Exclusive: Blake Lewis Talks About Getting Screwed On ‘American Idol’

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We tracked down Blake Lewis when he was here at 1515 for TRL the other day and chatted him up. (We even got some exclusive pics of the season six American Idol runner-up for your viewing pleasure!) Here’s what the rambunctious beatboxer had to say about his debut album, his plans for the holidays and why he feels like he got screwed during the finale of American Idol.

Buzzworthy: Are you psyched that your album basically tied American Idol winner Jordin Sparks on the Billboard album chart, coming in at #10?

Blake Lewis: Oh, s—. I had no idea. I don’t really check the numbers or anything.

BW: Really, you didn’t know that?

BL: I know what it did the first week. But I don’t really care; it’s just a week. Talk to me in a year. [Laughs.]

BW: So, if chart positions don’t matter to you, what do you think success is?

BL: Fans showin’ up to gigs. I just love playing live. Now that the record’s out, I’m just stoked that I can play my own music and not do cover songs.

BW: The race between you and Jordin seemed really close on American Idol

BL: I didn’t pay attention. [Laughs.] I didn’t care one bit.

BW: When you first heard “This Is My Now,” the ballad you had to perform during the finale, did you think you were toast?

BL: Oh, totally. Me and Jordin went in a room with some guy who was producing that song and I was like, what the f— is this? This is a piece of s—. And you’re not going to let me arrange it? OK, cool. Thanks guys. I didn’t want to win American Idol anyway; I wanted to get second. Then we found out we had to learn it in, like, three days or something ridiculous. It was dumb. [Laughs.] It was just like, are you kidding me? It was really a piece of crap song. And the guys who wrote it were like, we’re sorry, dude.

BW: It seemed totally unfair…

BL: When I found out they wouldn’t let me change it, I was like, you’re kidding me. I mean, my range is alright but … I don’t do power ballads. And if I do, I write them and tailor them to my voice. But this one, I was just like, ummm… So I totally just, like, brushed it off and picked a key that I shouldn’t have picked. But it didn’t matter. Honestly, I picked Jordin to win during Hollywood Week.

BW: Let’s talk about your debut album, Audio Day Dream. Did you have as much creative control as you had hoped?

BL: Getting signed by Clive [Davis] was what I’ve always wanted. It’s, like, huge, you know? So I just came in prepared. I had a music video and artwork done. I had song titles. I made a mix tape. I knew the producers I wanted to work with. I said this is what my album’s gonna sound like and they kinda had their jaws on the floor and were like, [claps once] OK, let’s do it. And that was that. It was perfect. I was true to myself on the show and I got to be true to myself on this record. I had full … well, not full creative control. No artist has full creative control on a record. Not even U2. But pretty much, as much as I could get I got. Like 85%. I wrote every song but one on there. And the one I didn’t write I wanted on there.

BW: Why did you pick “Break Anotha” as the first single?

BL: That was the one song that Clive brought to me. I heard it and was like, that’s not me. But then I thought, man, this could be rad and huge, and Clive was stoked on it. It just came together and it felt good ’cause it doesn’t sound like anything on the radio.

BW: Do you have any fun holiday plans?

BL: For Christmas, mom, pops and I are going to Utah, where all my family is. I can’t wait to go home. I don’t get home too much. And New Year’s I’ll be here in Times Square.

BW: Have you ever partied in Times Square during New Year’s before?

BL: I don’t dig New Year’s. It’s just another day. It’s just another excuse for people to get drunk and have fun.

BW: But, really, isn’t that enough?

BL: For some reason New Year’s just hasn’t been productive for me or it wasn’t that entertaining. But I’m excited for New Year’s in New York. All my friends are comin’ out. It’s gonna be great.

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Filed Under: Blake Lewis, Celebrity, Music, TRL, Videos

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20 Comments to “Exclusive: Blake Lewis Talks About Getting Screwed On ‘American Idol’”
  1. "No artist has full creative control on a record. Not even U2."

    That has to be one of the dumbest comments that I have ever read [made by a new artist].

    1. Does Blake actually know Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry?

    The guy has been industry for like 2 seconds, and he "knows" that a band like U2 does not have full creative control over a record?

    2. Blake... sell more than 170 million albums worldwide, and win 22 Grammy Awards...

    And then come back and tell me that your label won't allow you full creative control.

    I feel sorry for the guy...
  2. Geeeez, the guy was just joking.

    And in a way, its right.

    Dont tell me any label will let you do any song any way you want it.
  3. Actually, yes.
    Blake has talked to Bono before.

    And he wasnt even complaining. He said he got as much creative control as he beleived that he could possibly get. And Blake's been a musician for 7 years, its just that he's now getting actually into the mainstream. Just because he's become mainstream so recently absolutely doesnt mean he doesnt know anything ABOUT it. He has many friends who have been in the industry for years that HE has known for years.
    I.E., Maroon 5, SirMixALot, ect.
  4. @Kelly and especially Anna:

    Actually, no - he is wrong.

    I have been in the industry as both an artist and executive (Artist & Repertoire) at the major label level for nearly 18 years.

    What do the two of you do for a living?

    That would be like me telling Kobe Bryant how to score points and how life is in the NBA. It would be ignorant of me to do so.

    (I am not a player in the NBA nor do I work in the business of it)

    You cannot presume to tell me I am wrong when this is my life (and has been a lot longer than Blake's).

    Just because you know someone... does not mean you know everything there is to know.

    Trust me, U2 has full creative control.
  5. Kelly...I don't think Blake was joking when he made that comment. I think he was for reals.
  6. Okay, so maybe he was not joking. What does that have to do with anything?

