Michael Sarver is not too proud to beg

Last night, on the first anniversary of Chikezie's elimination, Michael Sarver, a construction worker, gets voted off on American Idol, giving him 10th place. He sang the Temptations song "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", one of my father's favorite songs. He sang the same song in hopes to have the judges save him, but the judges decided that he would be sent back to Jasper, Texas. However, he will get to participate in the American Idols LIVE! Summer Tour 2009.

Petition to Universal Music Group on behalf of Jasmine Murray

Chikezie Eze, my favorite American Idol finalist of last season, has already gotten a record deal with Universal Music Group. I am so saddened that Jasmine Murray from Starkville, Mississippi, was the first to be eliminated in the finals of American Idol season 8. Therefore I am petitioning that Universal Music Group to offer her record deal. I believe that Jasmine Murray is worthy of a record deal and proving that winning American Idol does not guarantee success as a recording artist and that being a last place finalist will not hinder success as a recording artist. Comment on this post if you agree with this petition.

Alexis Disgrace

American Idol Season 8 is somewhat like Season 7 to me, except that my neither my favorite nor my least favorite in the competition will get to go on tour. First my favorite finalist is voted off with the elimination followed by country music themed week, and then my least favorite finalist is voted of the week after my favorite finalist. First it was Chikezie Eze and Ramiele Malubay respectively, then it was Jasmine Murray and Alexis Grace respectively. I am so glad Alexis Grace got voted off tonight. She is the worst in the competition. I will forget Alexis, but I will never forget Jasmine.

Alexis Grace auditioned in Louisville, Kentucky. She previously auditioned twice without making it to Hollywood. She has one child, an illegitimate daughter. She was originally from Memphis, Tennessee, which is also the home of Lil Rounds, my second pick in the competition.

Jasmine Murray goes the way of Leah LaBelle, with Jorge Núñez joining her

"We've discussed it. Sorry baby, you're headed home. This is not gonna work." — Randy Jackson

"Don't quit believing. Just believe that you can do it, cause all things are possible. — Lisa Murray (mother of Jasmine Murray)

This is the most shocking moment I have ever witnessed in reality television history. I am highly disappointed that my favorite contestant Jasmine Murray got the first boot in the finals of this season of my favorite television show American Idol. This is a very untimely elimination. This is ten times more shocking than Chikezie's untimely elimination last year, for one thing is that she will not get to go on tour. Inconsolably, she has been crying like a baby girl for the rest of the night, shedding an ocean of heavy tears. Joining her on the bus ride home in tonight's result show is Jorge Núñez. However, this is not the end of her story, and it is the beginning of something much better. She will continue to sing on stage, and maybe in two years she will get a record deal and go from zero to hero. I will still be a fan of hers. The American voting public is wrong about her, for her status as last place finalist will turn out to be a joke in the next few years. She did not deserve to be eliminated this early. The next American Idol will be a joke, and may turn out to be worse than Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks. I believe that Jasmine Murray will be commercially more successful than the next American Idol, most likely Adam Lambert. America has done no justice voting by popularity. American Idol season 8 is not the same without Jasmine Murray. The American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009 will be forgettable without her. I really wanted to see her on the summer tour, and show her the love and receive her autograph, but now I will not get to do that.

During the results show, it was announced that there would be a twist that would solve the problem that existed in past seasons, such as with the eliminations of Jennifer Hudson in season 3 and Michael Johns in season 7. That would be the judges' save. Unfortunately, the judges decided to agree with the public vote on Jasmine Murray and Jorge Núñez, but the decision was not unanimous. Randy Jackson said about Jasmine, "We've discussed it. Sorry baby, you're headed home. It's not gonna work", and that is when the emotional fireworks went off on me. Simon Cowell said about Jorge, "No. Sorry." The judges made a huge mistake by not saving Jasmine Murray.

During the week, as the theme "Michael Jackson" implies the top 13 finalists were instructed sing Michael Jackson songs, including those from his solo career and from his time with the Jackson 5. Jasmine Murray sang "I'll Be There", originally recorded by The Jackson 5 and later covered by Mariah Carey. In her honor, I will be doing a karaoke performance of the song at a state institution on May 15, 2009. My next pick is Lil Rounds from Memphis, Tennessee, who is an R&B star and who is vocally compared to Mary J. Blige. Lil's grandfather once worked for blues legend B.B. King. The elimination song used is "Home Sweet Home", which is covered by Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood and was originally recorded by Motley Crue.

