Michael article at USA Today’s Idol Chatter
July 1, 2008
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Michael’s album plan: First material, then a label
He’s lived around the world and is about to embark on a look-see of America, but Michael Johns is jonesing for some Chick-fil-A (a No. 8 with no pickles and six nuggets). The Aussie is texting his wife to bring him some (there’s an outpost across the street from their hotel) and she’s heading to the arena’s back gate to deliver it and save him from catering. (He’s not only got his wife, Stacey, here but also his 13-week-old French bulldog, David Puddy, as in Elaine from Seinfeld’s boyfriend — but don’t tell his hotel that.)
During the tour, his wife is headed to “what she deems are the cool cities”: New York, Atlanta, Boston, all of which happen to be great shopping towns, as he’s pointed out to her.
For his life post-tour, he’s “very, very wary of getting back into a deal” after several bad pre-Idol experiences, so he’s going a different route, regaining control over his career by concentrating on getting his material together first. “So that when I do go to a label,” he’ll be presenting a finished, album-length product. Expect a combination of Johns-written material from his past and present, as well as co-written songs.
Meanwhile, he promises to cook up mischief with David Cook. He’s already done an admirable job himself, considering the profane Total Eclipse of the Heart stunt he pulled a couple of weeks ago with the Dan Band, as seen on YouTube. Idol brass was not amused, “of course. They said, ‘You shouldn’t have done that.’ I said, ‘I’m sorry.’ But in my mind, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
Posted in News
July 1st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I had a sneaking feeling that TPTB wouldn’t be happy with that performance. Like I said, I don’t want him to tick them off too much where he doesn’t get any contracts.
If they didn’t like that performance, as I stated earlier - I don’t think they would look too highly with the same kind of language being thrown around on his MySpace page. Sometimes you have to play the game. No haters please. This is just my opinion.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Great article! Hey, that’s smart… all the written songs first, then label. Go MJ!
July 1st, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Michael we all just want the best for you & your future . We know you’ve been burned many times from labels before & have every right to be wary but don’t leave your decision too long . You need to capitalise on all the exposure you have now to make it work this time . You have so much talent & you are an amazing person. We all want to buy your Cd as soon as possible so work hard on those songs!!
July 1st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Loved that last quote he cited. He’s cheeky alright!
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 am
Smart move! I guess he did have a few options in hand. But I hope he didn’t take to long to shop around
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 am
I have no doubt that Michael will have many labels all vying for him to sign by the time he finishes writing the new album. While I understand that the brass might not be happy imagewise with his choice to perform with The Dan Band, in the end, isn’t it just a matter of semantics? He was allowed to sing “It’s All Wrong, But It’s Alright” in front of millions of viewers, and they had no problem with that. Let’s face it…different words, same meaning. I don’ t know whether or not The Dan Band performance was impromtu or planned. However, I’m pretty sure that Mr. Johns did not feel he was representing American Idol at that performance. It looked like he was just out for a night of fun, and when in Rome…well you know the rest.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:21 am
Too many other former idols have put out albums that have failed
and then they end up getting dropped by their label, Blake Lewis being the latest.
I think MJ is being smart in taking his time making a quality record that has more
chance of being a hit, rather than rushing to release an album that is just average.
Glad to hear he wowed them last night, I bet he was the highlight of the show,
not that I’m biased of course!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
haha. that’s gag order talking, i bet. i wonder if the timeline has changed.
hmm. i am guessing he has signed alr but TPTB came up with this story to tell the press coz he has alr spilled so many beans.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:22 am
I totally agree with you jas. I really think that is what is going on. Other idols in the past have gotten in trouble for saying too much. Last year, I think Blake had to back pedal a little because Jordin was taking so long to sign her deal. They like to be so tight lipped about everything.