So it’s fair to say that my performance on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live last Thursday garnered A LOT of attention.
Andy Cohen, Kelly bensimon & Cindy Barshop watch me perform
Much of it was critical however there were also a lot of comments on Twitter & Facebook in support and of course, some not so. Let me just say that I am the first to recognize that I took a HUGE risk in that my first ever live performance of I Am Real was for a Live TV audience of 1m+. My song is called “I Am Real” so I wasn’t about to lipsynch to the studio track or frankly even sing over the studio track which is what many singers normally do when performing on a TV show.
Yes, I was nervous and it showed. Yes, I was thrown off at the very beginning as the 8 second musical introduction became less than 6 seconds as the show’s control room only turned up the volume after starting the track with the volume down. And yes, my opening note was off key as I was concentrating on where to come in after the abridged intro rather than hitting the opening ‘D’ correctly. But despite those hiccups, I recovered and sang live for the next 90 seconds and while my choreography looked extra weird due to the tight camera angles, I would gladly have banked that performance rather than suffer anxiety attacks in the 72 hours leading up to my appearance.
For those of you who haven’t seen it here’s the video from BravoTV.com’s site.
As Bravo lock down their videos to users with US IP addresses I’m also embedding a You Tube video that someone recorded while watching. This video doesn’t include Andy’s introduction or Andy calling Alex on to the set after I finished.
My blue pants which also garnered a lot of attention were by the same company who made the red pleathers I wore in the Season 2 finale, Lip Service , and at only $74 are pretty great value too!
Later that same night, I performed the full 3:12 version at Splash Bar, the largest Gay club in NYC. 
For this performance I changed out of the Midnight Blue O-ring pleathers into some red ones (these are slightly different than the ones I wore in the second season). and you can see photos of that performance here.
This Monday, May 16th I am performing for all the guests at the Real Housewives of New Jersey premiere party. Unfortunately one of the best promoters of my song, who’s been giving it wide coverage via her Facebook & Twitter accounts, Teresa Giudice won’t be around to egg me on as she’s decided to have her own party separate from the other Jersey girls. Spoiler Alert: Does this foreshadow a split among the cast before the season’s even started airing?
Last Thursday we released the extended club version of I Am Real (Thug In A Club Mix). Both that and the original version are selling well on iTunes and other download sites. You can find links to purchase them both at my own website SimonvanKempen.com and they’re only 99¢ each.
And who knows but if they keep on selling well, maybe I’ll record another, and then another……… We do have several more written so if you want to hear more of me then buy, buy & buy!
Best
Simon
And for those who have asked for the lyrics here they are:
Here in reality
We practice duality
We kiss and hug
Preen and mug
Cuz we are celebrities
You know I do my best
I dress up to impress
But she’s causing me stress
Thug in a cocktail dress
I am real
I ain’t gonna change
I am real
I am who I am
And that’s the deal
I say what I feel
Love me or hate me
I don’t give a damn
Gold and Diamonds glitter
But the taste is slightly bitter
When wives attack behind my back
They trash me on their twitter
Beware those daggers
Cheeky tongue waggers
Too many two faced
You’ve got to have your swagger
Sick of bitchy and bossy
Are you down with this Aussie
What you see is what you get
And don’t you get me yet?
I am real
I ain’t gonna change
I am real
I am who I am
And that’s the deal
I say what I feel
Love me or hate me
I don’t give a damn
And that’s my appeal
Ooo- Ooo- I am real, real, real
This is my reality
Which is what I want to be
And I’ll live this way
Until I’m old and grey
You should live your life for you
Not how others tell you to
What you see is what you get
And don’t you get me yet?
I am real, real, real
I am real, real, real
I am real, real, real
I am real, real, real (I don’t give a damn)
I am real
I ain’t gonna change
I am real
I am who I am
And that’s the deal
I say what I feel
Love me or hate me
I don’t give a damn
And that’s my appeal
Ooo- Ooo- I am real, real, real
I say what I feel
Love me or hate me
I don’t give a damn
(I am real, real, real)
I think the lyrics are GREAT. Performance was gutsy at best. Like the previous comment, you will get better doing more peformances. But the best of all, you did sing it out loud and proud and not have all that audio dubbing or whatever like LuAnns music. Good Job. I also agree with the other comment to get away from those two faced b**ches who do nothing but talk about each other, snobby “I’m so better than you” crap. I hate those kinds of people! Good Luck with everything including the chums! he he
You 2 are awesome. I loved the song! I think both of you are very caring people. I would walk away from those women and the show before it destroys what you have. It seems like such a stressful environment to have to continue to put up with jack asses like Luann. Leave the show and enjoy your life. You deserve to be happy and they are ruining it.
I love Simon and his song.
On another note.
Kudo’s to Simon for not getting involved in Alex’s negative crap. Bethenny on Andy Cohen’s WWHL, about a month ago said “I don’t know what’s up with Alex. I think she’s confussing speaking her mind with saying everything that’s on your mind.
Simon tell your wife that the battle is over Bethenny is gone now, so Alex the social climber should find a hobby. Fighting other peoples battles isn’t a hobby.
ahhhh yea
While all those trivial issues may be true. What’s more than blatantly obvious is your appalling lack of any visible talent, or stage presence. What a horrifying embarrassment. You really need to shut it! Total screaming queen, freak fest. It’s beyond me that anyone could be so narcissistic, self absorbed, ego centric and stuck in an 80′s new wave time warp. Please stop already. Gaping mouthful of typical Brit/Aussie bad teeth and horrid sweaty pleather s&m leggings, surely this is a tasteless joke. Almost lost my cookies, could escape fast enough. Sadly desperately pathetically…OLD. You need a major reality check dude! Gross beyond words!
Why do you sound so angry?? Wow…
Although you were nervous, obviously, I like you alot!
You did very good for yourself and more practice will only make you better. You looked scared but happy. I think I know who the thug in a cocktail dress is..is it Jill?
I liked it! Bravo to you for trying something new. It looks like you’re having fun with it.
Hey Simon,
I thought it was brave of you to perform live when obviously it’s not something you are professionally trained in. I wish you’d had more room as you are correct, the camera angles weren’t the best. Keep up the fun attitude.
Jess
PS, I love the webisodes of you!
YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it, and the words are the truth! Keep up the good work Simon. You and Alex are my fav, you are both supporive of each other.
Cudos Simon! Applaud your courage to perform live on Bravo! It’s the first time I have ever seen you nervous which is ok. Being vulnerable to our emotions is really being real! Like you all the more!
You did great, It was your voice & it was Real. I still say you sound like ozzy osborne, I told my hubby listen to this new song ozzy sings..He cant see the computer, He said wow that was good LOL!! then i told him it was you
. that was a huge compliment to you. Keep going & make many more please, this lady will keep buying them. ~hugs~
I enjoyed your performance on WWHL because it was REAL! You sang the song, no auto tune or any of the other crap the others have used. It was you, it was real and I for one loved it!
You make all valid points. My opinion was that for someone new and first out of the gate with a live audience, you did a great job. And, you can only get better from here. Enjoy the ride and only continue to do it if it is fun and rewarding for you and your family.
I would still listen to you over LuAnn, Danielle, Kim…etc. I would not have your courage! So just brush WWHL off.