Tuesday night’s final performance show left me a little fearful to make a prediction as to who your next American Idol will be, America.
You see, it depends on what your definition of an American Idol actually is. Is it about singing or is it about being commercial? Is it about developing as an artist or is it about already coming into the season as an artist? (And scoring an “Artist” T-shirt from Jamie Foxx!)
From the very beginning, Crystal Bowersox has been deemed “the one to beat.” Only recently did the judges, in an apparent attempt to make the competition seem like, well, an actual competition, start to pimp out Lee DeWyze to the voting public. Well, call me the stereotypical gullible American, but I’ve gotta say that it kinda worked on me. (Then again, I still believe that you can find love at the Jersey Shore.)
The thing that Lee has over Crystal is story arc. I’ve gotta say that he flat-out bored me in the beginning. His nervousness on stage was only rivaled by my beloved Alex Lambert (RIP, Alex!) and he showed absolutely no ability to emote. But then came the Hometown Visit, where he actually got choked up. Good. But choking up in the paint store where you used to work as a salesman? Golden. Zero to hero kind of stuff.
Last night Lee continued on his journey to emotional availability by -- gasp! -- almost smiling as he sang his personal song choice, “The Boxer,” from Inspirational Week. The choice was a no-brainer, as it was one of his most lauded performances and also the song he chose to sing for his hometown crowd, where he also choked up. Simon wanted more “passion and excitement” from him but it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, isn’t it?
Bowersox also chose a number that the judges loved the first time around, “Me and Bobby McGee.” The difference between her performance and Lee’s? Well, she sung the hell out of hers. There was no comparison. That being said, does that make her the American Idol? If we’re basing it purely on singing, then yes.
But Crystal doesn’t sing the kind of music that I would buy so I can’t vote for her with a clear conscience. I felt she was just a wee bit cocky throughout the season as well. Also, while it is somewhat admirable that she didn’t change herself too much for the competition, it’s also kind of annoying. Who wears a tarp to compete on (what once was) the biggest show in the country anyway?
As for the producers’ song choices, DeWyze did a pleasant version of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” complete with a (no fair!) gospel choir yet again. I often wonder if the contestants are choosing these arrangements or if the producers are giving them ideas. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: everyone sounds better with a gospel choir and/or strings behind them.
