Lee DeWyze may describe himself as a simple kind of man, but he was also a guy with a strategy that took him all the way to the American Idol season 9 title. Step one: Avoid drama during Hollywood Week (as if he would’ve played it any other way). Step two: Front-load with current tunes in the semifinals. Step three: Don’t get bogged down obsessing over the judges’ critiques. Lee stopped by Amalia lounge in New York City to dish his winning Idol run, tackling criticism that some of his performances were “pitchy,” explaining his surprised initial reaction to Simon Cowell’s “judge’s choice”-round selection of “Hallelujah,” and describing which current artists might potentially shape the sound of his major-label debut disc. He also touched on how he came to have a moment during R&B Week, what he thought of the “paint salesman” label the show’s producers relentlessly foisted on him, and why he didn’t use his own acoustic arrangement of “Beautiful Day” during the Idol finale. Press play below for the whole five-part shebang, and to get alerted to all my Idol news and commentary (including an upcoming video Q&A with runner-up Crystal Bowersox) follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak. If you’re having trouble watching the videos here, or if you’re on an iPhone/iPad, head over to the Idolatry hub for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
[Related: Lee DeWyze on 'Today': Did acoustic 'B'ful Day' erase memories of hinky 'American Idol' rendition?; 'American Idol': Bret Michaels as Simon Cowell's replacement? How about a mentor gig instead?; 18 'Idol' Theme Nights We'd Love to See; 'American Idol' finale recap: Nice Guys Finish First]
That’s all well and good, but where the HELL is the Casey James Idolatry session?! When do we get to see THAT one?! Come ON already!!!
Winner, runner-up, third place.
Whaaat Casey James didnt win?!
I love Lee, I am a big fan, I loved him on Idolatry but come on Lee, admit when you don’t do well. He really liked how he did on the finale? He did NOT do good and he should own up to that. He had a bad night, so what? But own up to it Lee!
Dude was sooooooooo Boring!
Lee is from the planet Boron.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Will there be an interview with Casey? Michael hasn’t even teased one as of yet.
Yes, the last three go in the reverse order for Idolotry.
Casey will be the last interview seen.
I hope you’re right about that.
– Lee’s was interesting ..I’m looking forward to whatever Crystal has to say, I love her. But
CASEY JAMES is the one I want to see the most. I believe Casey has been bursting at the seems to comment about his idol experience and I know Michael will encourage him to do so.
Agree with Mac – I think Casey wants to discuss more than others how ill-served contestants and viewers were by the dysfunctional judging.
And other things..maybe the song selections he was forced to do..lack of a pimp package..
Michael tweeted today that there will NOT be an interview with Casey as they couldn’t find a time to hook up in NY. He’s hoping to catch him sometime on tour. What luck, huh? :-\
aw man! I’ve been looking forward to Casey’s Idolatry! he always has the most interesting thing to say about everything. and if he’s going to catch him on tour, that’s like a month away!
whahaT?! why?!
Here I go:
I think that Slezak actually likes LEE.
1)Why???-because he can sing. I believe the whole “Beautiful Day” thing went down the way it did, because they suggested to him that he make it BIGGER, and NOT do the arrangement that he had originally planned, which everyone, EVERYONE LOVES. I thereby put forth the statement that the powers that be at Idol (and probably 19) said, do this song this way, maybe even U2 had a say in it-remember how Lee said he was honored to be able to even sing that song, and that they had to get permission from Bono and the band? This must have been the “interesting” bit of information that Michael Slezak was alluding to yesterday.
2) Pitchness-I personally have not heard one, NOT ONE and yes I am SCREAMING THIS, NOT ONE PERSON, say that he has sounded “pitchy” in his last performances on stage since Idol (ET,M&M Pretzal, REGIS, TODAY SHOW, ETC). DO YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE HE IS NOT “PITCHY”. Basically, that sort of edgy “pitchy” sound is what is “POPULAR” on the radio today. Do you guys remember that both Kara and Simon said that he sounds current?? Current “sells” albums. You want edgy, go to Sirius Satellite Radio, every channel that is out on regular radio IS owned by Clear Channel, and they dictate what will be heard. And that my friends, is what the “ladies” like to listen to. It is all about selling products to the “ladies” through the advertisement revenue generated by the listen audience.
3) How many artists really jump around the stage all the time. I know Dave Mathews doesn’t or Kings of Leon, and they have made Platnum records. There are a bunch of Indie artists out there that don’t do that either. It is not like watching paint dry when you see them-now is it? He will never never never be a “performance artist” so if you may as well STOP posting, because he is not going to change that..and I for one am thrilled that he can stand up and say “I am about my music, not about the jumping around”.
4)When Kara asked him to be flirty, I refer you to my 1st and 3rd comments-that “ain’t” Lee and it probably will never be Lee. Lee is going to be a great Studio Artist–who will sell millions of records. He will also “hone” in on his stage presence and interviewing skills, they are getting better, but honestly, I like the humbleness, and the attitude that I believe in myself, I take the good and the bad, and role with the punches. He won because for the most part, like he said he played the GAME..because that is what IDOL is, a GAME. Lee just wanted to make music.-He will never be into “musical theater” or “glam rock”…not him, not interested. So those of you that like that sort of stuff, will not like Lee. So don’t listen to him, go on your marry way, and stop posting…oh and by the way, he is way better then Casey,or Mike, and Dude, he is adverage build, on the shorter side, but skinny in person. I saw him up close at the AT&T store in Skokie, IL for his hometown visit.
5) Ultimately, time will tell, and all the bashing, will fade, and Lee will be left with selling to his fans. That is when the REAL truth about what kind of artist he is will come out.
Lee will be the biggest Idol winner and him and his fans will be laughing at all the fans that bash him here. Yes his not an Adam but who cares? Adam Lambert will be forgotten by next year Lee will make music that will forever be remembered for generations to come! So stop hatin all you Crystal/Casey/Siobhan/Adam/Kris/Allison fans! Lee and Danny will be laughing at your faces when they prove to be bigger than your favorites! Just wait and see!
