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Syesha Voted Off 'Idol'
Sarasota Herald-Tribune photo by CHIP LITHERLAND
American Idol star Syesha Mercado smiles as she sings an impromptu song to the crowd of hundreds in front of City Hall in Bradenton, on May 10.
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Published: May 14, 2008
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NEW YORK - It'll be David vs. David.
Syesha Mercado was voted off "American Idol" Wednesday night, paving the way for the expected showdown between David Archuleta and David Cook.
Mercado, a 21-year-old actress from Sarasota, Fla., was the last woman standing on the top-rated Fox contest. The big-voiced belter surpassed a more accomplished singer (Carly Smithson), a fan favorite (Brooke White) and a statuesque country crooner (Kristy Lee Cook).
While other contestants floundered, Mercado challenged herself with ambitious song choices like Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." She showed more personality - and lots of leg - while swiveling her hips in a glittery gold minidress for a rendition of "Proud Mary." She cried when Paula Abdul gave her a standing ovation last week.
Abdul held the sugar on Tuesday's performance show, telling Mercado that she thought her performance of "Hit Me Up" wasn't "good enough to get into the finals."
With Mercado out of the way, "Idol" can now fully hype the David vs. David matchup.
There's Archuleta, the 17-year-old singing prodigy from Murray, Utah, with the overly involved stage dad. And there's Cook, the 25-year-old former bartender from Blue Springs, Mo., with an emo edge that the angelic Arculeta lacks.
Who will snag the title next Wednesday?
One thing is for sure: His name will be David.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( mywhite37 ) on May 14, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I guess we all know since last year show had an African American winner, even though she was the better singer of the three they try and choose a different race every year. I think American Idol is overated and Paula appears to be so spaced how can she judge anyone singing. I will not watch the David's next week. It is boring sitting through the show so I record it and fast forward through the bad singers and the judges lame comments. They already know who is going to win. The show is a HYPOCRITE. She is My American Idol and she will MAKE IT.
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Posted by ( thatguyfl82 ) on May 15, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree Syesha was the best singer of the 3, the problem is.. First of all Archuletta has about 50 million 13-18 yr old girls drooling thats the only reason he's lasted.
David Cook is a producers dream. He can Rock, he can Ballad, he'll song Millions of records very soon..
Syesha's record will hands down be better than David Archuletta's but David Cook is gonna be blowing up the Radio regardless if he Finishes 2nd which he probably will.
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Posted by ( 6ftunder ) on May 15, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Syesha was definitely the best singer and performer. But the best person never wins. We all know that. America is deaf.
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Posted by ( Gladiator ) on May 15, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
David Archuleta looks like he rode the short bus with that stupid grin all the
time. American idol is loosing true fans who recognize good talent because tweens who vote over and over have nothing better to do.
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Posted by ( gunderss ) on May 15, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Aww.... who cares? Reality TV sucks. Get a life people and go exercise America. I just hate shows like this where people are waiving their hands in the front row to some homophile song acting like the contestants are singing "we are the world". I mean really.
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