John Oates surprised fans and judges alike when he was revealed as the "Anteater" on the hit show ‘The Masked Singer’ last Wednesday night. Oates, who performed "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers and "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" by Big & Rich, said that his appearance on the show was part of his attempt to move forward beyond his partnership with Daryl Hall, which has been strained by a legal dispute.
Oates told EW that he wanted to do something different where he could sing and not have his voice and his personality connected to his past, which he is trying to leave behind. "I'm really at this point now in my life, I'm really making an effort to kind of leave my past in the past and move forward," he said.
Oates did not directly address the suit filed by Hall over Oates attempting to sell his part of their business partnership, which includes the rights to their songs and trademarks. However, he was asked if he could see being on stage with Hall ever again, and he did not rule out the possibility. "Oh, you know what, I never say never to anything. I don't know what's going to happen, but I just want, right now, I'm focused on where I am in life and leading the best life I can and moving forward," he said.
Oates is also moving forward with his solo career, as he is released a new single last Friday titled "Get Your Smile On". The upbeat song, which features a guest appearance by rapper Kool Keith, is a departure from Oates' previous solo work, which was mostly influenced by Americana and folk music. Oates said that he wanted to create a song that would make people happy and optimistic in these challenging times. The proceeds from the single will go to Teen Cancer America, a charity that supports young people with cancer.
Oates said that he enjoyed his experience on The Masked Singer, and that he was glad to share his voice and his story with a new audience. He also praised the other contestants and the judges and said that he had a lot of fun dressing up as the "Anteater". He said that he chose the costume because he liked the idea of being a "cute and cuddly" animal that could also be "fierce and ferocious". He also revealed that he had a secret clue on his costume: a guitar pick with the initials "J.O." on it.
Oates said that he hopes that his fans will support his solo endeavors, and that he is grateful for their loyalty and love. He also said that he has no regrets about his past, and that he is looking forward to the future. "I'm very proud of what I've done with Daryl, and I'm very proud of what I'm doing now. I think it's all part of the journey, and I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as I can," he said.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]