Image Credit: Michael Becker/PictureGroupSo let’s just call this thing: Crystal killed it, and Lee kinda choked. Having discussed last night’s American Idol finale performance night with EW.com’s preeminent Idoloonie Michael Slezak, I know that was also his assessment of the evening from the vantage point of his living room couch. From my seat inside the IdolDeathStar — a.k.a. the Nokia Theater LA Live — the difference between Crystal’s often effortless excellence and Lee’s unfocused striving was even more stark. I don’t think I’ve experienced an Idol finale, on TV or in person, this lopsidedly obvious since the days of Fantasia Barrino and That One Girl Who Does Broadway Now. Crystal owned that gargantuan room like it was a small bar in Toledo, Ohio and not packed with 7,000 screaming fans. Lee just barely borrowed it.
Before you scream “omigodyouaresooooobiased!!!!” at me in the comments, please know I truly have no dog in this hunt. Really, my job here is to report back to you what the experience was like at the show itself, so I’m honestly just telling you, as a reporter, that Crystal was simply better. Now, the Crystal and Lee t-shirts being sold outside the Nokia before the show were an entirely different matter. Lee’s shirt sported a respectably cool photo montage that included a pair of guitars crossed like swords. Crystal’s was…well, where to start? Let’s just say this: Instead of a photo of Crystal, the shirt featured an illustration of her that looked like a talented high school senior’s attempt to fulfill this assignment from her art teacher: What would happen if Crystal Bowersox looked like Stevie Nicks crossed with Debbie Gibson, circa 1987? (FYI: The answer apparently includes some very big hair.)
The courtyard outside the Nokia was also lousy with Idol alumni. Look, there’s season 8′s Scott MacIntyre doing some press! There’s his season mates Anoop Desai and Matt Giraud posing together for an iPhone photo! There’s season 6′s Chris Richardson chatting and hugging some fans! There’s season 4′s Constantine Maroulis politely waving off some fans! And there’s season 5′s Kevin Covais…talking to his friends who are all somehow smaller than he is! (For the record, the crowd appeared by far to be most excited about spotting Anoop, although that may have something to do with his jaunty bow tie with white and orange stripes.)
Inside the Nokia, I also caught season 6 runner-up Blake Lewis, and season 7′s Kristy Lee Cook and Brooke White making the rounds. At one point, Chicken Little Kevin, Country Fembot Kristy Lee, Justin Timberlight Chris, and Irving R. Levine Anoop all posed for a photo together, and then [SPOILER ALERT!] the Nokia was bathed in a warm bright light, and the foursome passed on together from Idol has-been purgatory into the great beyond. (Or not. But at least I got the Lost finale a shout out on EW.com, finally.) The only non-Idol celeb that I managed to spot was Two and a Half Men co-star Angus T. Jones. That was not meant as a joke.
Elsewhere in the Nokia, Crystal’s father walked over to greet and shake the hand of Lee’s parents, in what to my rather incredulous eye appeared to be the very first time they all had met. Then High School Student Aaron Kelly’s mom scurried over to say hi to Lee’s mom, just as Scotty Mac entered to a small wave of applause. It was about that time that I scanned the room for signage; while the raw numbers stacked up pretty evenly between Lee and Crystal signs (with small helping of Simon signs for flavor), the Lee fans won the creativity award in a landslide: “Lee makes my [heart] go weeeee!” “The Cougar Grandmas Love Lee!” “DeWyze choice is Lee!” The only standout Crystal sign appeared to be this one: “This ‘Mama’ Drove 410 miles for Idol on Fox.”
With 15 minutes to air, Cory the Warm Up Comic took to the stage, modulating his opening act not a whit for the Nokia audience, which proved difficult when it came time for Cory to rally 7,000 people to participate in a “Raaaaandy! Jaaaaaaackson!” call and response. Given that it was Simon Cowell’s penultimate night as an Idol judge, it made sense that he received the largest audience response upon his arrival inside the IdolDeathStar; curiously, Ryan received an almost equally sized reception upon his introduction as well. For those keeping score at home, the Idol intro applause-o-meter would look like so:
(*Technically, it’s Your! Bottom! 10!, but Cory never purported to be an expert at math.)
As the show was just 90 seconds from going live, Cory settled everyone down and explained that after the opening credits, Ryan would introduce Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze, and the Idol finalists would then walk down the stage left and right aisles, respectively. “So don’t try to grab them to sit you your seat,” joked Cory, causing me to jot in my notebook “STOP GIVING PEOPLE IDEAS, CORY!” My seat was near the Lee aisle, so I cannot tell you first-hand whether Crystal dropped her mic, or had it deliberately knocked out of her hand — I’m just saying Cory’s words were still ringing in my ears when I waited for what seemed like an eternity for Crystal to emerge from her aisle and take to the stage.
