by Todd Betzold

 

The Top 10 on American Idol took on the playbook of Billy Joel this week and America did not vote in a clear state of mind as they sent Erika Van Pelt and her sexy new ‘do home. Despite many people saying the judges should have used their save on Erika, they decided not to and she was eliminated from the competition. Today she spoke with RealityWanted and reporters in a conference call about her time on Idol, the close relationships among the singers and much more.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: A lot of people have been saying the judges should have used the save on you. Did you get a chance to talk to them after the show or have they told you why they chose not to use it?
A. Erika: You know what, it was one of those weird things that I didn't even think to ask them why they didn't use the save. I had my preconceived notions as to why they wouldn't use it if I ended up in the bottom. So for me, I was already sort of mentally prepared for that and I know with what happened last season with Pia Toscano and using their save early on with Casey that it was going to be hard for me and they have a little post-traumatic stress, which is understandable and they need to save it for an even crazier elimination, so I didn't bother to ask them about that...just wanted to thank them for giving me the opportunity.

 

Q. Todd, RealityWanted: Before Idol, you were a deejay and you were playing the music and now you are singing the music. What's this whole experience been like for you going from that to the big stage now?
A. Erika: Oh man, it's definitely crazy. There is a huge transition that happens from stepping out from behind turntables when you have lie 20 or 30 people listening to what you're doing to literally millions of people watching you sing and pour your heart out onto a stage...there's nothing else like it in the world and it was certainly an adjustment for me to say the least. I've been on stages my whole, but throwing cameras and lighting and audio and all these other crazy things...it's just a whirlwind.

 

 

Q. I thought you were fantastic. I know it hasn't been a whole day yet, but do you have any theories as to what people may have been missing?
A. Erika: It was one of those things that I feel like that for the past few weeks being in the bottom pretty much every week, I just really felt like I didn't have enough momentum right out of the gate and even though I was progressing every week and coming out of my shell every week or so I thought...regardless of my solid performances I feel like every time I hit that stage it was one of those things where I didn't gain enough momentum at the beginning and I sort of ended up lagging behind a little bit just in the eyes of the voters.

 

Q. Do you think the hair transformation may have played a factor, like who is this person?
A. Erika: I'm sure it confused some people that may have a little trouble with either change or staying a little outside the box. I don't think it was detrimental to me...if anything, it got a few more people to at least notice. I was making jokes early on in the competition that I felt like I was drowning in a sea of blonde, even though I am a natural blonde, there were a lot of blondes it seems this season and this was my chance to break out. Tommy Hilfiger had the idea to go short in our image consulting session and it was my idea to go dark and take it one step further.

 

Q. You were game to go along with what Tommy Hilfiger suggested. As we saw on the show, some of the other contestants were not...why do you think some of them were hesitant to take some of his advice?
A. Erika: I'm not sure, exactly. I am so go-with-the-flow...it's hard for me to imagine not taking risks. I feel that I have always done that...some people may be afraid of change. On the other hand, some people might be so sure...so sure of themselves that they're not willing to budge one bit and I can certainly understand it from both angles.

 

Q. One of the cool things is that you do get to go on the summer tour and spend all summer with these people, so what kind of friendships have you formed during your time on the show?
A. Erika: Oh wow, I'll you what...there's no way that with all the editing that happens in reality television that you can get a fraction of the serious family bond that is in this group. We all seriously 100% love and support each other, like all the way. We actually drive some people crazy on staff and I'm sure the tour is going to be no different because we are just having fun. It doesn't matter...we have 12-hour rehearsal days sometimes and we're all just exhausted it seems that we can just pull each other out of the darkness and get some serious work done...literally have fun every single time we hit that stage.

 

Q. What are you looking forward to most about the tour?
A. Erika: I'm looking forward to being able to go out there and perform for the fans and not have people judging. It certainly puts a whole other perspective on performing for me. I always thought I was a pretty good performer and pretty natural until I got on American Idol and noticed how much I had to stay focused...you not only have to think about your delivery and your vocals, but now you have to think about which camera you have to look at the right time, you have to worry about innards falling out, your lav mic not being put on correctly or something...it's crazy, there are so many elements.

 

Q. How much did you agree with Jennifer Lopez's critique on you about moving around on stage more...loosening your body?
A. Erika: For me, I certainly didn't agree with the critique and mostly because I was singing "New York State Of Mind." Anyone that has seen Billy Joel perform this song sees Billy Joel sit behind a piano the entire time and still sell it and I thought I sang it to the best of my ability. I was really, really connected to the lyrics...New York holds a special place in my heart, my cousin is a NY firefighter and with all the ties to 9/11...it was a special song for me to sing, so I was disappointed when she said that because I felt she wanted almost more of a fake performance so people thought I was singing harder, maybe than I actually was? It didn't really seem correct to me.

 

 

American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

 

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