Crystal Will Be Crowned

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Idol’s frontrunner all season, Crystal Bowersox overwhelmed Lee DeWyse during their head-to-head battle

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted May. 26, 2010

DeWyse and Bowersox performing a dynamic duet on "Falling Slowly."

Lee DeWyse made it a close race in the final weeks of the American Idol competition, but in the end, Crystal Bowersox, a.k.a. Mama Sox, reasserted her superior talent and artistry in last evening’s final showdown between the 24-year-old singer songwriters.

While the fickle public often votes on aspects of the contestants other than talent — especially those texting teenage girls — I am confident that we will not have another Kris Allen surprise tonight when the confetti comes floating down at the Nokia. Not that it hurt Adam Lambert to come in second. His career has soared as the runner-up, while the quiet Allen has just gone about his business. Both Lambert (June 26 with opening act Allison Iraheta) and Allen (Aug. 7) will make their Atlantic City solo debuts at Borgata this summer.

The American Idol Tour will arrive early this year, July 10, at the Trump Taj Mahal Arena, topped by the two performers who pulled away from the pack, Bowersox and DeWyse. Bowersox appeared to be in a holding pattern in the final weeks, mostly because she was a polished artist coming in and there wasn’t that much progress to be made, except in wardrobe design. DeWyse also had talent, but his shy ways didn’t allow that talent to burst forth in the early rounds. However, once he showed more confidence, he did make it a race in the weeks leading up to the finals.

However, in the end Bowersox was exactly what she appeared to be at the beginning of the competition — a big step above the rest of the field. She confirmed this position with her final song of the night, the one that will be her first single, a gorgeous rendition of Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain” that captured all the emotion of the song, as well as the incredible warmth of Bowersox’s vocals. Simon Cowell, who is leaving the show, kept his final critique brief: “That was outstanding.”

Bowersox won all three rounds, her other renditions being Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” plus a surprisingly emotional take on Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet.”

DeWyse opened with a too gentle rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” a song he did with more emotion weeks earlier. He had his best moment with the tender R.E.M. tune “Everybody Hurts,” finishing up with what would be his first single if he won, U2’s “Beautiful Day.” They were solid interpretations, just not as good as Bowersox.

No matter who wins tonight, I’m hoping that Bowersox and DeWyse record their dynamic duet “Falling Slowly” from the film Once. It was one of the highlights of the season, and I’d like to see it included on both their debut albums.