Idol 2012: MY Finale

Remember how all season long, I've been pulling for a Kree/Candice finale?

:)

I'm recapping tonight slightly differently.

The Top 2, Song 1: Simon Fuller's Choice

Kree Harrison, "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan

Candice Glover, "Chasing Pavements" by Candice Glover

I'll give this round to Candice. Both song selections were pretty decent, all things considered, but the arrangement of Kree's really hurt her. Not to say that the arrangement of "Angel" was bad... quite the opposite, really. The problem was that it didn't allow for Kree to have that special moment to stick in your head. "Chasing Pavements" had moments for Candice, and as always, she nailed them. Both performances were very strong, but I'll give the edge to Candice just because she was more memorable.

Song 2: The Potential Winning Singles

Kree, "All Cried Out"

Candice, "I Am Beautiful"

After last year's delightful "Home", we return to underwhelming, sappy, generic winning singles. Oh well, at least they aren't about climbing mountains or magic rainbows or something random. Once again, Candice's song allowed her to shine a bit more, perhaps because there was more connection there for her. Not sure. Both girls sounded absolutely fantastic, however. I would give the edge to Candice, but not a major one. I would probably buy Kree's first. How's that for indecision?

Song 3: Finalist's Favorite Performance

Kree, "Up to the Mountain" by Patty Griffin (from the Vegas round)

Candice, "I (Who Have Nothing)" by Ben E. King (from Top 10 week)

What a way to end the season. Hot damn. Kree's song was new to me (I started watching after Vegas), and she completely sang her face off. Her runs were spot-on and completely real (I have written down "buttery"), and she had her MOMENT. By far Kree's best in weeks. Candice, on the other hand, reprised the song that made me realize she was the future champ. I can't say that I liked this as much as I did the first time she did it, I certainly cannot deny that she once again slayed it. It's shades of Adam Lambert's "Mad World"... perhaps the unpredictable nature of the first performance gave it the edge for me. I would give this round to Kree, but again, a very narrow edge.

Wrap-Up

Great finale. Sometimes finales can be duds, but this one was great. Both finalists sang their faces off, raising the bar each time. Great stuff. Great end to what I'm going to call a solid season. I know I'm in the minority there. But whatever. Can't wait until tour!

Timm's Votes

I've tried to base my votes this season on the actual performances. For the most part. I know I've failed, but whatever. This week, I'm voting for who I want to win... which doesn't exactly match up with how I evaluated the night. Based on tonight, I'd probably go the reverse, but I'm not.

Kree - 30

Candice - 20

I'm going to guess it's the difference in the music styles... and Kree is right up my alley. 

I will say, however, that Candice should be the winner. She absolutely slayed this season, with the domination not really seen since Adam Lambert (I would say). And yes, I know he wasn't named the winner. But he should have been (coming from a big Kris Allen fan). 

Great season.

Idol 2013: The Top 3, as Projected

I think, to this point, this might be the most predictable season of Idol yet. Has there really been one actually surprising development yet? Maybe Lazaro lasting as long as he did... but even then, there wasn't anyone that could have won that left for him to stay (a la Jasmine Trias in season 3).

That is, until this week. I'll bet Kree is next to go, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her survive (and for the record, I obviously think she should).

Anyhoo, on to this week's theme-less show. Producer's choice, Judge's choice, Jimmy's choice? Fun stuff. Except when they use the show uses their song choices to sabotage contestants (see: Allen, Kris). Good times.

Top 3, Song 1: Jimmy's Choices

Kree Harrison "Perfect" by Pink

Not surprising that they would give Kree a song where she can't really shine. Girl's a country singer that doesn't always click with her material... let's give her a sincere rock ballad! C'mon man. Honestly, it came across somewhat karaoke, though sung with Kree's usual awesomeness. 

Candice Glover "One" by U2

This was pretty much exactly what you'd expect from Candice here. I admit that I don't know the Mary J Blige version, but I can hear it in Candice's version. She did a good job with it, but really, it's a lazy song choice by Jimmy.

Angie Miller "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" by Elton John

Can a song choice be simultaneously lazy and wonderful? It's painfully obvious why this song was selected for Angie, for her to do exactly the same performance she's done about 50 times. But for once, she didn't do that, and it came off great. Not perfect, but this was one of Angie's best, I would say.

Top 3, Song 2: Judge's Choices

Candice "Next to Me" by Emili Sandé

HOT. Perfect.

Angie "Try" by Pink

And... yelly karaoke. Definitely a disappointment after her first performance. She seemed comfortable, sure, but her usual musicality was missing.

