URI:
   DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       DreDreamers Forum
  HTML https://dredreamersforum.createaforum.com
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       *****************************************************
   DIR Return to: DreBoard
       *****************************************************
       #Post#: 68--------------------------------------------------
       DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 5, 2012, 1:47 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       This Is DeAndre's News Articles / blogs Thread.
       Here Anyone Can Put Articles, News and Blogs About DeAndre
       Positive Or Negative.
       New Or Old they are put here in this thread , Thank you
       DreDreamers.
       #Post#: 69--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 5, 2012, 1:48 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       
       inShare
       'American Idol' contestant DeAndre Brackensick generating
       excitement in San Jose
       By Chuck Barney
       Contra Costa Times
       Posted:   04/02/2012 05:00:05 PM PDT
       Updated:   04/03/2012 07:00:53 AM PDT
       Click photo to enlarge
       DeAndre Brackensick performs in front of the Judges during
       'American Idol' on Wednesday, March 28...
       It's a sign of the times at San Jose's Oak Grove High School. On
       Monday morning, six students stationed in front of the campus
       shout, dance and wave as they work to call attention to a giant,
       star-spangled placard that reads: "American Idol -- Watch and
       vote DeAndre."
       That would be DeAndre Brackensick, the Oak Grove senior with the
       flowing curls and oh-so-sweet falsetto, who has done the school
       proud by becoming a Top 8 finalist on one of TV's most popular
       shows. While he's in Hollywood preparing for another
       performance, his friends and fellow students are doing their
       best to generate support for the singer in San Jose and beyond.
       "Smile and look like you mean it," drama teacher Jennifer
       Davidson instructs her sign-holders while passing motorists on
       Blossom Hill Road honk their approval. One driver in a van even
       rolls down her window, pumps her fist and yells her approval.
       That's the kind of excitement Brackensick, 17, has caused around
       here. Students and faculty members point out that Oak Grove,
       located in South San Jose, isn't always portrayed in a positive
       light. Many people, they say, still associate it with a horrific
       campus stabbing that made headlines in 2008. But Brackensick's
       "Idol" journey is helping to change that.
       DaQuane Fox, a senior, calls it "The D Effect."
       "Basically, DeAndre is boosting everyone's confidence and image
       of ourselves," he said during his lunch break. "He's uniting us.
       We need that around
       Advertisement
       here."
       Abigail Timoteo, a junior, agrees.
       "It's exciting to watch him on TV each week and to know that a
       friend is following his dream and making it big," she said. "He
       makes our school and our city look so much better."
       The soft-spoken Brackensick was a popular figure here even
       before "Idol." In the fall, he was elected Oak Grove's
       homecoming king, and he has appeared in numerous school talent
       shows and plays. A student with a passion for Hawaiian culture,
       he is president of Oak Grove's Polynesian Club and has been
       frequently spotted around campus strumming his ukulele.
       "He's just a super-friendly kind of guy who puts others before
       him," said J.J. Dominguez, a senior who was encouraged by
       Brackensick to join the Polynesian Club. "He's cool to
       everybody. He doesn't cause any drama."
       Brackensick tried out for "Idol" last year but was cut just
       before the show's Top 24 phase by judges Jennifer Lopez, Steven
       Tyler and Randy Jackson, who cited a lack of consistency.
       Instead of tossing in the towel, Brackensick became more
       determined. He signed up for his first formal vocal lessons and
       worked hard to improve his stage presence and confidence. This
       time, Lopez said she and her fellow judges would be "crazy
       people" not to include the San Jose kid among the Top 24. With
       his soft falsetto and retro R&B vibe, Brackensick is often
       compared to soul singers Eric Benet and Maxwell. Last week, he
       performed Benet's "Sometimes I Cry," and was praised by Benet on
       the results show.
       "It's been amazing to watch him grow," said senior Chelsea
       Sanders, Brackensick's best friend. "I remember when he was a
       freshman, and he was so shy and scared that you'd practically
       have to push him out on the stage. ... Now, I watch him on
       'Idol,' and it makes me cry."
       Sanders and other students, under the guidance of Davidson, are
       doing their best to assure that Brackensick's "Idol" dream
       continues as the competition gets more fierce. They've posted
       fliers with his smiling face all over the campus and outlying
       neighborhoods. Last Thursday, more than 200 fans gathered in the
       school's theater for a rally, during which the "Dre-Dreamers" --
       a group of girls age 3 to 15 -- sang out their support. And
       every week, friends and family gather at the High Five Pizza
       outlet in Brackensick's neighborhood to watch "Idol" and cheer
       on their main man.
