Canadian Idols happy to entertain on tour without fear of getting voted off

HALIFAX - "Canadian Idol" runner-up Jaydee Bixby is enjoying his current cross-Canada tour with "Idol" winner Brian Melo and fellow contestant Carly Rae Jepsen. After all, no one is in danger of getting voted off the stage anymore.

"We all get to come back next week and sing - no matter what," Bixby, 17, said Tuesday with a laugh. "Knock on wood." Despite the hectic pace of the tour, the Idols say it feels like the pressure is off.

"It's more of a celebration," says Jepsen, the Mission, B.C., native known for placing her own folk-rock flair on hit songs.

"The competition .... was so high-paced, and you only had one chance. There was never that ease that I think we're all enjoying right now."

Jepsen placed third in the competition, while Bixby, the country-crooner-turned-teenage-heartthrob from Drumheller, Alta., was the runner-up to Hamilton rocker Melo on the popular CTV show.

Since the Toronto-based singing competition wrapped in September, the three top finalists have kept busy preparing for their tour, which began Nov. 18 in Charlottetown and wraps Dec. 14 in Red Deer, Alta.

The shows give each singer a chance to showcase their unique styles, and also include songs performed by all three, who laugh and tease each other like siblings. The tour is also expected to include appearances from other "Idol" contestants, including Dwight d'Eon of West Pubnico, N.S., and Tara Oram of Hare Bay, N.L.

In addition to the tour, Melo, 25, has been preparing for the Nov. 27 release of his debut album, "Livin' It," for which he co-wrote a number of songs.

"I just had to make sure that I put out a great, great album that I'm happy with and that's it," says a laid-back Melo, sporting one of his trademark hats.

"Now it's just the next step to put it out there and see what happens."

His former competitors also have plans to make good use of the spotlight.

Jepsen, who turns 22 this week, says she will be releasing an album of original songs shortly after Melo.

As for Bixby, he plans to take some time, improve his songwriting and release an album by August.

"I already have a nice launching pad," says Bixby, his blond hair poking through the brim of his Stetson. "If something happens, it happens. And if something doesn't, oh well."

Neither Melo, Bixby nor Jepsen is dismissing the idea of branching into other areas, including the stage.

It's a path that's been taken by more than one ex-Idol, including Melissa O'Neil, who won the "Idol" crown in 2005, is now performing on a Toronto stage show of the 1980s film classic "Dirty Dancing."

Melo insists his Idol colleagues will continue to perform even after the hype of the tour fades.

"All three of us went on the show because we love music," he says.

"Even if all the glitz and glamour goes away, I'm sure all three of us will keep on continuing to go out and do it."

source: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jypINm9KhUBcOePcVOg-io-QjROQ

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