I can’t believe Kris won! Whoo-hoo! I don’t think I’ve been this pleasantly surprised in the eight years I’ve followed this show. I’d accepted that Adam would win since everyone keeps saying he would—the judges, Entertainment Weekly, his vocal fan base, many of my friends, etc. That, and the fact I only had time to vote for Kris 10 times last night made feel like he’d have to settle for second place. But I kept my fingers crossed, just maybe…
And the impossible happened! When the confetti rained down, it was Kris who was the new American Idol. He even received a little trophy in the shape of a microphone, which is a new thing this year. Only drawback to winning was he had to sing that lame song, “No Boundaries,” but he sounded much better than last night.
This result is rather shocking because I didn’t think much of Kris at all for much of the early competition. I couldn’t even remember his name since his shy, unassuming ways made him blend into the background. But as the fat started getting trimmed from the competition, this quiet boy gained confidence and started making such daring, innovative choices (“Falling Slowly,” “She Works Hard for the Money,” “Heartless”) that I had to take notice. I’m glad he won because I love an underdog story and it made for good TV!
The show was better than I thought it would be. I let the DVR get ahead an hour and 20 minutes before I tuned in ’cause I figured I’d have to fast-forward through lots of filler but ended up watching and enjoying much of it.
I liked the Kris and Keith Urban duet, “Kiss a Girl.” When they first announced Urban, I thought, “Oh no, country music,” which I do not like. But the song was upbeat, their styles blended well and the duet sounded cohesive. It was a performance that seemed rehearsed instead of thrown together at the last minute.
Other things I enjoyed: seeing Alexis Grace again, Jason Mraz, the Lionel Richie/Danny Gokey pairing, Allison and Cyndi Lauper doing “Time After Time,” Steve Martin playing the banjo while Megan Joy and Michael Sarver sang Martin’s song, “Pretty Flowers” (though Megan sounded a little wobbly), Rod Stewart doing “Maggie May” (with his 1978 hairdo intact!), and Adam and Kris dueting with Queen on “We Are the Champions.”
Moments I thought were awkward, embarrasing or downright disgusting: The Golden Idols, which wasted time on obnoxious, talentless people desperate for attention (I refuse to mention them by name); the Lil Rounds/Queen Latifah duet of “Cue the Rain,” which was a huge mess; and most of the group sing-alongs, especially “So What.” They need to brush up on their dancing and choreography skills before they start the tour.
What I Both Liked and Hated: Kara getting to show her singing prowess (she’s awesome!) and hot bod (did you see those abs?!) but having to share the stage with that skanky, porny girl.
What were the highlights for you? How do you feel about Kris winning? Whose album will you be buying? Will you be seeing the top 10 on tour?
17 Comments
Steve
May 21, 2009 at 12:02 amPCN,
I called Kris before the show yesterday figuring he’d pick up most of Danny’s vote. The religious right would be out in force to stop the gay guy, like they did to Yes on 8. It is almost a conspiracy, even the Mormons funded Kris’s vote.
Ok, everybody calm down then try to deny it. But I do think Adam opened another door, in fact he should TM “Guyliner.” Guys wearing nail polish and eyeliner will be accepted, not so weird anymore.
While I’m off on this tangent Brian May’s Queen’s, “We Are the Champions” seemed appropriate as the finale.
I love Alexis, and the Jason Moraz piece was a highlight. In fact you nailed the highlights in your post but what about Kiss? I liked Danny and Lionel, it seemed authentic.
The one thing I know after watching the show is that I will not be seeing the AI concert. I don’t like them all singing together. It drives me crazy and all I’ll say is, Scott dancing around and singing with the group, (WTF)?
So Kris won and America probably got it right because he is a boxed product unless Kara and her song writers make him sing more CRAP like that stupid song, “You Can Go Higher.” My biggest fear for Kris and the rest is they produce these kids first CD.
My last rant, since I am a fairly new follower. When this show started, myself, a hack musician gave it no credence. I thought it was an embarrassment to real hardworking, creative musicians.
Now I have to admit, it is the ultimate spring board. Kris will be ship platinum, and look who performed tonight and throughout this season.
I am still a music snob and may have to kill my TV and move to the Himalayas myself if the Stones or U2 do AI, but good for Simon.
And last I want to thank Adam for “Ring of Fire” and his uniqueness throughout the season. When AI features R & B singers it is BORING. Adam really elevated the show a level, but Kris is a read-made star.
Great blog PCN. Do you review the Bachelorette? If so, I’ll really go off on TV version of soft porn, gotta love dads watching one dude screw their daughters on national TV.