       Even the school's cafeteria staff is getting into the spirit,
       serving special treats such as Hawaiian-style pizza on the days
       Brackensick performs. It's all enough to make Principal Martha
       Brazil beam with pride.
       "It's exciting to be able to say, 'We know this kid,' and to see
       his success galvanize the student body," she said. "There's a
       part of us up their with him on that 'Idol' stage."
       #Post#: 70--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 5, 2012, 2:31 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML http://hulalife.blogspot.com/2012/03/photo-httpwww.html
       Friday, March 30, 2012
       DeAndre Kamele Brackensick
       photo:
  HTML http://www.facebook.com/mytongphotography
       DeAndre Kamele Brackensick
       I'm sure you've seen this beautiful face many times if you are
       an avid American Idol fan. If not, and you need an introduction,
       then I introduce to you DeAndre Kamele Brackensick. He hails
       from San Jose, California, has the voice of an angel, a perfect
       face we could stare at all day, hair most of us envy, and an ami
       you just want to grab a hold of (okay I feel like a dirty old
       lady now)...but no matter how wonderful people praise him to be,
       his heart is so pure and humble and his gratitude is always
       sincere.
       At his age (17) and with his talent, I believe it is appropriate
       to ask, "Hello?! Where have you been all my life?!" I personally
       don't know anyone who can sing, play the ukulele, dance hula,
       model, be the leader of a high school Polynesian Club (over 70
       members), constructs tahitian costumes.....geez I can go on and
       on! But above all this amazement exploding out of this young
       man, he is calm, peaceful, respectful and content.
       People ask, "is he hapa-haole?" The truth is, he has not even a
       single drop of Hawaiian or any other Polynesian blood. As he
       will tell you, he is plain and simple black and white. He was
       raised to love the Polynesian culture and grew up surrounded by
       hula dancers and hawaiian music. He learned from a very young
       age to respect, love, and embrace the art of hula along with
       it's culture. He does not pretend to be Polynesian, he knows who
       he is and loves his ethnicity just as much as the culture he
       fell in love with. I respect and love him for that.
       My fingers don't stop on Wednesday nights and they often have a
       mean cramp right after 12 midnight because of my devotion to
       vote for him for two hours STRAIGHT with one water break. This
       is his second try at American Idol and this season he has been
       AMAZING and I've seen sides of him I never knew existed! After
       listening to him sing hawaiian music for some time now, who knew
       he would be such a blessed talent in the R&B genre? Every time I
       watch him on American Idol, I am in awe at how much he is
       growing as a person. He's not just our "Kamele", he is also our
       "DeAndre" and we love him, love him, love him and everything
       about him.
       I know that this journey is the highlight of his life at this
       moment and I hope he soaks in every moment and enjoy the company
       that surrounds him. His life will never be the same and his
       world now has many, many, more doors for him to venture through.
       I know that he'll have to grow a little bit of a tough skin
       being in the industry, but I know his humble heart will always
       shine through. I MUA Kamele!!
       Get your KAMELE shirt!!
       www.manoatoa.com
       #Post#: 71--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 5, 2012, 2:35 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML http://masterclasslady.com/2012/04/05/vocal-masterclass-article-for-american-idol-season-11-top-8-singers-music-from-the-eighties/
       { I'm only inserting the  Critique of Deandre , want to read the
       rest go to blog, This Blogger who is a voice coach is one of few
       bloggers who give REAL advice and critique without bashing or
       negativity to contestants AND She Loves DeAndre thinks he's a
       STAR! ]
       MasterClassLady.com is a must read blog well written and her
       critique is done gently and on point.
       DEANDRE BRACKENSICK: “I Like You” by DeBarge
       Strengths: DeAndre – I loved that you started this song in the
       audience. Now, there’s a first! And what a great song choice. It
       highlighted every strength and element in your vast vocal range.
       You moved and strutted like a star – truly owning the stage like
       you definitely should. I loved the hair flips – so cute and so
       smart, using every part of your package to full advantage.
       Your vocal riffs were spectacular – what you do is just
       incredibly difficult and yet, you make it look and sound so easy
       and effortless. My favorite vocal twist was the staccato
       arpeggio you sneaked in toward the end of this song.
       And yet, it wasn’t just about your signature head voice – we
       were also treated to the expressive and almost raspy presence of
       your full voice. This provided such a strong contrast to your
       falsetto segments. Just wonderful.
