The attempt to manufacture a win for Lee DeWyze over longtime frontrunner Crystal Bowersox held my attention well enough for me to watch the final performances last night. Several judges’ comments, such as Randy Jackson wishing Lee DeWyze the best of luck in making an album as though he was not going to win a recording contract here, implied they were back to believing Crystal Bowersox was going to win.
I was inclined to agree with that assessment by the end of the show. she strategically opted to perform second so that her performances would be fresher in the viewers’ minds. Good strategy there. She chose “Me and Bobby McGee” for her first song. Another wise choice, considering that song from early in the season is what put the Janis Joplin comparison in play. Then she tore into the Elvis tribute “Black Velvet.“ The final song was this original inspirational bit The American Idol songwriters do not often hit the mark custom making songs for contestants, but they were spot n there.
Aside from some obvious jitters and awkwardness where Bowrrsox dropped the microphone during the opening sequence and was wearing a dress so tight, she could barely walk down the staircase during “Black Velvet,” Bowersox was head and shoulders the best singer of the night.
DeWyze was clearly nervous, too. He blew the melody at points on all three songs. He chose to do ’The Boxer” again. Perhaps I am biased because I love Simon ad Garfunkel, but he sings the song too fast and upbeat. I feel justified in my complaint because e made REM’s ’Everybody Hurts” far more bouncy than it should conceivably be. The song written especially for him, “Beautiful Day,” was decent.
Here is what I am curious about. DeWyze strikes me as a Bon Jovi/Bruce Sprigsteen type. He is a rocker who can pull of a ballad or two now and then. He is not refined, since he makes a lot of warbling mistakes, but he is commercial that way. the show seems hellbent on turning him into a Nickelback or Creed solo act in order to push him over the finish ine. Meanwhile, Bowersox is so much more refined and talented. The problem is she is Nanci Griffth or Kate Melua. Nothing wrong with that. I like them both. But they are not commercial acts, so they are not American Idol material. The goal is not to find an artist but to sell a ton of records.
So DeWyze needs to be the winner. According to the historically reliable Dial Idol, he is going to defeat Bowersox handily tonight. Too bad, really.
