One of the things that really struck me about you is your great stage presence. You look like a star up on stage. How did you develop that?
Michelle Delamor: I think it’s just because I’ve been singing on stage since I was about five years old, mostly at church, though. But that’s been my platform and my playground, really just practicing onstage at church so I definitely think that’s helped me and doing gigs. I do a lot of gigs back at home.
Were you a little shocked that Kara was praising you at first, and all of a sudden, she was saying you weren’t as good as she thought?
MD: It was a little bit disappointing, but I’m really a perfectionist and I know that I didn’t do my best. I know Wednesday was not close to my best performance. So I understood where she was coming from. I was a bit disappointed that she had those things to say, but I couldn’t say that she was wrong because it wasn’t my best performance.
Kara’s comment had to have taken you aback a bit.
MD: Yes. You know what it was for me? When she actually said that on the stage that day that it was my best performance ever. I was really shocked because I didn’t feel like that was my best performance at all. So yes, so when she took it back, I wasn’t too surprised, but I was surprised that she took it back because I felt like she was going to stay true to what she said but, I mean, I knew that it wasn’t my best performance. I really knew that.
What are your plans now?
MD: I’m actually staying in L.A. I’m going to do everything that I can to make something big come out of this. I feel like I’ve come this far and I know that I was made to do something big with music so I’m not going to give up and you guys will see me one day doing something big, I promise.
After this has all happened, did you question using the Creed song at all?
MD: You know what? I did. I really did question it. As a matter of fact, I think part of what messed me up a little bit is that I questioned it before I got on that stage. When you’re not sure of the song that you’re performing, it’s going to be noticed and people can feel that. So I definitely would have done my next song, like I would have reversed it.
What song would you have done next?
MD: I wanted to do “Come Together” by the Beatles, but Michael Jackson-style.
Why that song?
MD: I love it. I feel like it has so much drive, so much intensity, and it’s a song that I feel, like I love it. And my idol, my inspiration Michael Jackson, he covered it, and he did an amazing job and I’ve just always loved that song and I thought it would be so much fun to perform it for everyone.
When you picked the Creed song initially, what was your thought process?
MD: Well, after my first performance, I had done Alicia Keys and the judges all thought I needed to take a risk and do something that they wouldn’t expect me to do. So that’s why I chose to do Creed because I knew they wouldn’t expect that. It’s kind of like a rock ballad and I’m not a rock singer. I thought it was taking a risk and I believe that I tried too much to go by what the judges said. I just wanted to make sure that I did the right thing and I was too caught up in my mind and I should have, more than anything, just stayed true to who I am as an artist. And I feel that I still did give my own style to it, but I maybe should have chosen a different song. But everything happens for a reason.
What was your favourite moment about your time on Idol?
MD: Working with Dorian. I’m sure you don’t recognize his name, but he worked with Michael Jackson. And if you saw This is It, he’s in the film. Michael Jackson’s my idol. He’s my inspiration. And when I walked into the room and I saw (Dorian) there, I just started crying. I got so emotional because I felt like “Oh my God, a dream of mine just came true. This is as close as I’ll ever get to Michael,” and he really helped take me to the next level. That to me was the highlight of the whole Idol experience.
Anything you’d like to say to your fans?
MD: I’d like to thank everybody so, so, so much for supporting me. I know Miami has been a huge support, but all of America and all the people watching, and even the people that didn’t vote, this was my biggest dream to sing in front of millions of people and I got to do that. And I know I’m going to go forth and continue to do that. I’m just so grateful. This experience has taught me so much and I’m so blessed to have gotten this far. I promise you guys will see me at the Grammys sometime soon. I will make it.
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American Idol airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CTV/Fox
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