Anoop Desai reveals to Lindsey Parker during her Idol rehearsal interview for Yahoo music, that he’ll be performing “My Prerogative” on tour, and there will be some dancing during the Madcon “Beggin” group number.

…I was happy to hear that both sides of Anoop will be on full display on the Idols Live Tour, and that he’ll definitely be performing at least one crowd-rousing partystarter during his solo set. (No, he’s not doing “Beat It,” understandably, given his mixed feelings about that one–but it’s a fun number he’s going with.) He’ll also be involved in the Madcon “Beggin’” group performance that I mentioned yesterday, which will further allow him to do his R&B thang.

And additionally keeping the party going on the tour will be choreographer JaQuel Knight, the man behind the moves of Beyonce’s iconic “Single Ladies” video–whom Anoop revealed will be choreographing his and the other Idols’ dance routines on the tour. However, sadly, Anoop emphatically clarified that there will be NO black unitards in the tour’s wardrobe, so don’t expect a “Single Ladies” parody a la Justin Timberlake on SNL or that recent Joe Jonas stunt. Even though that WOULD be awesome…

Video after the JUMP…

 
  • realvivi

    I really hope Anoop get a record deal. He’s a sweet guy. :wub_tb:
    BTW, is that Adam singing whole lotta love in the background? :jittery_tb:

  • LisaE

    Anoop doing a “Single Ladies”-esque song/dance routine to “My Prerogative” sounds, um, interesting. :)

  • jacie

    anoop! i’ve missed you!

  • suebrody

    I’m a big Anoop fan; he doesn’t take him too seriously (which I thought he did during Idol), he’s brilliant and articulate, and I see him going indie, which be perfect him (let him explore his range). I still need to listen to the entirety of his audio chat (you can find it on rickey.org). I would love to have seen him in a unitard. ;-)

    I didn’t hear WLL in the background, but oh, man, if Adam sang that…I still think we are missing one of his songs (is that right?), and he could seg from that into SL with Allison. YES YES YES

  • Mary102

    BTW, is that Adam singing whole lotta love in the background?

    Ack! I couldn’t hear it :-( But I will seriously die if he decides to do that on tour. OMGzz that would just kill me with Adam-y goodness :-)

    I didn’t hear WLL in the background, but oh, man, if Adam sang that’ ¦I still think we are missing one of his songs (is that right?),

    We are missing one song – and most likely another song from the show (unless he’s doing three new songs). And WLL would have to be on the short-list of potential songs (though I can sort of see him switching to BoW if he’s able to, but I’m not sure they could with such short notice)

  • realvivi

    I can hear the bass and it goes on and on.it starts around -1:25. I had it turned up really loud with my headphones in. or am i going crazy :blush_tb:

  • Lux

    I like Anoop, glad his doing My prerogative.

    I think it is WLL!! I hope so!

  • girlygirl

    I didn’t hear WLL in the background…but that would be sick if Adam did that on tour. I like Anoop — he’s got a good voice. He was very inconsistent on AI, but if he gets with the right label and producers/writers, he has a chance to have a career in this biz.

  • suebrody

    During his audio interview, Anoop said his favorite novel is 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. *sigh* Brainiac!Anoop

    Thought they would try to get BoW into Adam’s set, but WLL/SR would send me into fits of giddiness! Six days till the Tour begins and counting…

  • Qcloud9

    I love Anoop in all these interviews and I cannot wait to see him on tour!!! I’m so glad he’s doing “My Prerogative”, I love it!! :wub_tb:

  • VBstar

    I heard WLL too! That would be AMAZING! I think Anoop should do You Were Always on My Mind.

  • nad

    Oh man I miss Anoop but his interviews have been great!! So articulate and I loved his “My perogative”!!!! I think he will do great. I really hope he gets signed b/c he def had one of the best recording voices..listen to his Itunes….def one of the more underrated contestants but I’m glad he is building on this whole expierence and hopefully will become a Fantastic artist!!

  • jack5791

    I’m really excited for Anoop’s set. I like “Party Anoop” also, but obviously he is awesome at the ballds also. I always liked Anoop and I’m sure he won’t dissapoint on tour!

  • NatX

    I was a huge Anoop fan heading into the Top 36 based on what I’d seen of his Clef Hangers videos. Unfortunately I was overall disappointed in his showing during the show. He knocked it out of the park a couple times (You Were Always On My Mind, True Colors), improved a Bryan Adams song into something much more palatable (Everything I Do [I Do It For You]), but after that it was just sorta … meh.

