AMERICAN IDOL: Idol Finaist Jessica Sanchez performs during the season 11 AMERICAN IDOL GRAND FINALE at the Nokia Theatre on Weds. May 23, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.  CR: Michael Becker/FOX

I’ll be posting a transcript of Jessica Sanchez conference call later today. In the meantime, check out media interviews from around the web.

UPDATE: A transcript of Jessica’s conference call

  • Is she relieved it’s over? “I kind of am, but I’m going to miss everything—I’m going to miss the people, I’m going to miss the schedule, and just the whole craziness I’m going to miss it.”
  • Can she elaborate on the kind of album she would make?  “More like urban R&B and stuff, a little bit of pop, but not much.  I want to have that goody kind of side of me, kind of not like bubble gum.”
  • On singing with Jennifer Holliday in the Idol finale, “It was so much fun.  I mean I was in the moment and so was she, and we were making like the most ridiculous faces I know.  We were just really digging deep into our hearts and singing the heck out of that song.”
  • On the best advice she received during the Idol season, “I’ve gotten a lot of advice from different people this season, but something that I believed in always, and people told me here …, is keep striving for my dreams, and if I do succeed always stay humble and stay grounded and always remember where I came from.”
  • Is there a song she wanted to sing that she couldn’t?  “I really wanted to sing a Prince song, it’s called “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore.”  I love that song and I really wanted to do it, but Prince isn’t really clearing any songs for any shows right now.  So yes.”
  • Was she nervous to sing songs by Whitney Houston? On singing “I Will Always Love You” on the finale,  “Most definitely, and you know what, they actually pushed that in there a couple hours before the show started, so I didn’t even know I was singing it until a couple hours before the show.  It was a shocking moment for me, but I was excited to sing it because I love the song, I love Whitney Houston; I’m glad I got to pay tribute once again.”
  • What thoughts were running through her head when she heard the results from Ryan? Was she surprised?  “Not at all.  I like literally thought–I believed that Phillip was going to win, not because I don’t think I’m good, but he has such a big fan base.  We both do and we both thank our fans so much.  But he’s really an artist’s artist, like he sang so many different songs and every song that he sang it sounds like Phillip.  It always sounds like him, and that’s what it takes to be a real artist.  And I’m so proud of him and I’m so happy with him.”
  • When will she get home to Chula Vista? What will she do when she gets there? “I’m not sure.  I’m not sure exactly when I’m going back home, but I know it’s going to be for maybe a couple days.  Yes, I’m most definitely going to just be with my family and try to take it all in and enjoy that moment.”
  • On the process of picking and receiving songs from Jimmy and the judges, “For Jimmy Iovine and stuff that was all them.  I couldn’t really choose anything; that was really their choices.  And for the single, I really had like a day to pick and they didn’t give us many choices, and even that I had to make little adjustments to.  So it was very difficult, but now that I do have time and I do have variety and I can choose and look through songs and work with different producers and stuff I’m definitely going to make my single, my real single, something that is 100% me.”
  • On the difficulty of coming back after she was saved by the judges from elimination, “It was difficult and it didn’t really affect my confidence; it made me push harder.  But I think it was also a bad thing, too, because I think I was pushing too hard and I wasn’t really feeling any of my songs, I was just trying to prove myself, I was focusing on it way too much.”
  • Did the feeling go away at some point?  “It did go away for a little bit, but then when we had to come to the point where we had to sing songs that the judges picked as your music it was a big challenge, because we didn’t have any say in any choices, like they just gave us songs and we did them.”
  • How difficult was it to wait for the results during the 2 hour finale?  “I wasn’t nervous about anything.  I was actually excited, because I really thought Phillip was going to win and I was so happy for him.  I think he deserves it 100%.  I was just happy to be there in the top two.  I can’t regret anything.”
  • Does she think it matters to her career that she didn’t win? “Not at all.  Jennifer Hudson came in like seventh place and she is one of the biggest ones on Idol; I have so much respect for her.  Hopefully I’m one of those people, and I think all 12 of us are going to have successful careers and I cannot wait.”
  • How has being away from her family taken a toll, “It’s hard, it’s difficult, but I’m learning how to cope with it because I’m taking it as like I’m not really doing this for myself.  I’m doing this for them, too, so it’s not really like I’m not being there for them.”
  • Is she excited to spend more time with them now that the competition is over?  “I’m thrilled.  I won’t be spending a lot of time with them, I’ll probably get like three days at home, but I’m going to be cherishing every single second I’ve got.”
