Phillip Phillips, My American Idol

It was around January when I saw him for the first time. Star World relentlessly replayed American Idol so even on an early Saturday evening, while working out, I got to watch the show. AI auditions are normally entertaining and I would watch it for the humor as did many people. Suddenly, a guy came into the audition room, looking like any other hopeful, without a hint of flamboyance or star factor. He was the last guy from the Savannah leg and was bland as a piece of bond paper.

And then he sang Stevie Wonder’s Superstition. I stopped running. His voice and awkward mannerisms made him look like he had electricity going through his body. J.Lo said my thoughts out loud. Pretty good, I thought. Randy made him get his guitar and he sang his unique rendition of MJ’s thriller. I knew at that moment that I was gonna watch the the entire season.

Phillip Phillips was the guy’s name and funny as it may sound, I believed even then that it was a “showbiz” name – like Madonna or Beyonce Knowles or even Lady Gaga (as opposed to Stefanie).

I haven’t cared about Idol since the Jasmine Trias season. Sure, I followed season 4, too up until Carrie won. I also rooted for both Davids of season 8 and would occasionally watch performances of idol finalists in the past years. However, only now did I actually give a shit again and I didn’t even know why then.

I would’ve lost track of Phillip during the Hollywood and Vegas legs if not for Heejun Han and his hilarious personality. I loooooved that guy (not because he’s Korean but that helped too, sue me) and I enjoyed watching him quarrel with the obnoxious cowboy dude. I realized at that time that wow, he was in the same group as Phillip Phillips and they went all the way to the Top 24 together!!! I didn’t know they were best friends in the competition until Heejun was informed that he was in the Top 24 and P2 was the only person who was there to congratulate him.

The tissue tears. Oh, how Koreans love those.

PhilJun bromance. Shipping it since Feb 2012.

Even as early as the Top 24, I was a solid Phillip Phillips and Heejun Han supporter and only on the Top 12 did I even learn that a Pinoy that made it that far, too, just like Thia last year. My top 3 in the top 10 had always been P2, Han and Jay.

AI13? Excited much, Kring???

I have only followed three idols on Twitter. You know who they are.

I knew that Hee wouldn’t make it that far in the competition because of his attitude and well, others really had more star factor. But I wanted Jessica and Phillip for the finals. Jessica, because she was just so damn vocally talented and Phillip because he was such a great entertainer and a true artist. Though I missed some episodes, I always looked forward to watching him perform and my personal favorites would have to be his rendition of “U Got it Bad”, “Volcanoes”, and “We’ve Got Tonight”.

Since Jessica was half-Pinoy, 95% of everyone I knew was rooting for her. Though I really liked her, too, I loved Phillip’s style more (perhaps because I was used to watching birit queens in my country). In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever liked an American artist that much since the early 2000′s. I didn’t expect that P2 being up against her would be a terrible idea though.

He had been called a WGWG (white guy with guitar) and people predicted that he’d win just because of the voting demographics. I felt insulted as a fan who appreciates his musicality because let’s admit, the guy knows his shit and can make it big with or without Idol. Haters have even said that he won’t make it big ‘coz he won the crown and that Jessica would have a better career. Really? And these mostly came from fellow Filipinos. TOTALLY DISAPPOINTING. I wonder if people would support Jess that much is she was white. Or if they’d say those things against Phillip if he joined another season and was not up against a Pinoy. Someone I know had been called “anti-Filipino” for supporting Phillip. REALLY??? Is that what you call Filipino pride?

Honestly, I didn’t want Phil to win anymore. It’s undeniable that Jessica deserved the title but more importantly, I just wanted people to shut the fuck up and so Phil could walk away and do his thing. But he did. He won. He fought through his kidney problems and wore the clothes that he wanted and even Jessica knew it beforehand and was genuinely happy that he won. Why can’t others be? She would have an amazing career, guys. No need to be belittle his capabilities.

 You can go home now, dear… Congratulations!

Dear Phillip,

I truly wish that you’d do much much much better than your predecessors. Please continue to be stubborn and stay true to your self and your roots. Do not let this merciless industry dictate what kind of artist you should be and I look forward to hearing your original music. Though you’re worthy of the title, I believe you deserve more than American Idol. I’m excited to see you, Jessica and Heejun in Manila! Haters to the left.

Supporting you since DAY 1 with much love,

Kring

ps: I’m not the biggest fan of “America” per se and most of you know that music-wise, I am highly influenced by Asian artists. And while the whole US and PH were going crazy over the AI results, China was slowly but surely taking over the world. DEMMET.

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