‘American Idol’ Phillip Phillips: My First Single Is ‘A Little Too Pop’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night, Phillip Phillips took home the title of this year’s American Idol winner. The Georgia native won voters over with his singer-songwriter style and knack for tailoring a randomly assigned song to his own aesthetic. And he managed to win despite suffering through a severe kidney illness that required numerous doctor visits and rumors of emergency surgery after the semi-final performances. As he adjusts to life in the spotlight the day after his win, a very sleepy Phillips sat down for a conference call with reporters eager to find out more about the Idol champion.

What was your reaction to winning? You got pretty emotional.
I didn’t want to sing or anything. I was just so shocked. I was thinking about the whole top 12 and our journey. It was a tough road for all of us, and I just got a little emotional. I was shocked, overwhelmed. I don’t know what I was thinking the rest of the night. 

Do you feel pressure to achieve mainstream success?
It’s pretty crazy, but I’m not trying to do something too mainstream or not me. If ends up being mainstream, that’s cool. I’m ready to just meet cool people who enjoy the music I put out.

How did the song “Home,” your first single, come about?
They kind of just threw that song out there. I didn’t have a lot of options. They thought it was the right fit for me. I wanted to do one of my own songs that I had written, but with the short about of time [it wasn't possible]. It’s a good song, but it’s not something I would write. I’m glad people like it. It’s a good song [by] a good writer [Drew Pearson].

You keep saying that “Home” isn’t the kind of song you wanted for your first single. What do you mean?
It’s a little too pop for me. I don’t put in any of those “ooohs.” I’m a little more rock than that. Hopefully people will enjoy what I have to put out. Some jazz-rock stuff. But, it’s a good song. Good writer.

“Home” is Number One on iTunes right now. How does that feel?
Insane, but I’m ready to get my own stuff out there.

Much was made this season about you not singing the original melodies of the songs you chose to perform each week. Did you just not want to sing them that way?
That’s just how I am. I sang the melody on some songs, just to show them I could, but I wanted to get the world ready for the kind of album I wanted to put out.

What do your songs sound like?
Kind of like jazz and rock, acoustic stuff.

While you were on the show, did you feel a lot of pressure to conform your music or how you should dress?
I didn’t feel pressure, because I knew I wasn’t going to change. No one was going to make me do anything I didn’t want to do. No one could make me do anything. They would throw their opinions out there and hopefully I would listen, but I didn’t have to.

Can you explain what’s wrong with your kidneys?
It’s my right kidney that isn’t functioning. I have a stent that’s helping, and I have to get that fixed pretty soon.

Are you going to be missing any Idol Live tour dates?
No, I’ll be 100% by the end.

How bad were you feeling during the show, and were you ever in danger of leaving the competition?
I had some bad days. I had some good days, but it was rough at times. There were a few times that I thought abut getting out and getting the surgery done. I had really good doctors. My doctors helped me out a bunch, and I am really blessed.

There have been some rumors that judge Jennifer Lopez is not returning to the show. What’s your reaction?
That would be horrible. She knows her stuff and she cares about each one of us, and hopefully she stays.

You’ve been compared to the last four Idol winners, who are all males. How do you feel about that?
We’re all different in our ways, and I feel like I’m a lot different than the other ones. I’m not that great a singer. I play the guitar a lot different. They sing a lot better than me. So I feel that I’m pretty different from them.

How come you’re always saying you’re not a great singer?
I’m not outstanding. I can’t hit all these high notes. I just try to hit some kind of notes. I try to do something with it.

What did Jessica Sanchez say to you when you won?
She was just so proud of me. She said that she knew it, but I thought that she was going to win it. We were just so proud of each other anyway. She has such an amazing voice.

‘American Idol’ down to final 2 singers

“American Idol” finalist Joshua Ledet won’t be belting it out on this season’s final showdown.

The booming 20-year-old vocal powerhouse from Westlake, La., was revealed Thursday to have received the fewest viewer votes on the Fox talent contest, leaving bluesy 21-year-old crooner Phillip Phillips of Leesburg, Ga., and sassy 16-year-old budding diva Jessica Sanchez of San Diego to compete for the show’s record deal grand prize on next week’s finale.

“I just feel that we’re all winners at this point,” Ledet said before his eviction. “If I end up not making it and my friends make it, I’ll be voting for both of them.”

Ledet had been one of the judges’ favorite finalists, earning more than a dozen standing ovations from the panel for his renditions of such songs as James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby.” However, the gospel singer wasn’t able to win over enough voters. He twice appeared as a low vote getter before Thursday’s dismissal.

“Idol” host Ryan Seacrest said 90 million viewer votes were cast this week.

Phillips and Sanchez, who sometimes performs as her alter ego “Bebe Chez,” will face off Tuesday, with the 11th season “Idol” champion crowned on Wednesday. Phillips has never found himself at the bottom of the voting spectrum, while Sanchez was due to be eliminated during the finals’ sixth round, but the judges used their one-time-only power to rescue her from elimination.

Ryan Seacrest splashes $49m

He makes dreams come true, orchestrating the wannabes transformation into icons.

But it seems Ryan Seacrest is living in a fairytale himself, blowing a cool $49million on his new pad.

The American Idol host splashed out on a Beverly Hills estate, formerly owned by Ellen DeGeneres.

According to TMZ, the 2.87 acres of palatial grounds boasts a main house comprising of 9,200 square foot, three adjacent guest-homes, and a selection of sprawling wildlife ponds.

The 37-year-old is believed to earn $45m a year, with Ryan’s total worth equating to $125m.

Girlfriend Julianne Hough, who has been dating Ryan since 2010, will no doubt be overwhelmed by the space where she can revisit her Dancing With The Stars routines on the expanse of grounds.

It was only yesterday that Ryan revealed on The Howard Stern Show that they are living together.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Ryan originally attempted to sell his Hollywood Hills West estate in 2010 for $15m, before eventually shaking hands on a deal for $12m last month.

Unsurprisingly with a value that exceeds what most people earn in a lifetime, the previous owner before Ellen was also a famous name of Hollywood.

Will And Grace co-creator and Emmy Award-winner Max Mutchnick lived in the house, before Ellen paid $29m and purchased the adjoining properties separately – presumably to turn into guest areas.

Lucky realtor Kurt Rappaport is said to have represented both Ryan and Ellen in the deal.

And it seems celebrity house-swapping is all the rage.

Ellen and wife Portia de Rossi have moved on to a new abode, formerly belonging to Brangelina.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s luxurious Malibu beachfront pad was put on the market for a casual $13.5m, which the talk show host and Arrested Development star snapped up for just $12m.

That said, they also made a loss from Ryan on their home, with the original price set at $60m.

‘Idol’ favorite would continue winner monotony

“American Idol” viewers could be in for a serious case of deja vu if Phillip Phillips wins on the Fox talent contest’s 11th season finale next week.

While the soulful strummer from Leesburg, Ga., has certainly proved he can be a risk-taking showman by transforming songs like Usher’s “U Got It Bad” into searing acoustic covers, a victory for the 21-year-old would prove something that everyone has suspected for a while: “Idol” voters prefer humble Caucasian heartthrobs over, well, anyone else.

Since he first caught the judges’ – and America’s – attention with growly renditions of Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson hits at his audition, Phillips has seamlessly moved up the ranks, never appearing as one of the show’s low-vote getters. That can’t be said of his two final challengers – sassy 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez and booming 20-year-old Joshua Ledet.

And folks just seem to like Phillips, who has comfortably filled this season’s reluctant heartthrob role. He’s been silly, constantly flashing funny faces at the camera. He’s been rebellious: When Tommy Hilfiger advised him not to wear grey on stage, he donned two shades of it. He’s been sexy, even melting Ryan Seacrest’s girlfriend.

