By Shannonn Kelly
2:55 EST, May 19, 2009

Aplogies to my blog readers for not writing in about a month. But I couldn’t let tonight go by without getting back in and writing up a blog about tonight’s possibly historic American Idol. 

With managing  a film festival there’s a lot to be done and often my hours of work in the last month have been at 17-20 hour days. If I don’t plan my blogging just right, every thing else overtakes it. But I have been watching and keeping my finger on things and every Tuesday night the little 12 inch Color TV is on beside me while I toil away at my desk.

Last week’s results show for American Idol, somewhat suprized me.  I’ve been a Danny Gokey fan from Day 1. I’ve also been a passionate Adam Lambert fan from Day 1. But when I’d Twitter or update Facebook with my 1 – 2 – 3 choices for the evening, I noticed Kris did creep in there on a couple of occassions. So in hindsight I shouldn’t have been all that surprized.

Last week with Kris’s acoustic version of “Heartless” by Kanye West, I thought to myself – Uh-oh…upset time – And then Simon stamped it into being. Kris’s version of Heartless, reminded me of the kick ass verson of AYo Technology by Belgian singer/guitarist, Milow.  Currently sitting at 1,620,831 hits on YouTube, I think you’ll see what I mean by the comparison.

It’s better than the 50 Cent original. Wayyyyy Better. So with artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz scorching up the charts, I think Kris is right for the time.

That doesn’t mean I’m not still bummed by Danny out of the Top 2. And, I am in awe of Adam. He sealed his fate for me after his rendition of “Mad World” written by Tears for Fears. Adam based his interpretation on the haunting  Gary Jules’s version from the 2001 film Donnie Darko, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, and Jake’s sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal. 

I want the incredible Adam Lambert to win. I just think America will be ‘relieved’ if Kris wins, because he will be someone America can get it’s head around.  Adam is all too ambiguous and just too incredibly cool and inventive to just be an American Idol. On Wednesday, Kris Allen will win American. Idol.

But that’s okay, because Adam is poised to be a ‘World Idol’…

Below read an interesting weigh-in of the American Idol Showdown by By Bret Federigan

ADAM LAMBERT

Call it a culture clash. The final “American Idol” showdown pitting Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen offers viewers a striking contrast of styles, personalities and appearances. Tune in for the faceoff Tuesday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. It’s Broadway vs. Main Street. But it’s also David vs. Goliath. Here’s why Adam is the standout.

Hollywood rocker Adam Lambert is one of the show’s flashiest, most formidable front-runners, someone whom judges and pundits have all but crowned the winner. Why all the hype? Well, for starters, Adam possesses a unique set of vocal pipes, able to hit high notes seldom heard from male “Idol” contestants. Additionally, he’s shown an uncanny ability to present interesting and creative song interpretations each week. And, lastly, his fashion sense is unlike anything we’re used to from potential “Idol” champions. Adam wields an interesting combination of talent and style, and judges just can’t get enough of him. While diehards in “Idol” nation remain bitterly divided about his merits, viewers continue to tune in each week to see what this glammed-up theater veteran will present next. He is, by far, this season’s most iconic reality TV star.

Age: 27  – Hometown: San Diego  – Prior to “Idol”: Stage actor  – Most resembles: Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy – Trademark vocal habit: Hitting high notes like a crazed banshee, tongue fully extended

Future Record: Adam was once a cast member of the Los Angeles production of “Wicked,” but he’s proven that he’s capable of mastering more than just show tunes. Based on the feedback from the judges and some of his own musical choices this season, rock seems to be the genre he’s most likely to record in the future. But don’t consider this guy a one-trick pony. He’s proven that he can sing anything thrown his way.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: With his black eyeliner, black nail polish, jet-black-dyed hair and flamboyant stage wardrobe, it didn’t take long for this theater actor-slash-Hollywood rocker to elicit whispers in the “Idol” blogosphere regarding his sexuality. Those whispers snowballed into a bona fide media firestorm when pictures of Adam kissing another man and videos of him performing incredibly campy song-and-dance numbers were circulated on the Internet. To date, Adam has never confirmed or denied any assertions about his sexual preference. But, then again, no one has really asked. Looks like this will continue to be an issue that will matter to many, and, for a whole host of others, not be important at all.

