TOP 2 at the NOKIA

Camryn Manheim is in the audience, and I just love her because she's a huge David Cook fan. Tee hee hee! Awesome taste! Ryan introduces them as the acoustic rocker vs. the glam rocker, Conway vs. L.A., the guy-next-door vs. the guyliner. Genius. Simon's showing lots of chest, as he seems to love to do on finale night. The follicles!!  My eyes!!!

Kris won the coin toss, so he goes second. As last year proved, that could mean nothing. Right, David Cook?

Round 1 - Personal Choice

Adam - "Mad World" by Tears for Fears - Adam didn't sleep through the night until he was 18 months old. He would scream all night long. Ooooh, nightmare baby. Adam reprising this song was actually a good move. I loved the long jacket. First of all, most people might have missed it live the first time around. Hehe. This show has been horrible at managing time. However, there is an emotional impact when one does a song the first time that could very well be lacking the second time around. I felt that this was a good performance - very well sung, but slightly empty. Randy said he loved him showing his sensitive side, and he gave him an A+. Kara was happy that he chose the performance, and she called him an incredible artist, changing the game up for every other contestant. Paula said she is unbelievably proud of him, and she loved the more subdued, introverted performance - more theatrical. Simon said for some reason it was a little bit over-theatrical, and it reminded him a little bit of Phantom of the Opera.

Kris - "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers - Kris didn't like to sing in front of his family when he was a kid, and they used to pay him to perform. Why didn't I think of that when I was a kid?! All that wasted time! Tsk. The first time he sang this was when I actually took note of Kris Allen and labeled him the dark horse who could cause an upset and take it all. I love the funky groove he adds to this - really making it his own. The studio version of this is hot, by the way. Better snatch it up before it's gone. See, and he didn't lose the emotional thrust here. Why? Because he doesn't lose focus on his sunshine. You see - being in the Idol bubble for five months separates him from his lovely Katy. So, the song becomes testimonial, and we're able to witness that with him. It was all kinds of melancholy and sensual. Well done, Kris! Randy loves that he can tell what kind of artist he's going to be. Kara (who looked mad) said there's something wrong with you if you don't feel something when he sings. Paula said he awakened the spirit in all of us by Allen-yzing every song he sings. Simon said he wasn't sure if America had made the right choice last week, but he took it all back after that performance.

Round 1 goes to Kris Allen. Simon called it, and I agree.

Round 2 - Simon Fuller's Choice

Adam - "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke - This song demands soul and feeling. Adam carried that in spades. I mean, he's been under a lot of media scrutiny (again), and I just get the feeling that he was testifying to the fact that he wishes for a change. One day, it will simply be a singing competition. One day, a person's sexual orientation or religious affiliation won't be the deciding factor in whether or not he wins a freaking talent competition. I'm sorry, but this season has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I never thought my favorite television escape would become the focus of such political fracas. Adam Lambert, I feel your pain. He crossed the line and actually let us into the performance. I didn't even mind the screams. ;-) Randy said he could sing his face off, and it was unbelievable. Kara called it his best performance and interpretation of the song since the beginning of the competition. Paula said it was the best she has ever heard him sing, and he looked like a superstar. Simon said he was 100% back in the game.

Kris - "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye - Kris was on the stage with the a very limited band. Thank goodness, so they could actually stop drowning him out. I love Acoustic Kris. he manages to make even a well-known R & B classic sound current. I could totally hear this on the radio today. He's not a belter, but he makes up for that with his artistry and creativity. Now, this didn't have the impact of the first song, but it was very innovative, and I applaud him for putting his spin on something that could have been drab. Randy said "we got ourselves a real live dual competition," and he said it was a little bit light for the big stage. Kara said she loves that he has been true to himself, and the song was socially conscious, and it could inspire change. Paula said he tore that song up and made Marvin Gaye proud.  Only, he's dead, Paula.  Simon said it was like three friends in their bedroom strumming along to Marvin Gaye, and it was too lightweight for a night like this. I call it intimacy.

Round 2 goes to Adam Lambert. Simon said 1 million percent.  I said, "Whatever!"  Loudly.

Round 3 - Coronation Song - "No Boundaries" (co-written by Kara DioGuardi)

Adam - I hate having to critique a song I don't know. Coronation cheese for the win!! Interesting. I heard lots of pitch issues here, and I guess I could chalk it up to unfamiliarity. I'm trying to imagine Adam singing this day in and day out for the rest of the year. Okay. I hate the song. The background singers were horrible, as well. Adam sang it well enough, but I don't know if it is particularly suited to his voice. Randy said he can sing anything, but it was not one of his favorite Adam performances. Kara said she was honored to have him sing a song she co-wrote. Paula said adjectives can't express (how horrible that song is?) his voice, and he can sing anything. Simon didn't judge the song, but he judged Adam, and he said that he has been one of the best and most original contestants on the show, and he genuinely believes that they have found a worldwide star. Is Kara coming back next year?

Kris - And, another shot at the giant block of Velveeta. Oh no, Kris. No, no, no. Just no. No one should be judged on monstrosity!  The key was wrong. He was straining for the high notes. There was a look of sheer panic on his face when he realized that the song was falling apart in his hands. As I said before, this contest was Kris Allen's to lose, and he just might have lost it. He looked like a sad little puppy at the end. Randy mentioned the high key, and said he was an amazing competitor, and the song fit his voice better than Adam. Kara judged him on the fact that he is a compelling artist, and she congratulated him on an incredible season. Paula said he did an amazing job, and he deserved to be there. Simon said that his highlight tonight was the first song, and watching him onstage tonight was incredible and he has grown as an artist this season.

Okay, no one seems to want to say it, so I will. Kara co-wrote a horrible song that seems suited to one contestant's voice - one who is not competing. That person is Danny Gokey. There was a shocked look on her face last week when Danny was eliminated. Could that be the reason why? Hopefully, whoever sings this as their coronation song will only get better the more they sing it.

Carrie Underwood sings us out with "Home Sweet Home." I like it better live.

Okay, it's voting time, and I'm not voting. But, I'm going to go ahead and call it.

AND THE WINNER IS....ADAM LAMBERT.

Agree? Disagree?

I think Adam is the favorite..........but I will be voting for Kris...........

I said in a previous post - and got slammed for it; that Adam is the performer and Kris is the recording artist.  And I'm sticking to my guns on this!

Yes..  i agree!! I love Kara but the song is HORRIBLE!!!  Written for a woman!! I am VERY disappointed!!

May 19, 2009 -- 6:26PM, borzoimom wrote:

Adam did a better job in diction on the last song especially. At least we could understand the words.

Diction was the least of my worries.

Coronation songs are usually cheesy anyway. 

This was just not well-written.  It didn't seem to flow.  It wasn't well rounded.  I mean, I can take some superfluous lyrics about rainbows and hurricanes and golden coins falling from the sky, but it can at least showcase some musicality, especially with all the talk about artistry this season.

I'm sorry.  No matter who sings it, I just won't like it.

Yes, why DIDN'T they drop the key?  Doesn't seem fair, unless they have to duet, that they would have to sing in same key.

M'eh.  Such a shame that the entire season comes down to the difference in performances of this one last, incredibly lame, song.

Surely there is a better option than a "Coronation Song" altogether? 

How about:  each should have to sing a song the OTHER sang during the year, see if they can improve upon it.  Yes, I like this:  they repeat their own fave song, then they repeat one of their opponent's songs.

That idea has legs, darnit!!  Whaddaya think, Gwenstar?