       You communicated the song exceptionally well, interacting
       playfully with your audience. Just a spectacular performance and
       it left me wanting more! Bravo DeAndre.
       Critique:DeAndre – now you need to focus on adding more depth to
       your mid to lower range. All that beautiful falsetto cannot be
       abandoned when you enter into this area of your vocal range.
       In fact, it has to be cleverly mixed with just the right amount
       of chest voice in order to achieve a seamless quality from top
       to bottom. Although, this week, the movement from your falsetto
       to natural range had greatly improved.
       At times, we are hearing two entirely different voices when you
       sing. The falsetto should be an extension of your natural voice
       and vice versa. In order to achieve this, you must harness
       energy and support from the diaphragm to guide and focus your
       voice with ease and comfort.
       Practicing scales that begin at the lower end of your vocal
       spectrum and move toward the higher end will help you achieve
       this goal. You will identify the subtle breaks in your voice and
       therefore apply the correct diaphragmatic support to strengthen
       the break.
       However, this cannot be achieved overnight. Time and patience is
       key here and, as you physically mature, so will your voice. The
       depth and added resonance does develop later in young male
       singers but the technique will speed the process.
       However, your phrasing and musicality, your relaxed stage
       presence and star quality are brilliant and I know that this is
       just the start of a very lucrative career for you, DeAndre.
       Congratulations once again!
       #Post#: 78--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 6, 2012, 12:03 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       DeAndre Brackensick 'had a feeling' he'd leave 'Idol'
       By Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY 4/6/12
       Updated 1h 27m ago
       CAPTION
       By Michael Becker/FOX
       As a wild-card contestant who made the finals only by impressing
       Steven Tyler, DeAndre Brackensick knew he wouldn't be getting
       any extra love from the judges when the voters said it was time
       for him to go. And when Ryan Seacrest started building the
       Bottom Three Thursday, "I just had a feeling it was going to be
       me," says the falsetto-singing teen from San Jose, Calif.,
       speaking with USA TODAY Friday morning.
       DeAndre, who finished eighth this season, says he learned from
       his run on Idol that he should stick with what he know when it
       comes to singing. "Because my voice is so different, I know what
       fits my voice," he says. "When I listen to other people and sing
       the way other people want me to do, it always crashes and burns.
       I just need to stick with what I do best and how I sing best."
       DeAndre developed his unique from growing up singing traditional
       Hawaiian music and listening to old-school R&B.
       "Back in the day, everybody was a falsetto singer," he says,
       thinking back to Motown greats like Smokey Robinson and The
       Temptations' Eddie Kendricks. "Nowadays, it's so unappreciated.
       I want to bring it back. There's a few of us here and there,
       like Eric Benet and my idol, Maxwell. I really want to bring
       that back."
       But his falsetto sound turned out to be polarizing. Even though
       a lot of people loved what DeAndre could do with his voice, just
       as many people hated it. DeAndre picked up on that vibe while on
       the show. However, he says, his efforts to show that he was more
       than just a falsetto singer may have hurt him more than it
       helped him.
       Video:  DeAndre glad to leave 'Idol' on 'a high note'
       "I think that set me back a little bit," he says. "I noticed how
       much people didn't really like falsetto, so I stopped doing it
       for a couple of weeks, to show them that I'm not just a falsetto
       singer. But from that, I think I lost more votes and more
       respect, more respect from myself for doubting myself and not
       doing what I wanted to do.
       "It took me a couple of weeks to realize that this is what I
       want to do. This is why I want to be an artist. I don't want to
       sell you something that I'm not.
       DeAndre first came to the attention of Idol viewers during the
       Hollywood rounds of Season 10. He says getting the extra time to
       work on his performing gave him a confidence he didn't have a
       year ago.
       "That was a big problem with me last year," he says. "I just
       didn't believe in myself, and I just didn't push myself hard
       enough. I'm just so glad I did get cut back then, because I
       wouldn't have gotten as far as I did this year."
       Even though he feels that Jimmy Iovine's comments about him may
       have hurt him with the voters, DeAndre says he has a lot of
       respect for the record executive. "You need the negative to get
       further in life and be able to build," he says.
       As he gets ready for the Idols summer tour and beyond, DeAndre
       says he plans to "just take every opportunity I can get and push
       myself to make more opportunities. I just want to keep going
       forward in music and take everything that comes my way."
