Josh Krajcik: Mission Accomplished

  • Denice Rovira Hazlett
  • December 23, 2011
  • 348
                        
Summary: For Wooster's resident rock star, The X Factor journey has come to an end, but the Josh Krajcik train is just leaving the station. Eight months of working, wishing and waiting culminated on The X Factor stage on Thursday, Dec. 22 for Wooster's Josh Krajcik, his family, and the dedicated fans worldwide who've supported him. He'd begun the whirlwind as a burly burrito boy living in Columbus, OH., trying desperately to make ends meet while struggling to become known as a musician. He and his biggest fan, frenetic mom Lisa Pim, had driven to the audition on a dreary April day, waiting in the freezing rain for a chance to be heard by Simon Cowell and his team of judges. For months, until the show's premiere in late September, the family had to keep quiet the news that the judges had not only said "yes" to Krajcik, to his soulful voice and larger-than-life stage presence, but that he had "blown away" Cowell, who'd never expected to be surprised by a competitor like Krajcik surprised him. "When we started this thing in Chicago in April, it was for Simon to hear him sing," said Pim from Los Angeles after Thursday night's season finale. "I wanted someone to listen to him. I wanted to share his gift." And that, said Pim, is a mission accomplished, and then some. Because, in this case, second place is the best place. And that's precisely where Krajcik solidly landed on Thursday night, graciously acknowledging the first-place victory of the vocally dynamic Melanie Amaro, live, in front of millions of viewers worldwide, demonstrating the kind of class the world has come to know from the humble midwestern man with a killer set of pipes. It might sound like sour grapes, but the truth is, many contestants of singing competitions find a vast amount of relief and creative freedom once they've narrowly missed the first-place mark. It's not a lose, by any stretch. On the contrary, second place is a coveted title which comes with all of the exposure, opportunity and possibilities of first place, but without the restrictions of the first-place contract. All runners-up of the first ten seasons of American Idol, for example, have signed record deals with major labels. Labels of their own choosing. And for an inimitable artist like Krajcik, who has insisting on doing his own thing since he plunked the very first notes on a piano as a young child, that's as good as sitting in the catbird seat. "I wanted him to instantly not have to worry about money," admitted Pim, referring to the $5 million that accompanied the first-place spot, "but Joshua wants lots of input in what he does, and this way, he has that. For the rest of his life, he's going to be doing what he loves. He'll be able to make the albums he wants to create, albums that will be off the charts." For faithful fans like Wooster's Amanda White Parkinson, that's exactly what's expected. "His new life is beginning, and I can't wait to be entertained by him for years to come," said Parkinson. "First album, platinum, I just know it." Now, Lisa Pim said, she just wants to come home. "I've been here for two months. I want my life back." Pim said she and Krajcik are incredibly grateful for the hometown support they've received. "I hope people leave their signs up so I can see them all," said Pim. "I can never even begin to repay the wonderful things people have done for us." Now that The X Factor's wild ride is over, Pim said, it's time to board the Josh Krajcik train. "We won!" she declared. "He's very, very happy. He didn't get first place, but he won. The world has taken notice, and it's absolutely divine."


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