Image Credit: Koi Sojer/PR Photos
It’s been almost one year since former paint salesman Lee DeWyze became the ninth victor of American Idol—and the last winner crowned with crotchety Simon Cowell piloting America’s top-rated TV show.
After DeWyze performed his latest single “Beautiful Like You” for the new panel of Idol judges a few weeks ago, Live It Up returned to the Top 100 albums chart. Currently on a lengthy tour, the 25-year-old Illini spoke with us about his favorite singers from this season, how his life has changed, and what he has to say to those who criticized his season.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You recently performed your new song on Idol. What was it like returning to that stage?
LEE DEWYZE: There was definitely a sense of going back as a musician and not worrying about being judged. I mean you’re always being judged, which is fine, but it was more or less like playing a gig as opposed to trying to be accepted by a panel of judges. Much more relaxed. It wasn’t like whatever song I sang would send me home: I was just there to play and have a good time.
How do you feel about all the changes in your life?
Working a job I love is mentally less stressful than punching in a clock everyday, but it’s a lot busier. There are a lot of things I didn’t worry about before that I do now. It’s sometimes rushed, but I get to wake up and do what I love, so it’s a great change.
Have you been watching the new season?
A little bit. We’ve been on the road a lot lately, but I’ve caught a few episodes, I think the judges are doing a great job. It’s definitely different without Simon Cowell, it’s got a different vibe.
Who are your favorites so far?
I think Pia [Toscano] and Casey Abrams, those would be my two. And I’d throw Haley [Reinhart] in there, I think those three are very talented. But I think they’re all great, it’s going to be good to see what they all do.
Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez have a more positive judging style. Do you wish you had had that experience?
In my season, there was never a day that went by where they went easy on us, ever. I think it’s a different feel, it would have been nicer to have more positive feedback than negative, but at the end of the day it worked out well for me, so I’m okay with it.
Do you keep in touch with fellow finalists Crystal, Casey, or anyone?
Nope. Not so much. I think we’re all… I’ve been so busy. I talked to Crystal a long while back and I wish them the best of luck, but I’m really focusing on not riding that Idol wave too long. Making real music and really getting out there and make a name for myself and not just be the American Idol contest winner.
When people criticize season nine as being a little dull, what do you think of that? Does it bother you?
I mean, I’ve heard people say this and that about it, and as the winner of my season it’s almost like I’m the spokesman for the subject. And I don’t see why… whether the ratings were up or down or the contestants were this or that, I just went on the show and did my thing. If people think the season wasn’t good or they didn’t like it or whatever, then they should audition and try it out for themselves and see how it goes.
How much harder was Idol than you expected?
It was 100 percent different than I thought it would be. It was putting yourself in a position where you had to compromise sometimes what you might want to do to do what they required you to do. But for me, I love music. It was the main reason I went out for the show and I tried my best every week and it worked out. It’s very easy for people to look at ratings or albums sales or whatever and make their judgments based on those things. You’re either a fan of television or a fan of music and I think it’s very easy to be a critic on the other side, but it’s not up to me to make sure everybody in America watches American Idol or votes. I get up there and play my songs and do my thing. I loved my experience, I’m very supportive of the show and what it does for people and artists, but I can’t make people like what they don’t like. Whether people like it or don’t, I do it for the fans that are supportive. And I try to be appreciative of my fans. I’m just gonna keep doing what I do.
Where would you like to see your career in five years?
Impossible for me to tell, but I just want to be making music and be out there the rest of my life. Essentially, the reason I do it is because I love playing and I love writing and recording, and so far I’ve been able to do that. In fact I just wrote one on the road and we’ve already been playing it, it’s called “Pretty Eyes.” Writing on the road is a passion of mine.
You recorded two albums before going on Idol. How much different was it working on a record with your Idol victory behind you?
My mindset was different when writing the songs. When Idol is over, there’s a very quick turnaround: you gotta write all these songs in a very short amount of time, and you really have to get them right. It was a process of nonstop writing, writing, writing. Although I definitely had a couple song ideas from before Idol, and I brought them to the table and they came out well. I’m happy with how the album turned out—I wouldn’t change much about it.