As Norman Gentle says, Peace Out
Shelley n
May 21, 2009 at 4:56 amDo you really have to ask, PCN? I am SO bummed.
Congratulations, America. Thank you for crowning the boring cookie-cutter Kris over the original and inspiring Adam. Gotta hand it to that Christian sect, when they want something they really go after it. They decided that the legally married and UNEQUIVOCALLY NOT-GAY Kris was a better singer than the MUCH more talented but hard-to-pin-down Adam, and gave the number one spot to the not-nearly-as-talented choir boy. Ugh. Okay, fine. But i wonder… what did Adam say to Kris right after Ryan said his name?? Perhaps something along the lines of “Hah! Now i don’t have to record that song and YOU DO!!”
A few short notes on the show itself–
The Norman Gentle skit was suh-weet! He makes a made-up skit look utterly realistic!
Bikini girl got THRASHED! Hee hee heee!!!
The DelToro fiasco. (shudder.) ‘Nuff said.
The Top 2 singing with Queen? SO cool.
Adam singing w KISS??? F-ING PHENOMENAL!!!!! OFF THE HOOK AMAZING! I thought to me–“OMG! Their son is singing with KISS! They must be SOOOOOO stoked!!” (I refer to Adam’s parents, of course.)
So, aside from the monster letdown ending and the aforementioned (shudder), pretty great show.
Here’s hoping Kris can deliver.
INeedUnguent
May 21, 2009 at 7:06 amWell, that was a surprise. I am an Adam fan, but I wish Kris well. Just hope he doesn’t turn out to be as forgettable as most of the other Idol winners. That’s the real danger I think in all of this–that being an Idol winner for most is a stepping stone to mediocrity. Whatever you think about Adam, he’s memorable. 😉 Just hope the vote was not a backlash against his ambiguous sexuality. The discussion on the Today show this a.m. was that Adam was a seasoned performer anointed by the judges and the audience likes to root for the talented and less experienced underdog.
Loved the appearance by Queen…that’s the one I was waiting for. I hear they’re looking for a new front man. Yoo-hoo, Adam…
FFBUFF8
May 21, 2009 at 8:56 amI’m speechless.
Shelley n
May 21, 2009 at 9:32 amIt’s ok, sweetie. We’ll still get to stand in line for that first album! Really! And the runner-up usually does WAAAAAAY better than the winner, anyway. So there’s really no prob. Chill, friend! 😉
EireGo
May 21, 2009 at 9:06 amWow! What a night of crazy. Never liked Keith Urban before last night, but talk about a melding of performances. Allen and Urban should take that on the road. How about Urban Allen? That sounds cool. Lil Rounds and Queen Latifah were horribly out of sync, I agree.
I think people upset this morning are forgetting that it is called American Idol, not American Glam Rock. The show has always been about finding the next pop star that may or may not be a one-hit wonder flash in the pan.
With that in mind, I think America got it right. And, if you saw the news afterwards, it appeared KISS invited Adam to tour with them. So, what’s the problem?
ARB
May 21, 2009 at 9:47 amThank you America!
Poncho
May 21, 2009 at 9:48 amI fell back as I saw the results (live through streaming! yeah!). I am so happy! Just because I really do think that Kris has that understated quality to his vocals and musical skills that make him a great performer, and I’m glad to see people appreciate it.
And also, I do think that Adam’s runner-up status won’t undermine his future career. In fact, he should be thankful with AI for shooting him to superstardom.
I loooooved seeing Alexis again, and Allison and Cindy were amazing. Kris and Keith were superb and Adam and KISS were incredible (just not my cup of tea). The duet with Queen was the highlight as I see it because it proved that Kris’s voice is not as little as people say. (Also, Keith & Kris and the finalists duet should be a lesson to Danny Gokey about on-stage chemistry, haha).
I was laughing out loud when Kara came up during Bikini-girl’s performance. And my mouth dropped to the floor when she showed her bikini. How does she stay that fit? She’s a hot cougar, LOL.
I really liked the finale. In fact, I loved it. I’m just still in shock!
DonnaB
May 21, 2009 at 10:14 amI didn’t feel like sitting through 2 hours of blah..blah..singing..commercials..blah..blah..singing..commercials so tuned in 10 minutes before the show ended. Wanted Adam to win but instinct told me Kris would and sure enough he did. No excitement for me, but I wish him and the others a bright future. The worst moment was seeing Tatiana on tv again. Gad! What an ANNOYING human being! That rush on stage she did – was it planned or impromptu? I don’t buy CDs based on one song or the artist. Like to listen to snippets of them on Amazon to see if it’s worth spending the money; gotta watch the budget. In all the year was more entertaining and promising than the ones before. If it’s true that Simon is leaving the show, not too sure it’ll be as much fun to watch. Time will tell.
popculturenerd
May 21, 2009 at 10:38 amWow, thank you for all your comments. I really do appreciate them. This season of AI has been a crazy ride and I’m glad you shared some of it with me.