First off, no one is going to call him out on being “pitchy” when interviewing him after he’s won. That would be ridiculous. Secondly, you make yourself sound absolutely dimwitted and naive by saying that kind of “pitchy” sound is in. “Pitchy” or more accurately “out of tune” singing is not a sound. It is an inability to hit the right notes while singing, something that plagued many of his performances. For music listeners who have decent to good ears, it is painful to hear a singer sing out of tune. If this kind of “pitchy” singing is in, then music has clearly reached a new, disastrous low. Besides, next season, when another vanilla, medicroe white guy with a guitar comes around for the ladies to fawn over, you will forget all about Mr. DeWyze. Trust me.
I’m with Scott and Ashley on this. Lee is passionate about his music, and I really don’t see how he can fail in the music industry. He’s a fighter and that’s why he won AI. I like Crystal too and believe she will be successful in her own “alternative” way. But I think Lee has more of a propensity to be pop than Crystal thereby selling more records.
Also, Lee is not edgy at all. Just because he has a raspy voice doesn’t make him edgy. He is so vanilla and generic and that is why he won. Crystal actually dared to break the mold and be different. Lee sang the most generic songs, emulated many previous rock voice in his vocal style, and did nothing that hasn’t been seen before. The exact opposite of edgy.
Scott, really nice post you did! That was about as well as you could do covering the “Lee Issues!!”
In fact, if Lee saw it he’d probably copy it and save it to hand out when the dumb usual comments and critiques come up. I almost think Scott answered those questions better than Lee can!!!
And Ashley – As for criticism of Lee, I think the bulk of it came from Crystal and all the Gaybert fans still around who proclaimed all through this S9 that any but their fave was a talentless hack.
I think Siobhan fans and Casey fans were pretty well disposed to Lee as well. People that liked Casey always said Lee was their 2nd or 3rd fave, and Siobhan fans thought Lee was –well—a most excellent choice if Siobhan wanted a little romance going. And many credited Lee with helping her become far better in recording studio work, and credited Siobhan with cheering Lee on.
Personally, my only real disappointment in how they finished up was Siobhan leaving too early at 6th. Ideally, and knowing the show would have been far more interesting – Lee and Crystal should be 1-2 and Casey and Siobhan should have had a fight for the 3rd slot. Magnus has amazing talent, but Casey in the real world is a synergy of band members and guitar playing and just as talented and appealing in his way.
But neither really had a case that they were better than Lee or CRystal over the whole season.
Wow Ashley and Scott, I am a big Lee fan but come on, to announce that he will be the biggest selling Idol? Noone can predict that. Stop dragging Adam Lambert or anyone else on here. That was last year. BTW Adam will not be forgotten so don’t hold your breath on that one! I don’t like it Ashley that you are a Lee fan because you sound CRAZY and I don’t want others to think all Lee fans are like you!
Jas88: Regarding the use of the word “PITCHY” and tone-I took the liberty to quote Jim Anderson, professor of the Clive Davis department of recorded music at New York University and president of the Audio Engineering Society, from an article entitled “Music Tone and Ethics” from February 19, 2009-”The other day, someone was talking about how Aretha Franklin at the Inauguration was a bit “PITCHY,” says Anderson. “I said, ‘Of course! She was singing!’ And that was a musician talking. People are getting used to hearing things dead on pitch, and it’s changed their expectations.”
Despite Randy Jackson’s stock American Idol critique–”A little pitchy, dawg”–many beloved songs are actually off-pitch or out of tune. There’s Ringo Starr on “With a Little Help from My Friends,” of course, and just about every blues song slides into notes as opposed to hitting them dead on. Even Norah Jones, the poster girl of pure vocals, isn’t perfect. “There’s some wonderful imperfections of pitch on ‘Don’t Know Why’ from Come Away with Me,” says Anderson, “and most of the other tunes on the album as well. But I wouldn’t want to change a single note.’ Let’s hope that pop’s fetish for uniform perfect pitch will fade, even if the spread of Auto-Tune shows no signs of slowing.” Hmm-that about says it ALL does’nt it?
Larry–Regarding Lee’s sales, my money is still on him, especially with his experience in making records. I am not dissing Adam Lambert, never even mentioned him by name, until now. You however, did mention him.I am simply stating that Lee has officially come out and said that he is not going to jump around the stage, and smile, etc etc. That has nothing to do with what Adam Lambert does..again two different styles. I prefer Lee’s style, but I give credit to Adam for making “Iggy Stardust” Glamrock popular again.
You must not have anything better to do than to defend a boring, irrelevant, and mediocre singer.
You’re absolutely right, Adam will not be forgotten. How could any artist whose career was built on hype and shameles promotion be forgotten?
Lots of things better to do, however, I feel that you have now lost your credibility by now bashing Lee and Adam–come on Dawg, give it up–Lee is not anymore mediocre then any of the crap out on the Radio today..I stand by everything I have said. “Pitchness” is subjective to the ear, the Professor said that all good singers are “pitchy” because they are not “auto-tuning” their voice 24/7, radio stations are only going to play what consumers want to hear..and it has to be current. Lee has that. Not an Adam fan, but I never said he was “pimped” WOW!!! HARSH
Boring Boring Boring..
Please leave Adam Lambert out of this.
Adam was, and still continues to be pimped. His whole existence in the music business and on the record charts is fueled by hype and endless promotion. They’re working overtime to try and make him relevant. Bringing back Glam? Give me a break! Do you really see any artists out there following his lead? The guy is a makeup wearing gimmick that no one in the biz is taking seriously.
Wow-a dissertation defending pitchiness? Look, I didn’t watch this season until the last episode (the finale) and just from the clips they showed in this Idolatry video there was at least one point where I was cringing. You can say it is subjective, but unless you are tone deaf a lot of these things will bug a lot of people. Just saying. In terms of vocal tone, is he even that different from David Cook or Daughtry? I am not sure but those guys never made me cringe. I didn’t even like Daughtry so it is not like I am biased here.
