I have to admit that Adam Lambert kind of ruined idol for me. Never has a contestant amazed me and awed me as much as he did from the moment he walked into the audition room. Adam didn't just break the idol mould, he completely shattered it into tiny specks of glitter. However just because I'll never love someone as much as I do Adam, it doesn't mean that I'm not open to new talent. I approached season 10 with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the new contestants. I just prayed that there would be someone who grabbed my attention the way Adam did from day one.
My prayers were answered in the form of Colton Dixon, a 19 year old singer songwriter. He looked and sounded like a cross between Kris Allen and Cassidy Haley, but what grabbed my attention was his charisma on stage. Not only was he good looking- he had the talent to back it up. Finally American Idol was looking up again. I had a reason to watch the show. My world came crashing down however just as the judges were announcing the top 24. Colton didn't make it. I was stunned and apparently so were many people. Ellen even asked him to perform on her show because she couldn't believe the judges decision. What intrigued me about this turn of events is that the public seemed to be devastated by this news. This cut happened a week before, we the home viewers, got a chance to vote for who stays and who leaves. It made me question how much control we really have over the outcome of show.
But like the real world, sometimes idol doesn't always work out the way you want it too and so I readjusted my view of the show and tried to transfer my support for Colton across to a few other contestants I liked. Upon hearing the results for the top 12 (or should I say 13), I was pleased with the outcome for the boys. I loved Casey, Paul and Jacob. James deserved to be there too, but he's still growing on me. I don't like the Adam Lambert 2.0 comparisons that he's getting but I respected him a little more after last week when he stopped trying to be Adam (like seriously- Adam owned A Change is Gonna Come on idol- why would you touch it?) and infused more of "James" the metal rock singer into his performance. I liked the originality of it! Scotty on the other hand is a contestant I'm still trying to get used too. I do think he deserves to be there, but as I'm not a huge country fan, I don't get the obsession everyone has with him...yet! There is still hope that he may win me over. I also didn't mind the addition of Stefano in the wildcard round. At least there is some eye-candy this season.
The result for the top 6 (or should I say 7) girls was a little disappointing though. I was ecstatic that Lauren and Pia got through...I've loved them both from the beginning, but I question the publics decision of choosing Karen over Kendra. I'm sorry Karen but you are no Mariah Carey- singing songs in another language will win you no points with me. There is something about Karen that to me screams Miss America contestant. It's a little fake and contrived. Kendra on the other hand was amazing. I loved the uniqueness in her voice and I only hope that America realises the mistake they made by sending her home and keeping Karen and Hailey instead. Thia is not my favourite contestant. I'm a little conflicted towards her because I think she has an amazing voice but her performances never excite me. Maybe as she grows more comfortable with the camera she'll improve her stage presence. Now the judges wildcard is something that i don't entirely agree with. I like the addition of Naima. She didn't wow me during the top 24 round but I loved her during the auditions because she was unique and original. But Ashthon (or however you spell her name) I don't think is as good as what the judges think she is. However what do I know? If it were up to me I would've crowned Colton Dixon the winner of American Idol 2011 the first week!
So American Idol left me reeling in shock after the elimination of Kendra this week. I almost lost faith in the show once again. But luckily for Idol, the news that Adam Lambert would be performing his acoustic version of Aftermath on the show next week, gave me reason to keep tuning in. Once again, Adam Lambert is the saving grace of Idol. I can't wait for Adam to go on and show these contestants and these judges what it means to be a true musician and a true performer.
Like Adam himself said, people need to stop with the comparisons. No one will ever be as good as Adam but it doesn't mean that they still can't blow us away. There is never going to be another Kradam- you can't re-enact a friendship between two contestants- instead lets focus on what is in front of us. A new group of 13 talented, unique performers who need to stand on their own two feet as original artists instead of living in the shadows of former idol contestants. We're not here to find a new Adam Lambert or a new Kelly Clarkson. We're here to find someone else, who's different, who's original and who will have the ability to take the world by storm, the same way contestants like Adam and Kelly have.
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