
Iam Tongi reacts to the judges’ feedback following the opening round of performances on American Idol. (ABC Photo)
Iam Tongi pursued music because it was his favorite way of bonding with his late father.
In fact, his YouTube channel features more than a half dozen videos of him covering songs with his dad.
One of those, a cover of Islands in the Stream, has more than 1.2 million views.
Rodney Guy Tongi died in December 2022. But he’s smiling tonight.
Iam just became the 21st winner of American Idol, besting Colin Stough and Megan Danielle in the show’s three-hour season finale.
Iam’s Idol run began with a song dedicated to his father, James Blunt’s “Monsters.”
It’s a song introduced to Iam by his uncle Manatau, the relative who accompanied him to his American Idol audition.
When he first heard the song, Iam said he liked it, but didn’t really “relate to it.”
Then his dad went to the hospital with kidney failure. He heard the song again. “Man, it just hit me,” he recalled in an interview with The Coconet TV.
This time, not only did he learn it, he made sure his dad heard his rendition before passing away.
At his Idol audition, Iam’s emotional rendition of “Monsters” — performed while playing a guitar given him by his dad — made a more immediate connection.
It had Idol judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan in tears.
And when it aired, fans reacted too. The YouTube video has been played 16 million times, far more than any other American Idol performance from Season 21.
That made Iam an early front-runner on the show. And he continued the momentum with memorable performance of “Sound of Silence,” “Stuck on You” and “Bring It on Home to Me.”
But in spite of his dominance in terms of YouTube views and the wild reaction he got whenever he stepped on the Idol stage, Sunday’s show wasn’t without suspence.
Iam wound up in a two-man showdown with Colin Stough, who had comes on strong in recent weeks. He’s also a country singer.
And anyone who’s watched Idol for any length of time is well aware of voters’ preference for country guys who play guitar.
But Iam prevailed. And, fittingly, it came complete with a full-circle moment.
Iam got to perform “Monsters” with James Blunt during Sunday’s finale.
And he got to sing his newly released new song, “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
That’s Iam’s official American Idol winner’s single. It landed Friday and soared up the Apple Music charts, hitting number one on the rock chart and — even more impressively — reaching number 6 on the Top 200.
It’s also dedicated to his father, Rodney. Just listen to the lyrics, and you’ll understand.
Related Posts
-
January 29, 2025 -
January 29, 2025 Will Moseley to drop acoustic single on Friday
-
January 29, 2025 Kayko, Idol Season 22 standout, releases 1st single of 2025
Leave a reply Cancel
The Voice Season 27 Profiles
The Voice Season 27 Profiles
Darius J.
Dennis Lorenzo
Dimitrius Graham
Ethan Eckenroad
Fran
Hailey Wright
Iris Herrera
Jacquelyn George
Jaelen Johnston
Jay Ammo
Jayden Cree (Olesen)
Jessica Manalo
Lucia Flores-Wiseman
Naomi Soleil
Nell Simmons
Olivia Kuper Harris
Page Mackenzie
Ricardo Moreno
Robert Hunter
Simone Marijic
Tatum Scott
Tori Templet
Trevon Dawson
Featured Music
'Treasure' indeed
Laci Kaye Booth, Top 5 on American Idol Season 17, dropped her debut album Aug. 6. Her debut single, the ridiculously addictive "Treasure," heads to country radio in mid-September.
American Idol Season 19 Profiles
Archives
-
Conor James, Jacquelyn George, BDII sparkle on The Voice
February 18, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
A look at where the teams stand on The Voice
February 17, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Meet Tinika Wyatt of The Voice Season 27
February 14, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Meet Barry Jean Fontenot of The Voice Season 27
February 13, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Meet Divighn of The Voice Season 27
February 13, 2025 By Mark Franklin
-
Song by song grades for the Top 8 on American Idol
April 29, 2024 By Mark Franklin -
Iam Tongi scores an Apple Music hit for American Idol
May 19, 2023 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for the Top 12 on The Voice
December 4, 2023 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for the Top 14 on American Idol
April 21, 2024 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for American Idol’s Top 24, Group 2
April 8, 2024 By Mark Franklin
-
-
We haven’t heard the last from David Archuleta
February 21, 2011 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Hollie Cavanagh
January 30, 2012 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Jessica Sanchez
February 5, 2012 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Phillip Phillips
January 19, 2012 By Mark Franklin
Post-Voice Music
Recent Voice Views Interviews
-
Conor James, Jacquelyn George, BDII sparkle on The Voice
February 18, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
A look at where the teams stand on The Voice
February 17, 2025 By Mark Franklin -
Meet Tinika Wyatt of The Voice Season 27
February 14, 2025 By Mark Franklin
-
Song by song grades for the Top 8 on American Idol
April 29, 2024 By Mark Franklin -
Iam Tongi scores an Apple Music hit for American Idol
May 19, 2023 By Mark Franklin -
Song by song grades for the Top 12 on The Voice
December 4, 2023 By Mark Franklin
-
-
We haven’t heard the last from David Archuleta
February 21, 2011 By Mark Franklin -
Meet American Idol contestant Hollie Cavanagh
January 30, 2012 By Mark Franklin
Post-American Idol Music
Featured Music
'Treasure' indeed
Laci Kaye Booth, Top 5 on American Idol Season 17, dropped her debut album Aug. 6. Her debut single, the ridiculously addictive "Treasure," heads to country radio in mid-September.
1 Comment
IAM TONGI, his ʻOHANA, and the KAHUKU COMMUNITY that raised him, deserves all the recognition for this incredible feat. From the very first audition, he struck a cord, then the obsession began. Every single performance was top notch. All the best to him, his mother Lillie, and his Uncle Manatau for all their efforts. I am beaming with pride as I watch and witness history from afar, in Japan. Aloha nui!!!