Syesha Mercado eliminated from American Idol

American Idol Beat
Eliminated Contestant No. 3
Syesha Mercado, 21, Sarasota, Florida
 
The final two standing, David vs. David, was pre-ordained. Nothing would get in the way to prevent them from taking their rightful spots. Not Chikezie, Ramiele, Michael, Kristy Lee, Carly, Brooke, Jason or even Syesha could have stopped it.
There were many noteworthy performances and a few shocker eliminations on the road to the finale but if you decide this contest on consistency and popularity, the Davids have earned their spots.
David Archuleta, 17, Young Prince of the Ballads and David Cook, the Experienced Resident Rocker, David and Goliath – but who is Goliath? David A. was the early on front-runner; David Cook didn’t start showing that he was a worthy opponent until “Hello” and then made it quite clear he was a contender with “Billie Jean!”
David A. made a misstep with “We Can Work It Out” forgetting some lyrics, showing us he was not invincible. From that point on, the two of them battled it out for the lead.
But I digress! Syesha! She tied the record, with six, for the most times in the bottom two and bottom three in seven years of American Idol. How had she made it through to the top three?
Syesha knocked out some heavy-hitters in the top 10 – and in the top 24, as well. I still have a soft spot for Alexandrea Lushington.
While she performed well throughout the top 10, none of her songs were standouts until “One Rock and Roll Too Many.” She showed her heart with that performance, changing her entire demeanor and proving why she was in the top 10. The tide turned for her and with newfound confidence, she used it to her advantage, capitalizing on Brooke’s and eventually, Jason’s missed lyrics.
This week was Homecoming Week for the top three. Visits were made to each contestant’s hometown, an opportunity for the Idols to be honored, and a chance to see and thank their fans for their support. It was very emotional for all of them. In contrast, the songs the top three sang Tuesday night lacked a lot of that emotion shown in the videos of the hometown visit, especially for Syesha. She performed well, singing “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Fever” and “Hit Me Up,” but when compared to the Davids, she came up short. It came as no surprise when Ryan announced that David Archuleta and David Cook were safe, leaving Syesha to finish at a more than respectable third place.
During the phone interview, she came across as very ambitious and self-confident; driven to succeed despite her father’s issues with drugs and alcohol. She wants to tackle everything she can: Broadway, acting, (possibly, she will star in a movie about her life), winning a Grammy, starting a foundation for Lupus, opening an organic restaurant and more.
She was happy getting to third place, having set goals weekly to advance to the next round. “Fever” was not her first choice; she had two others she had wanted to sing but they were not approved. She said from the beginning of Hollywood week, when she was on vocal rest, it was hard to make connections, her voice saved for the performances. She was nervous in the earlier episodes until Andrew Lloyd Weber week, when he told her to sing with animation. She found her stride then and just decided to have fun.
Her fiancé has been one of her biggest supporters, along with her family. A testimonial to how close the contestants are, he and Kristy Lee Cook’s fiancé stayed at Brooke White’s house with Brooke’s husband while they were on the show.
As far as wedding plans go, she said she is concentrating on her career first and the wedding will happen when the timing is right.
 
If you are enjoying American Idol this season as much as I am, you might want to check out the top 10 on tour this summer. Tickets went on sale May 17. There are plenty left, so peruse the schedule and see if one of the venues might work for you. It is great entertainment, perfect for all ages, and this year, many music genres will be represented, including folk, r&b, country, rock, pop and jazz. Ticket prices are $39.50-$69.00 and are available through TicketMaster.
Let’s get ready to rumble! Tuesday night starts the showdown between David Archuleta and David Cook, with the winner of American Idol Season 7 being named on Wednesday night!
 
Rhonda Cloutier lives in Santa Rosa Beach. You can reach her at IdolBeat@gmail.com.