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‘American Idol’ Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia’s strengths and weaknesses. By Jim Cantiello Andrew Garcia at the “American Idol” top 12 party Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage On Thursday night, “American Idol” revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate’s journey thus far. He also got the “Idol” hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night’s Top 12 Party in Hollywood. ANDREW GARCIA If the “American Idol” judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the “Idol” trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic. Best Performance : Garcia’s Hollywood Week spin on Abdul’s “Straight Up” was a rare highlight for this year’s unimpressive cast of boys. He’s never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, “Straight Up” is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season. Weakest Performance : In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something.” The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd. Sad Backstory : Garcia’s mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they’re adorable, supportive (and weepy) “Idol” parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle” on live television. Why He Will Win : His “Straight Up” turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-“Idol” fan-base from his YouTube channel where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man. Why He Will Lose : It’s always dangerous to emerge as the frontrunner too soon in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his “indulgent” song choices and worry that his “Straight Up” set the bar too high too early. There’s only so far Andrew can ride the “acoustic cover” train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre “Genie in a Bottle” showed that he can’t even do that trick that well anymore. What He Should Sing : Four words: Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” On The Theme Week He’s Most Stoked For : “Country week! I’m kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Meet The ‘American Idol’ Top 12

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Andrew Garcia Profile: Can He Break Out Of The ‘Straight Up’ Straitjacket?