# Idol finale **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728 "2009-05-17T06:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/201 "2009-05-21T06:06:10Z")
> [@Tamara+](#): > > David Cook rocks. Yes he does. He was much better than anyone this season, including the much-lauded Adam. > [@Stoid](#): > > And as for Adam being no Mercury… Brain May was clearly pleased with Adam. Adam is no Freddie Mercury. Not by a long shot. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/202 "2009-05-21T06:08:40Z")
I was actually fooled at first by Normans’ “I wasn’t prepared for this at all”. hee ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/203 "2009-05-21T06:14:34Z")
Dio, I think you’re selling Kris short. I think Adam Lambert is fantastic. I think he probably deserved to win. I’ve enjoyed everything he’s done, and his studio versions sound good as well. So I’m not taking anything away from Adam. But Kris is better than your average lounge singer. He really showed it on ‘Heartless’. He’s got impeccable timing, great phrasing, and he knows how to interpret a song. If you heard a guy in a piano bar sing “Ain’t No Sunshine” the way Kris Allen did, you’d be thinking, “Damn, someone should sign that kid to a record contract.” Kris Allen plays three instruments, apparently. Guitar, Piano, and Viola. I can play a little piano and a little more guitar, and I agree that the piano we saw was pretty basic. But it also suited the song, so that in no way indicates the best he’s capable of. We simply don’t know. His guitar playing was better than average. He may not be a virtuoso, but he’s good enough to be a solid rhythm guitarist. His playing on ‘Heartless’ was pretty good. He’s also a pretty good songwriter. I found three or four of his pre-idol songs on the internet, and they’re pretty good. So he’s really the whole package as a musician. And he’s extremely likable, and he has good musical taste. I predict he’ll have a Jason Mraz-like career trajectory if he can keep the soulless hands of 19 entertainment off his music. In a way, this is a better result for Adam than winning. Coming in second, possibly because of a backlash against his lifestyle, gives him a certain amount of street cred that he wouldn’t have had as the Idol winner. And I don’t think he needs the promotion to make it big - now that he’s got people’s attention, he’ll go as far as his talent can take him. He might even get a lot of publicity out of the fact that he didn’t win. He may wind up on more talk shows than Kris does. In fact, he probably will. So for the two of them, this was probably the best result that could have happened. As for the rest of the night, I was very impressed with the Allison/Cyndi Lauper duet. Allison’s ability to keep exactly on pace with Lauper and take her leads on the vocals was very impressive. She showed great taste in the way she sang the song - it was a performance with a lot of nuance. I think it may have been the best performance of the night. She’s also got a big career ahead of her if she can pair up with the right people. And you know what would be really cool? If Queen re-formed with Adam Lambert as their new lead singer. They’d be selling out stadiums again. It’s not a strange fit at all, even though Lambert is much younger. In a way, it’s exactly the kind of thing Freddy Mercury would have liked. And Lambert has the showmanship, the glam, and the voice. I can’t think of another singer on the planet who could do as good a job in that role. Maybe they’re all thinking the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/204 "2009-05-21T06:24:02Z")
Adam could not tour with Queen. He’s good, but he couldn’t fill those shoes. I’d sooner take Paul Rodgers. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/205 "2009-05-21T07:11:28Z")
I had a weird premonition when Ryan talked to Kris’s parents. I felt like, Oh, hes interviewing the winners parents, it just ‘felt’ that way. Does Ryan know ahead of time? ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/206 "2009-05-21T08:40:20Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Adam could not tour with Queen. He’s good, but he couldn’t fill those shoes. I’d sooner take Paul Rodgers. 