Idol Top 12 Finalists Kris, Allison and Adam Talk of Crazy Nick, Going Red and Taking Risks
Kris Allen, Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert
Three more wannabes took a huge step toward American Idolatry this week when Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen were added to this season's list of Top 12 finalists. Here's a glimpse of each contender, as revealed in a conference call with reporters the day after getting their nods.
ALLISON IRAHETA of Los Angeles, Calif., on:
Not Being "Alone" in Choosing Heart
"I did think about the fact that Carrie [Underwood] did it, but I focused on me and how I would do it. I knew I'd give a taste of me in the song."
Being Better Off Red
"I wish [I was a natural redhead] — that'd be great, because then I wouldn't have to be worrying about dying the roots every five weeks. But no, my natural hair color is black."
Simon Saying: You Need More Personality
"He doesn't know me. He says I'm boring, but honestly I'm not. I'll just chill a little bit more because the nerves got to me a little [this week]."
Early-Onset Idol-spirations
"I've been wanting to audition since [age] 9! I had my face against the TV screen, wishing I was on the show."
The First Album She Ever Bought
"It was a Queen: Greatest Hits CD."
ADAM LAMBERT of Los Angeles, Calif., on:
His Non-Vocal Stylings
"Of course I upped the fashion [for this week], put on something a little dressier, a little funkier. Up to this point, it's been my own [fashion] eye."
His First Musical Theater Role
"It was a production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I was 10 years old, and I played Linus. It was downtown San Diego, and it was pretty wild!"
Simon Saying: You're Brilliant and Excruciatingly Bad
"Obviously, I'm a risk-taker. I'm not easy listening; I'm not going to be the most digestible for everybody across the board. I like to blow it out of the box".
His Regard for "Broadway"
"I take [Simon's] 'theatrical' comment as a compliment as opposed to a derogatory statement. A lot of the big [pop] artists are going the theatrical route. It's time for something like that."
The Tunes He's Terrified to Tackle
"Range-wise, there isn't anything I'd be scared to attempt. But as for styles, country week would be a stretch for me."
KRIS ALLEN of Conway, Ark., on:
Simon Saying: Chicks Are Gonna Dig You
"Um, it probably helped [get me into the Top 12]! I'm not going to lie."
The Theme Week He'd Love
"Doing The Beatles would be so amazing. I feel like you can do a lot with their songs. That would be the coolest thing ever."
Talk that Nick/Norman Disgraced the Idol Stage
"He's not mocking the show. He's doing what he knows how to do and that's entertain, and he's really, really good at it. Nobody [in the Top 36] feels anything towards him. We all love him to death."
Taking a Whack at Jacko, Despite the Judges' Warnings
"I decided on ["Man in the Mirror"] a while back, so it was a little scary. But I was really confident in what I was dong. I was just happy I didn't get any compared to him."