    Like anna said, he wasnt complaining. He was happy with the amount of creative control he got and he's just saying what he thinks.

    There's nothing wrong with being honest. Its better than covering it up with sweet little exaggerations or lying.

    Okayy. Anon, you work in the music industry. So what? you seem really pissed off with the fact that Blake said U2 does not have FULL creative control.

    And, i was trying to say. An artist does NOT have full creative control. True, some have. But most of the times now. In the end, it all comes down to the producers or whoever's in charge with the YES or NO

    Say what you like. But its MY opinion. I'm not saying i'm right or wrong. But its definitely what I think.
  7. "And, i was trying to say. An artist does NOT have full creative control. True, some have. But most of the times now. In the end, it all comes down to the producers or whoever's in charge with the YES or NO"

    Do you see what you are doing here? You are trying to tell ME what I know as being incorrect.

    Do you understand the point of why I responded now? I am trying to enlighten you (and hopefully the Blake's of the industry) to what is accurate... and what is not.

    For artists such as Blake... he said it perfectly:

    "BW: Why did you pick 'Break Anotha' as the first single?

    BL: That was the one song that Clive brought to me. I heard it and was like, that’s not me. But then I thought, man, this could be rad and huge, and Clive was stoked on it. It just came together and it felt good ’cause it doesn’t sound like anything on the radio."

    Basically, he admitted here that he could not say no. He had absolutely NO say. You cannot say no to Clive when you are at the stage that Blake is in his career because artists such as Blake (i.e. new artists with no significant sales impact) have no control. Someone (and in this instance it was Clive) tells you what your singles are going to be, who is going to direct your videos, etc. But there is a point that is inevitably reached where an artist does gain full creative control. And why? Because the record company has made so much money off of them that they can no logner say no... or risk losing future revenue.

    Just look to Kelly Clarkson's latest album as an artist who has (and was given) complete creative control (with disastrous results might I add).

    There are few artists with such power this is true. But it was both naive and fairly ignorant for Blake to make such a blanketed statement.

    All that I was trying to say was that he proved his youth in the industry by making such a ridiculous comment. There are some things you know you know... the other stuff... just leave it alone.

    Blake got ahead of himself in this interview.
  8. Blake is a one-note wonder anyway. How long can a gimmick-driven act like his survive?
    U2 should be amused that he mentioned himself in the same breath as them.
    Lighten up folks. The boy is lyin' through his teeth about everything. He "doesn't care' about charts, winning American Idol or New Year's Eve (even tho he is hauling himself to NYC to experience it there.)
    Sad little second-placer. Don't even dignify his arrogance.
  9. [...] MTV Buzzworthy Blog [...]
  10. [...] Lewis had some interesting things to say in this interview with MTV Buzzworthy the other day.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  For what it’s worth, I [...]
  11. Okay,I pretty much agree w/ everything Anna and Kelly said. You can tell that they actually knew who Blake was before reading the article. And as for Nefta calling Blake a "sad little second-placer", you do know that he wanted second place, don't you? He didn't want the stupid contracts that go w/ winning the show. I can't wait for B's album to sell millions and prove you wrong.
  12. Ok, Blake is second on American Idol. He only said that's what he wanted because he knew he wasn't going to win against beautiful and talented Jordin Sparks. Winning American Idol is more of an honor than a bunch of papers to fill out. I can't even believe you're naive enough to believe this fake leech.
    All he wants is to look good by mentioning U2, one of the greatest and most succesful bands in the world. Personnaly, I think he has no right to mention someone he's "met" once or twice. He doesn't know anything about the industry and has no say in his own albums, as was mentioned by Anon.
  13. You know that I'm not insulting Jordin at all right? I know that Jordin's a great singer, I know she's pretty. And do you know that the AI contract is more than "a bunch of papers to fill out"? Because Blake mentioned having to come back to the show for 'x' number of years, having to sign the record deal with them, having Idol control your life. It's obvious that even Jordin's myspace was taken over by 19/Jive Records, because her myspace bulletins are in 3rd person. Blake, however, refuses to give his myspace password to his producers or whatever. He answers his myspace messages from fans, he puts all of his music on his myspace himself. As for knowing nothing aobut the industry, as Blake said in his audition, he's been performing for 8 years, but because he didn't live in L.A., he wasn't famous already[and he didn't have a famous sibling/relative or anything to get him in]. By the way- Blake does personally know many famous bands...some people are too ignorant to actually find anything out about the article they comment on.
  14. Ha Ha Ha. He wanted second place?
    Yeah, so did Barack Obama want second place in NH.
    Wake up Katie, wake up!
  15. Yep I'm awake, thanks. And if you knew anything about him, he said he wanted second place before the finale. He DID NOT want the contract that goes with winning. I understand if you don't want to agree with that, but he did say that.
  16. Geez what a bunch of yada yada. A "sad little second-placer." How mean. When you consider hundreds of thousands of people audition I'd say give me second place any day. Blake is incredibly talented. Look for big things from him in the future. Then we will say "yeah, I told you so." He was merely commenting on creative control, not escalating himself to the status of U2, or even comparing. (which he has every right to do.) Good grief, anon. Chill!
  17. i dont care what anybody says i think blake was under some pressure in that interview and it just came out. he could of really ment it butthe only one that knows is bake so we shouldnt judge poor blake.p.s. i think he is so hot.
  18. no - he is wrong
  19. Does Blake actually know Bono
  20. ^well Anna said Blake has talked to Bono before, and I believe her...because I know her.

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