    Dim All The Lights and Ooo Baby Baby were decent-to-good vocal performances, but not good song choices at all. A bit of a letdown. Then, he whiffed big time with Beat It and Caught Up.

    I actually thought Angel of Mine was one of his better showings and it came early and wasn’t even greatly received.

    I felt sorry for the guy because it seemed like he got some awful advice from the judges and tried too hard to please and got it in his mind after My Prerogative (which was fun, but not who he should be as a recording artist) that he was the party starter and all that. EHHH!! Wrong. He’s a soulful R&B guy. Doesn’t have to be strictly a balladeer, but that’s where he really, really stands out.

    Hopefully he gets it figured out and proves himself to the right people, and ends up putting out music. Dude’s voice is about as velvety as it gets and I could listen to him sing all day ‘“  if it’s the right kind of stuff (not The Right Stuff, by the New Kids on the Block).

    For me, he and Matt are the two who have the most untapped potential upside, and could make a lot of good music for awhile if things come together. Those two and Kris were my Top 3 all season ‘“  Kris is clearly getting his shot, now hopefully these other two will get their chances.

    That turned into a lot longer manifesto than I originally intended.

  • twinkle

    i love when anoop gets a little nerdy. i have a soft spot for the nerds.

    and i listened at max volume with headphones and definitely heard WLL in the background. no singing, just the music.

  • Meg23

    It’s so good to see Anoop again. I’m glad he’s doing My Prerogative. I still remember how much fun he had performing that. I think he’ll get back to having fun on tour when the pressure is off. I’m really curious to find out what his other songs will be. Gah, I can’t wait for the tour!

  • suebrody

    This just in:

    @lyndseyparker If you listen closely in background of my Anoop interview you can hear Adam rehearsing. Recognize the song???

    Well, guess it’s WLL! Yippie! (Yep, I tweeted her back.) Matt and Anoop also tweeted this morning, Matt about going to Oregon, Anoop about taking the what Idol are you quiz and getting…Kris! LOL

  • auntieaimee

    NatX, great post. I totally agree.

    I think Anoop is appealing on many levels. He’s smart, funny, articulate, handsome. I think he’d be great on tv if that was a direction he wanted to go in (watch your back, Seacrest).

  • Mary102

    Oh, wow – if it really is WLL! YEA!

    In one of the interviews last week, Adam and Kris were asked if they’d try to fit an MJ tribute into the show, and the response from them indicated that it would be nice, but may not work with everything now pretty much set in stone for the tour, which immediately made me think that he may not have chosen BoW for the tour. But then Danny is doing PYT, so they can add a tribute moment in with that.

    As for Anoop – glad he’s doing My Prerogative, as that was definitely one of (if not his) best. He’s a really cool guy, and definitely seems like a lot of fun to hang out with. Interesting, how he and Matt seem like a really good match, friend-wise.

  • SarahP

    awwww just 3 mins of anoop. what a sad interview! i love him more when he’s talking than when he’s singing. i really enjoy listening to his interviews cos he seems super intelligent and once, during this long time ago interview of him, he even quoted a professor of his…very sweet…

  • flicker

    I love it when an interviewer has really watched the show and knows the history of the performances. This was a good interview. Anoop is totally charming; I hope he has a bright future.

  • lucy

    Hopefully he gets it figured out and proves himself to the right people, and ends up putting out music. Dude’s voice is about as velvety as it gets and I could listen to him sing all day ‘“ if it’s the right kind of stuff (not The Right Stuff, by the New Kids on the Block).

    For me, he and Matt are the two who have the most untapped potential upside, and could make a lot of good music for awhile if things come together.

    I agree that they’re both very talented, but will the market make room for two more poppy/soulish/not-really-black R&Bish boys?

    Seems like that is not considered very salable. And I know that some folks think these two guys are way more talented than Elliott (and prettier, I would imagine the thinking goes), but to me they’re all pretty comparable — all three very talented (plus, Elliott’s much much prettier now that he’s consulted stylists and has new teeth)– and Elliott’s had a horrible time finding a niche that will actually pay for his music, wasn’t able to get a major-label contract, continues to struggle, found his place on radio once but doens’t seem to be able to get it back as radio becomes an ever more tightly-controlled-from-the-top medium. Etc. … Plus, Danny’s in a similar niche (unless he goes country), so he’s certainly fighting for one of these apparently very limited spots, too.

