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March 31, 2009

Top 9: Anoop is 'Caught Up'

Posted: 08:18 PM ET

Anoop as Usher? Hmmmm.

Anoop Desai

There's just something about him singing about "his homeys" and how this girl has "got him twisted" that just didn't ring true. It reminded me of David Archuleta's version on Chris Brown's "With You" last season.

I've got love for Noop Dogg, but he needs way more swagger training in order to pull off an Usher song and be an R & B artist as he says he wants to be. Good luck with that, Boo.

–Lisa Respers France, CNN.com writer

Filed under: Uncategorized


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Bob   March 31st, 2009 8:22 pm ET

So sad for Anoop. He's fun, but, he ain't funky.

la la   March 31st, 2009 8:23 pm ET

Corny & horrible.

CC   March 31st, 2009 8:24 pm ET

Ha! You called him Boo. :-)
I think Simon was too harsh but Anoop is no way near Usher.

Faye   March 31st, 2009 8:25 pm ET

Poor song choice...he should thank Megan she just made him sound great!

Alyce   March 31st, 2009 8:26 pm ET

I didn't think it was a perfect song for him, but I thought that it was A LOT better than what the judges were saying. His voice actually sounded really good.

Stopper   March 31st, 2009 8:35 pm ET

Yaaa Megan will be around for another week !!! Anoop was awfull

Britt   March 31st, 2009 8:36 pm ET

Im still rooting for ANOOP!!

Mitch   March 31st, 2009 8:47 pm ET

Very poor song choice. R&B does not suit his voice... and too bad he does not realize it!

Elsie   March 31st, 2009 8:49 pm ET

It was OK

Rick Beagle   March 31st, 2009 8:49 pm ET

hey, isn't this guy on House? :-)

dee   March 31st, 2009 9:00 pm ET

he is the emerging champ....

payal   March 31st, 2009 9:43 pm ET

anoop is the champ. ups and downs come but I know he will prevail and show his strength in last rounds

John   March 31st, 2009 9:46 pm ET

If he was white or black you wouldn't be saying that Lisa. Indians and Asians don't have "swagger" I guess.

He was awesome.

Melanie   March 31st, 2009 9:47 pm ET

He's got a great voice.

samantha   March 31st, 2009 9:55 pm ET

i really hope he doesnt go home. i thought it was all rite, and it def was not his best.

Sandy   March 31st, 2009 10:06 pm ET

Wonderful talent this season. Allen is awesome, so is Matt and Adam.
Will be a tough choice but these three will be there at the end.

joe   March 31st, 2009 10:09 pm ET

Too much ego. Not enough voice.

Maxwell   March 31st, 2009 10:14 pm ET

Man, how disappointing. It appears that Lambert is a shoe in. Tragic. He strikes me as a spoiled rotten rich boy whose parents foot the bill for his "Hot Topic" wardrobe, hair cut by BoRics and double chin! I can't see him as a real musician. It appears that even his rancid renditions of "Ring of Fire" and now "Play that funky music white boy" can't stop the high school musical boy band wanna be from getting standing ovations from Paula and a smile that that highlights dollar signs on every one of Simons teeth. Steven Tyler! You must be kidding me! Tyler was one of the sexiest guys alive and can really sing and has talent. I can't imagine Lambert as anything other than the leader of a boy band 14 years ago. HELP, no more idol this year. At least Holly and Denise are voted off Dancin' with the Stars, I guess it is safe to watch that show now!~

JoAnne   March 31st, 2009 10:31 pm ET

Still say Alexis Grace is way better than at least two of the people still in this contest. Get rid of them and put her back in . She needs to be in the tour.

sk   March 31st, 2009 10:32 pm ET

Maxwell – maybe you want to post your crap where it belongs – in the Adam Lambert section. You know nothing about his upbringing, parents, or otherwise. So just cut it out. If you can't admit that the guy has an amazing voice you are just blinded by your prejudice and drowning in your own superficiality.

MoreCriticalThanSimon   March 31st, 2009 10:38 pm ET

Just fine. The performance wasn't bad enough to send him home tomorrow, and I think he can do a lot better. What could potentially send him home was his snotty attitude towards the judges. He should have been a bit more open to their criticism instead of saying dismissively, "Their opinions." Hmph. Noop Dawg is getting too big for his britches, and I've been a big Noopster fan.

Zion   March 31st, 2009 10:51 pm ET

Dude starting out with promise. Now he's just lame. Gone in three weeks if he's lucky. Might be this week or next week...but to make it through three more cuts...ain't gonna happen.

Brandon   March 31st, 2009 10:57 pm ET

ok if you read this, stay with the balads... you have clear talent. I downloaded last weeks performance but this week was back to college drunken cheese..... The judges are goood but not gospel, stick to slow, dreamy type stuf that show cases your voices which is great bro!

