American Idol Big Shocker: Kris Allen Wins AI Crown

I have nothing against Kris Allen winning this season’s American Idol since I believe he embodies the quality that one may look for in an “idol.” In other words, he is more “idol” material than the provocative, controversial, most-talked-about Adam Lambert is. Give the man a break; he sure can hit those high notes like nobody can. I had never seen anyone took on an Aerosmith song and nailed it except for Adam. He is the most contemporary, most original singer to ever grace the AI stage. The screeching may sometimes be over the top and too “broadway,” as Simon put it, but heck, the guy is so talented and can take any forms of music genre head on. He may not have won the idol crown and the numerous endorsements attached to it, but he will definitely go down in history as one iconic singer who knows what he wants and where to take his career. The title may have been his passport to instant fame but it is never a guarantee take for instance, Taylor Hicks, Season 5 winner who had been dropped from his record label due to poor record sales. The Soul Patrol, as he called himself, never really capitalized on his mass appeal and in the end it is his runner-up Katherine Mcphee who got all the endorsements, publicities and even cameo roles in CSI and House Bunny.

Another AI reject who made big in the world stage was no other than the Dream Girls star herself Jennifer Hudson. Who would ever think that this big belter had once been selling burgers in the street, auditioned for American Idol, got eliminated in the first round but was brought back again via wild card. Her journey in American Idol was cut short when she along with La Toya London, and Fantasia Barrino (eventual winner) were in the Bottom 3. She was voted off from the show despite the judges’ pimping and her outstanding rendition of the “Circle of Life.” Then I realized that the show was not keenly about finding a talent but rather finding a star. There is the difference. Hudson is a definite standout in terms of talent, but as an artist and potential album sales grosser, the public was not so sure. Chris Daughtry, the grammy award winner, suffered the same fate as he landed fifth on Season 5 despite his vocal prowess and rock appeal. There were rumors going around surrounding the alleged conspiracy in the show, as to how the management could manipulate the votes in favor of one contestant. Last year, the viewing public was more vocal on this allegation when David Archuleta, Season 7 front-runner and crowd favorite lost to David Cook, in the most memorable season finale ever. Some thought that this was due to David A’s overbearing father that angered the management, costing the show big bucks when David’s father allegedly forced his son to insert a line from the famous Sean Kingston song, “Beautiful Girls” in one of his performances. This might have given the management the wrong impression that the kid simply could not be controlled lest his father is around. Others think that the management was trying to correct their previous mistakes on Daughtry that they were now banking on Cook as the next big thing. David A’s maturity could also be a point that they considered him as a high risk to invest on.

Thinking it over, I would like to make corrective remarks on my previous statement when I said that the show was not keenly about finding a talent, but rather finding a star (who is a potential money-maker.) After all, business is business. Will I still watch the show next year? The answer is YES but with the least expectation.