    Urban radio doesn’t seem to want these guys (and I know that Matt is biracial, but he looks an awfully lot like a white guy to me). And pop isn’t really interested in very many smooth stylings or whatnot either.

    They’re talented and I’m sure they can get gigs of some kind, but I wouldn’t hold out a lot of hopes for radio play or major-label contracts or the like.

    Although I guess this is moot for Matt if he goes with his The Fray/Coldplayish rock thing. … He’ll have to put together a band to do that, though, won’t he?

  • girlygirl

    The Idols must be bored today, waiting to leave for Portland. Anoop tweeted:

    # just took the “who’s american idol season 8 contestant are you?” quiz and got: kris allen! Try it: http://bit.ly/MqE5x#
    about 2 hours ago from LOL quiz

    Then Kris tweeted:

    #I just took the “who’s american idol season 8 contestant are you?” quiz and got: kris allen! Try it: http://bit.ly/17Mtpx#
    22 minutes ago from LOL quiz

    Matt chimed in:

    #First I tweet. Then I shower. Then pack. Then tea w/honey. Then pay my enormous room service bill.: / Then go to Portland. That’s my day.#
    about 2 hours ago from TwitterFon

  • snuffles

    Anoop – if Bollywood comes a callin’, you’d be a fool not to do it!

  • BestAI

    Interesting that most of the top ten guys were chunky at one time or other. Anoop, Kris and Adam said they were fat when younger. Sarver chunky now. Danny chunky when show started (seemed to have lost a lot of weight recently). Don’t know much about Matt & Scott.

  • aek

    Seems like that is not considered very salable. And I know that some folks think these two guys are way more talented than Elliott (and prettier, I would imagine the thinking goes), but to me they’re all pretty comparable ‘” all three very talented (plus, Elliott’s much much prettier now that he’s consulted stylists and has new teeth)’“ and Elliott’s had a horrible time finding a niche that will actually pay for his music, wasn’t able to get a major-label contract, continues to struggle, found his place on radio once but doens’t seem to be able to get it back as radio becomes an ever more tightly-controlled-from-the-top medium. Etc. ‘ ¦ Plus, Danny’s in a similar niche (unless he goes country), so he’s certainly fighting for one of these apparently very limited spots, too.

    I think that you are spot on with this. There doesn’t seem to be much of a space for the non black r&b guys. Heck, I don’t know if r&b is really accepting of even black american idols….Rueban and to a lesser extent Fantasia have both struggled.

    I think this is why 19 is pushing Danny toward country. Danny did sing a few country songs on the show, but he still tried to add in that r&b flavor to some of them.

    But yeah, it will be a struggle for them trying to find a place. I do agree with you also that there may be certain gigs out there that they can take advantage of, but it might not be the big mainstream stuff that puts them really out there in the public eye. But then, that’s okay.

    People are really saying Anoop and Matt are much more talented than Elliott? I did not know.

  • lucy

    People are really saying Anoop and Matt are much more talented than Elliott? I did not know.

    Well, I certainly don’t think so! But I’ve heard it said: Anoop — much prettier voice; Matt — much better overall musician.

    I don’t buy either of those but obviously MMV on this one. I think Elliott’s voice is gorgeous and his musicianship is plainly evident in his vocals. But I’ve spoken with others who vehemently disagree!

  • flicker

    I know wayyyy too much about Matt….he seems to have always been pretty lean. He’s beefier now than any other pics I’ve seen of him.

    Sad to say, Lucy, I agree with you. I don’t hold out a lot of hope for mainstream radio play for Matt or Anoop. But, I do think they’ll be able to make a living as musicians, even if it’s being a big fish in the small pond of their home states, or touring with other idols. I hope for more, but history of past idols doesn’t bode well for them. I’ve always been a little baffled by Anoop’s favored genre. I never believed him when he sang r&b, but he is a really good balladeer.

  • aek

    I never believed him when he sang r&b, but he is a really good balladeer.

    I always preferred Anoop as a balladeer, too. I think Anoop has a pretty voice.

    Funny that Anoop, Danny, and Matt are the three that tried that r&b sound, and they are such close friends. I enjoy reading about their antics on Twitter.