At the ad break, the judges somehow managed to make it from their desk all the way to the stage left exit without the aid of a hyperdrive — did I mention the Nokia is gargantuan? — but not before the audience seated in front of said exit had a collective conniption at the mere sight of all the Idol judges Ellen and Simon. Cory pointed out Brooke White to the audience even though her face screamed “Don’t notice me, don’t notice me.” Then Cory noticed Kevin Covais. “Check out my buddy, right here,” Cory said. “It’s my old buddy, America!” Finally, a lightbulb flashed, and Cory asked Kevin if people still called him “Chicken Little.” Not once did he use Kevin’s actual name.
We came back from the ad break, and Lee gave to my ear his least problematic performance of the night with “The Boxer.” Kara bobbed her head approvingly. The audience immediately launched into a standing ovation, as they would for every performance all night. When Simon complained that Lee’s performance was more of a kiss on the cheek instead of a kiss on the mouth, Ellen darted her gaze at the judge, and then slowly leaned forward, like a cat closing in on its prey — oh, if only she had pounced, it would have redeemed so much of her performance this season. Anyhoo, after Crystal tore through “Me and Bobby McGee,” the audience, which had been appreciably on Lee’s side from the get go, began to turn its attention anew to the Ohio mama.
For the first few minutes of the ad break, I listened pleasantly to Cory tantalizing the audience with the promise of free Idol merch, and tried mightily not to be concerned with the nine-year-old girl holding the sign “Lee & Me are Meant To Be!” Then with a minute to go, chaos. The bottom 10 all stood up and started waving at their families seated way the other side of the Nokia, though I’m not quite sure how they all saw each other without binoculars of some sort. At the same moment, the judges filed back into the theater, prompting a couple thousand people seated near them to erupt into a roiling sea of flailing arms and feral cheering. And Ryan moved up my aisle to position himself to introduce Lee’s performance of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” which caused the people seated around me to temporarily lose control of their limbic systems. The one man keeping his cool? Kevin Covais, who high fived Ryan as the Idol host walked back down the aisle after introducing Lee.
It was during Lee’s second performance segment that I noticed a few quirks about the Idol finale that set it apart from your average Idol show — other than its elephantine venue, I mean. For one, with umpteen songs to learn between last night and tonight’s finale and only a few days to learn them, the lyrics for both Lee and Crystal’s final two songs were up on the main prompter (you could briefly catch it, in fact, during the telecast), making the finale officially the most watched karaoke performance ever. For another, while the Wyoming-sized TV screens on either side of the stage carried a video feed of the performers performing, there was no video of the judges while they gave their comments. With nothing to focus on other than the back of the judges’ heads, the hoi polloi way back in the wayback got rather rowdy as the judges were speaking. Again, not to pick on Lee, but this seemed to be a problem especially after his performances, which could lead a person to conclude that the audience’s interest in said performances had waned rather drastically by the time they were over.
Perhaps they were concerned with Lee’s non-committal take on one of the most anguished songs in the pop music canon; perhaps they were rattled by the audience’s rude behavior; or perhaps Debbie the Stage Manager just told them their hyper-drive motivator was busted and they couldn’t fly in and out of the Nokia in time to make it back to the show. Whatever the reason, not only did the judges stick around during the entire ad break, but they all huddled together near to Ellen’s seat — yes, Simon actually wheeled his chair over to another person — and entered into the most concentrated and extended interaction I’ve ever seen these four people have all season.
Crystal took to the stage next with “Black Velvet,” and while her vocals certainly were mostly smokin’, I was surprised the judges chose not to comment on just how powerfully awkward Crystal’s body language was during the entire number. The high heels, the high school prom dress, the walking in high heels, the missing guitar, the walking in high heels down a staircase — on camera, it looked okay, but in person it all conspired to rob Crystal of the rocker chick vibe she was clearly going for. But at least Crystal was happy with it — she just about bounded off stage once we were in an ad break, as if those heels gave her no trouble at all.
After our first uneventful ad break, it was time for the third and final round, and the audience was clearly still hungry to give Lee a fighting chance to swing back and make a real case that he deserved to win. He’d barely started singing “Beautiful Day” when the entire theater was on its feet, clapping along more-or-less to the beat, willing him to knock it home. But, alas, then Lee hit the chorus, and instead of his voice soaring up and carrying us with him, he stubbornly stayed in that same dour low octave. Just like that, the audience began to stop clapping. Some people sat back down, while the rest simply stood there, pleasantly if placidly waiting for the song to end.
