American Idol: America’s shocking decision?
Last night’s “American Idol” finale proved that while we have endured many crappy performances this season from the likes of KC and the Sunshine band, Lady GaGa, Frida Payne and even Idol judge Paula Abdul, they showed that they always save the best for last. I’d say this was one of the best finales, maybe the best yet. And for me, the outcome didn’t suck either. But more on that in a minute.
Ryan Seacrest announced that almost 100 million votes came in, and a record 624 million votes this season. Then they announced each judge and had little clips of them from this past season, focusing on each of their quirks, which was pretty funny. And I’m still seeing red from Randy’s bow tie. Then Adam Lambert and Kris Allen came out wearing all white…what? And after showing Kris’ fans in his hometown in Conway, Arkansas with host Mikhala Gordon, and Adam’s fans in San Diego with Carly Smithson, it was the first group performance–the final 13 all wearing white (oh now I get it) and singing “So What,” after which exactly one dude in the studio audience stood up and clapped. Does anyone remember Jorge? And poor Scott McIntyre was being pushed and pulled all over the place. Jasmine Murray reminded us of why she was booted off early on in the finals when she soloed….ouch!
Then David Cook sang his new single, “Permanent,” with a nod to his brother who recently passed away from cancer. Good song, by the way….and co-written by two people who know how to write good songs, Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace and Chantal Kreviazuk. (ahem, Kara).
Then the first “Golden Idol” award, for the most outstanding dude in the early part of the season, and by outstanding, they mean “stand out” and not “awesome.” Nick Mitchell, aka Norman Gentle won that one, and had a chance to perform for us all once again. That is one funny dude.
Then Lil Rounds sang with Queen Latifah, and as Lil’s outfit made her look like one of those giant black and white cookies, Mrs. Mike correctly pointed out that Queen Latifah might eat her. Then Anoop Desai and Alexis Grace began singing a Jason Mraz song, followed by the top 13 AND Jason Mraz helping them finish. I don’t know exactly why, but I can’t stand this guy.
After that came the video journey of Kris Allen, including the initial auditions which WE NEVER SAW, thanks to the Idol producers. Then Kris had a very cool moment, a duet called “I Wanna Kiss a Girl” with Keith Urban. How cool. But not as cool as Adam’s showing later…
Then it was the girl finalists singing “Glamorous” along with Fergie, and then followed by another awesome performance by Fergie’s day job band, The Black Eyed Peas. After that it was the next Golden Idol award, this one for the person with the “best” attitude. The winner was Katrina Darrell, aka “Bikini Girl,” who came out in an even skimpier bikini and some new boobs. Katrina was handed the microphone and sang the tune she auditioned with, Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love.” Since Kara had chided her at the audition, Kara joined Katrina on stage, and then at the end of the song, flashed everyone with her own bikini bod! She was clearly embarrassed, but props to her for taking one for the team. The best though, was when Seacrest said to Katrina, “I’d ask you what’s new but I can already see.” Ha!
Then a super, super cool duet of “Time after Time” with Alison Iraheta and Cyndi Lauper. Holy crap, Cyndi looks great and sounds great….good for her. After that it was Danny Gokey singing with Lionel Ritchie, after which the two hugged for about five uncomfortable minutes.
After the break, Adam came out and started by singing KISS’ “Beth,” and I started getting goose bumps in anticipation of what I thought might happen. Yes, KISS came out and Adam got to sing with them amid huge pyrotechnics. Wow, just wow. Adam and KISS, or Kris and Keith Urban? Adam got the better end of that deal. Sorry, Mr. Keith. Then Carlos Santana performed along with the finalists.
Then David Cook presented Adam and Kris with brand new Fords, probably their pay for doing those crappy videos all season long. After this, comedian/bluegrass performer Steve Martin (along with his producer and band member John McEuen of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fame) appeared with Megan Joy and Michael Sarver. After this, the guys all sang Rod Stewart’s “Do You Think I’m Sexy?” and I hid the remote, because Mrs. Mike can’t stand Rod. Well, there he was, looking all his age of 64 (thanks ChaCha)….yes, Rod is beginning to look like a crusty old grandpa.
Then the Golden Idol award for “best” female, and guess who? Tatiana Del Toro, who they had fake through this act of grabbing the mic and singing while fake security guys chased her off the stage.
