Kicking back in her dressing room with a cigarette after a sound check for her Tuesday night concert at the Wiltern Theater, Lily Allen proudly asserts: she’s no spice girl. Having left school at 15 to pursue her vocal career, Allen spent six years pounding the pavement and penning songs before being signed by a label. “I’m not into manufactured pop stars," Allen tells On the Town. "Music is an art form. It’s like cookery. You don’t decide you’ll be a chef one day, open a restaurant and charge people $100 a head.” she said.
The songstress adds that shows like the U.K.’s “Pop Idol” and “American Idol,“ "have nothing to do with music. They’re TV programs. If the contestants had to sit down and write songs, I’d watch them, but it’s like going to a karaoke bar.”
In terms of flaunting one’s stage personality, some of the “Idol” contestants could take note from Allen: at Tuesday’s show she was clearly unabashed to smoke throughout her set and down jagermeister shots. That finesse, coupled with her forward personality and heartbroken boppy ballads, has clicked with fans. As a responsibility to connect with her listeners, Allen keeps a consistent blog; one in which she makes no bones about letting a stiff upper lip down.
Looking back at her recent success, Allen deflates, “But then I’m a hypocrite in a way because I’m signed with a major record label.” Except, Lily, you actually sing with a live band. You don’t lip synch to a backtrack. (A. D’Alessandro)
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