‘Idols’ refresher: Jazzy, funky Elise Testone at No. 6

ELISE Testone

Here’s part 5 of the Inquirer series on the Top 10 finalists of “American Idol” Season 11, who will perform live on September 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Elise Testone’s remarkable control over her jazz-tinged voice made her one of the early standouts at the “American Idol” Season 11 auditions.

A veteran of the South Carolina music scene, Elise is a vocal coach aside from being a talented musician who can play the piano, guitar, drums, cello and tambourine.

During the Hollywood rounds, Elise caught the attention of the judges and viewers with her funky rendition of Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity.” Following that memorable performance was the standing ovation her group got after performing “The Night has a Thousand Eyes.”

It was an easy call for the judges to get her into the Top 25 after a rousing rendition of James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”

Elise got mixed reactions from viewers for her inability to hide her disappointment every time she was called for the bottom 3.

On the other hand, her duets, especially with winner Phillip Phillips, were generally well-received. Phillip, in jest, said that Elise “forced” him to sing Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” even if it didn’t suit his style. Their version was the most popular and well-loved among all the duets this season.

Although Elise was known for her power vocals, her lack of identity and the polarizing critiques from the judges made it hard for her to have a solid fan base.

She gave her best performance via Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” which put her on top of the game, but her succeeding numbers left much to be desired.

With six contestants left, she was eliminated after singing Queen’s “I Want It All” and The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Bold as Love.”