Idol Chatter & Voice Views

About the series …

Below is my latest interview with one of Idol’s season eight semifinalists. I’ve decided to give this endeavor a name: Operation IF.

Now, IF could be an acronym for Idol’s Folly. But since I prefer to be positive, let’s think of it this way — If Idol hadn’t switched it’s semifinal process this season, these performers might have made the Idol finals and might be touring the country this summer.

That, folks, was a talented group of semifinalists we saw in season eight, when an Idol format switch resulted in too many contestants being discarded too quickly. And since no singer deserves to be judged on one two-minute performance, Operation IF will let you know what the semifinalists are up to and point you to places where you can find more of their music.

In many cases, I guarantee you will be impressed by what Idol missed out on.

Now, on with the show.

Next up: Arianna Afsar (gotta love that name). Links to interviews with other Idol semifinalists appear below.

American Idol introduced us to Arianna Afsar during the Phoenix audition episode. You remember. Arianna talked about the Adopt a Grandfriend program she founded at her high school; then wowed the judges with a rendition of “Put Your Records On.”

Unfortunately, we didn’t see much more of Arianna until week three of the semifinals, when she performed Abba’s “The Winner Takes It All.” This time, the judges weren’t wowed, and Arianna’s Idol run was over.

She made it home in time to graduate with her class at Westview High School in San Diego, Calif. — with a 4.1 GPA no less. Next, she heads to UCLA, where she plans to major in musical theater.

Idol wasn’t Arianna’s first time on a national stage. At age 13, she was first runner-up in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition. She won the talent portion, with her singing, of course.

Here’s the Idol Chatter interview with Arianna, now 17. An audio clip also appears below.

Idol Chatter: What prompted you to try out for Idol in season eight?

Arianna: “I was finally old enough, so that was definitely a huge excuse to go and audition. I’ve been watching it (Idol) ever since the beginning. It’s just so surreal, even though it’s been such a long time. It’s really unbelievable to think that I was on the show and to literally, personally know the American Idol. It’s so weird because once you’re in the system, you don’t think it’s that big of a deal because you’re a part of it.”

Chatter: What was your most memorable Idol experience?

Arianna: “They weren’t able to show it, but the very first day of Hollywood Week I performed ‘Summertime’ from ‘Porgy and Bess,’ and I got the best reviews that I had ever gotten from the judges. Simon, to some extent, called me brilliant. Paula said, ‘I never heard this side of you.’ Kara said, ‘You have such a unique talent.’ They all were just raving about it. Having all four judges just love my performance was definitely amazing.”

Chatter: Now, how about the semifinals. Under the format this year, you had 2 minutes to sell yourself to America. Two minutes to sing for your Idol life. What was that like?

Arianna: “It was really hard. I chose my song in an attempt to — I mean, I love Abba. I grew up on it. It was one of my dad’s favorite bands. And so, I think that song is beautiful. I tried to chose a song that was an old classic and make it a modern twist. Obviously, they (the judges) didn’t like it. Looking back, would I choose a different song? Probably, yes. But I still stand by my decision and I feel that I didn’t get through for a reason. Hopefully, something else will come of it. I had a great experience.

“It obviously was very nerve wracking. I can’t even explain the nerves that I had right before I went on stage. They even had a dress rehearsal where they had a stage, an audience. They tried to make it seem as much as possible like the actual performance. But it’s just going through your mind, ‘Wow, millions of viewers are watching me live.’ And it’s really hard to just stay focused. That was my first time doing it. I’m still proud of my performance.”

Chatter: For viewers, under the new format, it didn’t seem like we got to know the contestants. In past years, we’d get to watch them sing week after week and had a chance to develop favorites.

Arianna: “And it’s hard because in the last couple of years, when they had the top 24, you had room to make a mistake. But in the top 36, they go from 36 to 13 in one second. And you don’t any room to make a mistake. You have to choose the right song from the very beginning, or else you’re out of luck. So it’s definitely a different format that you had to do and, obviously, I made a mistake and it ended up biting me in the butt.

Chatter: So, you leave Idol and go back to high school. What type of reaction did you get?

Arianna: “Thankfully I didn’t get any sympathy, which I was really appreciative of. I was afraid that, people would say, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ They have nothing to be sorry about. It really just went back to normal. It was pretty chill. I enjoyed not being treated differently.”

Chatter: What questions did you get about your time on Idol?

