“American Idol” finalist Sanjaya Malakar was one of the most talked about contestants in the sixth season of the hit TV singing contest due his various different hairstyles and pitchy singing. Now he is making a bid to build his 15 minutes of fame into a lifetime.

Sanjaya was just 17 when he made the top 12 in “American Idol” in 2007, winning the hearts of many of the youngsters in the audience who were dubbed “fanjayas,” although he failed to really impress the judges, particularly Simon Cowell. But now he’s back, releasing a five-track EP called “Dancing to the Music in My Head” and an autobiography of the same name. The story of his life dates back, oh at least two years, to give readers a “behind-the-scenes look at his unlikely rise to fame,” said a press release. 

A week before ”American Idol” returns to TV screens comes a blast from the “Idol” past that seems to sum up everything that makes the show so talked about.

Sanjaya Malakar — the baby-faced crooner better known for his myriad hair styles than his singing  when he was a Top 12 finalist on the show in 2007 — is back with a five-track EP (and an updated  flowing hairdo to match).

The EP is titled “Dancing to the Music in My Head” –  which sounds like something Simon Cowell might have quipped about some of Sanjaya’s performances two years ago.

America gets to see the 2009 crop of Idol wannabes when the TV talent show returns on Jan 13.  Meanwhile Sanjaya’s latest efforts can be heard in preview at Web sites including AOL’s Popeater.com and at Amazon.com. His music will be available for download from Jan. 20 on Amazon.

Who DID win “American Idol” in 2007?  Can you even remember?