American Idol has crowned its season 21 winner, Iam Tongi, and it’s time to talk about why he may be one of the show’s strongest victors ever. Iam is an 18-year-old high school student. Originally from Kahuku, Hawaii, Iam relocated to Seattle, Washington. The move was motivated by being, “priced out of paradise,” according to Iam, as per the show.
Iam became American Idol‘s most viral contestant when his audition clip was shared everywhere. Mourning the recent loss of his father, Iam sang a cover of James Blunt’s “Monsters.” The performance brought the judges to tears, and made Iam an early favorite to win the season. Iam performed an emotional rendition of the song at the finale, alongside James Blunt, and went on to win the competition, beating out country/Christian crooner Megan Danielle.
Iam Tongi Is A One-Of-A-Kind American Idol Contestant
Iam’s journey on Idol set him apart from his fellow contestants. Although his time on the season started with the story of him losing his father, Iam was more than the teller of a tragic tale. He earned his way throughout the competition, due to his consistent and versatile performances. He wasn’t a showy performer, but his smooth vocals effortlessly conveyed emotions in each performance, and he was able to excel in several genres.
Iam’s performances ranged from the sixties folk of Simon and Garfunkel to the reggae pop Kolohe Kai hit, “Cool Down.” Iam even delivered a solid cover of the Keith Urban hit “Making Memories of Us,” which impressed guest mentor Keith. All in all, Iam stood apart from the competition because of his great taste and smart song choices. This prevented him from being pigeonholed into one genre or performance style.
Iam Tongi Is Much Different Than Recent American Idol Winners
Iam has great potential to have major success in the music industry after Idol, especially in light of how unique an artist he is. He’s much different than Idol‘s recent winners, as the majority of the recent champs all occupy similar genres, and appeal to a very specific demographic of music fans. Laine Hardy, Chayce Beckham, and the previous winner, Noah Thompson, are all country singers who have won in the ABC era of Idol. Iam represents a break from the pattern of country contestants winning the show.
Hopefully, Iam isn’t regarded as a simple novelty act, though. He has the potential to make major waves in the industry if given the opportunity, and he seems to be the most likely of any recent Idol winner to go on to achieve great things in music. He’s already captured the hearts of Idol voters. If his viral presence on social media is any indication, Iam may become one of American Idol‘s most successful champions.
Source: Iam Tongi/Instagram
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
