Tuesday, September 09, 2008

A year has passed

I spent a little time tonight going back and watching old videos from the Idol tour last year.  The tour this year is coming to a close, so a year later...wow, how life is different.

I remember the tight pants I was made to wear for "Thanks for the Memories".  Not cool.  Chubby guys and tight jeans.  Not cool.  But Gina and I had so much fun with that song.  

And the Boy Band.  Wow.  That was awesome every night.  I know we weren't the tightest band.  That wasn't the point.  The point was that when we got to the "Nah-nah-nah-nah's" on "Hey Jude" every night, we had every single person in that stadium in our hands!  I don't know if I'll ever experience that again...10k people singing along with me...hopefully, but you never know...if not, at least I got to experience it once.

Doing "Typical" every night was so awesome.  I know most people didn't know the song and there were times on the tour I wish I'd done a different song.  But to sing one of my favorite songs ever in front of that many people was great.

I miss my castmates.  I miss being in the green room every day with them.  I miss talking about useless information and getting on the bus for a few hours every night heading to the next city.  I miss Blake and his craziness.  I miss Sanjaya and his young messiness, his silliness.  I miss Rich and his kindness.  I miss Phil and his baldness (though I did just hang out with Phil last night).  I lived for almost a year with those guys...and though we're still friends, I don't know if it'll ever be the same.  

I miss the girls, too, don't get me wrong...Gina was one of my best friends...but it was different...the guys were together a lot.

My season got the short end of the stick in a lot of ways, I think.  But here I am a year later doing what I do, my management and label are pumped at how things are going and I'm building something.  Life is good.  

A year has passed.  

25 comments:

Carianne said...

I was just thinking about this an hour ago! It is amazing to think of all that has happened for you (and the rest of the group) in just one short year. And if it's amazing for me to see the changes, it must be even crazier to be living it!

Your season wasn't given a lot of cred in the media, but I still truly think you were a part of one of the most talented seasons Idol has ever had.

Carianne said...

I know I just posted, but I wanted to add that I have never bought so many CD's from one season of Idol! I think that is a testament to how much talent your season had. Your CD, Blake's, Phil's, Jordin's.... Still waiting for Richardson's and Gina's!

Cathy Storms said...

It has been quite a year for you. I still remember sitting in the second row at the San DIego show. It was my first idol concert. I remember yelling so loud when you came on stage. I was the one singing Typical along with you and I was totally off key. I also remember singing the nah nah nah part with audra and the girls really loud and phil laughing at us. And then you jumped off the stage and shook my hand. it was awesome. that was the nite you became deliahs best friend. oh memories...

Hischild said...

Chris,
So glad you've got some extended time at home now and some posting time too. :o)

Yeah, Idol will never top Season 6, IMO. I REALLY liked 80% of the top ten. That will never happen again.
I can understand your nostalgia. That was a once in a lifetime experience for sure but you WILL be singing before the masses again on your own someday.

I haven't heard any news lately on the release of Arise as a single. Did you say it was due out August twenty something?? What's happening??

xangelglitterx said...

YOU KNOW CHRIS,
A YEAR AGO I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE BEING A PART OF THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. WE NEVER MET BUT I FELT AS IF WE DID. BECAUSE OF AN UNEXPECTED DELAY, TRAFFIC, AND A LATE START.. MY JOURNEY BEGAN...YES I FOUND THIS BLOG QUITE BY ACCIDENT. I SAW YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I TRULY LIKED YOUR STYLE. YOUR VOICE FIRST GOT TO ME THEN THAT SMILE...I LIKE CHUBBY..MORE TO HOLD ON TO...
SARCASTIC HUMOR MY SON ALSO DOES BUT IN A FUNNY LIKE WAY..I AM USE TO IT SO OTHERS MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND IT...I MUST SAY THE BLOG, THE PEEPS, THE SADNESS OF LOSS ALL SHARED HERE...IS THE REASON I RETURN....FRIENDSHIPS MADE..BABIES BORN...AND ALSO CONNECTION...EXTENDING THE FAMILIES OF MANY HERE. I GUESS YOU COULD HAVE CALLED THIS POST "REFLECTION"
IT IS WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE THAT WE ARE IN THIS PLACE...AND MEMORIES ARE MADE HERE...ONE THING IN THE MIDST IS LOVE... MUCH LIKE THAT IN HEAVEN...ALL THAT IS LEFT TO SAY HERE IS THANK YOU......
LOVE & PEACE.................
ONE LOVE..........................