Highlight: Of the many memorable performances turned in by this musical theater veteran, two stand out. And both resulted in notable personal standing ovations. The first occurred during Motown Week, when Adam turned down the volume with an unplugged version of “Tracks of My Tears.” The intimate interpretation prompted songwriter extraordinaire Smokey Robinson to leap out of his seat in approval. As unforgettable as that image was, it was Simon Cowell’s reaction to Adam’s performance during Movie Week that will linger as the season’s most iconic moment. The normally garrulous Brit was rendered speechless upon hearing Adam’s Gary Jules-inspired rendition of “Mad World” by Tears for Fears. Instead of offering any words of feedback, Simon simply pushed away from the judges’ table and started to clap his hands.

KRIS ALLEN

 It’s Hollywood rocker Adam Lambert versus the consummate boy next door Kris Allen in the season’s big showdown. Allen is a winsome, likable Southern gentleman who has charmed judges and viewers with his good looks, modesty and guitar-playing talent. He’s the little strummer boy you just can’t bring yourself to hate. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he has a vocal sound that will undoubtedly sell records; it may lack the dramatic flair of Adam’s, but no one is going to accuse Kris of screaming his way through songs. Don’t think for a second that Adam has this in the bag. Kris appeals to what is comfortable to “American Idol” viewers. His sound is recognizable, and, more importantly, he’s simply incapable of ever becoming the polarizing figure that Adam is. If Kris treads carefully and turns in strong performances on Tuesday night, might we see a huge upset?

Age: 23  – Hometown: Conway, Ark.  – Prior to “Idol”: Church worship leader and member of campus ministry at University of Central Arkansas  – Most resembles: Hal Sparks – Trademark: Singing out of the side of his mouth and jutting his jaw forward

Future Record: Expect something along the lines of John Mayer, Howie Day or Jason Mraz. At crucial times this season, Kris has turned to acoustic guitar, so there figures to be some serious strumming featured on any future album. Kris has been one of the most artistically consistent contestants this season. As such, he’s already got an identifiable sound.

The little engine that could: Flying under the radar has been this guy’s standard operating procedure. Kris enjoyed little TV attention during the audition rounds, barely garnering any airtime. And it was much of the same during Hollywood Week, where producers instead chose to follow the antics of Bikini Girl, Tatiana and other more outrageous contestants. If you’ll remember, Kris was one of the first contestants to land a berth in the top 13, but again he was overshadowed by his fellow competitors during the top-36 performance rounds. All season long, he’s ceded the spotlight and the weekly headlines to the likes of Danny Gokey and Adam. And now, after outperforming a very popular Danny, he finds himself matched against this season’s ultimate front-runner in Adam. No one (not even producers, it seems) predicted from the start of the contest that Kris would be here. But now that he is, you’ve got to believe that winning is a real possibility for someone who’s exceeded expectations all season long. This guy is extraordinarily popular.

Highlight: Before this past week, Kris’ standout performance was from top-nine week, when the contestants were asked to perform any song that was a popular iTunes download. While the other singers struggled with so wide a choice of music, Kris found in Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” the perfect vehicle to showcase his singer-songwriter talent. But if that brooding rendition displayed the Arkansas native’s voice at its best, then his incredibly clever and daring version of Kanye West’s “Heartless” last week demonstrated one of this season’s most inventive arrangements. Choosing to perform an R&B song with only an acoustic guitar went against conventional wisdom, and, given the strength of his fellow top-three finalists, it was certainly a risk. But Kris served up arguably the strongest performance of the night, wowing the judges and the audience members with a version of a song that sounded even better than the original. It only further solidified his reputation as this season’s most talented singer-musician.

Tune in for the Show Down Tuesday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX