Looking back at his season 9 run on American Idol, Andrew Garcia says he has no regrets. None whatsoever. In fact, when the co-eighth-place finisher visited the Idolatry studios last week, he told me that if someone gave him the chance to take back one of his eight live performances during the voting portion of the competition, he wouldn’t do it. And because I’m a cantankerous Idoloonie, I told him I’d take back “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” on his behalf. I also gave Andrew the opportunity to talk about how he came up with his most successful Idol song arrangement (on Chris Brown’s “Forever”), why he never fully stripped a song to its acoustic bones, and what’s with his penchant for declaring “I had fun.” Press play below to ch-ch-check out the three-part interview, and to get all my Idol news and commentary, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak. If you have trouble watching videos in PopWatch, or if you’re on an iPhone/iPad, head over to the Idolatry hub for Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
This guy is another in the long line of mediocre Idol castoffs whom we’ll never hear from again, except in Slezak’s columns. And even then we’ll think “Who?”
Andrew actually wasn’t that bad. He did a nice job rearranging those songs, but it really didn’t matter because he has such a limited vocal range and he also used that guitar like a crutch. It was inevitable that his limitations would become magnified as the show progressed from week to week. He’s tlented, so I think we may hear more from him in the future. I could see him producing music for other artists.
Oh Michael. Bless your heart for holding your tongue when AG agreed with Simon in the Simon vs. Kara “Gimme Shelter” debate. I couldn’t have resisted some sort of snarky comeback in your shoes. Enjoyed the interview. Andrew seems like a good guy.
i agree michael if i were u i would’ve given him a piece of my mind and he sounded so obnoxious when he was talking about kara’s comment
this is why you’re not in the competition anymore andrew
I don’t think he gets the concept that just because HE feels something while he’s singing, that doesn’t mean the rest of us do. He’s not effectively communicating his emotions to most of the audience.
He also seems to believe whatever sounds good to him sounds good to everyone. And if it doesn’t.. well, that’s just their opinion. So he’s never going to absorb anyone else’s opinion, no matter how many people are telling him something? Then why go on idol?
I also find it humorous that Andrew’s response to Kara wanting him to show more intensity and comprehension that the song is about war is that he had fun. That sort of goes to Kara’s point. He was just enjoying himself and not connecting with the song.
LOL, I thought that was funny too. What a perfect illustration of his utter cluelessness! Here’s a hint Andrew, ff you’re “having fun” with a song about war, you are doing something wrong.
Anyway, this was eye-opening. I didn’t particularly like what he did on the show, but felt for the guy (yes he was great on straight up, move on!). Now, I think he’s a little dim and full of himself.
after straight up, he just was SO disappointing and boring. mediocre, the fact that he outlasted lilly scott and katelyn epperly confounds me.
Not to be obvious, but he outlasted them because he wasn’t competing against them when they were eliminated.
That was…kind of awkward. He doesn’t really get it, does he?
Andrew is a bit deluded, ain’t he?
Slezak was awfully nice to him given some of the things he said and his…overconfidence…in himself. It’s not all about you Andrew…
I hate to say it, but take a page out of the Tim Urban book and listen to what the judges tell you to do!
Sleazesack is 2 faced. Said horrible things about him and Katie when they aren’t around, and then totally different to their faces.
People here make such broad judgments about character when you don’t even know the person, the reast Slezak was so different was because he was meeting him. He wanted to get to know him, and see if his assumptions were correct. Why ruin that oppurtunity by bashing the hell out of the guy? That’s what a judgmental prick would do, not someone who is actually trying to be honest with their feelings and opinions.
haha, Slezak’s not “two-faced.” He’s not supposed to be friends with these people. He does his job by expressing his opinion, and then he’s a reasonable human being by being polite and kind when he meets contestants in person. This isn’t a social relationship, it’s a professional one, and I think the contestants are fully aware that the tone of Idolatry is by nature snarky.
There’s still time to become a janitor
Who knew that there was a contestant this season even MORE annoying than Big Mike? When Andrew said that he liked what he did with Genie in a Bottle, I gasped in disbelief. Is he really that deluded?
It was even worse when Slezak asked him what performance he’d take back, he said none, and Slezak picked one for him, and Andrew was akwardly like “oh well that’s your opinion…”
Seriously dude, at least admit ONE mistake you made on the show! There was a good 5 weeks of bad performances you could have chosen from.
It is his opinion.