Then there’s the humility: Asked if he’s confident of claiming “Idol” glory, Phillips said backstage last week, “Oh, gosh, no, I’m never confident. … I’m so nervous when I get up there on stage. Josh and Jessica … they’re so much better at singing than I am.”

It’s also impossible to ignore the fact that the bluesy Phillips bears a striking resemblance to the past four champions.

While the musical styles of David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Scotty McCreery and Phillips are varied, they’re each young Caucasian male guitar players, or as they’ve become known by many “Idol” devotees: WGWGs – white guys with guitars. There hasn’t been a female or non-white winner since Jordin Sparks bested Blake Lewis in 2007.

Lyndsey Parker, who writes Yahoo’s “Reality Rocks” blog, blames the lack of diversity on block text voting among younger viewers and the introduction of contestants playing their own instruments four years ago in season seven.

Parker believes a bigger focus on instrument-playing singers, who tend to be more male than female, helped past winners like Allen and Cook ascend to the “Idol” throne with similarly masterful rearrangements of song choices, while text voting allowed obsessive fans – namely, eager young women – to tap, tap, tap their favorites to the top of the pack.

“I think people are wondering if girls or, frankly, people of color should just go audition for `The Voice’ and `The X Factor’ instead because `Idol’ has become a closed door if you’re not a Caucasian guy who plays folky rock or country music,” said Parker. “I know some people will be outraged if Phillip wins. That’s unfair to him, but that’s the reality.”

Phillips’ besting Sanchez, who has Filipino and Latino heritage, or Ledet, an African-American gospel singer, could prove problematic for “Idol,” a contest that has always prided itself on the fact that any singer in America – be it the girl next door, teen mom down the street or even a prematurely grey-haired Southern gentleman – could capture the “Idol” title.

“I think if Phillip Phillips wins season 11, then as `Idol’ fans, we kind of have to collectively shrug our shoulders and say, `It’s clear as day. You don’t have to be the best singer. You just have to be a cute white straight guy that appeals to a lot of the voting demographic,’” said Michael Slezak, a senior editor at TVLine.com who writes about “Idol.”

Parker and Slezak agreed that Phillips has been outperformed by other finalists for several rounds. His low point came two weeks ago when he failed to reach the high notes on The Zombies’ “Time of the Season” and ditched the melody on The Box Tops’ “The Letter.” However, viewers wouldn’t gather that from the judges, who always pour praise on Phillips.

“I appreciate that die, sink or swim, you will still be yourself. I love it,” judge Jennifer Lopez beamed to Phillips three weeks ago after he performed the Dave Matthews tune “The Stone.” “It was a pretty song, but I feel it was too artsy, not right for this point in the competition. I need you to do songs that are going to get you on that last show, so you can win.”

While he lacks the balladeering prowess of Sanchez and Ledet, and critics have called him a clone of Dave Matthews, Phillips’ silly personality and musical certainty have seemingly made up for any vocal deficiencies he has in the eyes of voters. Matthews himself joked to New York magazine that perhaps he can retire and Phillips “can take over my band.”

Slezak is less optimistic. He thinks if Phillips wins, he’ll be a redux of DeWyze, the least successful “Idol” in the show’s history. (DeWyze’s post-”Idol” album, “Live It Up,” sold just 39,000 copies when it debuted.) Besides a fondness for gritty vocals, they both share blue-collar backgrounds. DeWyze worked in a paint store. Phillips helped out in his family’s pawn shop.

“`Idol’ could desperately use another winner on the charts,” said Slezak. “What makes it a must-watch show is the contestants you’re voting for today end up playing on the radio and selling out concerts tomorrow. `Idol’ doesn’t need another winner who sells 40,000 copies and gets dropped by their label. What’s the point in watching if that’s the end result?”

Steven Tyler makes first ever visit to Playboy Mansion

Steven Tyler walked up the driveway to the entrance of the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles like it was a second home.

