'Luckiest person in the world' opens the show

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 27, 2099 Source: The Lexington Herald-Leader Submitted By: Published Friday, November 26, 1999, in the Herald-Leader By Walter Tunis CONTRIBUTING MUSIC CRITIC It's a tough job to be the envy of probably every other 15-year-old girl in the country, but Mandy Moore is up for the task. Already making waves with a sugary pop debut hit called (appropriately enough) Candy, the singer is also serving as the primary opening act for all of the Backstreet Boys' sold-out fall tour dates including this weekend's shows at Rupp Arena. EYC is also on the bill. But Mandy, of Orlando, Fla. (which, despite Backstreet's well-noted Kentucky connections, remains the group's home base), will have more than Boys on her mind this holiday weekend. The Rupp shows come less than two weeks before the release of her debut album, So Real. ``I'm just anxiously awaiting everything at this point,'' she said. ``For me, the album has been done since June. Now I'm just hoping it will do well. If it doesn't, well, I'm still having a lot of fun doing what I'm doing.'' Though she hasn't made the plunge into songwriting, Mandy said she had considerable creative input as the album was being made. At the top of her list of wants: that the mostly adult songwriting staff come up with material a singer (as well as an audience) half their age could identify with. ``I gave them a few ideas,'' she said with a laugh. ``I needed to. I mean, 30- and 40-year-old guys have no idea what goes on in a 15-year-old's head. So I helped them out with topics for the songs and also areas where not to go not necessarily things I haven't experienced but stuff I just wouldn't feel comfortable singing.'' Mandy also realizes the enormous boost that opening for the Backstreet Boys will give her young career. But for this tour, which ends the day before So Real hits record stores, she is soaking up the thrill of playing before sold-out arena crowds. ``Are you kidding? I'm the luckiest person in the world getting to perform with Backstreet for 20,000 people every night. Where else could I sing for crowds like that? It's a dream come true.'' Comment on this item. Next Item: Help give little hearts a big hand Prev Item: Everybody's free (to wear earplugs)