His snipe at Kara (best judge this season!) was uncalled for. “I guess she just didn’t get it.” No, she got it, dude. That performance blew.
Kara “Best judge”? Are you blind? That needy, narcissistic exhibitionist? She cares about nothing except her time on camera and calling attention to herself. Oops, left out hitting on guys she isn’t married to.
Sam, I totally agree. Sure, Kara can be annoying, and we’ve been trained to see her that way. But her critiques this season have, for the most part, been spot on. DEFINITELY more insightful, constructive, and actionable than ANYTHING that Randy or Ellen offered i.e. “It didn’t work for me,” and “I liked it!”
He has such a sunny, mellow vibe…he should go the Colbie Caillat/Jack Johnson route.
I liked his Fall Out Boy, but Gimme Shelter was too big for him.
The fact that a good portion of the 3rd segment was the “Family Matters” theme song leads me to believe that Mr. Garcia wasn’t as chatty as other Idol castoffs…I didn’t get a very good vibe from him in this interview.
I think it was more a case of him and our dear Mr Slezak not clicking very well. It’s very hard to have a required conversation with someone you can immediately tell you don’t get and who doesn’t really get you. Andrew was bound to come off looking a little awkward, but I think he did well, all things considered. In fact, they both did.
LOL yeah I didn’t think they were clicking too well either. Andrew just doesn’t seem to get what it is to demonstrate artistry, and it sort of seemed like Slezak didn’t really know what to say to someone like that. I thought the part about taking back one song was hilarious, since Andrew refused to take any back and Slezak picked for him….and then there was no follow-up of “what are your thoughts on my pick?” It was just, “Well I didn’t like your ‘Grapevine’ performance.” “Okay, well that’s your opinion.” …then awkwardness…and NEXT TOPIC. Way to get a little aggressive there, Slezak.
I thought it was pretty funny.
Anywyas, Andrew Garcia seems like a nice guy, he just came across as a little clueless. But mucho respect for how he and his parents have risen above their tough past so well and best of luck to him!
Andrew Garcia, I want to lick your butt!!
Slezak, stripes and argyle??
this was an awkward interview. He seems very self confident..
He should have so many regrets. What a loser. He really think he did nothing wrong? At least he had fun? Have fun falling into obscurity Andrew Garcia. No one will buy your record.
Yeah, totally! Cause everyone in this whole wide world thinks just like you…
No, because there simply won’t be a record for anyone to purchase. You’re seriously delusional if you think he’s going to get a record deal after his poor showing on American Idol this season! LMAO!!
Everyone with a brain thinks like Buddy…
Yeah…now those words don’t seem like a hideous offence anymore!
But what do I know…Just a no-brain delusional…;) That’s okay, just keep competing to see who has the coolest offence! That will definitely get you somewhere! ;D
It’s definitely fun to watch!
I will
I wish people would stop judging Andrew in interviews, he is just trying to answer questions asked of him to the best that he can, he is not full of him self, what should he say, “yeah I messed up my song choice, yeah, the judges are so insighful and correct bashing every performance I did”. He is being polite, he is trying to have a positive outlook. If you don’t like Andrew, why do you listen to these interviews anyways? just so you can bash him like the judges did? He did the best he could, with the song themes, the judges, and the stress of being on stage……..he is a very talented and he will make an album. He was great on American idol, the only reason why I watched, everyone has an opinion, that is why there are many different artist out there, if you don’t like his style or what he says, don’t look up his interviews or listen to his songs, it is that simple.
The guy has over 60,000 subscribers on YouTube and several videos with over 2 million hits. I’m sure none of those people would buy his record…
If I hear “I had fun” one more time I feel like my head is gonna start spinning around. It’s a shame this boring, deluded fool outlasted Didi. Miss you, Didi!
Erm, I kind of lost any respect I might have had for Andrew in this video. He seems a bit full of himself. Agreeing with Simon? Gimme Shelter was one of the rare moments where Kara was completely correct. Gimme Shelter lacked any intensity and fire, which is what the original was about. And him saying “that’s your opinion”? Kind of obnoxious.
To be fair, if when you mention “that’s your opinion”, you’re referencing when Michael wanted to take back the Grapevine performance – in that case, you could argue that Michael saying he would have taken it back was kind of obnoxious.
Not that I minded it. But I don’t think you can call Andrew Garcia “obnoxious” when he was politely disagreeing with the interviewer’s insult. If you mean when he was talking about Kara or whoever else, then never mind!