03:58 PM CST on Monday, March 8, 2004
Associated Press
NEW YORK – Who needs American Idol? William Hung doesn't – he already has a recording contract.
The singer, who became a fan favorite – but not a judges' favorite – during open auditions for the Fox series with his spirited version of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs," has signed a deal with Fuse Music Network and Koch Records.
His debut album, tentatively titled The True Idol, is scheduled for release April 6, it was announced Monday. It will contain "She Bangs," along with another Martin hit, "Shake Your Bon Bon," and a cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man," which Hung sang recently on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
And for those of you hankering for more Hung, the disc will include a 40-minute DVD with behind-the-scenes footage from his studio recording sessions and fan questions and answers.
"He may not be the next American Idol, but he is definitely a star and inspiration to everyone who sings in the shower," said Marc Juris, president of Fuse, which will exclusively air his "She Bangs" video.
Koch Records general manager Alan Grunblatt was even more effusive: "He is the new Elvis!"
Hung, a 21-year-old Hong Kong native and civil engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley, has inspired fan clubs and Web sites that sing his praises.
Meanwhile, back at American Idol, eight of the 12 finalists have been chosen. The remaining four will be announced this week when "wild card" singers – those who didn't get enough votes the first time – come back for a second chance.
Some people will do anything to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Even humiliate themselves. There is always someone there to help you do it, too. It is this kind of shit that encourages more morons to show up for American Idol auditions and encourages Fox to show more and more of their hideous attempts at singing. It is just as bad as putting the camera on the idiots who show up at a sporting event in outrageous costumes and body paint. It only encourages more stupid behavior because people know that if they show up on a twenty degree day with no shirt on and their body painted the team colors with a rainbow wig on and the requisite beer in their hand, they stand a good chance of being shown on tv for five seconds- even if it is only to show how stupid they are.
Just because someone is foolish enough to be willing to humiliate themselves on national television for a shot at fame, if only to be laughed at, does not mean that behavior should be indulged. And, Fox, let's ease up on the audition tape specials. We know there are people who cannot sing but are in denial, we know there are people who will do anything to be on tv. Do we need three to four HOURS of it?
Either William Hung is an earnest man that belives that has talent OR a mad genius in letting everyone on.
At the end of the day, he'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
you should have seen the little video introduction from when he went to the american idol stage last week. :-P
the last part of it said, "He......Is......HUNG!"
lmao