American Idol: Feeble finale

Call me bitter but I thought this was a weak finale show. I couldn't help but miss the energy that Melinda would have brought to the show strutting around the stage and singing her heart out. I am still mourning her departure from last week's show, but I digress.

And so I opine for the last time on this year's competitive performances...

Blake came into tonight a clear underdog and wasn't able to claw his way out of the hole. Obviously he had to "wow" the audience on his first two songs, knowing that the Idol single was going to be a low point for him.

On the other hand, Jordin didn't have to pull any tricks out of her sleeves tonight. She merely needed to sing as she has sung most of the year. Stay in tune, smile and make sure the camera gets your good side.

Devout Blake fans will need to burn up the lines to push their boy over the top because Jordin has a stranglehold on this finale.

Here are my thoughts:

Singer: Blake Lewis

Songs: You Give Love a Bad Name, She Will Be Loved, This is My Now

Rants & raves: "You Give Love a Bad Name" lacked something from Blake's original performance. I do believe Blake worked on his tired dance moves to bring something fresh to the performance, but the vocal itself didn't have the same magic of the initial performance of this song.

"She Will Be Loved" was a huge mistake. Blake has glided through this season on the strength of his originality, so to take a song by the same artist that he covered last week (and was so generously complimented on) is a total cop out. Where was the risk taker tonight?

"This Is My Now" did nothing to play to Blake's strengths. It was glaringly clear that Blake would never sing sung drivel (I mean, there was no opportunity to beat box any part of it). So he hobbled to the finish line with reverse momentum. At least he'll go home with a very healthy supply of argyle sweaters and sweater vests.

Fighter, A Broken Wing, This is My Now

"Fighter" pleased me greatly. Jordin needed to show that she was young and "with it" this week and did so nicely by debuting an uptempo Christina Aguillera tune. She showed that she could sing something that people would actually be interested in buying.

"A Broken Wing" was another good choice if she had to redo one of her previously performed Idol songs. It's a big song that showcases her big voice and was even lovelier than her original performance.

"This Is My Now" is a horrible song but Jordin sang it well - at least, she did at first. Go ahead and cry if you've given the performance of your lifetime with an amazing song, but don't cry over this below-par crap unless you're crying over the fact that this will be your first introduction to the radio world and most stations aren't going to be bending over backwards to put it into heavy rotation.

Most likely to win: Jordin Sparks (unless the pre-crowning praise of the judges sends Blaker Girls to the phones by the masses).

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