Now, if you’re wondering how Lee came to be singing a U2 ballad that was seemingly way out of his range: Backstage after the show, Crystal told the assembled press that the contestants chose their final songs themselves. “They just told us we were allowed to choose any song,” she said, “and [I] just thought of a song that’s right for the moment tomorrow [for the finale], no matter what happens.” Lee never addressed the question himself. Make of that what you will — I will try to root out more info tonight at the finale.
And if you’re also wondering how Ellen and Kara came to be handing their Coke cups to the sway pit during the ad break following Lee’s performance: Just as Lee was giving his Ryan-prompted final words, Simon pointed directly at one of the bodyguards standing at the far (stage) right of the sway pit. He then pointed to two young female swaybots directly in front of him in the sway pit. It seems one of the ladies had fainted into the other one’s arms, and it was all the woman’s friend could do to remain upright while ostensibly on live national television. (After the end of the show, Cory informed us that the fainting woman had donated blood earlier in the day. And if there’s any requirement for being a successful swaybot, it’s a high platelet count.) The bodyguard raced to help her, but the fainting woman still ended up on the floor while Ryan read Lee’s numbers to America as if there wasn’t a minor medical emergency unfolding ten feet in front of him. And so, as we entered the ad break, Kara and Ellen both volunteered their Coke cups for the young woman, which one hopes were filled with water and not the caffeine-and-sugar delivery system that is Coca-Cola.
The rest of the evening unfolded pretty much as you saw it: Crystal went up to the mountain, and gave practically everyone chills in the process. After her love-fest with Simon, the PAs set up Will Young’s mic stand during the recap montage. The first Pop Idol winner was obscured in darkness at the time, and there were whispers in the audience that he looked kinda like George Michael, even though Mr. Michael hasn’t looked that fit since the Reagan Administration. Debbie pulled the bottom 10 up from their seats to stand with Lee and Crystal, and everyone hugged everyone. Ryan put the results in America’s hands, the 19 Entertainment logo chirped, and Randy Jackson walked over to Simon Cowell and gave him the warmest bro hug I’ve ever seen between the two by a country mile.
And thus ends my tenure this season as your American Idol on-the-scene recapper. Tonight, the illustrious Mr. John Young will be inside the Nokia during the finale, while I’ll be backstage awaiting the winner and runner-up. Bearing in mind that I’ll likely have just five minutes at most with each of them, what would you like me to ask? Who do you think should win? Who do you think will win? And what’s the over-under that the producers will get Simon Cowell to cry on camera?
I don’t think Lee did half as bad as you said he did. Also, your commentary was heavy on the cynicism. This isn’t a Lost recap, it’s just AI. Lighten up. Lee wasn’t amazing but I thought he held his own. I concluded that the night was a draw.
I appreciate that you are a Lee fan but you cannot call the night a draw. Crystal mopped the floor with Lee and to think anything else diminishes your credibility.
I had the songs she sings she is just a hippy poser. Who wants to listen to that music anymore Lee is current.
I like them both a lot. And based on recent momentum and performances was sure Lee would own the night. His first “The Boxer” made us cry.. last nite not so much. I think he sucked real value from the coaching each week and the pressure got to him this week.
We were sure Crystal was doubting if she wanted it maybe looking at the cost a top level career would have with her family in time etc.
Last night it flipped I mean I was surprised.. From Crystal’s body langauge at the intro her working hte audience etc. Her only weakness was walking in heals for Black Velvet.
Lee was professional but for more than half his singing felt detached.. I also thought the Producer Song choice was terrible in its low key nature.
Against my assumptions Crystal won all three rounds.
So if predictions are right and it becomes a Hormone driven who “I WANT MORE” contest it really invalidates Idol as much as last year and begs them to change the voting format. I think key is there is a demograpic that will vote till fingers are bloody that needs to hear.. “Thankyou for voting but you have reach your 10 vote max…” Otherwise Simon leaving and voting for fantasy mates vs singers will end idol’s longevity.
I did not care for the producer’s song choices either. Crystal did not care either way and was able to pull out all stops and she won the night. Lee was too self conscious and looked uncomfortable. I felt sorry for him.
wait a second, the girls will vote based on their hormones. Girls are around 60% of the voters. I think around half of them will come to their senses and vote for crystal. Who do the guys vote for.
Good post. I voted for Crystal untill I lost juice in my phone, but if Lee wins, then it shows how stacked the deck is against females this year. I’m still sick that Lily won’t be on tour (Alex too, for the record.)
I’ve concluded that your hormones have affected your hearing. Lee wasn’t awful, but he clearly, convincingly lost to Crystal on two out of three of his performances. The second one was certainly more evenly matched, but Crystal edged him out there, too.
I don’t think we can even compare them-they both have very different voices!!
He mumbled, he was off key, drowned out by bandzilla and the choir–as much as I like his emoting, his voice (when it is on key) he just can’t deliver at a professional level yet.