Kree "Here Comes Goodbye" by Rascal Flatts

Not a perfect vocal, mostly because she kind of mangled the big note... but that was, without question, the most connected Kree was to a song so far. And the result was one of her best so far. Fantastic.

Top 3, Song 3: Contestant's Choices

Angie "Maybe" by Emili Sandé

Ah, here's that Angie performance. But you know what? I liked this more than all the other ones. Maybe it's the song (note to self... check out Emili Sandé), or maybe she just sold this one better, but I liked. Wasn't her best vocal, but I still liked it.

Kree "Better Dig Two" by The Band Perry

Not the type of song that Kree excels on, but she did with it what she could. Was that the sound of the bus being thrown into reverse?

Candice "Somewhere" from West Side Story

I don't get this song choice from a pop music standpoint. But oh. my. goodness. 

Wrap-Up

Great week. Great. Week.

I would give round 1 to Angie... round 2 to Kree... and round 3 to Candice. Round 2 was close, but the other two rounds weren't close.

This is going to be a great finale next week, whatever the pairing is.

Timm's Votes

I'm actually not going to vote this week. I got the top 3 I wanted, and I'll be happy with any finale pairing. And really, I'd probably just split my votes three ways, and give Candice the remainder. 

I'm still reeling from that "Somewhere".

Idol 2013: The Top 4 (Yep, Part 2)

What's to review from last week? Nothing. Predictable.

A now and then theme for this week? I can't wait to head more of the same... then see what Idol's definition of "now" is. The Adele catalogue is "Now", right?

Top 4 (Again), Song 1: Now, which is 2013

Angie Miller "Diamonds" by Rihanna

Same old same old, but a great re-arrangement. But that high note? Yikes. Bet the judges will single out the note as being brilliant, though. Or ignore it completely, because telling the truth would be criticizing the producer's favorite! Can't have that!

Amber Holcomb "Just Give Me a Reason" by P!nk and Nate Ruess

What we have here is a really good karaoke version. Amber sang the song well enough, but there was absolutely no connection to the lyrics. The original song, like all of P!nk's ballads and mid-tempo songs, are so personal and heartfelt... but Amber performed it like an Idol victory song. 

Candice Glover "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars

Idol is trolling us by putting these two songs back to back, right? Candice takes a song that doesn't apply to her at all, and still connects to it in a way that makes it seem like her song, all the while singing the hell out of it. As usual, another master class by Candice. 

Kree Harrison "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood

You know, this is probably my favorite song on Carrie's album... and Kree improved on it, in almost every way. You can see it in Kree's face that she got the song and was singing it from where it should be sung from. Spectacular.

Top 4, Song 2: Then

Angie "Someone to Watch Over Me"

Terrible arrangement. Angie doesn't have the vocal prowess to do what this arrangement required, and it showed. Such a simple song, and this take on it ruined it all.

Amber "My Funny Valentine"

Harry Connick, Jr. for the win. Him calling out Amber for not knowing what she was singing was absolutely perfect, and was completely right. I'd dare say this was Amber's best performance so far, the first time I've ever bought into the judges hype. I don't know if this performance will win her votes (and she should still be the one to go home), but in the moment, this was fantastic.

Candice "You've Changed"

I vote that Harry Connick, Jr. replace Jimmy Iovine, and mentor the contestants each and every week. His tips here are, again, spot-on, leading to complete and utter perfection. By the end of Candice's run on the show (and if this was her end... shame on you, America), I don't think you'll be able to pick out a 'best performance'. Girl is a star.

Kree "Stormy Weather"

Alright, now here's where Harry stumbles a little bit. I totally get and agree with him about how runs and singing songs straight... but there is a line between showy runs and making a song their own. The little licks that Kree uses at the end of some phrases, to me, would be perfectly fine for standards. Runs, not so much. Personal preference, I suppose. I do think Kree got a little bit in her own head here, trying to strike that balance. Overall, the result was quite good, but could have been better if she was freer, if that makes sense.

Wrap-Up

Overall, this week completely made up for last week's stinker of a week. All four contestants brought their A-game (for the most part). While I don't quite understand the value of having a standards theme on Idol (I never have), they are almost always my favorite. This season is no different.

And the judges weren't blatantly throwing contestants under the bus for no apparent reason this week! Huzzah!

Timm's Votes

I'm throwing all my weight behind a Kree/Candice final. I've been pretty clear with that from the get-go. 

Kree - 25

Candice - 25

I will freely admit Candice won this week, but Kree needs my support. 

I would guess that Angie is safe... and I'll pick Amber to go home. Who will be in the bottom 2, I don't know.