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Ameri-kizzy I-dizzy. Adam v. Kris with a K. This… is American Idol!
I can’t believe that we’re at the end of the road! We’re in the Nokia Theatre, which is substantially larger than the hovel we’re used to and Seacrest immediately starts drawing images of acoustic rocker v. glam rocker, Conway v. California, the guy next door v. guyliner (no! Guyliner is on LOST). We see the judges; Randy is wearing polka dots, stripes, plaid, and all other types of patterns. Kara looks nice, Paula looks like she’s been sleeping in a tanning booth, and Si actually dressed up for the occasion. We welcome the finalists, and here they are.
Ryan breaks down the deets of the finale. Three songs each (favorite from the season, favorite from Simon Fuller, and the Kara single). He warns us that tomorrow’s show is gonna go long, so if you DVR it (as I do), plan accordingly.
We’re back from commercial and Adam Lambert is up first. We hear from his parents who say Adam screamed for the first 12 years of his life (or something). He’s singing “Mad World” again (only this time he’s wearing a creepy trench coat and mist is swirling on the stage). He sounds great, just like he did the first time. This really was the highlight from the season for him (although, how rad would it have been if he would’ve given everyone the finger and sang “Ring of Fire” for his pick?). He does an excellent job and is clearly at his best tonight. Randy loves the long coat, and gives him an A+. Kara is glad he chose that performance and that he has been a game changer. Paula (who looks like her skin is about to sluff off her body) tells Adam to bask in the cheers and that he did a really good job. Simon and his chest hair thought it was a little over theatric (and he did not like the coat. Nobody in LA should ever wear that heavy of a jacket. Ever).
Kris with a K is up and we learn that he used to get paid by his family to sing. Seacrest giggles like a 12 year old girl and squeals, “very cute.” He’s filling time until Kwak gets his piano ready and starts singing. It’s “Ain’t No Sunshine” and besides a kinda soft note at the top, it’s great. I really like the funky bridge he’s got going in this arrangement, and he rocks it out. Randy thinks Kwak saved the best for last and that this is one of his best performance of the season. Kara says he has a way of creating an intimate bond with everyone. Paula says he Allenizes every song he sings. Simon reminds us that this is a competition (thanks Si) and that he loved this performance.
Adam is back again for Round 2: The Simon Fuller Round. Adam is singing “Change is Gonna Come.” Adam looks sharp in a grey suit, white shirt, turquoise tie combo. He does a great job (although, I kind of hate the way his face contorts when he really rages… that tongue half out look is weird). Still, he sounds AMAZING, and it is certain that this boy can sing. Randy says that Adam can sing his face off. Kara says that this may have been his best performance and interpretation of a song yet. Paula says it was the best she’s heard him sing ever, ever, ever, ever… ever, ever… ever… (yes, it goes on). Simon says he is 100% back in the game (as if Adam has been “out of the game” for an instant from his opening audition). Seacrest says “game on” twice, and then Adam says “game on” once, and I remember how much I hate it when people say “game on” at all.
Kwak is up with “What’s Goin’ On.” He’s playing his guitar center stage, and looking cute enough to gobble up in one bite. There’s a dude with bongos to Kwak’s left, a man with a bass to his right, and another with (what I think is…) a washboard, or box, or something. Kwak sounds amazing in an oh-so-commercial way. This thing is a win, win for 19 Entertainment, isn’t it? Ryan says that this song was a little light for this room although he sang it well… which is the dumbest thing that anyone could ever say since he didn’t choose the song. Kara gives a non-answer and I don’t know what she thinks of the song. She likes Kwak. Paula says he tore the song up and made Marvin Gaye “prow-duh.” Simon says it sounded like three friends strumming along to Marvin Gaye in their bedroom. He thinks it was too light for a night like this (also stupid… what do they want from these guys? They didn’t choose the song).
