31. Melinda tanked because she kept singing the same song. She overestimated the concentration and interest level of American Audiences.

I think the website where you vote for the lousy performers to win is also playing a part.

Lorraine at 1:46PM on May 17th 2007

32. I'm very happy Jordon & Blake made the finals.. There was something about Melinda I didn't like.. She didn't have the Idol look, they tried hard to make her look the part but it just didn't fit or work.. Something about her voice, maybe the fact she was much older than Blake & Jordon..Melinda sang the same every week.. Nothing more or less.. Blake & Jordon surprized us each week..Everyone on Idol wins in the end.. The ones that really want to be famous work harder to make it after they are done with idol..Finger crossed to Jordon !!

Rita at 1:47PM on May 17th 2007

33. I read through all of these postings, and I'm surprised that most people are reacting subjectively, their reactions filtered through hindsight. "oh, yes, I see, Melinda really was kind of... lacking..." With sixty million votes, about what the average presidential election gets, you have to face it: we're talking about the great south bloc again. The crazy christian right gets a solid 25% influence in the national elections, and I guess this is a national election. And guess what the southern folks said, again? We like our leaders white, thank you. You can have one black person in the finale, but oh no no, not two.

Eve at 1:53PM on May 17th 2007

34. will stop watching the show. the best is out. i can see that youth and good looks defeat talent.

jose at 2:03PM on May 17th 2007

35. Oh Mo, say it ain't so!! Melinda is a true gem, a humble, classy, enormously talented woman. Her elimination this week tells us something about the AI viewers who actually VOTE - and those that vote 200 times a night. The youth of America are keeping this show alive - and Melinda did not appeal to the youngins as Blake and Jordin have. I personally believe that Blake has inherited the "fanjayas" that kept you know who on the show for so long. Did you see his home clip?? It looked like boy band land in Seattle! Sigh. Melinda's fans are more likely the older set, the people who sat back and enjoyed her performances, week after week, but never voted...or if they did vote, were crazy enough to think that one vote would matter. Have we learned ANYTHING from American politics??
PS Elliott's teeth were oddly distracting - but cut the man a break - his grill was really jacked before.

Casey at 2:08PM on May 17th 2007

36. VOTE THE WORST does it again that chirpy little beatbox Blake dang well may take the prize!

John W. at 2:11PM on May 17th 2007

37. Jordan should have been voted off weeks ago, sure she can sing, but it all sounds the same. She missed notes and at times her voice cracked. I new she would win this years idol because of her looks. Personality wise, she's makes wisecracks to and about the judges, which I find disrespectful. Typical of a spoiled teenager. I said weeks ago that if she won this that there was something fishy going on with the voting. Now I am sure. Like so many others I will never watch American Idol again. I never felt that Jennifer Hudson should have one American Idol, however, there alot of contestants who have gone forward and had promising careers. I don't think Melinda will be any different, after all she is the best singer for this seasons American Idol and trully deserved to have won it all. She will in the end when all is said and done. Jordan'a voice is no where even close to Kelley Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Melinda's. She doesn't even have a style of her own. She doesn't have the ablitiy to sing all and any type of music or sound good when she trys to do so. Kelley, Carrie and Melinda sound awesome no matter what they sing. Jordan lacks showmanship and for the most part she just stands behind the microphone. Her singing at it's best is pageantry, just like Simon said, just a step up from being karoke.

No longer an American Idol fan. at 2:11PM on May 17th 2007

38. Idol will live on and remain popular, because it is a show that touches us, but it will suffer a loss in viewers in the future. This will not be because of daylight savings changing like they said this year, but people will see that the best singer will not win in the end, so they will watch, but not every night and religiously like in the past. Taylor Hicks was a performer, could sing, but was not even close to being the best singer or artist, last year. He will not sell CD's like the record company wants him to, not because he is a bad singer, but he does not have the "oomph", and star appeal that others did. Witness Jennifer Hudson. Sanjaya could sing, but was a lousy performer, (probably due to nerves affecting his voice), but he was kept on for the entertainment factor by the viewers. Winning Idol is becoming like the Sports Illustrated Curse, (appearing on the cover). In the future will contestants try to make the top 5 or 10, but do something on purpose to not win it? Jordon is a very good singer, but not great like Melinda. Blake's appeal with his beat box, and repetative dance, (slide), moves will wain after a while. I personally would arrange my schedule to make sure I did not miss Idol, but after last year's results, this year if I missed it it was no big deal. I would just check the results online. It's starting to become like boxing, you watched a fighter obviously win, but the judges came back with a split decision, giving the win to the guy you just watched not doing so well. After last year and this year, Idol has lost it's credibility as a contest for the best singer, one more season like this and they will never get it back.

