"Idol" castoff Chikezie Eze's exit interview...

Just got off a conference call interview with Chikezie Eze who got booted from "American Idol" last night - unfairly in my opinion. I don't think the judges did him any favors this week, ripping him apart for what was actually a solid performance of "If Only for One Night" during a week where there were some truly dreadful outings by his fellow contestants.

"I knew I'd be in the bottom three and I knew I'd being going home," he said. "I was fine that it was at a point where I'd still be able to come back and do the tour."

The singer had said on Tuesday's show that he had avoided doing ballads after an earlier attempt got panned. But he decided to follow his heart on the Luther Vandross song which the judges - epsecially sour Simon Cowell - predictably panned.

"I didnt care - honestly," Chikezie told me. "I already knew that Simon wasn't going to feel it no matter what. I knew when I picked the song...I did the song anyway. I had to do what I felt was right."
He added that knowing Simon would hate it "took a lot of the pressure off. Now I'm just performing for the sake of performing."

Chikezie didn't seem overly upset over being voted off because since he is in the top 10, he will be a part of the "American Idol" concert tour around the country this summer: "I tend to be pretty happy because I just feel so blessed to be in this position, to have this opportunity. Last night I was glad that none of the other guys had to go home. That's probably the hardest part of the show, saying goodbye to your friends....It becomes a family. We basically just formed these bonds where we're helping each other out. We created this amazing support system."

Looking ahead, Chikezie said "I'd like to see myself getting at least one Grammy. I really want to get started with my music career, making records that make me feel good and make other people feel good....I'd like to see what I can do, to see what my boundaries are."