Former American Idol ( season 12 ) semifinalist Jaidah Christina Davila ( JDA ) kicked off her three-song performance June 26 with a powerful version of Lady Gaga's LoveGame. She then went with the toned-down Hozier hit "Take Me To Church." Then she belted out her new single, "Real Eyez," from her upcoming album.
Davila was cheered throughout the performance, with cell-phone cameras flashing and Chicago-based dancer Mel Escamilla working the stage with her.
Davila sang for about 200 at the 7th annual Spanglish Pride Live, a Castro Entertainment eventbilled as Chicago's hottest LGBTQ Pride Friday Weekend Kickoff Partyat Club Red, 5415 W. Irving Park Rd.
"It was great [performing], and awesome to do after all that happened earlier in the day [with the Supreme Court decision]," said Davila, who was on break at her new job at Macy's when she heard the SCOTUS decision. "I saw [the news] and got really excited."
Davila and Escamilla rode front and center on the B-96 float in the annual Pride Parade, and she sang multiple times along the route.
Davilawho started her transition in August 2013, about six months after being eliminated from "Idol"is now working in the cosmetics department at Macy's Water Tower, continuing to fine-tune her music career, and "doing everything to keep the dream alive," she said.
"Real Eyez" centers on relationships, she said.