Michael Johns interview with Star 105.7 Grand Rapids, MI
August 14, 2008
Michael recently did a call in interview with 105.7 in Grand Rapids, MI. You can download the podcast here. I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet so I have idea what is said. Enjoy!
HUGE thanks to “heart2″ for sending me this link. Hey, MJ, let us know in advance when you do these radio interviews so we can listen live. 
Posted in American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008, Audio, Downloads, Interviews, Radio
Tags: ai tour: michigan, american idol tour, star 105.7
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Good interview, fantasmo! lol
Sounded like some of it was cut out, hmmm…
Fantasmo!! Love it, lol.
Great interview!! I was wondering if he had seen Dark Knight and to hear his opinion of the film made me smile ear to ear. Heath was denied the Oscar for his role in Broke Back Mountain for reason I’ll never understand ( just like Michael’s elimination form Idol) make no mistake this performance in Dark Knight will earn Mr. Ledger the award he was denied three years ago. The Aussie’s sure do ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, I feel really let down and sad that Michael doesn’t feel Australian anymore.
I lived overseas for 10 years and still felt like an Aussie and I know plenty
of other people that do as well.
So I guess all the things he had to say when he was here on radio and TV was just
BS. The media might have a different view of him now when he comes back.
I don’t know how I feel about him now, but I guess he wouldn’t give a toss what
his Aussie fans think as he “no longer feels like an Australian anymore”……sad!
I guess my take on that is a little different. I felt like Michael was saying that home of course is Australia, but because he’s lived here all of his adult life here and all of the experiences he’s had here, that when he goes home he doesn’t exactly feel like an Australian. I’m sure at heart he probably does feel like he is Australian, but maybe when he goes home he feels the difference……meaning maybe he’s become Americanized in some of his habits and ways, and notices it more when he’s there???
I don’t think there’s any need to judge anything he’s said as BS, or doesn’t give a “toss” about his Aussie fans.
He will ALWAYS be an Aussie
Donna, I agree with everything you said. Michael is very proud he is an Aussie. He’s been here in America for along time. I’m sure it is some what differant for him when he goes back home. Hopely he gets a chance to spend more time back home with his family and friends. Good Lord, the boy has done nothing but work his ass off since he’s been here.
Loved the interview MJ! Especially loved the part where you said “oh hopefully I’ll be pretty good by then”…….so adorable!! But I must inform you YOU’RE THE BEST NOW!! LOL!
Yes, i agree with you donna. Since he has lives in the US for 10 years, australia is kinda like a home away from home.(if that makes sense to you lol) But anyway… that was a GREAT interview!! haha i like that part,too bear. “hopefully i’ll be pretty good by then.” lol
Well I guess you guys might feel differently if he was originally from the U.S and said that he no longer feels “American” you might not be so casual about it.
It is a HUGE matter for an Aussie to hear him saying he no longer “feels Australian”
And believe me it does matter about what he had to say to the media when he was here, the press gave him a lot of coverage on radio, TV and in newspapers. Most
centered around the fact he was “an Aussie” doing well and how proud and supportive they were of him. So for him to turn around a few months later and say he no longer feels Australian is a bit of a slap in the face.
Your putting words in his mouth. I didn’t take it that way at all. Why are you trying to make Michael your punching bag. Be proud of this kid, he’s worked very hard. What, he hasn’t been punched in the gut enough for you.
You know I’m pissed!!! Right now.
Helen, when Michael speaks to interviewers in America, he’s trying to remind them that despite minimal loss of his Australian accent, he has been there over 10 years, and he notices the time away when he goes home and things back home have changed.
When he’s being interviewed in Australia, he’s saying that of course he’s still Australian, but it’s inevitable that 10 years being away has rubbed off. He probably gets lost in Perth, has missed out on various events and situations that people back home take for granted. (My husband goes home to Brisbane from Melbourne and gets lost sometimes because landmarks and roads have changed – and we go there every couple of years.)
You can take the Australian out of Australia, but you don’t take the Australia out of the Australian.
Terry, I have been a huge MJ fan since his first audition and think he is so talented and wish only good things for him,
but all I’m saying is that it is sad to hear an Aussie say he no longer “feels Australian”
it has nothing to do with being a “punching bag” you’re putting words in my mouth
now.
I think he probably means he doesn’t feel like a local when he goes home to Perth, because it’s changed so much.
I hope Aussies will cut him some slack for saying he does not feel he is Australian anymore. Take it from someone who’s lived away from Singapore since she got married and been in Australia for the last dozen years or so.
I will always have a soft spot for the country I grew up in but when I do go back, sometimes I do feel like a fish out of water. I don’t feel Singaporean anymore because I have changed and Singapaore has changed so much.
So goldhilites you are pretty accurate in your post especially this “You can take the Australian out of Australia but you don’t take the Australia out of the Australian” That’s what makes Michael so unique.
and ha! …I can still speak Singlish if I wanted to…LOL….
What he said in this interview doesn’t necessarily mean what he said to the media in Australia was BS!!
You have the right to your own opinion, but I feel like you’re placing a lot of conjecture on what he said.
I’m sure it wasn’t Michael’s intention to make anyone feel sad, or to turn his back on his country. From what we’ve seen of him, that’s just not true. He’s done countless interviews and never expressed anything but love for Australia…….
goldhilites, I understand what you’re saying, but it is still hurtful.
Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and others have lived overseas for
years and yet still consider themselves Australians.
He comes across as so typically Aussie with his sense of humour, so when he makes those comments about not feeling Australian, I guess it’s a bit of a let down.
