Down-home. Home-spun. Rising Star.
So what happened to make the Phillip Phillips the American Idol choice of 2012 and one of the most popular idols in the aftermath of his win? The back story is that he grew up in a "no-nothing" swamp town of less than 3,000 people after age 12. The median income of the town was roughly $29,000. Only 10% of the population was 10 or younger. It didn't appear that this boy would make anything of himself. He didn't even pick up a guitar until age 14.
His brother-in-law taught him how to play the guitar. That, too, usually doesn't usually mean the person being taught will end up in the category of "really talented." He grew up in the 90s and early 2000s listening to the 60s and 70s music of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zepplin. Really! However, he graduated to the Dave Matthews band after learning to play the guitar, which is reflected in his own style.
How he became great is simply a matter of family values. His family was all about being close and enduring to the end once something is started. America was ready for this no-nonsense, determined personality, appreciating his risk in using his own style, and his down-home, home-spun kind of singing. If that's what America was looking for, then Phillip was the perfect candidate. America not only liked his style but his determination because he had a very painful bout with kidney stones during the competition that would have caused most people to drop out of the contest. But viewers wanted to show their love for that family value of finishing something and finishing strong against adversity. That's the back story for a young man who was in the right place at the right time.
Back story is important. Phillip Phillips had the right background at a time that America wanted exactly what he had to offer. Right time, right place was the catalyst for his ingredients. And Phillip Phillips is now a rising star.
No comments:
Post a Comment