Oscars Flick Picks

Adam or Kris?

I can’t believe that it is over so soon! But just like the lead in to the Superbowl every January, this past week has seemed almost endless with all of the hype approaching tonite’s face off between the two most talented and popular contestants. Each performer has their camp of followers, all touting why their guy will win and why the other guy can’t, and if both sing true to form then the result will hinge on which camp has the fleetest fingers come time for the vote.

So, since I’m writing this before the program airs on the West Coast I’ll weigh in with my thoughts for each contestant.

First for Kris:

Kris seems to be the kind of performer who gets overlooked in a crowd. It’s not that his talent is not enough, it’s just that he is much better appreciated with a little more observation, so when it got down to the final thirteen Kris got what he needed, more time to impress.

What has impressed me most about him is his ability to take a song, even one from a genre not native to his own style, and to change it into something special, something that causes the listener to perk up their ears and listen. His version of the Kanye West song was just such an example. Personally, I hate that song, mostly for the performer rather than the forgettable song that it is, but Kris gave it a new voice and made me hear it with new ears. Now THAT is special!

And it isn’t just his talent that separates him from the crowd, it is also his humble and low key personality and wholesome good looks that mark his appeal to voters. The Tatianas and Normans never really get serious consideration BECAUSE of their personalities, Kris Allen is the polar opposite of them, and that is what people really gravitate toward. His most serious weakness is that when he isn’t “on” with his game he is nothing more than ordinary. Here’s hoping that tonite he shines!

Now, Adam:

With Adam Lambert, what you see is NOT what you get, at least for the past four weeks or so. Once you wipe away the glam eye liner and remove the black nail polish (too much time in Hollywood, I’m afraid) what you find is a tremendously talented young man with a voice that very, very few possess, and even fewer can harness. When you subtract his awkward wanderings around the stage, and take away his tendency to go campy, gay/glam while singing, there is no one who can come close. He can sing anything, and I mean anything, and make it sound great!

The key for Adam to succeed comes down to who he listens to. What I mean is, left to his own devices Adam seems to gravitate to taking his voice into areas that only dogs can hear, using it as a sonic bludgeon to beat a song into submission. But when the right influences take him he can turn out a masterpiece like his rendition of Smokey Robinson’s “Track Of My Tears”.

And, as with Kris, Adam seems like a humble and likable guy, something you wouldn’t expect with a person as flamboyant as Adam appears to be. But there have been too many stories about how thoughtful and kind he is for it to NOT be true, someone you would actually want to meet. He would make a great ambassador for “Idol”.

And now for the performances!

Adam, Kris and Ryan

DING, DING, DING! Three rounds of sonic competition featuring the best of the best!!

Tonite the boy have to sing three songs, one, their favorite performance so far, the second, one that is chosen by series creator, Simon Fuller, and finally a song written by Kara D (Uh Oh!). In the past those special songs written for the Idols have been turgid, tuneless and boring. Hopefully, this time will be different.

Mad World

First up, Adam Lambert, singing his favorite, Carly Simon’s “Mad World”. Last time, he startled everyone by singing in falsetto for the entire song, but THIS time we knew what we were getting, which means the bar was raised MUCH higher. Did Adam clear the bar? YES.YES,YES! In fact, he did it even BETTER this time, if that could be possible. The only drawback was the thing I was most concerned about, that is, his entrance was one walking slowly down the stairs, in the shadows, surrounded by fog and wearing a long, dark trench coat. Not good, Adam!

Ain

For his favorite, Kris chose “Ain’t No Sunshine” to challenge Adam. Good choice! Whereas Adam was a bit too dramatic, Kris just took the song and gave it a sense of excitement, an emotional lift and an expressiveness that Adam seemed to miss. This was, perhaps, one of Kris’ best performances, EVER! “Round One” goes to Kris!

Change Is Gonna Come

“Round Two” began with Adam once again taking the stage, this time singing the song chosen by Simon Fuller, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. This time he dispensed with the overly dramatic and just sang, hitting every note, moving up and down the scale, starting off low and soulful before taking off into the stratosphere before, finally finishing back in the land of mere mortals. Adam more than made up for his first performance.

What

The song chosen by Fuller for Kris was Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On” which Kris decided to accompany on guitar. Aside from being a bit mellow, Kris was unable to do much with the song, and much worse he was a bit off pitch a time or two. This was the worst case scenario that I mentioned above, the kind of thing that would sink Kris and give the crown to Adam. The judges commented that his performance was too understated and lacked originality, which is Kris’ hallmark when doing well. I agree. “Round Two” goes to Adam

Finally, the dreaded song written by Kara DioGuardia. I first want to say that this part of the competition should be trashed. This is the fourth season that I’ve been following Idol and I have YET to hear a decent original song that the contestants are required to sing. Why saddle these young singers with a bad or mediocre song when their future career just might be on the line?

This song was as unsingable as could be, but as Simon has said, Adam could sing the phone book and be impressive. And he DID! The song may have sucked but Adam did about as well as a person could with mediocre material.

Kris Allen was not so lucky. For starters the song was a step or two too high for Kris’ vocal range. Secondly, the song stretched his voice to where it could not go and excel. Kara’s song sunk poor Kris. Did he know it? I’m sure! And just in case he didn’t the judges then proceeded to commend Kris for “having come so far”, he should be “proud of what he accomplished” and that he is “still a winner”. All concessions that Adam is going to win.

So, will Adam win?

I believe so, although it is up to the voters and you can never know for sure.

REALITY CHECK!!!

The buzz around the water coolers in San Diego was, contrary to what you would think, that Kris was going to win, and THAT is exactly what happened.

Congrats to Kris Allen, American Idol!

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