BTW, Sam Cooke originated Change Is Gonna Come and many have recorded it since.

Thanks, the spoilers said it was more Patti's version so I went with that.

Thanks. Here's a site that's collected many famous versions of "A Change is Gonna Come":

http://tinyurl.com/coversproject

I was easily distracted on this one for some reason. Good though.

He's a hedgehog boot scrubber

bwahahahaha!

HD? Colour me honoured! *Hand palms face so one doesn't faint*

Thank you! You identified the strange look his hair has had all season. Boot scraper it is!

as is usual for the finallys

Itunes pimpage

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

*yawn* and that mouth is too weird.

*yawn* and that mouth is too weird.

Never thought I'd hear those words from you, MC.

Weird mouth equals bad suction

Kris ≠ kiss.

ewwwww

Playing guitar, a few of the band on stage.
Getting better as it goes along, but doesn't make me forget Marvin the way Adam can make me forget someone else sang that song first.

Still way better than most AI finalists.

Randy. What is crazy is we have a real live duel. Great song choice, it was a little light for this big old room.

Kara. What I love is you are true to yourself. You have not wavered, and I liked Simon picked a socially concious song and you can make people change.

Paula. What's going on is you tore that song up and made Marvin Gaye proud.

Simon. I love the song, was like three friends in their bedroom strumming along. You did not grab hold of the song and make it your version and too laid back for tonight.

Nice, rhythmic Latin tune and arrangement, Randy said it right: Kris lite.

At this point in the comp, it's not the time to go safe. This performance was more worthy of a top 5, not a finale`, and I still haven't liked Kris stage performance with his play look.

I thought this song was one of his worst performances earlier in the year, and he didn't do any better this time. He's better off without the guitar, he should get a decent sideman and he should just hang onto the mike.

Uninteresting.

*head tilt*

He didn't do this song earlier in the year. And as for the rest, I disagree. I really liked the feel of this performance. It was laid back and cool. Kara was right on when she told him that he makes the audience feel what he's singing. His voice is great. He is relevant. He has those qualities that I saw in Jason Castro last year except more so. Kris is what I wanted Jason to be. Kris is a musician, an artist. His talent goes far beyond his voice so I heartily disagree with the "he should just hang onto the mic" sentiment.

LAST EDITED ON 05-20-09 AT 11:45 AM (EST)

Yeah, he did this with the same combo on an earlier show. Unless I'm completely out to lunch?

ETA: Apparently I am out to lunch, those were two different songs that sounded the same to me. I stand corrected.

I remember thinking after the earlier performance that the Conga player out kicked Kris who was just strumming a few bar chords. This time they turned down the Conga pickup. For some reason. For me, another insipid repeat.

He did Sunshine well, though, that was very nice, and his piano actually added depth and emotion to the performance.

Nope, Glow's right.

Kris did Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is" but not "What's Going On":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_allen

The only other person to do "What's Going On" on AI was Anwar in season 4, top 20 guys round.

I liked it - wasn't blown away - but I liked it.

Simon says.

Goes to Adam

1,000,000% Adam, says Simon. *rolls eyes*
So.sick.of.the.pimping.

I honestly didn't really enjoy either of them. Adam was too screamy (shocker!) and Kris was good, but a little boring.

Some things will not come out of my fingers, that quote was one of them.

That shrieking is almost operatic.

Ryan surrounded by the season 8 also rans

No Boundaries

I really hate the crap ##### they write for the finalists.

DH sees a lot of Meatloaf in Adam

I love comfort food - just sayin'

Agree - no fan of the "originals", but I think they both did admirably. Edge to Adam though.

I didn't like the song either. But Adam made it interesting.

comfort food... snort

Black jacket and shirt standing center stage.
Heavy drum beat at the start.

Picks up steam for the chorus. Standard Idol formula.

Not as sickly sweet as some of the winner's songs.

Ends with his falsetto.

Randy. Crowd going nuts. I love it. Kara clapping. I said it before, you can sing anything, you can sing the phone book. That was just alright and pitchy in spots for me.

