Read highlights of Michael John’s satellite press interviews after the jump. Next week, he was planning on performing a blues/soul version of “Vision of Love” for the Mariah Carey theme. Dang. Still, he doesn’t regret a thing.
Sources: MTV, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today
Highlights After the Jump…
- How is he feeling? “I would be lying to say that I wasn’t shocked. I hadn’t been in the bottom three, and I thought definitely the last two or three weeks had been my strongest. We’re in this competition, and stuff can happen — and it did.”
- On Ryan mentioning that noone was booted last year during Michael’s elimination, “You know what? I’d be lying if I didn’t say that was pretty cruel. That one was a tough one. When Ryan said I had the lowest number of votes, he gave me this look as if to say, ”Mate, you know I don’t want to say this right now.” But it’s a TV show, and at the end of the day, it’s entertainment.”
- What he thought the moment before he sang, “I wasn’t, like, destroyed or anything. I probably would have been more sad if I felt I didn’t sing the song as good as I could, and if I didn’t hit those high notes. There was a moment when I took a really deep breath in and I saw my wife, and she said, ”I love you.” I just exhaled then. If you re-watch, you’ll see I just switched then. I thought, ”Just suck it up. This is the last time you’re going to perform on this stage.”
- What was it like in the studio the moment he was booted
, “It was insane. You could hear a pin drop initially. Paula’s jaw was wide open, and even Simon looked at me as if to say he wasn’t expecting that. Everyone started booing.” - What does he think of the backlash? “Nothing has sunk in just yet, but the backlash I’ve been seeing … means a lot, and it means that I struck a nerve somewhere. And this year more than any year, I really believe, especially with this top eight, you can’t look at the person that’s your favorite and go, “Oh, he had a good week,” or, “She had a good week. I’m going to give them half of my votes and give my votes to the other one that didn’t do as well,” you know what I mean? A split vote like that happened, and unfortunately the people you thought were going to be safe went home.”
- What the judges said off camera, “You know, Paula’s been — I think Paula’s been spot-on this year. It’s been kind of a weird judging year, so all the contestants kind of feel that. But Paula just grabbed me and goes, “Look, I have no doubt in my mind that I’m going to be sitting in a concert you’re doing very soon. You’re super-talented.” And Randy gave me that kind of advice, like, “Dawg, you know I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with your career.” And the fact that Simon told me that he’s going to miss me and that I’m a good guy, you know, “You’re a good guy,” from Simon, that’s really cool.”
- How he feels about the judges, “I’ve watched the show for about six years, and sometimes the judges just got it wrong this year. Like, I think Syesha’s performance Tuesday night [of Fantasia’s “I Believe”] was absolutely stellar, and some of the notes she hit and everything, and she got bagged for it. And Carly’s the same way. We’ve all been there. What I’ve learned from “Idol” is, you’ve got to stay true to yourself. You can’t go out there and go, “I’ve got to go out there and sing this song because it’s going to impress Simon,” you know what I mean? You can’t plan those days when the judges are going to like it.”
- Simon’s comments?, “Sometimes Simon is just off the mark, to be honest. I mean, most times he’s on, and I respect his opinion a lot, but you know, he wanted me to sing that blues/soul stuff every week, and … I’m a rock/soul singer. I like to do both genres, and so I wasn’t necessarily going to pander to what the judges say every week. You have to go out there and say, “This is the kind of record I’m going to make, and this is the sound I do.” And some weeks they loved it, some weeks they didn’t. That was all.”
- Does he feel angry that he’s better than others still in the running?, “You have moments of that. But honestly, you can’t say Brooke’s voice over Carly’s, or Syesha’s over Jason’s. No one is competing in the same genre. I love that David’s version of rock songs is completely different from my version.”
- His best friends on the show, “Luke Menard and Jason Yeager and Carly and David Cook were my day-to-day buds. I had great moments with all of them. Syesha was just starting to come out of her shell with me. Once you get to know her, she’s hilarious.”
- On working with Dolly Parton, “Absolutely amazing. I even got to speak to her this morning. And she was just saying … what a fan of mine she is. And that’s just, it’s just so surreal to hear Dolly Parton saying, “I can’t wait to sing a duet with you one day.” I mean, that’s awesome.”
- Other celebrities, “Yeah, I got a reach-out from Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, saying that I was their favorite and they watched every week and just — it’s just amazing how far this reaches. Everyone from Dolly Parton to Keith Urban. It’s just amazing.”
- About singing “Shout to the Lord”, “Religion is personal. I think there’s a big difference between spiritual and religious. But with “Idol Gives Back,” it’s a bigger picture out there. Just to be a part of something like that, it’s just magic. … You think [you’re in] this singing competition, but then Sunday night [the “Idol Gives Back” taping] happens, and it’s like, “Oh, my goodness.” It’s amazing seeing these artists giving back. I was happy to sing it.”
- Did he think being Australian hurt him?, “I can’t answer that. I can tell you that behind the scenes, people didn’t care. The thing about this country is it’s the melting pot of the world. If you live here and love this country, you can achieve anything.”
- What song was he planning to sing next week? “I was going to do a really cool version, a soul version, a soul/blues version of “Vision of Love.” And it was hot, too, so I’m a little bummed.”
- Modeling or acting?, “Music is all I can do. I can’t act. And I certainly don’t have the body for modeling.”
- Being a part of Season 7, “Look, I mean, especially this year, it’s been written in the press [that] this is the best top 12 they’ve ever had. … But if I had any season I could have been on, to be a part of this one was just really special. There was no laughing stock, there were no jokes. I think we had a lot of respect in the public eye, and that’s something I can be really proud of.”
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I wonder who Michael thought should have gone home. Obviously, not him. I don’t think I’ve ever read an exit interview where a contestant’s answers irritated me so much.
Apparently he thought that he was a lot better in the competition than he actually was. It’s too bad that his ego was such that he felt it was more important to satisfy his ego than to advance in the competition. It is a competition.
Too many contestants think that they will get record deals no matter where they finish in the Top 10. They may get one but there probably won’t be too many purchasing their CDs. Big difference in going out at #4 than going out at #8. There are many weeks to go before the finale. Except for Bucky, I really don’t remember who else went out at #8. Except for Bucky, I never cared and I’ve watched every season.
He did come across a little arrogant. Maybe he was the pompous one, not David C. If so, he hid it very well. I think Jennifer Hudson went out at #8 during season 3. And, maybe Kim Caldwell in season 2. She hasn’t done anything as far as a CD, but, she has steady work with AI. (thanks to Randy Jackson, who adores her).
A lot from season 6 got deals. Mandisa went out at #9, and, is doing very well in her genre. Chris Sligh was #10, and, got a record deal. Both are with Christian labels.
I do understand what he was saying about laughing stocks, and jokes. I think he was referring to Sanjaya. But, there again, Sanjaya is working steady. I doubt he’ll ever have a killer CD, but, he is doing other things.
I don’t get arrogant at all. Of course he didn’t think he should have gone yet. A lot of people have been saying that Michael could be in the top 3 or 4. He hadn’t even been in the bottom 3 like Kristy, Syesha, and even Carly, Brooke, and Jason. A lot of people including me thought Kristy should have gone home weeks ago and I thought it was Syesha’s time. I thought the 2 of them and Brooke should have gone before Michael.
I’ve seen Michael in some of the interviews and I think you might have gotten a different impression than you apparently did from this one. He was completely suprised because he didn’t think he’d be gone but not because he thinks he’s better than anyone else. The questions I’ve heard have tried to get him to say that but he hasn’t. I have yet to hear a contestant say they should have gone that week and if they did, they shouldn’t or why are you there?
Michael of any of them knows that there’s no sure thing with getting a record contract. He made a really good point of the value of AI in one of his interviews. There’s a huge value in being one of the finalists because you get so much publicity that wouldn’t happen any other way. I hope it works for him and he gets a contract.
I think his fans let him down by assuming he would be safe. After all, never been in the Bottom 3. I enjoyed his performances as well as his good looks.
AI has Michael’s exit interview up now. http://www.americanidol.com/videos/?cat=12
There’s a link to a long radio interview with Paula at TWOP (post 791). http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3165527&st=780
They talk for quite a while first while they’re waiting for her to walk her dogs, lol. The hosts really like Michael and found it shocking. She said Ryan was “horribly rude” in the things he said. There was some talk about theories about why Michael was booted but of course Paula wouldn’t say what her theories were other than some convoluted one about people not phoning when they couldn’t get through for a while. She also talked about Michael coming to see her after his interviews at her dressing room and he was bummed about not being able to do Vision of Love and sang it to her.
She also said that Syesha will do well with Mariah week after one of the hosts said they shouldn’t ignore her. The end part was pretty much about Paula’s dogs and the pet psychic they had had on.