Read more on EW.com:
Lee DeWyze debuts ‘Sweet Serendipity’ single
American Idol’s Naima: “I want to be a superhero in a movie”
American Idol: The contestants spill the beans at our exclusive photo shoot
Only second to Taylor Hicks as the worst winner EVER.
You know what they say, “Those that can’t criticize those that do.”
Excellent reply to an armchair critic!
I love him and bbwmeet.net was amazing
Re: your comment…then why are you here reading about Lee. He won American Idol season 9. America got it right. Get over it.
Taylor Hicks has far outsold Lee.
That’s not really a fair comparison, idol was much more popular back then
He better start practicing saying “Would you like fries with that?” sooner rather than later.
ADAM LAMBERT WAS ROBBED!!
Wrong season, pal. Get your facts straight before shooting off insults.
lambert is a drama queen and a drunk. and looks disgusting and gives any self respecting gay man a bad name.
Hahaha and you are an expert at what? – thought so! LMAO – time to get a life beyond trolling Erik. Oh, and I’m not a fan of Taylor – but his $350k income in 2010 I wouldn’t mind having. He is laughing all the way to the bank. And you??? Thought so!
Unfortunately, there have been more flops amongst the winners. Ruben Studdard? Kris Allen? Fantasia Burino? David Cook? I am not saying these people aren’t talented but have their careers actually been an “American Idol” career? Some of them can only count on an annual visit to American Idol as a gig.
Your comments on the previous Idols are well taken. However, Fantasia Barrino recently won a Grammy making her only the fourth to do so – the others were Kelly, Carrie & Jennifer which isn’t a bad achievement despite not having a booming career..
Good that you didn’t say “post-idol career” cuz he don’t got any! tee-hee!
His shirt just screams “I am not a number, I am a free man” (it’s from The Prisoner)
I love the people that search out these articles to be the first to post something negative about Lee. Kind of sad since the competition is long over. I love Lee’s music pre and post Idol and I will be a fan forever. Thanks to Idol I’ve discovered the only artist I want to listen to everyday. Live It Up is the best album I’ve ever bought and Pretty Eyes is a beautiful new song to add to my collection.
I have to agree about the Live it up Cd… of the 3 Idol CD’s I have bought, I like Lee’s the best too and his pre idol work as well.
I a Lee DeWyze album is the best one you’ve evr bought, you must be twelve.
I agree with Jannie. I’ve only bought a few Idol CDs, such as Daughtry, David Cook, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, and Lee DeWyze, and of all of them–I like DeWyze’s album the best. Even more than Daughtry’s. @will: Jannie wrote that Lee’s album was the best of the 3 Idol CD’s that she’s bought. LEARN HOW TO READ.
Imagine being told all the time you were the winner of the ‘dullest’ season ever. He’s handling it well and I want to see him succeed.
And how come the other 9 contestants get no flack for their lackluster contribution to the lousy year? Lee could only do so much when the others didn’t bring it. I think he handles these questions well considering how little everyone else stood out in AI9.
Especially the part where he insinuates that people over whatever the age limit is aren’t even entitled to an opinion. Some of us can’t go and audition Lee. And what does that have to do with whether or not the show is boring? Are only chefs allowed to complain if they are served a bad meal at a restaurant? He sounded rather snotty for being such a supposed nice guy.
@Jannie…are the other 9, apart from whats her name, even getting interviewed?
Aly, if you are under the age to audition and you are being as much of a brat to be making these generalizations and critiques about someone else then you bet shut your mouth and learn some respect.
To tell you the truth–I prefer last season’s contestants over this season. I find this season’s contestants to not being well informed (Stefano didn’t even know who Lionel Richie is and that David Cook performed “Hello”) and doing the same thing over and over again. And when someone does something different, they get voted off, such as Casey and Naima. I’m hoping this season gets better but so far, I think it’s one of the worst seasons: redundant contestants, inconsistent judges, and uncreative genre weeks.
I really like Lee. I don’t know why that season was considered “boring.” I thought his performances of Hallelujah, Still the One, and the Boxer were great.
