Malaya Watson in, Marrialle Sellars out as ‘American Idol’ names Top 13

Malaya Watson smiles after her performance of 'Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)'. (YouTube screenshot)

One of two Filipino-American hopefuls on “American Idol” was named one of the show’s Top 13 finalists at the conclusion of its nerve-wracking “Rush Week” elimination rounds.

The best part is, Malaya Watson did not need to keep her burgeoning Filipino fan base on the edge of their seats as she was the first to receive the good news from host Ryan Seacrest at the start of the popular reality talent show Thursday night (Friday morning, Manila time).

Born and raised to an African-American father and a Filipina mother in Detroit, Michigan, the 16-year old tuba player won the hearts of viewers and judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr. alike with both her sensational set of pipes and her geeky yet charming personality.

“You make glasses and braces look cool!” exclaimed Urban at the end of her lilting rendition of Ray Charles’ “Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)”. Watson’s consistent performances certainly left a lasting impression on viewers who gave the youngest contestant this season an outright finals berth along with Majesty Rose, Jessica Meuse, Emily Piriz, MK Nobilette, Caleb Johnson, Sam Woolf, Dexter Roberts, Alex Preston and Ben Briley.

Five other singers namely Kristen O’ Connor, Jena Irene, Bria Anai, CJ Harris and Spencer Lloyd were selected by the judges to compete in the Wild Card round for the final three slots. Following the sudden death sing-off, O’ Connor, Harris and Irene advanced.

That meant that the other Fil-Am aspirant, Marrialle Sellars from Indianapolis, was shown the door without getting a chance to compete for the final three Wild Card slots. After becoming an early favorite in the competition following her rousing interpretation of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” during her initial audition in Detroit, the 17-year-old livewire began to decline with her succeeding performances. Her “inconsistency”, as Connick put it, ultimately led to her outright elimination.

With the Final 13 now in place, how far can Watson go? Most fan polls rank her as number 3 among the female finalists after Rose, who like her is of African-American descent, and Nobilette, who is touted as the show’s first openly gay contestant. But she also has to contend with an all-white male competition that includes fan favorites Sam Woolf and Alex Preston.

Her Filipino fans from all over the world hope Malaya Watson will go even further than “American Idol” Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez and finally become the first Filipino-American to win it all in the show’s 13-year history.

“American Idol” airs on on ETC every Thursdays and Fridays at 6PM, with a primetime telecast at 9PM and on Star World and Star World HD also every Thursdays and Fridays at 6PM, with encore telecasts at 8PM and 11PM.

Malaya Watson in, Marrialle Sellars out as ‘American Idol’ names Top 13

Source: InterAksyon.com (February 22, 2014 at 01:32PM)

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