AI6: Interview with Sundance Head: The One Who Never Lived Up To the Hype

[Yardgnome]

The interview with Sundance was the final one of the day and Sundance seemed truly upset about being eliminated. He was one who came into the competition with a lot of hype surrounding him and I felt like he never performed to it. He was a nice guy and I was able to get a couple of questions into him (red highlight). I did enjoy talking with him but he called me “Ma’am” and that made me a little upset. I’m not even 30 yet! I know he was showing his Southern manners but that threw me for a little loop.


Just overall, how has your experience been on Idol, any regrets?

S. Head: Absolutely not. I’ve had a wonderful experience. I’m just thankful that I had the opportunity to work with so many professionals, the American Idol staff, 19, Fox, …, they’re all super professional and they’ve taught me a lot. It’s just been an honor to meet all of them and I’m very thankful.

Do you think you’re going to continue with music?

S. Head: Absolutely. In fact, as soon as I get back home, I’m going to start working on a record and see where I can go with it. I just need to get back home and ground myself, and figure out where I’m at, and where I need to go, and what’s the fastest way to get there.

What I’m trying to get at is how a guy with a voice like yours would be available. In other words, how you would not – were you really working as a mechanic and not singing before you entered the show?

S. Head: Absolutely. I had sung in times before. I had shopped for record deals. But they’d get my promo pack, they’d see the picture of me and they wouldn’t even listen to the music. The American industry just won’t hire a fat artist; it’s just not going to happen. Hopefully, I can change that.

Your dad has had a hit once. Did he nudge you in any directions towards that? Did you grow up with your father? Did he push you in that direction at all?

S. Head: Absolutely. My dad has been a great mentor in my life. He’s taught me everything I know. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for my dad. I love him to death. I can’t wait to get back home with him and sit down and discuss the future, and which way everything should go.

Back to that first thing for a minute, they are eventually stars of every size out there. Is this maybe you needed that one nudge out that now the next time they see you they will grab your record and listen to it?

S. Head: Absolutely. There’s no doubt. I’m already fielding offers and things for small deals, big deals, different TV gigs, and things like that. I owe everything to American Idol. That’s what that show does. They build success from the ground up. They can take anyone and make them into a star. They just have the baddest group of people you’ve ever seen. They’re all super at their job. There’s nobody better.

I wanted to know, apparently on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, you mentioned that you think another one of the male stars thinks he has the competition in the bag. Would you care to elaborate about that?

S. Head: I actually need to retract from that statement. I love all of the dudes on the show, and I was bated into that question, and I tried to answer it in more of a funny way but it spun out of control. I just want to say now that all of the guys on the show are extremely genuine guys. I feel honored that I’ve had the chance to meet them, and get to know these kids. Everyone is going to do great after this show. I just want the world to know, and America to know, that I have no hard feelings, even for Sanjaya Malakar.

I wish the kid the best. I know he’s young. He doesn’t have a lot of confidence in his voice right now, but that’s going to come to him as he grows. What America needs to understand is, you’re seeing this kid grow up on TV. He’s 17 years old; he’s never been through this in his life, so people just need to remember that. He’s going to be a success in the music business. He’s got all of the great looks and he’s full of talent. He just needs to get the confidence in himself, and he’s going to go really far.

Who would you most like to win?

S. Head: I’d really like to answer that question. However, I can’t answer questions like that. Then it makes a bias opinion, and it’s just unfair to the other contestants.

Last night when you got voted off the show, I think that was probably the most shocking of all of the four people who left last night. What do you think happened?

S. Head I’m not real sure what happened. I don’t know if America just considered me to be safe. That I didn’t need the vote and that I was a shoe-in for the top 12. I really don’t know. I thought everything was going pretty well. In fact, I was almost positive that I was making it to the top 12. I really just don’t know what happened, to be quite honest; I’m still in a bit of shock from it.

I was pretty sure, too. I even put you in one of my predictions for the week. Do you have any regrets about anything that happened on the show? Do you wish you sang a different song, or are you pretty happy with the way everything went?

