A desi “American Idol”… and more!!!

This guy just made me smile! 
Anoop is the anti-Sanjaya... Thank goodness!!!
Anoop is the anti-Sanjaya... Thank goodness!!!
I started to watch AI after a LOOOONG time b/c my aunt pointed Anoop out to me 2 wks ago.  (She has 2 young daughters, so she tries to check out what they like when she can.)  I’m REALLY excited that there could be a (good) desi idol in the near future!  As for Sanjaya Malakar- he has a book out now!  I did a double-take when I saw it recently at Borders.
Awww... I LOVE a big smile!
Awww... I LOVE a big smile!

Like many desis, Anoop is a multi-talented, but humble individual.  He’s  22, graduated w/ BA from UNC Chapel Hill (he won a scholarship), and is currently enrolled there in a master’s program in Anthropology.  He likes R&B music the best, and feels part of Southern culture (he referred to himself as “a Carolina boy”). 

 

Yes, Anoop is a TALL desi guy!
Yes, Anoop is a TALL desi guy!

In this week’s ep, Randy Travis was (noticebly) impressed w/ Noop Dogg.  Though Anoop admitted to not knowing much re: country music, he did VERY well.  He sang Willie Nelson’s classic song.   

 

Singing at UNC Chapel Hill
Singing at UNC Chapel Hill (w/ The Clef Tones)

Anoop was in an acapella group at his uni; he was usually the soloist of the group (The Clef Tones).  You can check out some old vids of the grp on You Tube.   

 
Anoop's parents are both scientists in "The Research Triangle."
Anoop's parents are both scientists in "The Research Triangle."
Anoop’s parents were in the audience before; they support his dream of being a singer.  Wow, talk about COOL desis!

 

 Other American Idol contestants I like:

 

Lil Rounds from Memhis, TN
Lil Rounds from Memphis, TN
She's pretty and has a POWERFUL voice!
She's pretty and has a POWERFUL voice!

I think she has a GREAT chance of winning the competition!  Great voice (w/ power), sweet/humble personality, and “girl-next-door” looks ALL go in her favor.

 

 

Matt Giraud from Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud from Kalamazoo, MI

This guy seems very confidant and sweet.  He’s from suburban Michigan, and has a cool, husky kind of voice.

 

Matt, who also plays piano, released CDs (independantly) before!

 

matt-cdmatt-cd2

 

Can’t wait to hear more from ALL these new young singers!

It’s alright to be an American Idol drop-out…

I stopped watching AI a LOOOONG time ago, so I didn’t know about country singer Bucky Covington, a finalist (8th place) from Season 5!  Browsing on iTunes, I’m getting to know a little bit about some REALLY good new country singers.  Bucky (I find the name a bit humorous) now has his first CD out and two music videos on CMT.  And just like Alan Jackson, he’s got the slightly long, light blonde hair and mustache. 

 

On an early 2007 Larry King interview, Bucky said that he still “loves” AI, but considers some of it “comedy” (like the success of William Hung).  Three cheers to Bucky for surviving the (very weird for small town NC guy, no doubt) AI experience and coming out with positive attitude and of course- success!  Mark Miller (from the band Sawyer Brown, and a great stage performer) has a young son who LOVED Bucky on AI, and was mad that he got voted off… so he asked his dad to call him up.  That’s how the record deal happened- cool!

 

That was then…

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 American Idol Clips:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbxF85HZ_SU (Best I Ever Had – originally sung by Gary Allan)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IZTn09s5T8 (Real Good Man– originally sung by Tim McGraw)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfUUMsiC1jQ (Thunder Rolls – made very famous by Garth Brooks) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGpcGggE9M (Part 1 of interview about the AI experience; can see his personality here!) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPn-Q7aChV4 (Part 2 of interview- Wow, what a transformation!)

This is now…

 

bucky-cd-701499.jpg 

 

Music Videos:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIjM6SNt8Hg (Good To Be Us – a fun rock/country song) 

http://www.cmt.com/videos/bucky-covington/133268/a-different-world.jhtml (A Different World – a song that my generation and a BIT older can relate to!)