You can’t TALK people out of hearing what they hear with their own ears. If a singer is hitting the wrong notes, most people don’t enjoy it. The end. That said, Lee has soounded very good after Idol so I think we should cut the guy some slack and wait and see. He may surprise a lot of people.
LOL. Chill crazy stan. Your defensiveness is telling.
When someone 99.9% has shown us that he can’t stay in tune, I’m sorry I can’t ignore that or pretend it sounds good or be satisfied that he records better because he do a trillion takes until he gets it right. Who wants to pay money for someone to be constantly out of tune? This was supposed to be a singing competition. Why wouldn’t I expect someone to stay in tune most of the time? Make excuses if you want. But, he’s not original, he can’t stay in tune, and I don’t find him to be the next best thing. I’m not asking for perfection. But, to be consistently out of tune and mediocre is not great to me….
Thank you Scott, great comment. I believe that Lee will be a “BIG” star in the future and I, for one, will buy every record he puts out. I am a senior citizen and haven’t heard a voice like Lee’s in a long time. He puts part of himself in every song and I can feel it.
Grandma Jean, Las Vegas
All of the “pitchy” talk kills me. Does anyone NOT listen to someone because they are not technically perfect? Dinosaur Jr is one of my favorite bands, but their lead singer wouldn’t make it out of the auditions on AI , and I couldn’t care less. They make music that I enjoy greatly.
Lee is just seriously boring and I know he built this fan base as a contestant on Idol, but I can’t really see how it is going to translate in the long term.
Scyren- 99.9% of the time he was pitchy? I don’t agree with that..I think he got better as the contest went on. I got the impression from him that he just played the game to see how far it would go, and then he plans on using whatever that game brings him to further his career. I say good luck to him…hope it works out. He seems like a nice guy, and I like his studio recordings and post-Idol performances a lot.
If you like the constipated dude sound.
Nobody except for every publication and idol centric site I’ve ever seen. Also, at whoever said all good singers are pitchy (out of tune)…that means every body with a kareoke mic is a good singer and we should all have recording contracts. just because there’s a lot of tuneless drivel on the radio doesn’t make it any less tuneless or drivel. Crappy fast food is pretty popular too, but it’s still crap.
For real? Um, so I’ve studied classical music for many years, I know when someone hits a pitch or not, and trust me, dude is VERY pitchy. The finale week, including the final performance of Beautiful Day, bordered on attrocious. That said, everyone is out of tune from time to time, and Lee has been in tune as well (particularly when he sticks to a simpler melody that doesn’t push him too far). He has serious limitations, but mostly he works within them. But yeah, he is still the most off-key winner in the history of idol.
Oh, and also – LOL to using Ringo Starr as an example to compare Lee to. So, yeah, that about makes my point
Lee who??
It’s been no secret … Mr. Slezak is no fan of Mr. James. He could care less.
Why should he be? Casey James is one of those AI contestants that will be forgotten before the year is out.
@Karla- No way- Casey James has a terrific voice and he will go far.He wont be forgotten. I know alot of people that love his music and will buy what ever he puts out there. Cant say the same for Lee. Lee is just okay. Casey and Crystal are the top 2.!
you might be riding the Casey train before this tour ends. ;P
Casey is really good, and I was surprised Slezak seemed to ignore him the first few weeks. But let’s take his word for why he couldn’t do the interview.
If Mr. Slezak takes the time to really get to know Casey and his music, and I do believe he will, he’ll find dimensions most AI watchers didn’t get a chance to see. I’m looking forward to the interview. He’s saving the best for last.
It’s been no secret … Mr. Slezak is no fan of Mr. James. He could care less.
And its really sad for someone like him to be so biased.Yes you can like someone but to go as far as completely ignoring a contestant…Too bad!!
Slezak interviews everyone…even contestants he doesn’t like. He never has shied away from that at all. He would be interviewing Casey now if it could work out, I’m sure.
I was going to say the same thing ~ Mr. Slezak does interview everyone, even those whose abilities he’s disrespected during the season. So, I have to ask, why not Casey? Has he ever skipped any of the top 3 before?!
Lee…there’s a clean up in aisle 3 someone spilled some paint…chop chop paint boy…they made a real mess.
Lee…can you please get a can of Latex and quit singing…chop chop paint boy.
My sentiments, exactly!
yes, I want Casey James Idolatry session.
Ditto that. Have been watching for the Casey James interview. You’ve interviewed the other 9 – right? So disappointed.
He is so freaking cute!
He could stand to lose a good 10-15 pounds…he doesn’t even have a proper neck, just a bunch of fat.
Ugh, then go… do your thing… to a picture of some slender matchstick person. Lee is solid, and I like that. He totally is hot. Men with that build can put their arm around a woman and make her feel safe and protected. (Not that we need to be protected! It’s just a nice feeling.) Not everyone values the same standards of beauty, which is fortunate for you because there should be someone out there who doesn’t care if you’re ugly inside, and then you can date them. I would have respected that you simply don’t find Lee attractive, but you expressed yourself in kind of a nasty way, therefore I am forced to assume that you’re not a very nice person. Sorry.
I should not that I’m not really a Lee Dewyze fan – I voted for Crystal and I always wanted her to win because Lee isn’t that great a vocalist – but I do think Lee seems nice, and I personally think he’s attractive, and I don’t think his appearance merits any insulting judgment from strangers. So my response was not the reflex reactin of a fangirl…just a defense of common courtesy and differences of opinion.
lol sorry for the threepeat response, but I have to edit myself: “I should NOTE…” as well as “reaction”.
Really? – A substantial part of women in America, young girls, and two of the female contestants found Lee a good-looking, high character man..
Lee is the kind of guy who gets the gals hearts after their eyes 1st go to male eye candy. I said this a couple of times – if Lee, Tim, and Casey went to a party and were available…the single gals would initially flock to Tim and Casey. Then Lee would just be himself, talk, relate – and when they left, Casey and Tim would see Lee had several phone numbers.
Like Casey, Siobhan, Aaron, and Tim – Lee was every contestant’s friend.
Likeable. Interesting. Fun to be with. Serious about the work and craft.
yeah, maybe he should develop anorexia so he can fit in better with the Hollywood ideal of beauty.
Hottest contestant by far!
ew!
Lee and hot shouldn’t be in the same sentence sorry to say.He is a plumpy,average looking guy. Tim and Casey are far better looking
chris: WOW are you gay! Tim and casey yuck! and may I ask if they are cutier why didn’t they win if its base on popularity like some people says.
So Kris Allen and Adam Lambert and Matt Giraud weren’t contestants on American Idol?
I thought Casey was hotter. I completely agree with Chris’s comment. I suppose you all think Baldy David Cook was hot as well?
Lee is the weakest Idol winner since Taylor Hicks.
Well you’re old thats why you said what you said But we younger loves Lee and he is by far the hottest contestant ever on the Show!! Crystal is the dirtiest and ugliest on the show!
Well to yopu old lady for us youngers we love Lee and he is by far the hottest contestant on the show and crystal is the dirtiest and ugliest on the show! You and chris got really bad taste in men! I bet your husbands aor buitt ugly right? Or do you wish that you got a hottie like Lee?
Hot??? What???? Lee is NOT hot!! If you are thinking HOT then Lee or Tim is the hottest of Season 9. I am a man BTW.
So is my dog. But I won’t buy his recrd either.
Oh really? I could’ve sworn that they did them in order the whole way through even after the finale…that it still went 3rd place, runner up, winner…thanks for letting me know!
Lee will be an even bigger flop than Kris Allen.
If your idea of “flop” is having a platinum selling single that beat out Adam Lambert’s best effort, than Lee should consider himself fortunate to “flop.” It’s more important to have a relevant radio single in heavy rotation than it is to have a platinum selling album nowadays.
@mike
Excuse me… please don’t bring Adam Lambert name in the same sentence with K Allen and Lee DeWyze. You have no idea what is the best effort of Adam is(btw, he is limitless). Can we just wish them luck?
Huh? You should probably update your research. Or, at least follow the continuing sales of both. Or, consider tallying international sales. But then again, just keep saying this now, because you’ll probably only have a few short weeks until (even in the US) it becomes resoundingly false.
P.S. I don’t believe Kris Allen is, or will be, a flop. I’m hopeful, but not so sure about Lee DeWyze….
@Milkyway: In the real world, recording artists are judged by their relevancy, radio play, and record sales. If Adam Lambert is such a great artist, the only way he can prove it is by these criteria, not by how rabid his fans are. Kris and Lee will be judged the same way. After all, we’re not in Idol anymore, Dorothy.
Bringing radio play into any argument is pointless. The radio stations no longer play what we want to hear, they play what Clear Channel wants to hear. That’s the only explanation I can come up with for the fact that I have yet to hear any of Adam’s or Allison’s singles on the radio.
Kris Allen’s single peaked at #18 on Billboard’s Top 100, Lambert’s at #10. And that is just one obvious statistic. I’m not interested in denigrating one over the other, but you can’t credibly say Allen’s single has been outperforming Lambert in the marketplace. And Lambert must have been getting not just sales but airplay somewhere because his single ranked high on the Billboard Popchart too among others.
Can we PLEASE just once have an AI comments section that doesn’t turn into Kris vs. Adam?!? I’m starting to hate both of them because you guys are so OBNOXIOUS.
oh really? You don’t know anything.The music business is all about money. Kris sells 350K cds =3500,000 plus his 1,400,000 for LLWD equals 4,900,00. Adam sells 650K cds a= 6,500,000 and 1,250,000 for WWFM that equals 7,800,000……Adam wins
Stop talking shot Adam Lambert! This is about Lee! I swear Adam fans will be crying once Lee’s album comes out and blows both Adam and Kris numbers combined!
Stop talking about Adam Lambert! This is about Lee! I swear Adam fans will be crying once Lee’s album comes out and blows both Adam and Kris numbers combined!
Chart position and record sales are 2 different things. Adam benifitted greatly from his ongoing exposure and hype. If you check Billboard, Kris Allen’s single has outsold Adam’s, and he also has surpassed Mr. Lambert in radio play. Kris mangaged to outdo Adam with very little promotion, while you can’t open a magazine or watch t.v. without seeing Adam. Kris did it solely on talent. Adam continues to pimp himself silly in order to push his records.
Radio play is not pointless. The biggest acts always manage to get radio play. If your song is good enough, it will get airplay. Your argument holds water only if you are an up and coming artist.
Adam doesn’t win anything. Check out Billboard’s chart for the best American Idol performers based on sales, radio play, etc. and Kris beat Adam.
Adam has beaten Kris in everything but Radio spins. Isn’t that ironic that Adam still outsells Kris without the radio spins Kris gets? Funny stuff!!
@Cathy…The singles mostly sell for the same price per unit, but the Albums sell at different prices per unit so I don’t think you can equate unit sales to how much money they brought in. I remember hearing that Adam have a super sale of $3.99 for his Album after the AMAs? I don’t think Kris had any sales priced that low.
Why are you dragging Kris Allen and Adam Lambert into this thread?
Lee hasn’t even started recording his album so there’s no comparing him to Kris or Adam.
Kris Allen’s single has (so far) sold more copies than Adam Lambert’s but Lambert sold more than twice as many album units than Allen (not counting international sales).
Plus, Allen will open for other acts this summer while Lambert has just started his 60+ dates solo tour which is selling really well and going international in the fall.
Unless Lee hasn’t released even one single (let alone an album) or toured with someone you cannot compare him (or Crystal, for that matter) to anyone.
@Lynne
You Kris fans crack me up. Adam’s MP3 version of his album was available on Amazon for $3.99 for 24 hours. 24 hours, honey. Adam’s album is still selling 5 to 6 times what Kris’s album is selling 6 months later. Six months later and ADam’s album is still in Billboard’s Top 100, Kris’s disappeared months ago. Kris couldn’t even get an American Idol bump of more than 500-1000 albums on the week he performed. I don’t think he’s a flop, but he’s certainly no David Cook. In fact, he’s not even Taylor Hicks who at least got a gold album. Kris won’t get even that. That’s pathetic for the person who everyone said was soooooo popular he blew Adam out of the water with the vote.
Please don’t drag International sales into this. They have different reasons for liking what they like. Every artist, including international artist, all dream of conquering the U.S. charts. Just ask the Beatles. An American artist has to be great here first to be legit.
“They have different reasons…”???
WTF?
What does that have to do with international sales?
Sales are sales, it’s all just numbers no matter what “reasons” someone in Australia or Germany has for buying an album (beyond the obvious reason which is wanting to buy it LOL)…
And why shouldn’t international sales be mentioned?
They obviously add up to the record sales and open up new opportunities for international concerts or even a tour. Every artist or band wants to broaden their fanbase beyond just the good old US of A…
Plus, fans in Europe and Australia tend to be much more loyal than the more fickle US audiences. Just look at P!ink’s international tour, she played tons of sold out concerts in Australia and made some serious money.
There have been countless superstar European singers that you wouldn’t know if they were standing right next to you. International sales are nice, but they are irrelevant when you are talking about an American arist like Lambert. Being a platinum artist in the U.S. would make him relevant, not International sales. Adam fans will stretch very far to defend him and make him legit. Sadly, he’s not. And the fact that he can’t reach platinum status here in the U.S. speaks volumes. So please, please, stop saying that this dude is a superstar in the U.S. and then try to throw International sales to prove your point that that he is.
I was talking about album sales.
You know? Money.
I did not mention Adam Lambert.
Why are you bringing up his name? As far as I remember this article is about Lee DeWyze not anyone else.
It’s strange how people will tell you they don’t like Lambert but still can’t seem to comment on any article without mentioning his name…
Kinda pathetic, don’t you think?
I hope we get Crystal and Casey. Lee is such a nice guy. Good Singer? I don’t know.
I hope so too. Lee’s a nice guy, I give him that, but he is so boring.
patsy” Then why are you watching his interviews? You must like him thats why you keep watching him? I find it really funny that people are bashing him! We Lee fanes love him and push him to the top so so get it thruight your thick skull cause he WON and thats that!!!
Lets bash crystal next!!!!!!!!!
Lets the bashing for crystal begin, I’m ready and pump!
I can’t answer for Patsy but I can say for myself that I kept watching hoping that Slezak would be able to bring at least a little personality out of him. Good lord this guy is just a total yawn-fest. I realize that AI is a singing competition but in order to be successful you need to have more than just a voice (and sorry, but his voice isn’t even all that). I just can’t believe what a waste of time this season was.
Best season ever! Season 8 was a snooze fest! Adam and Kris was lame as today! You’re just being a A** cause crystal lost but whatever! She didn’t win cause she is BLAH BLAH!! all the time.
@ Mindy..Don’t you have to be at least 13 years old to post here,how did you slip in.?
@LOL a bobsaccamanna. Wow Mindy, Season 8 was a snoozefest? Really? There is NO way you can actually be of sound mind! I guess you think Queen is just a woman on a throne? Go back to your crayons little girl and leave the posting to the adults!
Hey larry want to have a threesome with me and crystal! Lets bang her!
how idiotic and juvenile is it to post under someone elses name,really shows a lot of intelligence..anyhow to the a hole that did use my name for the stupid fake post,anyone who follows me posts here knows I would never write anything as asinine as that on this site..so crawl back under the rock you crawled out from under.
Nice guy has nothing to do with selling records. Neither does being a good singer. It all boils down to putting out music that people will love to hear on the radio. That said, I don’t think Lee’s taste in music will connect with today’s audience. The people who make the kind of music he likes are all close to 60 years old now.
I just don’t understand this guy. He has an interesting tone to his voice, but he doesn’t do anything interesting with it. There’s no aggression or sense of purpose in his singing. His approach is too laid back. Sorry Lee.
I know. But if everytime he gives an interview he bores people and if everytime he gives a live performance people change channel because their ear bleeds, he won’t gain many new fans that are going to buy his music. This guy has no personality whatsoever besides being nice and can’t sing on pitch. And that’s our idol?
How old is this guy? I mean, I like Joe Cocker too, but I wouldn’t try to sound older than him. We all like some old music, but Lee should put a contemorary twist on this old style. That’s his problem, he doesn’t know how to make the music sound current.
Lee is from the Midwest. we may be behind the times but we are loyal. I hate American Idol but I will buy Lee’s album when it comes out. I hate that so much of America thinks that there is only one type of song or singer that is any good. Reuben Stoddard is an AMAZING gospel artist and was the best singer of his season. Is he Lady Gaga? No, Thank God.
What are you talking about? You don’t think Lee put a contemporary twist to songs like “Treat Her Like A Lady,” “A Little Less Conversation,”–even “Beast of Burden”? You really need to check out those songs–especially “Treat Her Like A Lady”–before you go off making such a rash judgment. I mean, the original version of “Treat Her Like A Lady” is NOTHING like Lee’s version. Lee made it a whole lot more contemporary and BETTER!
You’re right, Lee does put a contemporary twist on these songs. Unfortunately he doesn’t twist far enough because he still doesn’t make the songs current enough for today’s audience. He will struggle mightily to sell records if he doesn’t fix his style.
i thought Treat her Like A Lady was arranged by a professional and not Lee? there’re rumors going around..
Lee is nice but I couldn’t watch this inverview past the first clip of his singing on Idol…
That wasn’t just off pitch, it made me CRINGE.
I know they’ll clean all of that up for the album (after all, that is what autotune is for) but really… ugh.
That was bad.
Is it bad to say Lee’s kind of…plain oatmeal bland? Kris was surprisingly funny and candid, while Lee…eh? I can’t wait for Crystal’s Idolatry visit. Michael Slezak, you’re gonna be so geeked!
I love Idolatry. I’m gonna miss it now that the season is over…
you guys really should make idolotry a podcast….please?
ok, I’m going to ask it….what’s a “podcast”? I always just thought it was an online video so I would have thought Idolatry is a podcast???
i’ll define it as a radio show that is downloadable?…not sure…but podcasts are mostly radio shows, am i right?
I always thought podcasts were audio only, not video.
oh yeah, that’s why i immediately thought of radio…since audio only…hehe…where’s the crystal interview???!!!!
Please tell me an Idolatry with Crystal is coming. She’s so much more articulate and engaging than Lee.
No need to insult the guy. It’s bad enough that he’s going to have to go down in history as the worst Idol winner.
LEE WON FAKE CRYSTAL LOST SO CHOKE ON IT!! HA!!HA!!!QUIT YOUR WHINNING ANG GO LICK CRYSTAL’S DIRTY A**!!!
I am so glad that you can predict the future. Who is going to win the 2011 superbowl? (just so i can place my bet in vegas). There is no way he will be worse the Taylor Hicks!
Ed… worst ever is Hicks followed by Ruben and Fantasia. The best singer doesn’t always win… for them it’s about exposure. Talk to Daughtry, J. Hud, Clay to name a few. They fared just fine.
worst ever is Hicks followed by Ruben and Fantasia. How did these three win? I find it really funny especially Fantasia, she wounds like helium. She won cause of here sob background.
For all the Gaybert fans trashing S9 as the worst ever and no one before or since was ever up to the level of their Gay God…this season was not bad at all. The dysfunctional judges had a great amount to do with contestents underperforming, then starting to do great performances and interesting interviews after leaving Idol.
In this season, you have 5 contestants that can see some serious career in entertainment starting after this. Led by Lee.
But also Casey, Siobhan, Aaron, and Crystal.
1. Casey is good looking and likely the best instrumentalist ever on Idol. He is in a hot niche and Country/Southern blues fans love the guy.
2. Aaron Kelly is a truly gifted young vocalist who can mature into a significant act.
3. Siobhan Magnus may well be the rare “package”…rare not just on Idol, but newcomers to the industry, period. Exceptional vocal gifts, high creativity, high intelligence, plays multiple instruments, songwrites, and is adept in several arts. Ample acting and stage experience. Film industry knowledge. Very good looking. Charismatic and strange. Could have a career in several different entertainment venues.
4. What much of what Siobhan only has the potential for, Crystal has done. She is an artist, a polished performer, a serious songwriter, a person who may really grow in estimation past the “She does Joplin and Etheridge” tribute stuff – to recognition that she is a true original artist.
LOL @ Jennifer C. If you could bottle and sell hate you’d corner the market inside of a fiscal quarter. Then you could roll out phase 2 of the business plan and start offering an alternative cocktail of vitriol.
eww…i know that you don’t represent the Lee fans but can’t believe Lee attracts people like you. eww again!
Lee is worse than Taylor Hicks. At least Taylor was an interesting character and he had some flavor when he sang. Lee is uninteresting talking and singing. And btw, Taylor is technicaly a better singer also.
Hicks, Ruben and Fantasia ARE THE WORST IDOL EVER!!!!
Great interview, Slezak! I kind of wish he would have actually taken the bait on a lot of your questions. He seemed tight-lipped for some reason. Also, I thought it was a little rude to write off Kara’s “flirty” comments so easily. She was telling him that that performance could have been flirtier (in other words: connect with the lyrics), which made sense to me. Also, I had to laugh at his defense of pitchiness because he gets into the song!
I have to agree with your observation on Lee dismissing Kara’s comment. It was actually a legitimate comment from Kara for that performance. She’s not saying he should be flirty as an artist. For that pitchy defense, singers who can actually sing in tune can get into the song without being pitchy.
As much as I like Lee, I thought it was a bit arrogant to say that he thought “Kiss of the Rose” was fine even though the judges were telling him he was pitchy. Uh..he DID have some out of tune moments on that song, whether he wants to ignore them or not. Somehow, I’m getting the impression that he is not as humble as seemed to be.
I agree. It seems like he doesn’t take criticism very well and the judges have already been very kind with him all season. Even though he doesn’t think he’s nervous, that’s the way that he appears when he performs and the judges told it like it is. Perhaps he should have taken that into consideration instead of writing them off. He came off as a little rude to Slezak too when Slezak raised some legitimate points, such as his pitch problems.
@Grady. Before Lee sang “Lips of an Angel,” he admitted that he had pitch problems in “Chasing Cars” and they were attributed to nerves. So I’m sure he’s well aware of his pitch problems. He’s probably just so tired of hearing it from people. I can’t blame him for that.
While I agree with you Paul Lee does need to address the pitchyness somewhat in interviews. To say he thought his performance on the finale was fine and not own up to how bad he really did is wrong. I am one of his biggest fans, but even I can hear when the guy doesn’t do well. Noone is perfect and Lee was not on finale. Just own up to it and move on. I am sure he is tired of hearing he was “pitchy” but that is what you have to deal with in the music business. If Lee can’t handle critism then he should go back to selling paint. I am being very harsh here on him but I want him to wake up and realize how he is coming off in this interview. I want the guy to be a huge success but he must learn to be more gracious if he plans on keeping his fans and getting new ones. He could learn a thing or two from Adam, on how to handle interviews and being gracious. Yeah I brought up Adam, but only to demostrate my point, not to compare singing. Slezak sure surprised me on how he handled Lee, from his earlier comments on Idolatry he didn’t seem such a big fan of Lee’s and here he sounds almost intimadated by Lee. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
You might be right, but Lee skipping the talk about his pitch issues with just saying that he was satisfied with his performances like Kiss from a Rose and Beautiful Day is just him digging a hole for him to fall into. If he sounds satisfied now, will he try better in AI tour rehearsals? Who would pay money to listen to him live, if he isn’t going to even try to get better at live singing?
@Larry. I agree with what you’re saying about how Lee presents himself in interviews. I don’t know. I don’t want to make excuses for the guy, but he’s only 24 and still learning how to handle the press. Rock stars are notorious for saying the wrong things. Didn’t John Lennon once say in an interview that he thought the Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ? Was that a smart thing to say? Did that help the Beatles to get more fans? Sometimes I think readers that what people say in interviews a little too seriously.
