“Don’t Stop Believin’ ” might’ve been “Glee’s” key to success — but it’s the harbinger of doom on every other TV show.
While recently eliminated “American Idol” contestant James Durbin said he felt like his Wednesday-night performance of the hit Journey track was “very consistent and pinpoint perfect,” it didn’t stop him from getting booted off the show this week.
As Durbin — long considered a favorite to win “Idol” — pointed out to reporters yesterday, “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” was also the song that his new pal, pro wrestler Chris Jericho, tangoed to before getting dumped from “Dancing with the Stars” last month.
” ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ eliminated James Durbin, Chris Jericho and Tony Soprano,” Durbin said, referring to the series ending cliffhanger scene of “The Sopranos,” underscored by the song.
Durbin admitted that he really was “blindsided” when he found out that he was going home.
Still, he noted that “there was something off with the kinetic energy of everyone at the studio [on Thursday]. I just kind of felt it off people’s body language — not that people knew, but that there was something, a real somber feeling.”
Upon hearing that he’d been voted off, Durbin’s first thought was, ” ‘Gosh, I wanted to win so badly and it feels like I’ve failed,’ ” he said. “But now, thinking about it, it’s like I haven’t failed at all — this is just the beginning.”
Once the finale and traditional “Idol” concert tour are over, Durbin intends to get to work on a metal album to help boost mainstream interest in the kind of heavy tunes played by his favorite bands, including Dio and Black Sabbath.
Durbin, 22, called his guitar-playing best friend back home in Santa Cruz, Calif. his “secret weapon” and “a total shredder” and said that they’re “going to force [metal] on the airwaves. . .we feel really strongly about our music and it seems like it’s dying out and that can’t happen.”
Durbin has also worked to overcome Tourette’s Syndrome, a neuropsychiatric disorder, and Asperger’s Syndrome — a form of autism — without medication, which he stopped taking when he was 16. “I’ve been looked at funny. Who cares?” he said. “I’m different. I’m a freak. Different is the new normal — if you’re not different, you’re not in.”