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Season 7's biggest charmers play to their strengths

By Felicia Cousart Matlosz McClatchy Newspapers

Season 7 of American Idol came down to The Battle of the Two Davids, but it also offered engaging personalities in Brooke White and Jason Castro.

White, 25, was the sunny, chatty, vulnerable one. The one-time nanny could flash a smile as bright as Goldie Hawn's and, with her flowing gold locks, carried the aura of a '60s flower child. She also wore her emotions on her sleeve, sometimes looking nervous and teary-eyed before the judge's pronouncements. No other finalist this year lived so much on the edge.

Castro, 21, was a ­construction science major at Texas A&M ­University. He cast a mellow, goofy demeanor with his long dreadlocks and good looks. He could appear befuddled or delightfully self-aware. You had to chuckle when, asked the biggest obstacle to overcome this season, Castro said: ”The brain being dead.“

Both now are on the American Idols Live! summer tour, which comes to Rupp Arena on Saturday.

White finished fifth on the show, and Castro fourth. Both took advantage of a new rule this year that allowed singers to play instruments. White occasionally performed on piano and Castro on guitar, and they both seemed more at ease when they did so.

We talked to Castro and White in separate telephone interviews before the tour started. They came across just as they did on television — White is loquacious and generous, Castro low-key and charming.

(White, by the way, wanted to tell people about Malaria No More and its Save the World Summer! campaign. You can read more at www.savetheworldsummer.org.)

Both said they were excited to hit the stage.

Question: Is it still a whirlwind? Or have you had time to get some perspective?

White: I don't know if you get any time for something like that. Once in a while, you get this moment when you're like, ”I just did that? A year ago, I was doing normal life things, and now we're on a show in front of 30 million people a week, and now we're going on an arena tour.“ It's insane.

Castro: I don't know. It's still kind of crazy ... but, as far as the schedule, it's really slowed down. Now I feel very relaxed, not very stressed.

Q: Was there added pressure this year? Given that the show's producers and other people kept saying you were in the best field ever of contestants?

White: Every time they did that, I was like, ”Oh no, shut up.“ Whenever there is like hype, it sets people's expectations really high. It can be scary when somebody does have expectations up that high. There's more opportunity to let them down. ... I think, as a whole, it was a great season. The talent was huge. I was able to be a part of Season 7. Being in the top five meant a lot to me.

Castro: No. Actually, that kind of made me feel better. That gave me more confidence than I had coming in. It meant that I was part of it.

Q: What was your best moment on Idol, and what was your worst?

White: My best Idol moment would be the night I got to sing Let It Be. I had had a couple of weeks before that, feeling really good and in my element ... I had that full orchestra behind me and the grand piano. It was a ­moment that everything was coming to fruition. I was there. I was so present, and it felt so great.

My low point? I went through a couple of weeks where I was fairly down for a variety of ­reasons. The weeks I was singing and (had) the stop-and-start thing ... I don't want to say it was low, but it was one of those things where it's kind of hard. ...It was hard. I was embarrassed ... but this is what I realized: I just came to accept I'm not a perfect performer. It was a mistake, but it was a real moment.

Castro: I think my most ­memorable moment for me was when I sang Over the Rainbow. It was memorable to me for so many reasons. I learned the ukulele in a week. That was the only song I watched the playback. It's my favorite.

As for worst moments? I don't know. I don't think there was a worst moment.

Q: What songs will you sing on tour?

White: I can't tell all. I can tell one. We're all going to do three songs each. (Cook gets five and Archuleta four). I'm going to do Let It Be.

Castro: I can disclose one. I was playing the ukulele (Over the Rainbow).

Q: What are your plans after the tour?

White: I definitely look forward to putting together an album. I got into this to make it a full-time thing. At least, to expand it to something bigger than something I was doing before. When I was a nanny, I also was doing the singer and songwriting thing and playing clubs, trying to get a deal that way. It's really challenging. With the show, the exposure opens up so many more doors.

Castro: To put out an album, naturally. And, I don't know, do some writing while I'm out here. I can't wait.