Interview with Jose "Sway" Penala, 3/8/06

[hepcat]

Jose “Sway” Penala may be from South San Francisco, but his fans extend far beyond U.S. borders. Sway’s media interview attracted reporters from as far away as Singapore and The Philippines, bringing an international perspective to Sway’s time on the show. Read on to find out his thoughts on being the only Fillipino-American in the competition; his quest to understand Simon Cowell’s mysterious fortune cookie comment; and the non-controversy over his contract status.

Q: I wanted to get to the scuttlebutt over the whole Six Day thing right away. Did you in fact or did you not have a contract with them, as it’s been said?

A: Yes. I’ve been in that group actually for a few years, I believe, maybe three or four years. And we try to come out with something independently, but I made sure that in order for me to eligible to compete in Idol, that I provided them with all the contracts that they needed or releases. So I was straight from the beginning.

Q: I had heard that there were rumors that you had planned even to go back to them if the American Idol thing didn’t work out. Is that true?

A: Yes, you know, that was kind of – I didn’t know how far I would get. I just wanted to see how far I would get pretty much in the competition and see from there on.

Q: So you wouldn’t rule it out that you would go back with them?

A: I’m not really ruling it out, but at the same time, I just want to explore all options that I have right now.

Q: You were a big surprise to me last night. So you have any theories on why you might have gone out?

A: I’m really not sure. The show was so unpredictable that no one’s really safe. But it happened the way it did so I don’t regret anything.

Q: I happen to work with a guy from the bay area who goes by the name Sway. Did he inspire your nickname or what’s the story behind that?

A: When I was a kid, man, you know little kids, they would be butchering names and everything. My name is Jose, right, so like in fifth grade and things, my friends would go, “Hey, so Sway – Sway, come out and play some football with us.” And ever since then, it’s just been Joseway and then it became Sway and as I’ve gotten older, all my friends just call me Sway.

Q: I just wanted to get your thoughts on what was going through your head when you’re up there finding out whether you’re going to be eliminated or not and then Simon and Paul are making jokes about pizza and salad and fortune cookies and stuff?

A: Yes. The suspense was killing me. I just wanted to know whether I got cut or not. As far as the fortune cookie thing, I think the fortune cookie was to me. I don’t know. Do you know what it means?

Q: I have no idea. I think everyone’s trying to find out.

A: Yes, I’ve been trying to figure that out until now. When you figure it out, let me know.

Q: Okay. So you didn’t mind at all? You weren’t annoyed? You were just kind of –

A: Oh, no. Not at all. It makes good TV, you know?

Q: Did you realize you sang “Overjoyed” better last night after you were eliminated than you did on Wednesday night?

A: Yes, I did. I was actually into it more, I think.

Q: Was it just no pressure?

A: Yes. I mean, I got a chance to just be me, you know? Not worrying about what anybody thought and shoot, if I’m going to sing it, I’m going to sing the hell out of it going out.

Q: Because I have a feeling you probably would still be in the competition if you had sung it like you did Wednesday.

A: That’s what I’m saying, probably.

Q: Did it make the situation more unfair that Randy said he was shocked to see you and Kevin in the bottom three?

A: Did it make it more unfair?

Q: Right. Was it rough to hear that, to take somebody that the judge did have faith in you but still happen this way?

A: No, you know what I mean. Like I said, things happened the way they did and I just had a good time doing it. I don’t regret anything, being on the show and I can look back and be like, man, you know what? I actually was on American Idol. I wasn’t upset or anything like that. Of course, you know, whoever got eliminated, we would have wanted to stay on the show but that’s how the nature of the show is. So, somebody was bound to go.

Q: Who do you think should make or will make the final four?

A: You know what, and I’m not just saying to be safe. But there is like so much talent in the next like 16 folks that are remaining that it could go anywhere, man. You see the performers get better every week, so I really – Ask me that again in like a few weeks and I’ll be able to tell you.

Q: They keep talking, especially Simon, about music choices. You know, the songs that you choose are – You kind of live and die by those. When you look back, what do you think about your music choices? Did you tend to go with something that was maybe more personal than something that you could sell easier to the audience or what are your thoughts?