Kara. Speaking for the co-writers. Amazing when someone like you sings a song we wrote. Thank you for giving me that moment.

Paula. Adjectives can't express what you brought to this show. I am in awe, you can sing whatever you want and I will be a fan forever.

Simon. It is the mountains and the hurricanes, not going to judge the song. You have been one of the best most original contestants we have ever had. We hope you can find a world wide star and I think we found that with you.

not going to judge the song

Which just might have been Simon's way of kicking Kara goodbye.

In a zone of his own, Adam sings another trademark song and performance. There is absolutely no mistaking him. None whatsoever. Granted, I was hoping for a kick-A rockin' gig, but still I can't forget him.

There's a slim ray of hope yet for Kris if he can hit the grand slam.

Horrible song, as usual.

I didn't think Adam sounded very good. One of his worst performances IMO, but I put most of the blame on the crap song.

Yeah, even as an Adam fan. This was not his best performance, too much in the same vein as his first two very good performances. He could have picked something that grooved like a whole lotta love by Led Zep and torn the house down.

He's got an openly creative career ahead of him. Versatile as he is, he can sing lead for any band or kind of band, and it's his future I'm most curious about, whether or not he wins the Idol title.

man does that Kara song suck- that is all

It was dreadful and I hope I never hear it again. Even Adam couldn't rescue it, but he did his best.

She's stripped down, tanned, no glitter. no gold.

She looks great!

Same Song.

Bore-ING. He's asleep. He's unexciting.

Please somebody shoot him now - with a tranquilizer - it might wake him up a bit.

He seems to be mumbling a bit at the beginning.
Not hitting the chorus as hard.
Song seems to fit him a bit better, but I don't like his performance as much, at least Adam tried to dirty it up a bit.

Randy. Kris looks stressed. You should be very proud of what you have done, that key was a little high. You are an amazing competitor. I think it fits your voice better than Adams.

Kara. I don't want you to be judged on the song, but that you are a compelling artist and you came into your own. I hope people vote on the season.

Paula. Take it in, one of the most compelling finales and showdowns. You deserve that spot light.

Simon. I think your highlight was the fist song. I think watching you has been incredible compared to where you started at the audition. Your parents are proud and they should be, you deserve to be on this stage tonight.

Meh. For what was such an anticipated finale, and a great final 2, this night pretty much sucked for me (for you, for me.)
The only songs I enjoyed were the repeats. They should have each gotten to pick another song to sing and cut out that stupid No Boundaries crap altoghter. I'm disappointed.

Ho hum. This rendition is exactly the kind of thing that I expect playing in the background when I am at a pub and want to have a beer and conversation with my buddies and not pay attention to the music at all. Kris gave good filler, good static.

word.

That was bland. Crappy song, not made any better by Kris.

Did Kris flub the words?

I hate this song. What a disappointment.

They should have sang this song in the middle.

I think he did flub the words at one point, and had to pick up at the chorus.

Same ol', same ol'.

It took me almost an hour to post this afterwards, knowing who really deserves the Idol title.

Horrible sucky song. Terrible performance. Letdown city.

866-436-5701 Adam Lambert
866-436-5702 Kris Allen

866-436-5703 Adam Lambert
866-436-5704 Kris Allen

866-436-5705 Adam Lambert
866-436-5706 Kris Allen

Carrie Underwood singing Home Sweet Home.

She is b.EAU.tiful!!!!

Kris 60.3
Adam 58.7

And the scores went up? That's new.

Kris 65.6
Adam 63.7

Insta-predictions. Most votes ever will be the theme of the evening tomorrow.

MC strides out onto the porch. She sips from her lemonade and wonders what is next.

The phone rings. MC rushes back into the Shoppe.

MC – Hello? Oh yes, I know he has to go back. No, no, that’s okay. I was expecting it.

MC meanders back out to the porch. The winds picks up and the dust starts to get a little heavy. MC coughs and then, suddenly, notices a figure walking up the street. MC squints – Oh My Gawd! It’s Adam! MC runs back into the Shoppe to get Adam a lemonade.

*MC smacks her leg on an antique armoire* Oh hell! That hurt.

Adam runs up the steps, through the wooden screen door and through the Shoppe. He picks MC up from the floor.

Adam – Are you okay?

MC – I’m fine. Adam, I realize now the fantasy is over and it’s time to get back to reality so you can live your dream.

Adam drifts off to the powder room to gather some bandages for MC’s leg. He comes back to the parlour and gently kneels down and takes MC foot into his lap.

MC - That feels really good, sweetness. I would think you have other things on your mind.

Adam – yup, I sure do. But taking care of you leaves the pressure behind.

Adam caresses MC’s feet and slowly makes his way up her calf, and thigh.

It’s going to be a long night. Again.

I would think you have other things on your mind.

Yep - and he lives just a couple of blocks over...

and then there is devotion.

Isn't Seacrust all of 5'2"? What kind of miniature man is Kris if he appears shorter than Seacrust when they stand next to each other?

Surely Ryan can afford lifts in his shoes. So they are probably the same height bare foot.

*snerk!*

I tried to look this up. Seacrest claims to be 5'8".

Find the key word in the second sentence.

"claims"?

"'"?

LAST EDITED ON 05-20-09 AT 12:42 PM (EST)

There's a whole site with celebrity heights!

They say Ryan is 5' 7.75" but the discussion and pics that follow suggest less than that.

Sometimes Jason C looked taller than Ryan and sometimes he was shorter. Ryan probably has different shoes with varying lift heights. (BTW, the site also has ads for shoes with lifts...never knew what they looked like.)

ETA link: http://www.celebheights.com/s/Ryan-Seacrest-486.html

I would have loved, loved, loved it if the song selections were left in the hands of the contestants instead of the agenda laden picks of Simon Fuller and the not so great hurricanes and mountains omelette of a song by Kara and company.

Did you all catch that Adam altered the lyrics to "Change is gonna come"? At the end, he sang "MY change is gonna come".

I think Kris looked a bit frustrated at the end of his third song. If the key wasn't the right key, why did he start in that key? Wouldn't Michael Orland and Bryd know if the key fit him or not? I'm guessing that Kris was unhappy to be saddled with that song. I read on another board that Kris had some things up his sleeve that he wanted to perform. Now we know the format didn't lend itself to that.

I love Adam. I love his range, his theatrics. I think that he performs like he is playing a role, though. And not nearly every song needs a yowl-y part. I would have loved to hear Adam do another Steven Tyler song, though.

I love Kris. I love his nuance, and his performance is very much who he is. He does not appear to be playing a role.

I could play Kris's music over and over and not tire of it. I have to be in the right mood to listen to Adam's because of the yowl. But when I'm in the mood, the yowl is mighty fine!

Kris for the win. It's like the judges were acting like Kris would win and they wanted Adam to know what they thought now because they won't have a chance to weigh in later. Worldwide star comment from Simon--the agenda is complete. Pimp on, AI.

Nicely said, Zazzy! You know, lately I have been listening to a lot of Kris. I had "Heartless" on continuous repeat for a while. Loved "ain't no sunshine" tonight.

I agree with the yowls of Adam - they are good in the right setting (right MC?), but not EVERY song needs a yowl. I think that is what "gets" me about Adam and why I have grown kinda tired of him.

Kris for the win!

What, what, what?????

As much as I hate it when the most talented wins AI - because it would be in their best interest not to once they've achieved a certain exposure. - at this point I want to see Adam win - and he will *pray, pray, pray*

In alot of ways the winner is the one that doesn't have to sing Kara's song. That was awful.

I haven't been active on the boards this season, but this has been my favorite AI season since the first one.
I have watched almost every episode, and have watched all the performances since the top ten.
And though I haven't been posting I have been reading all season, and I've loved reading everyone's posts and comments.

