Tamyra, You are Eliminated This Week
And this of course, the elimination that firmly put American Idol on the map. Tamyra Gray, after an impressive 'House is Not a Home' performance the week before, sings an awful 'New Attitude' and a hoarse 'Feel the Fire', and is shockingly eliminated in the Top 4. She was singer #1 too -- that's how powerful that elimination indicator is.
What is notable is that they kept referring to Tamyra as a 'superstar' -- I think mostly out of guilt. Tamyra had some success after leaving American Idol but she never became a superstar. She released an album two years after Season 1 (selling 120,000 copies), and had a recurring role in Boston Public in 2003. After rejecting a role in Aida a few months after Idol, she worked in Bombay Dreams in November 2004 -- it was canceled two months later. She did compose Fantasia Barrino's 'I Believe', but I also remember Tamyra butchering the National Anthem during that finale show.
Quite interesting, like these days, when Tamyra was eliminated, viewers swore they would never watch American Idol again, since the "most talented singer" was unjustly thrown under the bus. Well, those fans have stopped supporting Tamyra obviously, and there are more people watching American Idol now despite (and arguably because of) the shocking eliminations.
Personally (similar to this year's many viewers sleeping under rock for 5 years who never watched Idol but now are because of Sanjaya Malakar), American Idol really registered in my consciousness after everyone talked about Tamyra's elimination for many days after it happened. There was also some buzz about Justin Guarini being the "other" Justin at the time, but Tamyra leaving, and then Kelly Clarkson winning with 'A Moment Like This' were the highlights of Season 1.
In September 2006 Tamyra married Sam Watters of Color Me Badd. She is currently looking for a manager and a record label to release her second CD. Almost 5 years later, Paula still has not lined up for the Tamyra world tour.
House is Not a Home
New Attitude
Feel the Fire
Video clip... watch and learn children:
New Attitude: