American Idol

[bop_radar]

Oh man. I really should give up all American media: it's nothing but heartache.

I like Kris, I think he's a sweet guy and I think he does what he does (with limit range) very well. I especially liked his acoustic version of Come Together, and I think he connects well with an audience. But man... he did not deserve to win. In vocal ability and star quality--surely the two most important things in an Idol--Adam was his superior. I guess in the end Adam was too love-him-or-hate-him for the mainstream audience.

I know Adam will be genuinely happy for Kris, but DAMN IT I wanted that win. :(

ETA: Illuminating article about the reasons for the win.

Comments

[cloiser-trish.livejournal.com]

Adam so should have won *is sad*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yup. :( Were Adam fans just too complacent to vote? Or was it just that he really did have less fans? Because overseas he seems insanely more popular than other Idol contestents.

[bananainpyjamas.livejournal.com]

Were Adam fans just too complacent to vote? Or was it just that he really did have less fans?

I don't know that it's fewer fans. This reminds me of season two, when Clay Aiken came in second despite apparently having the bigger and more dedicated fanbase (and going on to be more successful than the winner).

Really though, AI is not about winning as much as it is getting to a certain point and making smart career moves from there. Kelly Clarkson is the only winner to become a bonafide star. Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson are both more successful than most of the winners.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think Adam needed the victory, but I'm curious as to how Kris Allen managed to get more votes... I don't imagine Kris's fans to be the crazy mass-voting type, he's so laidback himself... whereas I can DEFinitely see Adam inspiring that sort of frenzy! But clearly I am wrong.

[bananainpyjamas.livejournal.com]

Well, Adam's a polarizing contestant and it isn't until the finals that his detractors can effectively vote against him. My guess is that a good portion of the votes weren't pro-Kris as much as they were anti-Adam.

[canadiangirl-86.livejournal.com]

I think the Gokeys decided to back up Kris.

[fleegull.livejournal.com]

THIS!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hey I'm sure US west-coasters would appreciate a cut. (But who knows if you've got any AI west coast fans on your flist.)

I'm sure they'll both have great careers regardless.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I am SOOOO sorry. I didn't realise it aired at different times in the US--I assumed it was live everywhere. Cut tag now in place and I hope I haven't spoiled anyone else.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I know theirs ends later than the east coast but I'm not sure how much later, two hours?

I'm sure you cut it in time not to spoil too many people. They'd probably be watching the finale right now anyway and not at their computers.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I really really hope so. I hate spoilers and would be so annoyed to be spoiled, myself (though I'd probably avoid LJ to stay safe) so BIG SORRYS to anyone I spoiled. *slaps wrist* Thanks for leaping in with the memo--helped me catch it fast.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

I'm on the West coast, but this was cut before I saw it.
I ran upstairs going "I know who won!!" just to be a brat.

[beeej.livejournal.com]

I like Kris, and I'm sure Adam will be fantastically successful anyway, but I AM SAD!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yes. :( I'm sad for ME, not Adam. :( I invested in his story and wanted a happy ending. Adam seems like he will be just fine.

[taragel.livejournal.com]

Word friend. It was vanilla vs. Midnight Cookies N' Cream.
America gets the idol it deserves I suppose. Can't wait to read Jacob's recap tomorrow. Ha.

Everything was pretty surreal after the KISS performance anyway.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I found it all surreal--I never realised American Idol finales were that crazy! (it's my first year watching) I mean... banjos and strippers and the most unlikely line up of performers?! World's craziest variety show.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yes, they are rather silly, aren't they?

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

AI finales are pure unadulterated CRACK. I love it.

[elgraves.livejournal.com]

I'm disgusted. Adan should of won. I don't know why I started watching it again. I told myself after Daughtry got voted off that I was never going to watch American idol again.

I wonder how many people voted for Kris cause they really like him and how many voted for him because they didn't want Adam to win. There seem to be a lot of Danny's fans that seem to despise Adam. The things that I've read.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I should have know it wouldn't provide justice... but I got my hopes up when Danny was voted off. I gather there's been some real ugliness between Adam and Danny fans, with a lot of verbal gay-bashing and Christian-bashing, which is just horrible. I'd like to believe it played no part in the vote, but who knows.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

Wait, what?

