JESSICA SANCHEZ MAKES HISTORY AND FILIPINOS PROUD
By Rod Mijares
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 21 May 2012
?Oh, my God!? Jessica Sanchez uttered in disbelief covering her face as she was first declared ?safe? for next week?s 2-day (Tuesday/Wednesday) finale among the top three contestants on American Idol. Thus, Jessica Sanchez makes history as the first contestant of Filipino and Mexican heritage to be in the final two of American Idol reality singing competition after eleven seasons.
After 90 million votes, as Joshua and Phillip Phillips were clanging at each other?s shoulders, Joshua who was the best all-around contestant with an unbelievable vocal, Motown sound, entertaining performances, with the most standing ovations throughout the competition and the judges? favorite to go all the way to the title, was voted out.
?It was wrong,? Randy Jackson muttered. Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were also shocked after Ryan Seacrest announced the third-place went to Joshua. America voted and the much-anticipated face-off between Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet will not happen after all as almost everybody was hoping for, like bolts and nuts, a sure thing.
It was a very emotional night, indeed, as Joshua sang his final song and took his mother to the stage. There were tears flowing on almost everybody?s face and, of course, they were tears of sadness as Joshua deserved to be in the final two as what his fans and the judges believed. The stage belongs to Joshua as the judges joined him on the stage hugging him and his mother assuring him of his immense talent and bright future.
Wednesday competition was a threefold performance from the contestants. The top three idols should sing their first song chosen by the judges. The second song would be their choice. Jimmy Iovine picked the third song for each contestant revealed in a AT&T boom box.
?Jessica, when you sing, you make people hang on you on every note. You will be the last one standing here, I believe. That was just so over the top,? Steven Tyler commented after Jessica Sanchez sang Mariah Carey?s ?My All? which was selected by Jennifer as one of her favorites, ?there is tenderness on this song that I feel she will kill and I think the people should hear her sing a song like this?, J.Lo said.
Ryan Seacrest reacted by saying ?Did you just predict the winner, in your opinion??
?Don?t I always,? Steven countered.
Randy said, ?That was absolutely beautiful. Perfectly, the right song for you. Singing a Mariah Carey?s song, I tell people never to do it because it?s like a lesson in the most difficult thing ever sing with the wording. I think it was the best sang of any Mariah?s song ever performed on TV. Excellent.?
Jennifer said, ?It was a hard song but you did it so beautifully and you did it in your own way.?
It was a homecoming concert for Jessica Sanchez in San Diego that was shown on TV from her take-off in a helicopter from Los Angeles to San Diego to taking a limousine going home to her family and dog. Then, she was presented with a plaque from the mayor of Chula Vista, Cheryl Cox, declaring, ?I would like to declare this day as Jessica Sanchez day in the city of Chula Vista.? Later on, she was with her father aboard the ship, USS Midway, where she got assurance from the commanding officer of the navy?s full support for her to be the next American Idol.
She was herself giggling and appreciative of the big turnout. It was time for Jessica to thank the crowd, ?I am so happy to be back home. I love you, guys. Thank you for coming out.?
In her second song, Jessica selected Aerosmith Steven Tyler?s song, ?I Don?t Want to Miss a Thing.? After her performance, Steven Tyler stood up with his hands on his chest indicating his appreciation for Jessica for selecting and singing his song.
?You just turned a great song and make it greater. Thank you.?
Jessica performed Jackson 5?s ?I?ll Be There? in her last and third song of Wednesday night?s top three-performance show and she almost sounded like Michael Jackson at the beginning coming out onto the stage.
Steven Tyler said, ?Perfect song, perfect voice. You nailed it. Delicious. Wonderful. Over the top.?
J.Lo said, ?That was a good choice by Jimmy. Perfect tone in your voice. You came back and killed it so hard at the end. It was crazy.?
However, Randy Jackson said, ?I liked it OK. I didn?t love it, for me. Once again, we are at the end here and you are at the stage with dynamic other singers. There was never a moment, moment. It needed like a moment, moment. It was OK but not Oh, my God.?
Filipinos in great numbers are not only voting to the maximum. Prior to each night?s performance and competition, they are also promoting and encouraging family friends, Filipinos or not, relatives, co-workers, association and religious members to vote for Jessica Sanchez not only because of her Filipino heritage but of her enormous talent that is inherent to most Filipinos as proven for being called ?world class entertainers.?
A week from now, Filipinos with their votes should be more forthcoming and persistent, more assuring and committed and coupled with prayers, one of our own and whose favorite quote is ?Work hard, stay humble? will be the next American Idol. Then, tap yourself at the back for a job well done. Go Jessica, make us Filipinos proud and we are happy to be part of your success. Work hard. Stay humble.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.
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