  • Her thoughts on why she came in last the week she was saved, “Well I don’t know.  It could have been so many things, and I don’t really like to think about it.  I did what I wanted to do that week.  I sang a song that nobody really knew from a not very popular artist and I was fine with that, because if I went home then I would go home proud of what I sang and liking what I sang.  But I don’t know what it was … because people thought I was safe or maybe more because of my song selection, but I don’t regret anything.
  • Was she overwhelmed by the support she got during her hometown visit to San Diego? “I was very overwhelmed.  I mean I had never experienced anything like that ever in my life, and it was amazing to have that much support by my hometown.  And I can’t wait to go back, and really when I came back for the homecoming story I really wanted to hug every single person that I saw.”
  • Does she think it’s possible for a woman to win American Idol? “I have no idea, and I think my only disappointment would be that—the only reason I would have really wanted to win is just to break that whole guy reign and just have a girl win it for once.  It didn’t have to be me, it could have been Hollie or Skylar or whatever.  But I’m so proud of Phillip and I’m so happy with him.  He’s so talented …”
  • On the biggest challenge she faces transitioning into a musical career after Idol, “There is a lot of things.  Right now we were like in an American Idol bubble, and we were protected by the American Idol staff and we didn’t really get to see what was going on out much in the real world.  There’s that, and then the fact that we are known as American Idol contestants and we have to break out and become artists instead of being labeled American Idol contestants.  So it’s going to be difficult, but we’re all going to work hard and try to get our names out there as a single person.”
  • If she had to choose, would she rather work with Rihanna or Beyonce?  “Well I’ll start with I love both of them, but Beyoncé is like she is just an amazing person overall.  She seems so sweet and so humble, and she’s very private with her life and she’s an amazing performer; I mean she pretty much can do anything.”
  • Did she have any idea before she auditioned that you would make it this far? “Not at all.  I didn’t even think that I was going to get two minutes on TV.  I mean I was hopeful, but I didn’t even think—yes—I feel blessed to even be in this position right now.”
  • If she could go back and change one performance, which would it be? “I mean I don’t think there really would be anything.  I mean I went into this competition and I just sang my heart out, and I really have no regrets at all.  I made top two; not a lot of people can say that so I’m happy, so I’m content with where I am.”
  • On tour, will she be doing a solo tribute to Donna Summer? “I’m not even sure what I’m going to be doing on the tour yet, I mean we’ll see.  I’m looking forward to it.”
  • Who did she feel early on would be her biggest competition? “All of them—we were all different genres, different types of music style, and it was a difficult one.  So it was all a big challenge for not only us, but ….  Yes, I thought it was pretty fair and pretty scary, too.”
  • What was the high point for her? Her very best performance? Has she heard from famous fans? “I mean I’m not really sure.  I mean I loved singing a number of songs on the show and … was the very song that I sang.  I have gotten some Tweets from celebrities before, and it’s been a blessing.  It’s been a crazy journey and I’m going to miss it.”
  • She has mentioned in the past that she’s not the best dancer. Is dancing something she wants to work on and incorporate into her performance? “Most definitely.  Yes, I’m really trying to work on that.  So we’ll figure it out and hopefully I can get some movement.”
  • On Jimmy Iovine’s criticisms of some of her outfits, How much input did she have choosing what she wore? “Okay.  I do have a lot of say in what I wear; if I don’t like something I make sure I tell them and they always cooperate and try to fit with what I want.  I did love that dress, and I think after watching the performance that I thought it was a bit too much—my hair was big, I was dancing, I had the small dress on—I understand why he was making those comments.”
  • Does she have any downtime? Does she plan on going on vacation with her family? “I have like no downtime at all.  I have like three days to go home and just relax, but that’s about it and then I get back to work.  So I’m excited for those three days, but most definitely I’m going to be working most of the time.”
  • What does her Idol journey mean to her? “It really means the world.  I’ve been wanting this ever since I was a little girl, and I just want people to know, kids my age, that if you really put your mind to it you can achieve anything that you want.  I’ve been doing this ever since I was little and I’ve been working hard ever since I was little, so you just have to put your mind to it and it will happen.”
  • Does she have a message for her Filipino fans? “Just I love you guys so much and hopefully we can stop by when we’re on tour.  Nothing is confirmed yet, but I would love to.”
  • Her favorite Filipino dishes, “I love lumpia and I love sinigang.”
  • She’s been tweeting back and forth with Jesse McCartney. Will they do a duet? “Well nothing’s been confirmed yet and I’ve been really busy.  So, yes, nothing’s really been done yet or talked about so we’ll see what happens.”
  • Closing remarks: “Just want to thank all my fans for supporting me and for giving me the opportunity to make it this far.  Thank you so much and love you.”

