Word is that you, indeed, have a life, M.J.! I hear you traveled to hear the best live performer in recent times. In another life, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d be here with you , after (of course) going here. Very jealous for me and very happy for you!

I agree t2. Could you imagine what last season would have been like if Taylor, Daughtry & Elliott gave lackluster performances because they didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t really want to win? Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m glad Slighà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s gone if thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the way he really feels.

Man, he really couldn’t win either way. Do you remember Taylor saying the same thing about not caring about the competition anymore after he decided to do it his own way and performed ‘Play that funky music’ after Simon blasted him the week before? (it turned out to be working for him ) I’m sure the ‘more seasoned’ musicians who competed in AI will bound to feel that way due to frustration because of judges’ inconsistencies.

In Chris’s blog he also mentioned that he did NOT purposely tank his performance – he even stressed that he could have gone to the much easier song, yet he chose ‘every little thing she does’ because he wanted to do well. He was also frustrated because the judges were slamming blake, phil, and Chris R for their arraignments on that Diana Ross week.

As far as the whole ‘I have a strategy’ vibe, how many of you haven’t realized thats what the producers want to impress upon us?

Sundance was voted off when VFTW dropped him. Is he going to see how far he can push it?

Sundance was voted off WHILE VFTW was still supporting him.

As for Sanjaya, there is a nice, sweet voice there but it needs time to mature and mellow. The stress and nerves are choking him when he sings. Seriously, I wish he had a waited a couple years to try out because I think it would have been a very different story.

I’m puzzled about Sligh’s comments. I really like the guy’s voice and some of his original music, but he claims to have studied the show so he has to know what’s involved, what kind of music he’d be able to sing and what “America” tended to like. It seems odd to me that he would try so hard to be on the show all these years and on the PopTarts sponsored tour if he is worried about his Indie cred.

Slug thinks people have a real short memory. He sounds bitter as hell, too.

With his debut album, AI5 second runner up Elliott Yamin breaks the soundscan record for the highest selling debut ever on an independent label. His record sold over 90,000 copies in it’s first week.

He sings from the heart, and people who hear him can feel that heart and they become, many times, very emotional,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  said Wright, who has directed Malakar in her choir for at least three years.

She canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t explain the change in her young pupil, but says he à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“sounded downà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  during a recent telephone conversation she had with him.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“He has not shown America what he can do. Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s what I said to him a couple days ago. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹I want you to give them the showmanship. I want you to give them Sanjayaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s heart,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹ she said.

I reread this and also givein’s comments about, “Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not a bad singer because heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s part of a well known choir group but he isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t pushing his singing.” Is it possible that the way Sanjaya has performed is part of the script? That in reality, he has a very nice voice and all of a sudden he will “find” his voice? Ms. Wright was on the Larry King Show. She believes in him.

Does anyone take Simon seriously about quitting the show if Sanjaya wins? It is sad that so much attention has been given to Sanjaya and Antonella, thus ignoring the other contestants.

I actually thought Chris R. was in more danger than Chris S. I think his band will do a nice job in sales. Just my 2 cents worth.

I think he was just on Leno. Heard that but didn’t get over there.

He does seem like a good guy and talking about the show right after getting booted off is never easy.

Good night!!

In addition, Sligh didn’t feel like he was appreciated for what he was on the show. Maybe Idol could have shown him more support and he would have wanted to win. But it was clear straight from the start that he wouldn’t be. So it was all confirmed for him.

By the way, he’s quite good friends with Gina and even said that after she gets voted off, she and her fiance might stay with he and his wife.
I’ll give you that he might not be the best at PR, but I don’t think he’s a bad guy.

Another thing…if she were to say this, why would I ever want to buy her music? Not smart to say this, I don’t think.

(Fortunately, I think Gina does care. A lot.)

I’m trying to crack the Sanjaya code & here’s my take: He’s not a bad singer because he’s part of a well known choir group but he isn’t pushing his singing. He thinks he’ll be voted out if he shows he’s not worthy of VFTW. Sundance was voted off when VFTW dropped him. Is he going to see how far he can push it?

I’d like a Blake/Jordin finale but want Sanjaya, Melinda (Gina after last weeks performance & anyone else who gets more interesting along the way) till the end. It’s not only about the singing….sawrrrrry

Nothing more boring than watching someone who doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t want to win.

I agree t2. Could you imagine what last season would have been like if Taylor, Daughtry & Elliott gave lackluster performances because they didn’t really want to win? I’m glad Sligh’s gone if that’s the way he really feels. Doesn’t he understand that there are a whole lot of people who love this cheesey show even if it isn’t “cool?”