American Idol Season 8 - And Then There Were 2
May 20 '09
The Bottom Line Adam or Kris?
Even though Kris' performance of Heartless was probably my second favorite performance of the year (second to only Adam's Mad World), I still think Adam has a healthy lead. Should tonight's vote be about who performs best tonight? Or should Kris have to decisively beat Adam tonight? If I were voting, I'd vote for Adam to win no matter what. He's simply been the best competitor hands down. But, there's lots of Kris's come lately. People just like this dude.
I still think that Adam has to win this show. If Kris wins, this is like Taylor Hicks over Elliott Yamin and Chris Daughtry all over again.
The Hot List (based on last week’s performances)
1. Adam Lambert - Winning is everything isn't it Mr. Lambert?
2. Kris Allen - Your wife is going to be so sad if you win this thing. She's probably very sad now.
The Departed
1. Young Jasmine Murray
2. Young Jorge Nunez
3. Young Alexis Grace
4. Young Michael Sarver
5. Young Megan Joy
6. Young Scott MacIntyre
7. Young Lil Rounds
8. Young Anoop Desai
9. Young Matt Giraud
10. Young Allison Iraheta
11. Young Danny Gokey
If they had to fight inside a ring to win this competition, would it be a slap fight or would they just pull each other's hair?
I have a lot of guest judges tonight.
My dear mother
Young Randall
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III
Joe Florez
Andrew Padgett (bob_tomato)
Shantel (shantel575)
Nadine
Christal (making her guest judge debut)
Rudi Xeno
Low Jones
Lionel Richie
Let's go.
For the finale, they do three rounds of songs. We'll take this round by round with my thoughts, the thoughts of the four judges, and then the thoughts of my guest judges, including the great Lionel Richie.
I think we need to take "dark horse" out of our lexicon when it comes to describing an underdog. That's racist to horses. Why don't you just call favorites, white horses? Sorry, I just saw my beloved Kara call Kris a dark horse from a few weeks ago. I told her to use "Rocky Balboa" instead. She didn't listen.
What's up with Randy's gear? Does plaid go with, well, plaid? Simon's wearing a jacket but the chest hair is sparkling.
Last week they had a coin toss and Kris won and decided to kick off and Adam goes first.
Round One
Adam Lambert
He's singing Mad World first, which was so good the first time, I bought it on iTunes. He's going for total killer stage performance, which is pretty cool being that you should come out throwing big shots on the last show, but it does come off a bit hokey. I loved it the first time when it was just about his voice and not about the theatrics as much.
Randall says it was an A+ performance to start off the show. Kara says he rocked it again tonight after changing the game the first time with the song. Paula says he did a really good job. Simon says it was a bit over-theatrical and reminded him of Phantom Of The Opera.
My dear mother: That was one of my favorite performances when he sang it the first time, but for some reason it wasn't the same the second time around.
Young Randall: Mesmerizing, yet Phantom of the (I just stopped as Simon said it) Opera-esque.
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: Amazing!
Joe: It didn't match the hype.
Andrew: Excellent vocal control and wonderfully understated, but lacks the spark that was there the first time around for this song.
Shantel: This is my favorite song from him but this was not as good as the first time around.
Nadine: It's totally theatre, but great vocals.
Christal: He looks like a male version of my Guitar Hero character I play with.
Rudi Xeno: This is a brilliant choice for Adam; his performance is haunting.
Low Jones: This performance was just as good as the first time he did it.
Lionel Richie: That was amazin'! Wait, that's Kanye's saying. It was outrageous!
Kris Allen
Kris is singing Ain't No Sunshine. I would've went back to Kanye again because it was such a timely performance, but this is also a really good pick. I've exhausted everyone about how I don't like his voice much, but I dig the emotion in his performance. This is what was missing in Adam's performance. Adam's was staged, and Kris' felt real. I think his poor wife just looked around the audience and figured she was going home alone tonight.
