Iam Tongi is the primary Pacific Islander to win American Idol. His dad died just a few months earlier than Tongi’s audition, which he says his mother signed him up for and pushed him to follow.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Eighteen-year-old Iam Tongi has had an unbelievable week.
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RYAN SEACREST: The winner of American Idol 2023 is Iam Tongi. Congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
SUMMERS: Not solely did Tongi win the twenty first season of “American Idol.” He additionally turned the primary Pacific Islander to take action. And Iam Tongi is right here now to speak with us about his massive win. Hey. Welcome.
IAM TONGI: Thanks a lot. Thanks a lot – good to be right here.
SUMMERS: Nicely, I’ve received to begin off with some congratulations to you. How are you feeling about every thing?
TONGI: I really feel prefer it nonetheless hasn’t hit me, hit me but, and I nonetheless must, you understand, get it in my thoughts that I really received.
SUMMERS: Throughout the remaining episode, you carried out an unique music. It is referred to as “I am going to Be Seeing You.”
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TONGI: (Singing) All of your wit, the entire laughs, your grin will keep in my coronary heart, keep in my thoughts for all of time.
SUMMERS: Initially, it is simply an unbelievable, stunning music. And the person who you are speaking to there, the person who you will be seeing is your dad, Rodney, who sadly handed away a short while earlier than you auditioned for “American Idol” – just a few months earlier than. I’ve to think about he simply would have been so pleased with you for all you have achieved.
TONGI: Thanks. And hopefully, I feel he could be.
SUMMERS: Should you may, may you inform us a little bit bit about who your dad Rodney was and the way he instilled such a love of music in you?
TONGI: Yeah. My dad – he is Tongan and Samoan. You already know, rising up in Hawaii, I listened to a variety of island music, and my dad influenced my music by displaying me – from a really younger age, he used to play, like, Keith City’s stay CD thrice or, like, 4 occasions a day. And after I realized ukulele, he pushed me to study guitar and pushed me to begin singing. And I owe every thing to my dad as a result of if my dad by no means pushed me, and I would not be right here proper now.
SUMMERS: Your mother has shared that when your dad handed away, you did not wish to sing anymore since you stored listening to your dad again you up. What introduced you again to singing?
TONGI: My mother simply signed me up, after which she was telling me to follow. And I informed her there is no want for me to follow as a result of, like, the one motive why I did it was for my dad. She was like, effectively, I signed you up for “American Idol.” I used to be telling her, Mother, I do not wish to do it. And he or she’s like, too late, I already did. I used to be like, oh, shoot. So that basically received me as much as check out, and I am glad I did.
SUMMERS: I wish to discuss for a minute about your audition. You carried out the James Blunt music “Monsters,” and also you devoted your efficiency of that music to your father.
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TONGI: I am not your son. You are not my father. We’re simply two grown males saying goodbye.
SUMMERS: I watched that video earlier right this moment earlier than this dialog, and I used to be tearing up at my desk. It left judges and audiences in tears. You have been unbelievable. The music is unbelievable. You’ve got this wonderful story to share. How did you decide that music?
TONGI: Once I went to the audition, my mother requested me like, what do you concentrate on “Monsters”? And at first, I wasn’t actually open to the concept ‘trigger each single time I sing that music, you understand, I get emotional or it is exhausting for me to, like, end it. I wasn’t going to do it, however then I used to be enthusiastic about it, and I simply wished to dedicate it to my dad as a result of I owe all that I’ve to him and my mother.
SUMMERS: I imply, you bought off to an unbelievable begin in your season, however as any devoted watcher of “American Idol” is aware of, there’s by no means an ideal journey. What was the hardest second for you in the course of the competitors?
TONGI: Most likely Hollywood Week ‘trigger that is once I was, like, first launched to, like, this schedule – proper? – you understand, waking up early and coming house late. So I misplaced my voice earlier than the duet, and I used to be so, like, annoyed. And once I went on the stage, my guitar broke.
SUMMERS: Oh, gosh.
TONGI: I simply was attempting to carry it collectively and went on the stage. And proper once they requested me, like, what’s mistaken, I simply began crying.
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TONGI: My dad had spent his vacation paycheck (crying) to purchase me the guitar. And I made a promise that I used to be going to make use of it at each efficiency.
SUMMERS: You’re the first Hawaiian and Pacific Islander to win “American Idol.” What does it imply to you to be the primary?
TONGI: You already know, it means so much to me to be the primary. I do not wish to, like, sound cocky, however, like, pave the best way – yeah – for my folks to only do what they love and don’t have any worry, as a result of I did not wish to do it ‘trigger I did not wish to get embarrassed. That is how my persons are. They’re very prideful. And I simply need them to get out that mindset. And should you do one thing you’re keen on, you may succeed should you strive your finest.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “AMERICAN IDOL”)
TONGI: (Singing) ‘Trigger I will be seeing you…
SUMMERS: That is Iam Tongi the most recent winner of “American Idol.” Good luck. And I actually stay up for attending to hearken to the music you make.
TONGI: Thanks a lot.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “AMERICAN IDOL”)
TONGI: (Singing) …Wherever I am going.
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