Jordin, Blake take last turn on 'American Idol' stage

Jordin, Blake take last turn on 'American Idol' stage

NEW YORK - The two "American Idol" finalists took their last turns on stage Tuesday night and crystallized the choice facing viewer voters: the most talented singer or the better entertainer.

Blake Lewis, the stylist, and Jordin Sparks, the voice, each performed three songs in front of adoring legions of fans at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

Lewis, 25, of Bothell, Wash., opened the show with a reprisal of his infectious interpretation of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." The crowd was delirious but the judges were less impressed by Lewis' voice than his performance as a whole.

"Blake, you're not the best singer in this competition. But you're the best entertainer I think we've had," Simon Cowell said.

Sparks then crooned Christina Aguilera's "Fighter." Cowell was happy the 17-year-old from Glendale, Ariz., chose a song that suited her age, even, he noted, if "the vocals were actually a bit shriek-y."

Round one, the tough judge decided, went to Lewis.

In this photo made available by Fox,
Jordin Sparks performs on the set of
Associated Press

But Lewis ditched his beatboxing and other performing flourishes in the second act for a straightforward cover of the Maroon 5 hit "She Will Be Loved." He pleased judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, but Cowell thought he'd played it too safe.

All the judges swooned, however, over Sparks' soulful take on Martina McBride's "Broken Wing."

"Now, THAT was good," Cowell said.

Round two to Sparks.

In their final turn, both performed "This Is My Now," the tune picked by viewers in an online "American Idol" songwriting contest introduced this season.

It was clear during Lewis' performance that the feel-good ballad - sample lyric: "As I look around, I can't believe the love I see" - was not his style.

"I thought it was all a little odd. ... It's just not a song that you would normally sing," said Cowell, who suggested that Lewis should be judged on his earlier performances.

Then Sparks took the stage, and owned the song. She teared up as she delivered the last line, "This is my now." Classic.

"You were the best singer tonight. You deserve it all, baby!" Jackson gushed.

"You just wiped the floor with Blake," added Cowell, who then told Sparks he was wrong for thinking she wasn't good enough to win the Fox talent show.

"I would say the best individual performance of the night was Blake on the first song," Cowell said. "But, based on overall singing - Jordin."

Round three, clearly, was Sparks'.

Whether viewers will validate the split decision will be learned Wednesday night with the crowning of the new American Idol.

Earlier on Tuesday, Cowell told the Associated Press he thought the two remaining contestants were the most evenly matched finalists yet and that either could end up the winner.

The tipping point, Cowell shrewdly predicted, could come down to the new online-contest song.

Cowell added that his thoughts Tuesday night - and likely those of many viewers - would be with arguably the best "American Idol" contestant yet to miss out on the finale, Melinda Doolittle.

"I can understand why they (Sparks and Lewis) both made it. But I would have happily swapped either of them for Melinda, to be honest with you," Cowell said.

Despite her artful performances, the one-time backup singer from Brentwood, Tenn., didn't get the fan support she needed to make it to the top.

"The fact is she was up against two much, much younger singers and, guessing that most of our voters were younger, my feeling was that she was going to miss out (based) on her personality, not her singing," Cowell said.

"I'm pleased for the two of them," he said of Sparks and Lewis. "They're nice kids. But I would have liked to have seen one of them up against the big singer."

Source : EastValleyTribune

American Idol finalist in a Free Concert in Bothell,, Washington

American Idol Finalist Blake Lewis performs a free concert on Friday, May 11, 2007 in Bothell, Washington.
(AP Photo, Kevin P. Casey)

'American Idol' finalists awash in hometown love

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The three remaining 'American Idol' contestants took to the streets Friday -- of their rapturous hometowns. Local loyalists showed all day just who they thought should win the wildly popular singing contest, which will feature some of the scenes next week.

Back before she was an "American Idol" finalist, Melinda Doolittle was a Belmont University mascot. She wore a hot, sweaty bear costume and jumped around in the name of school spirit.

The tables were turned on Doolittle in a big way when she returned Friday to her alma mater. Hundreds waved signs and shouted encouragement to her: "We love you, Melinda." "You're going to win, Melinda." "Doolittle's Da Bomb." "Melinda for President."

The school even named a street after her, unveiling a black iron post with a blue sign that read: "Melinda Doolittle Way."

Doolittle, who arrived waving from the back of a white convertible Mustang, looked -- all too characteristically, as "Idol" judge Simon Cowell has scolded her -- surprised and overwhelmed.

"If I talk too much I'll cry," she said. "You have no idea how much this means to me. ... This is probably one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced."

Doolittle said she was glad to be home, even if just for an afternoon. "I just got some sweet tea, so I'm happy. Now I need some candied yams and greens and I'll be great."

