From a media release:
Mitch MacDonald and Theo Tams to Battle for Title of 2008 Canadian Idol
It’s East versus West. With only eight days to go before the next Canadian Idol winner is crowned, it was revealed live on CTV tonight that Mitch MacDonald and Theo Tams will battle to become the next Canadian Idol. Collingwood, Ontario’s Drew Wright was eliminated from the competition after the 28-year-old Musician and House Painter received the fewest of close to four million votes cast following Monday’s performance episode featuring the songs of Canadian legend Bryan Adams.
Now, MacDonald and Tams jet off to New York City to workshop with five-time Grammy winner John Legend in advance of next week’s penultimate episode, airing Monday, September 8 at 9 p.m. ET. In the hour-long episode, MacDonald and Tams will perform three songs; a Judges choice, one song of their own choosing and the new Canadian Idol winner’s single.
For the first time in Canadian Idol history, The Top 2 will perform different winner’s singles, chosen to reflect their own individual styles. Past Idol final performance shows have seen the Top 2 sing the same single, but this Top 2 will perform individual songs crafted for them personally with the help of JUNO Award-winning producer Gavin Brown, who has worked with Canadian artists Billy Talent and Three Days Grace. Although both songs will be featured, only one will be released to radio stations next Thursday morning at 5 a.m. ET after the winner is crowned. Theo Tams will perform his single “Sing” and Mitch MacDonald will take to the stage for his single “Where We Begin”. Canada will choose who will become the next Canadian Idol when they vote for their favourite following the Top 2 performance show Monday (visit idol.ctv.ca to confirm local broadcast times).
After in-depth mentoring sessions with legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, last night’s performance episode saw each member of the Top 3 perform two of Adams’ songs. In tonight’s results episode, the Canadian rocker took the Idol stage to perform his hit “18 Till I Die,” from the album of the same name and “She Got A Way,” the latest single from his most recent album 11.
Following Adams’ performances, Canadian Idol host Ben Mulroney announced the results. Despite the fact that Wright was praised by the judges for his performances, he failed to garner enough voter support to stay in the competition. Wright choose to sing Adams’ classic smash hit “Cuts Like a Knife” and the acoustic chart topper “I’m Ready”. Last night, Canadian Idol Judge Farley Flex said that an Adams’ theme “…made perfect sense for you…” while fellow Judge Jake Gold exclaimed that for the first time in the competition, Wright “had real star potential…”
An accomplished musician in his own right appearing with numerous local Collingwood bands prior to Canadian Idol, Wright auditioned for Idol because his friends and family convinced him the country should hear him sing and that he had nothing to lose by auditioning. When asked how he was going to approach being on Canadian Idol earlier in the competition Wright said it was simple: “I am going to give people the best that I can give each night. I won’t hold anything back and I think that is what’s going to move people.” With close to 13,000 people turning out for Wright’s Hometown Tour in Collingwood, Wright touched a lot of fans in his community and across the country during his Idol journey.
The next Canadian Idol will be announced in a star-studded results episode airing live on CTV on Wednesday, September 10 at 9 p.m. ET. Featured in the two-hour finale are performances by chart-topper Mariah Carey along with John Legend, Hedley, current Canadian Idol champ Brian Melo, Idol’s newest cast member Jully Black and the Canadian Idol Top 10.
The Canadian Idol Top 2 are:
- Mitch MacDonald, 22, Port Hood, NS, Carpenter, Musician
- Theo Tams, 23, Lethbridge, AB, Student
Highlights from each week’s Canadian Idol episodes are available on demand on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca. Encore presentations of each week’s Performance and Results Episodes also air back-to-back Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on MuchMoreMusic.
