Anoop Desai – American Idol Extra – VIDEO

My American Idol.

ANOOP DESAI FOREVER!!! WE LOVE YOY NOOP DOGG!! U ARE THE BEST!! GOOD LUCK IN UR FUTURE CARREER..WE KNOW U CAN DO IT! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!

peace out!

ANOOP DESAI FOREVER!!! WE LOVE YOU NOOP DOGG!! U ARE THE BEST!! GOOD LUCK IN UR FUTURE CARREER..WE KNOW U CAN DO IT! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!

peace out!

Definitely MY American Idol too.. really sad to see him leave and I think he should’ve stayed for another 1-2 weeks.
Nevertheless, all the best for the future and I look forward to buying your album Anoop!

Been an Anoop fan since Day 1, and will always be his fan for the days to come. ..

Anoop, thank you for the beautiful songs, thank you for making me smile. You are the reason why Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m watching AI this season. It did hurt inside knowing that you didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t make it to Top 5, but I know that this will not be the end of road for you. Every end of dawn is the beginning of dusk. Just like the song you sang – I see your true colors, shining through, and thats why I love you. So don’t be afraid to let them show, your true colors …

Keep shining and keep smiling always! Good luck Noop Dogg!

Anoop, you are a classy guy, and will make the perfect role model for the youth in this country. I hope Team Obama will take notice and ask you to get involved in anyway you can get involved with. Will wait for your album, good luck, never stop in chasing your dreams. You can make it BIG, you have what it takes! Adam is another classy guy who brings out the same kind of passion we have for you, and hopefully this season title will be his.

IMO, the only good news about Anoop being voted off is I shudder to think what Simon and the other ai ptb would have done to Anoop next week in order to get rid of him.

Best of luck Anoop. I am sorry that you were my early favorite, thereby ensuring that you would leave somewhere between 6-7.

Wow. That was sad. I’m disappointed too, Anoop.

Thanks for posting the videos, mj.

This guy is a class act all the way. He wasn’t some pageant contestant, groomed from a young age to come across glossy and prepackaged on TV. He was just a real guy with a great voice going for his dream. I adore his honesty and candor.

Good luck, Anoop!

IMO, the only good news about Anoop being voted off is I shudder to think what Simon and the other ai ptb would have done to Anoop next week in order to get rid of him.

There is that, too. Now he can get on with what he wants to do, and I wish him nothing but the very best.ur

edit: please don’t school your fellow posters

Anoop is a smart guy, and he has no illusions about his position (he calls it an “opportunity”). He’s a gentleman. I have no doubt he will do well in life.

Why did Jillian assume Anoop plays sitar? He was born in North Carolina!!!!!!!!!

Anoop has been a class act from beginning to end. I was sad to see him go last night, but it sounds like he is handling it with his usual good humor and grace.

Anoop, you are class with a capital C. Good on you that you took a simple extracurricular activity like singing in your school choral group and catapulted with it all the way the national exposure on so huge a platform as AI. That’s a true testament to your talent. I’ll miss your sweet vocals each week — I’m so sad I no longer have a Dawg in this fight! Best of luck.

I thought he was kareoke and he hasn’t shown any star potential or career potential yet that I can see. I especially don’t think there was a plot to get rid of him. Actually I think he was lucky to be in the top 13 and he was very lucky to stay well beyond his time. Only because the others who went before him were even less compelling and because he’s a nice-looking, likable guy, did he stay that long, not because of artistic talent imo. That doesn’t make me a hater, just someone frustrated by the overall lack of talent this season, the poor choices the judges made in picking the contestants, the better talent they overlooked in the process, and seeing contestants overrated beyond what they are actually doing on the stage. ymmv.

edit: please don’t take the bait.

Anoop!! You have always been amazing and you will continue to be.
I was really disappointed last night because I felt that you definitely deserved to be in the top 5, but I guess TPTB has some other agenda. I only wish that the judges had taken some time to say a few kind words to you yesterday after the elimination. But you handled it with class and grace and I’m 100% sure that you will be successful in whatever field you choose to pursue. I hope you break out and become a HUGE star in a magnitude that’s even bigger than Daugherty or J. Hudson.
With lots of love and the best of wishes.
Your Fans Forever.

