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Thursday, May 24, 2007

Sanjaya Malakar Performs with Joe Perry

Sanjaya Malakar video from the American Idol season finale. Here is the real winner of season six:
“In a world where men fade into obscurity, true visionaries seize the day. Men like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Ghandi. Now another comes forth. One with the courage to embrace his destiny. One who stands firm in the face of adversity. There’s been hysteria, but never like this. He is in one word ‘Sanjaya Malakar.’ Sorry that’s two words. ”

I was mildly relieved to find someone working on this show possessed the insight and humor to develop this segment. It was fitting for the major amount of attention and media frenzy Sanjaya brought and still brings this season to the show.

"You Really Got Me" stands out as the point Sanjaya found his true voice and courage. I had been waiting for that moment, when he would emerge from that quiet shell and when he delivered, during his first performance of this song, it only confirmed my instincts and my initial impression of him. His incredible sly tongue in cheek (alas, Chris Sligh, you strove for that mark but Sanjaya hit it) sense of humor, indicative of Sanjaya's intelligence. I'm having difficulty now in referring to Sanjaya as a boy or a kid, as I have in the past after last night. He came across the television screen as older and wiser. Sanjaya had such a huge learning curve entering this show and he's learning in exponential leaps and bounds. Watching video of the red carpet interviews, he's handling press very well now. I am so proud for him.

It's the quiet ones you have to watch and Sanjaya entered this season a quiet lamb but he's exiting like a roaring lion. Last night the boy was brilliant - technically, the vocals do need a little work, but the presence is there, the attitude is there and he looks completely gorgeous on stage. I'm not sure if it was the whole hilarious spoof on his hair, with that wind machine blowing it about like Kelly LaBrock in "Weird Science", combined with his embracing all that he is, then adding in his wild abandonment during his performance, but I found Sanjaya electrifying. He took the finale by storm, give it life and brought excitement to that Idol stage. Joe Perry the Aerosmith guitarist, in an interview said he thought Sanjaya has star quality and will make it. He might know a thing or two about what he's talking about considering his experience.

Meanwhile Calvin Ayres' site, Gambling 911 gives credit for Sanjaya's performance saving the otherwise uneventful night writing, "Meanwhile, the real Sanjaya Malakar nearly stole the American Idol finale along side Joe Perry of Aerosmith.

While former "Idol" winners like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks entered the Kodak Theatre to see who would win America's hearts and ears (see "Jordin Sparks Takes 'American Idol' Crown"), the hair-raising contestant garnered the most screams, wearing a printed white collared shirt with the top three buttons open and black pants. (Oh, and his hair was curly — no ponyhawk in sight.)
" This is from their front-page feature discussing the recent controversial Sanjaya video in which he claims to be someone named "Bill Vendall".

The fact that Jordin Sparks was to receive the American Idol "crown" was inevitable and blatant to anyone watching this show with their reality in check. The show pretended for quite a while they loved Melinda Doolittle, she of real singing talent but bland personality, but good times come to an end and "it" began. The taking down of the perceived favorite. The judges were subtle, I'll give them that much - but it was obvious, just the same that time had come to take Mindy Doo down and build up the gal pre-picked to win this reality show.

Granted, they had a weak field to pick from out of the starting gate, but out of the pack, Jordin most likely the best choice for sales and marketing. I don't foresee her becoming another Kelly Clarkson but should she take the country route, with that slight twang she sings with - she could potentially sell some CDs. Carrie Underwood level - I think not, but that's the direction she should go towards, more of a Pop Country sound. I for one have no interest in buying any of her music, but wish the girl well in her endeavors.

Overall this season was one of the most boring in the history of the show and I thank Sanjaya Malakar for providing some of the only truly great times. Once Sanjaya was voted off (yeah, right) the show's ratings dropped along with my interest. I found the remaining weeks impossible to watch all the way through and grew to love even more my Tivo. Granted I could have not tuned in at all, but since I began watching this show since it's first season, it has become like an ingrained habit, I peeked in and out and tuned in for results.

Thank you Sanjaya for spreading your Universe via the Idol airwaves. See you on tour.

1 comment:

  1. Sanjaya was the single most interesting performer in the Top 12 this year. I kind of liked his first performance of You Really Got Me better, but only 4 finalists got featured in the finale and Sanjaya was one of them.

    That's Idol acknowledging that this wasn't Kevin Covais or John Stevens.

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