American Idol Finale: Whatever, Let's Choose the Real Idol
3. Carrie Underwood, "Undo It"
The most ideal Idol winner ever (Sorry, Kelly Clarkson, Clive Davis blabbed that you have too many ideas) stepped up with a note-perfect jam from her new album. It's no "Before He Cheats," but what is? I wanted her to end this performance by taking the wheel from Jesus and handing it to a hammered Paula Abdul -- as a public service annnouncement!
2. Siobhan Magnus, Aaron Kelly, and the Bee Gees, "How Deep is Your Love"
Something's the matter with me, because I was actually moved by this. Siobhan and Aaron's collaboration with Barry and Robin Gibb could've used a third Bee Gee, but we're left to assume that the late Maurice's stand-in was the general leisure-suited dorkiness of American Idol. "How Deep is Your Love" is the perfect tear-jerker for Siobhan and Aaron -- it's a poignant ditty that any glassblower or worried fetus can understand.
1. Crystal Bowersox and Alanis Morissette, "Ironic"/"You Oughta Know"
Surprise of surprises: Crystal Bowersox blew me away with the best performance of the evening. Her Top 24 week performance of Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" was slightly underrated, though at the time I wished she'd just picked a livelier Alanis hit. "You Learn"? "So Pure"? Something. Well, fate picked up the slack by inviting the Canadian caterwauler herself to the finale, who swept in with a heated rendition of "You Oughta Know." While we'll have to pardon the lame lyric changes ("Would she go down with you to a theater?" Suicide.), we can't forget this exquisite pairing. Emotional, fun, and professionally executed. This made swallowing the jagged little pill of Lee's victory just a touch easier -- so thank u, Alanis, India, disillusionment, etc.
And finally, here's video of Lee's victory. See you next year, Idolts.
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
The best idol (almost always) never wins, IMHO. Crystal was miles away from the other guy (Leewhateverhisnameis), just like Adam was the rock star, while Chris was karaoke material.
Re-title this show to "Tweens-Perimenopausal Idol" because it has been hijacked by them for the past 2 seasons. Lee is the most UNDESERVING WINNER of all the idol seasons! PERFECT ENDING to an abysmal season.
The judges stunk, Ellen was horrible, Ryan was like "a mosquito buzzing my face" with his off-the chain antics, and the competition was very weak...and yes, the most deserving finished 2nd again. The show will be tainted as long as they continue to let unlimited votes per person.
I was going to refute this, but then I realized Taylor Hicks is much more talented than Lee DeWyze. Season ninth-circle-of-hell is more like it.
Kris is plenty more interesting than Lee DeWyze though. Lee's victory is like if Michael Sarver won season eight.
And when Kelly Clarkson came out and nobody knew who she was? And when some of the former Idol contestants came out all dressed in white - what was that about? Most of them unrecognizable and or didn't even get their face shown the show. What a waste of a show. The worst: when Crystal was with Alanis, not because of them, like them both, but what was with all that stupid back & forth walking on the stage. would have been better with just the two of them standing still next to each other.
Alanis is sort of known for stalking the stage, but I concur, they should've stared each other down some more. But come on, that duet ruled.
I'm as much a fan of Alanis as the next guy (unless the next guy is Louis)... but come on now, gimme a beat!
Janet more than took the night even with the snoozy, multi-mic'd, lady blackula first half.
no question.
Casey rocked!!!!!!!!!!!
Casey was such a love....humble, sweet, and too talented for American Idol. Like he said on Ellen's show, he considers himself to be more of a musician than a singer and since he had never watched American Idol
because he didn't have a TV until recently, he had no idea what he was getting into. I'd love to go to his church and see him play his guitar and lead the praise singing. My 16 yr old grandaughter does this in her church and we visited there this morning. I could just picture Casey up there doing this. There's so much to Casey that was never brought to our attention. I don't give a rip who won, he's my American Idol and always will be. Lee Dewyze....ugh!!
My persistent civil libertarianism will cause an ulcer if I keep reading stories like this.