We’re back with the Kara Round. Adam is up first (I hope one of the judges hates the song choice). Adam is wearing his pumpkin king pants again, and letting this song have it. I don’t like it, and I don’t know if it’s Adam’s fault or Kara’s. I think Adam is singing it well (well mostly… he’s a little sharp here and there), but this is one of those try-too-hard-to-be-inspirational songs that don’t seem to ever work out. We’ll see how Kwak does I guess… compare apples to apples. Randy says he can sing anything, although this was pitchy and not the best performance (thank you Randy). Kara is all sorts of self-congratulatory and mentions that she wrote the song like 12 times. Paula says that adjectives can’t explain what he’s brought to season 8. Simon makes fun of the song for a second (thanks Si) and then gives Adam a verbal tongue bath. He clearly <3’s him.
Here’s Kris with a K with the final song of the season (“No Boundaries”). He’s a little flat in the first part and seems to lack energy. Kris doesn’t have the big voice for this song, which is really, really unfair to him. This isn’t his game at all, which makes me feel like it’s a little rigged towards Lambert. Whatevs. Kris does a good job through the final ¾ and it’s no worse than Adams from a tone perspective (definitely a difference in power). Randy says he should be proud of what he’s done in this competition. Kara says he shouldn’t be judged on that song (it was too high), and congratulates him on the season. Paula wishes him luck (but doesn’t give nearly the love she did to Adam). Simon says that watching him on the stage tonight is incredible and that he thoroughly deserves to be standing on that stage.
So, that’s it! Here’s how I think it’s gonna shake out.
Best contestant: Adam was better tonight (partly because that final song was written FOR him). I kinda wish they just played the best season song and let us choose based on “Mad World” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Still, props to Adam. As usual, nailed it.
Ugliest jacket: Adam’s trench monstrosity.
Going home: Okay, this is really, really tough. Adam is technically a better singer, but I think his audience would be more niche and certainly more fragmented. Kwak is more generic, sweet, and probably would ultimately have a larger fan base… gun to my head? I think Adam is going home. I think teenagers around the world are under their covers right now texting his name to the American Idol gods. Not to mention, I imagine, that all of Gokey’s fans are going to drift Kwak’s direction. It’s gonna be close, but I’m calling Kris with a K on this one (despite Adam’s better voice).
So, that’s it for me. What do you guys think? What did you think of tonight’s show? Who is going home? Who should go home? How about Paula’s skin color?
Tags: American Idol
I completely agree that I think Kwak will win. Honestly, I hope he does. I prefer Adam over him any day of the week, but Adam needs to be able to record whatever he wants and not be tied down to what American Idol wants. What AI wants though will fit Kwak perfectly.
how Kwak must be the winner if he can´t sing the horrible Kara´s single? i know the song favored Adam´s voice, but if Conway boy were more diverse he´d be as competitive as the LA one and we know that when Kwak have to rock out he is totally swallowed up by the guitar. remember “come together”?
Couple questions:
Why cant the Idol anthem ever be half decent? I mean Kara has written or co-written some HUGE songs, and this is what she helps create?? No matter who wins that song just needs to be put to rest – quickly!
Why must Adam have that tongue hanging out?? For weeks it kills me, I can’t watch him when he screams.
I really think Adam will be hurt if he wins. Kris is a better suit to 19’s dictatorship. Not that Adam won’t win. I tried to vote and all the lines were busy, so I think it will be close. Gokey’s fans probably did drift to Kris, and he is where my vote lies. I just couldn’t get on the Adam boat even though I tried. When he just sang…no screaching, screaming, straining, just singing…I really like him, but as soon as he takes it up a notch and that tongue comes out, it’s over for me.
Either way they’ll both have album deals and Adam will take glam rock to a whole new audience.
You know that Kara wrote that song specifically for Adam. Besides the unfairness of K having to sing Adam’s song, the song was awful. Any song that I can easily imagine being written by Diane Warren & sung by Celine Dion deserves our derision. I hate garbage music like that (and I do like some Hannah Montana songs – no Jonas though). Kara was moved to tears by the thought of the dump truck of money being backed up to her house when this songs is released on Itunes, not the performance. I thought Adam sang fantastically (as always), but should never be allowed to sing any song that has a hint of funk or soul again. Ever. It’ll be the closest Idol ever, but Adam pulls it off…
Great season – in fact my favorite season to date. It’s amazing that they can keep finding talent (and so much of it this year).
