It’s all come down to this: Two singers, six songs, and millions of people texting their votes to decide the fates of two young, talented singers. Jessica Sanchez, 16, and Phillip Phillips, 21, faced off Tuesday night in three rounds of singing. One of the two will be crowned the 11th American Idol on Fox tonight.
Jessica opened with this Whitney Houston classic, “I Have Nothing.” It takes courage to take on anything by Whitney Houston, but Jessica has taken on Houston and Mariah Carey hits, and done an incredible job on them. The first round was hers.
Phillip countered with one of the greatest ballads of the last several decades, Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.” As usual, Phillip put his signature on the classic.
In the second round, the contestants chose their own songs. Jessica led off with “The Prayer.”
And Phillip whipped out the Billy Joel hit, “Movin’ Out.” As great as the original is, this version kills, in my humble opinion. It. Just. Kills.
The third round may have been where the night was decided. Jessica went with “Change Nothing,” which despite her vocal perfection, failed to connect. She should have changed the song.
Phillip closed out the season with “Home.” He managed to work in a drum line, and slayed the song.
All season long, including the week when the judges had to save Jessica from exiting the competition a low vote, the talents of all the contestants have pointed to a final featuring these two singers. They have been the most consistent all along, with Joshua Ledet a very close third. Jessica has been my personal favorite, despite the fact that I don’t really care for most of her song choices. She is a gifted singer who can turn from angel to a growl on a 64th note. She’s amazing. And she’s only 16. But all along the way, Phillip has made every song his own. There’s a bit of Springsteen, a bit of Mumford & Sons, and something else in him.
My prediction is, Phillip wins tonight, and both Jessica and Phillip, and Joshua Ledet and a few of the other contestants go on to have very solid recording careers. Jessica may turn out to be the season’s breakout star.
Related: See Tom Neven’s coverage of American Idol at PJ Lifestyle.
There’s no accounting for taste. Phillips absolutely ruined a perfectly good Billy Joel song. Hes a horrible singer.
Phillips, the Dave Matthews/Mumford & Sons clone, will win…and promptly disappear into obscurity, only to be heard from occasionally when AI itself features brings him back as a guest in future seasons.
He doesn’t have “mad talent and originality.” It’s surprising the judges would even say so. Aren’t they supposed to be familiar with the music industry? If so, why aren’t they aware Phllips is nearly as derivitive as an Elvis impersonator?
I’m not a huge Jessica fan, but she has the talent and should win…but I don’t think she will overcome the teenybopper horde with their cell phones.
Overall, that was a pretty sorry show last night.
The begining of “Home” to me has an echo of a young Dylan, with a dash of Ryan Bingham maybe. Thought it was unique and not easy to realy pidgeon hole. Jessica is though the better vocalist, and Phil the better artist/performer/musician. Not a fan of the show, but I’d likely have to go with Phil.
Jessica wins because Phillip is not a team player.. ie. the Ford ads..
it’s that simple..
Phillip does not want the win.. he has his life made..
Jessica is forever pigeon-holed into the ‘asian’ category.. no money there.. too many non-payers for music..
well the results are in, and can be described in two words:
ab
surd
PP’s first song will be a hit, but after that…
AI is certainly getting dull. Just pick the next not-so-talented white guy.
Must say that the finale was good, especially the Jennifer Holiday blast.
Too bad for Phillips that Dave Matthews and Mumford & Sons already exist. No one needs Phillips. In five years, he’ll be hazily remembered as another cute white guy with mediocre talent who won Idol, but who disappeared into obscurity soon after. Idol will keep chugging along, and one (or more) of the also-rans like Joshua, Jessica, Hollie, or Skyler will actually have a career.
I think Hollie could be a dance diva. Skylar’s going to be big in country circles (where there’s lots of money to be made on the concert circuit). Not so sure about Joshua and Jessica. They need to have good songs.
I agree with that you’re saying, DRay. Just look at Hailey Reinhart. She’ll soon be at the top of her AI class.