Michael John’s sudden departure from the American Idol competition forced me to ask a question I found it difficult to ask before. Why? I, at the very least, expected him to be in the top five but instead he gets voted out five weeks into the final stretch of the competition. I began thinking in a more focused way, what happened? Song choice? I loved the song, and I think the public did too, it’s recognizable, Michael developed himself as a bluesy rocker with lots of soul which held true for this particular performance. His vocals were solid, spot on, and his best weeks of the competition were the previous two and the week he met his end in the competition.
The reason I think he was voted off ties into the number one. Michael had to sing first on Tuesday (April 8), and singing first is the kiss of death. It’s statistically proven that singing first on Idol may get you voted off all together, and if not you’ll at least be in the bottom three. My theory is that no one remembers the first performance by the end of the show, and even though they do have a recap of all the performances it doesn’t help. In fact, out of the six seasons completed thus far, the contestant in the top three who sang first has been voted out five out of six times. Last year was the only year that did not happen, Jordin Sparks sang first and went on to win the competition. However, in the previous five seasons those who sang first in the top three were voted off, Nikki McKibbin, Kimberley Locke, Jasmine Trias, Vonzell Solomon, and Elliott Yamin.
Maybe, though, being voted off is not such a bad thing; many contestants have gone on to be very successful. Joshua Gracin was voted off in the Top 4 of Season 2 after having to sing first and he just released his sophomore country album. Kimberley Locke (Season 2) co-owns a restaurant and has also released two albums. Clay Aiken who lost in the Finals to Ruben Studdard in Season 2 has gone on to be a household name today.
Nadia Turner from Season 4 was, in my opinion, one of the most underrated contestants that graced the Idol stage, and she was voted out after singing first in the top 8. She is putting the finishing touches on her debut album which I am sure will impress provided that it is marketed properly.
From Season 5, Bucky Covington and Elliott Yamin were both voted off after having to sing first (Top 8 and Top 3 respectively), and both of them have released albums and enjoy success in the music business. Bucky even toured with fellow Idol contestant Kellie Pickler and Rascal Flatts. Even people like Chris Daughtry who are stars now, landed in the bottom three after having to sing first. Chris has been nominated for Grammy’s, traveled the world touring and singing at sold out shows, and he had the biggest rock record of 2007.
I am predicting big things for Michael Johns, and if statistics mean anything, then the numbers and the stars are in his favor.
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