I’m going to miss Anoop and his parents.

Awwwww i’m sad to see Anoop go, I thought he was great and I think he would have done well with the theme next week.
I really hope we hear more from him after Idol he has a lovely voice, not at all overrated.

He has a nice voice, but doesn’t seem to know what to do with it. I don’t think he knows who he is as an artist or what he wants to do with his nice voice. When he tries to imitate a r&b artist and grabs his crotch, ick, it just doesn’t ring true. It’s not the voice that is the problem.

Reminder:

Posters who become nasty and defensive will be moderated.

still sad that anoop had to go =(, top 5 could have been his.
I stopped watching AI after season 2 when ruben won, and i remember the first time i saw anoop, I was studying and for some reason i went online to watch the Kansas audition and nothing really special so i wasn’t really paying attention, i was paying more attention to my books and then as soon i heard anoop’s voice i looked up at my screen and i just dropped my draw.. i kept replaying his audition.. and since then i been hooked to his voice. Everytime he opened his mouth to sing it just brought me back to how R&B used to be in the 90′s. Well hopefully this is the beginning of his career cuz i would love to hear more of him. and btw dim all the lights studio version sounds like it could be on the radio.

I think Anoop had a very good run. I think he left on a good note, and is a very likable guy. He’s also got a very big loyal fan base. Reminds me a lot of Jason Castro. And I think that will take him far, and he’ll get a deal like Jason out of this. (Yes, I know that if his fan base was that big he’d still be in the competition. But I think that there are a lot of casual viewers that change favorites/votes frequently thus having a big impact especially at this level of the game. Yet, these voters are done with you once the show is over. Moving on. Anoop would rather have the fanatic, loyal smaller one – although they got him pretty darn far – than the fleeting one. Such as what I’m thinking Allison has for the most part)

Initially, in the beginning, like maybe the first 5 minutes before I discovered Adam, Anoop was my fav and I still like him a lot but like some others in this years cast of characters, he had the misfortune of being on in a year of superb talent and more to the point, in a year with Adam Lambert. because even if Adam loses, he overshadowed everyone and its awfully hard to shine when that happens.

Good luck Anoop, hope you do well.

Thank you mj for posting these videos. Looking back, the Clef Hangers videos you posted back in January or February were my first introduction to the beautiful voice that is Anoop Desai. And I don’t think I had thanked you for that. Thank you. You are my hero.

I am grateful that Anoop made the decision to share his incredible voice with the whole world. Although it may have seem very difficult at times, I believe that reaching out to the much wider audience was indeed the right decision for him as an artist as well as a human being. I believe that the postive mark he was going to make in this world regardless is now bigger and greater because of his decision to share his voice with the world.

I didn’t expect this but I’m sad to see him go too. I think they had a top 13 to make him their punching bag.

Good luck, Anoop. You don’t need to depend on music to be successful.

I love that Ace is not a Kara fan. “She didn’t like it because she didn’t write it.” Heh.

I’m disappointed that Anoop didn’t get the Top 5 spot he rightfully earned based on America’s votes – would love to have two more downloads next week. I hope that he does try to depend on music to be successful. He’s barely 22, he has other stuff to fall back on if it doesn’t work out.

Anoop was such a wonderful surprise for me this year. As a Jason Castro fan, I didn’t think I would find another contestant with that special something. With Anoop, it was the most beautiful voice of the season.

Anoop, I am sad that you didn’t make it to the TOP 5 because you are definitely worthy of going further. I believe you will have many opportunities coming your way which will fulfill your dreams. I do see something in the International arena. Good luck with all you do!

Still feeling sad this morning…

Anoop was my JPL this year. In several seasons there has been a guy – starting with (and named for) Jon Peter and followed by Ace, Brandon, MJ and now Anoop – that caught my eye in the auditions. made it through to the finals and turned out to be not quite as good as I had hoped. Still love ‘em, though.

Anoop was one of my early favorites based based on auditions and that tiny Hollywood round snippet. He just reminds me a lot of guys I know, and seemed like a fun, smart, geeky-cool guy. His voice is really pretty, too– I just never felt a huge connection to his performances. Anyway, not sure what his future holds, but whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll be just fine. Seems like a really good guy.