Jeff   March 31st, 2009 11:16 pm ET

If Anoop would stop trying to be cool, then he would have a chance at winning this thing. If I see his brush off his shoulders one more time... ugh.

Si   March 31st, 2009 11:22 pm ET

oh dear.....this was certainly not the song for you. glad to see that you dressed better........you have so much going for you......wonderful voice....good looks........make the best of it.......you can sing-–you can carry a tune and stay on key-–alot of the modern hip-hop does not offer you the opportunity to show off your talent. remember.....you only need ONE great son each week. continue to dress to impress....the casual look does ot add anything to your performance...put ALL OF YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE.

Worst Case Scenario   March 31st, 2009 11:37 pm ET

He can get a Bollywood offer soon – he looks like Amitabh Bhachan.......

Be true to yourself   March 31st, 2009 11:41 pm ET

Anoop, you have a very soulful voice and I think you can sing very well not a great song choice. The Judges are very critical of you stay positve and choose better songs ignore the negative.

Ann   March 31st, 2009 11:45 pm ET

I thought Anoop was really good tonight!! I do think Simon way too harsh on him- we know that his fav's are Danyy n Adam- he'll praise the even if they are crappy. But Anoop rocked it tonight!! LOVED IT!!
Way better that Matt, Allison, Lil, Scot and Megan!!

A   March 31st, 2009 11:48 pm ET

Anoop was the best tonight, beautiful voice. The judges can't make up their minds on what they want from him, so he can't win with them.

Ricky   March 31st, 2009 11:48 pm ET

He has the entire telemarketing industry of India phoning in for him! Anoop there it is!! Anoop there it is!!

Mark   March 31st, 2009 11:49 pm ET

Didn't like it. Sounded karaoke-like.

kat   March 31st, 2009 11:49 pm ET

John one word for you: Jin. Asian and TONS of swagger.

I LOVE Anoop, but he still seems to be holding back. He doesn't command the stage and this song was not right. If he had to do an Usher song, he should have done "moving mountains."

More stage presence, more confidence. Hope he comes back

maths   April 1st, 2009 12:03 am ET

HI , anoop you are the best, GOOD LUCK.

meme   April 1st, 2009 12:04 am ET

noopers rocks!!!!!! i loved his performance and i love him!!!

ruels   April 1st, 2009 12:07 am ET

definitely an r &b singer. usher may have been a bit much for him.
definitely will be top five.

brooke   April 1st, 2009 12:10 am ET

I think this will be the year, people are not concerned about who is to be famous next. american idol needs to end, so dull...these people aren't much.

A. Gargano   April 1st, 2009 12:10 am ET

His performance was a total disaster. Rewind and notice Simon laughing at him. Pitty.

chic   April 1st, 2009 12:24 am ET

anoop you are a great singer...very confident and you have a wonderful persona...your mannerisms show ur upbringing...it shows you are classy.....hope you win.....

JoeDuck   April 1st, 2009 12:36 am ET

C'mon, Anoop's got homies! Yo...

Jackie   April 1st, 2009 1:11 am ET

Megan, Anoop and "piano man" need to go! Then we would have a real contest!

Ben Lee   April 1st, 2009 1:21 am ET

I love Noop Dog too...but his performance tonight is something straight out of Slumdog Millionaire...minus the dancers. *SIGH*.

LoveIsAllAround   April 1st, 2009 1:43 am ET

Can't help it... I just like this guy.

Stephanie   April 1st, 2009 2:07 am ET

I like Anoop but he came across waaay to cocky tonight and it was a turn off. Nobody buys him as the next Usher and he needs to get that in his head right now. He's got a great voice, but sadly that only gets you so far in the entertainment industry.

Sean Serritella   April 1st, 2009 2:21 am ET

One thing to say about this guy... SNOOOOORE

Tanya   April 1st, 2009 2:24 am ET

I think Anoop is good...I think he works hard, I think he's a smart guy, I think he's going to stay on a good path, I don't think he's going to screw up down the road like Adam will....Adam is a great talent, but I get this picture of a Britney Spears future w/ him...we don't need more of those...we need an example of hard work pays off....pure talent won't get us to payday anymore....Keep working Anoop, we see it. You do have talent, you just need to dig deeper. We still don't even see the real Adam behind all his theatrics..at least we see Anoop, now you need to show it all....do some drinkin or something...feel some pain and let us see it.

rick   April 1st, 2009 3:01 am ET

I would echo the comment that Alexis Grace should be here ahead of at least two of these....and as much as I wanna like Anoop the song was not enjoyable and I can't conceive how he is a threat to win. Two man race between Danny and Adam...they need to eliminate two per week this was not good tonight.

ashley   April 1st, 2009 3:15 am ET

At least he was better than Megan, but I agree with Joe way to much ego.