Adam and Kris were center stage after the break, and they were singing “We Are the Champions.” Uh-oh! They both got to sing with Queen! Wow…..so Adam got to sing with KISS and Queen in the same night? Dude had to have crapped his pants. Anyway, we were thinking that maybe this meant Adam was going to win, just because the song was better suited to his range.
Finally, the moment had arrived. Adam and Kris stood together with Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest asked Simon what he thought, and Simon gave some politically correct rant about both of them being brilliant, nice people who they were proud of. Oh really Simon? You didn’t think Kris deserved to win, why didn’t you say it? You’re always honest, after all.
The moment of truth….after nearly 100 million votes, the winner of “American Idol” Season 8 is…..KRIS ALLEN! My boy won it all! Look, Adam is a great singer and performer, but I had a feeling Kris was just that much better Tuesday and that he had more overall fans voting than Adam, despite being much more low key a performer. Kris was so overwhelmed, clearly not believing what had just happened, and Adam was of course gracious in defeat. But the best part? No, not that Kris got to sing that awful Kara song again. It’s that today we can stick the big middle finger up in the air to the Idol producers and to the judges (ahem, Paula and Simon) who all but handed Adam the crown. It goes to show that they don’t always know what they’re talking about, right? Sorry, I just have to gloat a little.
I want to thank you all for reading this past season and for enjoying the ride with me. Congrats to both Kris and Adam, and also to Danny and Alison, who were both good enough to be in the finale but didn’t quite make it. See you all in January, unless we have Idol news to report during the summer. Oh, and if you’re out in the sun this summer, don’t come back to school looking like Paula Abdul. MmmK?
Posted in: American Idol, Reality TV, TV
Tags: Adam Lambert, Alexis Grace, Alison Iraheta, American Idol, American Idol 2009, American Idol 2009 blog, American Idol blog, American Idol recap, American Idol Season 8, American Idol Season 8 blog, American Idol Season 8 recap, Anoop Desai, bikini girl, Black Eyed Peas, Carlos Santana, Carly Smithson, ChaCha, Conway Arkansas, Cyndi Lauper, Danny Gokey, David Cook, Fergie, Fox, Golden Idol Awards, Jasmine Murray, Jason Mraz, John McEuen, Jorge Nunez, Kara DioGuardi, Katrina Darell, Keith Urban, KISS, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Lionel Ritchie, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver, Mikhala Gordon, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, No Boundaries, Norman Gentle, Paula Abdul, Queen, Queen Latifah, Randy Jackson, Rod Stewart, Ryan Seacrest, San Diego, Scott McIntyre, Simon Cowell, Steve Martin, Tatiana Del Toro
I have read your idol updates and have known you have had it in for Adam from the beginning. I have thought about what your motivation was for this and came to my own conclusions. Kris is a good singer but Adam has world class vocal talent. The “winner” was not about who was the most talented singer. I was talking to some people at my kids baseball game the other day and some woman were saying how they were scared of Adam and we dont need someone like him winning. Yes in the end the uptight conservatives got together and made sure they voted make the vanilla mainstream man their winner.
Thanks Anonymous, but my motivation had nothing to do with my political views…in fact I’ll go as far as to tell you I’m not conservative. I just liked Kris the best, not all season but from the moment he did “Ain’t No Sunshine” and then one of his Michael Jackson re-makes. With Adam, he is no doubt an awesome performer and can sing his ass off, but he’s not the musician Kris is, and he is a two-trick pony…tender falsetto and high pitched metal screams. And I thought Kris was getting the shaft by the producers and judges, which fueled my wanting him to win even more. I had no evil motivation whatsoever, but you can believe what you will.
Now, do I think the conservatives all voted for Kris? Probably yes. But that wasn’t at all factored into my own beliefs.
I’m not so sure politics or religion plays as much into Idol voting as everyone wants to think.
Ok…confession time…I’m both conservative and a Christian…
…and I voted for Adam…and I know a lot of folks who think as I do and yet still voted for Adam. What?
Don’t hate…
I like Kris and I knew he was going to win, but I think Adam is better. If there was any doubt, that duet with Queen clearly illustrated that he’s a better singer and performer.
I don’t think I’m going to Hell for thinking that.
Sarcasm aside, I thought this was a really fun season. After the past 2, I was thinking the show may have jumped the shark, but it’s back and I’m looking forward to next season!
