You were probably the most consistent performer vocally. Do you think you took enough risks, and do you believe that the winner will need to take a big risk to win?
Michael Lynch: I don't know if that's the right mind frame to go with. I think you have to show all the sides of you. I think that with me stepping outside of the R&B realm, that's risky enough, because they see me, they see how I look and they expect to hear R&B. And when I do something different, sometimes it's a little jarring for people. I don't know if "risk" is the right frame of mind, especially for some of the guys still left in it; I think they really have to stay true to themselves. You have to be comfortable up there, and you have to just really, really pick songs that mean something to you. I don't know if risk is what wins it, because at this point, you've really solidified what your fan base is. You have to give them what they want.

Did you feel you always had to perform an original take on each song or just a good one?
ML: I felt like you should do something original. I think that everybody should always make the song their own. I think you get into the karaoke zone when you just do a good version. So I always wanted to have a song feel like I wrote it. I wanted to find that place in the song that was original for me and that was new for me. In my opinion, I think that's how you succeed on the show, by really making it your own.

What was going through your head when you were singing for your life? Were you terrified, and were you surprised that they decided to save you?
ML: I wasn't terrified, no. Going into the season, I liked that concept of "sing for your life." Really, every week to me is "sing for your life," because nothing is guaranteed for you on the show. Your time isn't guaranteed at all. So I never wanted to take anything for granted. When I got to that point and it was literally "sing for your life and the life of your family and your future, here's your one chance," I felt like I could do that. I felt going in that I could stand tall in that moment. When it got down to Andrew and I, I wanted it to be me in that moment, because I didn't necessarily want him to have to go through that. He's a good buddy of mine, and I just felt strong enough and prepared enough to take that moment on. It worked out, so I wasn't surprised that they saved me, just extremely grateful to still be around.

What was your mindset going into your last night? Did you expect to be the one going home? Were you surprised to go home?
ML: Well, not surprised and not expected. I just think America is a fickle creature. She's shown that as the competition has gone on. You just never know. You just never know. I think that I was consistent every week and always gave my heart when I sang. The only thing with giving your heart is it can get broken. But if it gets received well, it can be something really magical and special, which it was on a couple of weeks. So I think that the way that the wind blows the votes, you just never know. It's really up in the air and you never know.

Have you noticed that the media gives a lot of attention to Crystal?
ML: We're in a bubble and we don't really get too into the media or what's going on online. It's interesting that you don't really know the pulse of how people feel about you unless we leave the apartment and go out to CVS, which is as far as we go, really. We don't really go far from the Idol bubble, which is nice because it keeps your confidence intact. So I'm not quite sure what all the media attention is. Hopefully it's good, and hopefully she can withstand it.

Leave your Michael Lynche eulogies in the comments, and look back on the show's storied history of insane performances.

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