  HTML http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2012/04/deandre-brackensick-american-idol/1#.T38igNnYG-D
       #Post#: 79--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 6, 2012, 12:23 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       'American Idol': San Jose's DeAndre Brackensick eliminated
       By Chuck Barney
       Contra Costa Times
       Posted:   04/05/2012 09:14:25 PM PDT
       Updated:   04/05/2012 10:23:23 PM PDT
       'American Idol': 80's Night
       1 of 20
       'American Idol': 80's Night
       DeAndre Brackensick is eliminated during 'American Idol' on
       Thursday, April 5, 2012. (Michael Becker / FOX)
       DeAndre Brackensick's incredible "American Idol" journey came to
       an end Thursday night as the San Jose teenager was eliminated
       from television's biggest singing contest.
       Brackensick, 17, was part of a Bottom 3 that included Hollie
       Cavanagh and Elise Testone. After being told that he was this
       week's lowest vote-getter, he sang Stevie Wonder's "Master
       Blaster" in hopes of earning a "save" from judges Jennifer
       Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, but was denied.
       "I get only one vote and, unfortunately, we're sending you home
       tonight," said Lopez, who had been Brackensick's biggest
       supporter during the competition.
       Brackensick's performance of DeBarge's "I Like It" on Wednesday
       actually received rave reviews from the judges, but America's
       voters clearly didn't agree. Neither did "Idol" mentor Jimmy
       Iovine, who early on Thursday's show indicated that Brackensick
       could be in trouble.
       Still, Brackensick, a senior at Oak Grove High School, made a
       major impression on America's most popular reality series. After
       failing to crack the Top 24 last season, he came back with added
       determination during a tryout session in San Diego.
       With a retro vibe, a sweet falsetto and a wide smile, he emerged
       from the grueling Hollywood rounds to qualify as one of the
       show's Top 24 finalists and then made the Top 13 as a judge's
       wild-card pick.
       Brackensick, who only began taking formal vocal lessons in the
       past year, admitted in an earlier interview,
       Advertisement
       that "Idol" has helped him grow as a performer and taught him a
       few things about himself.
       "I've learned that I'm good enough to be here. At first, I had a
       couple of doubts after getting cut last season," he said. "My
       self confidence slipped at times."
       Even with his ouster, Brackensick's association with "Idol" is
       not yet done. Because he was a top-10 finalist, he qualified to
       be part of the show's concert tour this summer.
  HTML http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_20337923/american-idol-san-joses-deandre-brackensick-eliminated
       #Post#: 95--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: PGVolley Date: April 6, 2012, 5:59 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Some of you may know about the site mjsbigblog where they post
       All things Idol.  Here she posted his satellite interview and
       some of his TV interviews.
  HTML http://www.mjsbigblog.com/american-idol-11-deandre-brackensick-satellite-and-interview-roundup-videos.htm
       this is a repost from what I posted in the TV interview thread.
       #Post#: 180--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 8, 2012, 4:39 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/television/american-idol-recap-deandre-brackensick-latest-boot-article-1.1057155?localLinksEnabled=false
       'American Idol' recap: Deandre Brackensick latest to get the
       boot
       Even support of J. Lo can't save Brackensick from elimination
       Comments
       By Jim Farber / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
       Friday, April 6, 2012, 12:01 AM
       
       
       
       Print
       AMERICAN IDOL: L-R: Hollie Cavanagh and DeAndre Brackensick
       perform in front of the Judges on AMERICAN IDOL airing
       Wednesday, April 4 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. CR: Michael
       Becker / FOX.
       Michael Becker/FOX
       Hollie Cavanagh and Deandre Brackensick perform on "American
       Idol" Wednesday night
       Even the love of J. Lo couldn't save Deandre Brackensick from
       being booted from "American Idol" Thursday night.
       While the bootylicious judge made clear she had voted to use the
       panel's one "save" of the season to rescue Brackensick from
       America's thumbs-down decision, the nays of Steven Tyler and
       Randy Jackson's over-ruled her.
       Actually, Brackensick has been a favorite of all the judges of
       late, drawing repeated praise for the poise and pitch of his
       falsetto. But mentor Jimmy Iovine singled him out as "the
       weakest of the boys," and his choice of genre may well have
       worked against him with the general voting body.
       Brackensick has favored hard-line R&B songs (covering genre
       artists like Debarge and Eric Benet), marginalizing him from the
       pop mainstream.
       Sharing the bottom three with Brackensick was the singer most
       viewers probably thought would be shown the door this week:
       Hollie Cavanagh. She got the worst reviews from the judges this
       time for her version of "Flashdance (What A Feeling)," which
       inspired Iovine to remark, "where’s the feeling?"
