Kris Allen
Kris Allen vs Adam Lambert: the 2009 American Idol Logical Conclusion
By: Linda J. Alexander
http://lindajalexander.tumblr.com/
May 21, 2009
Heck, everyone else has given their opinion. I figured I’d just add one more voice to the fray. The American Idol shock began last night with Kris himself who, when his name was announced, literally said Adam should be the winner. This alone makes him Odd Man Out, even as he did win. Kris’s modesty and uncertainty over his own talent made him easy to wave off throughout the season. No way that this kid could triumph over the wildly-confident and just as talented, Adam Lambert. Right?
Obviously wrong. There’s been a lot of hoopla between last night and now as to how this upset occurred. Many are certain it’s homophobia. Though Adam Lambert has sidestepped every attempt to unmask the reality of his personal life, his self-made image alone makes that question stand out. It’s like saying you don’t like the color red but you wear red everywhere you go. Yet it’s doubtful Adam’s sexuality, whatever it may be, in and of itself is what put him in second place. We have Elton John and Freddie Mercury and many others in music history, and their success has been legendary, with or without eye makeup.
For what it’s worth, I think Adam’s clearly defined different-ness, something he wore proudly and loudly, made people think twice about whether or not they wanted to give him the crown. American Idol is, after all, a pop music show. It exists to create pop stars, not loud and over-the-top rock stars. Rockers have traditionally not done well on American Idol so in actuality, it’s amazing Adam went all the way to the almost-top.
Adam is clearly more polished, professional, and ready for prime-time than Kris’s musically as well as performance-wise. Adam has been a pro and onstage for years. Another reason American Idol was created was to give a chance at that Gold Ring to someone who otherwise might never get anywhere near it. You tell me, then, who’s better fitted for the original, well-outlined American Idol molds the already stage-veteran, Adam Lambert, or the shy and unassuming college kid, Kris Allen?
While the judges continually stated that American Idol is a singing competition, it really is as much a popularity contest. Adam is not in the mold of an American pop star. Note that term, pop star. His musical idols, the music he picked when it was his choice, his vocal inflections, and the image he personally portrayed to stand out all of this came together to make that final decision. Between the two, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen, who was the more logical American Idol remembering that it is a singing and a popularity competition created to wear the title of a pop star?
Not Adam Lambert, folks. And one last point to consider. Remember the Danny Gokey factor. Danny had, and continues to have, a large following. Those who religiously voted for him probably continued to vote even after he was sent home. Who do you think got Danny’s votes? Not likely Adam Lambert. Even the Powers That Be paired Danny and Kris together in a duet, when there were still four of them. The pop singers Danny Gokey and Kris Allen, and the rockers Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta. Two in each category. First off the list was the young rocker. She didn’t have a chance against Adam if they were in competition, which they really were. Then Danny was gone. Why? Because he was much like Kris in many ways and apparently, