Kris Allen on fame and Simon Cowell
By Chew Wan Ying
Winning the eighth season of American Idol may have turned Kris Allen into a household name, but he is still very much the guy next door.
We are not just referring to his looks - a casual combination of a light blue shirt, jeans and sneakers at Monday's press conference - but also the way he carries himself in a roomful of adoring sponsors and media people.
"I have no idea what I’m doing. What do we do?" he asked, when Hitz.FM’s Jin, who hosted the press conference, passed him the microphone.
When asked who would fill Simon Cowell’s shoes following the latter’s imminent departure from the reality show, he joked:
“Maybe me,”, before turning serious and continuing: "Simon’s leaving is a weird thing for the show, but the people who work on and produce the show know exactly what they’re doing. So whoever they find is going to be good."
But one is more curious on what kind of judge he would be, if he ever would be one.
"I would like to feel like I would be truthful, but probably on the nice side, probably more like Randy (Jackson), maybe not so many ‘dawg’s, but closer to that."
Kris Allen speaks to Malaysian media prior to tonight's showcase
As the latest American Idol, how does he feel watching wannabes auditioning to become the next American Idol?
"I feel sorry for those people," he said and when the audience started laughing, he said: "I mean it."
"There’s a part of me that’s like, wanting to run across the TV, take them off the stage and make sure they never do it. Yet another part of me is like, these people are going for what they really like.
"So I’m having mixed feelings.”
Still, he is trying to adjust to a different life that follows his American Idol win.
"(It’s) definitely weird. I don’t think that anybody can really explain it in words."
"A year and a half ago, I was not in Malaysia. I was in my small apartment. It’s a blessing to be able to get on the show, make it this far and now, start a music career. It’s very cool."
It is indeed very cool, considering that you have a chance to cut an album, while working with people like well-known hip hop producer Mike Elizondo on your self-titled debut.
"I’ve never written with anybody before. So it’s definitely different for me. I was actually a little intimidated by some of the people I was writing with."
And he has yet to get a taste of how invasive the paparazzi can be.
"I’m in Los Angeles for the past month or so. It’s really not that bad, because I really don’t get out."
"When I do, it’s to go out to eat with friends or my wife. And we just find a small place where you know there would be no cameras."
"Once in a while, when you’re going through airports, people are going to snap photos of you - like you guys are doing now," he said, referring to those who were busy clicking away on their camera phones or digital cameras.
"It was fine. I don’t have anything to hide," he concluded.
Kris Allen was in town to perform a showcase at The Gardens Ballroom, The Gardens Hotel, at 8pm Monday night.
Published Feb 8 2010
Comments (1)
“I have no idea what I’m doing. What do we do?” he said, when Hitz.FM’s Jin, who hosted the press conference, passed him the microphone.
Actually the host gave him a mic and did not do immediatly his hosy job, hence his remark.
Anyway knowing his dry sense of humor, it's totally him to have saud that
nice interview btw