American Idol – the final: Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen

Posted on 25. May, 2009 by Per Bristow in American Idol, Performance, Singing

American Idol – The Grand Finale.  Season 8 have come to its end and we had the final face-off between Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.  Listen to the songs and read my comments below. I also give my overall opinion on competing in arts and music. Maybe it will surprise you…

Adam – Mad World

The first song was the singer’s own choice.  Adam chose Mad World – a song he had sung a couple of weeks ago.  Once again, he performed it beautifully.  Personally, I felt the smoke and the trench coat made it unnecessarily dark.  I felt the song was more powerful the previous time he sang it, sitting on a stool center stage. He was more vulnerable then and it was more like he was the innocent participant in a “mad world”.  Now he came across as spooky and dangerous as if being very much a contributor of the “mad world”.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_mad_world_2

Kris Allen – Ain’t No Sunshine

I loved this performance for the very reason it was so vulnerable.  Kris did what he does best and communicated honestly with his heartfelt, likeable personality. In addition, he showed his musicality and sense of rhythm in the middle part and ended it once again vulnerable and intimate.  A great song choice and great performance

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_aint_no_sunshine_2

Adam Lambert – A Change Is Gonna Come

The second song was assigned by the producer. Frankly, I felt bad for Adam. Vocally this was absolute world class. However, a bluesy song like this isn’t exactly a crowd pleaser.  It doesn’t give Adam a chance to interact with the audience and take advantage of the fact that he is in a huge auditorium.  It doesn’t allow his charisma to come through. Adam is the person who can bring the house down, but this isn’t the song for it.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_a_change_is_gonna_come

Kris Allen – What’s Going On

Kris Allen was at least given a song with a little more groove to at. I agree with Simon who said it was like a couple of guys singing in an apartment. Although it was a nice performance, I felt it was just unnecessary small and intimate for a big stage like this.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_whats_going_on

Adam Lambert – No Boundaries

The final song is a newly written song that both had to sing. Not exactly the most singer friendly song. I felt it came across as stressful with few breathing spaces.  It was the first time I have ever experienced Adam as “pitchy” in parts. The music mix was weird and the back-up vocals overcrowded his vocals at the end.  Oh well, that wasn’t Adam’s fault.  The thing with Adam’s performance was that he went for the pain rather than the uplifting spirit of the song. I would have suggested he take this opportunity to really engage the audience, to inspire them, use the size of the stage and take the opportunity to be the mega star who can create a one-of-a-kind experience in a full-packed stadium that he is capable of.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_no_boundaries

Kris Allen – No Boundaries

Just as with Adam it came across as stressful. However, the problem lies more with the song and the key. Because of this, Kris never got a chance to really use the song as the uplifting anthem that it is meant to be either. 

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_no_boundaries

We should also realize the minimal time these artists have to prepare for their performances. In addition to learning new songs every week, they have also been working on the songs to perform in the show the day after. Not only do they have to learn and rehearse all the songs, but also work on the choreography and staging, as well as fulfilling a packed media schedule.

So Kris Allen won and, as I wrote in last week’s blog, I am not surprised.  He certainly deserves it, and I doubt coming in as number two has much negative impact on Adam’s career.

Back when Chris Daughtry was the only rock singer, everyone knew that if he had won and been forced to record the winning song it would have been disastrous.  Being voted out as number 4 was exactly what I hoped for because it would be the best thing for his career.

I think once we got into the top 10 this has been perhaps the most exciting American Idol season.  Adam Lambert was instrumental in raising the bar and challenging the creative side of the artists.  Kris Allen blossomed into a terrific artist and found how to put his musicality, creativity and personality into his art in the most compelling way.

As we all know, competing in arts is quite meaningless as it is a non-measurable activity.  However, I dare say that the competition between these singers have challenged them to become better performers. And that is the benefit of competition.  As I have written before; this is also why we love our competitors – because they make us better.

It will be very interesting to see what happens to these artists in the future. Congratulations!

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10 Responses to “American Idol – the final: Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen”

  1. Judy

    25. May, 2009

    Thank you for you thoughtful reviews. Your commentary actually got me caught up in the contest this time. I don’t watch TV but followed it on U-Tube and found a friend to watch the final show with. I really felt deeply that Adam won. But I think your comment that competing in the arts is quite meaningless it so completely on target. From Allyson on down it was painful to see people voted off and we sincerely wished there was no competition. And that Adam is not locked into being the Idol winner and can go on an do more professional things makes it a win win.

