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

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.

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.

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:

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).

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 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.

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

why does anoop remind me of tiger woods?

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

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!

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:

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.

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.

Can’t wait for the album

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.

Adam

Danny/Matt
Anoop

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

Adam’s just the best.

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:

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

Anoop is a class act, for sure.

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 !!