Somebody To Love - American Idol and Glee

American Idol - Top 2 - Final Performance Night
Glee - Pilot - Ep. 101

This is it! The final 2. And Kris Allen MADE IT!!! And my pool pick Adam Lambert made it!!! (Funnily, I was debating between these two for my pick).

Two boys in the finale. Just like last year. But unlike last year, the rocker is the front runner and the clean cut cutie is the underdog this year, but last year, the underdog won... hmm...

Glee also premiered previewed.

OMGHOWAWESOMEWASALLTHAT?DOESANYBODYHAVETHEDOWNLOADSCAUSEIT'SNOTAVAILABLEINCANADA...
(GASP)...
AND... (BREATHE) I'MGOINGTOHAVETOWATCHITOVERANDOVERAGAIN
ANDLISTENTOTHESONGSOVERANDOVERANDOVERAGAINTHISSUMMER. So yeah, um, I LOVED it. And everyone involved in it. And how awesome did the preview for the rest of the season look with the clip of the Glee club singing "Somebody To Love"? (Which they sang at the upfonts)


Adam Lambert
26 years old
Home: Los Angeles, CA
Audition: San Francisco, CA
Encore Song: "Mad World" (by Roland Orzabal, made famous by Tears for Fears)

Grade: B

Was it me or did he do this better the first time around? Still, he's got that whole performance thing down pat, and he knows how to command the stage.



Kris Allen
23 years old
Home: Conway, AR
Audition: Louisville, KY
Encore Song: "Ain't No Sunshine" (by Bill Withers)

Grade: A-

I remember loving this the first time he did it, but while I've been listening to the studio versions over this past week, I've found myself loving some of the other songs even more. Of course, now that he's doing this live, I think he does this song better live. And was it me or did this seem more polished, despite two minor tonal mistakes.



Adam Lambert
26 years old
Home: Los Angeles, CA
Audition: San Francisco, CA
Producers Choice Song: "A Change Is Gonna Come" (by Sam Cooke)

Grade: C+

I liked Matt Doyle's version WAY better. Eric Van der Woodsen is one lucky boy. Or actually, Wesley Taylor (hilarious in Rock of Ages and cast in next years The Addams Family Musical) in real life. Lucky bastard.

Oh. Adam? Right. I gotta talk about this right? Hmm... look. Those that love the screaming are gonna love him no matter what. The rest of us? We would like to keep our eardrums intact.



Kris Allen
23 years old
Home: Conway, AR
Audition: Louisville, KY
Producers Choice Song: "What's Going On" (by Marvin Gaye)

Grade: B-

Not my favorite interpretation of a song I don't really love, but I love Kris' voice still. But I actually agree with Randy in that while he's great at the small songs, it seems a bit lost in the huge Nokia Theatre (but then again, I complain about seeing singer/songwriters in large venues all the time and thought even John Mayer should only play small clubs like the Mod Club and not at large amphitheatres where he totally drowned).

Still, this is what Kris is great at and again, this whole show is built for Adam's big showy voice and performances and Kris has been fighting against everything that has worked against him in the Idol machine and STILL survived to Final 2!



Adam Lambert
26 years old
Home: Los Angeles, CA
Audition: San Francisco, CA
Idol Song: "No Boundaries" (by Kara DioGuardi)

Grade: D

Wow, that was kind of a hot mess. I don't know if I hated it because it was a sucky song (thanks Kara!) or cause Adam didn't really know what to do with it. I'm a little shocked because I thought they would have written something tailor made for the rocker (or were they counting on a Danny finale?). Cause that was all wrong in every possible way.



Kris Allen
23 years old
Home: Conway, AR
Audition: Louisville, KY
Idol Song: "No Boundaries" (by Kara DioGuardi)

Grade: B-

So is this what the song is supposed to sound like? It wasn't Kris' best (it seemed to start on the wrong key) but at least he made the song listenable. I mean, Kara's song still sucked but there seemed to be some semblance of a song there.

