Style could not win over song, not for long. After a lacklustre performance by him on Tuesday, America voted out Sanjaya Malakar from the popular TV show 'American Idol'.

In the country song episode this week, for which the seven surviving contestants were coached by country singer Martina McBride, the Indian-American Sanjaya sang "Something to Talk About".

Judge Simon Cowel, a known Sanjaya baiter, called it "horrendous", but even the staunchest supporters of the Washington wonder would have found his rendering bland and off-key.

Randy Jackson, also a judge on the show, could only appreciate the headscarf Sanjaya sported this time, pushing back his mane.

Out of the 38 million votes cast, Sanjaya's share was the worst. After the announcement on the show on Wednesday, he told Idol host Ryan Seacrest sportingly, "I'm fine. It was an amazing experience."

"I can promise you: We won't soon forget you," Seacrest replied.

Sanjaya then performed one last song, "Something To Talk About." Putting his own twist on the song and ad-libbed: "Let's give them something to talk about... other than hair."