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Aidin Vaziri
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Some reasons we're excited about this week's arrival of "American Idol" Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee's self-titled debut album: (1) Even though she lost on the show, she won our hearts. (2) The album was supposed to come out in November and, when it didn't, our anticipation level went from 14 to 50. (3) It includes a bunch of songs that aren't "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" or "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." Hooray!
Q: You know you should have won, right?
A: Oh, you're so sweet! Thank you.
Q: No, really. I personally voted for you 1,834,182 times.
A: Thank you. We'll see how the record does. We're all geared up.
Q: They delayed its release a whole bunch of times. What was that all about?
A: It's been done for a while. I'm just excited to get it out there. It feels like a long time since "Idol" has been over.
Q: So is it different from what we saw on "American Idol"?
A: Yes. I think it captures the real Katharine.
Q: How so?
A: On "Idol," I kind of got this rep for being older than I am. I'm really just this young, 22-year-old girl. I was just singing songs that were older than I was because everything was so last minute. We only had four or five days to learn each song. So there are a lot of really fun songs that we put together for the album that capture the fun side of me and the young side of me.
Q: The first single is called "Over It." What exactly are you over?
A: I didn't write it, unfortunately. It's a typical breakup song. I didn't realize how many people use the term "over it," so when I heard the song I just connected to it right away, because I know what it feels like to be over a guy.
Q: Some people have described the photo on the album cover as "the slut next door." This isn't me. This is the Internet talking.
A: I like the photo. You would never see me on a daily basis walking around in thigh-high boots and a little short dress, but it's sort of an eye-catcher. It's like, "Wait a minute: Who's that? That's the girl we saw in the long gowns on 'Idol.' "
Q: You're putting it all out there.
A: That's as much as I want to put out there. The thing I like about the photo is that it's suggestive and racy but not really showing any skin. That's what I'm all about.
Q: Have you always taken good photographs?
A: They're not all great. I love the camera. When I did my first cover shoot for Teen People, I was so nervous with all these people staring at me and watching me pose. Now I just go in and get the job done.
Q: You're appearing on "Ugly Betty" and the Internet serial "Lonelygirl15." Does that mean you're preparing for something bigger? Hopefully not "From Taylor to Katharine."
A: I hope so. They're just little fun things for me and my fans. But right now I'm all about the record.
Q: You had to sit out the beginning of the "American Idol" tour because you hurt your vocal cords. Do you think you can make it through the whole year without any further medical mishaps?
A: I have a vocal coach who helps me with all that stuff, so I'm not worried about it, although I don't sound very good right now. I have this phlegm sitting on my cords.
Q: Nice! Is there enough money in the world to get you to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" ever again?
A: At this moment? Yes, if it's not televised. I'll go do it for a corporation or something, where they pay you all this money. But I'm pretty over it now.
nice interview.
"the slut next door."
Katharine McPhee fans around the world