Iam Tongi Breaks The American Idol "Country Curse" With His Season 21 Win
This season finally proved that America's musical landscape extends beyond country music.
The final episode of American Idol's Season 21 aired yesterday, and it was an emotional rollercoaster!
Each of the Top 3 contestants demonstrated that they have truly stellar careers ahead of them, as their voices, artistry, and stage personas captivated and inspired audiences.
Before the finale, there was much discussion among fans about whether another country singer would win this season. Many believed that most people in the United States would vote for country performer Colin Stough or Christian singer Megan Danielle owing to the genre's popularity. However, the result was surprising, as the ultimate winner was the vibrant Iam Tongi. The vicious circle has been broken at last!
During the three-hour episode, Lionel Richie said, 'As far as I'm concerned, we have three No. 1s on this stage tonight.' He couldn't have put it better, as all three impressed the judges and viewers alike. The highlight, of course, was the 18-year-old Hawaii local who had the audience chanting his name.
'Hawaiian Guy With Guitar broke the curse!' one of the fans said jokingly. Indeed, Iam was the winner, breaking the endless cycle of winning country musicians.
Country music fans have dominated the last few seasons of American Idol. Season 20's winner was aspiring country singer Noah Thompson, and the runner-up was HunterGirl, who also performed country music. Season 19's main Idol was Chayce Beckham, whose music is a fusion of country and reggae. Season 18's runner-up, Arthur Gunn, also gained popularity for his country tracks. Too much country!
Then, a young artist from Kahuku, Hawaii, burst onto the stage with his magical voice, ukulele, and soul-stirring story. First, he performed Keith Urban's Making Memories of Us, followed by Cool Down by Hawaiian reggae band Kolohe Kai, James Blunt's Monsters dedicated to his late father and his own song I'll Be Seeing You.
Although Iam is not a native Hawaiian (he is Irish, Tongan, and Samoan), he has honoured his homeland like no other, delivering incredibly soulful renditions of songs that blend modern pop and rock with soul and reggae undertones.
Congratulations to Iam! Meanwhile, Season 22 has already been confirmed, and we should expect to see it early next year.
Source: Reddit.