Carrie said...

I had so much fun just going to one show last year (didn't go this year) so I can only imagine how much fun you had doing it for a summer.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

The tour must have been a blast. You all had gone through a lot together and you could tell that you all really cared for each other. I miss the show part. You made it exciting for us a personal level. We were sitting at home waiting to see what they would put you through next. It was wonderful and it was excruciating.....it was your voice and it was your humor. If they make someone who I like this year (shhhhh) sing Diana Ross I am sure I will have an mental breakdown. I still like your arrangement better. Two days ago I was in a hardware store and the Zombie's She's Not There came on. Ahh the memories!

risalea said...

A year ago, July 13th, was a memorable night at Alltel Arena. Got to see you perform live for the first time(though you were not on stage nearly enough for a Blogger Girl-LOL) and I met Amanda for the first time in person. And you, too! Even my hubby was happy, getting to watch his girlfriend, Melinda. : ) And exactly two months later, got to watch again in Memphis, and spend some time with Amanda at what turned out to be her last AI concert. Bittersweet, looking back, but she had SO much fun that night.

And starting that spring '07 over the course of several months, I got to meet some of the best people ever through this blog, all because of AI 6 (and well, you of course!).

So thanks, American Idol! And Chris, huge crowds are awesome and I know, a thrilling experience for you as a performer, but you know...I think where you shine is your intimate connection to your fans when your onstage, so when you're drawing those huge crowds, mix a few of those small, intimate venues in there, too. You are building a great fanbase, and I have no doubt, one day you'll be doing the arena thing again.

Oh, and Carianne, I never bought so many CD's from one season of Idol, either. LOL

Unknown said...

I never had so much fun watching a season of "Idols" I thought I was done with it, but when I saw you, well, I was hooked! I had to tune in and cheer you on! And also because it was a season with SO much more talent than ever before!
Anyone could tell that all you guys were like family and that made watching it all the more fun! You guys should do a reunion show or something... or at least a reunion party!!

robyn

DJ in AL said...

Chris, dude,

It's so hard to believe it's been a year since your tour, man where did a year go?

AI has not been the same since your season, and there is no question that your season was woefully underpromoted. But no matter-you are overcoming that! I mean seriously, can anybody tell me (without Google) who came in
10th on any season of AI? for that matter can anybody tell who came in 3rd on any season? So,give yourself props, you are doing so well, at least I think you are.

I imagine t's hard to stay energized and motivated particularly when you are on the road, but stay the course man, you're getting there!

Idolizing you in AL!

DJ

DJ in AL said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cathy Storms said...

This last year has been an amazing journey for all of us. Getting to meet you after the concert in San Diego and the look on your face when I told you I was one of your blogger girls then getting to hug you was one of the highlites of the year. My girls still talk about that concert. It up'd my grandma coolness about 100percent...

I really don't think there will ever be a better season than season 6.

You have brought so many people together and we have become such good friends. Through this blog and you I have met the most amazing people and they have become like sisters and brothers to me. We have all shared births of new babies, loss of an amazing young girl, illness's and quite a few triumphs and we have all been there for each other.

Then the picnic....oh that was amazing. My picnic girls are my sisters. If someone would of told me a year ago that I would be going to Nashville to hang out with Chris Sligh and meet some amazing people, I would of told them they were nuts.

Yes this has been quite a year for you and thank you so much taking us with you on your journey. And I still sing Typical really loud and off key.

Anonymous said...

It made my morning, seeing your post today. :-) S6 was my first time being an actual "fan" of anybody's, so S6 was unique for me. We always like the music shows, and we always have performers we like and enjoy, but the wake of S6 caught me offguard! hah! I went to my first Idol concert last year, and I was one of your blogger-girls on her feet and dancing in the cheap-seats. We loved hearing something different from you, like "Typical." As I recall, you were awesome in all your songs. Loved it!

I look back on S6 with a sort of an interesting feeling of friendship. Because you all liked each other so well, it encouraged fans to like other people too-- and I think that is what we've seen with S7 also, shared fanbases. It is a nice feeling even today. :-) Getting to meet you all, even for a few minutes that year was really a wonderful thing. The generosity of most Idols really is amazing--and we appreciate it so much.

I enjoyed reading the recaps of this year, sharing in some of that fangirl joy and such(once you've been a fangirl, you really sympathize!), but I don't feel anything in particular for any of them thank goodness. It's again kind of sad to see it end, but I think S7 is ready for it as it winds to a close. What-Next is I suppose the question on the lips of all of them, and I sympathize for what work the next year will be for them. They seem like a nice bunch.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I have very similar happy memories, Chris, and you blogged this on the 1-year anniversary of the show I saw (in DC), and like CathyStorms, it was my first AI concert ever. Additional memories for me were waving at Lori (HistryQT) across the arena and eating birthday cake with Sanjaya, who by the way, must be 19 today. Hey Jude was an absolute thrill, and you caught about as much air in your performance of Typical as Sanjaya did in his crazy red pants before The Way You Make Me Feel. (And I felt all hip because I actually knew the song Typical and I loved your duet of Memories with Gina.) I had such a great time that I caught the Charlottesville show a week or two later. It was great fun, and each and every one of you and your colleagues made it so. So, thanks for the memories. Hope to meet you (and folks here)some day soon!

rosalee said...

Girlygirl45 -
Be sure to come to the picnic!

The season 7 folk will probably go the same route as their predecessors – they will make an album, and/or go to Broadway, and/or perform around the country. Some of them will probably team up with their predecessors in concerts and other endeavors.

Chris –
I got a very nice thank you note (for the photos) from one of the people who attended your concert the other night. She said she really enjoyed it. Oh – and about those guitar picks – In one of your summer interviews, the interviewer asked you what you had in your pocket. You said a guitar pick. So, that’s the story behind the picks. May you never be without one…

Clarissa –
I believe “Arise” went to Christian AC radio on Aug 29th. A few more radio stations picked it up on Sept 2nd, after the Labor Day weekend. As of Sunday, there were 8 stations playing it – KBNJ, KXOJ, WRBS, WSCF, KSJY, WDJC, WCQR, WXHL. You can track it on yes.com. Of course, the predominant song getting spins is still “Empty Me”. In fact, “Empty Me” still has legs! It advanced two positions from #12 to #10 in the Mediabase stats.

DJ in AL said...

GirlyGirl, where you been girl??? We have been missing you around here!


dj

Anonymous said...

I want to thank you, Chris, for your insight into what goes on behind the scenes.
I loved watching you after the season was over. Watching you grow into your career.
I smile every time I hear your song on the radio.
Don't loose faith. You have a great talent.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hischild said...

Rosalee,
Thanks for the info. I can always count on you. Glad to know it's getting airplay on multiple stations. I await the happy day when one of my local stations begins to spin it.

DJ:
You asked who can tell you any of the top 10's or #3's over the season. Well...I CAN! ha ha
But then I don't really have a life. So maybe that doesn't count.
But there's only one #10 finisher that I can say I have met repeatedly and have a really soft spot in my heart for etc. etc.
(Even if he does like the Dan Band and Russel Brand.) Ewww!
:o)

Jason said...

Chris...what is the status of Arise...has it been released yet...

ChrisSligh said...

Sorry, guys, I meant to update you earlier.

Arise went to radio two weekends ago and it has had 11 stations add it so far. Both weeks we were #2 most added I believe.

It's actually kinda nice that it'll be slower...it'll give KLove time to add before we have 50 stations on it (hopefully)

Chris

risalea said...

Well, let's hope KLOVE gets on the stick this time! I think with the popularity of "Empty Me" they will surely add it soon.

You had made a comment awhile back about them playing your studio version of "Empty Me". I heard it last week, and today, both times on the Jon and Sherry show. I'll have to say, I do love your acoustic version.

OK, much to do before heading to AL tomorrow. Take care, friends.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Gina--
DCook had a nice shout-out for Gina Glockson at the concert last night--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIkLebRMnZM

Apparently he's an admirer of hers!
:-) awesome.