Jason Castro said goodbye to American Idol Wednesday but it was bittersweet. In a conference call the following day, he told reporters that he was relieved to be going home because the pressure was off. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t trying — or that he mouthed the words “don’t vote” after his first song — as some have speculated. Castro, who turned 21 on the show, talked about those rumors, what it feels like to be under a microscope and his plans for the future.
Some people thought you forgot the words to Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” on purpose. Did you?
I definitely did not do that on purpose. I could not believe I forgot such a popular line. Something that’s like written in your soul. Somehow it slipped my mind, but I definitely did not do that on purpose.
Some conspiracy theories think that on Tuesday night you mouthed the words “Don’t vote” after your first song while Ryan was announcing the numbers. What did you actually say?
I was saying “vote” and then I said it again because I was trying to emphasize that but nobody heard me and I remember going and sitting down and thinking about it that they kind of have the same syllables and its going to look like “don’t vote.”
So you still wanted to win as of Tuesday?
As of [Tuesday] I wanted to win, and the day before. I think what it came down do was just my inexperience. Once we doubled up on songs I wasn’t really being able to focus. My mind was just split. I just couldn’t deliver either/or so I think that’s what it came down to.
When did you start playing music?
I started playing guitar in my freshman year of college [and] singing shortly there after. While I was learning, I was teaching myself so I would learn songs but I would never learn them all the way through. I never even learned a song all the way through, so trying to learn two in a week has just been tough.
Were you relieved at all when you heard that you were eliminated?
I was as happy last night as I was when I found out I made top 24. This whole time, I’ve had a blast and I was trying, but it’s just really been hard … I was really starting to fear the week ahead. If I made it, how am I going to do three songs? I can’t even do two right and with the hometown visits, it was going to be a lot of work even though it would have been so much fun. I was just freaking out about it. So that was all building up and so I was ready to go either way. When they [announced my elimination], my natural reaction was I just really felt relieved. The pressure was off … I would have liked to go farther, but I don’t think I could handle it.
Were you at all aware how your every move was being analyzed? If you were yawning backstage people were writing that you were bored and didn’t want to be there.
I heard about the yawn. The people that told me thought it was funny. I didn’t hear anything negative about it. I really don’t read anything — like anything you all are probably about to write. But no, I wasn’t bored. I am a chronic yawner.
At times it seemed like that you were a bit uncomfortable with some aspects of being famous. Have you enjoyed the experience?
It’s kind of a weird thing. I don’t really get it yet. I’ve never been a guy to be star struck or anything so it kind of takes me off guard when people are so crazy. But it’s cool. It means they like you so it’s flattering.
What do you hope to do next?
After the tour, I’m looking forward to that, that’s just going to be a blast. Then, I don’t know after that, wherever the music leads me. I just want to play some music somewhere.
Do you have a girlfriend?
I do right now.
In Texas?
She’s from Texas. She’s back in Texas now. She just finished school. She’s headed home.
F Micelotta/American Idol 2008/Getty Images
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