Doolittle, a professional backup singer in Nashville before she became an "Idol" contestant, has a rich, powerful voice that she put to work on two songs Friday. But even stars have off moments, and Doolittle's came during her first number when her microphone kept cutting off. The problem was corrected, and she recovered nicely for the second song.

Ironically, her mother, Marguerite Doolittle, said her daughter was tone deaf until about the sixth grade. She couldn't carry a tune to save her life.

"God really dropped a voice into her in the seventh grade," her mother said. "It's been so exciting watching this, because it was not there before. It's like seeing a miracle, really."

Doolittle, 29, graduated from Belmont with a music degree in 1999. Everyone in the crowd was certain she'd prevail over rivals Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis.

"She's very talented, and she's also very sweet and personable," said Susan Belsante of Charlotte, N.C.

Belsante has a daughter at Belmont and a son graduating from nearby Vanderbilt University. She felt a little guilty about it, but she skipped the commencement speech at her son's graduation so she could come cheer Doolittle.

"I went 'Let's see,'" she said, holding up both hands like a scale, "commencement speech or Melinda Doolittle.'

"I had to go with Melinda Doolittle."

This photo from Fox Television shows the 'American Idol' remaining finalists Melinda Doolittle, left, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks. (AP Photo, Fox Television, Frank Micelotta)

The scene in Seattle

The scene was just as raucous in Seattle, where Lewis, 25, played a free concert before more than a thousand fans at Westlake Park. He was joined onstage by Seattle's own Sir Mix-A-Lot, who sang his hit "Baby Got Back" over what many in the crowd came to see: Lewis' beat-boxing.

"Every time you watch `American Idol,' you see people that can sing, and that's it," Mix-A-Lot said to wild applause. "This cat got real talent. ... He's the new king of Sea-town, baby."

Lewis' homecoming plans included a parade in his suburban hometown of Bothell and a performance of the national anthem at the Mariners-Yankees game Friday night. He looked out on the crowd in the warm midday sunshine and said: "I'm speechless. Thank you guys for all the support."

Many in the crowd, populated largely by truant teenage girls, screamed and waved signs that read "Blaker Girls" or "We (heart) Blake."

Blaire Ginnever, a 14-year-old eighth-grader, said she was skipping her lunch period and Spanish class at Villa Academy in Seattle.

"Blake es muy bueno," she said.

Ginnever's mom, Marilyn, was also in the crowd, and said she didn't mind that her daughter was missing school.

"It's the end of the year, and this is big for Seattle," she said. "We follow the show. It's kind of a family event, and rooting for a hometown boy makes it special."

City Councilwoman Jean Godden, who is old enough to remember a significant chunk of Seattle's musical history, read a proclamation declaring Friday "Blake Lewis Day" and placing the "renowned beat-box musician" in a local tradition that includes Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Nirvana, Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie.

Hot in Arizona

Meanwhile, in Glendale, Ariz., an estimated 5,000 fans weathered 100-degree heat to see the 17-year-old Sparks, their hometown fave.

A stage was erected in an outdoor plaza at Westgate City Center and some fans waited up to five hours to see her.

"You guys are crazy but I love you for it," Sparks told the crowd before singing three songs that she has performed on the show -- "Give Me One Reason," "Heartbreaker" and "I Who Have Nothing."

"I hope I make you proud next Tuesday," Sparks told the crowd, referring to the upcoming semifinals. The last singer standing will be announced May 23.

Glendale, located just northwest of Phoenix, has been throwing elaborate, outdoor "Idol" viewing parties to show support for Sparks. Since March 20, the city of about 245,000 has seen hundreds of people from all over the state turn out to see "Idol" episodes on two 14-foot TVs. The city also has distributed hundreds of free "Glendale supports Jordin" posters at its visitor center.

Sparks made a grand entrance late Friday afternoon, perched on the back of pink Mustang convertible.

Her father -- former Arizona State and NFL player Phillippi Sparks -- and other family members followed behind in two other convertibles.

Once on stage, Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs presented Sparks and her family with a special city proclamation.

'American Idol' finalist Blake Lewis back in Seattle

Despite gaggles of screaming fans and the instant fame of being an "American Idol" finalist, Blake Lewis kept it cool Friday on a "hometown visit" financed by the show.

Lewis, one of three finalists on America's favorite reality show, beatboxed on demand, sounding like a human mixing machine. He signed autographs and posed for pictures and handled like a pro all the questions ping-ponged at him.

What he didn't do was predict that he's going to win the competition. That, he said, would likely happen for Jordin Sparks, the teenager from Glendale, Ariz.

But Lewis, 25, who's been noticed on the show for his smooth voice, beatboxing rhythms, funky style and frosted locks, was cool with that too. During morning interviews at KCPQ/13, he said his first goal was to get into the to 10 and then the top four.

His main ambition, he said, is to pursue his music and communicate it to people. A lifelong dream, he added, is to host and be the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live."