@Aly Crystal and Casey has been getting better gigs then Lee. Lee has been singing at malls, while Crystal has been doing a lot of festivals and Casey has been opening for Sugarland.
If you follow Lee, which obviously don’t the mall gigs have been charity events….and Crystal has done mall events as well.
I am a Lee Dewyze fan and enjoyed him, Crystal, and Casey from Season 9. They are much better than what’s on this year’s show. I don’t like this season at all.
crystal needs new teeth
She got new teeth!
I don’t like this season at all either. It’s reached a point where I don’t care who wins. I have a feeling it’s going to be either Scotty or Pia. If people think Lee is dull–well what about those two? I’m amazed people haven’t gotten tired of Scotty’s deep voice by now and all those country songs that he keeps singing. And Pia singing nothing but ballads.
I agree, Tyler. They are being hyped 10 times more than any other season, and yet their talent level doesn’t match up to the hype.
I don’t think the Season 9 Season 10 people can be compared. The judges are far more encouraging this season. The talent of Season 9 was tainted by the negativity..
I would say, after watching both Seasons through Hollywood that Bowersox, Casey James and Siobhan Magnus would have made this Top 13. No one would have benefitted from the better judging more than Magnus – they are already reining Lusk and James in from overdoing the big notes, teaching restraint – and Siobhan needed that lesson.
Likely Didi Benami and Andrew Garcia would have made the 13 – both had strong Hollywood performances. Maybe Katie Stevens.
Interestingly, since the voters and producers tend to put performers in various demo strength groups – I think Lee Dewyze would have been compared to Casey Abrams and not made the cut. 16 year old country singer Aaron Kelly vs. Scotty? No contest. No Aaron. No way. And Big Mike would have struggled to make the cut, and stay in when you had other big-singing men in the mix.
I too love Lee’s pre and post idol music. He’s a talented singer/songwriter. I am a fan for life!
Lee is an Amazing Singer/ songwritter.
He is been blessed with such a beautiful talent. He has a beautiful heart and soul. If I could meet anyone in this world~
it would be Lee DeWyze!
Xoxo
Not wanting to ride the Idol wave for too long?? Dude…you better ride it all you can.
Been a big American Idol fan for 10+yrs. Lee DeWyze is my favorite and his singing/songwriting is pure genius
I have also been an AI fan for 10 years and Lee is my favorite of them all.
Lee is my favorite artist period.. Idol or not seen him live 3 times.. Amazing! This yrs AI contestans pale to Lee In my opinion..
Lee Dewyze’s CD, Live It Up, is really quite good. Much better than most of the “crap” on radio nowadays. And I totally blame last season being “dull” on the production, not the contestants. If the Season 9 contestants were getting half the publicity, production help, hype the Season 10 contestants are getting, along with judges who are engaged like this year, last season would have been much better. Plus Idol is making a lot of effort to make the show in general more interesting this year. Nothing to do with the contestants.
I think Lee, Crystal and a few other S9′ers are better than anybody on this year.
If anyone is a fan of Lee you don’t have to defend yourself. Enjoy his music all you want.
However, if someone wants to defend his success (or lack thereof) good luck.
Lee made history by have the POOREST SELLING debut of any American Idol winner but also the POOREST SELLING debut of any American Idol runner-up. That means Diana Degarmo’s cd had higher debut sales as did Crystal Bowersox.
Lee won the competition but he did win the the search for the next great superstar because he’s not a superstar.
No top ten album, no top ten single. He’ll be dropped by his label in 2012.
Defend his lack of sales and chart success.
Again, as I said above, Idol is not the show it was in prior years. Season 9 had much less viewers which would, of course, amount to lower sales. Diana was on the show at a time when idol was popular. Can’t compare them!
Just met Lee two weeks ago. You will not meet a nicer guy. Deserves all the success he has achieved so far, and his star is still rising. Very talented.
I love Lee’s album Live it Up! I also have his pre-idol cds. He’s is a talented guy. Can’t wait to see what the future brings for him.
American Idol is still on?