Crystal wiped the floor with Lee, during each round. I would say Round 2 was Lee’s best, but thats not saying much.
I wasn’t there, but on TV it was clear that Lee can’t deliver a flawless performance, the way Crystal can.
You have to be kidding. Did we hear the same songs? I have loved Lee in a few of his songs but he hurt my ears last night. Maybe we all hear differently. Could be. But it wasn’t good for me dawg. (Had to say it)
Oh my goodness-first comment?! Haha, pretty cool.
What, would you like a cookie?
OMG first comment I’m so proud of you!! Forget the article this is too exciting!
Way to waste first post
I wanna see Simon cry on camera!!!
Hey Heather – these 2 people need to get a life……..
Too bad you used it to make such a lame comment. You should be named The Real HATER. Maybe you should stop thinking with your VAG and start listening with your ears. Seriously, if tweentard girls and lonely old women would do that more often maybe this show would still be about what it was intended – to find the best unsigned SINGER and not the next dude to make stoooooopid girls moist. Just a thought.
Andy,The thing that I left off this post in the first place is this:When the writer puts the reaedr first, making the extra effort to make things easy for the reaedr, the writer frequently ends up gaining so much more. Often, it’s just a clearer understanding, and deeper insight into what she was writing about in the first place.But in the long run, the writer also gains the respect of and deeper relationships with her audience. That’s when the idea flow starts becoming an exchange, and not a one-way transaction.And that’s when some wonderfully surprising things can begin.
You are soooo wrong. Diana DeGarmo is one of the best contestants Idol has ever had on the show!! The girl had the pipes. Maybe you weren’t around to watch it? Yes, Crystal deserves to win.
I was just going to say that. She is doing better for herself than Fantasia is so nice try Adam. That finale wasn’t lopsided. If you want lopsided, Jordin vs. Blake would probably have been a better choice.
Crystal will have a career whether she wins or not. Enough people have heard her to make sure she gets signed. Lee might not.
You are delusional. The fantasia and the other girl finale was so lopsided, that I was embarassed for the other girl. She truly couldnt hold a candle to fantasia.
This comment was meant for Aimzee.
Hey idot, Fantasia won by 2 million votes out of 65 million cast. That’s lopsided?
There has only been one person who deserved to win since the top 24. Crystal. Why? She can actually sing and interpret lyrics. Lee has all the vocal range and stage presence of a bowl of oatmeal. Seriously, Jasmine Trias could out sing this dude people!
love her voice, but cannot stand the songs she chooses — so while she should probably win I know I’d never actually buy anything of hers
ditto
same here
During the video recap, after Lee’s 3 songs were highlighted, I turned to Mrs. RockGolf and said “they all sound exactly the same”. She said “I was about to say the same thing”. Complete agreement on an Idol is a rare thing at the RockGolf household.
Anyone else agree?
I agree!
Disagree.. Lee had grown into the stage in recent weeks and I was expecting him to be the clear leader.. he was not. So yes Crystal SHOULD win bassed on over all consistency AND last night.
Lee will win because no one can dial till her fingers are bloody like a desprate girl/woman dreaming of the perfect mate.
Too bad… that said I think Lee can be big.. great voice and real heart when he was not intimidated. Better than Chris last year by far.
I completely disagree that Lee was better than Chris (it’s Kris by the way) by far or even close. Kris could stay in tune and he was successful in changing up songs (Heartless anyone?). I did not see any innovation from Lee and he couldn’t hold a note for longer than three seconds. Crystal sounded the same on every song too. A very underwhelming season.
I think Lee is the least impressive finalist in the history of AI.
Not sure what impressed you.. he has a really great great voice and when he is on.. he is a story teller… not bubble gum
Does anyone know how the tour is selling? I believe this will be a low-selling tour….none of these singers (save Crystal) is compelling or has a personality to want to see.
Totally agree. I bought tickets last year just to see Adam. Wouldn’t walk across the street to see any of this years contestants.
Just more Crystal is GOd, the only talented one, talk!
Along with some regular assertions that along with talent, only Crystal as God has a personality or is someone people would want to see.
It would be ironic if fans of Tim, Aaron, Siobhan, BM, and Casey just got a little sick of this arrogant dissing and just went with Lee out of backlash. Burning up the lines for Lee, not in Lee’s name but Caseys etc. being fed up with the Crystal base smugness.
Lee fans aren’t generally going around with the Lee and the 11 nobodies lines.
Why would they pick Beautiful Day by U2 as Lee’s first single if he wins? No original song this year? WTF? I hope Crystal wins. If her winning “single” is also a remake, well I have never heard it before, and she knocked it out of the park.
it’s absolutely a cover. it’s by a wonderful artist– Patty Griffin. If you liked it, check out her other stuff.
I think it’s totally lame that we don’t get a coronation song.
I think it’s totally great we don’t get a totally lame coranation song.
I was kinda looking forward(?) to the requisite schmaltz-fest of Puppies, Rainbows & Pride! that we usually get, if only for the trainwreck-ness of it all.
@Jennifer
the whole season has been a trainwreck. A coronation song would be like setting fire to the twisted heap on the tracks.
Kelly Clarkson actually did a cover of that song as well on Idol Gives back with Jeff Beck on guitar a couple of years ago. It was fantastic!
Kelly Clarkson sang “Up to the Mountain” on Idol Gives Back a few years ago (season 6). It was amazing, probably my favorite Idol performance ever. I liked Crystal before, but she earned HUGE points with me for picking that song.
If you read the article, it said that the contestants got to choose whatever song they wanted for their first single. Therefore, Lee chose to sing Beautiful Day.
she sings oldies who wants to here that. its 2010 guys.
Lee was SCHOOLED last night by Crystal! I don’t care how much you love what you do and ‘want to be doing it the rest of your life’, you will never possess the raw natural talent and charisma that Crystal possesses! Lee, hope you were taking notes. THAT’S how you do it
Thank you, Adam for giving us a fair account of what happened at the Nokia Theater. I don’t really have a dog in this hunt either, so I’m not going to be too upset no matter who wins. IMO, Crystal has been the most consistent this season, and she blew Lee out of the water last night. However, I think Lee will win because more Idol voters prefer his musical style. If Lee does win, I think there will be many reporters, bloggers and fans who will doubt if the best singer actually won (like Kris over Adam, Ruben over Clay). Anyway, I’m not too worried about either one of them, since they will both get record contracts with one of 19R’s companies.
Traci, you nailed it. Chris is more commercial but he’s just average, I guess the majority of voters are behind him because there weren’t many stand out contestants this year besides Crystal.
One think that was clear last night was how Crystal easily works the stage and the audience, something we had notice before in Hollywood Week. She’s born to be a rock star, good luck to her.
Oops, when I said Chris I meant Lee.
Traci, I think you’re right about people rant about “the best not winning”. I don’t see any way Crystal will win – I don’t think any woman can ever win again (Tween girls mass txt voting for cute guys will win every time the way the voting works). Besides, I suspect she will have a better album if she doesn’t win – less interference from 19 Entertainment.
Crystal can sing, but her choices, her head and her vibe are from the 70′s. She is not commercially viable in any way. Lee is immensely commercially viable, as Simon and Kara have said, too many times- but he can’t emote, and has no sense of what to do with a song. What a pathetic finale’.
You are so wrong. She is a breath of fresh air. I don’t understand how people can make comments like, “She is not commercially viable…” That is your opinion, but it doesn’t mean it’s a fact. You just wait and see. Last year Adam should have won. Many detractors said he was too theatrical (another way of saying he’s too gay), and wouldn’t do well. Well, look whose laughing all the way to the bank. Crystal will probably never be a mega star, but she has an amazing voice and will do very well commercially.
Well..I will certainly buy her Album when it comes(Hurry up with it Crystal!). GO BOWERSOX GO!
Kris has made more money than Adam so far, and also has sold more singles. The only things Adam has more of are album sales(which are mattering less and less each year) and publicity(since everyone in the media is fangurly over him).
also, I’m a fan of Crystal’s but the poster you responded to was right. She’s very retro, and I’ve been worried whether today’s audiences would care for that in the real music industry. It might be good enough to win votes on Idol, but will they want to BUY her stuff in REAL LIFE? Not sure yet, she may bring that style of music back I think.
@Ugonna,, Adam’s tour is selling incredibly. I have tried for tickets at 3 different venues in my region and they all sold out the first day of ticket sales. I love Kris but there is no way he would sell out a concert tour as the main attraction. Adam is doing better than Kris. I hope they are both successful but record sales are only one indicator. A sold out tour certainly spells success.
If Crystal didn’t come off as so cocky I would probably like her…
@chistosa: Adam’s tour in selling incredibly and I’m very happy for him, but what you neglected to mention is that Adam’s tour is in very small theatres! VERY small. I would argue that neither Kris, nor Adam at this point could sell out larger, much less stadium, venues at this point. Adam is also helped by having Orianthi appearing with him!
@Summer
If you think that Adam is selling out because of Orianthi, you are mistaken. Orianthi has had what, one hit? She is on his tour because she played guitar (awesomely) on his song “Sleepwalker”. While I don’t think Adam could sell out stadiums at this point, and who can these days, he could certainly sell out larger venues than he is currently playing. Alot of people are complaining because they can’t get tickets. I am a member of his fan club and get pre-sale info and I still had a hard time getting tickets, finally got some for Charlotte, NC (Can’t wait).
