On March 8, the judges saved Testone and sent Jeremy Rosado home instead. Last week on "American Idol," Elise Testone sang "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. Her trademark raspy voice, which saw her through to the competition's top 9 contestants, seemed especially useful when applied to the rock song from 1969.
Most of all, though, Testone didn't just sing Zeppelin — she played the part. While her voice always conveyed a certain power, her earlier appearances on the show seemed controlled, their feeling tempered. This is the girl who wove gentle flowers into her yellow hair, culled from room service trays.
“That emotion was missing,” says Testone, 28, of her first performances on the show.
By contrast, with the Zeppelin outing, she let loose, strutting in sparkly black pants as guitarists bounced around and the floor plumed smoke.
“I’m comfortable being myself again,” says Testone, the only remaining New Jersey native on the show.
Once nearly eliminated from the competition, she may actually be the “Idol” top 8’s most seasoned performer.
Though she grew up in Kinnelon, Testone's been belting out her own songs — as well as classics, like "Whole Lotta Love" — for years in Charleston, S.C.
“I’ve sang in so many bars and clubs,” says Testone, estimating her pre-“Idol” schedule to run from seven to 10 shows per week. “I, like, never slept.”
She attributes any initial rigidness to the fact that, throughout January and February, she remained offstage, unable to perform because “Idol” was airing auditions.
Testone left New Jersey to attend college at Coastal Carolina University, where she studied music, as well as how to engage an audience — so much so that she felt exceedingly comfortable singing the National Anthem at her graduation.
“I feel like I’ve grown so much just from leaving New Jersey, really,” says Testone, though she knows that on Wednesdays, her father watches “Idol” at Jiggs’ Corner Music Saloon, a bar off Route 23 in Butler (her mother’s in Hollywood, cheering her on in person).
Last month, producers disqualified Testone's fellow N.J. contestant, Jermaine Jones, 25, of Pine Hill in Camden County, because of outstanding arrest warrants.
“He was like family, so when he left, we were really sad about it, but I had to focus on moving forward,” Testone says. She’s now, incredibly, the only contestant left who was born in the ’80s, something that proved helpful when preparing for yesterday’s theme — ’80s songs. (She says the ’60s and ’70s are her favorite decades for music, however.)
Last week, Testone participated in a group "Idol" performance of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks songs — singing the iconic chorus from "Edge of Seventeen" — with Nicks serving as the show's guest mentor for the remaining singers.
“Meeting her was one of the most amazing things that’s happened so far,” Testone says, calling the singer — who has her own signature rasp and long, blond hair — a kindred “spirit and sound.”
Testone, 28, one of 8 contestants left, is trying to hold on to her spot in the competition. Before "Idol" narrowed to its top 10, contestants were asked to perform a song from the year of their birth. Testone picked Tina Turner's 1983 version of "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green. Her music choices, like her stage presence, are informed by her nights back in Charleston.
“I think about — week to week, when I pick my song — how I would make a set list,” she says. “There’s definitely a science to it.”
When female contestants had to sing Whitney Houston songs, she chose "I'm Your Baby Tonight." On Billy Joel week, she picked "Vienna."
"I felt really good about that," she says. So did the judges. Their continuing adoration came to her aid on March 8, when Testone found herself among the bottom contestants. She simply wasn't getting enough votes. While Testone admits that was upsetting, the judges decided to "save" her from exiting the show. Tonight, Testone and the seven other "Idol" hopefuls are up for elimination again.
Testone is facing the next rounds of the contest with a renewed sense of competition. Earlier, she said, she felt content to “let fate work it out,” happy to have made it as far as she did.
Now, Testone knows she wants the top spot.
“I really, really do,” she says.
"American Idol" airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.
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