American Idol Final 3. It's FANNNNNtastic!
I’m still in protest mode after my last dark horse entry, Allison Iraheta, was sent home last week over my nemesis Danny Gokey. What a farce that was. Now all of my fortunes rest on the slender shoulders of Adam Lambert, whom I have been calling out as the winner since the show began.
Tonight’s vote could be a tight one. All three players have good reason to believe that they will continue on to next week’s finale. I’ve already texted in so many votes that my fingertips are bleeding. (Please don’t believe that.) Here is my take on tonight’s performances, along with some NBA parallels, since the playoffs are in full swing right now.
Danny Gokey +278
‘Dance Little Sister’ by Terence Trent D’Arby
‘You Are So Beautiful’ by Joe Cocker
Once again I found Gokey’s first performance completely boring and sleep-inducing. But his rendition of the Joe Cocker classic might’ve been the first song he’s done that I actually enjoyed – and it pains me to say that. The judges also loved his second offering. Even with that being said, I think that Gokey is going to be the odd man out, albeit a week late, but still.
Danny is like the Dallas Mavericks right now. It’s been an up and down year, and he’s made it pretty far, but now it is apparent that he is just a bit outclassed. And once he’s gone I will celebrate that I do not have to look at him any longer. Just like with Dirk Nowitzki.
Kris Allen +1000
‘Apologize’ by One Republic
‘Heartless’ by Kanye West
Every week this kid puts it all together and despite his huge odds, remains as a threat. I think his moves this week were genius. For his first song, he sat behind the piano for the radio-friendly ‘Apologize.’ I thought he sounded great, even though the judges were a little bit rough on him. Then the cameras showed his wife and parents, who have been clumped together as “Kris’ Family” for about two months now. Way to keep those young girls wanting.
It was Allen’s second song that I think will propel him to the final show next week. By taking a song from the uber-popular Kanye, and transforming it to his unique folk sound, the move was brilliant. Sure, Joe Cocker songs are great, but the young people watching this show have no clue who he is. Now Kanye, they know them some Kanye I’m pretty sure. Did I mention that he sounded fantastic, and played his guitar to boot? Because he did.
Allen is the Denver Nuggets of American Idol. You might recall that he was almost sent home in the early rounds of the show. Then something clicked and he pulls a rabbit out of his hat each and every week. The Nuggets were 1-3 to start off the regular season, and it looked like it could be another lackluster year. Then they traded for guard Chauncey Billups, and the rest is history. They earned the Western Conference’s 2nd seeding with a 54-28 record, and are well on their way to the conference finals in the playoffs. Both are quite dangerous right now.
Before the show aired, I grabbed Gokey to be eliminated before Allen at +278. I’m feeling pretty good about that right now. Hopefully there isn’t another Iraheta moment.
Adam Lambert -300
‘One’ by U2
‘Cryin’’ by Aerosmith
Ryan Seacrest mentions something about a chick bum-rushing Adam on stage this week. This made me chuckle. Then Lambert began singing and I stopped chuckling. My God he destroyed a classic U2 song. If Lambert was on ‘Saved by the Bell,’ he would’ve been Screech. There’s only so much an eardrum can take. The judges liked it though so hey.
For his second choice, Adam said that he wanted “to do Steven Tyler proud.” I’m sure you do Adam. I’m sure you do.
This song was 20 times worse than the first. This was the first week that I did not enjoy him at all. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the judges were swooning and still proclaiming him as the eventual winner! I don’t get it, but I’m not complaining since I have all of my bets locked up on him. Lambert is like the Cleveland Cavs right now. He can’t be touched. The Cavs are 8-0 in the playoffs, and even if they come out flat, you would still expect them to win their game.
Wednesday’s elimination show could be a very interesting one. Maybe I’ll skip it and watch Allen…er…Denver destroy the Mavs instead.
