Allison Iraheta: The ultimate interview, Part Four

In the final part of this four-part interview, "American Idol" finalist Allison Iraheta talks about her final weeks on the show and this summer's "American Idols Live" tour. Read Part One here. Read Part Two here. Read Part Three here.

Let’s talk about some more of the songs you performed on “American Idol” this past season. When you had to pick a song from a movie, you went with Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.”

It’s one of my all-time favorites, in my top five. Maybe number three.

Did you see the movie “Armageddon” and do you remember hearing the song for the first time?

Yup, and I remember crying like a baby.

Since this is one of your all-time favorites, had you ever performed the song before?

I had never performed the song, ever. I learned it just because, you know, you have a favorite song, you listen to it so many times, you learn it eventually.

Have you ever met the woman who wrote the song, Diane Warren?

She’s so amazing. I met her and I talked to her. She’s just so great. I even told her “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” is one of my all-time favorites.

I’m sure she loved hearing you say that. Let’s talk about the song you chose when the theme was “Disco.” You sang Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.”

I knew the song. Disco Week was so hard for me. Me singing disco? Not so much! I felt I definitely needed to change it up. I can’t be doing the whole disco style. I can’t. It was between “MacArthur Park” and “Hot Stuff.” I did not connect with either of them, but I felt you can either do something that will show off your voice and be safe, which was “MacArthur Park,” or you can do something and actually enjoy doing it and change it up and make it your own. So “Hot Stuff” was the one for me.

Carrie Underwood sang “MacArthur Park,” but when Ryan asked her what the song meant, she said she had no idea.

It’s something about a cake being in the rain. I don’t know. You can’t sing about cake.

Then let’s talk about the song you chose when the theme was rock 'n' roll. She didn’t record the song originally, but when we think of “Cry Baby,” we think of Janis Joplin.

I grew up listening to Janis Joplin and I’ve sung “Piece of My Heart.” “Cry Baby” is also one of my favorites. I do connect with that one, definitely. I don’t regret doing it on the show. I thought that was one of my best performances. It’s one of those songs I’ve always wanted to do.

It was a perfect song for you, even if that was the week you were sent home. That same show, you performed a duet with Adam on Foghat’s “Slow Ride.”

As soon as we found out we were going to be doing duets, I knew I wanted to sing with Adam. I mean, I wouldn’t have minded doing it with Danny or Kris. I love them both. Adam and I were like, “Let’s do this. Truck out.Let’s do some craziness song.” “Slow Ride” was the perfect one.

Was it difficult to choose which song would make a great duet?

There was a list and I was looking at the list and he was and I didn’t know which one to choose. “What about this one?” “No, maybe not.” “What about this one?” “Nah.” Until he said, “All right, we have to do this one,” and it was “Slow Ride” and I said, “Yeah, let’s do it.”

Were you surprised how much praise you received for “Slow Ride”?

I felt like I blanked out during that whole performance more than I usually blank out. I blank out on every single performance, but it was weird because I totally forgot about the judges. Every time I would blank out I would still have the judges in the back of my head, like watch out for the notes, but this one, I thought, “I don’t even care. I’m just going to have fun. This is a whole different world.” And after we did it, people went crazy. We knew we did awesome because it was just so much fun.

Now that the season is over, do you still hold on to anything the judges said to you?

I got good feedback most of the time. The whole personality thing with Simon, right now I feel like it’s not a competition anymore. I am who I am. I mean, I was who I am throughout the whole show. We only have two seconds to talk after the judges do so it was hard for me to let people know who I was in those two seconds, but now people know who I am. So I’m always going to keep what the judges said to help me with my career further up ahead. They did know what they were talking about and every single one of them, I used [their comments] to help me with my other performances.

Now you’re on the road all summer for the “American Idols Live” tour. I hope you can sleep on the bus.

I can sleep anywhere, bus or plane.

-- Fred Bronson

Photo credit: Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

Related:

Allison Iraheta: Finding her groove

Allison Iraheta: Showbiz beginnings

Allison Iraheta: The early years

Kris Allen: The early years

Kris Allen: Showbiz beginnings

Kris Allen: Finding his groove

Kris Allen: The "Idol" chapter

Adam Lambert: The early years

Adam Lambert: Showbiz beginnings

Adam Lambert: Finding his groove

Adam Lambert: The "Idol" chapter

Comments

[kristina]

thanks for the interview...I want to know more about her upcoming album and stuff

[Mari]

Aw, that was too short. I wanted more Allison, more from her future as a recording artist, her album, her career away from Idol.

Simon's comments about personality were ridiculous when the show chose the way to portray her and never gave her much air time for us to get to know her. Even so, those paying attention knew exactly who she was and fell in love with that personality.

[Andra]

Wow...I love her so DAMN much...the girl is going places I'm telling you...Many people will attempt Cry Baby but no performance will ever equal the passion and intensity Allison gave that song...I mean no one...Bow down to the Heta people cause she's a force to be reckon with... >:)

[pious_allison07]

i also think that "cry baby" is the best choice for allison to sing during rock week. piece of my heart is way too easy for her.

[Nikki]

Part about Carrie Underwood - so random ...

I'm glad she did Cry Baby, she should record it as a bonus song for her album! On yt you can find her singing Piece of My Heart (showcase during School of Rock)

Much shorter interview than Kris and Adam's, but thanks anyway!

[Simona]

I love Allison so much,she is so awesome,so fantastic,so talanted!I am totally amazed of her,of her voice,of her talent!She is just 2 years older me but she sings so well!!!I cannot wait for her debut CD!I wish her all the best!I love you,Allison!!! :*:*:* Good luck to you!!! :):):) ;););)

[Becky]

Thank you so much for the Allison interview. This part was weird - like it started mid-thought of the interviewer and then just abruptly ended... weird.

This was interesting to see what she thought about the duet, the judges comments, etc.

I'm guessing that this was done before the tour because now she's said that she can't sleep on the tour bus at all!

It would have been really interesting to hear her thoughts about her upcoming career and future in music as well as her thoughts about music in general - maybe in a future interview....?

But thank you so much for this four-part series of interviews. It was great to have a little more of an in-depth interview with Allison. I am truly excited about her upcoming album and career. She's so talented and there's nobody out there like her.

[Andrea]

Thank you for the interviews. I wanted Allison to spill more about the judges, specially Simon.

[Becky]

Thank you so much for posting this series of interviews with Allison. I saw that part 4 was cut off before, so glad you posted the whole thing. It was really interesting to hear her take on disco and rock week, about the judges and hearing about her blanking out. Seems like she just gets lost in the music.

Again, thank you for the interview with her. It was nice to have a more in-depth interview from such an amazing talent. I would have liked to hear her take on music now and her future directions, but maybe we can get that in a future interview...?

Anyway, this girl is just amazing. I usually don't go for teen acts - I never did, but her album and career is one I'll be watching closely. She just seems like an "old soul" while seeming young at the same time.

I hope you get to interview her again sometime soon!

[Kristina]

thanks for extending it haha

[pious_allison07]

allison never stops to amaze me. she knows her stuff very well. cant wait to buy her album. more on allison pls.!

[Carol]

Allison is awesome. I love her sound. I am a long-time fan of Janis Joplin and Allison "killed" Cry Baby. She was so good on that song that I keep listening again and again. As good as she is now, when she loosens up, nobody will touch her in the music world. Rock on, Allison. Cannot wait for the cd. Please record Cry Baby sometime, somewhere.

[irina]

why she did not make it to the finals i will never understand, never !!!