CTV.ca | Mark Day says Canadian Idol made him a better person

Mark Day gives his final performance on the Canadian Idol stage as a competitor after being eliminated on the Top 7 Results Show.

Mark reacts to the news he's been eliminated from Canadian Idol.

Mark was always posing for the camera.

Mark, pictured here modelling his new Canadian Idol robe in the mansion, says the experience of being on the show has made him a better person.

Mark Day says Canadian Idol made him a better person

Updated Tue. Aug. 12 2008 1:02 AM ET

Sheri Block, CTV.ca

Mark Day says being on Canadian Idol not only made him a better performer, but a better person.

"I feel much more humble now because seeing people leave who are phenomenal talents is crazy humbling and I feel privileged as a person to have been put into a situation like this and to have gotten myself this far, because the things I learned from Orin Isaacs and the band, from Debra Byrd and Mark Lalama, from all the other competitors, from the producers, from the crew, from the fans even, what I've learned is going to follow me around forever," said Mark, shortly after his elimination.

The 20-year-old student and Respite Care Worker from Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Nfld., was eliminated on the Top 7 Results show after his performance of "Bleeding Love" the previous night received the fewest number of votes.

"I feel really blessed, for sure," said Mark. "It's not a sad day. I wasn't ready to go home, I didn't want to go home this early but the six who are left are definitely phenomenally talented and I'm definitely privileged to have been in their company."

Mark said once he found out he was in the Bottom 3 alongside Theo Tams from Lethbridge, Alta., and Earl Stevenson from Lloydminster, Alta., he knew it would be him going home.

"I actually turned to them on the commercial break and I told them I'd see them in the finale and that's not to look for pity, it wasn't for them to say, 'No, you're going to be safe.' I respect both of them so much as artists and I've learned so much from both of them, maybe even more so than everyone else because both of them truly do understand who they are as artists, so to be standing next to them in the Bottom 3 was definitely weird because I didn't think they belonged there but to be honest, no one else deserved to be there."

When Mark first started off in the Top 24 the judges gave mixed reviews on his vocals, song choices and performance style, but in recent weeks they had told him he had been performing with more ease on stage, had stronger vocals and gave his most grown-up performance of the competition yet with "Bleeding Love."

"It definitely feels good to leave on a high. I'm very proud of my performance this past week and in the Top 24, I was still trying to find myself, I didn't fully know. I was picking very awkward songs, but once the Top 10 started and the themes started I really started to find out who I was. I appreciate the judges' comments but probably what I appreciate most is Zack having said to me, 'You'll never be in my CD player but you had a good vocal' because he was being honest and he was representing who he is ... all the judges have actually been very honest."

Mark said he's not sure what he's going to do next, but whatever it is it will involve music.

"I don't know whether I'll make a record, or if I'll be on stage or any kind of performing. Performing for people, no matter what the scale is, whether it's performing for seniors in a home or performing for kids at a daycare, whatever the venue, a performance is a performance and an audience is an audience and I just like to entertain so hopefully I'll be able to do that for the rest of my days."

He also wanted to give a shout out to all the fans that have supported him along his Idol journey.

"I definitely want to make sure that everybody out there knows that I appreciate their votes having gotten me this far but I'm not insulted to go home now. I'm very happy for the six who are still here and I'm looking forward to getting out there and meeting my fans and thanking them personally for all the support because it's definitely something to behold, seeing signs in the audience for me and fans have given me gifts in the autograph lines after the shows, that's something I'd never experienced before and it's something I'll remember forever."