Arianna: “A lot of people were asking, ‘Is Simon really that mean?’ (she laughs) Realistically, I probably know him as well as everyone else does. I didn’t get to see him outside of the show or anything like that so I had to pretty much just tell that to everybody. That was the main question. A lot of people are now asking if I can audition again. I can’t because I did make it to the round where people vote for you on national television. So that was my one shot. I feel that it was a great experience, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Chatter: Idol made a lot of changes to its format this year. The semifinals worked differently, with a top 36 instead of a top 24. There was a fourth judge. There was the judges’ save. As a contestant, what changes did you like? What changes didn’t you like?

Arianna: “Well, personally I liked the top 24 version better because of the fact that you have the room to make a mistake because they only cut a limited number of people each week instead of making such a huge cut.

“I like the fourth judge. I think it adds balance and I think Kara definitely knows what she’s talking about. She’s a talented performer and songwriter. I think that’s great. So I guess the changes balanced themselves out. Hopefully, next year, they’ll go back to the top 24.”

Chatter: So what have you been up to in terms of performing since Idol?

Arianna: “I just finished doing Starlight. It’s a regional theater in San Diego. They put on ‘High School Musical,’ and I was Gabriella in that. I just got my paycheck, so I’m really excited about that. That was really cool to be able to do that, to get on the stage and be more involved in musical theater as well as pop singing.

“Now, I’m just going back on auditions. I had an audition today and I had one yesterday. I’m just going full throttle. And I’m also preparing for musical theater in the fall. So I’m pretty busy. I’m also working with a guitarist here in San Diego who is amazing …. and we’re working together, putting up some music.”

Chatter: Are you doing an songwriting?

Arianna: “On MySpace, I have a couple of original songs (”You Make Me Feel” and “Am I Done”) posted up. As I said, I’m working with a guitarist. I’m also working with this great pianist who I’ve known and worked with before. He’s the one who’s actually playing the piano on my originals. And I’m also working with him on song-writing. I’m trying to do as much songwriting as possible.”

Chatter: So do you think your focus going forward will be musical theater?

Arianna: “I really enjoy more of the pop (music). I actually really, really enjoy acting. It’s a very close second to singing. But I really like the TV film acting more over the musical theater. But if I do well in musical theater, that’s where I’m going to be. It doesn’t really matter to me where I go, just as long as I perform as my career.”

Chatter: So where did this love of performing come from?

Arianna: ”The one time I started performing was when I was 7 and I went to a karaoke restaurant with my family, and we all just decided to go up and sing a song. And so I sang a song and I was like, ‘Oh, that wasn’t that bad.’ Afterward I just did this little musical and then I just kept on performing and my passion just grew. And now I can’t think of doing anything else with my life besides performing.”

Chatter: So, let’s say you get to make an album. Will it be a pop album? What type of sound can fans expect?

Arianna: “I’m not sure quite yet. I’m really influenced by jazz. If I could live in any decade, it would be the ’30s or the ’40s because I just love the music that was produced in that time era. I also like a lot of blues music, too. So, it will obviously be pop, but with heavy influence in jazz and blues, hopefully.

Chatter: Is making an album something you’re thinking about at this point or is that far off?

Arianna: “I definitely want to make an album. As I said, I’m doing a lot of auditions. My main hope is to get through Disney or something like that and then make an album through that. We’ll see where everything goes.”

Chatter: Looking back, how do you think the Idol experience will work out for you?

Arianna: “Obviously, it didn’t give me my big break. Realistically, it only does that for a couple of people. But I think it’s a great resume booster. If anything it strengthened my confidence as a performer because I was able to make it out of thousands of people into the top 36. It also gives me a lot of exposure. When I go into auditions, casting directors have noticed me and recognized me. Overall, it’s a great experience.”

Chatter: I’m sure you kept watching the show through the finals. How did you feel about the way it turned out? How did you feel about the fact that Kris won?

Arianna: “I thought all of the top 13 were phenomenal performers, and they all deserved to be there. In terms of like the final two, Adam and Kris were both great. No matter who won, they’re both going to have great careers.”

For more Arianna:

Check out her MySpace page, where you’ll find those two original songs, “You Make Me Feel” and “Am I Done.” You’ll also find a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Beautiful Disaster” there.

Check out AriannaMusic on YouTube, including covers of “Fidelity” and “Yesterday.”

Previous interviews with semifinalists:

Kendall Beard

Kristen McNamara

Brent Keith