A: It’s a little bit of everything, I think. One, you want to sing a song that known and popular for people to be able to relate to. And two, whatever song you pick, you definitely have to own it, you definitely have to sell it and you have to be comfortable with it. I think that was what was lacking in my performance. I didn’t connect with it. Other than that, I think it would have been that much better if I connected the way I did when I got eliminated.

Q: Do you think it’s the way you sing that particular song that you held back or something like that?

A: Yes, a little bit. Like I said, if I had put myself more into the song, then maybe I could have still been in the competition but things happened the way they did.

Q: You have some fans in Singapore. I just wanted to let you know that, that Asia is also supporting you.

A: Oh, nice, nice. Thank you so much. Tell them thank you.

Q: You just said that you held back a little bit on that day and you did say on TV that you had an off day. What actually happened? I mean, did something bad go wrong that day?

A: No. It wasn’t anything bad. It’s just I just had a lot on my mind and whatever I was going through or was thinking about, I should have – The most important thing is hang it up on the door and when you get on that stage, you’ve got to be focused. And like the judges say, you’ve got to bring your A game throughout the whole thing. Every time you get on that stage, you’ve got to perform as if it’s your last time, you know. In this game, you just always have to be focused.

Q: So what was your distraction, specifically?

A: Nothing really too specific. Just a little bit of everything. Just little things here and there. I can’t really pinpoint.

Q: Did it have to do with family stuff or personal stuff or just the nerves?

A: Yes, probably a lot of it was the nerves also and just worrying a little about how I’m going to do.

Q: There haven’t been many Asians that really represent – Very few have gone so far, so what’s your own theory on that?

A: I’m sorry?

Q: Not a lot of Asians have actually gone very far in American Idol for the past five seasons. Do you have any theory on – I’m sure Asians can sing but –

A: Oh yes, of course. Jasmine Trias made it - … round three. She made it pretty far.

Q: Yes.

A: It just really depends on, I guess, how you present yourself or how much talent you have. It’s not by particularly if they’re Asian or not. It’s just – It is the people’s votes, you know. So I think everyone has an equal opportunity to do this.

Q: We’ve seen over the years, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson have changed so much from start to finish. Who do you think has changed the most on the show so far?

A: Let me see. It’s so early on right now that everyone pretty much that I’ve met from the beginning pretty much stayed the same.

Q: Who do you think is going to change the most?

A: That’s a tough one. I’m not really too sure. I’m trying to think but I really can’t. Everyone is just the way they are to me.

Q: Now that you’re off the show, are you going to keep in touch with anyone? Who are you going to miss the most?

A: You know, I’ve developed a lot of friendships with everyone there. I got close to Elliott and Taylor.

Q: Do you think they’re going to go far?

A: Oh, yes. I think everyone has an equal opportunity. Everyone there – The remaining 16 contestants are very talented so it could go either way. You just have to see everybody progress.

Q: Do you have any advice for your two guys?

A: Just sing. Love what you’re doing.

Q: So how does it feel being the only Asian in the contest?

A: It’s been good, actually. When you’re here, you don’t really think about it too much. I’m very proud, of course, definitely to be able to be like the first male to make it to the top 24 that’s a Filipino. You know, definitely proud. So, that’s a record for me.

Q: We were actually hoping to see more Asians there. It’s just too bad that Asia does not get to vote.

A: Yes. It probably would have been good if you were able to vote and get that much working for it.

Q: AI this year is practically a battle of not only of talent but of good sound choices as well. Tell me how you choose which songs to sing.

A: It has to be actually a song that you’re really willing to sell, as far as you like you have to be able to perform it. You have to be able to feel it while you’re singing it. And you have to be comfortable doing it. You have to own it pretty much.

Q: Do you think that was the problem this week?

A: Yes, probably a little bit. I wasn’t connecting too well during my performance. If I had put myself more into it then maybe the outcome would have been different. But I have no regrets. It happened the way it did and I’d do it all over again.

Q: What was really bothering you during that week and Paula said maybe you were not in the zone, maybe you were not feeling well?

A: Yes, it was just a little bit of everything. It’s probably maybe I should have picked another song or something.

Q: It wasn’t anything personal though like you missing your family?

A: Oh, of course I miss my family, but I wasn’t to that extent to where it will give me a bad performance. It was just – It’s a lot of hard work to do this.

Q: I saw you on the AI Web site, the first video right after you made it to the top ten before. And you said that you wanted to see more Asian-Americans there. Do you think because of what you did where it goes closer to seeing that coming true?

A: I think that if you’re talented, you’re talented no matter what race you are. And it’s just proven that – Being on American Idol, it’s definitely – There are no color lines or anything. You see different genders, you see different races on it. So, yes.

Q: This is just a funny question, but when you went into the top 24, what did you seriously think your chances were against all these cuter, taller and hunkier guys?

A: I’m sorry, what was that?

Q: Going into the top 24, what did you think your chances were against al these guys around you who seemed to be cuter, taller, younger, hunkier? I mean, was it intimidating?

A: No, not at all. Obviously, I was picked to be in the top 24 because I had something to offer. And everybody that got picked to be in the final 24 was unique in their own way. That’s why they had a spot to be in the 24, so I wasn’t intimidated at all because at that point, it’s really up to the voters.

Q: Yes. Was there any personal front-runner among you guys? Were you ribbing each other who’s always going to make it? Who, in your opinion, was that guy?

A: I was just so worried about myself that I didn’t really think about too much on who was going to make it or who wasn’t.

Q: And also, you had a sort of like skirmish with one of the Britain twins, right?

A: Oh, yes.

Q: That was so funny because they were calling you and Elliott out on not preparing with him. So was there a sense of karma when both of you got advanced to the final stages instead of the twins?

A: No, it wasn’t so much karma, I think. I’m not sure – I guess they didn’t pan out on their background checks or something. That’s the reason probably why they didn’t. But I don’t think it’s karma so much as just bad judgment maybe on whatever activity they were getting into.

Q: But did you and Elliott kind of discuss it and realize the irony of it all?

A: No, we didn’t even discuss it. We just moved on forward from there.

Q: So now that this part is over, what do you have up next for you?

A: Plan T. Music is my life and we’ve gotten so much exposure from this show. It’s the number-one watched show that hopefully I strike a deal out there somewhere and make some records, some music above anything, and sell some records and whatever else it branches out to.

Q: When you sang your song and you listened to everyone else sing their last song, what was going through your head?

A: I came in this without anything to lose and everything to gain from it. So I was just thankful that – I feel really good that I even got this far and accomplished.

Q: So it wasn’t when Brenna was saying oh, she deserved to still be here. It was just kind of just sense of accomplishment?

A: Yes, of course. You’ve got to look at it like that. It wasn’t a negative thing. You’ve just got to count your blessings and things happen for a reason. Who knows, maybe there’s something big in store out there for me.

Q: When you made it to Hollywood, there were a lot of questions about your eligibility as a contestant. Were you aware of that?


A: Oh, yes. I was aware of that. I heard rumors about it actually, about me having contracts and buying them things. But from the beginning of the show, I provided AI with every contract that they needed and release forms or anything, just to let them know that I’m not in any way bound legally, that I’m free for any kind of representation and that I can get into any agreements.

Q: Since joining the top ten as far as making it in the American Idol contest, you’ve gained a lot of following here. You have so many fans here in the Philippines now. I don’t know if you know but you are very popular here.

A: Oh, wow. I was out there in September and I loved it out there. I was born in the Philippines. I went to school in La Salle Green Hill. I went back out there in September with my group, actually, Six Day. And now since you’re saying I’m popular out there, I’d like to go back there.

Q: Of course, you should.

A: Yes, and just sing for you guys or anything. Come visit.

Q: Oh, we’d love that, we’d love that. Do you speak any Tagalog?

A: Yes, I can speak – I can understand it really well. But when I’m there, my Tagalog came out more, actually.

Q: Oh, that’s good. Would you consider building a career here since you’re already all popular?

A: Yes, definitely. I would definitely try to build a career out there.

Q: Any message to all your Filipino fans?

A: I was very proud to be a Filipino on the show. I’m the first male, I think, that made it to the top 24 that’s a Filipino. I wish I would have stayed longer and make you guys prouder. But I tried.