I have to admit something—I didn’t even know Kris was a Christian (or that Danny was) until a couple days ago. I did hear something about pics of Adam kissing a boy but I never saw them and don’t care. While I watch AI, I cut out all the chatter so that I can focus only on what I see on the shows every week. I don’t go to other chat rooms or boards; I just write my own opinions here. (I make an excellent jury member since I’m very good at blocking out media and forming my opinions strictly on evidence I see in the courtroom.)
So call me naive but I’m rather surprised by some of the talk that Kris only won because of his Christianity and that Adam lost because of his sexuality. None of that was mentioned on the show and I don’t see how it has any relevance to their singing. I didn’t even like it when the judges criticized contestants on their wardrobe or look. I’d say, “What, Bob Dylan is attractive? Gwen Stefani wears normal clothes on stage? Just judge their singing!”
Anyway, like INeedUnguent, I hope you’re not right, Steve and Shelley n, about Christian conspiracies. That would be sad.
Shelley n, I thought that’s what Adam said to Kris, too!
Steve, I don’t blog about The Bachelorette or The Bachelor. Save for AI and Project Runway, I abhor reality TV. Only people with talent should be on TV!
EireGo, did Kiss really ask Adam to tour with them? That would be the perfect job for him! And Urban Allen does sound cool.
Poncho, I’m so glad you got to see it live. Yay!
DonnaB, don’t get me started on that obnoxious girl! I have no idea if her stunt was real or staged but it sure was annoying. If Simon leaves the show, I don’t know if I’d stop watching because I do enjoy the singing-competition aspect. I’d probably just stop listening to the judges’ comments.
Shelley n
May 21, 2009 at 4:03 pmI think i spoke too soon! iTunes IS selling two No Boundries singles, one by Kris and one by Adam. I of course snapped up Adam’s version and am pretty enamoured of it. It’s smoother and more polished than the finale perfomance show. Not to mention a really sexy picture of Adam for the cover art. I don’t think i mind being wrong here, either… 😀
popculturenerd
May 21, 2009 at 9:02 pmThere’s no wrong here, Shelley n, just different opinions!
Steve
May 22, 2009 at 12:19 amI don’t know if an anti-gay rally was part of a Xtian conspiracy for Kris over Adam. I do know that it was out there for a long time. Bury your head in the sand, but a lot of us went to see the Adam pics. I personally don’t care, and like I said he may have helped his movement but the pics didn’t help, either did the “guyliner.” Maybe it had a little influence, or more than you know (just a hunch).
I am saying that Danny’s vote went somewhere and obviously didn’t go to Adam. Maybe they just thought Kris was better. Call me naive.
Ok, Adam was better, he was my hope but watch, Kris have a record career while Adam goes to Broadway or Vegas. Adam claims to be a rocker, I hope, let’s see.
Thanks
ScriptPimp
May 21, 2009 at 11:58 amI had a number of moments watching the show last night in which I had to step back and say to myself “Whoa, someone at FOX thinks this is good TV”.
And what the heck was up with Ryan Seacrest saying “That was Cyndi Lauper and the incredibly talented Allison Iraheeta”? Lauper played a dulcimer, sang and grounded Iraheeta when Allison started to get ahead of the song. WTF? Lauper was the incredibly talented one!
Oh, and GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PORN CAREER, BIKINI GIRL!!!
coffee drunk
May 21, 2009 at 7:42 pmAdam put up a good fight for sure… I’d be curious to know how many more votes Kris got over Adam
popculturenerd
May 21, 2009 at 9:03 pmThat would be interesting to know. Wasn’t it really close last year between the two Davids?
Poncho
May 22, 2009 at 2:54 pmI am so in awe right now with the Kradam bromance. They seem genuinely happy for each other. And I’ve seen a couple of interviews with each of them and they’re both taking it amazing.
I think they’ll be tonight on Larry King, so I think I will see it.
And about the gay vs. christian thing, I do think it had something to do with it (I mean, there are sooo many prejudiced people out there), but that wouldn’t be enough, and certainly doesn’t undermine Kris’s accomplishment. He’s a great musician and he’s really talented, and what’s more: he sings like he means it.
By the way PCN, I’m with you about reality-TV. In fact, I only watch Idol (and the latinamerican version, though I think this year there won’t be any, because of last year’s fiasco). I’m actually a Lostie and a movie fan (and a nerd in so many other ways! LOL)