    Anyway, about the Elliott comparison. I think maybe people just tend to favor and get caught up in the current set of idols. I don’t think Elliott was perfect, but when he is good, there is not much that can top his vocals. And although I think Anoop has a pretty voice, I think that Elliott is a better overall singer. Matt is definately not as good a singer as Elliott, but he does have the piano playing musicianship going for him. I think all three are talented, and I know everyone’s opinions will vary, but I think what threw me off was that some were saying that these two are MUCH more talented. Not for me, and Elliott wasn’t even my favorite Season 5.

  • lucy

    I don’t hold out a lot of hope for mainstream radio play for Matt or Anoop. But, I do think they’ll be able to make a living as musicians, even if it’s being a big fish in the small pond of their home states, or touring with other idols.

    Exactly. And, after all, this is what most musicians in the world do, and there’s nothing wrong with it. You’re paying the rent with what you love to do, and that’s as much as one can expect, I think. I think having people get the national spotlight on Idol tends to build fans’ — and maybe Idols’ — expectations way beyond this, though. Seems that I hear a lot of former Idols dismissed as failures when they’re really doing quite well compared to the many thousands of other talented people fighting for the spotlight out there.

  • aek

    Seems that I hear a lot of former Idols dismissed as failures when they’re really doing quite well compared to the many thousands of other talented people fighting for the spotlight out there.

    Very, very true.

  • jill16

    That is definitely WLL in the background!!! Oh. My. Gosh! Adam must be singing that on tour. Yesssssssssss!!! I wonder if he’ll sing “woman” or “baby” ?

  • maracaibo

    I don’t know about Anoop but I really really hope Matt gets signed after the tour.
    I am praying he pulls a Jason Castro and signs with another major label.

    Matt and Anoop fans are going to have to wait a long time I think. JMHO

  • flicker

    Yep, I hope they both get signed. I’d be thrilled if I were dead wrong in my prognostication.

  • AC

    Anoop! Dude, I totally think he can make it in pop/r&b only because there is no other Indian guy doing that right now, and that already helps him stand out. He just needs to find the right people that can market him and I think he can be a star in Asia and in here. I know there are a lot of other people trying to make it but I think his ethnicity can help him out here.

  • aek

    Anoop! Dude, I totally think he can make it in pop/r&b only because there is no other Indian guy doing that right now, and that already helps him stand out. He just needs to find the right people that can market him and I think he can be a star in Asia and in here. I know there are a lot of other people trying to make it but I think his ethnicity can help him out here.

    I hope you are right. I thought that it might make it even harder, but who knows?

  • lucy

    I think he can be a star in Asia and in here. I know there are a lot of other people trying to make it but I think his ethnicity can help him out here.

    I can see it working in Asia. Not so sure about the States, though.

  • daenarys

    I like this guy’s personality. He’s smart, funny and doesn’t take himself too seriously. But nothing I’ve heard makes me think he’s the next Usher / Ne-yo / even Elliot Yamin et al, all the artists in the music line that he seems to want to take. I rooted for him at the beginning of Season 8 but from Hollywood onwards, although he had a pretty voice, he just couldn’t seem to bring it beyond great karaoke.

    I think Anoop could really make it big in broadcast media / news or entertainment hosting. He’s really quick on his feet, has empathy and comes across as immensely likeable.

  • aek

    He’s really quick on his feet, has empathy and comes across as immensely likeable.

    Yes. Anoop has a big likability factor going on. He has done some acting before, hasn’t he? Maybe he can somehow combine the acting and singing.

  • AC

    I think as long as Anoop is given a chance, he can make it. Like, I don’t think he’s going to become this mega-star or anything but most R&B stars aren’t. I do think he can be successful if he’s marketed well though. I do hope he starts writing and networking more during the tour.

  • Qcloud9

    I think Anoop will make great music & lots of people will buy it, including me. Wow, I’m appalled at anyone who thinks his ethnicity puts any sort of limitation on anything he chooses to do in his life, including the type of music he wants to make (Pop R&B), which he excels at. Anoop is a very gifted, talented, handsome, smart, articulate, intelligent, funny, interesting man who can and will succeed at whatever he wants to do. If anything, his ethnicity is something that adds to his uniqueness and makes him even more special.

    Discrimination is discrimination whether it’s based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc etc. I think it would be outrageously unfair to say Adam can’t do “X” because he’s gay. I think it’s just as outrageously unfair to say Anoop can’t do “X” because of his ethnicity.