I still think Kris is a fairly bland, mediocre singer. That being said, Adam’s wailing does all sound the same after awhile, but I think he has a lot more life in him. I really think Simon was right: he could be really big.
And Kris, sheesh, he got chewed up and spit out by that song of Kara’s. Probably the worst season-closing performance ever (made me miss Clay Aiken’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”).
I thought Adam’s “Mad World” choice was a little safe, especially as a first performance, but I have to say “Change is Gonna Come” really resonated. That defiant look on his face as he sang the last line made me think about the gay rumors and whatever- almost like he was slyly making a political statement.
Anyway, I’m hoping Adam wins and would be surprised by the alternative. It has really been Adam’s year since the start and can’t really imagine Kris taking the top prize.
Paula: Adam will be iconic. Huh? Ray Charles, Edith Piaf, Ludwig van Beethoven, Duke Ellington, etc etc etc: ICONS. Adam? Not a fucking chance. Let me repeat that: NOT A FUCKING CHANCE. EVER! This is a criticism of Paula, not Adam. For Adam, read on.
Adam: Yet again, he screams the life out of a song (A Change is Gonna Come). Check out Graham Parker’s version on his album, “LIVE! Alone in America” for a great interpretation.
Kara DioGuardi: We all saw and heard the same song, twice no less. Is it just me, or was everyone else thinking, “Are you fucking kidding me?” A 80’s type power ballad, a la Journey, about hurricanes, or some such crap? Oh, how I hate those kinds of lyrics that are supposed to uplift us all, but go so over the top in their poetical ambitions, as to be ultimately stripped of all meaning whatsoever.
The Xians are going to give it to Kris. Not that the winner really matters, but it’s pathetic that Adam has to have points scored against him just for being Jewish (and gay).
I agree. Adam sounded to shouty on the last song.
They both did good on the first songs.
I think Adam crapped all over his second song, which until then was one of my favorites. Kris didn’t crap on his second song, but it wasn’t great either.
Kris was the best of the night.
Don’t forget that DialIdol doesn’t mean shit this season, or last season, because it’s so much easier to text votes, which most people do. I have texted about a zillion times for Adam, and it takes about 4 seconds for each text. Kris’s fans can do the same. I think he might win, and that will be fine, he’ll put more of that boring singer-songwriter crap out, but at least I think he’s a nice guy and I don’t listen to the radio anyway.
ETA: I have watched this show audition to end since the second season. The only person who I have actually downloaded anythong from is Kelly Clarkson, and that is crap from the past year. I love Adam, but I bet you a million bucks I don’t buy his album. I will see him on Broadway, though. I know people here like David Cook, and I liked him over Archuleta, but his music sounds like bland “new rock”, but apparently others are different. I hope Kris does well, he seems like a nice guy.
Last year’s format was so much better - kids got to sing a new song if they wanted (and we got Cookie’s “World I Know” moment). Actual coronation song only sung at the actual coronation, not twice on final night & once again on results finale. I think I got attached to the Magic Rainbow song because it was associated in my memory with such a cool TV moment.
Anyway, either of these two could win & it would be cool with me. (Gokey’s gone!). Just don’t assume if Kris wins it’s because of the “fundies”. Some people just really don’t like Adam’s style of singing.
I don’t think there was anything sly about it. I wonder about the politics of it all and whether that particular song will work for or against him, but I think the fact that Fuller chose social change songs for both of them is good.
Dang but the lines are busy! Rachael, is that you tying them up? I was planning to throw a few votes Adam’s way, but after 47 attempts (my phone counts, not me), I’ve only gotten through three times. Not that I have much of an emotional investment this year. I’d be happy if either wins.
I thought what he did to the second verse was a crime, a sin, and a desecration to the memory of Sam Cooke, and obviously the judges wrote their critiques sometime earlier this week. (and I have qualms about any white guy singing this song, but let’s not go there)
And I’m not sure what I think of having Simon Fuller pick the songs for the final 2. Too much of an opportunity for game-playing…I mean, what’s to stop him from sticking one contestant with Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting?
Last week, Seacrest said only 1 million votes separated Kris & Adam (without revealing who was #1). Of the (let’s say) 10 million people who voted for Gokey, how do we expect those votes will get split? I’m guessing 70-30 to Kris.
statistically a dead heat, Kris with a tiny edge. As of this time last year, Cook was the clear winner. Vote, Glamberts, vote!!
Since I don’t have a land line, I vote by text. Normally I get a “one time” confirmation message that my vote for [Adam] has been received. Tonight: no confirmation message. I don’t know if that is the texting equivalent of a busy signal, but I suspect so. I threw one vote for Kris and I didn’t get confirmation of that either, so I sort of feel like my votes are going into a black hole. Oh well, it’s an unlimited plan!
After watching the show I’m starting to think Kris may have a shot at winning. I expect Adam will take it but I don’t think he is the shoe-in everyone has been predicting.
I am glad these are the final two. I rather like both of them. And that Kris is so darn cute I can hardly stand it.
Oh - I have to agree the coronation song was a whole lot of suck. I almost think that is a requirement of the song since they always seem to be so lousy.
If a song like that grows on you, you are authorized to use any means including using a flamethrower or gnawing off a limb to get it the hell away from you.
If I were going to write a comedy song that contained every songwriting cliche ever written, I don’t think I could do a better job than that treacly piece of crap. Climb those mountains, kids! Reach for your dreams, because everyone knows dreams are kept on the top shelf where the narcissistic little brats can’t get at them. If you fall, get back up. because lying on the ground eventually gets old. And because it’s hard for people to see how awesome you are when you’ve just completed a five-star faceplant in front of your dreams. Or something like that.
These two contestants deserved better than this show. The technical crew sucks, they can’t manage to fit their show into the allotted time, they choose crap songs, and their band sucks the life out of everything it touches. The backup singers have been noticeably off-key several times this season. The Simon-Paula thing is entering self-parody, and Kara DiLaGuardia or however you spell it turns out to be a kind of mean, self-centered blowhard who thinks she’s way smarter and way cooler than she really is. At least Paula and Simon have an affectionate undertone to their shenanigans. Kara’s more like a hissing snake. They need to dump her before rookie camp.
As for the performances… Kris, Adam, Adam. Both of them are awesome. Don’t care who wins.
Kris is adorable, but he just wasn’t very interesting here. And he looks uninterested, uncomfortable…maybe just really shy, but it sure looks like misery.
Adam will win for being more entertaining and interesting to watch. I could see him going off to do a big stage musical, maybe more so than a record.
Kara looks vacant and dull as ever. Lose her, and no one would even notice.
The song she co-wrote blew, of course, but that was a given.
I don’t know if it was scripted or what, but… damn, right after Adam song Kara’s song, Kara was all happy that Adam made her song sound so good (her interpretation, not mine) and thanked him. Then, after Paula’s incoherent rambling, Simon absolutely slams the song.
Of course, Simon was right, but damn that was tactless. He didn’t HAVE to say anything about the shitty song – everyone knew it was shitty, but he did anyway, on live TV, right after Kara was all gushing. I don’t know Kara, but talk about popping someone’s balloon.