Back on Oct. 12, Lee DeWyze posted to Twitter that he was releasing a different song for his debut single than the one that had been announced. USA Today‘s Brian Mansfield reported that, instead of going with the title track to the new album “Live It Up,” Lee DeWyze and his record label made a switch to “Sweet Serendipity.”
“Hey, guys there is change of plans with the single,” he posted. “We’re holding off on Live It Up and going to go with one no one has heard.”
It is as yet unclear why the switch was made.
DeWyze debuted the new single on Ryan Seacrest’s Los Angeles radio show “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” (KIIS-FM) on Oct. 13. After limited airplay, the song was made available to adult contemporary stations on Oct. 25 and was available for download on Oct. 26, five months to the day he was voted the American Idol Season 9 winner over assumed frontrunner Crystal Bowersox.
DeWyze, a paint store salesperson from Illinois, went the dark horse route to victory on American Idol, remaining the quiet, unassuming artist throughout. Much like Season 8’s Kris Allen, he simply sang his songs and stayed out of the elimination groups each week. By the time he had reached the Top 6, he was a contender. Although many assumed Bowersox might win the competition because of her seeming vocal dominance and stage presence, Lee DeWyze, helped along by strong performances and his American Idol colleagues pitching him as the worrying worker amongst them, found himself in the finale. And even with a relatively lackluster showing on his last night, the 24-year-old had won over the majority of American Idol voters and walked away the winner.
On the subsequent American Idol Live Tour, he worked on songs for his first major label album. In fact, he co-wrote “Sweet Serendipity” and nine of the remaining 10 songs on “Live It Up.”
Other news of American Idol winners show a busy bunch. Kelly Clarkson, who is putting the finishing touches on her new album, has been invited to sing at the third game of the 2010 World Series. Fantasia is still charting with her latest album, as is Carrie Underwood, who will co-host the Academy of Country Music Awards in mid-November. Kris Allen recently opened up for Lifehouse and announced he was eager to get back into the studio to begin work on his second album.
Lee DeWyze’s first major label album, “Live It Up,” drops on Nov. 16.
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Sources:
“Lee DeWyze makes serendipitous single switch,” USAToday.com
