The votes are in and it's Scotty and Lauren to face off in the first "all country" American Idol final. I suspect the ratings will be down, as there is very little chance that Scotty will not be crowned the next American Idol. Little to no suspense here, and not everyone loves country music.
Also, no disrespect to Lauren - I have predicted her for the final three for some time - but Scotty really brings something different and unique to the Idol stage. His aw shucks humility and super deep lower register resonate with many types of Idol viewers. Country fans love him as much as the teeny boppers. He's the boy next store who says thanks, yes sir and ma'am. His parents are nice. What's not to like here if you can tolerate country music.
If it weren't for his glares and excessive eyebrow movements that kind of creep me out, I would have pegged him as the winner weeks ago. Then James was routinely eating everyones lunch out-singing the other contestants by a mile. Scotty has been like the tortoise, slow and steady wins the race.
American Idol is never about crowning the best singer, it's about finding the most popular singer. And just like in high school where you scratched your head about why some people were so damn popular, the same questions are raised here. Scotty is completely understandable. Lauren too, she's adorable and can sing country as well as anyone - maybe even better than Scotty. What happened to Haley then?
Haley, it turns out, just wasn't able to muster the popularity she needed to make it to the final. She sang circles around both Scotty and Lauren. Her Led Zeppelin cover of "What is and what shall be" was easily the best performance of the night and a season highlight. Singing Robert Plant? The only other contestant to even try such a ridiculous thing was Adam Lambert. He had the pipes to pull it off as well.His take of "Whole lotta Love" was a showstopper. Please note, he didn't win either.
Haley's sing-off of "Bennie and Jets" was pitch perfect. Full of jazzy phrasing, wails and growls, Haley made that song something her own. So what went wrong?
I think for Haley, she simply didn't have the youth vote. Adults who watch hardly ever vote. Adults are the ones who would appreciate all she did with the almost 37 year-old "Bennie and the Jets." I am sure most teeny boppers where dumbfounded by many of her song choices that bore the stamp of someone whose parents play in a classic rock band. BTW - they do!
Alanis Morrisette? Who is she? Hate to say it but she has become a bit of a golden oldie. Stevie Nicks? Fleetwood Mac? Might as well be Kate Smith or Billie Holiday to the 15 year-olds who vote like crazy.
Had Iovine and the judges selected something more contemporary for Haley she might have had a chance. I doubt it. Doesn't matter now, she's gone. But she really did sing her bottom off. Great tone in her voice.
So I am sure the final show will have some big name country guests to mix it up. Garth Brooks maybe? KISS won't be there that's for sure. Neither will the season's best singers.
So lock up them doors and turn you lights down low!
If Idol had really wanted to see if Scotty had talent they would have picked him a really good song to sing such as Nat King cole's song, "Unforgetable"....if he had been able to do that, then I would have said that he had beaten Haley, now it is just a one horse winner and no one at the gate, sad!
Posted by: Libby | 05/20/2011 at 04:26 AM
You nailed it Libby, if it ain't country, it ain't Scotty!
Posted by: Jim Stalker | 05/20/2011 at 01:28 PM