And Ugonna, Adam’s single WWFM is about to catch up to Kris’s single. And Ablum sales are more important than single sales, and everyone knows that.
@Emily- Actually, it’s true. Crystal’s music isn’t commericial enough. It’s a little too retro and folk. And that isn’t popular in the media. Lee’s music would probably sell better than Crystal’s. It’s a fact, not an opinion.
@StrawberryFields737 Um…you say “Lee’s music would probably sell better than Crystal’s. It’s a fact not an opinion”? If it’s a “fact” why say “probably”. Since it hasn’t happened yet, you are speculation which is based on what? YOUR OPINION! You don’t know that is for a fact, you goofball! You are giving your opinion, so of course it’s an opinion! Get a grip.
I have to laugh every time somebody says Crystal isn’t commercially viable, or that radio stations won’t play her, or she’s outdated. Most male pop singers with tween appeal last about as long as the attention span of their fan base — until the next cute dude comes along (Lee’s lucky Tim Urban wasn’t a better singer….) But truly gifted singer-songwriters like Crystal rank up there with Joplin, Dylan, Carole King, Raitt, Etheridge…and they’re doing just fine, and will, for years to come, with a fan base that will always be there. Crystal’s fans were sold on her from day 1 in this season, and never budged. She’s golden. Tonight’s results have nothing to do with Crystal or Lee — they say everything about the demographics, and most about the idiotic voting methods. Crystal, drop that first record!
Lee has the personality of a rock !!!
Hey! I like rocks! I collected them as a child. Dont insult rocks like that.
You obviously have not been to any type of festival. Crystal would do fine at a festival like Newport. Crystal may not be heard on top 40 pop radio (not all the winners and runners up actually have been heard on Top 40), but there are plenty of other stations, Itunes and satellite radio. There are plenty of people who don’t listen to Top 40. The only winners I recall hearing on Top 40 are Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Jordin Sparks but suprisingly not David Cook. I’ve also heard Adam Lambert and Daughtry but neither won. Plenty of artists (like Patty Griffin whose song Crystal sang) do fine without top 40 radio.
I have all of Patty Griffin’s CDs. I look for a certain kind of artist and it is not from the radio. I can’t wait to get Crystal’s CD. It is the 1st time AI has had an artist like her. She is not some retro hippie, more indie. Check her out on YouTube. I am thankful that AI had her on so she got exposure.
“Commercially viable” doesn’t mean good. Current radio music is pathetic compared to what was the norm in the 70′s. Do you ever wonder why young kids still love the Beatles, Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin? Will anyone enjoy Nickleback 20 years from now?
I totally agree, Leila. I don’t even enjoy Nickleback now.
OH my God Adam: I almost had a heart attack: I thought you were signing off for good… an On-The-Scene Idol recap is bunk if there is no Smirkelstilskin.
I could go the rest of my life without the stale “smikelstilskin” act. Ugh. Enough already.
Every critique, column, and article I read (combined with my wife’s and my own observations) say that, without much doubt, that Crystal dominated last night. Why on earth, then, is DialIdol predicting a decisive win for Lee tonight? It would be a travesty of epic proportions if Crystal didn’t win. Her particular music choice isn’t always my taste, but there’s little doubt she is the true performer of the bunch – and it isn’t even close. Go figure.
because Lee fans know he choked last night and doubled up on their voting efforts. I read somewhere where someone was scared for him so they sat there an voted 500 times! I only voted 150 for Crystal, so there is no comparison to the lengths a rabid tween with quick thumbs might go…
I really hope that somehow, a miracle occurs so that Crystal wins snd dial idol is proved wrong. Although, crystal is dominating in the no. of raw votes according to the website. I don’t really know which is more important – the raw votes or the busy signals.
Thanks for all the “on the scene” reporting. It’s amazing how pretty much everywhere people are writing that Crystal won by a mile, but most also wrote that they still think Lee will win.
It’s because we all know who votes for these people: tween age girls. There’s some serious girl-on-girl crime here if Crystal doesn’t win. If she doesn’t (I still think she will) it’s because she isn’t cute, cuddly and make-out worthy to the sway/text bots. Having said that, it doesn’t really matter as this season was a total yawn and write off. Bring on X Files.
Someone seriously needs to tell the swaybots and tweens of the world what a cute guy is and show them pictures if they have to. I think Lee is just a big lump and as articulate as a turd. He’s chubby, dresses for sh!t and really can’t sing all that well. This is considered make-out worthy? Ugh. Brush your teeth afterward 10 times.
Anon’s comment above made me laugh, but although I wouldn’t call Lee “hot” I don’t think he’s that bad either. What turns me off about him is his dumbness.
