So by now everyone knows that Phil Phillips was the winner of American Idol.
I'm good with that. I thought both of the finalists were incredible.
I didn't start watching the show until March. The ridiculous auditions bore me and I know the good ones will make the cut. So until they were down to the final twelve I was M.I.A.
It was only the first week of elimination. The songs on this night were from the Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder song books.
Jessica Sanchez came tottering out on to the stage looking like a little girl dressed up in her mother's heels and dripping with costume jewelry from Claire's.
Somebody get this girl a stylist.
But when she opened her mouth to sing my jaw hit the floor.
This sixteen year old had some pipes.
Slap me down with my snarky comments. As the weeks rolled by she only got better.
Her song choices didn't always showcase her voice well and she was actually voted off and saved by the judges. I would guess she was trying to appear more diverse and this is all part of the learning process.
Each week another Idol candidate left the stage and I kept watching and rooting for my faves.
I should also let you know that because of Tivo I watch shows like this in an abreviated time. A two hour American Idol program can be seen in about forty minutes. I don't know if I could watch this show without it. Zipping through the commercials and the dragging mindless drivel between Ryan and the judges make it so much more palatable. Life is too short. Don't they know I still have Revenge to watch.
:D
I can also be relentlessly cruel if I don't like a particular song or contestant. Without regret I just hit the forward button.
I never was a fan of DeAndre so I don't know if I ever heard any of his songs beginning to end.
He was too much hair flipping and not enough ability for me.
So, with one swift and unforgiving movement of my index finger he would be forever in the recorded past and an irrelevant memory for me.
Any one of the top three remaining contestants were worthy of being crowned an American Idol but the performances of this past week left me standing on my feet applauding and "wowing" more than once.
If you missed these last two shows be sure and take just a few seconds and listen to the first few bars of each of these videos.
Turn your volume up.
I guarantee you will be impressed. Maybe impressed enough to listen to them all the way through.
These were my favorite songs from the final night of competition and they can be downloaded through iTunes.
First up was Jessica Sanchez.
She opened with I Have Nothing.
This song was chosen for her. Singing a Whitney song is the ultimate challenge. It is kind of like comparing a favorite recipe of our mom's to somebody else's version. We like what we know and so the bar is very high. That said, I think this itty bitty wisp of thing did Whitney proud.
It is really hard to believe she is only sixteen isn't it?
I had the "goosies".
She did it to me again with this version of The Prayer. Those last notes aren't even human. I die.
Imagine what she will be capable of in five years. She will only be twenty-one!
As incredible as that was it was this overall performance from Phil Phillips that had me thinking that this was perhaps the more complete artist. From his unique vocal style to the arrangement with the drums. This was the real deal. I loved it.
I have to admit I still haven't seen the entire award night show.
I had dinner plans with a girlfriend that night. Friends before television always - but easier because of Tivo. :D
I finally started watching the final show yesterday morning during my workout.
It is during this final episode that the contestants perform with one of their mentor artists. Some very memorable duets have come from these pair ups. Last night though, may be one for the record books.
I first watched Phil perform with John Fogerty and it was very well done but not something that registered as epic.
Then more Ryan Seacrest filler. Zip Zip.
As I was fast forwarding through the crapola to get to another "good" part I noticed Ace Young down on one knee. Never one to miss out on a good proposal, I stopped to watch Ace ask the big question to Ms. Diane Degarmo. Remember her? I remembered her but had to google her to find out that she was a season three runner up and is now on Broadway. Good for her.
The on air proposal could easily be construed as self- promotional. He was always a bit bubble gum for me but I always liked her so I prefer not to be so cynical. Cheers to love.
I hope you are still with me here through because it was THIS PERFORMANCE that had me squealing on the elliptical. I am surprised I didn't blow the speakers out of the television I had it turned up so loud.
Jessica Sanchez chose to perform her duet with Jennifer Holiday, the original
Dream Girl.
Be forewarned there are A LOT of facial gyrations going on here. It can be distracting and I assume it will be appearing in a Saturday Night Skit in the near future but that aside, this behemoth belt is one to be experienced.
There is nothing forgetable about this video because
music rarely moves more than this.
Double Diva Delight.
Unbelievable.
So glad I have a Tivo and that there is YouTube so we can all watch it again and again.
Ms. Sanchez. A little bit Beyonce, a touch Mariah, and now a dose of Jennifer.
Way to shine.
Jessica, I am sure we haven't heard the last from you.
Hope you all have a terrific Memorial Day weekend.
Show your colors and hang out that American flag.
God bless the USA.
xoxo,
p
