INQUIRER EXCLUSIVE
‘I’m going to be a rock-soul singer’
By Fran Katigbak
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:49:00 04/17/2008
Filed Under: Music, Television, Entertainment (general)
MANILA, Philippines—“American Idol” finalist Michael Johns has had big love on the show. Apart from the judges, who were encouraging, he also had the support of celebrities Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman and Dolly Parton.
After Johns’ farewell performance last week, which ended with the singer standing by the judges’ table, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson hugged him.
“Paula grabbed me and said, ‘I have no doubt in my mind—I’ll bet my house on it—that I’m going to be sitting in a concert you’re doing one day very soon. You’re super-talented,’” Johns said during a teleconference with the international media arranged by Star World.
TV viewers didn’t hear Jackson say “I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with your career,” but they heard Cowell admit he would miss Johns on the show. “You’re a good guy,” said the usually acerbic judge.
Celebrity fans
Johns found it incredible to hear from celebrity-fans. “It’s amazing how this show reaches everyone, from Dolly Parton to Keith Urban. It’s insane.”
He and Parton were being interviewed by phone for another Fox network program when the country singer suddenly said, “Michael, I can’t believe you got voted off. It was really shocking!”
Added the “Idol” finalist: “That’s just so surreal, to hear her say ‘I can’t wait to sing a duet with you one day.’”
He also got a “reach-out” from fellow Aussies, country singer Urban and Oscar-winning actress Kidman, who said they watched the show every week and he was their favorite.
Johns, 29, seems a very likable fellow, indeed.
During the teleconference he often laughed when talking about his experiences on the show, such as hamming it up in the group performances. “You can’t take that stuff too seriously without looking like an idiot, you know, so I try to have fun.”
Asked what Australians did to drown their sorrows, he quipped, “Pick your poison. We’re a beer-drinking country; that’s probably what I’m going to do in a little bit.”
Different person
The fun, goofy side turns serious and earnest when Johns hits the stage. “When I perform, I go into a zone. Even in dress rehearsals, I go up another notch… Off-stage, that’s a whole different person [who] likes to have fun and cut it up. Onstage is when I go to work.”
The singer was, in fact, serious about his song choices. His criteria? “I’ve never based my choice on what the competition is doing. I pick songs that mean something to me lyrically and emotionally.”
So even when the judges picked on some of his songs (like “Dream On” which they didn’t think fit last week’s inspirational theme) the bluesy rocker stuck to what he believed reflected him as an artist.
“I’m going to be a rock-soul singer. I’m going to make that kind of record. I’m proud that I stayed true to that throughout the entire competition,” Johns explained.
Chris Daughtry, the Season 5 finalist with whom Johns has been compared, once said that he earned more credibility as a rock and roll performer by not winning “Idol.”
Asked if he shared Daughtry’s opinion, Johns replied: “Winning or not winning ‘Idol’ depends on the artist... on what album you make afterwards. It depends on whether or not, on the show, you were true to yourself and did not change. The people who have succeeded after “Idol”—from the Kimberly Lockes (Season 2) to the Carrie Underwoods (Season 4)—the thing they had in common was, they... stayed true.”
No jokers
Despite the early elimination which came as a surprise to Johns, who had never been among the bottom three vote-getters, he believes he was lucky to have been in this season’s Top 12 at all. “It has been written in the press … this is the best, the nicest Top 12 … and that is another compliment,” he said.
“The fact that there was no laughingstock, no jokers … I think we had a lot of respect from the public, and that’s something I can be very proud of.”
He was also proud, Johns said, to have been part of “a melting pot ‘Idol.’”
“You have David (Cook) and Brooke who are fully American, then David Archuleta whose mom is half-Mexican, Syesha who’s part Cuban, Chikezie who has Nigerian roots, Jason Castro, Ramiele...” he pointed out. “It was pretty cool to see that America doesn’t really care about [race]; [only if] you can sing.”
Originally from Perth, Johns said he considers America home after living in the country for 10 years. “My life and career are here. I love it here… My whole adult life, I’ve lived here. Obviously, I’m not American, but I don’t really feel Australian anymore, not so much. It’s weird if you left at 18 and your only memories are from high school.”
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“American Idol” Season 7 airs live Wednesday and Thursday, 6 p.m., on Star World and QTV, with same-night replays on Star World at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
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