Should be: “Sometimes I think readers TAKE what people say in interviews a little too seriously.”
I like Lee. I prefer Crystal, but Lee is okay, and he seems generally nice. BUT I do think he’s the least vocally adept of all the Idols so far. I’m sure he is tired of defending “pitchy” complaints, but he wants a career in music, and he needs to be able to deal with legitimate criticism of his performances. I also didn’t care for his implication that people only think he’s pitchy because the judges said so, and that he gets so into the music that he loses himself. As I said in another comment, a professional pianist could not be forgiven for getting so into the music that he or she started hitting wrong notes. Why should that excuse Lee’s singing? Furthermore, I agree that Kara was right about needing to be flirty in that particular Elvis song (it’s a flirty, dirty song! and he sang it kind of dead-eyed). And I think it was weird that Lee & Slezak discussed his succesful R&B week and how you have to fit the theme into your own style rather than the other way around, but then he gave the standard “I did what I could with it” excuse for his poor Shania week. And I didn’t appreciate the contradiction he made about doing things big. He seemed to say that he did “Beautiful Day” with that big arrangement because it was the finale and it should be big, but I could swear that somewhere else he said he didn’t think you should do things big just for the sake of being big…I don’t know, I could be wrong though. I had something of a difficult time following everything he said. I know he’s new at this so it’s not a complaint, but he will need to work on being a bit more articulate if he wants to succeed in this line of work, which can be very influenced by public perception, which can be influenced by interviews like these. Best of luck, Lee, but please learn how to objectively deal with criticism and learn from it.
The difference is that a piano recitalist is hired based on ability to perform live and hit the right notes.
A recording artist like Lee is paid to go into studio and come out with a recording that hits the right notes. And Lee has done that.
Singing “live!” on a reality show that has little to do with the real world is now mostly irrelevant to Lee – he will no longer be “judged” or paid on that basis.
Singing in tune will be far more relevant to Aaron or Siobhan..Aaron if he has a future as a touring country band lead singer and Siobhan if she wishes to join the elite ranks of female singers or be a featured live lead vocalist on Broadway.
Casey likely can get away with some note flubs in a band. No one will care much if Casey butchers a line or sounds like a goat at a certain point as long as he is bringing it on full bore and they feel entertained.
And remember Crystal had serious problems with notes and dropped verses, but judges blew it off, whereas they would have pounced on Magnus for similar transgressions.
All are talented. None are perfect. All have weaknesses they need to work on, areas to improve in.
Once again, thought I would post down hear. Dude, the “pitchyness” comments have to stop.
I have taken the liberty to once again quote Jim Anderson, Professor of the Clive Davis department of recorded music at New York University and president of the Audio Engineering Society, from an article entitled “Music Tone and Ethics” from February 19, 2009-”The other day, someone was talking about how Aretha Franklin at the Inauguration was a bit “PITCHY,” says Anderson. “I said, ‘Of course! She was singing!’ And that was a musician talking.People are getting used to hearing things dead on pitch, and it’s changed their expectations.”
Despite Randy Jackson’s stock American Idol critique–”A little pitchy, dawg”–many beloved songs are actually off-pitch or out of tune. There’s Ringo Starr on “With a Little Help from My Friends,” of course, and just about every blues song slides into notes as opposed to hitting them dead on. Even Norah Jones, the poster girl of pure vocals, isn’t perfect. “There’s some wonderful imperfections of pitch on ‘Don’t Know Why’ from Come Away with Me,” says Anderson, “and most of the other tunes on the album as well. But I wouldn’t want to change a single note.’ Let’s hope that pop’s fetish for uniform perfect pitch will fade, even if the spread of Auto-Tune shows no signs of slowing.” HMM-ONCE AGAIN, SAYS IT ALL FOR ME. It really is OK TO LIKE LEE despite what Randy said, or Kara..That Simon Cowell KNEW what he was talking about….
What was he supposed to say about the pitchiness question, Grady? Just curious what would be considered a correct answer in your estimation.
Amazing how nothing but bashers post at these sites
“Bashers” You mean the honest and blunt commenters rather than tin-eared fangirls drooling over him.
The only thing he has going for him is his natural tone which is the popular constipated rocker thing.
He’s almost as interesting as watching paint dry. He was completely dismissive of the judge’s constructive comments so he’ll never actually improve. He really is as oblivious as he seemed on the show.
He thought the “Kiss From A Rose” performance was awesome and admits he can’t tell if he’s in tune or not watching himself on playback. That is HORRIFYING.
I did not like some of his dismissiveness of Michael’s questions and wonder how he sees himself if he finds the “paint salesman” thing such a mischaracterization as to prompt an eye roll.
I also noticed he slipped into a royal ‘we’ in the last part or two which was weird.
Yeah you’re just jealous that Lee won over fake crystal!
I think the royal “we” was his indirect way of saying Idol wanted him to perform a big overblown theatrical version rather than his beautiful acoustic version. I think he was just being politically correct by not pointing out that it wasn’t his decision.
I definitely won’t bash. Lee was my favorite all season long, and I’m from the Toledo area. Crystal’s got a pretty voice, but her style just never grabbed me.
Lee made me like songs that I normally don’t.
I have to say I had to skip to the last video for the Crystal’s upcoming interview. Lee looks like he had some PR training and just repeating himself plus the fact he’s boring. Bring on Casey’s and Crystal’s Idolatry!
LEE WON SO CHOKE ON IT LOSERS!!!
No offense JJ, but your cap locks abuse isn’t helping you look smart or Lee look better. We all know he won, I personally have no problem with it. Exuse us for posting our opinions on him and his talent.
See, this is the kind of crap that boggles me. Lee’s winning does not erase his inability to sing on-key. But, I guess we are losers in a way, because now he is going to assault the airwaves for who knows how long because people voted for him. Lee wins, our ears lose.
Where were you guys when it came down to voting for crystal if you guys are so upset Lee won?
Sad that he doesn’t even realize how tone deaf he is. Autotune DID win this season.