And NO ONE wrote this up for Fandom_Wank?

[carpenyx.livejournal.com]

ADAM :(

[jlvsclrk.livejournal.com]

I was afraid Kris would win because Adam is just a little too scary for a lot of America. And that's plain sad. Don't get me wrong, I like Kris fine and can see him having a moderately successful career, but Adam is the one I think who'll be the true superstar. He was very classy in defeat.

[canadiangirl-86.livejournal.com]

I'm with you 100% - how much of a shock is that NOT? :P

[lexalicious70.livejournal.com]

That was the most spectacular FAIL on Idol I've ever seen. Way to completely shut out the original, talented, and obviously better performer because of his fluid sexuality.

Wankers.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yuh. I've linked to an interesting article about it above. But yeah... I knew Adam would never win on Australian Idol (we love mediocrity above all else) but i sort of bought into the story on American Idol of America embracing him.

[tariel22.livejournal.com]

Hey, THANK YOU for spoiling this west coaster; I didn't have to watch that travesty. I honestly think Adam is better off professionally NOT winning. Chris Daughtry has said that being eliminated was the best thing that ever happened to him, because the contestants sign the winner's contract before the competition is over, and are locked into a very restrictive deal if they win. But still, I so wanted Adam to have that moment in the spotlight, that validation from the whole country. He's the better artist, and he so deserved it! *cries* Nothing against Kris, truly. I just liked Adam better.

As for why Kris won, I think there are a lot of people in America who are still scared to death of anyone who has the audacity to be original or different. I don't mean to underestimate my own country, but we did elect George Bush, after all. TWICE.

I'll be first in line to buy Adam's album when it comes out.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

True, he IS better off. But I wanted the win too--partly because he was 'my' contestant, partly because of the statement it would have made.

Interesting article linked above about that 'fear of originality' issue in America.

I will actually schlep to a CD store to buy Adam's album! In HARDCOPY. (Apparently he's massively outselling Kris already--including on the winner's single--HA!!)

[sarmoti.livejournal.com]

Adam should've won! I voted for him about 100 times last night, I'm not kidding. At least I know I did my part! Oh well, he's a superstar already and I'm excited about the future of his career. Kris is good too, but he's ho-hum for me, even though I do like Jason Mraz and other singers like that who Kris reminds me of.

They usually release the vote totals for the finale and the weeks leading up to it, so soon we'll see how close the voting was (or wasn't). I remember last season the stats showed that, despite what people thought, it wasn't even close and David Cook won by A LOT. (yay!)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Apparently the whole state of Arkansas voted their asses off. No wonder I didn't see that coming! 38 million from Arkansas... it was a landslide. But I don't think it's reflective of Adam's popularity really because he's outselling Kris by a mile on iTunes.

[bofoddity.livejournal.com]

I haven't been watching this, but I have listened to both Kris and Adam and I thought Adam was the one whose voice and style stood out (found this performance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC3-ZYtgZKU&feature=PlayList&p=7E2A4041285C0478&index=14), for example - isn't this how you make audience go crazy?). I've seen some intense hostility directed against him, though, so I have to wonder if some crazy anti movement aided Kris's victory.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I think America's love of mediocrity aided Kris's victory (see article linked above). But yes, Adam is a mesmerising performer with fantastic stage presence.

[fleegull.livejournal.com]

I just hope that people who voted for Kris were actually voting for Kris and not against Adam because of some silly "good vs. evil" deal trumped up in some corners of the country.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Given that 38 million votes came from Arkansas I think maybe they genuinely were voting FOR him? So yay. I saw someone saying that a lot of people that like Adam are too hip to vote for him. And seeing as he's outselling Kris on iTunes .. that seems true maybe? In which case I'm more zen about it because each gets the recognition they deserve, in different mediums.