In the end MJ feels the way he feels and it is not for me or anyone else
to say otherwise, it is his business after all.
Nicole and Hugh have both been rich enough to come back to Australia more freuently than Michael has been able to. When he returns in October, he will have probably made more trips home within a year (he was home last year for his first Christmas since he left) than he had made in the previous 9 years. Perth may even look similar to how it did 10 months ago.
I guess for me it’s not how many trips you make home that determines whether
you feel Australian or not, but maybe in Michael’s case it does. I’m not saying
that is right or wrong, but that is obviously how he feels.
I guess I could say the same thing about my hometown. Going back there is so strange yet, very familar. I still have the memories of growing up there yet, I would not want to go back to live there because the city has changed drastically and has the same ole issues. Recently I went back there and ate at my favorite restaurant and had some good ole hometown chat with the waitresses. I still belong, yet where I live now, I consider my new hometown. I do not believe for one second, that he has lost his Australian roots, because those roots will always remain, he has just changed as an individual. I know my sons are eventually going to move away from home and establish their lives elsewhere and if that means to another country, so be it. As a mother I would want my sons to be happy where ever they decide to plant down roots.
my goodness….i guess people just can’t leave well enough alone!
the guy got a bum deal on Anerican Idol-can his fans and Hometown fans and friends just say MJ you’re great, we love you, you are our idol in america and you are our idol in australia.
i met him in detroit, a fan gave him a little bottle of sand, and he said “is this from australia”, sooooo, dosen’t that say he’s still an aussie at Heart!
no mater what MJ, You are awesome, handsome, talented, a great sense of humor and intelligent, and you are the best of both worlds-see you in grand rapids!
our aussie/american idol rocks!
I can’t wait to see MJ again in Grand Rapids! “I’ve never been to the Northeast.” Ha ha… I don’t really think Michael know where Grand Rapids is!
Michael Johns himself has something to say about this. These are his exact words….
“Its not that i dont feel Australian, its just weird when you have been away so long. Im caught in a limbo. Where you dont really feel home anywhere. I am so proud to be Australian. We are such a loved nation all around the world. You never hear ever oh youre from Australia i hate Australia. So cool. I owe so much of my sense of humour and talent from growing up there. So when i read that someones trying to make it appear as i dont, really upset me. I am the luckiest guy in the world. To get to be from Australia and now live in US is a dream come true. I get to call the two greatest countries in the world HOME. America has allowed me to live all my dreams and for that im forever greatful.
Cheers,
MJ
I just got here to read this and I have to say…Michael..I love your message!!! WTG!!!
Great to hear from you, Michael. We are proud of you!
I love your message too, Michael! We love & support you no matter what!
I am an American married to someone from Canada. He considers himself an American, now, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love Canada. In fact, he’s brought a new appreciation of the rest of the world to me. I am now a proud American and Canadian myself. His home is here because his family and job are here but it certainly doesn’t diminish his love for his home country.
Michael has shown 31 million people what a fantastic country Australia is. We love his sense of humor and he is so down to earth. Please don’t judge someone by one split second of an interview. I actually look for shows about Australia now because I’m so interested in it. I wish I could live there and it’s all because of the wonderful things Michael has said about Australia. Applaud him for bringing your country to us.
Michael, way to go!!! I love your message! we are proud of you and will support you no matter what! <33
Michael, thank you so much for that message. All of us hear at MJO are so proud of you and support you 100%. It seems like sometimes people are so eagar to twist people’s words and start drama. It is obvious that you are proud to be an Aussie, and I hope your message helped that poster realize that.
Michael, I love your message too. It has been so apparent in your interviews that you are so proud to be from Oz yet have so much love for both Australia and America.
Michael, I have heard you say many times about how people love the country of
Australia and their people, and you’ve shown how proud you are to have grown
there. I’m glad you have two countries to call home.
Thank-you Australia for Michael’s talent and sense of humor. Both have brought
immense happiness to your fans!!! We all support you and nothing makes
us happier than for you to be living your dream!!!
Thank you Michael for your beautiful message. One of the many reasons I am a big fan is your candor and honesty and this is no exception. I understand exactly what you meant and there is no doubt both countries have a special place in your heart. I think that we are the lucky ones to have you called both countries home.
And thank you too Allison for conveying that message.
Dear Michael,
I’m sorry my comments upset you, I didn’t mean to create such a fuss,
I over-reacted and should never have said you don’t care about your Aussie
fans, it was written in anger and I wish I could take them back.
I will try and explain why if I can. When you returned to Oz, I was so happy
for you that the media really seemed to be behind you, were really appreciative
of your talent and proud that an Australian had done so well on such a huge show.
When you were being interviewed here compared to your American interviews, I just thought you seemed so much more relaxed, natural, at ease and thought this had a lot to do with having that same Aussie sense of humour.
So I guess hearing you say you no longer feel Australian struck a nerve, I
I felt a bit let down and it just made me feel really sad that you felt that way.
The bottom line is, I have never met you, don’t know you and you have every right to feel how you feel, it is not for me to say otherwise as it is none of my business, you can feel as American as apple pie if you want.
I know it’s hard to believe but I really am a huge fan, and have watched and followed you from the very first audition. I think your wonderful, talented, gorgeous and I wish only good things for you and your career.
I’m sorry for being such a dick, I hope you can forgive me,
Helle.
Michael, thanks for your message! Just want you to know that we love and support you, and we are happy and proud to be called your fans! We’re yours for life MJ!!