Update: Results — Anoop Desai was not one of the top three contestants voted in from Tuesday night’s performances, but could still make the top 12 if he is chosen by the judges as one of three wild cards. Out of 24 million votes cast Tuesday night, only 20,000 separated Desai and the contestant receiving the third most votes.
By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Anoop Desai, a graduate student at UNC and a graduate of East Chapel Hill High School, made it past the judges to the top 36 of the “American Idol†competition.
Desai performed with 11 other finalists Tuesday night, hoping to receive enough votes to put him in the top three of his group to go to the next round of the competition. Judges said his rendition of Monica’s “Angel of Mine†was not his best performance, but said he has a “massive likeability factor†working in his favor.
In an “American Idol†interview, Desai explained how the death of a friend – Eve Carson – encouraged him to pursue his dreams.
“She was one of those people that everyone wanted to know, and she wanted to know everyone, too,†he said. “She made the world a better place, and so when she died … everyone sort of decided that we need to up our game. We need to do something to make up for the huge hole that is left by her passing.â€
While at UNC as an undergraduate, Desai was a member of the Clef Hangers, a popular all-male a cappella group. Clef Hanger members and alumni, as well as other UNC students, have started Facebook groups and organized Idol watching parties in support of Desai.
Scott Morgan, a Clef Hanger alumnus, said when he first saw Desai perform as a freshman, he immediately noticed his “natural stage presence and amazing solo voice.â€
“The cool thing is that you could see the impact he had on the group,†Morgan said. “Sort of like a rising tide lifts all boats type of thing…. It seemed like the whole group got a bit better when he was out front.â€
Wow, does this story ever need an update on the update!