American Idol finalist Lazaro Arbos, a 21-year-old from Naples, FL -- the competition's only remaining male singer -- was eliminated during Thursday night's live results show broadcast on Fox, determining the twelfth season's Top 5 finalists.

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Lazaro became the fifth finalist sent home from American Idol's twelfth season after he received the fewest home viewer votes following Wednesday night's performance show, which featured the Top 6 finalists performing two songs -- one of which was from the catalog of Burt Bacharach and Hal David and the other being a song the contestants wish they had written themselves.

Lazaro's elimination became official after American Idol judges Randy Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, and Keith Urban announced they were not going to prevent his departure by using their one "The Judges' Save" of the season. The decision would have to be unanimous amongst the judges to utilize the special save, and in Lazaro's case, the vote was not.
 
During a Friday conference call with reporters, Lazaro talked about his American Idol experience. Below is the first half of Lazaro's interview. Check back with Reality TV World on Monday for the concluding portion.

What do you think your future album is going to be like?

Lazaro Arbos: I love love songs a lot, but at the same time, I like Pop. So I would want to do like a commercial Pop album but with some love songs as well.

What was your favorite moment of the whole American Idol experience?

Lazaro Arbos: My favorite of the whole show, I would say that I got to meet a lot of amazing people that I'll have lifelong bonds with. I think that this show definitely gave me a stronger mindset, so yeah.

Since we first saw you during the auditions, you've become a much more confident person. Now that you've accomplished so much, what were you afraid to try before that you're most looking forward to trying now?

Lazaro Arbos: I think that this show, like I said before, kind of forced me to lose my nerves and step up. So I don't have a specific thing that I would like to do, but I would -- if I had to say one thing -- I would love to act.

I heard you'd like to act on Glee?

Lazaro Arbos: Yes, that is one of my goals after the tour.

If you can't get a role on Glee, what other shows would you like to act on?

Lazaro Arbos: Modern Family (laughs) because I love that show and yeah. (Laughs)

How does it feel to make it so far in the competition after having to overcome so much?

Lazaro Arbos: A lot of people have been asking me if I am sad, and I am so far from that, you know? I am doing so well. I've got so much going on that I am most definitely looking forward to what's coming next. So, I feel great.

How did this experience change you from who you were when you first auditioned?

Lazaro Arbos: Yes. My stuttering has definitely subsided a little bit more. I think that part of that has to do with the fact that I've learned to control my nerves a lot better.

What's the first thing you're going to do once you get back home?

Lazaro Arbos: Oh my God, the first thing I'm going to do [is] probably go to the park with my family, because I've missed them a lot. I know for a fact that my old high school has a pep rally for me, so I'm looking forward to that. So, we'll see.

Do you have any regrets from the show?

Lazaro Arbos: Sometimes I wish I was smarter about taking my songs, because I think I picked songs that weren't the right songs every now and then. But at the same time, I do believe that everything does happen for a [reason], so no.

Why did you want to audition for American Idol to begin with? What motivated you to try out for the show?

Lazaro Arbos: Well, I think that the love for performing and the love for music -- I've always been that kind of guy that wanted to do something big with myself. So I would say that.

What was the best advice you got from the judges while you were on the show?

Lazaro Arbos: The best advice. They just told me to stay away from low songs -- that low songs didn't compliment my voice. I wish I could've picked a much rangier song for Wednesday night, but at the same time, I have no regrets.

It must've been somewhat of an emotional night for you last night. What was going through your mind when your fellow contestants surrounded and said goodbye to you?

Lazaro Arbos: The part that got me the most sad was that I had to -- I had made such good friends with all the girls remaining. So the shock that I wasn't going to be with them no more on the show really got to me. So that was the hardest part.

Which contestant/s did you bond the most with this season and will maybe miss the most?

Lazaro Arbos: Yeah, I was really good friends with Amber Holcomb. 

Were things really as friendly as they seemed to be amongst the contestants or did it get very competitive at times?

Lazaro Arbos: Yeah, some of the times, we got along for the most part. (Laughs) I would say that it's normal to have disagreements and kind of fight, but at the end of the day, we got along really well and we could count on each other.

Above is the first half of Lazaro's Friday interview with reporters. Check back with Reality TV World on Monday for the concluding portion.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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