It’s not only the tweens, it’s the cougars and women in general. Every woman I’ve talked to today said they voted for Lee even tho Crystal was better last night, so I already know it’s going to be Lee that wins, and that’s fine, because it will finally give me a full fledged reason to not watch this show anymore, unless of course the producers finally catch on and change the voting system, but I doubt that will happen.
It’s more than that Mortha. It’s because he choked and his fans doubled up on their voting efforts knowing he was clearly outsung by Crystal.
X-Files? It’s X-Factor. And sure, these people power voting, but honestly if you love Crystal so much, why don’t you vote more than once? Also, do not underestimate the knowledge of the “tweens” and “swaybots.” Lee has picked contemporary songs each of his weeks on Idol that continued to entertain us. Crystal’s, although most are sung well, began to sound similar and became almost forgettable. Sure, Lee’s looks probably factor into the vote as well, but teens are not power voting for looks alone–there are HUGE likability, versatility, and entertainment factors that contribute greatly to their decisions.
I have been reading different blogs, and most comments said that Lee would win, even if they believed that Crystal deserved to win more. The AI audience is probably an even split of men and women, but the people who actually vote and “Powervote” are most likely women and girls. I know a lot of guys who watch AI, but none of them actually vote. It’s interesting to note that out of the pasr 4 finales, 6 put of 8 were male contestants. That’s a 75% male- 25% female split. I’m kind of surprised that Jordin managed to win over Blake!
It’s more than that Mortha. It’s because he choked and his fans doubled up on their voting efforts knowing he was clearly outsung by Crystal.
oops, posted that at the wrong place. Sorry! *looking for delete button*
I’m still pulling for Lee. Was last night his best night? No. Part of this is because I’m from Chicago, but thats far from the only reason. I think Lee wanted it more. Crystal got very complacent over the last few weeks, borderline arrogant about her supposed place in the final, so the stopped pushing. Lee on the other hand built over the last weeks. Also, the girl almost quit about a month ago! In good conscience, I can’t root for someone who almost quit. Finally, not that he’s more “talented” but think he could have more success as a commercial artist (I know I sound like Kara, but its true), whereas I think Crystal would go the way of Taylor Hicks. Lee had an off night. Everyone does at some point. All the best performers, whether singer, dancers, or athletes, have an off night at times. I still think he should win.
Oh, please, you shouldn’t have an off night on the BIGGEST night of your life. Stop making excuses for this sorry lump of an “artist”. Some artist. And I’ve never seen Crystal borderline arrogant at all. Don’t know what you’re looking at. Sometimes she struggles with her diabetes and maybe that’s what you’re seeing, her trying to maintain under difficult situations.
Crystal and Taylor Hicks should be a crime to say those names in the same sentence. Crystal is a unique and gifted artist. Not just a singing hoofer who can put on a meaningless show. I will always remember this season, though I have rarely remembered any, because the tide turned against a showman (like Adam Lambert) to a real artist in the way of Carol King, Paul Simon, Melissa Ethridge Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Bruce Springsteen and so on. Thank God for real artists who write and sing songs of meaning. Leave shows to the likes of Adam Lambert, Celine Dion, Beyonce and so on. While gifted vocalists they add nothing to the meaning of music at the human level.
Amen, Linda.
Everything you said is absolutely true. Bravo! *applause*
I’m afraid this might be the most disappointing Idol win ever (for me at least). I 100% think Crystal deserves to win. If there was any doubt, she got rid of that last night. Even Lee knows he doesn’t deserve it. That being said, I 10% think he WILL win tonight. When I called my mother after the show to make sure she was voting for Crystal, she said she has always liked Lee better, and the most compelling reason she could come up with was that he seems nice, while Crystal seems dirty. Honestly, she said if she washed her hair and had her teeth cleaned, she would like her better! My own mother said that! And if she feels that way, I’m sure a lot of other people do too.
It’s going to be really sad at Christmas this year when I can’t go home and be with my family! (kidding….sort of)
Remember she is a diabetic, and that disease can do bad things to your body including your teeth. Maybe Idol should have seen that she saw a dentist. Keeping them so busy, when do they have time for themselves.?
From what I hear she was offered free dental work, but refused it because she’s pretty enough already. Yes, I think she’s quite arrogant AND rather disgusting to look at it.
OMG DookDood – read the national Enquirer much? If she was offered dental wark she would clearly have to wait until after the show to start that process. Do you have ANY CLUE what the process is? Probably not since your comment is so lame. She has SEVERE diabetes which causes teeth issues (remember Elliot Yamin? Same disease and same problem). Grow up – this isn’t America’s Next Top Model – it’s a SINGING competition and by those standards Crystal dominated all season long – and that is a FACT.