😕 I’ve seen Paul Rogers in concert. About 13 years ago, when presumably his voice had endured 13 years less concerts, and was certainly 13 years younger. During a Hendrix song, I was thinking Paul was not doing such a great job living up to Hendrix’s vocals, but the guitarist was tearing it up. I wondered what kind of bizzarro-world had I walked into. I would have bet real money that nearly every Hendrix cover ever done has this dynamic exactly the opposite. Later in the concert, I found out it was Neal Schon on guitar. I knew he’d performed on Paul’s album, but hadn’t heard he was touring with him. A real nice surprise, that. I respect Paul’s discography, which is one reason why I was there to see him - but to complain one person “is no Freddie Mercury” and then to hold up Paul Rodgers instead? During the concert I’m speaking of, Paul already seemed to have lost the range he had when recording his Bad Company hits, and HE was no Freddie Mercury even then. Maybe that was just a bad day for him. I would hope so, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/207 "2009-05-21T08:45:15Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > There is no question that Adam’s loss was due to his being gay. Absolutely none. Kris is a very pleasant singer, but Adam crushed all of them under his 8-inch glittery platform shoes. > > And as for Adam being no Mercury… Brain May was clearly pleased with Adam. I haven’t been following this year, but one thing I really like about Kris (and its been noted already) is that he is a musician, not just a singer… I really like that in an artiste, so if I were voting I would probably have voted Kris purely on this basis. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/208 "2009-05-21T10:44:44Z")
A decided non-random sampling of every Fox News type I know indicates a strong bias toward Kris from that demographic. As in, not a single one of them preferred Adam, and most of them outright hated him. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/209 "2009-05-21T11:02:12Z")
Color me disappointed but not shocked. Adam doesn’t have the same kind of appeal as Kris. I think Adam will have a fabulous career doing a completely different kind of entertaining. Kris will be packaged as a true “Idol”, meaning he will have girls throwing themselves at him and thumbtacking his picture to their walls. He’s the David Cassidy of 2009, in my opinion. He’s not untalented by any means. He’s just exactly what an Idol should be. Cute as a button and middle-of-the-road. I want to see Adam cover a range of entertainment outlets. I think he’d be great on the stage. Let’s see who’s more in the public eye five years from now. My money’s on Adam. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/210 "2009-05-21T11:20:53Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Entirely the opposite of the mature, sober and objective observations about Lambert opening his mouth too wide or “screeching,” huh? Tu quoque. > [@](#): > > In point of fact, Kris had a habit of grimacing hideously when he sang, in a parody of deep, artistic emotion. It threw his already simian features into rather unfortunate relief. But by all means, have another go. Maybe tu quoque ad nauseum will help. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/211 "2009-05-21T11:24:08Z")
My parents watch Fox News. And they _gushed_ over Adam. (Does that mean they picked up the phone and voted? No.) I also think that if you’re going to bring up the anti-gay vote, you have to also include the pro-gay vote. There are a lot of gays and pro-gays out there and I’d imagine a good percentage of them voted for Adam for reasons other than that they liked his singing. Nonetheless, I honestly believe that the end result was more about the “Twilight” girls, who are largely heterosexual and have the time and inclination to vote 100 times. Personally, I liked Adam. However, as I said in earlier threads, I got the distinct impression that after week 2, he was making a conscientious effort to tone down his personality to appease the soccer moms, and that struck me as manipulative and even a tad desperate. Add in the way too polished “And here’s a shout out to the band!” comments and it gave people a reason to bristle. I was half expecting him to dedicate one of the songs to the troops in Iraq. BTW, had Gokey made it to the finals and said, “And thank you for writing the song, Kara.” I think a few people’s heads would have exploded. So why did Adam get a free pass? ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/212 "2009-05-21T12:23:52Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Oh, and this was FAR and away the most entertaining Idol show ever, no contest. I totally agree. There was so much less filler than usual. They kept the idiotic awards BS to a minimum and had some really great performances this year. I didn’t think they matched some of them up very well. Allison’s voice was not well-suited for a duet with Cyndi Lauper and the song didn’t show off her voice. But pairing Adam with Queen was outstanding! I’m more than a little sad to see Guest under my username after all these years. ::sniff:: ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/213 "2009-05-21T12:52:17Z")
