Idol Chatter & Voice Views

During a conference call with the media Thursday afternoon, Quentin Alexander said he’ll never know if last week’s exchange with Harry Connick Jr. played a role in his elimination from American Idol.

But if it did, he still wouldn’t change a thing.

“It definitely could have played a role,” the 21-year-old from New Orleans said. “I’m never going to know. But it was a very genuine moment. To change it would change my journey on the show.

“If it had something to do with me going home, I’m fine with that,” added Quentin, who finished in sixth place among the Season 14 cast.

He’s referring, of course, to the much aired segment from last week in which he made his “this whole thing is wack” comment upon seeing best friend Joey Cook and buddy Rayvon Owen sitting in the bottom two.

Harry quickly chastised him for disrespecting the Idol process. Quentin, who had left the stage by that point, returned to Harry’s side to explain that he wasn’t calling Idol “wack,” he was simply referring to the plight two of his friends were in at that moment.

Idol wound up using the exchange to promote the show and aired it again at the beginning of Wednesday’s episode, with ended with Rayvon — not Quentin — getting the instant save from viewers at home.

Quentin said he never discussed the incident with Harry. They talked briefly after Wednesday’s show, but that topic didn’t come up.

“I moved on from it right after it happened, and I feel like he thought the same thing,” Quentin said. “It really wasn’t worth dwelling on.”

Harry was also Quentin’s harshest critic on the show, especially when it came to vocals. But Quentin said he appreciated the guidance.

“I do not feel like he judged me too harshly,” Quentin said. “I felt like he held me to a high standard, which is something I appreciate. I’m the least technically trained singer in the Top 10.”

Among other topics Quentin touched on during the conference call:

* He’s working on a series of short films which will focus on both his fashion and his music.

* He can see himself doing a really bluesy, soulful rock album, with touches of modern music. “I won’t say something that’s never been done before,” Quentin said, “but something that hasn’t been done enough.”

* He appreciates advice he got from Jennifer Lopez around the time of the Top 24 show, when he was wondering if he should tone down his performances to conform to what had been the norm on Idol. “She said, ‘Hold onto your art. It’s the one thing that makes you you.”

* He wasn’t surprised to see Rayvon get a fourth straight save, especially after the incredible high note he hit at the end of his cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.” “He’s an amazing, amazing singer,” he said of Rayvon.