Michael would have killed with “Vision of Love”. Damn it. So unfair.
He is such a talented guy and he is right he wasn’t expecting to go. He deserves to still be there. He was Top 4 at least.. I hate this show..
Arrogant? WTF? Have you watched his live interviews.. They guy i sthe most sweet humble person ever. He has sucha great personality. I can see why the idols all loved him.. He is one contestant that deserves all the success in the world. It really is disappointing that he left so early. KLC and SYesha should have gone waaaaaaaay before him. Even Carly with her subpar performances.
I am going to miss him so much. I awant him to do so well in the future. Man he is already 29 so I was hoping he could get farther to secure a record deal. I still think he will get one though. He is too talented, good looking and the whole package to let go.
Michael I love you.
I got a *little* bit of an arrogant vibe from it, but it doesn’t bother me.
AMEN.
Good for him for sticking by his song choice. What else is he going to say? I have to agree it was a bad choice, strategically. I don’t have a problem with his showing a “rocker” side, but maybe inspiration week wasn’t the time to do it? It really did pale in comparison to his performance the previous week.
That said, I think the “save D Cook” campaign hurt him, too. I look forward to what he puts out in the future. He sounds great on the recordings.
Interesting interview with Paula. Between that and the ET thing I posted yesterday it sounds like she’s still in denial about Michael leaving. I’ll cut her some slack because I think I still am too. I’m beyond jealous that she got to hear his VOL. I think I hate her for it LOL.
Really, this is the first time I’ve been a little upset about an elimination this year. I was disappointed when Danny didn’t make the Top 12, but this week, I’m a tad bit upset. When the show opens next week without him standing on the stage, I’m going to be irritated.
It appears when there’s vote splitting, the weakest contestant gets sacrificed earlier than they should. Both Syesha and Kristy Lee may have deserved to go sooner than Michael, but they aren’t splitting votes with other contestants.
When Jennifer Hudson left at 7 Season three, it was because she was splitting votes with LaToya London and Fantasia. The week before, JPL was eliminated. Previously, he was splitting votes with John Stevens. Once JPL was out of the picture, John wasn’t splitting votes with anyone, so he was able to advance further than Jennifer.
Well, that’s my theory anyway. :).
Yes, damn it. That really is the kind of music Michael should be doing, IMO. I wasn’t a big Michael fan in the beginning, but the past three weeks before this one I’ve really liked him a lot and bought all his recordings. I didn’t like this week’s performance as well, but he was good enough to stay another week as least. He was really growing on me. Sigh.
He’s right, stick to what’s you, not what the judges want. But — the American public votes, and somehow that song just didn’t mean “inspiration” to the American public.
He should feel good, being #8 is not a bad spot. And record producers and agents get a look at you….it doesn’t matter if you’re #3 or #10, if you’re good you will be signed.
I didn’t gets so much arrogance as self-possession. At his age he knows who he is and what is did this for. Vote splitting did him in. I am also glad that he acknowledged what I have been saying about Paula’s judging this year. The other two are operating an another agenda entirely.
Vote splitting did JHud in, but even moreso not building a bigger fanbase in the first place. She had some very weak weeks, where Latoya and Fantasia did not. Same thing for Michael. Sad he is gone and actually more upset about it than I thought I would be. His Vision would have been total hotness. Sadly lacking on this show imho.
I know that his elimination is not the BIG shock, but I am glad that it is being treated as such because this buzz may do him better than if he left in two or three weeks. Leaving somewhat prematurely might at least get someone to take a look at him that might not otherwise. I have my bucks in reserve.
I think your theory is probably right, MJ. I don’t think Randy helped him either but the vote splitting and fans trying to save DC and Jason was what really hurt him. I’m really going to miss him on the show. I don’t know if I have the heart to vote anymore but maybe that will change. I know I’m going to be bitter at not hearing him do Vision of Love next week. I agree with Abbysee that it may help him having this perceived as a shocker as opposed to in a couple of weeks when it probably wouldn’t have.
There’s a great interview at Fox Houston. They had a couple of radio guys on who really like him and one who knew Michael’s band, The Rising from a radio station in Alabama (I think) and mentioned his favorite song, The Cradle (I love that one). He asked what happened with the band and Michael said that the guy who signed them was fired and Maverick Records was dissolved. He said the same thing happened to him again and said the record industry has had a lot of trouble. Michael’s had some very bad luck so hopefully being on AI will do the trick.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/Entertainment/Detail?contentId=6280730&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=7.3.1