ASD   April 1st, 2009 3:46 am ET

I think all are Good. Everybody having good voice and passion.
There is no ideal voice as such , as far as those who are in Top 10. So we cant say who will be the Winner as there was no consistency in voice so far.

Fitzwilly56   April 1st, 2009 5:07 am ET

Maxwell, not only out of place here, but you are definitely wrong–his voice has a lot in common with Stephen Tyler, in fact I would love to hear Adam do a rendition of "Dream On" cause his voice can go where Tylers does. As for sexy, I think he's got that too, more like Jim Morrison sexy...

Just to make my comment appropriate to this blog, I like Anoop and think he's got a decent voice, but this song was not a good choice. I thought his voice was too soft, maybe too melodic and got lost in the music. He would have done so much better with a ballad this week.

kay   April 1st, 2009 6:34 am ET

HE NEEDS TO GO!!!

Bruce   April 1st, 2009 6:44 am ET

I agree with sk. All the negativity thrown at Adam is pure jealousy. Anyone who has half a brain can see he's a genius. Even if you don't like his music, hair, personality, whatever, the man knows how to rearrange a song and sing it. No one else on this show can do that.

Penny   April 1st, 2009 6:44 am ET

Well, Anoop still has a chance. But, I'm sorry Adam just steals the show from him and the others. Anoop can sing, but his stage presensce is not good. If you listen to him on the radio he will do great. But, what about concerts, TV appearances, etc... He has to work on that portion big time to be the competition. He has the looks to, but does not seem to know how to use them. I mean he can sing a sexy song, but he does not apppear sexy. How can a man look and sing that good, but not come across with emotion and attitude? He is not an entertainer, but he can sing.

David   April 1st, 2009 7:02 am ET

Anoop, as a fellow Carolinian, I hate to say it but go home already!

Malvees   April 1st, 2009 7:10 am ET

Why is this Lisa ripping everyone up so much? Bad hair day maybe?

Prasad   April 1st, 2009 7:12 am ET

We are taking all your IT jobs, now we will take your music!

Tomas   April 1st, 2009 7:37 am ET

Anoop is the arrogant spoiled rich kid. What a putz. R&B singer my azz.

LMM   April 1st, 2009 7:38 am ET

Anoooop! This boy needs a reality check. He is certainly talented but desperately needs to "discover" that he is no R&B guy. I would like to be a queen but there is no way in hell that is possible. Noop-dogg wants to be an R&B artist but ... eh ... common Anoop. Wake up!

dean   April 1st, 2009 7:47 am ET

Horibble performance. Horrible song, by horrible singer. Anoop should stick to more slow songs. If we wants to be a pop artists he has no future. Dont look up to someone like Usher. He and Miss Tweety are history in next 2 weeks.

debi   April 1st, 2009 8:15 am ET

I'm not really impressed with any of them this year, however if I had to choose I like Danny. He seems to be real and down to earth, a really nice guy.

bt   April 1st, 2009 8:18 am ET

I think anoop's vocals were awesome, I think he sings r&b/pop really well, but it is hard for some people to put that with his image. I still love his voice and can listen to any song he sings on repeat.

Dawn   April 1st, 2009 8:21 am ET

His song last week almost put me to sleep, I think Anoop almost fell asleep himself singing it.

This week, I don't know, he didn't impress me. If megan, don't get cut, (her looks may keep her another week, not her singing) which won'tl surprise me, then it would be Anoop.

Ed   April 1st, 2009 8:35 am ET

Anoop is a good singer. He just did not fare well with a more upbeat RnB song.
Matt G. is still my man! Although I have to agree that he did sound like the original (intentionally or not) with his rendition of his song tonight.
Kris was awesome! Adam was great, too. Danny is just loveable.
I was a bit disappointed with Lil. The girl is an awesome singer! Her voice can go low to high with no pressure from her at all. I just do not agree with her song choices the past two weeks. Her best to date was when she sang that Mary J. Blige song. I mean, that was some serious vocals and with a personality that will sweep you away! I missed that about her.

Jim   April 1st, 2009 8:43 am ET

It's not as "done" as it should be...this show needs to be finished entirely. It is, and always has been, complete and utter rubbish.

Music was never meant to be "judged", it is art and therefore, entirely subjective. Most of you "couch voters" out there wouldn't know vibrato from a jackhammer pounding the pavement. The music business is tough enough without bum critics like you. (you know who you are)

So do us all a favor and do it up, America. Find something else to tear apart besides people who pour their hearts out in front of an entirely unappreciative audience, only to be told they aren't worthy of our patronage. I'm sure you can manage that quite easily.

rojo2000   April 1st, 2009 8:43 am ET

He continues to be the most boring singer in the contest. When Anoop comes on, I know its time to take a break and head to the kitchen for a ham sandwich

ACJJ   April 1st, 2009 9:04 am ET

Anoop can sing, but he is way to preppy to pull off the R&B. I mean just look at this picture of him here. He looks like he is wearing a Members Only jacket from the 80's!