I miss him already. I don’t think i’m going to get over it for a long while…

Anoop was my JPL this year. In several seasons there has been a guy – starting with (and named for) Jon Peter and followed by Ace, Brandon, MJ and now Anoop – that caught my eye in the auditions. made it through to the finals and turned out to be not quite as good as I had hoped. Still love à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹em, though.

You and I are sharing a brain, treefrog. That comparison between Anoop has also crossed my mind several times during this competition.

JPL was also an early favorite who ran out of steam earlier than expected. But since JPL left Idol, he’s developed a strong artistic identity and has put out some good music.

I’m sure Anoop will be able to do the same.

I am going to miss Anoop. He really is a classy gentleman. He thanked the band and the vocal coaches at the end. He has a strong educational background to him and that will take him far. Being 6th out of 100,000 is a great achievement. I really hope he does go far. I have watched AI since season 1 and had never become so invested in a contestant before, so I think there are great things ahead for him.

“Every new beginning comes from some others beginning end” Closing Time….I love this line..

You know, I’ve made some mental JPL comparisons with Anoop too. I think maybe my hopes were a little higher for Anoop based on his pre-Idol videos, but he didn’t adapt quickly enough to the Idol format and all its constraints.

I think his voice is right up there with people who are on the radio, it’s just a matter of whether someone gives him a chance or is willing to try to market the preppy Indian kid with the smooth voice in a genre that is, um, sort of lacking in preppy Indians. I think the tour will help him immensely with his stage performance – I hope someone is still paying attention when its all over.

Yes Anoop you will truly be missed by this fan.

In all the years I’ve watch this show you were the first contestant I truly bonded with. I’m pretty sure we will see you somewhere in the public eye over the next few years, maybe recording an album (heck, if Jason Castro can get a deal……..). It’s too bad TPTB had their little token ponies but you stayed your ground and left with your head held high.

Good luck to you and your family in the future!

What a classy exit, and he sang the song again much better too. Not really an Anoop fan, but I did appreciate the warm texture of his voice (that Adam pointed out) and he deserved to stay over Danny and Matt IMO.

I loved seeing Anoop. Glad I taped the show so I could watch it on a big screen. He’s such a sweet guy. I loved his voice and think he was under appreciated by tptb and the judges. He never seemed to get credit when he changed up a song like Kris and Adam did. I hope he gets the opportunities that I feel he deserves.

Anoop, you will be missed big time Such a class act. I don’t remember any contestant thank the band when they’re leaving. You’re awesome .

Why did Jillian assume Anoop plays sitar? He was born in North Carolina!!!!!!!!!

I guess for the same reason people kept clamoring on about hoping Anoop would sing something from Slumdog Millionaire LOL.

Anoop is no doubt a class act, and his parents are adorable.

I actually think Anoop’s talents are wasted in the entertainment industry. The moderate career success he can hope for as a 6th/7th place finisher just isn’t worth it. I envision Anoop’s career as the future corporate CEO who’s employees are all shocked to find out what a good singer he is after a few cocktails at the company Christmas party.

You’ve got a great voice Anoop. But, we need brains like yours in the business world

Sad to see Anoop leave the show. His were my only purchases from Itunes this season.

He’s a smart incredible guy and I think he will be a success in whatever career he chooses for himself.

Hey Anoop … just have fun on the tour this summer. I’m really bummed that it didn’t get booked into the Dean Dome !!

What SpenserJ said above.

Anoop is a class act, for sure.

It’s sad to see Anoop go, while there are a couple of people left not as good as him vocally. I would have loved to see him doing the Rat Pack theme, those songs just need a great voice, anything else.

He’ll be great in whatever he wants to do, because he’s intelligent and passionate.

If you go to Wikipedia and search under Notable List of Indian Americans, you won’t find one famous Indian American singer. Anoop was breaking a barrier of sorts and usually those who are first to kick down the door aren’t usually the ones who take first place. Anoop was an early favorite of mine and I was shocked when he didn’t make the Top 12. The only time I rejoiced in all these new rules is when Simon created a Top 13 on the spot. Race probably wasn’t a major factor but I do think it had some play in Anoop not making the Top 12.

But something went awry. The judges loved him but then they turned on him. Perhaps he wasn’t so cooperative in photo shoots where there are multiple takes (there was one group shot on the AI Official Site where all the contestants looked great except Anoop who was scowling). He just seems like the kind of guy who will only take so much senseless sh*t before speaking up. Perhaps he said something to Simon which really turned the tides.

I like Anoop, I voted for him, and will miss him. But don’t cry too hard for him. The guy has brains and I have faith he’ll be at the top of his game whatever he chooses to do.

Add me to the list of people who will dearly miss Anoop on this show….but I sincerely hope we don’t miss him for long! I need to hear more of that absolutely beautiful voice. His iTunes recordings have been top-notch and ready for the radio. He hooked me from his first audition, and honestly I haven’t been able to get attached to anyone else. To echo everyone else, he is a class act all the way. Kudos to his equally classy parents for raising a great guy. Haha, where are all the others like him?
Anyway, I’m still sad this morning, but I look forward to seeing him on tour. Have a blast Anoop and keep going after what you want, whatever that might be!

I really liked Anoop. Very classy and very talented =)

American Idol sunk to a new low this year with their disgusting treatment of Anoop. I’ll never watch American Idol again. I also blame the average American Idol voters for not having the good taste to vote for Anoop. Anoop is the best and he deserves only the best.

Anoop is already getting radio play and I know he will achieve great success in the real world music industry after American Idol. There are over 350 million people in the US alone, not to mention the rest of the world, and most of them never watch American Idol, but I think Anoop will appeal to a wider audience in the real world because Anoop is cool, exciting, and fresh.

I’m looking forward to buying Anoop’s music and going to his own concerts. As Anoop described the type of music he wants to make, with a Ne-Yo type influence, I’m sure I will love it.

Mixed emotions on Anoop leaving. The selfish part wanted him to stay longer so there would be more gorgeous vocals to download. Now, I’ll have to wait until he releases his first cd.

The “screw them” side is glad he’s no longer available as bait for snarky eyebrow comments and “it was your worst performance ever” lies.

I was upset last year when Michael Johns left too early (before Kristy Lee Cook? Really?) but it worked great for him – David Foster show, mini-tour of the Phillipines, Christmas single, record deal. He said he’s literally been on a plane every week since the tour ended and Anoop had 2 more weeks of Idol than Johns.

So, Anoop Dawg – if music is what you want, follow Michael’s lead and use the extra month off to jump start your career. And, make the concert tour your own. Maybe a Matt and Anoop version of the Mavid?

“but it sounds like he is handling it with his usual good humor and grace.”

I believe that if he HAD shown this side of himself to the public he would still be there, he did not have good humor or grace while on the show but this side of him is much nicer.

My Dear Anoop – You will be greatly missed by all your fans from around the world….WE MISS YOU ALREADY!!!!! COME BACK!!!!!!!!!!! *ahem* Ok ok…get a grip of yourself girl….

Anoop, everyone is in agreement your exit was one of the classiest and most graceful exits in AI history. I would just like to take this moment to thank you for gracing us with your smooth soulful vocals week after week and finally having a sexy, scruffy and SMOKING makeover at the last minute! HAha…it may be late…but better late than never.

STILL LOVIN AND SUPPORTING YOU ANOOP!!!!! :clap_tb: :king_tb: :wub_tb:

Nobody’s close to Adam’s talent, but Anoop was a really, REALLY good ballad singer, and out of the guys itunes this week..(other than Adams) Anoops is by far the best… I wish he would’ve stayed…

Adam

Danny/Matt
Anoop

that would be my top three.. sometimes I really like Matt, sometimes I don’t…

Adam’s just the best.

American Idol sunk to a new low this year with their disgusting treatment of Anoop. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll never watch American Idol again. I also blame the average American Idol voters for not having the good taste to vote for Anoop. Anoop is the best and he deserves only the best.

QCloud9: I am with you on this, like many of his disappointed fans. Given how astute Anoop is, it is not surprising that he was in many ways forced to exit even if through a conniving totally self-indulgent process of flanking him through the use of the SAVE power for an inferior contestant. I am glad my kids get their lessons on (anti)-bullying tactics early on so they can stand up to such as they step out into the real world.

