For fans, Jessica Sanchez is still the winner of 'American Idol'

Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez may have lost the competition but for her fans, she is still the "American Idol."

Sanchez, 16, of Chula Vista, California, lost to Phillip Phillips, 21, of Leesburg, Georgia.

Sanchez's mother is Filipina, while her father is Mexican.

Sanchez's fans on Twitter said they believe Sanchez is still a winner:
@tonyatayde: "Phillip Phillips can have the title of American Idol. Jessica Sanchez is already a GLOBAL Idol."

@FrianneAslahon: "@AmericanIdol Para samen si JESSICA SANCHEZ ANG PANALO !!!!!!"

@adolfooe: "Jessica Sanchez is a global super star like Adam Lambert, #runneruppower!"

Many of her fans have also been saying on Twitter that the Philippines and Mexico have been separated by boxing but united by music.

Twitter user @MgaKasabihan said: "PHILIPPINES & MEXICO, Separated by Boxing, United by Music. That's Jessica Sanchez!"

The Philippines' foremost boxer — Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao — has been called the "Mexicutioner" after having won over many Mexican boxers.

Among "American Idol" contestants with Filipino heritage, Sanchez has so far made the best achievement.

Filipino-American Jasmine Trias made it to the top three of AI's Season 3, while Ramiele Malubay, another Fil-Am, placed ninth in Season 7.

Thia Megia, another Filipino-American, meanwhile, finished in the top 11 of last year's competition. - VVP/KG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Jessica Simpson Rooting for Phillip Phillips to Win American Idol

The new mom, who welcomed daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on May 1, is rooting for crooner Phillip Phillips to win Wednesday night.

"Crossing my fingers for hot stuff Phillip Phillips!!" she Tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Phillips, 21, performed three songs alongside another Jessica – 16-year-old Sanchez – Tuesday on the show's final night of competition.

POLL: Who Do You Want to Win American Idol?

And Simpson, it seems, is ready for some new music (lullabies excluded, of course).

"I want his record NOW!!!" she continued in her Tweet.

source: people.com

Power balladeer Jessica vs. ‘genius’ Philip on ‘Idol’ finale

LOS ANGELES – Jessica Sanchez, the teen with the big voice, chose power ballads while Phillip Phillips went with an indie vibe as the two diverse “American Idol” finalists sang on Tuesday for the hearts and votes of America.

Sanchez, 16, bidding to become the youngest ever winner of America’s most-watched TV show, was deemed ahead after performing songs made famous by Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.
But it was acoustic guitar-playing Phillips who brought all three judges to their feet at the end of the performance finale.

“You were perfect tonight, and I think you are the man,” said judge Steven Tyler as Phillips closed the show with his potential first single “Home”—a song that mixed the style of folk-rock band Mumford and Sons with Paul Simon and featured a marching band.

Randy Jackson called the Georgia singer’s performance “brilliant, genius” and added “Dude I loved the song! I loved you. I loved the production … Everything about that was perfect.”

Phillips, 21, also put his own spin on his two other songs—Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out” and the classic “Stand By Me”—earning screams of adulation from the audience of 7,000 in Los Angeles. But he failed to convince the three judges.

“This is a tough one,” said Jennifer Lopez. “It’s like a battle of the opposites.”
Sanchez, a home-schooled California teen, won praise for her renditions of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and Celine Dion’s “The Prayer.”

But her potential first single, a pop ballad called “Change Nothing,” fell flat with the judges, bringing tears to the eyes of the young singer.
Jackson thought the song was “just okay” while Tyler said “It didn’t feel like the proper song for you to sing.”

But the judges’ impact is limited to potentially swaying audience votes. America’s “Idol” will be chosen by viewers and fans who have four hours to vote by phone, text and online after the show ended on Tuesday.

Results will be announced at the end of a star-studded two hour finale Wednesday (Thursday morning in the Philippines).

Based on social media buzz and Twitter postings going into Tuesday’s final, Sanchez had a 17 percent lead in Yahoo! searches, the Internet search engine said.

She also generated 60 percent more mentions in social media than Phillips, according to a survey by analytics company General Sentiment.

But Phillips, whose goofball humor has charmed millions of young female viewers, has never been in “Idol”s bottom three.

Sanchez, who is sometimes criticized for failing to connect emotionally with her lyrics, was saved by the judges from elimination in April after coming bottom in the public vote.

The young girl of Mexican and Filipino descent has millions of supporters in the Philippines, while Phillips has won sympathy for a kidney problem that has plagued his health during the show.
“Pheel Better Phillip” read one poster in Tuesday’s audience.

The winner will receive a guaranteed recording contract, putting him or her on a potential road to the stardom enjoyed by early champions Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

But more recent winners have fared less well and audiences for “American Idol”, now in its 11th season, have fallen by 23 percent to an average 19.2 million viewers.

article source: interaksyon.com

Jessica Sanchez’s American Idol rival, Phillip, turns down surgery for now

The last man standing in Season 11 of American Idol, Phillip Phillips, has refused “desperately needed” surgery in order to compete in the sing-off with Jessica Sanchez, the last woman standing.

The two contestants made it to the AI finals – Jessica despite a sore throat, and Phillip despite kidney stone problems.

Entertainment news site TMZ reported that the 21-year-old’s kidney problems had gotten worse over months.

The 21-year-old singer intends to go under the knife after next week's finals. The report added that his ability to sing has been “affected”, resulting in his absence in several pre-recorded segments of the popular television singing contest.

Phillips has had five kidney stone removal procedures, according to his father in a report by idolator.com, which said the procedures were done since October last year.

Idolator also reported that Phillips was hospitalized in January this year, and was rushed to the hospital for severe abdominal pain in March. — Marlon Anthony Tonson, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com