I think we ended up with the most worthy final 2, and that is saying something, since the season was full of talent!
( except Matt, sorry to the Matt fans, but I never liked him)

The final 2! YAY!
Both talented young men, yet very different performers.
I'm happy! I'm pleased to have enjoyed these final performances tonight.
I don't know about ya'll, but I was super entertained.

I didn't vote this season, and I won't be voting tonight.
I like them both. I enjoyed them both. I can't choose a winner.

In my car ( I don't have an MP3, I listen to CD's , I'm so old) I have Nirvana and Crowded House, I have the Dixie Chicks and Green Day, I have AC/DC and Matchbox 20.
I listen to Crosby Stills & Nash, and Poisen.
And I am supposed to choose between Kris and Adam?
That's like choosing between John Melencamp and The Who.
I won't, I can't, I like them both.
Should I throw away my Cat Stevens for my Queen?
No!

Both so worthy to be there at the end, Adam and Kris.
So glad for them.
The only downside of the evening was that bad song Cara wrote.
( It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't a great song for either. I didn't like it.)

If I have to pick, I'd say that I think Adam should win, just because he took American Idol to a new place.
The show was forced to step up to his huge talent, he made every week an event. No more Burt Bacarrach week, no more vanilla performances. They all had to grow to compete with his huge talent, and it made some better. I think it made the show better.

We saw a Led Zepellin song performed on AI!
For the first time, the Show had to live up to the talent of a performer, instead of boxing in it's performers.
Love him or hate him or indifferent to him, he changed the show.
Other contestants have tried to push the edges of the walls, but Adam broke them out.
He sang "give you every inch of my love" on national TV.
(and I was so sure they were gonna cut that line out of the song)
American Idol has broadened it's scope, it's become relevant again.

And as much as I think Adam should win, I cried when Kris sang Ain't No Sunshine.
Wow!
Oh just, Wow! I cry thinking about it now.
So good! I could listen to Kris all day.

It'a like choosing between Green Day, and Matchbox 20, like choosing between James Taylor and Queen, and I can't choose.
I love them both!

So I didn't vote, because I love them both.
And whomever wins, I get it, either way.

I can't remember being so satisfied with a final 2 on Idol, ever.

And I have to say that in any other season, Danny and Allison both have amazing voices, and could have won, this season the bar was higher.

Thanks to all the posters who made my board reading so enjoyable all season! You didn't know I was here, but you guys made my mornings.

( Okay I am going to go back and read the thread now)

I love buggah. But you knew that already, right?

This is the first time American Idol has gotten it right since Season Four. You have no idea how happy I am that it was Kris and not Danny in the F2. I've been calling for a Kris win for a while now. I kept saying that Adam is too love him or hate him to pull out a win. I'm not so sure now. Adam has been amazing night in and night out. He's classy. He's real. He's gifted as a performer and he has an awesome set of pipes. But. I have been listening to Kris far more than I've been listening to Adam. His "Falling Slowly" rapidly became one of my favorite things in the entire world. His original music is the type of music I listen to without ever tiring of. And in the end, I think that says a lot. If I would have voted, I would have had to vote for Kris. That felt somehow unfair because Adam has entertained me and he's opened up a new arena for this show... maybe for music as a whole. I think both of these guys will be successful. I didn't vote last night. I couldn't. I think they both "deserve" to win.

I feel similarly to you and Glow; loved your posts.

I am bugged by the show, though, and their complete and total pimping of Adam. Did they think America wouldn't see his talent without their pimping?

Here's what EW's Michael Slezak said in an article about experts calling the winner of AI:

"Michael Slezak

Senior Writer and Host of "Idolatry," EW.com

Winner: Adam Lambert

Why: Kris Allen's "Idol" run has yielded enough stellar performances -- "Falling Slowly," "She Works Hard for the Money," "Heartless" -- to fill up an infinitely playable CD. But when it comes to the addictive, thrilling, and often maddening spectacle of "American Idol," Season 8 has really been nothing more than The Adam Lambert Show, a wickedly entertaining, can't-look-away explosion of wild costumes, rock-star hair, emotionally gripping ballads, and glory notes that last longer than a Kara DioGuardi critique. And when you add in the fact that "Idol's" four-judge panel has generally treated Kris like the cannon fodder he was supposed to be, and has rarely strayed from viewing Adam's victory march as an inevitability, Wednesday night's finale should wind up as a tight race -- but one that goes Adam's way."