People vote for the people they like, who sing the music that they like. It isn’t a week-to-week “singing competition”, elimination based on pure vocals ranking – for most voters.
There are a lot of people that don’t vote for Crystal simply because it looks like she is a homeless person.
There are some that argued BM deserved to be Top 2 on his “consistently good technical singing” – against others that said it didn’t matter because BMs music was awful and his personality repulsive.
I am convinced that Lee should win, why ? Because he is waaaay more commercial than Crystal…..She really should just sing and NOT talk, she sounds like the hillbilly that she is…..Lee really is more of an ‘american idol’…..Crystal’s silly screaching really became annoying and the fact that she thought it was her place to take the mic and thank Simon for all that he has done for AI…….Come on…..really? Lee on the other hand thanked everyone on behalf of himself which was way more appropriate. Go Lee!!!
I’d say Lee should also just sing and not talk, and spare us his inarticulate ramblings. But unfortunately, he was way out of his depth last night. His style may be more commercial, but if I want to hear that style, I’ll go for David Cook or Chris Daughtry (or any of the countless others already out there who do this much, much better than Lee).
Yes, women should be seen and not heard, but whenever men speak, their words are golden. It is all I can do not to hate fangirls right now, but I will do my best not to contribute to the problem.
you took the words out of my mouth! I don’t know why people are still hung over on crystal’s back talk (it wasn’t even back talk, she was making a point) it happened WEEKS ago.
I’m not ranting about Lee’s awful ‘kiss from a rose’ which was a greater excuse to hate.
Crystal Haters don’t really have much ammunition since crystal rarely does something controversial and they are searching for some sort of excuse.
It’s a good thing then that I have no problem hating fangirls. Your “opinion” is obviously based on personal bias, which makes your opinion moot. Lee is not “waaaaay” more commercial than anybody — the only commercial Lee will have is for Ford Fiesta.
Hee! Hee!
Hilarious Stever B! The only recent time I have seen or heard of Kris Allen is HIS Ford commercial. And I am one of thos fans who CANNOT get a decent Adam ticket…he is sold out pretty much everywhere and has already done a world tour! Let’s face it–last season was waaaaaaaay better. But even so…Crystal for the win. I might even try to go see her or buy her music–but if I only could buy one–ADAM would be it.
Um, Crystal is from Northwest Ohio—she is not a “hillbilly”. You are rude and disgusting. I thought her thanking Simon was very cool–she took the limelight off herself for a moment and put it on him, that was gracious of her. Lee is good and I like him but Crystal will also have a fan base as well. Not everyone listens to Lady GAG GAG and Justin Bieber.
I don’t hate Lee or anything, but he is not more articulate than Crystal. Shy “High School Student” Aaron Kelly is actually more articulate than Lee. Lee sounds nervous when he is interviewed and too often says “Um” and “you know” and “like”.
He thanked his fans for their support. Funny that no one thanked the band — esp. Lee since he relied on them so much to cover up his singing…
I agree with you, Lisa! Last night I really felt that Crystal was screeching at times; I realized that her voice annoys me. Lee is shy but has grown significantly on AI. I like his gravelly voice. He does need to learn to emote more.
Andrea – I agree with you. Crystal has bored me the last 3-4 weeks, as she began to sound the same, and yes, I got tired of her screeching over the last few weeks as well. Lee has grown throughout, and I am waiting to see the results of his being mentored by one or more of the great music mentors like David Foster, Simon Cowell. He will develop well, I think. For me, I happen to prefer male voices and Lee’s type of songs. Time will tell. Absolutely, Crystal is unique, very gifted and she will do well in a particular niche, just not mine.
Hara – Exw meinei afwni !!!!! Thano prtgmaaika oti sxolio kai na kanw einai toso ligo gia tin teleiotita kai tin eurimatikotita tis douleias sou!!! Kai ta koubarakia mou omws toooso omorfa!!Se euxaristoume oloi !!
I was disappointed in Lee last night. Up to that moment, I had been on his side as the winner for Idol this year. You know, the nice guy finally gets a big break thing. Sadly, he gave a second rate performance. He let his nerves get the best of him which, in my humble opinion, is something he should have under control by now. Crystal knocked her last song out of the park. Her stage presense by far outshines Lee’s. If she finds the right venue, she’ll be around for a while. I could see me going to a concert of Crystal’s. Not so much Lee. I found him boring and uninspiring last night and I don’t spend my hard earned money on bored and uninspiring. So sadly, I’d have to weigh in on Crystal simply based on last night. Now, that being said, I found this year’s Idol to be very uninspiring having heard better singers at the local talent shows that I help judge at. Basically, I find I don’t have a vested interest in who wins this year. Neither performer is “outstanding” and they are both fairly generic in their vocals so I’d just finish with saying good luck to whoever makes it.