Anonymous….geez come on man. Politics and Religion didn’t play into this at all…that’s just what you Adam fans want to believe. It’s a popular vote remember and as pointed out Adam doesn’t have as many tools as Kris AND is such a strong personality he is a love him or hate him type of guy.
Now Kris on the other hand really grew in this competition. My wife and I had been for Adam the WHOLE season until last week when his screeching caught up to us and he was exposed.
How about you Adam fans just accept the fact that the majority of people prefer Kris’ style over his….geez this isn’t the 80′s and glam band is over.
One last point. If it were about him being a fancy boy he would have been gone a long time ago (Danny Noriega anyone?)
Adam was great with KISS and QUEEN. Unfortunately for Adam that is his best genre. How many people these days are going out and buying Kiss or Queen albumns? Hence, he is not as “relevant” in todays music world as Kris is. You need to look no further than that. Also, remember everytime its been “close”. Ryan mentions that when announcing the results. Last week it was within 1 mil votes for the 3. Most of Danny’s votes(also more relevant than Adam) went to Kris. If I had to bet. Id bet the results were not even close at all. Kris is custom made for todays market ala Jason Mirhaz or Jack Johnson but with more soul.
I wasn’t meaning conservative in a political way I was refering to uptight fearing anyone who is not like me people. They were IMO the “swing” votes in this years idol. No worries. I think they will both have success in the future. In any case Adam’s voical range reminds me of Klause Meine from a band I never really cared for but whos singing ability I greatly respect. Also Mike,I was wondering why you don’t do updates on Fringe. I wouln’t mind coming to your site for those.
Peace out,
Anonymous
Some of you people really piss me off. Why are you turning the vote into a political issue? I am an Independent with Christian & Conservative beliefs and I didn’t vote for Adam or Chris. My wife and I wanted Danny to win.
Why are conservatives always looked at with evil eyes. Yeah they are just as stupid as the liberals when it comes to running this country but their moral views are much better. You liberals are destroying this world with your LACK of morals. Conservatives and liberals are both heading to the same place, Socialism. Conservatives are just moving a little slower. You liberals have won the white house and congress so shut the hell up and do some good with it.
Sorry, but politics didn’t play a roll in who won, more people just liked Kris better than Adam. Case closed, get over it!
it seems like Kris will need some time to grow into his the Idol “crown.” he shouldn’t feel bad about winning; but he’ll get used to the whole “Idol scene” i suspect
thank you all and I can’t believe this turned into a political discussion! I have no bias one way or the other regardless of political party….all I can say is that I thought Kris deserved it. Adam was just an over-hyped performer with great vocal range. I guess we’ll see what happens to both post-Idol!
I wasn’t a fan of Kris, and definitely thought Adam was far better as a performer, but I think he has played the role of performer far too long, and has lost “style”. Of course he has style if you were to watch him perform for the first time, but it never grew through-out the season (same old squeeler for nearly every song, and my ears are still ringing). Danny was hands down the best singer. He was awkward at times with his dance moves, but you could feel his heart and soul behind most of his songs. I think Adam will have a contract easy. Will he sell? I don’t know? Kris will be a name you’ll soon forget. He was top 5 (at best) and no more than that. Sorry, but America got this one wrong! By the way, Danny botched big-time by not dedicating his last performance to his deceased Wife. He would have won the hearts of America, and would have been this year’s winner. Cheap way to win? Yes, but with Simon and Paula basically handing the trophy to Adam, he should have played his “wild card”.
Interesting conversation. In in the dual I thought I was for Adam until Kris came out with his piano performance of Ain’t No Sunshine, which was so unbelievably brilliant in jumped out of my TV set. He’s a young guy who knows how to really use a dramatic pause and that’s rare, in my opinion….and that’s artistry (bleh, I know, one of Kara’s favorite overused words).
I thought Adam did an excellent job but I agree that he was oddly exposed with almost a gimmicky toolbox. And that was weird for me because up until “Sunshine” I was completely bored with Kris — he was too ‘safe’ or ‘perfect’ or something.
But if Pete thinks it was a contest of the top 3 or 4, then Allison should have won. Her duet with Cyndi Lauper – who is still super cool – gave me goosebumps! Danny’s duet with Lionel didn’t come close….sorry, Pete.
Everyone should know this seasons Idol, was a disaster with anyone who participated. Who did Simon want to win? SAD Why have a talent show for Siomon? Calls were a sham. Who ever got an answer?????????????