Kris Allen – Idolatry Interview

By On 08/21/2009 · 73 Comments · In AI Tour 2009, American Idol, Kris Allen

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Michael Slezak of EW.com left New York City behind to hike to the Albany NY hinterlands to catch the Idols in concert (with his Mom, who is an Adam fan!) He caught all the Idols on tape for an extra-special Idolatry episode–tour style!

Up first, is winner Kris Allen, who refused to spill any details on his album!   Ok, he did spill a couple of songwriters–but they’re a couple of usual suspects from the 19 writing stable. Nobody cares!   Kris is keeping it close to his vest…

Bonus: Cameo by Wolfgang the skunk!

Check out the interview HERE.

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  • Mtlfan

    Here’s YouTube link to The Calling’s big hit from 2001′ ¦

    Girlygirl, what’s the name of the song? the video is not available for Canada?

  • richie10

    You forget that the producers never focused muh on Kris during the show so he was never allowed to show the viewers much of his personality. It wasn’t until the show ended that he really started to show all sides of his personality. So that argument of yours doesn’t really fly, IMO.

    The only thing people needed to see was that he was from the south and a christian and he was humble and likeable. Those were already evident and the deep south (Arkansas) made sure he won because of it. I guess I needed that pat on the head for believing this show was a singing competition. I was never that invested until this year but I’ve learned my lesson after one season of watching this show.

  • Sherena

    I guess I needed that pat on the head for believing this show was a singing competition. I was never that invested until this year but I’ve learned my lesson after one season of watching this show.

    *patpat*

    I still rage over DWTS not being a dance competition, but somehow I don’t mind AI not being a singing competition. Because… well, in the world of music, it isn’t like that, so why should AI be like that? AI already highlights raw talent by focusing on live performances rather than recorded ones.

  • girlygirl

    Mtlfan

    The song is called “Wherever You Will Go” — it hit #3 on the charts back in 2001

  • Q3

    Really surprised Kris said this in his EW interview:

    ‘I have read some of those (reviews) where they’re (the reviewers are) like ‘I don’t really want to be here but blah de blah de blah’ and like and it’s just so ‘“ it’s so. I’m like why did you come then? ‘ ¦ To be honest writing a review about something you don’t like ‘ ¦’ 

    I can understand why he feels this way. But critics don’t just review what they like, it’s their job to review that is of interest to readers. Plus, these are many of the same critics who review albums. Thankfully, Michael interrupted him and then finally changed the subject.

  • cookbunny

    Here’s another songwriter Kris evidently will collaborate with’ ¦Alex Band (former member of the band The Calling)

    Ah, Six Degrees of Idol strikes again! David Cook’s former bassist Joey Clement was/is in the Alex Band…um, band!

  • Eileen99

    Thankfully, Michael interrupted him and then finally changed the subject.

    Actually, Michael interrupted to say he agreed with Kris’ statement, not to stop him.

  • BCU79

    I can understand why he feels this way. But critics don’t just review what they like, it’s their job to review that is of interest to readers. Plus, these are many of the same critics who review albums. Thankfully, Michael interrupted him and then finally changed the subject.

    Slezak is the one who brought up the topic of the “too-cool-for-school” tour reviews and talked about how it made him seethe with rage. (or something to that effect) Kris’s response was funny and made it obvious that he doesn’t let the reviews get to him.

    And if reviewers are going to let Kris’s response impact their review of his CD, then they must have extremely thin skin.

  • LucyN

    I thought AI was a singing contest? I guess it’s true that it really is a personality contest. This was my first season to get really invested in this show, and because of attitudes like this that get a mediocre performer voted to the win over someone who sings a hundred times better, I won’t bother to watch again.

    But just look how many comments this little dude generates. Oh, wait.

  • Yss

    Idolatry from the Road: Wooo hooo! I’m so happy that Slezak did it, Kris is so funny and charming and I kind of like it that he’s not telling us much about the album because, as he did it with his song choices on the show and the tour, he always deliver amazing surprises…November seems so far away, I want my Kradison albums now! :D

  • vanjess38

    ” Really suprised Kris said this in EW interview”.

    I’m not suprised at all. I thought everyone was entitled to his or her opinion? That’s his opinion about them.
    These reviewers had their own opinion about him and his music so he can also have his.
    They gave him bad reviews on the show and what happened, he won. On tour they are still on it and his point was he doesn’t give a damn and I second that. They should go ahead and give his album a bad review too. Thank God if some one wants to buy, he wouldn’t read a damn review or ask a reviewer opinion bbefore buying. From what we’ve seen with Daughtry and many others, it does not work that way.So go Kris! Don’t pay attention to them.

  • adh1018

    Michael Slezak and Kris are hilarious together! Great interview!

  • yinyang

    I wish that Kris and Allison would reveal more about their upcoming CDs. I want to be excited about the upcoming CDs, rather than forget about them. I know that Kris likes to surprise people, but a few more hints would be fun….

    Fun interview with Kris, though, and he sure is a likable guy.

    I looked at the Danny and Megan Idolatry interviews, too, and have to say that Megan’s made me want to keep track of what she will do in the future. It’s too bad that AI hasn’t allowed her to be who she would like to be, but I’m beginning to think that I might prefer what she’d like to do much more than what AI is making her do. But, at least she’s getting a good paycheck in the meanwhile.

    Danny’s interview was entertaining, and I was glad to see him more relaxed and showing a good sense of humor. I expected to hear about a record contract by now, but I assume that’s coming.

