Crystal Bowersox
Crystal Bowersox excelled with a combination of talent and self-awareness that’s unusual for Idol. Bowersox knows what works for her and has the confidence of a polished performer.
Meanwhile, Lee Dewyze appeared overawed by the occasion he wasn't bad, but he did lack the confidence he had last week and failed to shine.
Both finalists sang three songs: one they had sung previously this season, one chosen by "Idol" executive producer Simon Fuller and one that would be their first single released if they won.
Dewyze chose "The Boxer," - Bowersox sang "Me and Bobby McGee." To be fair Dewyze produced he sang to his vocal strengths and did a good job, but the performance was somehow muted. Compare that to Bowersox, her song was energetic confident and appealed to the judges far more.
With the Fuller choices, he selected "Everybody Hurts" for Dewyze, the REM song. Michael Stipe is setting the bar very high, but it should have been achievable for an 'Idol' but again he fell just short.
Fuller gave Alannah Myles’ "Black Velvet" to Bowersox, and she rose to the challenge she was excellent. The vocals were pitch perfect, her confidence, energy and emotions just sublime, to a point where she even surprised the departing Simon Cowell.
In a change from previous finals he final song the "Idol" producers to have the winner release a cover song as the first single, most likely to avoid giving us another "No Boundaries," - remember that awful song co-written by judge Kara DioGuardi that got unceremoniously dumped last year.
Dewyze sang U2’s "Beautiful Day," which was a problem, can anyone remember a contestant that could out sing Bono? No and Dewyze was not the one to break that streak, add that to the fact everyone who hears the song will automatically compare it to U2, in essence the guy was setup.
Bowersox, meanwhile, sang Patty Griffin’s "Up to the Mountain." Though a more recent release, of a beautiful song that wasn't a big hit so less comparison. The risk with this choice if by singing a lesser known song an average performance will not be remembered by the voting public. Bowersox once again took her performance to unforgettable levels, putting her own style on her version, this was where she out did Dewyze who failed to raise his game.
The results show of course is Simon’s last and Tuesday night was his last as an Idol judge, he and both Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest reminded the viewers of this fact. Simon signed off as a judge saying to Crystal Bowersox after her last performance of the evening: "Since this is going to be the final critique I'm ever going to give, I would just like to say that was outstanding."
Predictions - Bowersox who even managed to steal the spotlight from Simon Cowell right before the final critique of his "Idol" career by grabbing the microphone, thanking him for his years of service and wishing him well in his future endeavours.
Tagged in American Idol