       Also endangered was Elise Testone, who had soared in the weeks
       leading up to this. But her pitch wavered badly during "I Wanna
       Know What Love Is," which caused Iovine to label her performance
       "an old-fashioned choke."
       In the process, it provided a sobering "Idol" lesson: A singer
       can go from favored to endangered in the space of a song.
       Read more:
  HTML http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/television/american-idol-recap-deandre-brackensick-latest-boot-article-1.1057155#ixzz1rUHpPF33
       #Post#: 190--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 8, 2012, 5:52 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s91/american-idol/interviews/a375414/american-idol-deandre-brackensick-on-jennifer-lopez-eric-benet.htmlDigital<br
       />Spy
       Home > Reality TV > American Idol > Interview
       Sunday, April 8, 2012
       Reality TV
       'American Idol' DeAndre Brackensick on Jennifer Lopez, Eric
       Benet
       Published Sunday, Apr 8 2012, 9:32am EDT | By Jennifer Still |
       Add comment
       Tweet 4
       Email this story
       One of the most memorable contestants on American Idol's 11th
       season - and certainly one of Jennifer Lopez's favorites -
       DeAndre Brackensick made his mark on the singing competition
       with his unique R&B falsetto. At only 17 years old, the San
       Jose, California native received weekly praise from the judges
       and fans alike. However, DeAndre's luck changed during '80s
       week, when his cover of Debarge's 'I Like It' failed to impress
       voters. After singing for his life, the panel decided not to use
       their one save and he was sent home.
       DeAndre spoke to reporters about his time in the competition and
       his hopes for the future...
       DeAndre Brackensick is eliminated on American Idol
       © Fox
       DeAndre Brackensick sings for his life on American Idol
       © Fox
       Why do you think you didn't get the votes to stay when you
       received such positive feedback from the judges?
       "I just think everything happens for a reason. I think partially
       I got kicked off because my voice or my style isn't pop enough.
       I'm trying to bring something back and I'm still in the process.
       Maybe that's something that got lost and isn't appreciated with
       this new generation. But also, everyone is just so good. Someone
       has to go home every week, you know? It had to be me this week.
       I just have to take what I got and be grateful for what I did
       with this experience."
       For your final save song, a lot of people probably expected you
       to pick something more R&B. What made you choose otherwise?
       "Because I had a feeling that I was just going to not get saved.
       I was saved already from the wild card, so even though that song
       didn't show off anything, I wanted to leave on a happy note, on
       something fun. I didn't want it to be something sad or go back
       on things I'd done in the competition. I wanted to be happy
       about what I did accomplish for this whole thing."
       Did you get to talk to the judges or other contestants after
       your elimination?
       "The judges came to talk to me and told me to keep doing what
       I'm doing, that I should use my life to pursue music. I got to
       see some of the contestants while I was packing and it's all
       love. Everyone is amazing."
       Jimmy Iovine had some harsh words about your performance on
       Wednesday (April 4). What did you make of that?
       "I don't think he was harsh at all. He has his own opinion -
       everyone does. From Jimmy, the band, people who don't like me,
       my friends and family... There is nothing but love for him, I
       have nothing but respect for him. Even though it came off like
       that, it drove me harder to try and prove him wrong. In the end,
       he helped me to become a better artist. It doesn't bother me at
       all. It comes along with the territory. It makes me want to
       drive myself further and I really loved how the judges stood by
       my back."
       Speaking of the judges, what was your relationship like with
       them?
       "I love our judges - what you see on TV is exactly what's off
       TV. They've been supporting me from the beginning, so even
       though I did get eliminated, I'm glad I got eliminated how I
       did. I went off happy - it wasn't a sad moment in the way where
       I had a regret or I did something wrong. I have no regrets. I
       did what I needed to do, I just got cut because of the
       competition."
       Jennifer Lopez wanted to use the save on you. Did you ever get
       an explanation for why Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler didn't
       agree?
       "I didn't ask because I didn't really want to. I just think
       because I was a wild card, I think I don't need to be saved
       again. This is my second chance from last year with Idol, then I
       got another second chance with the wild card. You only get so
       many second chances in life. You have to make good of what you
       have. Even getting this far, I can build something off of it. I
       think they agreed - I don't need the whole show to be who I want
       to be."
       American Idol Season 11 - The Top 9 perform - DeAndre
       Brackensick
       © Fox / Michael Becker
       American Idol Season 11 - The Top 8 Perform - Hollie Cavanagh
       and DeAndre Brackensick
       © Fox / Michael Becker
       What did you learn about yourself from this experience?
