Perth Boy Michael Johns Wows American Idol Judges

dmg · #1 22-02-2008, 12:33 PM

February 20, 2008 03:03pm

A YOUNG singer from Perth is winning over US audiences and has been named an early favourite to be crowned the next American Idol.

Michael Johns auditioned in San Diego earlier in the year along with 12,000 other people, and was one of only 30 to get through.

The 29-year-old singer cruised into the Top 24 contestants in season seven of the reality show, and has impressed with his rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Today he wowed judges and viewers with The Doors' classic Light My Fire on the first studio show.

He will find out on February 22 whether he makes it through to the next round.

Johns, who counts Neil Finn, INXS and AC/DC among his musical influences, said his success was like a dream come true.

"It's the biggest high I have ever had,'' Johns said.

"I'm in the land of dreams and I'm trying to make mine happen.''

Johns does not have any formal training but said he had been singing since the age of five, and had previously fronted two bands, The Rising and Film.

Born in Perth, Johns moved to the United States in 1998 to attend college.

He married a Texan girl and now calls Los Angeles home.

Johns has been getting rave reviews from the American Idol judges.

The notoriously tough Simon Cowell has called Johns a "white soul singer'' and a natural.

"You are the most consistent contestant with the natural charisma of a lead singer,'' Cowell said after Johns' Light My Fire performance.

Johns also has caught the eye of American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who has nothing but praise for the Aussie hopeful.

"Michael Johns, wow, when he sang Bohemian Rhapsody I thought it was one of the best renditions I've ever heard - so amazing,'' Lythgoe said.

And he doesn't believe Johns' Aussie roots will count against him in the competition.

"We've never said you have to be US citizens, you've just got to be legal to be in this country,'' he said.

"But as most of this country is from somewhere else, I can't see what the backlash is.''

On the contrary, Johns' Aussie accent seem to be helping him win over American viewers.

"I love your Australian accent! So freakin' awesome,'' one fan wrote on Johns' American Idol page, while another compared him to Heath Ledger.

Johns' Light My Fire performance can be seen tonight on American Idol on Foxtel, which will screen the elimination show this Sunday.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...012990,00.html