Kelly   April 1st, 2009 9:13 am ET

Time for Scott, Megan & Anoop to go home and let the rest of the talent battle it out now.
Adam, love ya man but try a song without your signature scream for a change...

Faye   April 1st, 2009 9:38 am ET

Anoop's more of a Ne-Yo than an Usher. They're both R&B but with different styles; he needs to realize this if he wants to make a career in R&B. BUT I still think his vocals were flawless even if his performance lacked the Usher-lustre. His vocals make him one of this season's best, right up there with Danny. You can't argue with that.

Rob   April 1st, 2009 9:41 am ET

Anoop is Ray Romano

Susan   April 1st, 2009 9:48 am ET

So Anoop sings two lovely ballads, and the judges ask him to spice things up. He does that, and he flops badly. Sometimes I wish the kids would just do what they do best and ignore the judges. I thought Anoop's crooning was lovely...but I hated last night. I guess the point is to try new styles and find a fit...this one was not it, Anoop!

the voice of reason   April 1st, 2009 9:51 am ET

The only reason this guy is still on the show is because there is clearly some sort of massive call center conspiracy afoot.

EXPOSE THE TRUTH !!!

Bailey   April 1st, 2009 10:01 am ET

He has a good voice, but is a little too conservative and stiff. Loosen up.

Sam   April 1st, 2009 10:30 am ET

I love Anoop....enough said

Caleb   April 1st, 2009 10:36 am ET

Anoop or Megan will be gone tonight.

Shannon   April 1st, 2009 10:42 am ET

Terrible.

YEC   April 1st, 2009 10:42 am ET

I can't judge this because I am not familiar with the song. I don't listen to much current R&B. However, I like Anoop, and I don't think he was so bad that he should go home. That honor belongs to Megan. And he was miles better than Scott. They should keep him on bcuase I like to hear Randy say "'Noop Dawg!"

Will   April 1st, 2009 10:50 am ET

Noop.....if R&B is your goal...then you'll have a very short career, my friend. A related style and much mere serving to your voice is along the lines of Josh Grobin. Your voice has that much potential. Blues is not just with a voice. Is a persona....which must simply be there. With you, it's not. Sing to your bread and butter, what you were born with and born to do. More contemporary to the classics. Also...please get rid of the "Leave it to Beaver" look and slick that hair back or something. You hair looks like our father's! Take a hint at what Scott had done to his do, tonight. This is the guy who is good...and has a chance to be great on this show with a couple surprising tweeks. It's up to Anoop to bring it.

Deb   April 1st, 2009 11:17 am ET

I guess what it is Anoop, is finding YOUR song... I know you are in college now.... COOL! So does everyone else.... For you to be current and real with us, you need a song/music that does not go beyond where the audience's percieved reality is with you. So what if you feel differently about it personally....You're not a child for certain, but things like, baggy pants, attempting too much sexiness....Give it a bit more of a break/brake...... You definately ARE good looking and intelligent. Show us your vocal range and smooth flowing style. Dress the part..... Right On! Anoop! I like you!
Deb

jlm   April 1st, 2009 11:34 am ET

anoop try country to tell you the truth r&b isn't cutting it for you maybe
there will be a next time

dmintz   April 1st, 2009 11:47 am ET

Anoop has talent but not enough to top Adam, Alison or Kris. He should be proud that he's come this far. I say he's gone before the top 5.

David   April 1st, 2009 12:32 pm ET

He just isn's a sex symbol, no matter how hard he tries!!! He doesn;t have it and never will. I would not be upset if he left tonight... I think Megan will go (although she is my eye candy)

Trent   April 1st, 2009 12:34 pm ET

Time for Meagan to go home. I get too stressed listening to her trying to sing. I am getting tired of the judges, time to take a break from the show. one day it's, 'this is a singing competition' to 'I don't think you need to dress up to make an impression', to ' move around a little more, use the stage', to 'that song is too big for you' to 'You didn;t choose the right song' to....... blah blah blah.. these are mostly ametuers who have never had professional training of any sorts, loosen up judges because your comments are as bad as Meagan's singing.

pam   April 1st, 2009 2:57 pm ET

Good voice, bad song choice, afraid he will be "ushered" out soon.

Jo   April 1st, 2009 6:00 pm ET

GO anoop! He definitely has an unbelievable voice. Look up his clefhanger videos and you will know what im talking about!

SC   April 2nd, 2009 12:17 am ET

Anoop shouldn't have listened to Randy - he should stick to slow songs where he shines.

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