America Gets It Wrong: Kris Allen Wins 'Idol'
Hello, readers...I can't believe I'm actually typing these words--in capslock format, yet--but here goes...
KRIS ALLEN IS THE NEW AMERICAN IDOL.
Now, my regular readers know I am extremely crushed--CRUSHED!--by this news. I might have been rooting for Bo Bice in season 4 and Blake Lewis in season 6, but their respective defeats were much easier for me to take (and much more expected) than this shocking setback.
Adam Lambert was my unabashed early favorite the instant I saw a viral video of him glamming and hamming it up in a Hollywood rock band wearing vaccum-packed pleather pants and some sort of bizarre man-corset. Back then, I jadedly assumed he wouldn't even make the top 13, because his theatrical antics--along with those much-discussed Interweb JPEGs of him floating around--would likely alienate much of America. But soon it seemed like none of that "scandalous" stuff mattered much to the viewing public, and Adam subsequently kept getting voted through based on his TALENT.
I started to believe that there was a subtle cultural shift going on in this country. I mean, if a black, Democratic president could be elected in 2008, then surely a black-nail-polished, androgynous Idol could win in 2009, right? Yes he could!
Well, that did not happen. In perhaps the biggest upset in AmIdol history, the competition's darkest dark horse, the little contestant that could, the tortoise to Adam's hare--Kris Allen--took home the Idol title tonight.
But you know, maybe it wasn't such an "upset" after all. Maybe it was foolish of me to think that a copiously mascara'd, leather-sheathed, rock-operatic free spirit from Southern California could actually beat out a clean-cut, happily married church worship leader from Arkansas who kind of looks like Joey from Friends.
Then again...maybe Adam's defeat had NOTHING to do with any sort of liberal/conservative, guyliner/guy-next-door cultural divide after all. Maybe it was just all the over-the-top weekly hype surrounding Adam that created an unfortunate but inevitable backlash--especially the judges' blatant favoritism, which even I will admit was a bit much and would have bothered me a lot if I hadn't so wholeheartedly agreed with the judges or personally found Adam so uniquely deserving of such fawning. But perhaps Lambertmania turned off a lot of other voters, or made voters assume that Adam didn't "need" this victory as much as underdog Kris did.
Whatever the reason, I don't want Allen fans to think I have anything against Kris. I believe Kris is talented and authentic, and I'm glad he made it to the finale instead of any number of other contestants (like Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Anoop Desai--but NOT Allison Iraheta, whom I adored). I think Kris was a worthy opponent for Adam. I just don't think he deserved to WIN.
I honestly think America (or, more specifically, America's Danny Gokey fans, who possibly defected to Kris's side after Gokey left and effectively bridged that million-vote gap between Adam and Kris) got it very wrong here.
I will just take solace in the fact that a) Adam Lambert will get a record deal anyway; b) not winning may allow Adam to have more creative control over his debut album, and thus he'll release more genuinely freak-flag-flying material; c) Adam won't have to release that insipid "No Boundaries" as his first single; and d) Adam will probably outsell Kris in the long run.
Feel free to post your comments about the season 8 winner now, and let me know if you think Adam was robbed or if the right singer prevailed tonight.
Adam will end up being more successful than Kris in the long run though, and thats FOR SURE
Adam fans on the other hand have always articulated what it is about his performances that were unquestionably outstanding. Tonight --- he brought a sweet soft touch to "Beth," brought out the strongest part of his vocals with Detroit Rock City/Rock N Roll All Nite. And, the Queen number, he sang his part effortlessly, while Kris looked like a deer in headlights.
Sadly, it's not that Kris is all that good and people voted for him, it's that people did not want Adam to win all that bad.
As much as I wanted Adam to win I knew that he was toast when for 3 weeks in a row , before the last show, Kris outvoted Adam and the others.
I think Adam is in the same league as Plant, Mercury, Bon Scott.......
GO ADAM GO.
I just hope that he will do some stuff for us older rockers.
As for Kris, he will do fine in his own market and make a few million $.
Adam was 100 times better than Kris. He even sang better than Freddie Murcary (Queen). He got the look, the move, the voice. American are not voting talent as usual! I just lost interest in the show.
Last year young David was so much better yet American voted Cook just because he was a better package.
Shame on you all.
Congratulations to Kris.
To all the Kris Allen fans, I will concede that he is a talented young man (although nowhere near the dynamic range of Adam) and seems like a fine person. I appreciated that he was a gracious winner.
To Adam Lambert's family, if you're reading this, you should be So Proud of Adam. He has brought an astonishing amount of joy to many people this AI season. Adam made me look forward to Tuesdays. I will miss him. Adam, get that first LP out soon! And btw, LOVED you with Kiss and Queen.
Adam is my all-time American Idol.
you could not be more wrong. I am not homophobic or republican. i didn't vote for adam. why? even though he is a very talented singer, i got really tired of everyone carrying on about him....i felt like he was being forced on me. i dig kris's singing style.
please dont bring issues like sexual orientation, politics, or religion into this thread. it has absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of AI. im sorry that your fav lost, but dont go bashing other people for the above mentioned issues. that is just plain hateful and pathetic.
America got it right.