Here’s a summary of the Shannon Magrane teleconference with reporters conducted earlier this afternoon. Shannon talks about her determination to come back and show America what she can do, her dad’s feelings about Steven Tyler, he thoughts on missing the tour and how she felt when she heard the news that Jermaine Jones was disqualified (I don’t think she fully understands what happened to Jermaine. Twice she compared his situation to her own) Read on.
- Did she speak with the judges last night? “I didn’t get to speak with the judges. They gave me the best and most honest feedback. They know exactly how it feels to be standing on that stage. I never got to talk to them, which was really sad. They know that I can sing, and I know that I can sing. I feel like I left on a good note.”
- Was there any one person she met that she was super excited to spend time with? “All the ten contestants. I feel so amazing that I was surrounded by them. They know exactly what they want in their music and they are so smart and so wise. I’m really going to miss the minors. I was with them all the time, I was in school with them all the time.
- Did taking on powerhouse singers like Whitney and Mariah hurt her? “I don’t think so, because they make such great music. It was hard to be able to sing their songs and do really really well, but I think I did in my own way. I’m really proud of myself.”
- How does she feel about just missing the tour, “It’s definitely really upsetting. I really wanted to go on tour. This is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl, and I was so close to it. I always remember singing in front of the TV, ‘Mom, Dad, I remember this. I want to do this..I want to show every body what I’ve got inside.’ That’s exactly what I got to do. I got to stand out and sing on that big stage in front of millions of people. I’m really hoping that I inspired a lot of people. Kinda showed everybody who I am.”
- How does American Idol compare with any “spring breaks” she’s had in the past, “I’m on American Idol during my spring break. Not many 16 year old girls can say that. It’s definitely an accomplishment in itself and I’m so happy. I’m so proud to be right here in this very moment. I’m learning from everything.”
- When will she be back to high school in Florida? “The one thing I’m not looking forward to is school. I just want to sing all the time. I really wanted to do the tour. I’m really upset about that. I’m really looking forward to making my own music and making myself an album. I’m excited to see what’s in store for myself.”
- How does she go back to being a normal 16 year old? “You don’t. It’s hard. You’ve been living in this lifestyle for a couple of months now and it’s just this giant bubble that you’re surrounded in where you have to go out the back way…we’re taking you through secret ways. But I still go to school. It’s really cool [to still be] a grounded teenaged girl in school with my other minors and friends. It’s hard to be adjusting to a new environment. I don’t think that I’m going to be normal anymore because there are lots of people out there who know who I am now, they’re ready to hear more of me. I’m not going to stop until they do. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
- Will her dad go have a talk with Steven Tyler about what he said to her (The “hot and humid” comment), “My dad took that as a joke. He wasn’t mad about that at all, he just said it was funny because it made great TV and lots of our friends thought it was hilarious. Looking back at it, I thought it was really funny. The legendary Steven Tyler said that about me…and it made me laugh. I was watching it on TV and it made me feel a little uncomfortable ‘oh my God, when is this going to end.’ It’s great, I love it.”
- What was the most important lesson that she learned during her experience on Idol? “To be yourself. I know lots of people don’t think that’s #1, but it is. When you’re yourself you can shine more than everybody else. People recognize you because you are you. Being surrounded by all these 10 contestants, I can close my eyes and when each person sings I can tell. ‘Oh that’s Phillip, or that’s Heejun, oh that’s Hollie and Josh and Skylar and Colton’. You can tell each and every person who they are because we are all so different from one another.”
- Would she do anything differently in the competition? “I don’t think there’s much that I should have done different. I worked really hard and I got where I wanted to be and I really wish I could have gone on tour and been with my friends further. We miss each other already. They’ve already been texting me, and I’ve been texting them. It’s been a lifelong experience that I’m not ever going to forget because it’s just a little taste of what I’m going to get in the future.”
- Where the women worried about getting eliminated before the guys as it happened in Seasons 9 and 10? “Guys have been winning the past couple of years, all the girls are fighting for that spot to be the next American Idol. I certainly was. There’s Phillip and Heejun and all those teenaged girls who are ‘omg he’s so funny, omg he’s so cute’. We understand that, but…we’re thinking, like,’The girls gotta vote for the girls! They gotta stick with them! We got to have that girl power! Stick together!”
