'American Idol': Scott MacIntyre, dancing machine

Newly minted American Idol finalist Scott MacIntyre talks about how he's still processing the fact that he's in the top 12, his dance skills and a botched high-five attempt by Idol host Ryan Seacrest.

How does it feel?
It feels amazing. It's still sinking in.

How unreal was it to be up there last night?
I was having the time of my life. What means the most to me -- today I'm realizing more and more what happened yesterday -- but to know that that many people in America support me and believe in me, it's just a dream come true. I'm not gonna take it lightly -- I'm gonna try to come back each week and give the best performances I possibly can.

Who told you about Ryan's high-five faux pas, and whose idea was it for you to get back at him?
[Laughs] I didn't intend to get back at him. That's happened to me my whole life -- everyone may be wondering about this anyway. I'm the last person who'd ever be offended by that, and I thought it was so funny because that's happened to me my whole life. ... I had one guy try to give me a fist-pound one time, and he tried for like five minutes before I realized what he was doing.

I love Ryan, he's an awesome guy. And he actually did the right thing -- he grabbed my hand and did it again. I thought everyone would be wondering about it, so I had to return the favor.

Do you ever feel disadvantaged in having to learn a new song every week?
I've never thought of it as a disadvantage in this competition. It definitely makes it more challenging for me, but I'm so up for rising to the occasion. ... I don't want people to look at it that way. I'm just here having a great time. I'm blessed that I have people here that are willing to teach me the choreography, and on that note, anytime you see me following the Steadicam or whatever it is ... they've told me, "Look here" and they point my arm or "Follow it around to the left." It's hit and miss sometimes, but it's going well. ... I do what I can [laughs], because it's definitely a very camera-oriented show.

They kept you in a chair for most of the group sing last night. Are you at all nervous about what they might have you do in the future?
Not at all. I've actually had some dance in my background. I've done some swing dancing and some salsa dancing -- with the whole music thing, rhythm crosses into different areas of your life. So I'm not too worried about that -- they didn't show my group round in Hollywood week, but I actually had a lot of fun. ... We looked like a boy band. Sometimes it just takes someone showing me the steps, and as long as I know I'm not gonna fall off the stage then I'm good. That's a joke of course, but I'm really good at keeping an awareness of my space, because I've had a little bit of practice here and there performing for some churches. So I'm very used to and comfortable with being on stage.

The judges kept talking about how much they want to see you performing with a piano. How big a deal is that to you?
That is the entire reason I'm here, and I've said that from the very beginning. ... I've let them know from the very beginning that my heart in doing this and my reason musically for coming and auditioning, other than to share my story and touch people through music and hopefully inspire everyone who watches -- I can do that best when I'm singing from a piano.

It's not that it's a substitute or that it takes away from my vocal presentation, because you really hurt yourself if you end up hiding behind an instrument on this show. But it's another layer of how I can exteriorize my emotions and everything I'm feeling. ... It's where I write music, and it's where all my magical moments happen musically. So next week I'm so excited to finally be able to start showing America bits and pieces of who I really am.

E-mail

• Digg
• Facebook
• Fark
• Yahoo Buzz
• Stumbleupon