by Gina Scarpa

 

When the judges predicted that it would be a girls' year on American Idol, they weren't kidding. Last week, the five females were all deemed safe along with Lazaro Arbos, who many felt certain would be eliminated. Instead, it was Burnell Taylor who was sent home, as judges and fellow contestants alike struggled to hold back their emotions. Burnell talked to RealityWanted and reporters in a press conference call following his elimination to talk more about his Idol experience.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I'm such a fan of your music, and I noticed that, you know, you do sound a little bit like John Legend. Has he been your inspiration at all and is that the style of music you want to make?

A. Burnell: Definitely. John Legend is definitely one of my inspirations. As far as me making the same type of music, I feel like there's already a John. I try to be as original as I can get, so I just want to do something that nobody ever heard before. I love John. John is a big inspiration in my life, and I know I get a comparison with the voice. That's a good thing, because he can sing.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Why do you think that it's such a year for the ladies? What are the guys doing wrong?

A. Burnell: Honestly, it's nothing that we're doing wrong. You know, it's just calling a spade a spade. It's a girl year this year. I would love to see a girl win, because it's been too long since one has won. If a girl wins, the fact that I'm going to know her makes it 100 times better!

 

Q. What do you have planned? What will your album look like?

A. Burnell: My album, I want to make captivating music, period. There's only a few albums that you can play from the beginning to the end without any skips. I just want to be a storyteller and I want to be as personal as I can get. You know, just be honest, that's what I feel the industry is missing today. I want to create that link for other people to feel comfortable with doing.

 

Q. What's been your favorite part so far this season?

A. Burnell: My favorite part of the season was the fact that it allowed me to grow. It really allowed me to lose the weight. There are things that I never would have done if I wasn't on the show. The show motivated me to do a lot of things, and I'm thankful and blessed that I was even in this position.

 

Q. You ended your save song by kissing Amber on the cheek. Did she know that was coming and how would you describe your relationship with her?

A. Burnell: I don't think she knew that was coming. I don't think anybody knew that was coming, but me and Amber, I really like Amber. She really likes me. We like each other. We're just learning more about each other right now. We're not taking anything too fast, because we're both still young. We're just taking our time. As far as us liking each other, we really like each other.

 

Q. Candice ended up weeping in your arms after you sang, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey were crying. How did you keep your composure through all of that and was there a time off camera that you ended up crying too?

A. Burnell: Actually, I was telling them, "Don't cry, don't cry, because this is not the end." Some people started crying before I even started singing and I was like, "Don't cry." The reason why I cried, I never knew how much they really cared. We're all cool. We're close. We're like a family, but I never knew how much they cared about me. Just to see that they were extra genuine, it just touched me, so I had to show love and break down, too.

 

Q. If we're counting Jimmy as one of the judges, which judge provided you with the most helpful guidance for your career and what was the best piece of advice they gave you?

A. Burnell: Anybody that had anything to do with me being on this show from Jimmy, Nicki, Keith, Mariah, Randy... all of them are good mentors. That's what they're for is to mentor us, and I appreciate all them equally. There are no favorites, because all of them have a part in my life, a reason why my life will never be the same. You know, Hollywood week, it was rough for me. They were telling me that I was pitchy and things like that. I took what they told me and did my homework and I got a new vocal coach; spent all the money that I had for a vocal coach, so when it was time for them to see me again, I knew it was going to be like, "This is the different, you've got it together." So, you know, that exactly. When I performed the first time in Vegas, that's the reaction I got from them, so it was amazing.

 

Q. What are you most excited for about the upcoming tour?

A. Burnell: I think I'm most excited about seeing things that I never saw before like different cities, because for the most part, I've stayed in New Orleans all my life. L.A. is the furthest I ever went, so I want to see everybody's home towns. Not only that, I feel like the tour gives us an extra foundation on top of the foundation that we already have; you know, to build that fan base and get personal with our fans and stuff like that, so I'm looking forward to everything on the tour.

 

 

American Idol airs Wednesdays and Thursdays on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa