American Idol Finale
I’ve been nervous all week. Kris Allen seized the momentum from the season-long favorite Adam Lambert last week. I took solace in the fact that the books still had Lambert as the heavy chalk. I’m not sure what they knew that I didn’t. After Tuesday’s show, I feel like I have nothing to worry about again.
It has been a wild ride, and the most entertaining season that I can recall. The top five contestants could all be people that have memorable careers (except Danny Gokey) and be heard from for years. It came down to the two guys who deserved to be there the most. Lambert has been the favorite throughout. Allen has been an afterthought underdog throughout. What I and many others didn’t realize was that Allen has many factors working in his favor. He is a good looking kid. He is relevant with the type of music that is popular today. He is a personable guy. At least I started taking note about a month ago. But in the end, I think that the contestant that I’ve been calling out as the winner since day one has sealed the deal.
Adam Lambert was his own worst enemy. Once he eased up on the make-up, lowered the theatrics and kept the screeching to a minimum, he excelled. But the problem was that he never knew when to tone it down. In the end it was his flamboyancy that was his greatest asset. Websters.com defines “flamboyant” as:
Flamboyant: strikingly bold or brilliant; showy.
And that’s exactly what he was tonight. Strikingly bold and brilliant. I’m keeping an eye on the early Matchbook odds being released and Allen is listed as a -139 favorite right now. Hopefully the early returns are misleading, as I hold several tickets on Lambert placed at different stages of the contest. Here is a quick look at the finalist’s odds throughout the season.
Allen Lambert
Final 12 +2800 +205
Final 11 +4000 +175
Final 10 +1900 +222
Final 9 +1900 +130
Final 8 +669 +100
Final 7 +1566 -194
Final 6 +1900 -194
Final 5 +1150 -244
Final 4 +1150 -216
Final 3 +1000 -300
Final 2 +272 -288
For the finale, each contestant performed three songs. First song would be their choice, second would be the choice of show producer Simon Fuller, and the last would be the tacky song co-produced by judge Kara DioGuardi to be recorded on the winner’s debut album. And boy was that third song crappy this year. Randy Jackson was dressed like Willard Scott. Paula and Simon Cowell had dueling fake bakes going on. On to the performances!
Adam Lambert
‘Mad World’
‘Change Is Gonna Come’
‘No Boundaries’
With ‘Mad World’ Lambert revisited his best performance of the season. It was a perfect song choice for him. Then they showed Anthony Hopkins in the crowd. That’s probably not a good sign.
‘Change Is Gonna Come’ allowed Adam to show off a bluesy quality to his voice. Even with a bit of screeching, the note that he held at the end made for an amazing performance. Then I’m pretty sure that they showed Katie Holmes and Suri in the crowd. I had to have seen wrong. If you put Baby Suri and Ryan Seacrest in the same room, I’m positive that is the formula for the birth of the antichrist.
‘No Boundaries’ is a terrible song no matter who is performing it. No shocker that Kara liked it. I’m pretty sure she was alone.
Kris Allen
‘Ain’t No Sunshine’
‘What’s Going On’
‘No Boundaries’
Allen saddles up behind the piano and gives a flawless performance of ‘Sunshine’. The kid has talent, no doubt.
Up next is a Gaye song. I know that if I told you that before the show began, you would assume it was a Lambert song. But no, it’s Allen, this time strumming his guitar for this soulful classic. I enjoy him this way. It reminds me of when Lauryn Hill stopped rapping and started doing unplugged shows. To me, Allen gives the same heartfelt sound when he presents himself this way. I enjoy it.
The last song is even worse than when Lambert tried it, but that is not his fault – It’s Kara’s.
Two hours after the show ended, I can find Allen as a -300 favorite (WSEX) or Lambert as a -160 favorite (Matchbook). At this point, I’m clueless. But just know that if Kris Allen wins on Wednesday, I will be some sad-faced Bread.
