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Sanjaya Malakar

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Sanjaya Shekar Malakar (IPA pronunciation: [sænˈdʒaɪ.ə][1]) (born September 10, 1989) is an American singer who is currently a finalist on the sixth season of American Idol.

Biography

Early years

Malakar was born in the Seattle area[2] to a Bengali Indian father and an Italian American mother. He comes from a musical family -- his father is a classical Indian musician.[3][4] His parents filed for divorce when he was three years old, and had been separated for a year prior to filing for divorce. When the divorce was filed, the family had almost no money coming in. His mother and the children were living in a Seattle apartment, and her only income was $531 a month from welfare. His mother remarried, but his stepfather died soon afterwards.[5] Other singers in his family include his older sister Shyamali[6], who is two years his senior, and his cousin Camila.[2] For middle school, Malakar attended the Seattle Waldorf School and Northshore Junior High, and, in 2004, he then attended Shorecrest High School for freshman year before transferring to Todd Beamer High School. After his sophomore year, Malakar left high school early, electing for a GED in order to focus on a music career and participate on American Idol.[2]

Although Malakar spent the majority of his formative years in the Seattle area, he has also lived in California[2] and Honolulu, Hawaii, where he performed with the Hawaii Children's Theater group.[7] While in Seattle, he spent three years with the Total Experience Gospel Choir after being referred by an aunt.[8]

American Idol

On September 19 2006, Malakar auditioned for American Idol in Seattle, with his 19-year-old sister Shyamali, and both received invitations to the Hollywood round. However, Shyamali was cut from the show at the end of the round.

Malakar cited Stevie Wonder as his idol, and sang one of Wonder's signature songs, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" at his Seattle audition. For his performance as a finalist, Malakar performed "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." The judges have been largely critical of his performances since the audition, though Simon Cowell admitted that Malakar is popular with the voters while Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul gave a more positive appraisal of his "You Really Got Me" performance in the Top 11.

On March 27 2007, Malakar sang No Doubt's "Bathwater" wearing a fauxhawk made from multiple ponytails. The style was called the "ponyhawk" by host Ryan Seacrest. While singing, Malakar forgot some of the words to the song. The following night, host Seacrest walked out on stage wearing a wig with the same hairstyle, parodying Malakar.

On April 3, Tony Bennett was the featured celebrity on the show, and he met with each performer. Malakar sang "Cheek to Cheek," wearing a white suit, donning a slick hairstyle (with a recent cut), and dancing with judge Paula Abdul.

On the April 4 results show, it was revealed that Malakar had finished in the "middle three," among nine contestants.

Malakar's performance of "Bésame Mucho" in the Top 8 on April 10 was his first universally praised performance by the judges in the finals of the competition. Randy Jackson commented, "You’re one of the smartest contestants I’ve ever met. That was actually really good. It was.", while Simon Cowell offered the halting, "I’m going to hate myself for this. It wasn’t horrible."

Jennifer Lopez said, "I like this kid. I love Sanjaya!" after hearing him sing in Spanish in rehearsal, the only one of the remaining eight contestants to do so. Malakar avoided elimination on the April 11 results show, and entered the Top 7.

Performances

  1. Seattle Audition - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" - Stevie Wonder
  2. Hollywood Audition "Some Kind of Wonderful" - Grand Funk Railroad
  3. Top 24 - "Knocks Me Off My Feet" - Stevie Wonder
  4. Top 20 - "Steppin' Out With My Baby" - Irving Berlin, introduced by Fred Astaire
  5. Top 16 - "Waiting On the World to Change" - John Mayer
  6. Top 12 - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Theme: Diana Ross) - Bottom 2
  7. Top 11 - "You Really Got Me" - The Kinks (Theme: British Invasion)
  8. Top 10 - "Bathwater" - No Doubt (Theme: No Doubt and singers who inspired Gwen Stefani)
  9. Top 9 - "Cheek to Cheek" - Irving Berlin, introduced by Fred Astaire (Theme: American Classics)
  10. Top 8 - "Bésame Mucho" - Consuelo Velázquez (Theme: Latin Music)
  11. Top 7 - "Let's give them something to talk about" - Bonnie Raitt

