By STEVEN JUPITER
BRANDON—After a 5-month competition with a particularly talented field, Brandon’s own Shannon Wright took the top slot as the winner of the whole shebang. He clinched the title, and $1,000 in prize money, with an improbably affecting rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables, a notoriously difficult song that catapulted Susan Boyle to fame on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 and won Anne Hathaway her Supporting Actress Oscar in 2012. And now it has elevated Shannon Wright to the pantheon of Brandon Idol winners.
Decked out in a tuxedo, Wright oozed class as his baritone slithered through the melody, nailing the infamously tricky upward run on the word “shame.” The fact that the lyrics tell the story of a desperate prostitute in 18th-century Paris absolutely did not prevent Wright from making the song his own and wowing judges and audience alike.
Seemingly stunned by his success, Wright was at a loss for words when the judges (Penny Billado, Dennis Marden, and Harry McEnerny) announced their decision. His silence was fleeting, however, as the audience implored him to reprise one of his greatest hits in the competition: “Delilah” by Tom Jones. It was a deliriously fun way to end a competition that has definitely been deliriously fun.
“Brandon Idol really has given me a chance to open up to new genres and hopefully turn a hobby into a real passion,” he said afterwards in an email.
Kudos to the whole field for five incredibly enjoyable months of great music and performances. On Saturday, the rest of the contenders offered up an astonishingly broad and entertaining range of tunes that didn’t adhere to any theme.
Peggy Sue Rozell performed Trace Adkins’s version of “Wayfaring Stranger,” a mournful song made famous by Johnny Cash.
Baker Larock performed Maneskin’s version of “Beggin’”, originally a 1967 pop confection from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Maneskin’s cover puts an edge on the sugar.
Rachel Spellman offered “Daddy Lessons” by Beyonce, a Texas-twanged song of no-nonsense female empowerment. Spellman sang as if she’d *seen things* in her life.
Irene Simons took the stage with “You Say” by Lauren Daigle, a powerful declaration of faith and the confidence it can bring.
The first half of the evening wrapped up with another great guest performance by Hilary Strasburger Collier, singing Mary Chapin Carpenter’s cover of Lucinda Williams’s “Passionate Kisses.”
Venus Diamondis opened the second half with “Bound to You” by Christina Aguilera, from the Soundtrack of the movie “Burlesque.” It’s a slow, sultry song and Diamondis delivered it on point (perhaps to match the points on the delightful elf ears she wore).
Next was Logan Shaddock with Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb,” an ode to self-reliance. Shaddock gave the song the defiant strength it needed.
Gunnar Tinsman pulled up a stool to begin his smooth croon of “Kissing a Fool” by George Michael, which he dedicated to a family friend. Soon enough, he was back on his feet to finish the heartfelt lament.
Bethany White ended the competition with a lovely interpretation of “O Mio Babbino Caro,” one of opera’s most beloved arias and a departure from the theme-constrained offerings of the previous months.
While the judges went to deliberate backstage, emcee extraordinaire Bill Moore stood in for a guest performer who pulled out at the last minute and delivered a roof-raising performance of “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett, getting the audience to sing backup in all the right places.
The entire cohort of competitors came back out for a final group performance: “Build Me Up, Buttercup” by The Foundations, a great choice to wrap up the entire competition on a fun, energetic note before Wright was announced as the winner.
It was a wild ride with some great tunes, great performances, and great outfits. The Brandon Idol band – Ross Edmunds, Bryon Billado, and Kenny Cifone – deserve major props for rolling with all the punches over hours and hours of consistently top-notch music-making in a crazy range of styles and genres. Well done, gentlemen!
And congrats to all the contestants. Whether or not they came away with the title, they came away with experience, memories, and new friends. We’re already looking forward to Brandon Idol 2024. See you next year!
