American Idol Recap: The Finale


Like Dancing with the Stars, a bit anti-climactic. Mostly because that original song was atrocious...for both contestants!

Adam vs. Kris. I saw one commentator call it Elvis vs. Pat Boone, but i think I'll call it the battle of the brunettes with big puppy dog eyes. Granted one of those guys wears a lot more guyliner than the other, but basically they're both sweet boys, don't you think? Underneath that goth facade, Adam's so polite, even after he gets done wailing some rock anthem. Kris is so humble, with a gosh-darn-it, lopsided grin. Seriously, wouldn't you take either of these boys on a church picnic?

What I wouldn't do, however, is make either of these nice, sweet boys sing a typical, atrocious, cliched American Idol "original" single for the finale. It's time for them to lay the originals to rest. (Unless they make the contestants write them, which at least would be interesting.) And because 3rd wheel 4th judge Kara DioGuardio co-wrote the damn thing, everyone had to pretend to like it (except Simon...who i really wish HAD judged the song!)

Is it possible that the memory of one of the best American Idol seasons ever, featuring loads of talented people, could really be forever tarnished by just how bad "No Boundaries" (the song from hell in question) was? I'm thinking, yeah, pretty much.

But it didn't start that way. It started with so much promise. Each finalist was going to sing one song of their choosing, one song chosen by the producer and the aformentioned dreck. Sadly, it has also become typical for finalists to reprise big performances from previous weeks at the final, instead of singing all new songs. At least the both made good choices for that.

1. Adam led off the evening with a reprise of his best performance of the season Tears for Fears' "Mad World" (the Gary Jules version.) I'm not sure there was any way for him to recapture the sense of wonder and surprise of his first rendition. I think it was smart of him not to repeat sitting in a chair the whole time, instead coming down the center staircase and standing. This performance will stand with Fantasia's performance of "Summertime" as probably the best two marriage of American Idol contestant and material ever on the show. Not sure what Simon's bug up his butt was, nor am I sure how they could call the round for Kris, even though he did perfectly well, just because this didn't have all the amazing oomph of the first performance. It was still haunting, vocally perfect and incredibly well done.

The producer, Simon Fuller, chose Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" for Adam's second song. At first I was feeling a little wary of this choice of one of the civil rights movements' anthem from the 60s. Sung by a suburban white boy no less. But then I realized that Fuller is bloody brilliant. Adam's version of this song is destined to become the anthem of this century's civil rights movement: LGBT rights. And Fuller's company will own the recording, I'm sure. Brilliant. Oh, and by the way. Stellar vocal, deep connection to the song, moving rendition. You heard it here first: New life as an LGBT anthem.

Finally, Adam gamely attempted "No Boundaries"...and failed. First time, ever, that he's actually been pitchy. I don't even want to say much more. The song is insipid (as all the AI originals have been...and as Simon pointed out...but here's my question: Can't he fix that? I mean, seriously, is he the power behind AI or not?) The less said abot this, the better.

2. Kris's choice for himself was Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine". Personally I would have gone with "Falling Slowly" or "Heartless" if he indeed was going to repeat something (as now seems requisite.) Last time he was forced to perform this on a little keyboard set out amongst the screaming girls, and it made for an akward rendition. being able to sit at the piano alone on stage was a much better choice. It seemed more heartfelt, more connected.

Producer Fuller chose Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" as his second song, and again I wondered about the choice for a nice white boy. Of course I also liked the anti-war political message here, and thought Kris did a decent job of making the song his own and appropriate for him. Two things helpd this back from being a great performance, though. Kris has his full-on Dave Matthews/Jason Mraz beatific (read: slightly high) smile on his face, which didn't really fit with the message at all. Also, the ending was dragged out, indulgent, and lame. Especially the big breath and pause before the final "on" in the final phrase "What's Going On". Don't do that. Ever. Nice arrangement, but nowhere near the connection Adam had going on.

Finally, Kris attempted "No Boundaries" and failed even more miserably than Adam did. The judges tried to say it was the wrong key, but no. It was the song. The awful, awful song.

So, what the bottom line here?

Um, Adam should win. I mean come on.

I'll say this again: It is totally true that it's a no-brainer that I would buy whatever album Kris might put out. I like his style and voice and song selection. It fits right into that DMB/Train portion of my record collection.

With Adam, I might by song by song. I have little interest in Aerosmith or other kinds of music he might do. I like his sensitive side far more than his wailing side...at least for my own music listening pleasure.

But from a pure talent and artistry perspective, Adam is the real deal and far more original and out-of-the-box than Kris, and he deserves to be rewarded.

Will he? I'm really not sure.

Big question: Who will Danny's fans vote for?

Last night Shawn Johnson won DWtS, and I believe it's because those who were voting for that good old boy, Ty, would rather vote for a spunky Olympic gymnast than the over-sexed Frenchman.

Will Danny's fans, especially the ones who love his church-choir-leading self, go for Adam or Kris.

It could easily be the latter. Which is why i think Kris has a slight edge.

Look, they'll both have careers, I'm not worried. I certainly hope Adam wins. I just easily see it going to Kris. And it's not such a big upset when you think it through.

but what did you think?

Posted: Wed - May 20, 2009 at 04:13 PM       EmailFeedback

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