Sanjaya's new book and album, that is. Both are due in stores on Tuesday (Jan. 20). Hope they don't eclipse that other thing happening that day. You can read more here. And you know what? I'm gonna have to find the tape from my last interview with the kid from Fed Way. I don't think I ever posted any audio. Stay tuned, Sanjayaphiles.

Our hero, Sanjaya Malakar, mugging it up with admirer, Raelhiya Fulmer, at the Commons Mall in Federal Way in 2007.
JANET JENSEN

I was only about 80 percent it was Sanjaya during the early part of Stevie Wonder’s set last night at Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre. The wavy Farrah Fawcett ‘do was hard to miss down there in the good seats. The gal dancing next to him during “Did I Hear You Say You Loved Me?” certainly looked like his sis, as seen on “American Idol” last year. But it wasn't until Wonder got around to “Superstition” two hours later that I had confirmation.

“Did I hear there was someone from ‘American Idol?’ Where’s he at? Get him up here,” Wonder blurted out midway through a fiery “Superstition” jam.

A handler whispered the name in his ear. “Sanjaya!” he called. Then – bam! – Federal Way’s most famous reality show contestant was with him on stage. And you know what? As much as the kid made his reputation with sub par singing (and the hair), he didn't sound half bad; especially if his appearance was, indeed, spontaneous and not planned in advance. Perhaps he will parlay his “Idol” experience into a few more minutes on that fame clock. But is America ready for another round of Sanjayamania?

Sanjaya’s wasn’t the only guest vocalist to make a splash, by the way. Brynn Berger, a Lynnwood woman who won a chance to sing with Wonder from a KBSG-FM radio competition, looked stunning (if a bit stiff) as she knocked it out of the park on “All in Love Is Fair.” And Wonder’s daughter, Aisha Morris, sat next to her father for a smoky torch song, Nat King Cole’s “I’m Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life.” Morris appeared on “How Will I Know,” from Wonder’s Grammy-winning 2005 album, “A Time to Love.” And can a solo career be far behind?

“Who you in love with?” Wonder huffed playfully as his daughter started to walk back to her spot with the other backup singers.

“Nobody,” she replied, innocently. “I love my daddy.”

“OK. He betta do you right,” Wonder said. Then playing just a couple of notes, he promted the audience to help him serenade his daughter with “Isn’t She Lovely,” the song she made her vocal debut on back in 1976. (She’s the baby you hear on that track.) And unlike last year’s show at Chateau Ste Michelle, daddy's little girl smiled nervously, looking endearingly embarrassed by the attention.

Otherwise, it was a great if not perfect show. I liked the flow and content of the last year's set list better, with a couple more songs from the classic “Songs in the Key of Life” and funkier numbers grouped more effectively. But it was a treat for me personally this time around when Wonder kicked his set off with several in a row from his 1980 album “Hotter Than July," with "As If You Read My Mind," the reggae-inflected “Master Blaster (Jammin’),” “Did I Hear You Say You Love Me?” and “All I Do” starting things off. I remember digging through my big sisters’ record collection in elementary school, and that being the first record I ever became obsessed with. You know, back when you had to play it on these things called “turntables.”

Other highlights included “Visions,” during which Wonder went on a rant about racial equality, mentioning something about a friend being denied a table at a Seattle area restaurant, presumably for racial reasons. The R&B legend sang a decent new song called “Keep on Foolin’ Yourself, Baby Girl,” from his forthcoming project “Through the Eyes of Wonder.” And among the lesser known selections that Wonder snuck into the set was “Creepin’,” from his “Fulfillingness’ First Finale" album.

“Expect the unexpected,” Wonder declared by way of introducing the jazzy number, perhaps even catching a couple of his band members off guard.

In case you've been living in a cabin out in the woods, writin' scary manifestos and whatnot, our local boy Sanjaya Malakar is a runaway hit on this season of "American Idol." And this site has a bit to do with the guy stickin' around.

I, personally, am quite annoyed by "American Idol." I used to get a kick out of the first couple of episodes where they make fun of all the freaks. But I've been over even that since I realized (a) half of them are actually trying to be awful to get on TV and (b) since I realized the "Idol" folks are so shameless that they'll put developmentally disabled contestants up for public ridicule, a la the Seattle tryout. But thanks to our man Sunjaya, I'll be watching for at least a couple more weeks.

Gee, thanks, Sunjaya.