'American Idol': Melinda Ademi of Yonkers eliminated from the show

Wednesday February 27, 2013 9:57 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Fox | Yonkers resident Melinda Ademi performs during the sudden death round of "American Idol." (Feb. 27, 2013)

Melinda Ademi performed during the “sudden death” round on “American Idol” tonight, and after a performance that received lackluster praise from the judges, the 19-year-old Yonkers resident was cut from the show.

Ademi led off the night with a take on Jessie J’s “Nobody’s Perfect.” Although the teen had luck performing a Jessie J song last time -- she covered the artist’s song “Price Tag” during the last round with a rendition that earned her a spot in the top 40 -- this time the song seemed to lead to her undoing.

For starters, Angela Miller offered a more spirited version of the song on last week’s show, and Ademi’s version was neither as confident nor as memorable as Miller’s, the judges said.

Keith Urban praised her for having “so much raw talent and so much potential,” but fellow judge Nicki Minaj said that she felt “much more connected” to Miller’s version. Minaj also took Ademi to task for her lack of variety in her song choices because Ademi chose to sing another Jessi J track. And Mariah Carey said she felt "like perhaps being in this venue, the nerves got to you a bit.”

After each of the 10 contestants sang, the judges announced which five were staying and which five were history. Ademi was the first person cut from the show; Carey was the one who delivered the bad news.

“Because of the massive amount of talent we were dealing with … we [decided to] not put you through,” Carey said.

Ademi took the news graciously, and received hugs from each of the judges before departing.

Do you think Melinda Ademi deserved to advanced to the next round, or do you agree with Mariah Carey that there are much more talented singers in the competition? Let us know in the comments! 

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