Seattle Proclaims May 11 “Blake Lewis Day”

Blake Lewis got a fantastic homecoming. At an afternoon parade and concert in Bothell, an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people screamed, cheered and followed Bothell’s favorite son. Lewis, seated between his mother, who was wearing a Blaker Girls T-shirt, and his father, rode in a blue Mustang convertible. He blew kisses, waved and at one point stood up in the car and gave his fans a hand. Ear-piercing shrieks followed Lewis down Main Street to Bothell Landing, where fans ignored police requests to stay back. The crowd weaved between cars stopped on Bothell Way and state Route 527.

Everyone said they’d never seen such a huge crowd in Bothell, not even for the Fourth of July.

Among those greeting him was Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Blake gave the crowd quite a show by performing five songs including Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” and Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity.” He also did an original song, “She Loves the Way,” and he backed up special guest Sir Mix-A-Lot on the rapper’s famous “Baby Got Back.”

Jonathan Douglas, 8, held a sign declaring himself Lewis’ No. 1 fan saying “I like the beatboxing he’s been doing. I think he’s going to go all the way.” Jonathan’s mother, Marie Douglas, said, “He’s like a breath of fresh air because he’s so different.”

One thing Lewis didn’t do was predict that he’s going to win the competition. That, he said, likely would happen for Jordin Sparks, the teenager from Glendale, Ariz.

But Lewis, 25, who has been noticed on the show for his smooth voice, rhythms, funky style and frosted locks, was cool with that. During morning interviews at KCPQ/13, he said his first goal was to get into the to top 10, and then the top four.

Of course, he wouldn’t mind winning, either. He said “If it happens, great. If not, I’m so happy I got sent home yesterday. When I made the goal of the top four, that was the goal.”

And despite criticism of too much beatboxing in his performances, he said he won’t shy away if it feels right.

“If I feel the performance needs it, I don’t care,” he said. “I’ve gotten, you know, criticism for my hair and wearing the wrong shirt. Criticism’s criticism. It doesn’t really affect me.”

Sir Mix gave Lewis plenty of respect. “I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I saw this cat on TV,” he told the crowd. “Every time you see ‘American Idol,’ you see people who can sing, and that’s it. This cat got real talent.”

Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train, whipped up the crowd ranging from newborns to middle-age moms and dads, by introducing Lewis as: “your own, your one and only American Idol, Mr. Blake Lewis.”

Paula Rogers, 31, brought her son Wyatt, 22 months, with a “Vote for Blake” sticker on his baby backpack. “I just fell in love with Blake Lewis on this show, because I feel like he changed ‘American Idol’ with a new sound,” said Rogers, who added that the show usually sounds so Top 40 and predictable. Kayleigh Olds, 14, said “He doesn’t try to copy the song exactly. He makes it his own.”

Diana Ortiz, 19, who traveled with a friend from Vancouver, Canada, to see Lewis perform, said he’s unique. “I think he’s the only one who doesn’t care when the judges say ‘Do this or do that,’ ” she said. “He’s true to himself.”

Seattle City Councilwoman Jean Godden (pictured above) took the stage and said “And, whereas all of Seattle anticipates that Blake Lewis will become the next ‘American Idol,’ therefore be it resolved by the city of Seattle that May 11 be proclaimed as Blake Lewis Day.”

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