Music Change - Ain't No Sunshine - and some American Idol talk

In honor of the American Idol finale tonight, the music change is Ain't No Sunshine, as performed by Bill Withers.  I used to hate American Idol and swore that I would not watch it this season.  The singers were just too good this season to resist.  Before I go into the comments below, I want to state that I have enjoyed both Adam's and Kris's performances throughout the season.  I want Kris to win, have liked him more since the beginning, but also appreciate the glam rock influence from Adam Lambert.  He can definitely pull off a beautiful falsetto.

Kris Allen performed Ain't No Sunshine last night as his first song (his choice of previously performed songs from earlier in the season).  Last night he was so good, despite the judges obvious attempt to sway the voters.  They were telling him and America that Kris was so 'deserving to get that far' as if he didn't have a legit chance to win.  Oh, the preparation for disappointment was sickening.  They also trashed Kris's second performance as being too small for the stage and such, but I found the performance to be a refreshing change of pace.  Four talented musicians jamming onstage with their instruments is at times much more palateable than the smoke, mirrors, and stage lighting that often influences us on what an 'entertaining performance' is.  Strip the lights, cut the fog, sit the artists down.  Maybe America has been fooled by the judges and can't actually hear for themselves.  Adam wasn't all that great on song one or three last night.  The middle song - the Sam Cooke song, A Change is Gonna Come - was great, but I think the judges were way too nice in their comments on Adam's other songs. 

In terms of originality, some might say that Adam is the real deal and what the show really needs.  Not really.  Adam has his 'Twilight' look with the 'guy liner' and over done make-up.  He definitely is original looking, but he is just trying too hard.  Don't get me wrong, I definitely appreciate that he is a fantastic singer and he is entertaining.  I just don't find him as interesting or original an artist as everyone is making him out to be.  His 'original' renditions of the songs performed are actually copycat versions of other (arguably more interesting) artists' interpretations.  His "Feelin' Good" was an imitation of Muse's recording, his 'Mad World' sounds just like the version done for the Donnie Darko movie, though I have to admit Adam's studio recording is pretty great.  His Ring of Fire that got everyone in a tizzy because it was 'so weird' was not the first time it had been performed that way.  It is an extremely similar version to the way the artist Dilana performed it on the show Rockstar Supernova, though it was definitely sung with a much different level of vocal talent.  (scroll down to the bottom of the page and pause the music if it interferes with any of the videos)

So is Kris original?  I think so.  He successfully performed in the finale, not only singing but playing the piano and guitar.  The instruments weren't just put there to show he is multi talented, he can actually play them as an integral part of the performance.  His voice may not have the range or 'flare' that Adam's has, but there is an honest, pure sound that comes out every time he sings.  You don't feel like you are looking at a 'canned performance' or an overdone broadway show every time he hits the stage.  He plays lovely, interesting versions of songs without trying to pass them off as some uber-cool fake renditions that are less appealing.

Kris may not win tonight, but I sure hope he does.  And yes, I actually picked up the phone and voted last night (dorky for sure).  I got in as many votes as a could before I got tired of hitting redial.  I probably logged in 15-20 votes for Kris.