Maurice at 2:15PM on May 17th 2007

39. Do I think Melinda has the best voice overall? Absolutely. However, it bugged me from the beginning that she was already a professional singer, albeit as a backup. She had an edge from the very beginning. She was used to the stage, to performing in front of large crowds, etc. She's phenomenal, but she's got no oomph. Blake and Jordin...they're fun. They engage with their audience on many levels, and that makes up for not having vocals as good as Melinda's. I'm pulling for Jordin, but wouldn't be disappointed if Blake won. I think the top 4 will do fine. As far as the tour...good luck to them. I wouldn't pay to see the top 10. I have heard better voices on karioke night at the bar. Ryan's slip? I don't think it was a slip. "Melinda will go home." They all went home. Was he implying something more than that? Probably, but I doubt it was a slip. Simon...is rude to the point of boredom. He makes a lot of money from this show, he might want to show a little interest.

Lynne at 2:18PM on May 17th 2007

40. I don't watch the show. It sounds very popular. I might check it out next year.

Bill at 2:26PM on May 17th 2007

41. Jordan is a fresh new young star and isn't that what the show is about, finding new talent not seasoned talent. Melinda needed to go!!
Blake is great, but Jorday is the winner.
Karen

Karen at 2:44PM on May 17th 2007

42. I think that everyone forgets that the whole population votes on what they think is the best singer/performer. The contestant that makes you take notice and say, "I'd buy a CD done by him/her". Each of us has our own taste of what we like. Personally, I think Melinda is a fabulous singer, but I also feel that she comes across as older and sounds more old school like Gladys Knight/Tina Turner era. Frankly, I am 40 years old and enjoy that sound, but most of the viewers that vote and vote for the entire time period are younger viewers. Eventhough I enjoy Melinda, I like Jordin better. She is young and fresh and has the ability to be more versatile and appeal to more people and different genres. Just remember that this is only MY opinion, that everyone's vote matters, and this is all subject to "personal preference". Go Jordin!!

CS at 2:45PM on May 17th 2007

43. Its simple,the reason she was let go is because she is a black woman.Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch,ask yourself this question and try to be honest.If she was a white woman and could sing that way would she have een voted off?

Derrick at 2:50PM on May 17th 2007

44. Ok here's the deal, Melinda should never have gotten voted off! Clearly Idol is NOT about the best vocalist. Jordin's voice does nothing for me. Her range is minimal,and she is really trying to work this 17 year old angle. I am sure she is closer to 18. Blake has been my favorite male and I am giving all my votes to Blake as are my friends who was pissed at how Melinda was given the ax. I am finished with Idol from this point on and hope it does not come back on. This was a lousy season, especially when Sanjaya was in the top 10 and better singers left. In these cases the judges and producers should have the "Power" to "override or veto" these lousy results. I knew AI was in trouble when the so called funny clips of hopefuls wasn't very funny! Good luck Melinda and Great luck to you Blake!

tajapreshus at 2:53PM on May 17th 2007

45. I won't be watching AI this coming Tuesday, either. I don't think Blake can send, but I think he has a lot of ego and believes he can. He tries too hard to be different and I don't think he has show-manship at all. Jordin is okay, but Melinda was the BOMB! She may not have shown much personality when she spoke, but she knew how to perform. That's how it is with gifted, talented and creative people. They are not always over bubbly, but soft and quiet. Although Melida has tremendous talent, I think she is kind of shy, humble and honest. She is not a pretend type of person (like some of the others) and she did show emotion, but she didn't boo-hoo-hoo like some people thought she should. It's a shame that people don't vote for talent anymore and don't know what true talent and ability is. That's why there are so many singers out there now that hurts the ears -- like Beyonce.

Sylvia at 3:14PM on May 17th 2007