- Does she believe a woman can win again? “I believe that strongly, but the guys do have a competitive edge.”
- Would it have been realistic for the judges to use the save on her so early? “I don’t think they should have used it this early in the competition. Somebody can be so good and can be kicked off. Last year they used it for Casey, and I believe they should have used it, because Casey was so talented. If they used it for me, then America wouldn’t have too much to look forward to with the save. I feel really good about how I sing. I feel confident in myself and I feel I can do so much better than I did on Idol. I really am looking forward to surprising myself later.”
- Did she think the judges being hard on her last week affected voters this week? “Maybe it did. It was that one note that I got wrong. I think that I performed to the best of my abilities. I’m beyond happy with myself. What 16 year old can say that they made it on American Idol? I’m just so glad that I got to represent Tampa, FL, and my hometown. And also 16 year old teenagers world wide.”
- Who does she want to win? “I can’t even tell you. I can’t think of one person, because they’re all so good and they’re all so talented in their own ways. They’re all so unique and special. Honestly, I know this is what everybody says, but truly they are all winners in my eyes. Truly. I just wish they could have all been the next American Idol as one person.”
- On taking the advice to practice singing lying down, “That was definitely an interesting piece of feedback. I took it and executed it because–he [Jimmy Iovine] is so amazing, he’s so nice, he’s so good at what he does–he knows exactly what he’s doing, so I’m going to try it. It helped me. I wouldn’t have been able to figure out on stage when I was trying to learn how to breathe like that. It definitely helps me and made me feel better about my performance.”
- How did she feel about being told that she pushes herself too hard? “Practice makes perfect. You can never practice enough. I just want to practice all the time. I love doing what I’m doing. Most people don’t think singing is a sport–you have to take care of your vocal cords and you have to take care of things that most people don’t think is relevant to take care of–your diaphragm. You just have to learn the most random things. It really helps in the end. I feel that if you practice enough…you can get it right naturally on stage.”
- On Jeremy Rosado, and did Mike Lynche ever reach out to her? (He’s also from Tampa) “I don’t know…I don’t think so. Jeremy? I called him my “Jer-bear”. He is the most inspirational guy that I’ve met and he is so true to himself. He’s so genuine and so humble. I think that rubbed off on me. He made me feel so special and so important. I’m looking forward to making and continuing an life-lasting friendship with him.”
- What did she do after the show? “I had to go through lots of interviews and stuff. It was kind of like therapy–I let it all out. My dad and mom said–talk about it for awhile, but then you’ve got to pick yourself back up, get on your feet and hold yourself tall, because this isn’t the end for you. It’s not the end for me, because I’m going to pop up somewhere. You guys have to look for me, because I’ll be popping back up soon.
- What was the reaction like on set when Jermaine Jones was sent home? How did she feel about it? “The worst part–we were surprised just as much–we found out when America found out. We were all sitting in the dressing room wondering ‘Oh my gosh, is this really happening?’ and all of our jaws just dropped to the floor. We were so surprised and shocked. I know exactly how it feels to go home. It’s not the best feeling ever. But this is just a road for both of us, and I’m ready to take the highway.”
- Did she think the judges decision to not save her was more about wanting to keep the save around longer in the competition? “I agree with that. There are people who are older than me and who know more music than me and who are a lot more experienced and I think that they thought I wasn’t ready yet, but I feel in my heart that I am ready. That’s why I’m going to go home and I’m going to practice and I’m going to come back and I’m going to be a lot different than I was before. I think that I’m going to surprise everybody.”
- Did she ever find out details about the judges’ deliberations? “They’ve been giving me the best feed back and they’ve been helping me develop as an artist and performer throughout. I’m looking back in to August at my audition and thinking about it and thinking ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve grown so much’. I can’t take anything but good memories from this whole thing. This is such a great learning experience and this is just a little taste of what’s going to happen in the future. I know all three of them are so proud of me, just as much as I’m proud of myself.”
- How does she feel about Jermaine’s disqualification now that she’s had time to think about it and more details have surfaced? “Honestly, they’re the same and I know exactly what he’s going through. It’s really painful and I feel bad for him. None of the contestants have really texted him yet or anything, because we just wanted to give him room to breath and room to think about everything. We just thought that was the best choice. We really missed him. I know exactly how he’s feeling.”
