Paige Thomas and Vino Alan spoke to reporters backstage on their surprising eliminations. Also, a few other finalists weigh in on this week’s competition.
Paige Thomas wasn’t expecting to go home:
“I wouldn’t say I was expecting it,” Thomas revealed after the show. “But at this point in the competition, because everybody’s so good, you can never really expect anything. I don’t want to say I was OK, because obviously I wanted to win, but at the same time I’m somewhat relaxed because now I can really just be myself.”
Paige was weirded out by CeCe’s backstage tears:
After the elimination, Thomas says Lovato was in shock and told her “[you] don’t need this competition.” Thomas’ last remaining teammate CeCe Frey was also upset: “[CeCe] said ‘I loved you,’ and she was crying which I just thought was weird. Like, ‘Why are you crying? You’re still here and I’m OK.’ But it’s emotional for some people. Some people handle the stress differently.”
Vino Alan was not expecting to be eliminated either:
“I didn’t expect to go home,” Alan said. “I had a sense I’d sing today because of the song choice yesterday.”
Vino had several songs he would have preferred to sing:
Although Alan wasn’t thrilled with the last minute song choice of “Lovin’ Feelin'” — he would’ve preferred Alex Clare’s “Too Close” or Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” — he’s not holding any grudges against mentor L.A. Reid for picking the song. “I don’t blame L.A.,” Alan explained. “I blame myself for not standing up. That’s the advice I’d give to anybody: follow your gut.”
Was it something I said? Vino asked Simon backstage after his elimination
“I asked [Simon] afterwards if I said something that upset him. That’s what instantly went to my brain, that I must have said something,” Alan said. “He said no, and he said it’s not over for me. I can’t quit music unfortunately, so I’m ready to make some records.”
Via Zap2it
Paige on backstage battles with mentor Demi
“There were a few things that [were] kind of a struggle. I was trying to tell my mentor that I really didn’t see it this way, so now I can just go ten-fold on who I really see myself as an artist. This has opened so many doors for me, and I’m so excited. I got the exposure that I wanted, and I walked out of this competition being myself, so I can honestly say that I’m going home happy.”
VIa EOnline
Paige is looking forward to “better” things:
“You know what,” a none-too-broken-up Paige Thomas said when she was revealed as the first contestant to go home. “I’m excited because now I get to go home and really put in some work and show everyone that I got bitter”—oopsy—”bigger things to do, and better things. I’m excited for what I have in the future.”
Vino is frustrated that America didn’t “hear what I had”.
The main thing is that America didn’t even hear what I had,” he said, visibly disappointed. “You were right yesterday…[but I’m] real shocked at this though, thought you would give me an opportunity…Stay inspired, keep in touch, unfortunately I can’t stop making music. I’m gonna keep making music.”
Via EOnline
More on Vino’s last minute song change
“It’s going to throw you off. You got your energy in one thing and they pick a whole other song for you to do … it was nuts. But to me, what we’re supposed to do is rise to the occasion and do it. I thought he was joking when he said to do ‘You’ve Lost the Lovin’ Feeling.’ Because I remember Top Gun, so to me, it was just wanting to reinvent this song and make it sexy. I do get what they’re saying. I got to bring some more modern. I’ve been doing some old stuff but I have to show how I’m relevant in the music industry right now.”
Emblem3’s “mob scene” happened during their Extra appearance (no, they weren’t just shopping as depicted in Wednesday’s video package
Wesley: “It happened. They legitimately chased after us.”
Keaton: “If that was staged, they fooled me too! Now I’m starting to wonder… no, it was real.” (Laughs)
Wesley: “It was for Extra and it was supposed to end. We weren’t even supposed to sign autographs and interact with the fans at all.