Jasmine Murray's elimination has caused American Idol to suffer a big drop in ratings, especially for African-American audiences. Her elimination caused the African-American audience to decrease by 28%. American Idol has fallen out of the top 3 in the ratings chart, especially for African-American audiences. Next season, the judges will have to think twice before cutting any African American hopefuls during the Hollywood rounds.

On a side note, I would like for Jasmine Murray to record a duet with Chikezie. It may possibly be a cover of the Luther Vandross hit "So Amazing" and based on the Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder version.

"No matter where you finish on Idol—even if you finish twelfth [or thirteenth]—if you make a great record and you got that kind of exposure, the public will resoundingly buy it." — Randy Jackson

Winning American Idol does not guarantee success in a music career. According to Chris Daughtry, who got fourth place on American Idol season 5, the show lacks credibility. Even a last-place finalist can make double platinum hits. If David Hernandez can make double platinum hits, Jasmine Murray can too. Jasmine Murray could become a prime example as well as an archetype of this. In two years, Jasmine Murray will achieve much better than she did on American Idol, and she will show us that winning American Idol does not guarantee recording artist success and that a last place finalist can spawn a huge fanbase and huge success. American Idol season 8 will go down in my book as the most forgettable season of the series. This season has very low credibility and is going to be a joke in terms of commercial success. Therefore, the way I see is that Jasmine Murray will go from zero to hero and be more successful than the next American Idol.
Jasmine Murray stated that she would like to explore various music genres, including traditionally Caucasian genres, just like the late Ray Charles did, but the judges suggest that she go the R&B route. The judges compared her to Rihanna.

Jasmine Murray's status as last place finalist will most likely be ironic. One reason why she is the first to be voted off in the finals is that many believed she entered the competition two years too early. Another reason is that many viewers of American Idol wanted Ricky Braddy, Von Smith, Jessie Langseth, or Felicia Barton to advance to the finals in her place. Some people claim she has no personality, but that is a naked lie. She does have personality. She has better manners than the rest of the top 13, and she is musically diverse and tolerant. Jasmine Murray is really the best of the top 13. If she were to last on American Idol any longer, she would have improved significantly each week. If she were to make the top 10, she would have impressed the tour audiences significantly. She will most likely ink a deal with a major record label and go from zero to hero, and ultimately surpass this season's winner, which is Kris Allen.

Too many of my hopes have been crushed all too soon. I am getting tired of my hopes being crushed. I hope American Idol season 9 will not be season 8 all over again. If my favorite finalist finishes last place in two more seasons, I will quit watching the series for good. Some fans of Jasmine Murray have quit watching the show.

I personally like to have Jasmine Murray duet with Chikezie and maybe Kris Allen or Matt Giraud. I have no plans to meet Jasmine Murray or Lil Rounds at this time, I will consider it in the future. However, I have plans to meet Chikezie, as well as Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, and Jorge Núñez.

Although she is the first to be eliminated in the competition, Jasmine Murray is after all my American Idol. She is really the best singer, despite what people say. She is miles better than what people say. People need to keep in mind that she was 16 at the time of her elimination, and she has done nothing to receive the hate she has scraped in. She has the potential to go from zero to hero and be more successful than the rest of the top 13 combined.

According to the HCD Research study, either Anoop Desai or Megan Joy should have been eliminated instead of Jasmine Murray, while Jorge Núñez's elimination was democratically correct. Therefore, if American Idol season 8 went by the HCD Research study, Jasmine Murray would have been on the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2009.

Here is how I rank the performances of the night:

1. Jasmine Murray - "I'll Be There"
2. Kris Allen - "Remember the Time"
3. Matt Giraud - "Human Nature"
4. Jorge Núñez - "Never Can Say Goodbye"
5. Adam Lambert - "Black or White"
6. Lil Rounds - "The Way You Make Me Feel"
7. Anoop Desai - "Beat It"
8. Allison Iraheta - "Give in to Me"
9. Michael Sarver - "You Are Not Alone"
10. Danny Gokey - "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)"
11. Scott MacIntyre - "Keep the Faith"
12. Alexis Grace - "Dirty Diana"
13. Megan Joy - "Rockin' Robin"

Click here to see the video of my most shocking moment in reality TV history.

Jasmine Murray makes the top 13 on Idol

I am so delighted that tonight Randy Jackson has announced that my favorite of this season of America's favorite reality television show Jasmine Murray has made the top 13 on American Idol season 8. She is my favorite in the top 13. During Group 2 week, she chose the wrong song, "Love Song", which was originally recorded by rock star Sara Bareilles. She was passed over by public vote on February 26, 2009. I was at a local movie theater watching the film Madea Goes to Jail at the time the results show was broadcast. However, last night Kara DioGuardi picked her for a second chance in the Wild Card round. Redeeming herself with the song "Reflections" by Christina Aguilera, that was a successful second chance. Joining her in the top 13 tonight are Megan Cokery, Matt Giraud, and Anoop Desai. Anoop Desai thought he did not make the finals, but at the last minute, Simon Cowell announced: "We decided recently we're going to make this a Top 13." They will join the finalists that were chosen by public vote: Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert and Michael Sarver. The judge's decision to place Jasmine Murray in the top 13 was unanimous.