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/experts-analysis-who-will-win-american-idol--336

From singing order to themes, judges' comments to the amount of airtime given, song assignments to pimp spots, to judges' PR campaigns on talk shows to media and celeb endorsements, and much more, the whole thing has been orchestrated from the beginning to crown Adam the winner.

And last night Simon was still at it, saying in so many words that Adam was the annointed one while reminding us that Kris wasn't worthy of being in the F2 until last week.

WTH? *heavy sarcasm* I thought ALL of the top 13 were AI winner worthy or they wouldn't be in the top 13. Ha! We know there's cannon fodder and Simon was admitting as much.

I won't mind Adam winning -- because he is so talented, but the show frustrates me.

How much more "beloved" would Kris be if he had had the early airtime, the singing slots, the extra pimp spots, the tongue baths, etc.?

I won't mind if Kris wins as it shows that talent can still shine through the AI machinations and because it doesn't take away from Adam's talent, but it would teach the show something about all their carefully laid plans.

You know if Kris wins everybody will say he won because people voted against Adam and not for Kris. That would (is going to) be terrible to listen to.

Sigh. I can see that, but not everybody will say that.

I already saw the defensiveness on Adam's behalf on MJ's board over the past few days (and some here, too). There were some people saying that Kris is unexciting, boring, etc. Why can't it be that there are two interesting genres and performers and they both have merit? Not saying that to you, Glow, just the universe.

Clearly not literally everybody would say that. Kris has a lot of fans. I know of several (non-message board) people who have favored Kris for a while.

These are two musicians that have tons of things going for them. Either one of them can be successful by winning this show just as much as either one of them can be successful by not winning this show. This is a perfect final two.

And I do think they set Kris up a bit to be the unoffensive boy next door to Adam's polarizing over the topness (when Danny started offending people). I don't think the judges ever overlooked him. I just think they thought everybody else would. (and they were supposed to push Danny)

I think Kris, if he wins, will get discredited because of the not-Adam vote.

While I do think there is a bit of not-Adam that could be from bigotry I think a lot more of the not-Adam vote is because Adam is a polarizing artist and isn't one that was going to pick up a lot of fans along the way. To win he had to start with a big fan base and keep that fan base.

Kris is much more a type of artist that could pick up a lot of fans from other fan bases along the way. He didn't have to start with a splash. About all people don't like about Kris is sometimes he is boring, but people won't vow to never vote for you because they found one performance boring. They will if they found a performance of yours that didn't do a classic they love in the way they think it should be sung.

I do know some people feel Kris may be the chosen one this season, just not the obvious one. He didn't get pushed on us like some of the others but he never really got dissed in a way that got him in the bottom three every week, either. He always seemed to get the Gosh Golly Gee, ain't he a great guy type of edit. A lot like David Archuleta, but a lot more sincere. I mean because in Kris's life he chose that kind of life rather than David that seems to be that way because he's been sheltered so much he doesn't know anything different.

Anyway. Whoever wins, I hope they do get all the credit that is due them. Just because Adam's creativity was a lot more obvious I really liked watching Kris's approach as well.

"I do know some people feel Kris may be the chosen one this season, just not the obvious one. He didn't get pushed on us like some of the others but he never really got dissed in a way that got him in the bottom three every week, either. "

I considered this but then thought, "nuh-uh" because Simon isn't that good of an actor. However, I've said before that I will be flabbergasted, downright shocked, and will laugh out loud if Simon's prediction that he wrote on the Leno show and sealed in an envelope weeks ago says Kris!

yeah but how easy would it be to just switch envelopes?

Good one!