Surrounded by a large entourage as he was led to the red carpet, Tyler stopped to bare a Cheshire Cat’s grin as he looked at the four lovely Playboy Bunnies waiting to pose for pictures with him. The rock star and the equally iconic home that has hosted thousands of parties seemed made for each other, but this was Tyler’s first visit ever to the Holmby Hills grounds.

How was that possible that in all the years of Aerosmith’s success, the frontman had never been to one of the famous Halloween parties or a Midsummer Night’s Dream? “I was too busy in someone’s bathroom getting high,” Tyler told Rolling Stone. “I was too busy on tour, I was too busy writing songs. We were just busy.”

While he had never been to the house that Hef built, Tyler has crossed paths with the famed Lothario, Hugh Hefner. And Tyler is a big fan.

“I love people that are committed to their crimes of passion and he is the gentleman of all time,” Tyler told us. “He’s been on every man’s mind around the world at least a hundred times in their lifetime for what he did. So he signifies the joys of womanhood and not the degradation . . . and even women love Playboy.”

What finally brought Tyler to the mansion after more than 40 years in the spotlight was Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, a program that allows people to live out their rock and roll dreams and spend four intense days training with counselors to play with Tyler or other superstars, such as Kiss’ Gene Simmons, who will be the headliner at an upcoming event in Las Vegas from October 10 through 14.

Tyler got involved with the camp last year through Mark Hudson, a counselor in the program who co-wrote Aerosmith’s “Livin’ On The Edge.” “We spoke last year, I was doing a book, and they asked me here and I said I would, and I spoke in front of the whole camp. It’s called just being a mentor, if not to incite a riot,” he says.

Tyler had a challenge for this week’s campers, who joined him on stage at the mansion last night. “I just dared them all to learn an Aerosmith song to see how good they can do it,” he says. “If they do it good, which I’m sure they will, I’m gonna pick the best group of them all, we’re gonna pick straws and the best one out of that gets to ride around in my car and hear the new Aerosmith album.”

When Tyler says, while speaking of the upcoming record, “I’m on fire, as you can tell,” he is not exaggerating. Despite being pulled away by several handlers, he doesn’t want to stop talking about the new music, which is now in the mixing stages. “It’s one of the best Aerosmith albums ever,” he says. “I’m one of the worst judges of my own music because I’m very harsh, highly critical. [But] we waited until we had at least four really good songs that were representative and we got 19.”

Another finalist takes a bow on ‘American Idol’

It was an unfortunate night for Skylar Laine on “American Idol.”

The 18-year-old country rocker from Brandon, Miss., who imbued Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and Dusty Springfield’s “Say You Love Me” with her twangy sensibilities on Wednesday’s show was revealed to have received the fewest viewer votes Thursday on the Fox singing contest.

Laine was joined at the bottom by Hollie Cavanagh, the 18-year-old balladeer from McKinney, Texas, who opened Wednesday’s installment with a pop-infused take on Ike and Tina Turner’s “River Deep Mountain High,” and later dialed it down with the Leona Lewis hit “Bleeding Love.”

“They both sang their faces off last night,” said “Idol” judge Randy Jackson.

The other singers remaining in the competition are booming 20-year-old gospel singer Joshua Ledet of Westlake, La.; bluesy 21-year-old pawn shop worker Phillip Phillips of Leesburg, Ga.; and budding 16-year-old pop diva Jessica Sanchez of San Diego.

The four remaining finalists will return to the stage next week.

Carrie Underwood learns from imperfect moments

“American Idol” did more than launch Carrie Underwood’s career – it helped shape the picture-perfect image she has today.

In interviews and public appearances, she never has a hair out of place and always says the right things. She only recently decided it was safe to join Twitter, and if there’s ever a controversial tweet from her account, assume it got hacked.

Her carefully crafted persona doesn’t come from “American Idol” media training, but rather from what she feels were cringe-worthy moments during her winning run on the show in 2005 that stereotyped her as a naive “country girl.”

“I’m glad I can present a polished version of myself when it counts. When I was on `Idol,’ I said some dumb stuff, and learned what that could do, and that stuff lives on,” said the Oklahoma native. “It seemed like every single solitary stupid thing I said was aired and featured and replayed over and over and over again.”

