Maybe It’s Better This Way: Idol ’09 Revisited

Last night around 10:00, about the time this year’s American Idol winner was announced, a friend called to check on my well-being. She was concerned about my emotional state, she told me, and wanted to confirm that I wasn’t going to “do anything drastic” since Kris Allen was crowned the winner (instead of hard-rocker Adam Lambert).

All is well for this Lambert fan, and after thinking further about the results, perhaps they are better this way. For instance, as second runner-up, Lambert hopefully won’t have to suffer through the next week or two of insane media coverage that Kris will. Also, only two Idol winners, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, have consistently succeeded in the biz; others who have “made it big”–Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson, for instance–were the fourth and seventh runners-up. The past suggests, then, that one doesn’t need to be a winner to go places. And perhaps most significant, as my husband pointed out, Lambert will never, ever have to release that dreadfully manic song “No Boundaries,” co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi (who incidentally was hilarious as she upstaged “bikini girl” during their performance of Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love”). Like DioGuardi’s song (and now Kris Allen’s, poor fella’), I think most would agree that much of Idol is indeed cheesy. Note for example,

• the group song-and-dance numbers that preface the results shows,
• the farewell montage that plays across the gigantic screens as contestants get booted,
• uncomfortable moments with celebrity mentors, and
• Ryan Seacrest’s weirdly drawn-out introduction, “THIS…is Amerrrrrrrrican Idol.”

But you’ve got to hand it to the people who come up with the season finales, which are seemingly beefed up more and more each year. Last night’s show boasted Keith Urban, Cyndi Lauper, Rod Stewart, Queen Latifah, Jason Mraz, Carlos Santana, Fergie, The Black-Eyed Peas, Steve Martin (on banjo!), Lionel Richie, KISS, and Queen. As Randy Jackson would say, “Dawg, whhaaaaaaaaat?!” Despite who wins the overall competition, it’s always great fun to watch the contestants sing with these superstars, most of the young people completely in awe that they are allowed to do so. For instance, see Kris Allen’s cute  awestruck face as he plays guitar alongside country-star Urban, and then notice both Allen and Lambert who smile giddily the entire time they substitute their voices for the great Freddie Mercury’s. Good entertainment, less cheese–definitely better this way!

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