'American Idol' eliminee Sam Woolf: I don't think I'm a teen heartthrob

American Idol's thirteenth season eliminated Sam Woolf, a 17-year-old from Bradenton, FL, and determined its Top 4 finalists during Thursday night's live results show on Fox.


Sam became the ninth finalist sent home from American Idol after he received the fewest home viewer votes cast following Wednesday night's Top 5 performance show, which featured each contestant singing two songs America had selected for them. 
 
In an Idol twist, each finalist had to vote for whether he or she would like to see one contestant get eliminated this week, or instead, two contestants get eliminated the following week. The decision had to be unanimous in order to skip an elimination and keep everyone together for one more week, however, two singers ended up voting for an immediate elimination.

During a Friday conference call with reporters, Sam -- who had been previously saved by Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. -- talked about his American Idol experience. Below is a portion of the call. Click here to read what he told Reality TV World.

What is the best fan feedback you've gotten so far?

Sam Woolf: The best fan feedback?  I mean they're all, like I get really good feedback from fans and they're just really supportive and after each performances they always congratulate me.


I think you might the only person whose ever performed a David Gray song on American Idol and you did it twice.

Sam Woolf: Yes.

He's a great artist, but he's a very old soul and you're so young, so I'm interested to hear what connects you to his music and his song writing?

Sam Woolf: I don't know.  My dad introduced me to him when I was really young and like ever since then, I just started listening to his music and getting to know his music.  Yes, those two songs "Babylon" and "Sail Away" have always been one of my favorite songs.

And last night we saw Randy Jackson say "You're Ready" at the end of the episode.  You performed an original song of yours earlier this season. Has David Gray been an inspiration to your song writing?  And do you maybe have like a contemporary folk-rock kind of album coming up?


Sam Woolf: Yes.  I feel like the kind of music David Gray makes is the kind that I kind of want to make, so he's definitely a big influence and I think he impacts my song writing.

What do you think you'll miss most about the whole American Idol experience?

Sam Woolf: Just being with all the other contestants.  We're just really close and it's sad that one has to leave the group every week.

When it comes to dating and a relationship, what qualities do you look for in someone?  For example, would you prefer dating a fellow musician?

Sam Woolf: I think a sense of humor is what is the main thing for me.  I think it would be cool meeting a musician maybe, but I think a sense of humor is the biggest thing for me.


You mentioned in an earlier interview that you wrote you first song when you were 13 about a girl you liked.  How do you think dating will change after being on this show?  Has it given you more confidence?

Sam Woolf: Yes, maybe.  I don't know, I guess.  I'm not sure, we'll see.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years as an artist?

Sam Woolf: The next five years, well hopefully making an album.  I don't know, because my first album I want to be organic and kind of John Mayorie, like acoustic rock.  So hopefully I'm still doing something like that.

Harry said that you reminded him of '60s teen heartthrob Ricky Nelson.  Did you watch the videos on YouTube and what do you think of the comparison between Ricky Nelson?


Sam Woolf: Yes, I can definitely see where he says I remind him of him.  Ricky's awesome; That's a compliment.

I was wondering how you felt about the show painting you as a teen heartthrob.  Is that a goal of yours?

Sam Woolf: No, I wouldn't really place myself under that category if I had the choice.

Did it make you feel uncomfortable at all?

Sam Woolf: Not really.  I guess sometimes, it's just not who I originally was or who I really am.  I don't think I'm really a heartthrob. 


So you're a senior now, right?  Or a junior?

Sam Woolf: Yes, senior.

Do you plan on maybe going to college after you graduate, maybe like to a music school like Berklee?

Sam Woolf: Yes, I actually got accepted to Berklee. My plan is to go in the fall.

Did you have a feeling that it might be you getting eliminated?

Sam Woolf: Yes, I had a feeling just because my performance that previous night, I wasn't too confident about it.


I think it would be great for you and Ed Sheeran to do a duet at the finale.

Sam Woolf: Yes, that would be awesome.  Someone picked that song for me and I know the chorus is originally not in falsetto, so it was kind of difficult and different for me to have to do it an octave lower and it kind of took away from the song.  I had fun with it.

Dexter Roberts has promised to get back at you for zip-tying him to that chair. He said he's going to do something to you on tour.  Are you going to be constantly looking after your back?

Sam Woolf: Yes.  Definitely.  I don't know, I don't think he's going to be able to prank me.

What are you looking forward to most about the tour?

Sam Woolf: For the tour, I think, just because I've never been on tour. So I'm really excited to travel around the country and just meet all the fans and be up onstage with all the Top 10. 


So how did you prepare and rehearse for your songs each week?

Sam Woolf: We had a schedule kind of thing and on Fridays we would run through our song with the producers and stuff.  Pretty much that would happen and Saturday we'd record the songs and Sunday, I don't know what we did on Sunday.  Monday, Tuesday, we would just rehearse the songs again.

Are you going to prom?

Sam Woolf: Am I going to prom?  Oh yes, I forgot about that.  When is prom?... May 17, oh gosh, I don't know if I'll be there.  I think I'm coming back to LA for finale rehearsals, sorry.

We can't wait to hear more from you, but I'm curious, were you a fan of the show before you were on it?  And what surprised you most about being on American Idol?

Sam Woolf: Good question.  Yes, I was a fan before, I watched it.  I was kind of on and off.  I was definitely surprised on how much behind the scenes stuff.  There's a lot of waiting and a lot hard work that I didn't know would be there.


Above is a portion of Sam's conference call. Click here to read what he told Reality TV World. Check back with us soon for more.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski