Sanjaya Malakar

I feel the need to vent a little…maybe a lot. Okay, definitely a lot.

To everyone who is bashing and lashing Sanjaya Malakar – Get. A. Life. As in pronto. To the woman on MySpace who has announced a hunger strike until he’s voted off. You’ve taken another human being and used them as a prop to get publicity for yourself. What’s that? You say you couldn’t get it any other way? You have to make someone else a scapegoat for your stupid little quest for publicity? Wow, maybe instead of anger I should just feel pity.

I’ve read so many negative comments directed toward this kid – and, remember, that’s what he is – a kid. A 17 year old who is doing his very best in a competition that’s supposed to be fun…a competition that isn’t freakin’ life and death, after all. It’s entertainment!

If you’re going to have a hunger strike – why not use it to make a legitimate point on issues that really matter. If you aren’t sure what any such issues might be, get off of MySpace for a few days and find out.

I even read a few places where people have said that Sanjaya was the worst idol ever. Laughable! Come on, that’s not even close. He has a better voice than the last winner! He’s also nowhere near as bad as Mikayla Gordon, Camille, Kevin Covais, Scott Sevall, and too many others to name.

I think maybe he just seems that way to some because of the talent around him – like Blake, Melinda, Lakisha, Stephanie (before her exit) and Jordin. I’d actually rather have Sanjaya in the competition than a lot of the people in it now. He doesn’t have the attitude or chip on his shoulder that a few of the other guys do, and he isn’t painfully boring like a few of the girls are.

No, he isn’t the best singer in the competition – but, then again, the best singer NEVER actually wins. The best singer rarely even makes it in the final 3 (Bo was the exception). I think the main reason everyone is hitting their own personal panic buttons can be summed up in one word: Taylor.

Loyal American Idol fans – those of us who don’t miss an episode and wh vote for the best of the night rather than who we think “needs support,” – we’re scared of another repeat of last season. Scared of one of the worst actually winning because of Vote for the Worst. (Did you know that Taylor has even been photographed, smiling, with a Vote for the Worst t-shirt. What pride?). So, people are overreacting – I guess we’re all still feeling the pain of Chris or Katharine not winning.

There’s still no need to take it out on a 17 year old who doesn’t seem to have a malicious bone in his body. He seems like a totally sweet kid who is giving it his all. And, let’s be honest – his last performance was one of the top three of the night. Sanjaya and my favorites (Blake and Jordin) were the only ones I went back to rewatch. I also love Melinda and Lakisha – I just hope they don’t fall into the same pit LaToya did a few years back. She obviously had one of the best voices (along with a certain Miss Jennifer Hudson), but she kept playing it safe and got as boring as a cereal box. Beautiful girl, beautiful voice…then she put you to sleep.

Chris Sligh is beginning to disappoint me. I thought he was going to be one of the best idols ever – man, is he ever fizzling. He needs to kick it back up. I think he’s worrying too much about the judges and what they’ll think. His performances, lately, seem to be more for the three at the table than they are for his fans. If he’d block out those three and just go out there and entertian, he’d be back to his brilliant self and we’d see the guy we first saw. Fingers crossed. Gina’s kind of in the same boat – she seems worried about what the judges will or won’t say.

Phil – I can’t put my finger on it, but this guy seems like two different performers in every song. He starts out bad – finishes great. He’s very likable and has a great range, but the boy can’t make an entrance to save his soul. Someone needs to work with him on that – he has tons of potential.

In the end, we all have the right to say who we love (Blake, Jordin), who we like (Lakisha, Melinda, Chris R., Gina), and who we think should go home next (Hayley, Phil, or Chris S.). If they have a bad performance or rotten attitude – sure, call them out on the floor!

But when it gets to the point of harrassing a 17 year old like this, it’s time to step back and look at the big picture. It’s just a show – and as last season proved, even if the worst wins, it’s not the end of the world. The cream always rises to the top. Chris outsold Taylor and will have a much, much more successful career. Katharine and Kellie will have better careers than Taylor – as will Ace Young if he ever gets busy!

If you vote for Sanjaya because he was the best of the night (say, if Blake and Jordin lost their voices..) – then, go for it. But if you’re voting because you think you’re doing him a favor – reconsider. Sources say that he is devastated by the backlash he’s getting – if he has to stand there while another singer gets their walking papers as the crowd boos again, it’s just going to make life that much more miserable for him.

Frankly, I think he deserves better than that.

Related Articles:

1. Ryan Seacrest Blames Simon Cowell for American Idol’s Ratings Even though it’s still a monster hit, American Idol suffered...
2. Chris Daughtry- Huge Star on the Horizon! I’m still in shock after last night – along...
3. Blake Lewis News and Website I'm walking on clouds since the American Idol Finale....
4. Chris Daughtry Has the Last Laugh While Taylor IS the Last Laugh Simon Cowell recently said that he “couldn’t stand” season...
5. Disappointing Idols and Ex-Idols I realize that when you say something negative about an...