Alejandro Aranda reveals he writes "one song a day" in spite of his hectic production schedule on American Idol He may be busy trying to become the next American Idol, but Alejandro Aranda‘s main priority is staying true to himself. After Sunday’s episode of American Idol, the 24-year-old musician opened up to PEOPLE about what he really does when he has down time during a hectic production schedule. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “I love writing music so I wanted to keep true to that and the show allowed me to play my own songs,” he said. “I try to write a song a day. It’s kind of hard being on this show. But that’s what I’ve been doing.” “You can find the time if you really love it,” he added. “I’ve written a lot. There are a lot of bad ones about pancakes and stuff. I just get ideas out.” ALEJANDRO ARANDA Alejandro Aranda | Credit: ABC/Disney During Sunday’s episode, the Pamona, California native gave incredible performances to Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry,” Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” and an original song called “Blesser.” While acknowledging the contestant’s real-life heroes for the night, Aranda dedicated his original song to mentor and musician George Lewis Jr., aka Twin Shadow, and revealed he was the reason he never gave up his dream. “The pressures of life and the stress and jobs that you work, you do so much and you try to make something happen and it doesn’t happen,” he told PEOPLE. “The expectations that I had during that time were kind of high. Nothing was really happening for me. The jobs I had were terrible. I was trying to play music and it wasn’t going anywhere. I was trying to get gigs as a musician and I couldn’t get gigs. When George Lewis Jr. came in, he provided me with a laptop, a microphone, a guitar. He put me on the first tour ever as a touring musician. I had my first flight and TV appearance with him. I played my first festival. He’s helped reinvent myself and realized music is everything. Stay true to who you are. Things will work out.” LUKE BRYAN, KATY PERRY, LIONEL RICHIE Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie | Credit: ABC/Disney During Sunday’s episode, Wade Cota and Laci Kaye Booth were eliminated, leaving Aranda, Madison Vandenburg, and Laine Hardy in the Top 3.<doc-sep>We are down to the final three on season 17 of “American Idol.” On May 12, the Top 5 took to the stage to sing a trio of tunes: one chosen by their mentor Bobby Bones, another in honor of Mother’s Day and a third made famous by Elton John. After the results of the public vote were revealed by Ryan Seacrest, the trio of contestants still standing are: Alejandro Aranda, Laine Hardy and Madison VanDenburg. (Of the eliminated artists — Laci Kaye Booth and Wade Cota — who was better?) Which of the finalists do you think will be crowned winner of “American Idol” on May 19? After reviewing the rundown of all the songs they’ve sung to date in this reality competition, cast your vote in our poll. And be sure to sound off with your thoughts on this revival of “American Idol” in the comments section. SEE ‘American Idol’ Winners: Where Are They Now (Seasons 1 – 16)? Alejandro Aranda Top 40: “Yellow” by Coldplay Top 20 Solo: “I Fall Apart” by Post Malone Top 20 Duet: with Ben Harper on “There Will Be A Light” by Harper Top 14 Song 1: “One Dance” by Drake Top 14 Song 2: “Cholo Love” (original song) Top 10 Song: “Remember Me” from “Coco” Top 8 Song: “Under Pressure” by Queen Top 6 Song 1: “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane Top 6 Song 2: “Poison” (original song) Top 5 Song 1: “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” by Elton John Top 5 Song 2: “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley and the Wailers Top 5 Song 3: Original song, “Blesser” DISCUSS All things “American Idol” with TV insiders in our notorious forums Laine Hardy Top 40: “Come Together” by The Beatles Top 20 Solo: “Bring It On Home” by Sonny Boy Williamson Top 20 Duet: with Elle King on “The Weight” by The Band Top 14 Song 1: “That’s Alright Mama by Elvis Presley Top 14 Song 2: “Hurricane” Top 10 Song: “Oo-De-Lally” from “Robin Hood” Top 8 Song: “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen Top 6 Song 1: “I Don’t Need No Doctor” by Ray Charles Top 6 Song 2: “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry Top 5 Song 1: “Something About the Way You Look Tonight” by Elton John Top 5 Song 2: “Can’t You See” by the Marshall Tucker Band Top 5 Song 3: “Hey Jude” by The Beatles SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s newsletter with experts’ latest predictions Madison VanDenburg Top 40: “Who’s Lovin’ You” by The Miracles Top 20 Solo: “Domino” by Jessie J. Top 20 Duet: with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on “We Belong” by Benatar Top 14 Song 1: “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys Top 14 Song 2: “You and I” by Lady Gaga Top 10 Song: “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” Top 8 Song: “The Show Must Go On” by Queen Top 6 Song 1: “Piece Of My Heart” by Janis Joplin Top 6 Song 2: “I Surrender” by Celine Dion Top 5 Song 1: “Your Song” by Elton John Top 5 Song 2: “What About Us” by Pink Top 5 Song 3: “Make You Feel Me Love” by Adele Be sure to make your predictions so that the contestants can see how they’re faring in our racetrack odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before the next episode airs on ABC. You’ll compete to win a spot on our leaderboard and a $100 Amazon gift card. See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.<doc-sep>
For much of this season of “American Idol,” the judges were concerned that Alejandro Aranda wasn’t necessarily “in it to win it,” as former judge Randy Jackson often said. However, following Alejandro’s Top 5 performance of Elton John‘s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word,” Katy Perry proudly declared, “You’ve decided to actually play in this competition, and it shows.” Fellow judge Lionel Richie echoed her sentiments by proclaiming, “It shows.” Do you think Alejandro has done enough to win Season 17 of “American Idol”? Make your predictions at Gold Derby before next Sunday’s finale. “When I was growing up, music was the thing that spoke the language of all of my feelings,” Katy told the 25-year-old musician from Pomona, California. “It comforted me, it gave me joy. That song was so sad. I am so sad right now. But it’s okay. You were so connected.” Luke Bryan wondered aloud, “Have you been, like, holding back? I mean, you are owning the night, my friend. You are owning the night. And listen, wrap your head around being a ginormous star please, because there is no other way around it.” Lionel added that Alejandro “killed” that version of the Elton John classic. Also during the live Top 5 show, Alejandro took on Bob Marley‘s “No Woman No Cry” as his Bobby Bones pick and his original song “Blesser” as his hero tribute. At the end of the two hours, the Top 3 singers were revealed to be Alejandro, Laine Hardy and Madison VanDenburg. That meant both Wade Cota and Laci Kaye Booth were eliminated from the competition, as Gold Derby predicted. Since his very first appearance, this “humble homie” has been lauded by viewers as one of the best to ever appear on the reality TV show. Alejandro’s audition of his original song “Out Loud” was watched more times than we can count, and he’s wowed fans not just with his smooth falsetto voice but also with his genius guitar-and-piano-playing. Is he about to become the 17th winner of “American Idol”? Be sure to make your predictions to influence our reality TV racetrack odds. You can keep changing your predictions until just before the next episode airs on ABC. You’ll compete to win a spot on our leaderboard and a $100 Amazon gift card. See our contest rules and sound off with other fans in our reality TV forum. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.