Anoop Desai – American Idol Season 8 Top 36 Contestant

By On 02/12/2009 · 32 Comments · In Uncategorized

Anoop Desai -Kansas City – 21 – Chapel Hill, NC

Videos:

Before Idol, Anoop was working on his master’s degree in Folklore at the University of North Carolina. During his undergraduate years, he was a member of the UNC Clef Hangers, an a cappella group.
Anoop’s charming geek-i-tude coupled with soulful vocal chops have already made him a fan favorite.   Check a slew of Clefhanger videos HERE Plus, the recording studio that worked with the Clefhangers put up some of his tunes HERE.

If you really want to geek out–and I know you do–check out Anoop’s American Studies Honors Thesis “Why Barbecue Matters in the South” HERE.

Anoop’s performance of “Angel of Mine” during the semis didn’t impress the judges, or America–he was eliminated.   Brought back for the wildcard, viewers were treated to an energetic take on Bobby Brown’s “My Perogative”.   The judges advanced Annop to the Top 12.   As if they wouldn’t have?

Anoop has yet to prove his vocal mettle on the Idol stage.   It remains to be seen how far this wildly popular (for now) Idol contestant can go in this competition.

 
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  • NickDaddyo

    Barbeque DOES matter in the South!

    Go Anoop — A true North Carolina boy!!!

  • http://widyatarina.wordpress.com widz

    I love him, srsly.
    I can’t wait till the next episode of AI!

    GO ANOOP!!

  • J.S.G.

    I’m just a little curious as to what happened during the Hollywood round, where the judges said he stumbled a bit.
    Other than that, I would have to say he is a prohibitive favorite.

  • Jx223

    I love Anoop. I think that he is fantastic. I definitely think that he is one of the best contestants this year and he is my favorite. :smile2_tb:

  • t2

    Loved this guy already, love him even more now that I know he waxes poetic about food. Really, it’s a yummy paper.

  • SallyinIllinois

    He’s the Anti-Sanjaya. This guy has it all. Could be a movie star (India is “in” right now – Go Slumdog for the win!). If he gets somebody like Robin Thicke to write for him, or JT, he could be big.

  • justantonio

    I think that the person that wins American Idol this year will have to outsing Anoop. He is going into the competition with a heavy fan base and a load of talent…and if your going to beat him your going to have to be amazing…I dont really see anyone right now that fits the bill…however thats what the show is for…hopefully people step up their game and chose songs that allow them to shine

  • http://www.myspace.com/gwendolyndiane GwendolynD

    Barbeque DOES matter in the South!

    Indeed it does, although I’m not going to read 60 pages to confirm that…! Hehe.

    I LOVE Anoop Desai!!!

    That is all.

  • Ladybug

    I hope this kid lasts for awhile. I really like him. This show gots to have a cutie who can sing!

  • butter

    Anoop is precious and I want to squeeze him…but not in a creepy way. I fear for him because the group he’s in is heavy laden with male talent, even though I know most people think he’ll make it through. That won’t stop me for voting my little fingers off, though.

  • Dr. Tracey

    So far he’s my favorite of the guys, can’t wait to see more of him.

  • savgal

    Anoop Dog is great! Anyone know if he is the most highly-educated contestant yet? Read part of his paper on barbecue and find it very interesting, as we frequent the different kinds of BBQ up and down I-95 on trips from GA to DC and PA. HATE that he is in first group of 12, with so many of my favorites. A cappela singing definitely tunes the ear. And yeah, Slumdog for the win! Anoop is better-looking, IMO, than Patel in Slumdog.

  • AngelaSL

    I really hope he goes far. One of my favorites.

  • butter

    I’m not sure if he’s the most educated (he’s in graduate school…it’s not hard to believe that there have been other contestants who worked on or completed their masters). I read a page of his thesis just for giggles, and it is very well written. He’s clearly intelligent, and let’s face it, you have to have a sense of humor to write a 60 page thesis on barbeque.