S. Head I wish that I had sang something other than “Nights in White Satin” for my first time on the show. The reason I picked that song was because it was a slow, melodic, song and I was extremely nervous. I had never been on the stage before, and I didn’t know what was going to go down. I also was coming into that first gig. I was a little paranoid because I forgot my lyrics in LA, and that was haunting me real bad. I was just glad to be able to get through that week and come out of the box the next week with “Mustang Sally” and really get my confidence back and get things rolling. I thought I did a real good job on Pearl Jam’s song, “Jeremy” also. It was going to get better and better. That’s the way I feel.

If you’re not growing on American Idol in this contest, then you’re going to be going. That’s just the way it is.

Can you talk a little bit more, what are you going to be doing next; what’s your next move?

S. Head: My next move is I’m going to go back to Texas. I’m going to get a band together, and we’re going to start playing. I’m going to throw down everywhere I can do and just be a road warrior, try to keep my fans happy, put stuff out on the Internet that they can listen to, and just keep on going. If anything else, this gives me more gas in my tank. I’m ready for the wheels to roll right off. I’m ready to go.

How did you feel at that moment when there was shock in the judge’s faces? Do you think American just maybe possibly thought you were a shoe-in?

S. Head: Yes. That’s what I think. At least that’s what I’m going to hope for for my own morale. But I’ve got to tell you, I was extremely disappointed and I was even angry. You can see that when I did “Jeremy” when it goes into the verse about Daddy didn’t give affection. And the boy was something the Mother wouldn’t wear, I was holding myself. I held my shirt and I felt like that was my chance to speak to America. I was really disappointed.

How would you describe the experience after all of this?

S. Head: It’s a wonderful experience. I’ll do it again, if I could, every time. It’s just been great. I just want to say that the American Idol family is truly a family. The things that you read in the tabloids about them brainwashing you or trying to make you do things, trying to make you into people that you’re not, that is not true. The only thing they want to do is make you into the best possible star you can be. They just want to bring the best out in everyone. They do a fine job of it. I’ve got to say that I’m very proud and honored to have been a part of this team, and the people that I’ve met on this journey has been extraordinary. I’m just blessed.

I’m just wondering, how soon do you get to go home?

S. Head: I’m actually fixing to get on a plane at 5:00 and head back. I just can’t wait to get in my yard. I want to hug the trees and I’m going to fishing tomorrow. Just try to ground myself and hash this out, and try to figure out what happened. I’m extremely confused. I’ve been riding this roller coaster for months now, and it’s like doing 80 in a Ferrari and just hitting the wall. I just don’t know what happened. I’m a little bit confused on which direction to go in. It’s a terrible thing.

I could understand if I was sucking, or whatever, or just doing a terrible job, I could have prepared myself. But there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to make it into the top 12. So emotionally, I just had no shield for this. It’s really eating at me.

I was just wondering. I know we had some major players coming on the show. Who were you most looking forward to getting to work with?

S. Head: Definitely Bono. Even if I wasn’t going to work with him, just to be in the same room with that guy would be an honor. There’s nothing like that. He is the rock and roll icon of our time right now. He is a rock god. He tries to help the world out. Come on, he should be President of NATO. I don’t even know if I would have been able to speak, but I certainly would have loved to be in the same room as he.

A Texas boy. You said you’re going to just sort of enjoy yourself and get together a band. Are you going to come to San Antonio, do you think, can we see you?

S. Head: Absolutely. I’m going to try to be all over the place.

I was really shocked. The only thing I wasn’t shocked by is this is America’s vote, and Sanjaya for some reason looks like the Teen Beat idol or something.

S. Head: The girls love him. He’s a good-looking kid.

He looked almost ashamed afterwards. Everybody was sad about you. Did you talk to him afterwards? How did that work out?

S. Head: Sanjaya Malakar is a young kid. I feel in part he did feel a little ashamed because this is the second week that I think someone good has went home on his part. However … He’s got a great talent. He’s a great singer. He just needs to grow. He needs to learn about himself and get confidence in his vocals. I think he’s going to go very far. I wish him the best of luck. I can’t wait to buy one of his records.