Jasmine Murray was born on March 14, 1992. She hails from Columbus, Mississippi. She lives in Starksville, Mississippi. She is the youngest of five children, thus a boy and four girls. Her parents and siblings will cheer her on in the studio audience. Before she auditioned for American Idol, she watched the previous seasons on television. At the age of 16, she auditioned in Jacksonville, Florida, with the song "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie. She received standing ovation in the Hollywood Round.

I will be rooting for Jasmine Murray. I hope she is dubbed the eighth American Idol, but the poll at PollDaddy.com is predicting that Anoop Desai will get that title. Unfortunately, she has a small fanbase, probably due to one subpar performance. I hope she does not get voted off before Alexis Grace, my least favorite of the season. I hope she does not get voted off too early like the highly underrated Chikezie did last season, but sadly many fans predict that my hope will come false. If she gets voted off, I will root for Lil Rounds. I hope she at least finishes in 10th place like Chikezie did (so I could see her on tour), but the poll at PollDaddy.com is predicting that she will be in 12th place. It comes down to what the judges say.

The top 13 will begin performing Tuesday night on American Idol, America's favorite reality television show. Next week's theme will be Michael Jackson. Rapper Kanye West will appear on Wednesday night's results show. Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol, will also perform live on the results show. West will perform "Heartless" and Clarkson will perform her latest single "My Life Would Suck Without Out" before the top 13 finalists find out which one of them will be voted off. I certainly hope it is not Jasmine Murray who goes the way of Leah LaBelle, but unfortunately that is the worst case scenario. The best case scenario as of now is that she may finish in 7th place. What negatively affected the predictions on her is that she chose the wrong song on her semifinal performance. Will she impress the America and turn the tide on America's predictions or will she be Chikezie all over again? The winner will be announced on May 20, 2009.

On a side note, I support Joanna Pacitti's disqualification. I like Felicia Barton better than Joanna Pacitti. Pacitti forgot the lyrics, but Barton got standing ovation in Hollywood round 3. Michael Johns, who finished in eighth place on American Idol season 7, is ineligible to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy!, because he has ties with Pat Sajak.

Here is how I rank the top 13:

No. 13: Alexis Grace: She is the worst singer in the competition. She is a fake Kelly Clarkson wannabe. She is an abysmal country singer.

No. 12: Megan Joy: She is an abysmal singer. She has no right to be in the finals. She is an absolute joke. Therefore, I might as well call her "Megan Joke."

No. 11: Michael Sarver: A construction worker dreaming to be a singer? He is not too proud to beg. He is worse than Jorge.

No. 10: Allison Iraheta: She is a punk rock star. She is the youngest of the top 13. She is not my cup of tea. She should be voted off before Lil Rounds.

No. 9: Danny Gokey: He is receiving mercy from America since he lost his wife in death shortly before he auditioned for American Idol. He is the predicted runner-up.

No. 8: Kris Allen: He is quite like David Archuleta. He is nothing special, and he is from Arkansas. His family may have ties to Wal-Mart.

No. 7: Scott MacIntyre: He is visually impaired, and America is showing mercy towards him for that. He is somewhat like Ray Charles.

No. 6: Adam Lambert: He is the predicted winner of this season. He has received standing ovation from the judges. However, he is a joke.

No. 5: Jorge Nuñez: It is better than he sings in Spanish. He may have a good voice somewhat, but it is okay.

No. 4: Matt Giraud: He is compared to Justin Timberlake. He lives in the state my father was originally from, which is Michigan. He has that bluesy soul.

No. 3: Anoop Desai: He is a great R&B star. He is a fan of new jack swing. He lives closest to where I live.

No. 2: Lil Rounds: She is my second pick after Jasmine Murray is voted off. She is compared to the R&B legend Mary J. Blige, the queen of hip hop soul. Could she take the crown from Mary J. Blige?

No. 1: Jasmine Murray: She is the most underrated of this season ever. She is not only my favorite in this competition. She is my favorite American Idol contestant ever; thus she is my American Idol. She is musically diverse and has an excellent personality. She got her mother with her in the contestants' mansion. Second to her is Chikezie from season 7.