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Chikezie Eze has been voted off American Idol.

Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro joined Chikezie in the bottom three but avoided an exit after the results of 30 million viewer votes were totalled.

The theme for the night was 'The Year You Were Born', with Chikezie performing the 1985 Luthor Vandross ballad 'If Only For One Night'. Jason sang the Sting hit 'Fragile' and Syesha offered 'If I Were Your Woman'.

Judge Simon Cowell criticised Chikezie prior to his eviction, saying: "You chose the wrong song last night and it wasn't original. Don't underestimate how smart the public are who watch this show."

Randy Jackson said Chikezie's energetic performance "wasn't hip and cool", with Cowell adding that he "was very cheesy".

Brooke White, Carly Smithson, David Archuleta, David Cook, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns and Ramiele Malubay are the seven other Idol finalists.

The show's seventh season winner will be announced during May's live final.