Randall says it was one of his best performances ever. Kara says he makes everyone feel like he's singing to them. Well, not me, but I see what she's saying. Paula says he Allenizes his songs. And she used quotes around "Allenizing". Simon says America made the right choice in putting Kris in the finals. Simon calls round one for Kris. So do I.
My dear mother: With that song, his vocals really stand out. He did a great job.
Young Randall: Great song and great performance.
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: I liked it the first time and I like it the second time.
Joe: He displayed all of his skills
Andrew: Kris isn't as great a vocalist as Adam, but he seems so much more genuine.
Shantel: He rocked it!
Nadine: Loved it.
Christal: I love the piano and I would buy his album.
Rudi Xeno: As good as Kris gets, but I'm not convinced.
Low Jones: The vocals were good, but I'm not sure it was the same level of overall performance as Adam
Lionel Richie: I want to do a record with you. It will be outrageous.
Round Two
Adam Lambert
Simon Fuller chose A Change Is Gonna Come for Adam. I think this is a strong choice. Adam may be able to express himself with the rock stuff, but I think the key to him really catching on with the majority of the audience (read: female) is to also slow it down and show a sensitive side. While this is probably not the way Sam Cooke intended it to be performed, it was still a really good performance.
Randall says it was unbelievable. Kara says it may have been his best performance. Paula says it was the best she's ever heard Adam sing. Simon says he's 100% back in the game.
My dear mother: That was great. I would buy that song.
Young Randall: He just showed why his talent was way above everyone else on the show.
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: He sang with passion and feeling.
Joe: He almost had me with this song, right up until that tongue shriek came out.
Andrew: Oooh, now THIS is a side of Adam I like a LOT; the Lambert Howl works really well with the blues.
Shantel: I'm really tired of the screeching.
Nadine: Great song, great vocals, great performance.
Christal: As Paula would say, "He made it his own."
Rudi Xeno: I'm certain that I'm witnessing a phenomenon.
Low Jones: WOW!
Lionel Richie: Can you teach me how to do that outrageous scream?
Kris Allen
Simon Fuller chose What's Goin' On for Kris. This is actually a bad choice. While the choice for Adam is very iconic as well, it's not as famous as Marvin's song. I don't want to hear anyone ever sing this song other than Marvin. I'll give Kris credit for trying to do something with it. I don't hear the same pain in his voice that I heard in Marvin's voice though. It's not a happy song.
Randall says it was a little light for him. Kara really liked the song choice. Paula says he made Marvin Gaye proud. Simon says it was like a friendly jam session performance and too laid back. I think Adam wins the round easily. Kris' wife just breathed a sigh of relief.
My dear mother: The song was nice, but I'm not sure it was good enough.
Young Randall: Definitely good. I liked the song, but was a safe song.
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: I wish he sang a John Mayer song, (and Adam sang the second song way better) but I still like Kris’ voice.
Joe: It was exactly the right choice.
Andrew: Kris needed to find a truly new sound for this old classic in order to compete against Adam's second song.
Shantel: What an awful song choice.
Nadine: I love this song, but Marvin’s version is better.
Christal: That was very Jack Johnsonish-Jason Mrazish.
Rudi Xeno: Kris is trying, but I've heard this done as well by unknowns.
Low Jones: The performance and vocals were good and it fit Kris' personality and style perfectly but I'm going to agree with Young Randall Jackson that it didn't quite bring the same force to the stage as Adam's performance.
Lionel Richie: You did Marvin outrageously proud.
They just cut to a shot of the 11 who have been kicked off the show. Hey, when did Mary Kate Olsen become a contestant on American Idol? Oh, that's Megan Joy. And Alexis Grace was so pale, I tried to change the color settings on my TV. She could've at least used some of that J-Lo fake tan spray for the occasion. If she was a boy, they'd call her Opie.
