Singer wants to redefine his image on MTV's 'Score'

He performs cuts from his new album and is showing off his songwriting ability.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
After feeling somewhat burned by MTV for his appearance on an ex-girlfriend's reality television program, "The Ashlee Simpson Show," pop idol Ryan Cabrera is jumping right back into the fire.
Debuting earlier this month was MTV's latest dating game "Score," starring none other than Cabrera as the host.
However, this time around Cabrera is using the spotlight to his advantage, promoting the hell out of his recently released sophomore album, "You Stand Watching" and hoping to redefine his image.
"The concept of the show is perfect for me because one of the things I wanted to show on this new record is how people are so quick to judge stuff even though they don't know anything," said Cabrera, calling from Oklahoma City.
"They say, 'Oh, this is just pop' because of the way you look or because of where they saw you and all of this stuff. I want (them) to forget that."
Developing writing skills
Cabrera gets to perform material from his new album at the end of every episode of "Score," seen daily at 4:30 p.m.
The reality show's premise -- two aspiring singer-songwriters have a day to write a song, with Cabrera's help, in hopes of wooing of a girl into picking them for a date -- allows him to show off his creative talents.
During the taping of the show's 20 episodes this past summer, the 24-year-old literally co-wrote 40 songs. Not to mention the 11 new tracks on "You Stand Watching" that Cabrera rushed to record and produce on his own earlier this summer.
It's this type of prolific songwriting that the performer hopes will one day have him mentioned in the same breath as the John Mayers and Dave Matthews of the music world.
"For me, I'm just playing what I play and writing real honest songs, & quot; said Cabrera, who performs Saturday at Lakewood Civic Auditorium.
"People are going to say whatever they want about you, just because that's the way the world works. Which is kind of where I was honing into with the title of the new record, 'You Stand Watching.' I think through time, people will finally hear it and hopefully respect it. So, I'm just going to continue playing live and doing as many shows (as possible). You never know what could happen."
Into the spotlight
That's the truth, considering not so long ago Cabrera was a fledging Dallas-based singer before Joe Simpson, father to Ashlee and Jessica, signed him to a management deal and soon thereafter he was thrust into the celebrity spotlight.
His 2004 debut platinum album, "Take it all Away," featured hit singles "On the Way Down" and "True."
As for his newest album, featuring another batch of teen pop anthems, fans are dissecting every teary-eyed lyric in hopes of learning juicy details about his failed relationship with Ashlee Simpson.
"There are a few (songs on the album) but people won't know what's what," Cabrera said.
"One of the things I try to pull everybody out of is this box of stuff you read in papers or see on TV. The music is just real songs about many different things. Hopefully, people will realize that. I think the beauty of music is that you can hear a song and it can mean a million things. It doesn't matter what's right. It's whatever feeling it gives to you."