Leaving aside the polarizing results for a moment, a few comments: I thought the Best Male and Best Female (or whatever they called them) awards were mean-spirited. OK, we already laughed at these people the first time around, now we have to point them out by name to millions more and shine a light on their lack of ability? I know, I know, it was in their Appearance Release and everything, but it was mean and unnecessary. However, it did set up Norman Gentle nicely, and the world needs more of him. Say what you want about bat-shit insane Kara, but that body? That flat stomach? The woman is a fox. (And I say “fox” because I’m old school) Ryan in the headband and greasy glasses- funniest moment of the night. If “So What” is the best the 13 can offer, that should be one of the worst concert tours evar. Not that I have ever had any desire to see Idols Live!, but this year’s top 13 seems worse than the rest. And thanks to Scott, the choreography is laughable. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/214 "2009-05-21T13:12:48Z")
Some good moments… Adam was perfect with Kiss. Norman Gentle!!! Wooooo!!! Ryan calling out Bikini Girl’s new fake chest was great snark. And Kara may be a creepy insecure narcissist, but that was still some sweet catfight redemption. Go Kara! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/215 "2009-05-21T13:29:35Z")
My local Fox outlet just called the results “shocking” and an “upset”. Since there’s no polling, and the vote counts are never made public, this is complete nonsense. For all we know, Kris was the top vote getter every week. The perception is based on … what? The judges’ bias? Adam being on the cover of Entertainment Weekly? ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/216 "2009-05-21T13:37:21Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Has anybody mentioned that you can vote more than once? It would only take 160,000 people power voting to generate 38 million votes. So five percent of Arkansas being really into this shit is not inconceivable. > > Edit: and I was calculating one call per 30 seconds for two hours. I forgot the finale goes longer. Anyway, Rachel’s numbers suggest that I was conservative. And as we all know, the south is overrun with religious fundies, therefore every single one of those votes wasn’t for Kris, they were against Adam! :rolleyes: Edit: just to be clear, this is directed at Dio’s unsupported claim about why Adam lost, not at anything cricetus said. ---
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/217 "2009-05-21T14:19:58Z")
This thread is practically unreadable with diogenes spamming every other post. Lets take a look Diogenes the Cynic 33 Rachael Rage 14 Liberal 12 You have several triple-posts in a row. Do you really have to mash the post button every time you have a nerve impulse? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/218 "2009-05-21T14:29:18Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > My local Fox outlet just called the results “shocking” and an “upset”. Since there’s no polling, and the vote counts are never made public, this is complete nonsense. For all we know, Kris was the top vote getter every week. The perception is based on … what? The judges’ bias? Adam being on the cover of Entertainment Weekly? They’ve been trying to sell a narrative of the poor, persecuted Christians fighting against a massive horde of godless, “secularist,” liberals. It’s an article of right wing fundy faith that Christians are a persecuted minority, the fact that they’re an overwhelming majority, notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/219 "2009-05-21T14:29:34Z")
Considering the fact that Freddy Mercury was probably the greatest frontman in rock history, I still think Adam did a damn fine job. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/220 "2009-05-21T14:42:20Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Kris really isn’t a tenth the singer that Adam is. I honestly don’t get him at all. He’s completely bland and ordinary. He sounds like every dude you see playing in a cofee shop. I honestly don’t think he’s any better than I am, and I’m completely average as a singer. I don’t have anything against him personally, but he’s the least deserving winner they’ve ever had. I completely agree with you. My wife’s family - two of them (who are rather liberal in their views) - do not though. They couldn’t stand the thing he did with his tongue (supposedly). > [@](#): > > Adam didn’t deserve to get screwed like that just because bigoted fundies think they have a duty to stop a homo from winning. I haven’t read the rest of the thread, but are you sure this is what happened? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728.md?page=12)