Erika Van Pelt says Goodbye

By Jessica Crosby

This season of American Idol is winding down, with only the top nine contestants left. One must say goodbye every week. Some of the most talented people have been voted off this show. This week, it was Erika Van Pelt.

Erika Van Pelt had said goodbye to American idol after the Billy Joel week.  Van Pelt sang the Billy Joel classic “New York State of Mind,” but it did not save her.

On elimination night the bottom three contestants were  Deandre Brackensick, Heejun Han, and Erika Van Pelt. Ryan Seacrest had given Brackensick the good news first and ensured another week on Idol for him.Then, was Heejun Han and Erika Van Pelt in the bottom two.

Han’s performance did not impress the judges. He had sung “My life” by Billy Joel. After his performance Steven Tyler asked him sarcastically, “Did you enjoy taking the p–s out of that song?”

Ryan Seacrest had told Han that he was safe for another week. Van Pelt had to sing “for her life” and hope that the judges would save her. But, her performance was not strong enough and she got sent home.

One of the issues that may have had effected the number of votes that Van Pelt got was the makeover that she got that week. Tommy Hilfiger, an American fashion designer had given Van Pelt ideas of a new look. Van Pelt had told Hilifiger that one of her fashion icons is the famous pop star, Pink. So he gave her the idea to bob her hair and go out on the Idol stage with a rockstar look.

Van Pelt had her hair bobbed and dyed her blonde hair to black. She  had mysteriously gotten a decrease in votes and got voted off after this performance.

Erika Van Pelt’s departure was a mystery to Americans. Her talent was definitely let go early, but she will not be forgotten,  and she still plans to make her career as a solo artist.