  • jmom376

    I really enjoyed this video. It is great to see him so relaxed and having a good time. Can’t wait for his album to come out so we can see what surprises he has in store. BTW: It would be nice if more people just supported who they liked and ignored the ones they don’t..

  • dave858

    Girlygirl….yes we do agree to disagree, sorry you felt you had to defend yourself, just giving my honest opinion just as you did….Kris reminds me too much of Taylor Hicks..here and gone….his music is very blah to me…

  • MrsB

    BTW: It would be nice if more people just supported who they liked and ignored the ones they don’t..

    I agree 100% – I’m exhausted mentally – some threads start off fun & kaboom there it goes!

    Too bad it isn’t always like yesterday here at MJs – no kabooms at all!! It was great! :smile1_tb:

  • isisdagmar

    But critics don’t just review what they like, it’s their job to review that is of interest to readers.

    I don’t think Kris meant that reviewers should never review things they don’t like. I think he meant that it seems weird for a reviewer who categorically hates AI, and who is determined going in not to say anything good about it or about any of the performers, to review the show. I agree–there haven’t been many of those reviews, just a handful, but they’re pointless. It’s like having someone who hates all opera, doesn’t understand it as an art form, thinks it worthless and boring, etc., as an opera critic.

    Interesting, I wonder why Slezak linked to the NY Times review–I don’t consider that an example of a “too cool for school review.” After all, the reviewer went into detail about why he loved Adam, and he had high praise for Allison, Matt, and a couple of the others. He didn’t like Kris and he definitely was unnecessarily condescending, IMO (which is nothing personal to Kris–I know that reviewer, he’s always like that), but he certainly wasn’t unwilling to critique the show and give praise where he felt it was due. I would have linked to one the NJ reviews for an example of “too cool for school.”

    I never understood why people said that AI was a singing contest in a way that seemed to divorce singing from artistry (sorry to use Kara’s word). If it were purely about the technically best voice, then a singer like Bob Dylan or Tom Waits (i.e. singers who can’t really sing all that well, technically, but who are brilliant) would not stand a chance against even a mediocre AI belter.

    I like (I think it was) Mtfan’s description of it as an “artist contest.” That’s what I want–an artist, someone creative and passionate who makes me feel the music. And for me, that was Adam first and foremost. The fact that he was also the best singer was part of that, but it was the feeling and creativity that went into his music, along with his voice, that made him my favorite. And those same criteria made Allison and Kris the other two contestants that I loved as well, and my opinion of these three as real “artists” was definitely cemented on tour.

    And incidentally, Adam was my favorite but Kris is lovely, things are working out fabulously for both these guys (probably better for both of them than if Adam had won, which is one reason I was more than half-hoping Kris would win even back in May)…and the competition ended three months ago…

    So, in conclusion: adorable interview. I hope Slezak gets to interview Adam and Allison at some point, even by phone. He likes and respects these guys, and that clearly makes them comfortable with him. Maybe when their albums are dropping?

  • jmom376

    LOL MrsB.. Maybe talking bad about other contestants is the only way some people get their kabooms.

  • Eileen99

    Kris is my kaboom.

  • FifthHouseSun

    Slezak got some moves. He asks a guestion, and doesn’t end the sentence quickly, there is a little kind of drawing it out, small gap, and then he adds a little additional fillip before handing it over to Kris. And the result is that in the gap, Kris gets ready to answer. So Kris answers pretty quickly. Which he has not been doing on tour. Kris is still wonderful and adorable in all tour interviews. But like his last one with Jim C on MTV.com, he’s way laid back.

    Have to confess didn’t watch Kris’s Idolatry interview that closely. Took concert attendance to move me to playing Bright Lights youtube mp3 rips kind of fan (Always a Slezak fan.) Went back to watch Idolatry. Slezak didn’t do the same thing. Just asked the questions. (And did wear his most handsome shirt. Very cute of him. Hey, it’s Kris.) Because Kris was not so reticent, or cloaked, or holding back a little then. Kris was all perky and eager. In just a few short months, Kris is so much more sophisticated. And, clearly, more tired.

  • Sherena

    Kris has changed. For the better, I think, especially if he wants to survive the music industry. Comparing this to Kris’ Top 36 interview from AI, it’s SO different. It’s like he’s gotten years older. That was a wide eyed adorable boy, this is a worldly wise but still sweet man. Idk, it makes me kind of sad though. There’s a lot of talk about Danny, how he grew up in a small town, kind of isolated from the world, and that’s why he doesn’t *understand things*, but that description also applies to Kris. Not to the same extent of course, because Kris said that he had liberal friends and all (male cheerleaders! How’s that for awesome), but he’s also commented on how he hadn’t really seen America before this tour. And it’s like aw, Kris. Because he definitely understands things.

  • MrsB

    Now see FifthHouseSun always knows how to deliver a really good Kaboom!!!!! :wub_tb:

  • Q3

    Have to confess didn’t watch Kris’s Idolatry interview that closely. Took concert attendance to move me to playing Bright Lights youtube mp3 rips kind of fan (Always a Slezak fan.) Went back to watch Idolatry. Slezak didn’t do the same thing. Just asked the questions. (And did wear his most handsome shirt. Very cute of him. Hey, it’s Kris.) Because Kris was not so reticent, or cloaked, or holding back a little then. Kris was all perky and eager. In just a few short months, Kris is so much more sophisticated. And, clearly, more tired.

    Well said!

    Kris has gotten so much better in interviews. Each one is better, and better. And this is my favorite so far. But, I also think that Slezak makes the people relax and have a good time in his interviews. But Kris is also so tired. I hope he had a day off yesterday. :-)

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