'Idol' reject Hung gets record contract

[Tiger in Spain 0]

'Idol' reject Hung gets record contract

Engineering student's album to be released April 6

MSNBC.com

NEW YORK - Who needs “American Idol”? William Hung doesn’t — he already has a recording contract.

The singer, who became a fan favorite — but not a judges’ favorite — during open auditions for the Fox series with his spirited version of Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs,” has signed a deal with Fuse Music Network and Koch Records.

His debut album, tentatively titled “The True Idol,” is scheduled for release April 6, it was announced Monday. It will contain “She Bangs,” along with another Martin hit, “Shake Your Bon Bon,” and a cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” which Hung sang recently on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

And for those of you hankering for more Hung, the disc will include a 40-minute DVD with behind-the-scenes footage from his studio recording sessions and fan questions and answers.

“He may not be the next American Idol, but he is definitely a star and inspiration to everyone who sings in the shower,” said Marc Juris, president of Fuse, which will exclusively air his “She Bangs” video.

Koch Records general manager Alan Grunblatt was even more effusive: “He is the new Elvis!”

Hung, a 21-year-old Hong Kong native and civil engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley, has inspired fan clubs and Web sites that sing his praises.

[SouthLink02 8]

I hated him anyway

[rexbo 104]

Hung reminds me of some other people in the limelight, out there singing or talking, thinking they are really talented or smart, but they are like the only one in the world that doesn't get the joke, everyone else is just laughing and laughing at them; kind of like, John Kerry...

[Rockthecasbah6 0]

I have mixed feelings about this one. I think this CD will be a good laugh, but it is not fair to those who actually have talent who bust their butts and can't get a recording contract.