  • hcpoirot

    Anoop is one of my fav singer this season. But my, he was in one of toughest group next week along with Danny, Michael S and Stephen duke it out to grab max 2 ticket to top 12. Had to be on top of the game and choose a good song for his vocal and also entertain people.

  • mrsbjh

    “She Has No Time”–He sounds so cool on that! He’s the only one I’m interested in watching this year. I picked him as my favorite at his audition. And he’s intelligent, too.

  • http://www.myspace.com/gwendolyndiane GwendolynD

    A cappela singing definitely tunes the ear.

    Absolutely. I hope he does some a cappela stuff on the show.

  • seasonseven

    I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

  • itsalleternal

    Certainly a frontrunner for sure.

  • revots33

    Likeable enough, but the voice is nothing special. Given his tough group, I’ll be annoyed if he makes Top 12 over Fowler who has an amazing voice.

  • gingerly

    I think he has a great voice but ummm there’s something missing for me. Maybe it’s his song choice that I’m not feeling…something anyhow.

  • chicksineggz

    I think his voice is amazing.
    I’ve never gotten so invested in a contestant pre-semi finals before!
    And I’ve definitely never gotten hooked by a contestant right from the audition.

    GO ANOOP!!!!!!

  • tulan

    Anoop has a purpose in this journey that he and his group want america to get to know their good friend, Eve Carson, a very nice girl who was murdered back in March 2008, she was the student body president of UNC back then…in all their youtubes, there is a line of “in memory of …”….go Anoop and UNC!!!!!!

  • bean99

    Me neither, Chicksineggz. I love Anoop! He’s my favorite along with Danny. I’m not even sure I had a clue who I liked at this time last season. I think that as long as they both have good performances, both of my favorites will go through this week. I’ll probably give most of my votes for Anoop because if for some reason Danny missed the cut, he’d be a wildcard for sure.

  • http://myspace.com/bigbooty_hoes sarahjean

    I’m in love with his clef hangers singing…. AI song choice? not so much.

  • mclay

    MJ, could you please investigate something? At the official AI site they have posted Group 1 (Anoop’s group) with Matt Breitzke instead of Michael Sarver:

    http://www.americanidol.com/top_36/group_1

    Which one will actually perform on Tue? And what does this switch mean?

    I personally believe it increases Anoop’s chances as well as makes it easier on Danny. But is it better for Michael?

  • St.Lucia

    Love him, Love him, Love him.

  • bean99

    Interesting about the switch, mclay. I think it’s better for Michael Sarver because group 1 is tough for the guys. I like Matt so it’s too bad for him.

    I think Anoop is pretty popular. I know he’s a favorite at my work along with Danny.

  • haininh

    I love love love Anoop! Can’t wait to see him next week!

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    Thanks for posting Anoop’s thesis. Funny, this popped up for me today.

    Someone should tell those boys that Anoop has already scooped them!

  • Jx223

    mclay and bean99, I think that this possible switch if true( I think it is) will be much better for Michael. When Michael was in group 1, his chances of getting through as the highest male getter or next highest vote getter, weren’t very high.

    I could definitely see Danny and Anoop getting those two spots in Group 1. Not to mention that Michael would have to also compete against Steven Foster who IMO, is talented and Ricky Braddy who didn’t have any airtime, but who Paula really likes and who could make it as a wildcard because of her.

    IMO, Michael’s chances of getting through weren’t very good in that first group. But now that he’s been switched with Matt B, his chances of making the top 12 are much higher.

    As long as TPTB don’t put him in another group with Adam and Matt Giraud, he has a decent shot of getting into the top 12.

    If he’s in a group with Adam or Matt, one of them could take the top male vote getter spot and he has a decent chance of getting the next highest vote getter spot.

    But IMO, if he’s in a group, with both Adam and Matt, his chances of making the top 12 will be a lot lower and it will be like when he was in the first group with Danny and Anoop. I think that this possible switch could definitely make it a lot easier for Michael to make the top 12.

  • SIMPLEWOMAN

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ANOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Your the Best “The Real World Idol”…..GOD BLESS!! and goodluck:)