But winning "American Idol"? Well, he's good with that too.

"If it happens, great. If not, I'm so happy if I got sent home yesterday. When I made the goal of the top four, that was the goal," said Lewis, who said his musical heroes are the band 311 and musician/producer BT (Brian Transeau).

And despite criticism of too much beatboxing in his performances, he said he won't shy away if it feels right.

"If I feel the performance needs it, I don't care," he said. "I've gotten, you know, criticism for my hair and wearing the wrong shirt. Criticism's criticism. It doesn't really affect me."

His prescription for handling all the hype and the pressure is: "Keep doing me. Keep true to myself." He later added: "I just hope everyone sees how much fun I'm having, because I'm having a blast. The only thing I hope comes across is that I'm communicating my song well with everyone each week."

In a finale, he said he'd love to sing with Sting, but others also came to mind, including Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Bjork. "I'm everywhere in my influences. So much music inspires me."

Lewis has gone further in the pop-singing competition than any entrant from this region. Asked how he would rebound from last week, which judges considered one of his weaker moments, Lewis said, "I think I did well for that moment in time."

He did drop that he hasn't lived by the curfew the show sets for its contestants and goes out just about every night -- to see live music.

"They call me the rebel for that," he said. "I'm not 12 and I don't need to be baby-sat. ... For me, I get all my inspiration from going to live music and being around passionate people."

Friday at the Q13 studios he performed "All Mixed Up" live, followed by some freestyling with the aid of his loop machine and a chaos pad.

Lewis said the hometown support, especially for an "eclectic artist," has been amazing. He called the "American Idol" winnowing process and all of its attendant fame "surreal," and said he hadn't watched the show before auditioning.

"I'm kind of a hermit," he said. I stick to music."

He also gave props to a region that was assailed as the worst source of auditioners for the show by its judges and host.

"There's so much talent here. You can go down to the coffee shop and there's so much talent here," said Lewis, noting that two out of the three finalists -- Sparks is the other -- tried out in Seattle.

Asked what he missed about the area -- which he's been away from for nearly four months -- the Bothell resident said: "I miss the air and the water and pretty much everything about it."

Kara Pierre brought her 9 1/2- month-old son Jensen and some friends to see Lewis at Q13. He didn't get kissed by Lewis, but the baby did manage to tug at Lewis's shiny earring. "We all watch 'American Idol' together, with the babies," Pierre said.

Trailed by an "American Idol" crew and cameras, as well as excited admirers screaming "Go, Blake," wherever he went, Lewis made his way around town in a black and white Ford Excursion stretch limo. He was escorted by Bothell police.

But he managed to snag some private time amid the madness. On Thursday night he had a rehearsal and a private party with friends before overnighting at a downtown hotel. He said he planned to catch the Blue Scholars at the Showbox on Friday night.

At a 12:15 "mini-concert" at Westlake Center, Lewis was set to sing about four songs and have guest performers Sir Mix A Lot and Pat Monahan of Train.

The city of Seattle also planned to proclaim May 11 Blake Lewis Day.

Blake Lewis

Blake Lewis:
FAST FACTS

Age: 25

Hometown: Bothell, WA

Audition City: Seattle


Favorite male pop artists?
Robbin Thicke, Jamaroqui, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, U2, Gnarls Barkley, Half Past Forever, Michael Jackson, Prince, Sting, Eric Benet, Martin Sexton, Duncan Sheik, M-Pact

Favorite female pop artists?
Bjork, Fiona Apple, Imogen Heap, Estmerd, Jill Scott, Tori Amos, Ella Fitzgerald, Sade

When did you first start to sing?
Age 5

Do you have any formal singing training?
Yes

What other talents do you have?
Photography, songwriting, producing, characters kisser.

If you don’t make it on AMERICAN IDOL, what will you do?
Music-perform.

What are your personal goals in life?
Tour the world, play SNL.

What album would your friends be surprised you own?
K-Fed.

Who is your AMERICAN IDOL?
Chris Sligh, Rudy Cardenas

Do you have any rituals or things you do each time before you perform?
I go pee, stretch out.

Most embarrassing moments?
Ripping my pants (crotch) on stage.

What has been your proudest moment in life so far?
My first steps.
If you couldn’t sing, which talent would you most like to have?
Acting.

What is your definition of AMERICAN IDOL?
Someone who is a great talent and who communicates well with the audience.

Who is your favorite judge and why?
Randy: he’s the musician.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have many tattoos.

How has this changed your life?
Ask me again in a year.

Do you have any lucky charms?
2 of them.

Who are your heroes in life?
Mom and Dad.

What’s been your toughest obstacle in life?
The obstacles of life.

Do you think the audition process was fair?
Yes.

If you win, who will you thank first?
Mom and Dad.