Last night "American Idol" set the time machine back for its "Totally '80s Night."
With mentor Boy George at the helm giving advice, and joining the contestants on stage to sing his Culture Club hit "Karma Chameleon," it was all systems "Go, Go" for a fun night with a few surprises.
David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff's opening '80s medley has to go down in "Idol" history as a golden moment followed by the show-stopping surprise appearance of Salt and Pepa "pushing it real good."
Following last week's judges save of Qassim Middleton, two contestants saw their dreams crushed when country fave Maddie Walker and edgy pop rocker Adanna Duru fell victim to the "Idol" electric chairs. HNGN was backstage after the news to get their first reactions.
Maddie Walker
HNGN: You were sick a couple of weeks ago, what happened?
Walker: I was in the hospital. It was horrible; they thought I had ruptured my appendix and then found a severe infection in my abdomen. I was put on heavy antibiotics and they all kind of helped. Antibiotics do wonders and I am feeling a lot better.
HNGN: So, you weren't 100 percent last week. Do you think that influenced your performance?
Walker: No I wasn't 100 percent, but you can't make excuses and I didn't think my performance was all that bad. On "American Idol" it's not like people vote you off. It's about priority and, if people like somebody else, they'll vote for them more. There's no bitter feelings or anything; it's all a part of the show. I wanted to make it to the top 24 and anything past that was a blessing.
HNGN: So, you have no regrets?
Walker: I didn't get to sing my song tonight, which was "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison. But it's on iTunes, so you can download it. I'm on iTunes! That's crazy.
HNGN: Did you add your country stamp to it?
Walker: It was right in my wheelhouse, a little bit but not enough to mess with the character of the song. It's really cool, and would've been my all-time favorite song I sang in the show.
HNGN: Country Poison sounds kind of cool.
Walker: Straight up, it would've been my favorite song on the show. It was very vulnerable and you could feel it; it was pretty intense.
HNGN: Did you think you would leave tonight?
Walker: I prepared as if I was going through; you have to keep a positive mindset no matter what, just think positive. The way I am it's all about good energy and if you put good energy into the universe it comes back to you. But waking up this morning... it's almost like a feeling, like maybe this is my day? Honestly, I wasn't freaking out or making a big scene because there's nothing negative about it. The only negative is I'm no longer on the show [laughs]. I'm still connected to these people and I have all the people that supported me on Instagram and Twitter, people who voted me through the first round. How crazy is that?
HNGN: So, the highlight of your experience would be being on iTunes?
Walker: I cried last night when the song went up. I've always looked up to Carrie Underwood and Kelly Pickler. Kelly tweeted me last night and Carrie Underwood gave me a Tiffany necklace. Take a minute! Can you believe it? It was waiting in my hotel room. I almost died. I've looked up to her for so long and having support from her is incredible to me. I wanted to work with Kelly Pickler or Carrie for forever, so having their support is simply incredible.
HNGN: What's next for you?
Walker: I'm ready to sleep in my own bed, that will be nice, but I want to start writing with other people, or by myself, and I want to record. I want to make a country album that hits the charts at number one that would be really cool. My main goal one day would be to work with Scott Borchetta. I feel we built a nice relationship and he's a really sweet guy. He's got a very welcoming vibe, so there's nothing but love.
HNGN: Has he talked about the possibility of that happening?
Walker: We haven't talked about anything. At this point, it's all about fairness and he has to be fair to every contestant, but I really have to work with him one day. He's an incredible guy. I learned so much from him. I was the only country artist in the competition, and now there's none left.
HNGN: We are going to miss you on the show!
Walker: It's sad, but there are some wonderful people here. I promise you that I'm not going to be missed because this is an incredible show.
Adanna Duru
HNGN: How are you doing?
Duru: I'm feeling great. Seriously, I'm all good.
HNGN: Did you have a feeling you might be going home tonight?
Duru: I really didn't see it coming. I was confident in last week's performance.
HNGN: What are you taking away from the whole experience?
Duru: I've learned so much, I've met so many amazing people, but the number one thing I took from this was the advice I got from all of the mentors about being confident in myself. If you're not confident in yourself, no one else will be. Confidence was the number one thing.
HNGN: Did you get to keep any of your wardrobe?
Duru: I get to keep one piece of wardrobe, I think, I really love this outfit I have on tonight, it's like Wonder Woman, so maybe this?
HNGN: What song would you have sung tonight?
Duru: "I Hate Myself For Loving You" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. I had planned to go into the crowd and push the camera and rock it out. It would've been electrifying. That's why I wore the crazy outfit. But it's on iTunes so you can download and listen to it.
HNGN: How proud are you that your songs are on iTunes?
Duru: It's amazing. To have thousands of fans and have people recognize and make signs for you, it really is amazing.
HNGN: With Kelly Clarkson week next week, what would you have been performing?
Duru: I would've been doing "Behind These Hazel Eyes"; it's one of my favorite songs and definitely my favorite song of hers to this day. I'm sad I don't get to perform it and it's the very first song I listened to by her when I was little.
HNGN: What's next for you?
Duru: I really want to get into writing for other artists. I am a songwriter so that's a goal, I want to record an album and do lots of things. Perform whenever I can and constantly be on the go.
HNGN: What kind of album might we expect?
Duru: It would be an edgy pop album. I love Lady Gaga, Disclosure, Flume, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, all that stuff. I'm a pop artist. I love pop music, but a little on the edgy side.
HNGN: Do you think America got to know you?
Duru: That's one thing I'm really proud of because I did "The Voice" when I was 15 and, at that time, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was inexperienced in any of this, so getting to show who I really am on "American Idol"...I'm happy I got to show America who I am.
HNGN: You could write the how-to book for being in a singing competition!
Duru: Exactly!
