworks and flashpots that the *NSYNC and Britney Spears set has come to expect. But in stark contrast to Ms. Spears’ performances, the singers here really sang. And unlike *NSYNC, they performed good material–albeit familiar covers (most of them oldies) of the sort that you’d hear at a semicool wedding reception.”