Controversy

On March 19 2007, Howard Stern announced that he was launching a campaign with his listeners to vote for Malakar to win the competition.[9] Some Stern regulars, such as Jeff The Drunk, have claimed to have voted for Malakar at least 300 times -- largely in hopes of tormenting Wack Pack member and American Idol traditionalist Eric the Midget. The weblog Vote for the Worst has Malakar as its current "pick" for the sixth season top 12 after previous candidates Antonella Barba and Sundance Head were eliminated.[10]

A few American Idol fans who use MySpace have claimed to be on hunger strikes until he is voted off.[11] Other members of the MySpace online community who liked Sanjaya created a page entitled Team Sanjaya in support for him. However, members of the online community have contributed semi-fictional web sites such as Sanjaya-Idol, appearing to portray Sanjaya in a more satirical but supportive way. A 13-year-old girl named Ashley Ferl was highlighted repeatedly during Malakar's performance in the Top 11 episode, crying tears of joy, although Ferl also cried for Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, and many other contestants.[12] The controversy and fan reaction were satirized on the March 24, 2007 broadcast of Saturday Night Live, during the Weekend Update segment. Malakar was portrayed by Andy Samberg, and the crying girl was portrayed by Kristin Wiig. Also feigning tears in the audience were Fred Armisen and Dan Aykroyd.[13] Zach Braff said "Vote for Sanjaya" before a preview of his next film, The Ex.[14]

On the flip side, parody sites that make a mockery of Malakar's success have recently appeared including If Sanjaya Wins and Sanjaya, The Apocalypse among many others.

Simon Cowell told Extra that if Malakar wins, he will not return as a judge to the show,[15] even though he is contractually obligated to return.[16] The show's executive producer has predicted that Malakar will not win.[16] Some commentators have remarked that the judges seemed to have stopped giving thoughtful critiques of Malakar's performances due to their disdain that he has gone so far in the competition.[17][18][19] Randy Jackson went as far to remark that "I cannot even say anything on the vocals anymore", in his critique of Malakar after his performance during the top nine. Some believe that it could be a shark jumping moment for American Idol if Malakar wins.[20] Others, however, believe that the franchise is benefiting from the publicity, which is more than in any recent season of Idol.[21]

On April 17, Sanjaya Malakar was named "Girl of the Day" by Maxim.com. The web site claims to have "Sanjina [sic] to thank for the 'ponyhawk.' [sic]"

Footnotes

  1. ^ See inogolo: Name Pronunciation Guide.
  2. ^ a b c d "seattle.about.com/od/artsentertainment/p/sanjayamalakar.htm". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  3. ^ "timesofindia.indiatimes.com/pdaarticleshow/1749858.cms". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  4. ^ "Stars of South Asian descent are on the ascent". 2007-04-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Sanjaya's Secret Heartache". Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  6. ^ "American Idol: Shyamali Nude Photo Now Powers Sanjaya Mania". 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Sanjaya surprises some after surviving 'Idol' cut". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  8. ^ "Sanjaya surprises some after surviving 'Idol' cut". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  9. ^ Harris, Chris (2007-03-20). "Is Howard Stern Behind Sanjaya Malakar's Staying Power On 'Idol'?". MTV News. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Vote For The Worst - Sanjaya Malakar". 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Sanjaya Malakar Inspires a Hunger Strike". 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Dreams do come true for 'Idol' fan". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  13. ^ Saturday Night Live, March 24, 2007
  14. ^ "Sanjaya Malakar Inspires a Hunger Strike". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  15. ^ "www.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/arts/television/31idol.html?ex=1332993600&en=f3eeecfc91e562ea&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  16. ^ a b "www.azcentral.com/ent/tv/articles/0404idol0404producer.html". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  17. ^ "testpattern.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/03/110885.aspx". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  18. ^ "blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2007/04/has_sanjaya_mal.html". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  19. ^ "www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/03/AR2007040301696.html?hpid=topnews". Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  20. ^ "Why worst crooner's voice may topple American Idol". Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  21. ^ "select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F10A13F934540C778CDDAD0894DF404482". Retrieved 2007-04-11.

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