However, the reality is he has left. I truly believe he will have a staying power and success beyond TPTB’s belief and wish.

As much as they would rather prefer working w/people that they will listen to them all the way on their record deal, I would like to see Adam win this. So far, he has played his cards very well and can see a very orchestrated game plan beneath all of his charming smile. For this reason alone, I hope he wins this season and not the very average grandma gokey (for some reason danny reminds me of only the nanny mrs.doubtfire?) or even the above average good natured Kris, both of whom I can see work very well with the AI machines. Given Allison’s young age, certainly do not ant her to win this thing as like Archie, she will be no more than an AI toy they can manipulate to their will.

why does anoop remind me of tiger woods?

I miss Anoop already….He was my only favorite this season.

Can’t wait for the album

mj, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean my earlier comment to be baiting, and I’m sorry it was.

I actually think the judges were quite fair to Anoop most of the time, but the problem was that they tend to go overboard in giving undue praise to others and made him look like a big loser in comparison. I felt like Anoop had to work really hard for whatever lukewarm praise he got while the judges try to make Matt happen, make Gokey happen, even when they sort of sucked. He never got the benefit of any hyperbole, so I think he did very well to make it to 6th place.

He went out on a pretty good note, but he should have made Top 5 based on the votes and that’s got to sting a little. It will be interesting to see if anyone asks him about that during the press tour. I’m already seeing “now the real competition begins” stuff turning up in various places.

I have a feeling that his prospects will end up being like those of other mid-level finishers – hosting Idol related shows, touring with other Idol also-rans, etc. I can’t see Anoop doing that stuff – he might be more of a record deal with a label or bust kind of guy, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s back in grad school within a year or two. I hope he records something along the way.

Hey, no offense to Anoop or his fans, but I don’t think of him as comparable to Jason Castro. For me, I loved Jason because I loved not only his mellow vibe, but the kind of music he chose. He’s not into r&b. Anoop is. They are totally different kinds of artists, imo. I don’t like r&b, I do love the kind of mellow folk that Jason likes, so Jason is an artist I’ll follow.

I suppose there are other ways they are alike but I’m not sure what they are. Jason was very mellow whereas Anoop showed a tendency to have a temper and take it hard when he was in the bottom 3 or didn’t get the comments he thought the deserved, whereas Jason laughed it off. Jason’s a rastafarian reggae Jack-Johnson kind of guy, while Anoop’s into Usher and he’s a preppie (and did someone suggest that he’s a business major? a future CEO? I can’t see Jason as a ceo, lol.)

So I don’t see the similarities but I respect that others may. And I guess to me if Anoop would go back to school and become a CEO, that wouldn’t indicate an artist with a 100% commitment to making music. CEO doesn’t equal musician, to me. yes I’m biased against corporations and CEOs. I’m into artists, that’s just me.

I have a feeling that his prospects will end up being like those of other mid-level finishers – hosting Idol related shows, touring with other Idol also-rans, etc. I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t see Anoop doing that stuff – he might be more of a record deal with a label or bust kind of guy, so I wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be surprised if heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s back in grad school within a year or two. I hope he records something along the way.

hey cheese, i fear that will happen to Anoop. Last thing he needs now is to become a has-been. Someone needs to pull Anoop aside and tell him that his best bet is to start a group – a boyband. He will do FANTASTIC fronting a band of say 3 – 4, singing R&B, pop, soul and ending up exactly like Boyz to Men, doing some acapella along the way.

Are there any producers or agents in here? Can someone tell Anoop that once that happens, i take credit for that idea? LOL…. Love ya Anoop. :thumbup_tb:

Anoop is my favourite this season. Love his voice and personality.

He can take solace that he was really 5th, and the last wildcard standing (Matt you stole his 5th place dude!).

Like others have said, I don’t think he showed us all he was capable of, but I think that is down to not adjusting to Idol as quickly as he needed to and not having the training or experience of all the others. He’d never had a singing lesson before Idol.

I also think his drive for perfection held him back from connecting with the audience as much as he could have. He seems to set very high standards for himself and gives himself a hard time which did sometimes not come across that well. However, this trait will hold him in good stead for anything else he wants to do in life.

Thought his exit was extremely classy. I’m just gutted he has to share his “moment” in the press with Lil! Bummer.

Good luck Anoop!

why does anoop remind me of tiger woods?

Hee! Because he does. I’ve thought that for a while now, too.

From EW Popwatch:

Simon was the first on stage to shake Anoop’s hand.

Honestly I think that Simon was the first person to rush on stage to shake his hand is because he was so excited that Anoop was finally eliminated. I thought that Simon had a lot of disdain for Anoop, and is glad that he is off the show. I agree with a few other posters on this thread, who are upset and disgusted with the way that TPTB treated Anoop this season. He deserved better than the way they treated him IMHO.

I love Anoop and he is definitely my favorite contestant this year. I have connected with other contestants in the past like Daughtry and David Cook and I loved and rooted for those guys. But Anoop is the contestant that I love the most out of all the seasons of Idol and the contestant that I connect the most with out of all the seasons. I think that he is very special. I think that he is a very classy, intelligent, sweet and handsome man.

I hope that he is very successful at whatever he ends up doing. I would love to see him follow his dreams of singing, and achieve those dreams. I also think if that didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t work out he could have a job in the entertainment field as a celebrity/entertainment journalist/reporter or the host of a show but not Idol tonight. I saw that some people would mention that he could be a politician which I think could be interesting if he went in that field. Or maybe even acting.

But whatever he chooses to do I hope that he succeeds and is happy. I would like to see him do something where he could interact with the public and be well-known, because I would love to see him connecting with people on a public level and in the public spotlight. I don’t want after he is completely done with Idol to be the last time I hear of him.

I think the show treated him poorly, but I think he’ll come out better in the end. You’d be surprised what you can survive sometimes.

I think for me it comes down to this – it’s a singing competition, not a competition for who is the nicest person, the most intelligent, etc. It does sound like singing isn’t his passion or his first interest, so whatever, I hope he does well in whatever is his passion, be it politics or business. But in a singing competition you’re judged on singing and performing and having an artistic vision.

I do agree that he was amateurish and inexperienced. But when you want to play in the big leagues you have to step up your game and not rely on excuses. If he’s serious about music, he’ll strive to improve and grow as an artist now that he’s had this invaluable experience.

I don’t know why he irritates me so. Maybe because I never for one week thought he was good. I did think he was nice-looking, seemed intelligent and a nice person, but as far as performing and potentially being a successful recording artist? I never saw that in him. Very very amateurish, and yet the judges kept praising him, that’s how it seemed to me.

I hope he does well in whatever is his passion, be it politics or business. But in a singing competition youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re judged on singing and performing and having an artistic vision.

I do agree that he was amateurish and inexperienced. But when you want to play in the big leagues you have to step up your game and not rely on excuses. If heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s serious about music, heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll strive to improve and grow as an artist now that heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s had this invaluable experience.

I haven’t heard Anoop express any interest in going into business or politics, or heard him make any excuses about his placement in the show or anything that was lacking in his performances. He’s just not a natural or experienced showman in the way some of the other contestants are, but that doesn’t mean that he has no passion for music. It seems like he got into music somewhat late in high school, continued with it in college and put college on hold to give this a go. Maybe he should go back in time and enter some children’s talent pageants to show how serious he is about music.

I certainly have a sense of the type of artist he wants to be based on his performances and studio recordings. Anoop probably would have fared better in one of the earlier seasons when the show was much more about plain old singing on pitch and less about “package artist” and being the second coming of Justin Timberlake, or Pink, or Jason Mraz. I think he’ll make huge improvements during the summer tour when he’s not being judged or on camera, but I’m not sure if there’s much chance for an Indian-American r&b/pop singer to make it on his own.

I think the judges rightly praised his vocals and the quality of his voice, but they weren’t exactly over the top with the “you can actually sing” and “that was pretty good” comments. Those aren’t the kind of comments that compel people to pick up the phone so I do think that many people just genuinely like his singing and decided for themselves to vote him through this far (well actually they technically voted him through to next week, but whatever).

Maybe he should go back in time and enter some childrenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s talent pageants to show how serious he is about music.