Never was a truer statement made on Idolatry. All the Lee Lovers said “but I love the sound of his voice”.
So AI is now voice-sound competition instead of a singing competition. Why bother performing live then? Just send in audio tapes & declare a winner.
Damn you sound like a broken old car!
I agree, AutoTuneFTW. Believe me, Lee, we don’t need the judges to tell us that something is out of tune. A lot of us are musicians or discerning listeners. It bothers me that he can watch himself and not hear how off he is.
Being “into” a song doesn’t mean that you can hammer it to death. Yeah, he’s nice but I know lots of really nice people who can riff without losing the melody.
A typical fake crystal fan!
I agree, Okai. I was mildly insulted that Lee thought that viewers would only think he was off pitch because the judges said so. Some of us are trained musicians, dude. We know what pitch you should be on, and we know what pitch you actually WERE on…and far too often, they were not the same. (Shoot, even non-musicians could probably tell that.) Excellent point about other people being able to get into a song without veering off pitch. I sort of know what he’s saying, but at the same time, that’s not really an excuse for a professional musician. It’s like if I were Ray Charles or Liberace or even Jim Brickman, and I was a pianist, and I got so into the performance that I just started hitting wrong notes because I lost myself in the music. Is that a good excuse for creating some probably painful and unintentional dissonance? No. It’s a shame, I’ve been so willing to like Lee even though I preferred Crystal, but I didn’t really care for him in some parts of this interview.
I’m not a trained musician, but I can tell when someone is out of tune/pitchy. I was usually in the next room when AI was on this year and more than once called out to my dh, “WHO is singing so out of tune?” Every time the answer was, “Lee.” I just find it sad and sadly indicative of our current musical tastes that someone who could not hold a tune for a whopping 90 second won a SINGING competition. Moreover, it’s not like he usually sang anything vocally challenging either — very middle of the road in terms of difficulty. I guess it was a good idea to have Miley on AI this year — she is the sound of AI’s future.
Kiki – “I just find it sad and sadly indicative of our current musical tastes that someone who could not hold a tune for a whopping 90 second won a SINGING competition.”
I find it sadly indicative of our educational system and it’s impact on cognitive awareness. That despite Idol producers, contestants, even judges saying it is a competition to get viewers to like certain contestants and vote for them as future people in the industry they would like to see and hear — certain fans remain ignorant and think it is just about judges opining on “technical vocals” to tell fans which singers met vocal coaching standards.
Not-a-SINGING CONTEST! Its-an-IDOL CONTEST!
I find it interesting that someone compared him to Dave Matthews above. My ex was totally tone deaf and his favorite band was DMB. Cooincidence?
Seems like I remember the last 2 years (Cook, Allen) the top 10 at some point were fitted with ear pieces that they used for their performances. I didn’t see that this season. I wonder if that could have helped Lee??
Really Red? How does one auto-tune a live performance? Simple Man was fantastic, Treat her Like a Lady, This Life, etc……He had great moments as well as bad moments on Idol. So did the rest of the other Idols, and yeah even Crystal. Noone is perfect all the time or we would all be really boring as you all call Lee.
I don’t mean this an insulting to Lee but going through all the snippets of his past idol performances he seems even more off key than i remember. Is this just me?
nope…and i just realized that he was already out of tune when he sang chasing cars during the top24…and simon was the only one who didn’t hear it…he still gushed about it…in conclusion, simon’s the one who is responsible for lee’s win…he was the only one fighting for him in the beginning…
The saddest part of this interview aside from being sleepy was reviewing his performances and knowing that there were a lot of better singers than him in the competition (which he has won).
no it’s not just you Lanny,I heard exactly the same thing when listening back to his early performances,I guess that’s why I never really paid much attention to him early,I never thought someone who sang that bad would actually win.
LEE WON SO HA!! HA!!
True – the saddest part is that there are still people out there that insist on defining it as a live singing competition where only the coals being “in tune” matters – no matter how repulsive the person, or how god-awful their music is.
“The saddest part of this interview aside from being sleepy was reviewing his performances and knowing that there were a lot of better singers than him in the competition.”
Singing live vocals has little to do with being an Idol in the real world, or a successful artist in the real world. It is what assemblage of personality, creativity, talents you have that matter.
Competition is over. New rules apply to the former contestants now trying to have a career and make money in the real world of music, stage, TV bookings, and concerts.
I wouls also love to bang crystal!
i don’t know, if im just sleepy cause its kinda l8, but i was bored to death by the end of this interview, and i think so was lee…he’s just so, bleh…i think the siobhan magnus interview is the most interesting so far…and i hope crystal’s interview is more interesting than this…
Yay lets bash crystal next!! Who’s with me? Crystal will be BLAH BLAH!!! JUST LIKE WHEN SHE SINGS!!!
siobhan magnus: She sings out of your nose and her last performance she gave birth on stsge. If it were Lee against her on the final, yeah Lee would have crush her big time!
LEE WON SO HA!! HA!!
FIY you MORON!..i don’t hate lee, i watched this cause i was genuinely interested in his interview, but it is undeniable how BORING it was!…i guess, lee really is NO GOOD since he FANS LIKE YOU!!…now i feel sorry for him…
Why don’t you go and do the interview and see how you do? Oh wait a minute nobody care cause you are a nobody!
yeah and so are you!…so haha!…wow!…im astounded by your logic…yep, moron right there…
Hey I didn’t dodge Lee on his interview but you seems like you could do better. So why not ask Michael for an interview so we can snooze!
you missing the whole point you F-ing MORON!…and fix your english!
At least I speak english artichoke!
Mindy=desperate
I slept off watching this interview.But its not lee’s fault.I think he is just a quite dude.When top 10 were in If I Can Dream House,he hardly spoke,never laughed at any of the jokes.Was just so bland,made one wonder about his personality.
DAMN chris you are gay!!!!
It was a snoozer. I have no investment in the guy (or any other Idol), and this interview didn’t inspire me to check out the guy any further.
lee can never be anything like ben harper, that man is genius