       "Just that I'm able to be at that level with everybody else. It
       took me a long while to realize that - I'm in the same
       competition with everyone else, I'm good enough. Why should I
       feel intimidated? These are my family. I support them and they
       support me. My idol [Eric Benet] came over and told me that I
       did a great job with one of his songs. I can do what I want to
       do - I am able. I gained a lot of confidence."
       Yes, Eric Benet really took to you. What was it like meeting
       him?
       "That was amazing! I think that was the highlight of my entire
       Idol experience. He's a big inspiration and a great guy."
       You get to go on tour with the other Idol finalists. What will
       that be like?
       "Everybody has their fun moments, you know? It'll be a fun
       experience all around because we're all so close and have this
       great bond with each other. I really want people to come watch
       the show and see how personal and individual we are. You can't
       compare anyone, because we're all so different and uniquely
       talented."
       How difficult do you think it will be to go back to your normal
       life now?
       "It's going to be somewhat weird because I'm just so used to
       being busy, busy with the Idol life. I think it'll be easy to
       slide back in but I hope not for too long. Hopefully then I'll
       be busy for the rest of my life after that!"
       What are your plans now that you've left?
       "I get back home in about a week and I'm not going to go back to
       school because I'd only be there for a few weeks. I'm going to
       be homeschooled and do independent study because I have to go
       back for tour practices. I can't wait to go see all the support
       I had from home, though. I'm going to prom on April 21, too."
       What advice did you receive on the show that you'll carry with
       you in the future?
       "Just to stick to myself. That was one of the things I was
       struggling with because I always wanted to please people, but if
       you're yourself, things come together and people love you better
       when you do what you want. The judges voted me in because they
       loved me, so why would I change myself if that's not what I got
       in for in the first place, you know?"
       How helpful was it for you to have so much music knowledge in
       the competition?
       "It does help - you just get thrown with a whole bunch of
       different genres. You know different styles, genres and decades
       of music and you have song choices the whole game of Idol. That
       was so helpful and to know the history of music, to know old and
       new things, just to know what you're singing and how to sing
       them is really important."
       Randy said that he would have done a record with you like
       Debarge's. What kind of artist do you aim to be?
       "I want to be R&B mostly, with some soul. You know, like the
       falsettos of old school stuff. I want to bring back that a lot
       because I think music is going back to that. People need to know
       there are other things. I want to bring back instruments because
       people don't use them as much anymore. Everything is done on
       computers. It's not that I don't love music nowadays because I
       love new stuff, but I want people to know that there are other
       things out there."
       American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on Fox
       #Post#: 315--------------------------------------------------
       Re: DeAndre   News Articles / blogs Thread
       By: 123shyaway Date: April 10, 2012, 12:06 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       from MTV News.
       DeAndre Brackensick Talks 'American Idol,' Hair, Haters
       'I love it; my hair is a big part of me,' latest castoff tells
       MTV News of his lustrous locks.
       By James Montgomery (@positivnegativ)
       Since getting the boot from "American Idol" last week, DeAndre
       Brackensick has made no bones about the fact that he had "no
       regrets" about anything he did on the show — in particular, his
       decision to flash his feathery falsetto, even if he did know it
       was divisive, to say the very least.
       "My voice is one of the voices where either you love it or you
       can't stand it, and I think &#91;'Idol' mentor] Jimmy [Iovine]
       didn't really have a feel for my voice," he told MTV News. "But
       it's fine, because I take everything he does say to me to heart.
       ... I have much love for Jimmy."
       And perhaps realizing that some folks weren't the biggest fans
       of his voice, Brackensick is adamant about the fact that he
       avoided reading anything written about him during his time on
       the show — a move which he admits was easier said than done.
       "That was probably the hardest part; not trying to give in to
       people's nonsense. I never read anything about me. I made that
       mistake last year," he said of getting to Hollywood Week in
       2011. "It's horrible. Anybody who does try out for next season,
       just stay off of that, period. Because it's just words. Like,
       dude, look where you're at. It still hurts, because people are
       just ignorant at times. Nah, I stay off that."
       Then again, he was aware that most commenters seemed to focus on
       his hair rather than his singing — and surprisingly, he didn't
       have a problem with that. I mean, it is an incredible mane,
       after all.
       "I take that as a compliment, you know?" he laughed. "That's my
       trademark. It's part of who I am, and it's natural, which is not
       common nowadays. So I love it; my hair is a big part of me."
       *****************************************************
   DIR Next Page