LOL, cheese i gotta love ya, you crack me up! And its true, not having a sense of stage presence or not being a natural showman does not equate to not having a passion for music. Hello! He has been in an acapella group since his early freshman years and stayed with them all the way for 4 years! I would think if he didn’t have a passion for music, he wouldn’t have dedicated all of his extra curricular activities and time to sing with a group of men right up till the day he graduated.

I do agree that he was amateurish and inexperienced. But when you want to play in the big leagues you have to step up your game and not rely on excuses. If heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s serious about music, heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll strive to improve and grow as an artist now that heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s had this invaluable experience.

I do agree with that, however, that Anoop lacked a sense of musical capability to rearrange his songs and an artistic vision in projecting himself, but hey – not everyone is a natural-born musician/song-writer. I also felt he he did not command as much presence as Adam and have a natural swagger like him or Danny. Like what you said, based on it being a singing competition, Anoop got in the Top 10 based on his beautiful and crystal-like vocals that even the judges saw. That being said, I think Anoop was up against alot of talented big guys this season, but it doesn’t dispute the fact that his recordings are STELLAR and that many people are dying to hear what his album sounds like, i know i am!! :jittery_tb:

Aw, Anoop! I’m going to miss you. Very sweet and so thoughtful. He seems to have done his homework, too, and I hope it has big returns for him. (Get that folklore degree, though, Anoop.)

Word nerds for the win! He’s soooo much like Cook:

1. Didn’t feel like shaving this week. (Cook “forgot” to shave the week of the big “makeover.”)
2. He pointed out they have the same birthday.
3. Loves to do crosswords in his downtime (like Cook, the original “word nerd”).
4. Gained 35 or 40 lbs. his first year of college instead of just the “freshman 15.” (Cook said he gained the “freshman 15″ every year of college, LOL.)
5. He would regularly acknowledge Rickey and the band, much as Cook did routinely.

Anoop, like Cook, really impressed me with his intelligence, articulateness, and warm, resonant vocals. I think if Noop Dawg been a few years older and had more performance experience, he might have done as well as Cook, too, but the kid has nothing to be ashamed of. He did a great job, and dammit, I might just break down and get tix to this year’s tour.

Re the sitar shtick, Anoop made up that “fact” about himself as part of that stupid quiz. You can’t blame Jillian for that one, LOL!

I havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t heard Anoop express any interest in going into business or politics,

Well a few of his fans were speculating about him going into business or politics, so I had the impression that he had those interests. If not, then I had the wrong impression. He doesn’t need to go back to kindergarten, of course, but there is something special about contestants who know in their hearts that music is their passion, and who have pursued it on their own for years before Idol, putting it first in their lives. Kelly, Carrie, Fantasia, Taylor, Constantine, Frenchie, Cookie and Archie, Bo, and many others I’m forgetting, fit that description.

I always have a “so what” reaction to contestants who seem lukewarm about a musical career, because if they don’t feel it inside them with a vengeance, they aren’t going to get far in the business. Some contestants seem to get on the show as a lark and don’t have the burning desire to make music but can take it or leave it. People were making it sound like Anoop was one of those, if he’s not, then I had the wrong impression from things I read here.

I think if you are an artist you will have the inborn desire, need even, to make music (or whatever your art is) and anyone without that passion isn’t going to excite people very much if they aren’t excited.

Also, several have said that it was a difficult season and Anoop was up against some really tough competitors, I disagree, I think it was a weak season, and people who left before him were mostly not strong contenders, and that’s why he lasted as long as he did, but that’s just my perspective. I don’t think he would have lasted that long in most other seasons. So just a difference of opinion there.

Saying that Anoop was cheated, or treated badly, that can backfire (think “Claymates”) and turn people off towards the singer. It is rough when our favorite doesn’t make it farther, but I don’t know, I didn’t see that he was badly treated or that he left too early.

Ha, I did think that Clay was mistreated and cheated, but it’s been a few years and I’ve learned a few lessons since then, not to take it so seriously, they all go home eventually. (Tell me that if Allison goes home next week, then again, I’ll be sad but I won’t think she was mistreated because they all take their knocks and nothing about the show is totally fair.

By the way, are those IQs for the contestants real? If so, why did they agree to do that? If not, how can the ads get away with lying?

Looks like they all had similar IQs if they are real, pretty normal IQs too, none of them really standing out as exceptionally intelligent.