Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Lots of contestants on Season 12 of American Idol are back for a second shot at stardom on the show.

Chris Watson is a little different.

His first appearance on the show as way back in Season 7 when he sang Uncle Kracker’s “Follow Me” in front of the original Idol judges.

If you’re wondering, Simon Cowell said he looked like a star and had what could be an interesting recording voice.

And Chris sailed through to Hollywood with the unanimous approval of Simon, Paul Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Hollywood was the end of the road for Chris that season, but he’s now making his living through music, according to his Season 12 Road to Hollywood video.

On Facebook, he identifies himself as a singer-songwriter.

Probe a little and you’ll discover that he won a Battle of the Bands competition last year and performed at Central Park in New York in July as part of a “Rock for Homelessness” benefit show.

Now 25 and hailing from Dover, Del., Chris says he was inspired to sing by an Aunt Julie who died about 10 years ago.

In fact, he still wears a bracelet she gave him nearly every day, and especially when he performs.

“It helps remind me, even when I don’t believe in myself, there’s people that still believe in me.”

So far, the Idol editing hasn’t been very kind to Chris in Season 12. We didn’t see his audition or his solo performance in Hollywood.

We did see Chris and the rest of the B Sides try to sing “Payphone” during the group round in a performance complete with forgotten lyrics and off-key harmonies. Let’s just say it wasn’t worthy of the B side of anything.

But all four singers advanced to the final day, which leaves you to believe Chris must have been impressive in his other performances.

He says, in a sense, he already considers himself an American Idol because he gets up every morning and does music for a living.

“To me, that’s what being an American Idol is all about — just going after whatever it is you want to do.”

No indication as to whether he’s toned down his aspirations from Season 7.

“I want to be a legend,” he said at the time. “I want to sell more records after I’m dead and gone than when I’m alive.”

Here are two of Chris’ performances, followed by that Season 7 audition. For more, head here.

“One Identity”

“Still”

“Follow Me” (Season 7 audition)