‘American Idol’ Phillip Phillips ‘Has Everything,’ Jessica Sanchez Says – Despite wishes that a female would finally be crowned “American Idol” after five years of male domination, Jessica Sanchez came in second place when Phillip Phillips was pronounced the winner during Wednesday night’s season 11 finale. But while some might have expected her to be at least a tad disappointed, the pint-size vocalist was nothing but smiles. When MTV News caught up with the 16-year-old Sanchez backstage after the show, she expressed nothing but love for Phillips and claimed she already knew the humble Georgian would win the competition. – Watch the Video at MTV

Jessica Sanchez: Phillip Phillips ‘Deserved To Win’ American Idol – “I like freaked out because I was so happy for him,” Jessica told AccessHollywood.com’s Laura Saltman following Wednesday’s finale. “I told him and I whispered to him, I was like, ‘You’re going to win this whole competition,’ and he was like, ‘No, I’m not.’ And I was like, ‘Phillip, just stop it, you know you’re going to win. Stop!’” she recalled. “I don’t think he realized it and he was even crying up there… this means a lot to both of us, but I think he really, really deserved it.” – Read more at Access Hollywood

‘Idol’ Runner-Up Jessica Sanchez: “I Knew That Phillip Was Going To Win” – “I really think that Phillip deserved to win, and I’m so happy for him….When they announced that it was Phillip, I was so happy–and I knew it already,” she said. “So that’s why I gave him a big hug and I was smiling the whole time, because I was like, ‘Phillip is gonna win!’ I love him so much, and he deserved it. Like, literally, he has worked harder than all of us. We’ve all worked hard, but he’s been having to keep up with his health issues with his kidneys, and I think he’s been through a lot more than us, mentally and physically.” – See the Video at Yahoo.Com

American Idol’: Jessica Sanchez on Phillip Phillips, and THAT DUET with Jennifer Holliday — VIDEO – Right before American Idol season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez spoke with EW backstage after Wednesday’s finale, she turned to a Fox rep and politely asked, “Can I take off my shoes now?” After the teeny tiny teenage power singer removed her (roughly) four-inch heels, she turned and smiled: “Just made myself smaller!” – Watch the Video at Entertainment Weekly

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  • Anonymous

    I noticed how subdued she was during finale night. She probably knew the whole deck was stacked against her and was a little demoralized.

    Well she brought it all right. That duet with Jennifer Halliday is about as much a “fuck-you” to this whole rigged process as it can get.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Li-Wright/100001622678180 Li Wright

     Lili_anne7, thanks for the youtube videos.  She is in deed contemporary and I can see why Akon wants to sign her.  But, I believe she’s both Philipino and Mexican right?  So she would def have that Latina audience, and I know she’s the one to break out with a contemporary sound.

  • Anonymous

    This is the real Jessica:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    If anyone doesn’t consider this to be an “Urban” style, then please by all means tell me what this is.

    Ah, ah, is this the same Jessica?
    She definitely has swagger in this,  as much as she was missing it on Idol.

  • Anonymous

    Incredible videos, that’s the Jessica that can rule the charts.

  • Anonymous

    This is the real Jessica:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    Holy crap! Who is that person singing? Saying that she has no personality sounds even more ridiculous after looking at these videos. She’s a star. Honestly, I’ve always liked Jessica, despite all those old-fashioned, sleep-inducing song choices. But now I’m really confused. Clearly she’s into just as much pop, hip-hop and R&B as the typical teenager and performs these songs almost flawlessly (the girl even raps!). So why all the ballads? Obviously she had to showcase her voice at the beginning, but she could have thrown in a few more relevant songs later on. I could easily see her performing something like “Airplanes” (and much better than the Voice contestant). Perhaps the producers discouraged her, thinking that they would not be well-received.   

  • Mateja Praznik

    Because… This is American Idol. Family show that leans heavily towards adult contemporary music. With themes such as Whitney Houston, Billy Joel and Queen. That’s why WGWG are doing so well on this show and why Jessica pretty much got stuck in diva ballads and why Adam Lambert didn’t do any dance pop on the show.

  • Anonymous

    In interviews during the show, she said that people were telling her to sing more current songs, but the reason she wasn’t was because she thought the older songs would showcase her voice more. Maybe that was a tactical error on her part though, because it convinced people, who knew nothing about the pre-idol jessica, that she was some kind of old-fashioned pop diva balladeer.

     I guess that’s why some people don’t believe that she has an urban side to her. This is why I posted the videos, to show people who she was before idol.

  • Anonymous

    Wow she’s fantastic! She should have auditioned for X-factor instead tbh. They would let her do this stuff.