Round Three
Adam Lambert
They both will sing No Boundaries, which was co-written by Kara. I was hoping for them to redo Do I Make You Proud. Well, they figured out how to reign Adam in and make him boring. But at least they gave him a great shade of lipstick. By going second, Kris has a chance to see what Adam did, and try to one up him.
Randall says that was just an alright performance and it was pitchy. Kara thanks him for singing her song so well. Paula says she's in awe and she'll be a fan forever. Simon says they've found a star.
My dear mother: I didn't really like the song.
Young Randall: Didn’t like the song at all. It sounded kind of wrong for Adam. Sorry Kara.
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: It didn’t grab me. It wasn’t an Idol moment.
Joe: Not bad, but why is every dang song so shriek-y?
Andrew: This one is tailor made for Adam to emote, but I'm not a fan of the whiny entrances on some phrases, and I'm not convinced he connected with it.
Shantel: That song sucks.
Nadine: Seemed a little awkward at times but, he’s a pro and pulled it off.
Christal: I'm not feeling this song.....
Rudi Xeno: I'm not crazy about this song, but it plays to all of Adam's strengths.
Low Jones: Paula says that adjectives can't describe the song, but I think Adam may have a few colorful ones for Kara and her co-writers as I think he did his best with kind of a crappy song.
Lionel Richie: With that lipstick, you definitely outrageously have no boundaries.
Kris Allen
It's Kris' turn with No Boundaries. Uh oh, he's without guitar. Ok, maybe going second wasn't so good. Without that guitar or piano, he just looks like a guy who makes goofy faces. This is pretty terrible. I would've preferred Inside Your Heaven.
Randall says he's an amazing competitor. Kara says he shouldn't be judged on the song, but for the entire season. Well if that's the case, he's not going to win. Paula says he deserves to be in the spotlight. Simon says watching Kris tonight has been incredible because of how much he's grown during the season.
My dear mother: I think Kris sang the song better.
Young Randall: I just realized in the opening notes, I just don’t like this song!
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: This song fits Kris Allen’s style better. With some studio work, Kris Allen could make it a hit.
Joe: I felt the song more with his rendition, despite the too high note at the end.
Andrew: This song reveals Kris' major weakness; he doesn't have the raw power to draw on to carry a big song like this one.
Shantel: That song still sucks.
Nadine: Kris has done a great job throughout this season of not pushing his vocals and yet he uses his voice to it’s fullest. It reminds me of JT. This song seemed a little too big for him and it seemed like he was pushing too hard and his voice couldn’t handle it.
Christal: I'm still not feeling this song, but Kris was easier to listen to.
Rudi Xeno: Kris' voice is much too thin for this song. Clearly it's above a register that he's comfortable with.
Low Jones: I think Chris did his best with this as well but he was very pitchy in spots.
Lionel Richie: I won't lie to you and say it was outrageous, but you did your best.
Who wins?
I took everyone's commentary and scores for each round to decide based on tonight, who should win the competition. If their gut told them differently than their ears, I added that as well.
GG: Adam Lambert
My dear mother: Kris Allen
Young Randall: Adam Lambert
Dr. Hea Jin Thomas Bartholomew III: Kris Allen
Joe: Tie
Andrew: Adam Lambert
Shantel: Kris Allen
Nadine: Adam Lambert (though her gut says Kris will win)
Christal: Kris Allen
Rudi Xeno: Adam Lambert
Low Jones: Adam Lambert (though he thinks Kris may win by taking Danny's votes)
Lionel Richie: Outrageous tie
Based on the guest judges, it looks like it could be a very close vote. The scores say Adam wins 6-4-2, but if you take into account the folks who still think Kris pulls it off no matter what the scores were, you can flip it around in Kris' favor.
The only thing I do know is that Seacrest is outrageously out!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
roheblius
|
 in Music |
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Garrett M. Gonzales
Location: Gilroy, CA
Reviews written: 598
Trusted by: 278 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.