The accidental American Idol

First, a trivia:

Did you know that Simon Cowell, 44 and single, the most popular of the three controversial (bitchy? cruel? acerbic? scathing?) judges of the top-rater talent search in the USA (and, for that matter, the whole world), American Idol (the two others are Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson), is a multi-millionaire music executive? Here’s how much he’s worth, according to an estimate by the US magazine, Star:

• $17.1 million for seasons 3 to 6 of American Idol

• $2.2 million for a two-year production deal for British TV

• $2 million for his book, I Don’t Mean To Be Rude, But...

• $44 million from the sales of his share of S Records, his label, and

• Untold amounts for endorsement deals.

Mind-boggling, isn’t it?

Can American Idol’s most popular reject, William Hung, expect to make even half or that much now that he’s an overnight sensation, a recording artist (his debut album, aptly titled Inspiration, is released locally by Universal Records) in his own right, ready, willing and able to take on the world?

For a while there, William provided a much-needed (comic) relief in the suspense/tension-filled show when he auditioned – and was promptly rejected –with no less than Ricky Martin’s hit song She Bangs. The world laughed at him, that’s true, but instead of recoiling back to anonymity, the University of California Berkeley Civil Engineering student soldiered on, not letting the sneers and jeers stop him.

Guess who’s having the last laugh.

William lost a chance to compete in American Idol (which has just voted out the only remaining Asian – and a Filipino at that! – from the final race, Jasmine Trias, a few episodes after another Filipino talent, Camille Velasco, was eliminated from the Top 12 competing for the plum) but he won the world with his innocence and enthusiasm. The underdog has emerged as the latest pop-culture phenomenon, an "accidental" American Idol.

Dream. Believe. Survive.

That’s the blurb of the local American Idol-inspired talent search, GMA 7’s Starstruck, and William did just that. He dreamed. He believed. He survived.

His Inspiration album, hyped with a music video showing William dancing ala Ricky Martin on a wet pavement with sexy girls, was initially titled True Idol but Inspiration is the more appropriate title because that’s what William does – Inspire.

The album is a compilation of covers (remakes), led by – but, of course! – She Bangs and also includes Enrique Iglesias’ Bailamos, Elton John’s Rocket Man, Circle of Life and Can You Feel The Love Tonight?; R. Kelly’s I Believe I Can Fly; the Eagles’ Hotel California; Phil Collins’ Two Worlds; The Village People’s Y.M.C.A. and – si, señor! – another Ricky Martin hit, Shake Your Bon-Bon.

A bonus: a William Hung original, Feel, co-written by the album producer, Giuseppe D. (who was behind some of the albums of Michael Jackson and the Backstreet Boys), and four inspirational messages (Words of Gratitude, Inspirational Thoughts: Passion, Inspirational Thoughts: Perseverance and Inspirational Thoughts: Be Yourself); plus a VCD that includes the documentary A Day In The Life of William Hung with never-before-seen footage and interviews.

I did a phone interview with William Hung last Friday, arranged by Universal Records lady boss Bella Tan. William was then booked at a five-star hotel in Dallas, Texas, resting before taking to the road again for his album promo.

Excerpts:

I’m calling from the Philippines.

"Oh, you are?"

Yes, I am.

"Your surname sounds Chinese. Are you Chinese?"

Half-Chinese.

"Oh, do you speak Cantonese?"

Oh, no, I don’t. Just a little Fookien.

"We’ll speak in English."

You’re in Dallas now. What for?

"I’m performing in a show tomorrow."

So what were you thinking when you auditioned for American Idol?

"Oh, I was just thinking of giving it a shot."

Giving it a shot?

"Yeah, taking a chance. Get out there."

You were voted out but you are now a celebrity. You’re like a winner. Do you feel vindicated?

"Yeah. It’s exciting that all these fans and everybody are giving me a chance."

Did you expect this kind of reception?

"Well, no. But what a great reception it is, right?"

How do you feel about this adulation. You have so many fans all over the world.

"I feel great! I mean, I like what I’m doing – I like singing! And I like all the fans to pour out there."

I saw your She Bangs music video. You did it so well. Congratulations!

"Thank you very much!"

Are you a fan of Ricky Martin?

"Yes, I am."

What do you like about Ricky Martin?

"He’s different, he’s unique. His songs are very catchy."

Have you met Ricky?

"No, not yet."

What will you tell Ricky when you meet him?

"Well, I’ll say, ‘Thank you, Ricky Martin, for writing a great song.’ I’ll tell him that."

Would you like to do a duet of She Bangs with Ricky?

"Yeah, sure!"

Aside from singing, what other special talent do you have?

"Well, I like Math and Science, that’s why I’m studying Civil Engineering."

How do your friends feel about your success?

"They feel great! Excited."

Do you feel that you’re now successful?

"Yeah. But there’s a long way to go."

What do you look forward to?

"Well, I’ll be working on my second album soon."

How did you feel about the show, Uncut, Unwanted, Untalented?

"Oh, it was part of American Idol. It doesn’t matter what they think of me. I enjoy singing for the fans."

What about your family?

"My family loves my success very much."

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

"I’m an only child."

Are you spoiled?

"No, I’m not."

You were born in China and then you went to the States...

"...not China. Hong Kong."

How old were you when you went to the States?

"I was 10. I’ve been living in Los Angeles for 11 years."

Have you always wanted to be a singer?

"Well, I really enjoy singing. Even in Hong Kong, I was singing for fun."

Oh, you did? What club?

"No. At the karaoke."

What were your favorite songs when you were in Hong Kong?

"All Cantonese songs."

How did you learn to speak English?

"Hong Kong has English school. I wasn’t great with my English until I got to the United States."

Aside from Ricky Martin, who are the singers you idolize?

"I admire many singers out there. They are all good in different ways."

Who’s your role model?

"Ricky Martin."

Do you think you’re an inspiration to people your age?

"I think I inspire many people, not only those of my age. I have my own audience."

You’re an only child. What sort of childhood did you have?

"I don’t know. What do you mean?"

How was your life like growing up in Hong Kong?

"I was happy. Yes, I had a happy childhood."

In the She Bangs music video, you’re surrounded by sexy girls. How does your girlfriend feel about it?

"Hmmmm. I don’t have a girlfriend."

Why not?

"Not yet."

What kind of girls do you find pretty?

"No particular kind. If I love her and she loves me, okay. She must be a good girl."

What have been the changes in your life after American Idol?

"I get to meet a lot of people that I don’t normally get to meet. I get to meet celebrities. I get to touch the hearts of many people out there and I love that."

Aren’t you planning to join any other contest?

"I don’t think so."

What about Survivor? You’re a survivor.

"Yeah, I am. But Survivor doesn’t fit me. It looks very difficult."

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