Idol Chatter & Voice Views

If Paige Miles’ decision to sing a ballad this week seemed a little odd given her success with “Honky Tonk Woman” in week one, she explained it during an interview with the media Thursday.

It boiled down to the health issues she’s dealt with for the last three weeks.

She had laryngitis when she performed during Rolling Stones week, but overcame it to turn in her best vocal since the live shows began.

But by this week, her vocal chords “were pretty much trashed,” Paige said.

So the 24-year-old from Houston, the R&B gal who prefers the big, belty songs, decided to sing Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds.”

“I was just trying to find slower song I wouldn’t have to strain too much vocally over,” she said. “I didn’t want to do anything too up tempo and crazy to just try to take care of my vocal chords in case I kept on going (on the show).

“I was concerned, as well as the doctor, about doing some permanent damage because the swelling on my vocal chords was so enormous,” Paige said, adding her doctor shared that concern. “I really did have to kind of take it easy. Unfortunately, it was really bad timing.”

Besides, with all Paige was up against — a lack of screen time during this season’s early episodes and the health problems once the finals began — the song title seemed to fit.

Unfortunately, even Paige admits her version of the song wasn’t very good.

Randy called it “terrible.” Kara said it might have been the worst vocal this season.

And when Wednesday night’s results show came to a close, Paige was standing alongside Tim Urban as the two contestants with the fewest votes.

Tim survived, hence qualifying for American Idol’s summer tour.

Paige didn’t, leaving her to search for another means of pursuing her music career.

The Naples, Fla., native plans to do so, and perhaps even move to L.A. to help make her dream a reality.

She balks at the notion that she doesn’t know herself as an artist, a frequent criticism contestants have heard from the judges this season.

“I know what I like to sing. My problem was finding material that I felt fit me and that I could also work with with the laryngitis. It was tough,” she said.

“I like the rock/pop/soul. I love to rock it out with lots of soul and R&B twists to it. I like up-tempo music.”

She decided to go up tempo for her farewell song, singing Free’s “All Right Now.”

But by that time, Simon Cowell had already announced that the judges wouldn’t consider using the judges’ save to keep her in the competition.

That hurt, Paige admitted.

“I initially thought the save was something that, even if they’re not going to use it, you get the opportunity to at least sing, then they make their decision. For the statement to be made before I even opened my mouth, I was pretty bummed.”

And, despite her subpar effort Tuesday, Paige said she didn’t expect to be eliminated so early.

“I knew I had a poor performance Tuesday night, but I really didn’t think it was my time to go yet,” Paige said. “I was surprised.”