Anoop Desai bows out of American Idol

Indian American singer Anoop Desai finally bowed out of American Idol after making waves on the Fox TV singing competition for several weeks.

"I'm so really disappointed," Desai said, after his ouster on Wednesday, as he and another finalist, Lil Rounds, received the fewest number of viewer votes. "I really am."

For the past several weeks, the judges have not been favourable to Rounds, the 24-year-old mother of three from Memphis, or Desai, the 22-year-old college student from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

While the panel seemed to prefer Desai's rendition of Donna Summers' "Dim All the Lights," judge Simon Cowell called Rounds' performance of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" a "mess."

Two finalists were sent packing Wednesday - instead of the usual one -because the judges' used their new one-time-only power to save Matt Giraud from elimination last week.

Before the double dismissal, the seven finalists donned bell bottoms and shades to perform a group number of The Jacksons' "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)," which was choreographed by Paula Abdul.

The five singers remaining in the competition are Iraheta, Giraud, Kris Allen, Danny Goeky and Adam Lambert. Another finalist will be booted next week.

Desai, dubbed "Noop Dogg" by American Idol judges became one of 13 finalists after being selected as the judges' final wild card pick.