How much do you think cuteness and popularity plays into it now rather than talent?

S. Head: It’s definitely a popularity contest. You can throw talent out the window after the floor auditions. Once you get on the show into the top 24, it’s a popularity contest that starts immediately. There’s no doubt.

Actually somebody from our market, Haley Scarnato, also made it last night over Sabrina.

S. Head: She was one of my best friends.

Were you glad that she got part of it? Everybody was a little shocked by it.

S. Head: I always thought Haley would get through anyway because she’s a good singer and she’s beautiful. It doesn’t hurt to have both of those.

Exactly. But Sabrina, of course, the reactions of the judges were shocked because she went off.

S. Head: I think that was a miss also.

But I don’t know. It’s America’s vote. If you had a choice, would you like the top 12 to be decided before America gets to vote?

S. Head: Yes, of course, I’d say that now. If I went into it, I’d have no complaints, would I?

But I know you’re going to do well. I loved your comment about, “Give me a job.”

S. Head: That’s right.

What’s the name of your band?

S. Head: I don’t have one yet.

You’re going to build one.

S. Head: Yes. This should be fun.

Thanks for taking my call. I was wondering, did you ever consider doing Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” a risk?

S. Head: Actually, I did. But Simon had told everyone in there that if we’re not taking risks, then it’s pointless to be there. Anyone can come out and sing a song, but it’s when you take a risk that makes it worth it, when you come out and do a risky song, and do it well.

I felt like I did do that song well. Maybe I just didn’t understand – I thought everyone knew who Pearl Jam was and what the song “Jeremy” was, because in my life there was nothing bigger when the Seattle movement hit. It changed my life musically and it was a time in my life when I actually was mowing yards and stuff to get the money to go buy records. Pearl Jam was one of my favorite bands, and I felt like it was an honor to be able to do it on the show. Pearl Jam had never cleared a song to be performed on American Idol before.

So whenever they told me that they cleared the song for me to do it, I said, “There’s no other way. I’ve got to do this song,” if out of nothing then just respect for Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam. It is what it is. I made that decision and I still feel good about it. I don’t know if that’s what tanks me in or what. I just guess people thought that I was a shoe-in and they didn’t have to vote. I do know that I was the number one voted male for the last two weeks. I don’t know what happened this week.

Everything happens for a reason and this just means that I can start my life right now. I don’t have to wait, and I’m not bound to an eight year contract, a five or ten year contract with these guys. It could work out better or worse, but either way at least I have the opportunity now to be free and go out and do it.

My other question was, do you think that you ever wanted to sing one of your father’s songs?

S. Head: Absolutely. I would have loved to have done that. I didn’t make it to the 60’s, obviously, but if I would have, that would have been a treat to do.

When you were told that you were going home last night over Sanjaya, the judges were obviously disappointed. I want to know how you feel about that, and what do you think about Sanjaya making it to the top 12?

S. Head: I was really shocked. I thought I was going to make it to the top 12, and I couldn’t believe it. In fact, top 12 was nothing; I figured I’m going to get real down to it, maybe to the top six even. I’m sorry that I didn’t have that opportunity.

As far as Sanjaya goes, I’ve said this to people all day, he’s a hell of a kid. He’s a good kid. I wish him the best of luck. I think he has a great talent. He’s a good looking kid. He just needs to get confidence in his vocals, and figure out who he is as a person. America needs to understand that you’re watching this guy grow up on TV every week. He’s only 17 years old and he’s never been in this position in his life, so this happening. This is as real as reality TV gets.

I think that the fans understand that and that’s why he has so many fans. There’s kids his age that are growing up with Sanjaya. It’s going to continue to happen like that. I’ll tell you what, if he comes out and has one breakout week, just one, if he just comes out and blows the house down one time, all of the talk about Sanjaya not being able to sing will be solidified. It won’t even matter anymore because his popularity is out of this world.

I wanted to ask what about Idol are you going to miss most?