Now to get ready to watch So You Think You Can Dance with the sound muted (it’s the wife’s favorite show – dancers are like that).
I for one don’t think that Adam has a better voice than KWAK…I just think he has a different voice. Better is subjective. What determines it? I of course hope Kris with a K wins because I’ve been a huge fan since day one, but even more than that I hope he wins just to spite the judges and Katie Perry. I HATE Katie Perry and I hate that AI has been pubbing Adam the entire season. It makes it feel rigged and unfair. Also, I want to see the look on Paula’s face if KWAK wins. She’s been practically orgasming over Adam since day one and it’s gross. Please bless KWAK wins!
PS I may or may not have voted for Kris with a K 100 times.
Did anyone else notice Adam say “Thanks for writing that song for me Kara” when she thanked him for singing it?! It irritates me that the competition is so obviously slanted towards him, however, I think he has a better voice and deserves to win. I like Kwak, and I will be almost as happy if he wins, but Adam deserves it more I think.
I for one hope Adam wins. He is more talented and more interesting and more entertaining to watch. Though the media doesn’t seem to think he has a chance: http://www.newsy.com/videos/idol_finale_full_of_subplots I don’t know if the vote will be hijacked by Christians or if people will vote for the person who was actually better.
So I am obviously on my own with this, but I didn’t think that final song suited Adam at all. #1, I felt his voice was too big for it and #2, it was a pop song NOT a glam rock song and I just didn’t buy it from him. I think it is a crappy song for sure, but I could see Kris having more success with it (sort of) than Adam. (I’d rather never hear it again, but that’s wishful thinking.) I personally thought it was a train-wreck for both of them, which is why not one of the judges actually commented on it for Adam (except of course Randy who had the guts to say something negative. Hope he doesn’t get fired for that, lol.)
I hope Kris wins it. It doesn’t matter, though, because both of them will be successful recording artists in their own right.
As far as ‘better singer’ goes, I think Adam has a BIGGER voice. His range is ridiculous (in a good way). But it’s not my kind of music and I don’t know that his voice in his style would ever reach me emotionally. And if we’re talking better, let’s give Kris the edge for his musicality with guitar and piano playing (ok, ok it’s a SINGING competition, thank you Randy). He is certainly a musician. I find it amusing to hear them compared with Adam always taking the ‘most talented’ award. Bottom line, they are both extremely talented and very different, so depending what your personal tastes are, you’re gonna like one more than the other. And whoever threw in that Christian comment–maybe you should clarify. That was just weird and perhaps a bit prejudicial? We’re not voting on policy-making. Religion shouldn’t have much to do with it.
@Emilyl – I’m with you, that song sucked either way. Inspirational “you can do anything you set your mind to” BullShit is SO 2000-and-late. And Adam didn’t sound too good on it, neither did Kwak, it’s unfortunate that it has to be EITHER of their first singles.
@Ming – I’m sure Katie Perry’s not too fond of YOU either.
@Kristin – I think you are really overanalyzing the quote. Adam has shown all season to be very well-spoken and polite – he thanks the band and musical director after almost every performance. I’m sure by saying “for me” he was just making it personal for Kara, rather than embodying this phantom slant you seem to be so sure exists.
@Rosa – yes, I agree with Kristin, your “christian” comment is a bit blankety, and should be tweaked to say “conservatives who are afraid of boys in eyeliner” or “evangelicals who think that the sexual ambiguity of a tv show winner means all their children, and their children’s children, and their children’s children, will grow up to be a bunch of Streisand-loving-Marys!”
And I’m Jewish.
err, not “agree with Kristin” – but “agree with Emilyl”
thanks.
Hmph. So the lowest common denominator won. How boring. But typical. That’s why people listen to Nickelback.
V- hahahahahaha (to the Nickelback comment)