Idol worship

Mon, August 6, 2007

Queen legends Brian May and Roger Taylor offer contestants advice.

By JASON MACNEIL, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA



It's the afternoon of Aug. 1, and while the remaining seven finalists of Canadian Idol slept well Tuesday evening knowing they've lived to sing another week, it's back to work.

The contestants are inside the Canon Theatre in Toronto, currently home to the Queen and Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You and about to participate in a workshop. Although the workshops make up a few minutes of the actual program that comes across your screen each week, the actual production is far more intricate and laborious than you might expect.

With four statues from the musical in the background, cameras, lights and cables litter the stage while two director chairs are placed stage right. A little after one o'clock, Queen drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May saunter out to the chairs and prepare to critique and offer advice to Jaydee Bixby, Dwight D'Eon, Carley Rae Jepsen, Brian Melo, Greg Neufeld, Tara Oram and Matt Rapley. And although sworn to secrecy on what songs will be sung, I will let you in on a highly confidential tidbit: the seven will be performing Queen songs.

Each contestant is given about 20 minutes to introduce themselves, make a little bit of small talk with Taylor and May as the cameras roll, perform their selection from Queen's rather vast catalogue and get feedback from the pair. The venue's sound system picks up the actual performance but the advice and comments from both Queen members is inaudible except for a small speaker near the production desk picking up the dialogue.

Perhaps what is most refreshing about the whole process, aside from the deep "calm yourself" breaths emanating from some contestants before walking out and greeting the rock legends, is how May and Taylor seem truly interested in the process.

Whether it's the often repeated "You're 16?" question the 58-year-old Taylor astonishingly asks some of the younger talents or meticulously breaking down some performances, the pair seems rapt with the proceedings.

They also give each contestant another shot at the songs following some helpful hints or suggestions.

As for the contestants, singing as they do each week during the episodes before a live audience might be the easier part of the week. A workshop like this is intimidating to say the least and some of the contestants are a bundle of nerves.

"My mom is so jealous of me now," one says while shaking hands with them.

The performances come and go, with some putting their own spin on a Queen signature. While it might be a stretch, it's a bit like standing before Bill Gates and then showing him how you've made your own mark on a Microsoft product.

Not exactly a walk in the park.

But some appear to shine a bit brighter than others, working the stage and singing as if the Canon Theatre was packed instead of the three or four dozen people in attendance.

However, they must remember not to work the stage too much. After all, there are camera angles to consider and marks to hit at certain times.

Following the second performance from each, the performers are often given a few more tidbits of advice but generally receive positive feedback from Taylor and May.

After the conclusion of the workshop, the seven contestants were invited to We Will Rock You Wednesday evening, some of which will be seen this week on Canadian Idol.