S. Head I think I’m going to miss the free breakfast. Just the fact that they treated everyone like stars, American Idol is a first-class organization. There’s just nothing else that I can say, except for at least I was part of an elite group. There’s maybe 150 of us that has been top 24 contestants, and it’s like an alumni, and I’m very proud to have been a part of it. Even though my American Idol road ends today on the show, it doesn’t end in life. I’ve got that to take with me for the rest of my life.

I’m just wondering, you’re married, right?

S. Head: Yes, sir.

Being in this American Idol bubble, and with things going on at home and being there, how hard it is? Some of the people don’t have that other connection. Is it extra pressure for you that you’re missing your wife, and all of that kind of stuff? How does that come into play?

S. Head: Absolutely. I’m a very emotional guy, I don’t think I have to tell you guys that. One thing that really insulted me was for Simon Cowell to say those were crocodile tears. That really insulted me and it made me incredibly angry. It’s hard being away from your family. My kid, he’s only three months old, and I just missed out on a huge step in his life. The last time I saw him, he couldn’t do anything, but sleep and eat. Now he smiles, he laughs. He moves around, he crawls. He holds his head up, and he’s figuring out what his hands are. That’s terrible to miss that. That’s a lot to think about everyday.

So a part of me is actually really happy that I get to go home and spend time with my family and reroute my life. I just want to thank everyone who is concerned. I hope that people still know who I am eight months from now whenever I release a record, or whatever happens to me. I just want to let all of America know and anyone that reads your magazine that I’m very proud to have been in American Idol. I wish everyone the best. God bless the U.S.A. What else can I say?

One of the fun things about the show is, you can throw guys from totally opposite worlds together. Jared earlier today was saying that when you two guys were roommates, the city kid and the Texas kid, and you actually ended up getting along really well. What’s that like when two opposites are suddenly together?

S. Head: I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. Whenever you have so many extraordinary people, super talented group of people, and everyone is pretty cool, I don’t think it matters where you’re from. A lot of us don’t really consider race, age, size, looks, or any of that. It’s more about the art. It’s about the music. It’s about the ability to write songs, to capture the moment in words, and it was just neat to meet people like that.

Jared is an extremely good poet and songwriter. He can write stuff that will make anyone cry. He’s super talented and I look forward to seeing what’s in his future.

Just one brief thing, at first people used your first name some, but people really preferred to call you Sundance. Is that really an advantage? When you’re at home, do people call you Sundance, and is it an advantage to have a really distinctive name to be known by?

S. Head: In fact, that’s all anybody has ever called me is Sundance. The only people that call me Jason is my cousin, Brandy, and my mom when she’s really mad.

That’s kind of cool. Now that you’re getting known, people will instantly remember who Sundance is, right?

S. Head: Of course. Everyone I’ve ever met knows my name. It backlashes, too, because I meet a lot of people along the way, and they know my name, and they expect me to know theirs. But it’s hard to remember everyone’s name, but it’s pretty easy to remember Sundance.

Thanks to FOX for allowing us to participate in this media call.

[Google]

 

[bbnbama]

I wanted to ask what about Idol are you going to miss most?

S. Head I think I’m going to miss the free breakfast.

I love this guy!!!

What a great sounding guy...and what a loss for us and AI.......

[waywyrd]

I liked him a lot during auditions, too bad he didn't do well during the finals. Thanks for the interview, Yardgnome!

[JLuvs]

What a refreshing interview.

[Leo]

Lively sense of humor Sundance has right there.

Thanks for the interview Yardgnome.

[hutchlover]

Thanks for the interviews.

They tell us alot more about the contestants then were able to see on the show (& in the media).

[Dinahann]

Thanks for the interview YG. I was pulling for Sundance because he's the nephew of a coworker. She told me that "what you see is what you get" with him, and I believe it. Nice guy.

[MsFroggy]

You can see that when I did “Jeremy” when it goes into the verse about Daddy didn’t give affection. And the boy was something the Mother wouldn’t wear, I was holding myself. I held my shirt and I felt like that was my chance to speak to America. I was really disappointed.

Oh, God! He held his shirt, so that's like a show of great emotion and deep understanding of the song!

Still don't like the clown, but great interview nevertheless!!