It was supposed to be Syesha’s night. After all, it was the axed Floridian’s last chance to shine on “American Idol” after a meteoric rise to third place that no one expected.
But here we are, the top two “American Idol” finalists decided after four intense months, and yet the buzz following Wednesday night’s elimination show centered not around the impending David showdown, or on the ouster of Syesha Mercado, but an over-the-top performance by an “Idol” winner from four years ago.
Fantasia, the passionate, raspy-voiced single mother from North Carolina, to this day is arguably the edgiest “Idol” winner ever (Taylor Hicks and his premature head of gray hair don’t count). Tonight, however, she truly outdid herself, bursting onto the stage with a head of fire engine red hair and three backup dancers and delivering a high-energy performance of her song “Bore Me.”
The performance immediately sparked a lively debate on the Web over whether Fantasia was back to her magnetic self or had completely lost her mind.
“I loved it…it was FUN and CRAAAAZZZY! I was up dancing!” wrote one fan on the “Idol” forums, while another said: “What was all the screaming about? That’s talent? She’s lost it.”
Many viewers commented on Simon Cowell’s slack-jawed stare during Fantasia’s performance, saying he couldn’t have made his feelings any clearer.
On YouTube, where several versions of the performance were posted following the show, one viewer panned the performance, but admitted to being unable stop watching the video.
“For some strange reason beyond my own comprehension I can’t stop watching the vid!!! It’s like deep down inside I want to punish myself for all the mistakes I did in my life by watching this freakshow!”
Isn’t that what reality TV is all about?
For more on the elimination show, click here.
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Well, it was certainly memorable. I have to agree with whoever said they can’t seem to stop watching it as I can’t seem to either. lol. I loved Simon’s face! Oh gosh, that was classic. Wonder what he would have said if he had been asked his opinion. “Fantasia, that was utterly atrocious! Pack your bags!” Me thinks he did not watch rehearsals. lol.
- Posted by amyOn a sidenote to whoever brought it up: Jason Castro made it to the top 4, not 5 (and I liked him). Everyone is entitled to their own style. And lets not bring race into this…it’s old, used, and it’s ridiculous in the face of all Fantasia’s (and others like her) success.
Fantasia and singer, star or talent in the same sentence is comical!
- Posted by MikeThat “performance” was pitiful! She couldn’t win a spot on AI today if her life depended on it!
She should be flipping burgers and stay off the stage.
She has absolutely NO TALENT!
That was the most horendous attempt at singing I have ever witnessed and Simon’s expression echoed MILLIONS of people who know crap when they hear/see it!
That was the worst performance that I have ever seen. She sounded like a cat in heat. My close caption couldn’t even pick up the words…..Simon’s face said it all!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by Non Fantasia FanShe was HORRIBLE when she was on A.I. and she was even more HORRIBLE last night!! I couldn’t make out a word she said and her “dancing” if that’s what you want to call it was horrid. She looked like a rooster looking for a hen!!
- Posted by AmandaShe was FANTASTIC !!!!!
- Posted by Beth MonroeI LOVED Fantasia’s performance last night. Thank Goodness that someone came and breathed life into the most BORING Idol show in history. It has been a SNOOZEFEST ALL YEAR. These people don’t have HALF the talent as of last year. There was a competition! Fantasia shook things up, and I loved the dancers! You all are dissin’ her, and she’s going to the bank because she is a HELLUVA Entertainer and she’s Blessed whether you care for her or not. And Archuleta — ugh — he is plain vanilla. My vote’s for David COOK!
- Posted by YelothndrYes, her hair was a mess, and yes, there was a lot of jumping and screaming. But don’t you know it, I could not keep my eyes off that performance and watched it over and over. It was exhilerating. It was a PERFORMANCE, and it sure as heck entertained.
- Posted by SeanTanmack wrote: “Idol audiences have gotten to be so old fashioned, caucasian, and middle of the road conservative.”
I’m not just old-fashioned; I’m old….I have to admit to being caucasian….and at my age, middle of the road is the safest place to be.
And I LOVED every second that Fantasia was on that stage. This season of Idol has been a snooze-fest. She came out like a bolt of electricity! The energy was sooo exciting.
The past couple of seasons have been so DULL and VAPID (Katherine McPhee anyone??) it’s no wonder Simon looked stunned. Poor baby just got woken up out if a two-year nap.
- Posted by TardisJockeyi was cracking up watching her “performance”. I like different music too, but that was ridiculus! She was screaming, not singing, with a lisp from her braces. She looked and sounded terrible. Did anyone notice her dancers in the background with their butt cheeks hanging out of the bottom of their dresses when they danced. It is a family show after all. Simon’s face was priceless!!
- Posted by laurenHaters! Fantasia is definitely on her way to becoming a big R&B star…not necessarily the little mainstream pop star that so many of you expect AI winners to be. That was a hot performance. The song is going to definitely be a hit. She looked like she was channeling Tina Turner with a little twist of Patti LaBelle thrown in for good measure.
- Posted by JahaiI thought she was slammin’! Compellingly watchable, totally entertaining. She was awesome. Get over yourself, Simon. You may have a talen for picking talent, but even though you love to claim that you’ve had more #1’s than Elvis, you don’t actually DO anything musical.
- Posted by NettiePeople who criticizes other always means they which they could do it themselves, Fantasia performing was great, we have the right to look the way we want too.
- Posted by adeleShe looked like a chicken strutting around up there. And she only sang or screamed only half of the song, she was mostly jumping around and walking like a chicken. I am still suprised that they thought it was good enough to put on TV. It was terrible!
- Posted by AuzyLOL, Well, She is a star now!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by Hip-Hop MusicWhat a piece of crap! It’s like she was possessed by demons. How anyone could compare her to Tina Turner is beyond me - Tina has talent - Fantasia’s performance was awful.
- Posted by BrendaBTW, David COOK will win - he really rocks.
- Posted by barbaraI had to turn the channel, it was just too painful to watch. By doing so, I guess I missed Simon’s expression, I guess I should go to uTube and watch it for that. I too felt embarrased for her, the singing, the hair, that horrible outfit and the sleezy backup girls with flapping butt cheeks, man on man - it was bad.
- Posted by barbaraI thought is was a fantastic performance, Fantasia rocked. All I was doing afterwards was trying to find the song to pick up. Talk about showing the contestants how to perform and just be yourself, different, current and a pure diva!!!!!
- Posted by WaelGood God, y’all! A female, 21st-century version of James Brown! Half the time I can’t understand the words, but her hips definitely don’t lie. Fantasia has always been my favorite Idol. She does what she does and is totally energy. I am in awe of her wild, crazy talent.
- Posted by SusanAfter the previous nights snoozer of performances- I enjoyed Fantasia livening things up- it was by the far the best performance over this whole very boring season- stars and idols included.
- Posted by kojer1