Q: Speaking of wishing to stay longer, did you know that on American Idol poll on their Web site, they were asking which of the four would online viewers want to go back, and do you know that among the four, you actually had the most number of votes?

A: Oh, really?

Q: We’re still hoping you still might get back in the contest as a wildcard or something.

A: Maybe, but you know what though. It may be the end for American Idol for me to perform onstage, but it’s going to open a lot more doors also as well. One door shuts, another one opens.

Q: Do you have any additional words to Simon?

A: Yes. I just wanted to know what that fortune cookie thing meant because I’m confused, too. That’s about it. I’ve got nothing bad to say. I’m good.

Q: What about his opinion that it wasn’t vocals between you and Kevin that was the reason for the votes? He said that right before the decision.

A: Yes. I think – My interpretation of it probably was it wasn’t the vocals, but maybe the performance itself. Did I sell myself enough? Did I connect? I think that’s what he meant.

Q: In one of your videos, you actually made a very moving comment about being happy, seeing your parents together again and all that. So are they separated, divorced?

A: Yes, they’ve been separated since I was a little kid like five or six.

Q: So now that you’re out of the competition right now, does life go back to normal or has this all brought your family closer together?

A: I think in a sense it has brought my whole family closer together. I mean, it was just nice to have both of my parents be there and watch me perform for the first time on the Idol stage. It was just – I can’t even explain how good it felt.

Q: Is your participation in Idol, is it kind of making your parents closer again? Is there more contact because of your participation?

A: Of course. I’m the common denominator with them. So they’re always going to have a part in each other’s lives because they have children together.

Q: I see. Well, it was great watching you on TV, Jose, and good luck with your career.

A: Thank you so much.

Many thanks to FOX for granting the interview, and good luck to you, Sway.

[Google]

 

[caramelbeauty81]

That was a great interview. He was personally in my top 3 and I really wanted him to advance. On the show before he was cut, I knew he was about to get cut and just felt bad because I really enjoyed his voice. I loved his earth wind and fire performance and didnt think he did bad at all either night with overjoyed. I also think he's cute which doesnt hurt.

[dragonman64]

I was right on how he got the nickname 'Sway' which evolved from how the Americans pronounced his name 'Jose'.

At any rate, I'm disappointed that he is no longer in competition, but then that's how American Idol is...you sing bad and you're in real danger of getting the boot. I'm pretty sure he has a good chance of starting a musical career here in the Philippines the way Jasmine Trias did.

[Leo]

Terrific interview - thanks hep.

[Jexter]

Love Sway! I hope he gets a career out of his time on the show somehow.

[caramelbeauty81]

Originally Posted by dragonman64

I was right on how he got the nickname 'Sway' which evolved from how the Americans pronounced his name 'Jose'.

At any rate, I'm disappointed that he is no longer in competition, but then that's how American Idol is...you sing bad and you're in real danger of getting the boot. I'm pretty sure he has a good chance of starting a musical career here in the Philippines the way Jasmine Trias did.

Did Jasmime really start a singing career in the Phillippines? I didnt know that. Thats interesting.

[dragonman64]

Originally Posted by caramelbeauty81

Did Jasmime really start a singing career in the Phillippines? I didnt know that. Thats interesting.

Yes, she really did.

Initially after the height of placing 3rd at AI, Jasmine was signed by McDonald's to be the image endorser and singer of the burger chain's Philippine version of its "I'm Lovin It" worldwide campaign which translates to Tagalog as "Love Ko 'To" and was tapped to appear in a toothpaste commercial.

She released her self-titled CD last year which is doing ok and is currently in the middle of doing mall shows, TV guestings, and personal appearances for the same. She even took part in a top-rating reality-challenge show and was enlisted by the local version of Big Brother to enter the house and surprise the housemates. She was also part of the Filipino-Hawaiian contingent with the state's governor which toured the Philippines for some sort of a caravan.

She is doing alright. Nothing sensational, but her star continues to shine.

[Tickety]

Originally Posted by hepcat

Q: And also, you had a sort of like skirmish with one of the Britain twins, right?

Just to clear this up... you mean the Brittnum (sp?) twins that were cut from the show due to their jail charges, right? Because I don't remember Sway performing with them... unless you're talking about different twins.