NOT that long ago, Kingston's Ryan Malcolm wanted everyone to know he was the Canadian Idol.
Now he wants everyone to know him by his name.
Malcolm gets a real crack at the dodgy transition to celebrity-worthy crooner from reality show survivor when his first solo album, Home, hits stores on Tuesday.
The disc -- one of the perks Malcolm won after beating 15,000 contestants in CTV's star-search series -- will hopefully put to rest the nagging doubt that's been a thorn in his side since winning Canadian Idol. Namely, everyone asking him, "now what?"
RANDY BACHMAN
The album, produced by a team of eight industry heavyweights, including Guess Who songwriter Randy Bachman and Dan Hill, has Malcolm thrilled with the results
"The album's phenomenal," Malcolm says over the phone from Toronto. "It says I'm here to stay. I just didn't win a contest but I'm legitimately here forever.
"It's totally intimidating when Randy Bachman asks you what you want to write," he admits. "But it's great when the results come in."
And so far, those results sound promising. He's already scored Top-10 chart action twice on Canadian radio with singles Something More and Star of all the Planet. Then, last month, sales of Something More edged out American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson's Low to chart No. 1.
So far so good. CTV and BMG have been giving the 24-year-old the big promotional push. His face is everywhere, it seems.
"I kind of feel like a celebrity," says Malcolm, who will sing the national anthem at Sunday's Ottawa 67's game. "I feel like someone a lot of people know and can connect to and look up to. I've earned that. Show business is a hard business. I've worked hard for 12 years to get where I am today and hopefully I'll be around for another 12 years. I've earned this."
'MALCOLMANIACS'
He thinks so, as do hundred of thousands of "Malcolmaniacs," who rallied behind him throughout the gruelling 16-week competition.
Even so, selling Malcolm to the music press hasn't been nearly as easy.
"The critics want to play down the value of the music from Canadian Idol, which is fine, they have their opinions and it makes for good reading, but there's a reason why these guys aren't singers. They're just part of the job. I don't read the press.
"I don't want to live like a celebrity because most celebrities aren't that nice," he laughs. "I want to live like a Canadian. I'm just a guy from Kingston. I haven't changed that much. I'm a real people person."
Before next year's cross-Canada tour, Malcolm is going to represent Canada at the International Idol television special in London on Christmas Day, in which he'll square off against 11 other Idols for global supremacy.
On the broadcast, Malcolm will sing He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.
"It's going to be a lot of fun, just like being back on the show, which I loved doing. I think I'll hold my own and make Canada proud on a world stage. Everyone loves Canada."