    What a great top 2 this year i have to say. Too bad we didn’t get to see what Jessica can do during the show. But i’m sure she’ll go back to it now. I wasn’t following this season as closely as the previous, but after watching these videos i’m really excited for her and looking forward for her solo album.

  • Anonymous

    So while Jessica was picking songs that would highlight her vocals, Phillip was choosing songs that would hide his vocals, LOL. i think it must be tough for a 16-year old to understand that the strategy to winning Idol goes far beyond demonstrating impressive vocals. Regardless, she’s obviously more than ready to conquer the music industry. 

    As a sidenote, I think a lot of the current pop/R&B songs are much tougher to pull off than the power ballads. The vocals may seem understated, but if you don’t have the correct nuance and phrasing, they can easily end up sounding awkward and cheesy (particularly in the absence of synthesizers). Watching Jessica effortlessly recite Cee-lo, Beyonce and Jay-Z songs,  in some ways impressed me more than her power ballads!  

  • Tess

    Jessica’s “playing” the game may have been her ultimate undoing….If others were like me they quickly tired of her singing to impress instead of her trying to highlight what she could bring to the arena.  Her age and her background definitely got in her way.  And you-tube videos aside, which I find somewhat Bieberistic and off-putting, she hasn’t yet proven that she has the ability to take a totally unknown song and stamp it with “her” sound and have the public eat it up…so, as of today, I have no clue what she will do once she un-learns her very bad habits developed through her mimicry.  It will take a lot of persuasion on Universal’s part to get me to buy into her as a star of the future….but we’ll see what everyone on her team can do come fall.

  • Anonymous

    You keep on making the same argument but I don’t agree. Even on “Change Nothing” she sounded like no one else but Jessica. If you are still confused by who Jessica is as an artist then maybe it’s just time to give up. If she has “bad habits” and she “mimics” then Phillip and Skylar also have the same problem. 

  • Anonymous

    Mimics have never impressed me. Pia did the same thing last year and that’s why she was ousted and that’s why Jessica would have been if the judges didn’t save it. Jessica copies other artist, she don’t bring anything new to the table. 

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/PVEFG2TOUIXSROKUSO2O2DOWWE Taylor

    I agree. We could say the same thing about Skylar, Phil or Scotty. They mimic Miranda, Dave Matthews and Josh Turner. As a young singer, Scotty had to learn to pull in his own style in his recording for his album and during his live shows and he is continuing to learn. The same thing will happen with Jessica.

    Jessica “playing the game” is what got her to the final two. She doesn’t get points, like the males do, for being an artist or changing things up. AI viewers like their females a certain way. The week Jessica did a “different” song, was the week she was booted. As long as she sang those sweeping ballads, she stayed out of the bottom three. Jessica was smart to give the AI audience what they wanted. She made it to the finale and will end up with a record contract.

    Jessica is young and has an amazing voice, plus she isn’t stiff as a board when she sings. She doesn’t have the pageant arm or stage fright like Pia has and she has more urban influences in her voice. She isn’t anything like Pia. Jessica will be one to watch over the next few years!

  • Anonymous

    So many critics are that Jessica mimics other artist. She is singing covers after all. I’m not sure how much can you changed up a Whitney or Beyonce song. Its not like she can change it and pull a rock or rap number with songs like this. And she can’t. Was the slow down version of Sweet Dreams a copy? Who was she mimicking in Change Nothing. Beyonce? Or Disney singer? It wasn’t the best song but I though she sang it well enough. Even if its a mimic, it takes a singer with skill and chops to do it. Hey, on the positive note, I think there is enough room in the music world for 2 Beyonce or Withney. Sadly though Withney is no longer with us. Maybe its for the younger singers like Jessica to keep singing her type of songs.

    ETA: I like Jessica more than Philip but I think Philip was the rightful winner but that doesn’t mean that Jessica can’t succeed post idol because she’s a ‘mimic’ on idol. As we all know, the idol effect normally last up to 2 albums. The rules in the real world is different from that on idol.

  • Anonymous

    Who did Pia mimic? If anything, Scotty was the biggest mimic last year, and look at him now. Plus Pia and Jessica have very different styles. Hollie is much more like Pia, just because they both sing very straight and clear, and they both liked to belt out. Jessica has soul in her voice, she uses a lot of runs, and she also has that gritty, growling side of her. Pia is pop, Jessica is RnB, that’s the difference.

  • http://twitter.com/MissGolightly22 No Thanks

    I disagree, Jessica “playing the game” got her into the final 2.  The one week she did a TRUE urban R&B song was the week she got the boot.  After that she went right back to the big ballads and never hit bottom again.

    There was no way she was ever going to beat P2 no matter what she did – unless she suddenly developed a southern accent, turned white and grew a dick.