After that, the 29-year-old made a conscious effort to portray herself in public as what she calls a “somewhat intelligent person” who graduated from college.

Yet when recording her fourth album, “Blown Away,” out Tuesday, Underwood allowed herself to be unguarded, and sometimes downright silly.

“When you go in to write, you have to be willing to sound stupid,” said Underwood during a recent interview at the Grand Ole Opry, of which she is a member. “Before you have a chance to think about something, you blurt it out and it doesn’t make any sense, and everybody gets a good laugh out of it. You can’t be afraid to sound completely dumb when you go to write.”

She’s giving herself permission to be a little less concerned about her image these days as well. It has taken her multiplatinum, Grammy-winning success, as well as the confidence of co-writing six of her 14 No. 1 country singles, for her to get comfortable with letting her personality shine through in more than just her music.

“Blown Away” represents Underwood’s continued growth as an artist. She co-wrote eight of the album’s 14 tracks, a far cry from the one tune she penned on her debut album. The disc is also a diverse collection, both musically and thematically.

The title track pulsates with a dance beat over a storyline describing a girl who heads to a storm shelter, hoping a tornado will destroy her home and her drunk, abusive dad asleep upstairs. “One Way Ticket” sways with a reggae groove. “Cupid’s Got A Shotgun,” featuring Brad Paisley on guitar, introduces fans to her redneck side. And “Wine After Whiskey” is a heartbreaking break-up ballad that has a classic feel.

Grammy-winning songwriter Josh Kear, known for hits like Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” and Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” wrote four songs on “Blown Away.” Three were penned with Underwood, including the foreboding “Two Black Cadillacs” about a wife and a mistress who conspire to get even with the man who betrayed them both.

Kear, who had never written with Underwood before this record, was thrilled with her as a collaborator. The day they wrote the quirky “Cupid’s Got A Shotgun,” Kear had suggested the title at the beginning of the session, and they had spent two to three hours working on another tune before getting stuck.

“Suddenly, she starts stomping her feet and clapping her hands and singing essentially what is now the melody for `Cupid’s Got A Shotgun.’ She had somehow, while we were in the process of writing this other song, been mulling it over in her brain and came back to that title,” he said.

Kear jumped right in, and they wrote the song in about 15 minutes.

“It was kind of goofy, and a lot of people don’t get to see that loose, goofy side of her, and I think that is one of the reasons she was excited to get those songs is she gets to bring a side of herself that hasn’t really always been out there,” he said. “Hopefully now people will imagine that as part of who she is.”

Country fans have seen Underwood’s comedic side as co-host of the Country Music Association Awards with Paisley for the past four years. Executive producer Robert Deaton had worked with Underwood and saw another side of her behind the scenes, which is why he initially tapped her for the job.

“The more you know her, the more you like her,” he said. “That outgoing personality, just funny, timing is perfect, witty. She’s also incredibly intelligent and smart as well.”

Deaton believes the CMA Awards gig has been very important to balancing out her career. During writing sessions for the show, he said Underwood is quick to make a joke even funnier or throw out an idea that is spot on. He says her quick-witted delivery on stage is “very much who she is.”

“Her participation is so deep on many levels (of the show.) On one hand, she can do comedy. On the other hand, she can also bring class and beauty to the broadcast,” he said. “Then she can go out and do an unbelievable performance, so it’s multi-layered of what she brings to the table.”

While Underwood has brought more of her personality into play with “Blown Away,” she is careful to point out its songs – many of which have a dark, edgier tone – are not a reflection of her personal life.

“When I think of my career and when I think of `Carrie Underwood,’ that has kind of taken on a life of its own. I feel like when I’m on stage, when I’m writing songs, singing songs, I’m in the studio, I’m shooting videos, I kind of get to become this character, and I can make that whatever I want to make that. I honestly in a lot of ways don’t want to sing about my real life, because that’s private,” she said. “I’m pretty private about my personal life and my husband and our life together, and I think it’s so wonderful I can separate the two. I get to be an actress. I get to play a character. I get to have fun and tell stories.”

And she’s apparently not a bad actress in real life. She jokes that she’s “got everyone fooled” if they think she’s flawless.

“My husband (NHL player Mike Fisher) calls me `the queen of awkward moments.’ If something can be said to make an awkward moment even worse, I’m going to say it,” she said.

 

Another finalist booted from ‘American Idol’

It wasn’t a laughing matter for Heejun Han on “American Idol.”

The goofy 22-year-old nonprofit organizer from New York who found his way back into the judges’ good graces after weeks of silly on-stage antics was eliminated from the Fox singing contest. After receiving the fewest viewer votes, Han couldn’t convince the judges to save him Thursday by reprising his serious take on Leon Russell’s “A Song for You.”

“Heejun, let the record show you knew this was coming yourself,” said “Idol” judge Steven Tyler.

Han was joined in the bottom three by 18-year-old finalists Skylar Laine of Brandon, Miss., and Hollie Cavanaugh of McKinney, Texas. Laine was lauded by the judges during Wednesday’s idol-themed performances for her energetic rendition of Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead,” while Cavanaugh failed to light up Tyler and Randy Jackson with Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

The eight remaining singers will return to the stage to perform 1980s tunes for viewer votes next Wednesday.

Jermaine Jones Criminal History: Revealed, Ugly

As previously reported, Jermaine Jones will be cut from American Idol tonight – and now we have a much clearer idea why.

The 6’8″ finalist is reportedly anything but a gentle giant, as TMZ has uncovered details from his March 5, 2011 arrest.

It stemmed from an incident at a Howard Johnson hotel in New Jersey, where Jones gave police a phony name and was charged with public nuisance and obstruction of justice, while also possessing outstanding warrants.

Then, on 11/27/11, Jones gave cops a different fake name when the car he was riding in got pulled over. In this case, he was booked for hindering apprehension and giving false information to avoid self-discovery, while – again – having outstanding warrants in his (real) name.

Moreover, sources say Jones has been “very aggressive” behind the American Idol scenes, once yelling at a staff members over his wardrobe selection.

Still, despite his past transgressions, it’s conceivable Jermaine could have remained on the show if he had just been up front. Instead, he swore to producers that his record was clean.

Honesty, readers. It remains the best policy.

‘American Idol’ finalist tweets that he’s gone

Jermaine Jones is apparently out on “American Idol.”

The 25-year-old vocal instructor from Pine Hill, N.J., tweeted Tuesday night that he no longer would be on the Fox singing contest.

He wrote on his official “Idol” Twitter account: “Ahttp://www I will no longer b on the show.” The post and Jones’ official “Idol” Twitter account were later deleted.

A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter or confirm his tweet.

The so-called “gentle giant,” as he was dubbed by “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest, was among the show’s viewer-selected top 13 finalists after the judges gave him a last-minute spot among the 11th season’s top 13 male semifinalists.

He was among the bottom three vote-getters last week after performing Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet” but advanced to the group of top 12 singers.

“Idol” contestants in the past have been disqualified when the show deems that their work or personal history is an issue.

Corey Clark was disqualified for concealing his arrest record during the second season in 2003. Frenchie Davis was also dropped from “Idol” that year because of her previous appearance on an adult website.

During the eighth season in 2009, Joanna Pacitti was shown advancing to the top 36 semifinalists after “Hollywood Week” but was later replaced. Pacitti released an album in 2006 and had ties to 19 Entertainment, which produces “Idol” with FremantleMedia North America.

Chris Golightly was dropped from the top 24 semifinalists in the ninth season in 2010 because he didn’t disclose that he had a previous record contract.

In contrast, the singing competition allowed past finalists like the sixth season’s Antonella Barba and the seventh season’s David Hernandez to stay on after racy photos that appeared to be Barba leaked online. Hernandez was revealed as having once worked as a nightclub stripper.