Thursday, April 19, 2012
Local singer still in the running after another bottom-three finish.
Elise Testone surprised everyone this week when the local songstress squeaked through to another round of "American Idol." Tennessee singer Colton Dixon found himself in the bottom three for the first time, and that was his curtain call. Judges used their one save option a week earlier, so Dixon went home. Heading into the final six weeks of competition, Testone was widely regarded as the "underdog." Even judge Jennifer Lopez hinted that she was failing to connect emotionally with "Idol's" teenybopper viewership. Testone, a week after nearly going home in a nail-biter elimination, had to give strong performances this week. Though her rendition of "No One" by Alicia Keys was solid, her later performance of "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye …
Friday, April 6, 2012
Local 'American Idol' contestant falls into bottom 3, but survives cut.
Local soul singer Elise Testone found herself in the bottom three again Thursday on "American Idol" following a Wednesday performance that was widely criticized as one of her worst. But America opted to send home 17-year-old Deandre Brackensick, sparing Testone, a 28-year-old Mount Pleasant resident who hails from New Jersey. This is third time in "Idol's" 11th season that Tetsone found herself in the bottom 3, and most critics blamed her Wednesday performance of the Foreigner ballad, "I Want to Know What Love Is." Read full coverage of Testone on "Idol." See photos and videos. Jimmy Iovine, a music industry executive and show mentor, said Testone had "an old-fashioned choke ... She didn't even sing the tune," he said. Last week, Testone …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Local 'American Idol' contestant survives to contest's Top 8.
Mount Pleasant resident and "American Idol" contestant Elise Testone is safe for another week on the popular FOX singing competition. Vote results announced Wednesday revealed that voters passed Testone show's Top 8. Judges were fond of Testone's rendition of Led Zepplin's "Whole Lotta Love." "I wasn't sure you were going to pull that off because nobody can pull that off. You made Robert Plant proud tonight, girl," Steven Tyler said. See ongoing Testone coverage on Patch. Testone's performance and her look was reminiscent of a younger Stevie Nicks, the episode's mentor. It was an observation not lost on Idol mentor and music producer Jimmy Iovine. "Last night, Elise did herself and 'American Idol' a lot of good," Iovine said. "She took …
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Mount Pleasant soul singer moves into Top 9 following stand-out Wednesday performance.
Mount Pleasant soul singer Elise Testone has made it into the Top 9 in the American Idol singing competition. The advancement ensures her a spot in the Idol mansion. Her placement in the Top 10 already secured her a spot on the American Idol tour. Her Wednesday evening performance of Billy Joel's "Vienna" won over judges and apparently warmed the hearts of Idol viewers. "I was concerned about 'Vienna,' because no one knows the song," said Idol mentor and music producer Jimmy Iovine. "But Elise stood by it and wanted to sing it, so she must have known something." Judge Randy Jackson said Testone's delivery was so on-point "only she could have done it." The 1977 Joel classic is obscure and difficult to deliver, and given its age, bloggers …
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Terrie Gates
4:42 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Elise, You are #1!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are the best of the group by far. We look forward to seeing you named American Idol! more ›