While Kris' voice is very different than the powerhouse of Kelly Clarkson, is it me or does he give you the same vibe she did back in season 1? She was totally unseen in the auditions. Just like Kris. She slowly kept giving amazing performances throughout the live shows. Just like Kris. She seemed genuine and nice and humble throughout the season and always looked surprised at any praise she got. Just like Kris. And then she defeated the season's frontrunner, Justin Guarini, to win in the end. Just like...



The Final Round Up:

Best of the Night: Kris Allen's "Ain't No Sunshine"
Worst of the Night: Kara DioGuardi, for writing that song and totally spiraling from a welcome addition this season with some interesting comments during the auditions, into a hypocritical spineless judge that spewed whatever she could in her attempt at keeping up with the inanities of Randy, the loopiness of Paula, and the poisonous Simon.

Will Win: Adam Lambert
Should Win based on tonight: Kris Allen

Let the online msg board/twitter/facebook debates BEGIN!!!

Should Win based on the season: Obviously I'm going to say Kris and obviously Adam fans are going to discount my opinion but whatev, I'm going to go back to enjoying Kris Allen's studio versions...


and now onto Glee!!!

and... we have my new OBSESSION!!! (You knew I was just going to go on a total lovefest so feel free to skip over this, just as long as you go watch the show).

Where do I start?

Matthew Morrison? as Will Shuester? The teacher that wants to guide Glee Club? Awesome!

Jane Lynch? The militant gym teacher? Awesome!

Jayma Mays? The hygiene obsessive teacher secretly in love with Will? Awesome!

Jessica Gilsig? As Will's harpy whispy wife? Awesome!

Stephen Tobolowski? Guest starring as the fey former Glee club leader who is married to a woman? Hilariously Awesome!

Iqbal Theba? as Principal Higgins? The money crunching principal? Awesome!

Lea Michelle? As Rachel? The Star?

Chris Colfer? As high voiced diva Kurt? Awesome!

Amber Riley? As Mercedes "I'm Beyonce, I ain't no Kelly Rowlands"? Awesome!

Kevin McHale? As Arty? Tsssssssssssssssss. BURN! Awesome!

Cory Monteith? As Finn? Who's mom is having a prostate exam? Awesome!

The full "Don't Stop Believin'" AND "Rehab" was even MORE amazing than I could have imagined! I've been waiting for this for a WHILE and the show did NOT disappoint!!!

You KNOW that I would love the musical elements, and of course the show about underdog losers in high schools is totally relatable (I did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I was a brother. Our cast thought we were so cool. We actually went to a mall ourselves and just started singing. Oy vey).

But I also liked the indie movie like filming on the dramatic non-musical moments and it wasn't all out bold and blaring like Ryan Murphy's other high school show Popular was. That show was great but practically just as campy as a musical without the music, so Glee doesn't need the emphasis to push it over to Ugly Betty territory (not that that's bad either, since you know I still love that show). Glee already has the music and damn! It sounds GREAT!!!

Here again is the Glee cast singing "Somebody To Love" at the FOX upfronts this Monday.


My summer playlist is totally going to be looking like Glee's Studio versions of "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Rehab" and Kris Allen's "Heartless", "She Works Hard For the Money", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Falling Slowly" and "To Make You Feel My Love"!!! In constant repeat rotation!!!





For more on American Idol:
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Season 8:
Top 2 Performance
Top 3 Performance, Top 3 Results
Top 4 Performance, Top 4 Results
Top 5 Performance, Top 5 Results
Top 6 + Matt (Top 7 Redux) Performance, Top 7 Redux Results
Top 7 Performance, Top 7 Results
Top 8 Performance, Top 8 Results
Top 9 Performance
Top 10 Performance
Top 12 Performance, Top 12 Results
Top 13 Performance, Top 13 Results
Top 36:
Group 1, Group 2, Group 3
Wild Card, Wild Card Results
Pre-Top 36:
Who Are You Going To Vote For?
Handicapping the Alleged American Idols
Thanks to Rickey for the vids.
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com