Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Curtis Finch Jr. became the first finalist ousted from the American Idol finals Thursday night.

On one hand, the outcome came as a bit of a shock.

Heading into the finals, Curtis was a standout vocalist among what most consider an underwhelming group of male singers.

But he also sang first in a two-hour show Wednesday night and received lukewarm reviews for his performance of Fantasia’s “I Believe.”

Nicki Minaj missed critiquing that performance because she was late arriving for Wednesday’s show.

Thursday, she was clearly miffed when he finished last. Then complained that the judges didn’t have enough time to discuss saving Curtis from elimination.

In a Friday afternoon conference call with the media, Curtis says he doesn’t think Nicki’s presence at the judging table Wednesday would have changed the outcome.

Besides, he said, he prefers looking forward, not toward what happened in the past.

Nicki happened to be backstage, preparing to take her seat at the judges’ table when he left the stage.

“When I got off stage she was the first face I saw,” Curtis says. “She gave me a high five and said I did a good job.”

He did appreciate her words of support Thursday night though, when word of his 10th place finish came down.

“I sing from the heart, and I feel like I touched Nicki’s heart so she didn’t want me to leave.”

Here’s are some of Curtis’ other comments Friday afternoon.

* He doesn’t think all the hype about the Season 12 females being better has put the guys at a disadvantage. “The talent that has been found and put in the top 10 is very amazing. Everybody there is a vocal beast.”

* Curtis says he feels like he’s improved dramatically over the course of his Idol experience, because he was forced to sing day in and day out and be at the top of his game every time.

* Curtis encouraged his fans who say they’ll stop watching to continue following the show and voting for their favorites because “there are nine tremendous artists left.”

* Asked what type of direction he wants to go in musically after the show, Curtis says he wants to go in “the love direction.” By that, he explained that he wants to record music people will enjoy without offending anyone or being controversial.

* He said his favorite Idol moment came in the semifinals, when he got a standing ovation from the judges for his rendition of “I Believe I Can Fly.” He said it made him feel like he was in a room full of believers who believed they could accomplish anything.