http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662099/paul-mcdonald-american-idol-conference-call.jhtml
Typically, after leaving “Idol,” the contestants say they have no regrets about the songs they picked on the show, but, again, McDonald was different than most finalists. “Some of the song choices that I did weren’t probably the best ones for me,” he said, without elaborating on which ones he was uncomfortable with or who suggested he sing them. And though he didn’t even expect to get as far as he did in the competition, McDonald lamented listening to the advice of others when his first inclination was to stick to his guns. “I wish I had done some more of these obscure artists, more of the vibe of music that I’m into ... because it came across onstage. ... I didn’t feel comfortable a whole lot of the time up there because I felt like it wasn’t me all the time.”
“My main goal is just to make music that lasts and people enjoy,” he said, mentioning acts such as Mumford & Sons, the Black Keys and Ray LaMontagne as contemporary bands he’s into.
I enjoy the artists he mentions and thought all along he would do better with obscure because his voice is unique. I also thought he could have done one or two of The Avett Brothers songs. Don’t know how those would fit into the theme nights tho.