Smallscreen Features

Allison Iraheta won't be crying, baby; the interview

By April MacIntyre May 9, 2009, 18:23 GMT

03/05/2009 - Allison Iraheta - Iraheta, 17, spoke to Monsters and Critics and other online journalists who got a chance to ask her about the competition and what lay ahead for the red-headed dynamo whose voice belies her chronological years. © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos

Former "American Idol" contestant Allison Iraheta may be gone, but she hardly will be forgotten.

The soulful teenager has appeared in other singing competitions, but her work on "Idol" has secured her career in music.

Allison joined Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen for rock night, mentored by Guns and Roses' guitarist Slash, who was impressed by her vocal maturity.

Iraheta, 17, spoke to Monsters and Critics and other online journalists who got a chance to ask her about the competition and what lay ahead for the red-headed dynamo whose voice belies her chronological years.

Talk about the results show, how you felt.

Allison:  It was weird, I’ve been in the bottom three so many times and I was just really prepared for anything.  I’ve got to say, everyone … is prepared and when it was down to me and Danny I was like, it’s either him or me and it was me.  So I’m pretty happy that I made it that far, and I’m just glad that I got the opportunity to be on that stage.

How did the duo selection with Adam come about?

Allison: Well we thought about doing a duet, awhile now, I think, and we were like, oh we’ve got to do one, it’s going to be fun.  'Slow Ride' was on the list and we were like that sounds like fun, we should really do that.  And then he had originally told me about his friend Abrea that has done his hair for two years and I was like, hey I want to go to her, she does his hair really well!  And then she hooked me up and we totally just really had fun and it was great.  We’re even planning on doing that song on the tour.  It’s going to be fun.

What did you think of the four person panel?   What does Kara bring to the show?

Allison: Change is good.  And I loved Kara.  And it’s awesome that they change it up.  You know you don’t want to be stuck on seeing the same thing, right.  So I think it’s pretty cool that they bring something different to the table.

Can you think of your favorite judgment comment that you got over the time that you were on the show?

Allison:  I really like the fact that they say that I was different, that is was just very different.  But there was the one were they said that I was different.  And I really like that, because I stayed true to myself and I reminded myself of that so much being here.  It’s been a long ride and I’ve been so happy to be a part of it.

How did the guys treat you, the sole female survivor?

Allison:  It was so fun, like they would pick on me, because they were having like a little argument and I’d be like, “yeah” and they’re like 'You stay out of this, you’re only 12 years old.'  And I’m like 'aw.' It’s love; you know it’s so cool.  It felt like I was their little sister, and they would really stand up for me.  And the cool thing is that they would help me with like song choice and we would all help ourselves and it was great.

Simon was hard on you...

Allison: Yes, I got this all day today and it was like every week it was so boring, I’m boring and I have no personality and I’m like, 'Okay Simon,' you know I’m really not the kind of person that talks back, you know it’s just like holding respect.  I just don’t talk back.  But I mean the show; he was like, 'Start begging.'  And I was like, 'You know what that’s it.'  I really just felt it was the perfect time to standup for myself and I was like, 'Alright, I’m not who you are saying I am.  I’m not boring, first of all and you say I don’t talk,' and I was like 'I might as well just talk.' So it was really just me, I was like; I feel this is the perfect time for me to come in.

The Spanish singing-will you record in it too?

Allison: Definitely.  I mean if I have the opportunity to, I definitely want to bring back what I first started doing.  I started singing in Spanish, so it would be great, actually.

Did the stage mishap rattle you?

Allison: We didn’t know how to react, because it was rehearsal, and it was a great friend of ours, the stage manager Debbie and we were just like, 'wow.'  But you know what, (stage manager) Debbie's doing better and we were just conscious of what was going on and we wanted to know how she was during the show and we heard she was doing fine.  So I guess that really helped us continue on and try to do what we were going to do.  And I guess we did.

Were you guys all a little distracted?

Allison: We were, I have to say we were all.  I think during each of our performances, we probably started off a little shaky, but then I think we all just got into place and continued on with what we were supposed to do.  We had to just go on with the show.

Could you talk a little about working with Slash?

Allison:  When I heard it was Slash I was like 'Oh my gosh, Jesus, I cannot wait to meet him, he’s so awesome.' I’ve been a fan for so long and it is insane that I got to like sing while he was playing for us.  It was such a good opportunity and he was like, I think he was like one of the best mentor’s we’ve had, hands down.  And we were just so happy he took time out of his schedule to come to the show and help us out.

Opinion on Daughtry and his band?

Allison: It made me feel better.  He’s done so much, he’s done well and if he’s done well, and he didn’t have to make it all the way to the top, it gives me a chance, hopefully.  And I hope I do as well as he does.  Yes.

How do you process the superficial appearance comments?

Allison:  I was like come on, I’m singing here.  But I think overall they all look for what you’re going to do as a selling artist.  I know there were a lot of risks I did in dressing and all that, but I had fun with it, so I think that’s what mattered.

Talk about the song selecting process...

Allison: It really didn’t affect anything, because I felt like I was doing pretty good.  So I was just like, 'I’m prepared for anything.  If I’m in the bottom three again and I’m actually eliminated, I’m ready, it’s okay,' because I knew I’d be leaving on a good note.  I honestly feel like I did pretty good and I’m pretty proud of myself.

Your education, where are you with it?

Allison: Well it depends if I just take my GED test, I’m totally done.  But right now I’m still just working on some other stuff at school, I really want to continue with the Idol school, it’s so fun and I have a great teacher.

I was home schooled, so I was doing a lot of things ahead of time.  So while I was a junior I was doing a lot of other stuff ahead, I was pretty much ahead.  And I’m almost done with school, pretty much.

What were you thinking during your last performance?

Allison:  I was crying and I was singing a song called Cry Baby.  But I really felt like — it felt so different because it was like, alright, they’re not going to judge me on this, so I’m just going to do whatever and I’m going to give it my all.  And I just really felt it and I felt — like I went up to the judges and I was singing to them, and I just felt really great about it and I felt like I was really just, this is my last time on here, so I better just give it my all and leave on a good note, hopefully.

I really appreciate everything they say, but I think it was me feeling it, about me feeling it, and I really do not regret doing that song and anything I did back in the show.  I felt pretty good about it, and I think it’s about me just feeling it.  Yes, it was definitely just about me feeling it and enjoying what I was doing and having fun.