‘Idols’ refresher: First to go among the final 10

(Starting this issue, Inquirer  features each of the Top 10 finalists of “American Idol” season 11, who are performing on Sept. 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The group is currently on a 45-city US tour, which started on July 6 in Detroit and winds up Sept. 11 in Milwaukee.)

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Erika Van Pelt AFP PHOTO

Erika Van Pelt is from South Kingstown, Rhode Island. She auditioned in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with  the Carole King composition, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”

The judges liked her voice, but said she sounded like a wedding singer. In fact, Erika worked as wedding mobile DJ at the time.

“Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine quickly recognized Erika’s passion for music, commenting that it’s “in her blood.”

Erika landed in the Top 25, but failed to garner enough votes for the Top 5 girls after singing Heart’s “What About Love.” “Idol” judge Randy Jackson, however, had so much faith in her that he picked her for the Wildcard Round.

After a rousing performance of “Edge of Glory,” the three judges agreed to let her through to the Top 13.

Along with Elise Testone, Erika was one of the oldest contestants on season 11, which could be a factor in her difficulty to connect with the viewers. Meanwhile, she was also referred to as a Kelly Clarkson look-alike.

These issues were addressed via a drastic makeover courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger. Cutting her blond locks to a dark pixie and revamping her wardrobe, she unveiled a confident swagger on her next performance, with Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind.”

Even so, the makeover came a little too late. She was eliminated that same week.

EVP, as Erika was fondly called on the show, was considered one of the power vocalists among the contestants, but she also got conflicting comments from the judges—for instance, when both Jackson and Steven Tyler complemented her Billy Joel performance, but Jennifer Lopez criticized her for not moving around the stage more.

This and the belated effort to turn around her image issues, may have contributed to her early elimination. Erika finished 10th.

(Tomorrow: Heejun Han)