  2. Mike

    25. May, 2009

    Yes, Kris won, but I do not think he was the best singer, the best performer, the best talent, or the most creative. Adam Lambert can sing anything, and I suspect he could fill an auditorium tomorrow, as well as sell CDs, and DVDs. If one spends some time on Youtube listening to the variety of material Lambert performs and the quality of the performances, one would have to work to conclude he was second best. I agree that being second will not hurt his career; in fact, he’s so polished in the post AI interviews that I suspect executives in the performing business are going to try to sign him up. Kris, who appears to be a swell fellow, does not generate the “buzz” Adam does. If Kris is smart, he will find a spot in the C&W field of entertainment. Thanks for your analysis.

  3. Rich

    25. May, 2009

    Here are my two coins for what they’re worth….

    Competition is a funny thing in the arts! It brings out the best in us, creates drive, inspiration and ambition. It ALSO strengthens the ego and emboldens the judge within us that wants everything to be put into nice, neat little boxes of good and bad/right and wrong. Living art is about process NOT outcome. As soon as we label the creative process and pit it against another expression of art we in effect, kill it. That’s why it’s probably best if American Idol never allows original music on the show. At that point, it would get a bit ridiculous and probably hurt the artists.

    Music is best when it unites. Through music, we relate to emotions and to each other and a bond is created. That’s where the magic is! THAT is the high that everyone is seeking :) Competitions are not about uniting in any way. In fact, all they can do is label and separate. However, competitions also strengthen us as artists and people. So, it’s a mixed bag and somewhat of a paradox.

    Compete…but don’t make YOU or the art itself a part of the competition and it can be healthy IMO. In the end, the growth is what is valuable. People will forget soon enough who the so-called “winners” are.

    Regards,
    Rich

  4. Rich

    25. May, 2009

    btw…the judge within me says that Adam was the better vocalist BY FAR! ;)

  5. mand

    25. May, 2009

    I felt Adam was the best singer/performer by far! and will be around for a long time, i would buy his cd tommorrow theres something special there, at least he can do his own thing now just like Daughtry did he rocks too !

  6. SporeGlambert

    26. May, 2009

    Hi, your comments are very first class. With regards to Mad World – I was wondering too that there’s a difference, but could not figure it out. You put all my thoughts down beautifully.

    I agree with all the above comments. In fact, I was very upset Adam being the more deserving of the win.

    Bristow, my daughter is 15. She is singing soprano and wants to sing like Adam Lambert. Is it possible

  7. zhee

    27. May, 2009

    you can easily figure out who is better from the two in terms of their vocal ability, but to be fair with the two, yes, they have different personalities, as other says kris is the guy next door, he has the fresh looks, clean cut, and very charismatic. just to anticipate what will be their careers in the future.. is it more advantage to kris in terms of packaging?….how about adam? isn’t he not qualified as kris, as what was the outcome of the voting?….of coure American idol is very prestigious contest in america, and I hope that everyone will be very much critical and fair because it relies on their hands the future of this two…So far season 8 was the best season ever in the history of the american idol, I hope this remains prestigious and will be the turning point to stardom with some aspiring talented artists… until next season…America please cast your votes fair, show to the world that you chose the most deserving one..!!!!!go adam!!!

  8. singer01

    14. Jun, 2009

    They were best performance artist. Their have a great vocal ability. They sings very well…

  9. piano course review

    15. Jun, 2009

    They are both good, its just that I like Adam Lambert more because of the fact that he can almost sing all the genre of song. But I can’t do anything, he still lose it. Congrats to Kris!

  10. Rachel

    25. Apr, 2010

    now hwen kriss won like most people i was freaking out confused and sad and angry all at once. but then I and many other people realized that Adam being 2nd was really a better thing, because now Adam will have MUCH more FREEDOM than kriss. how so? well my daer reader, the AI contract states that the winner is under there control for 5 YEARS so that means that kriss HAS to do what THEY want and that includes what songs he sings and how he performs them. So allthough Adam was the REAL winner ( CD sales, Concerts and Awards) the fact that he came in 2nd is actualy a good thing. no need to freak out. now i`m not kriss hater, he really is a nice guy that I have no problem with. I`m just saying that to all the Adam fans and Addicts and Glamberts/Lambskanks  and adam lovers that there is absolutley NO reason to freak out,be depressed,hate american idol or anything because Adam was 2nd.

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