Phillip Phillips may be the fifth "White Guy With a Guitar" to win "American Idol," but the 21-year-old from Georgia may be the first "WGWG" to have a radio-friendly coronation single.
"Home" is a Mumford & Sons-esque track that's bolstered by an Americana folk and pop rock vibe. It might even be prove to be one of the summer's most popular songs.
That said, the commercial track's impending popularity isn't sitting all that well with the newly crowned "American Idol." I don’t write songs like that,” he told The Hollywood Reporter after his "American Idol" win. “It’s a very good song and I’m glad people enjoyed it, but I’m itching to do my own stuff.”
Phillips may not be thrilled with the song -- "It's a little too pop for me," he told Rolling Stone -- but the fans already love it. "Home" is currently No. 1 on the iTunes chart, and it's even a critical darling of sorts.
"I’m not sure how it happened, but for the first time in 'Idol' history, one of the show’s finalists got assigned a song that not only fit his voice like champagne and orange juice fit 11 a.m. on a Sunday, but also sounded like something he could take to modern radio without carrying an 'I’m sorry' Edible Arrangement in his other arm," wrote TVLine's Michael Slezak.
Spin agreed, writing, "Phillips' coronation song, 'Home,' which is credited with giving him the edge in the final showdown, is shockingly good -- especially for an 'Idol' coronation song, which have a tendency to be horrifyingly embarrassing."
Considering that "Home" sounds like a B-side track off Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto, Phillips should try reveling in his success before working on that next single.
But Phillips doesn't have much time for festering. The "Idol" winner will have to undergo surgery in the upcoming weeks, while also preparing for the Idol summer tour.
How does "Home" stack up against the previous Idols' coronation singles? Take a listen below and let us know in the comments.
