For the third time in this season's American Idol contest which received 36 million votes following Tuesday's performance, Anoop Desai found himself in the bottom three. But he did not receive the lowest votes, and that meant he is going to perform next week.
The show watched by 27-30 million fans in America, eliminates one singer each week but the judges could overrule the vote and send a performer back into the competition. And this week they 'saved' Matt Giraud who had received the lowest vote The judges decide after the singer performs a song that could save his or her "life" on the show.
Many commentators including People magazine wrote that Matt had actually sung an encore of Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman worse than the night before -- and yet he was saved by the judges.
Next week there will be two eliminations following performances of disco songs.
Never mind at what stage in the competition they are eliminated, the top 10 contestants get to travel to 50 cities in summer performing in the American Idol tour.
Anoop talked to Ryan Seacrest, the Idol host, after he was named among the bottom three. 'I honestly didn't expect to be sitting here,' he said. Paula Abdul, one of the four judges, said she was a little surprised that he was in the bottom three while Simon Cowell, the harshest and most unpredictable of the judges, said Anoop deserved to be sitting there.
On Tuesday, the seven competitors performed songs from hit movies they had rehearsed under the watchful ears of Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction) whose films are known for their energetic and innovative music. Each week the contestants are trained to perform a song supervised by a well-known singer or composer.
Anoop chose Everything I do made famous by Bryan Adams in the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Tarantino told him that he should 'rough it up.'
The two judges who commented on Anoop's performance praised his rendition.
Seacrest asked him if he had anyone particular in mind when he sang the intense love song. He sheepishly said he did not.
Randy Jackson affectionately who calls the Idol-hopeful 'Noop Dawg' confessed on Tuesday that when he heard about Anoop's choice, he was worried that it would be rough. But after the performance, he heartily complimented Anoop on finding his zone. Kara DioGuardi, the second judge to comment, complimented Anoop on finding his place as an artist, singing pop songs with soul. She said it was one of his best performances. She also praised him for the changes he made to the melody.
There will again be nail-biting suspense next Wednesday. There are already speculations who would go "home."
'You have to wonder whether Matt and Lil Rounds, who joined him in the bottom two, are simply heading for a double guillotine,' wondered People magazine's Tom Gliatto. 'The judges have been dissatisfied with both of them
'Anoop may find that disco suits his slick pop groove, and maybe Lil with her love for soul and R&B, will too. Not so sure about Matt, though.'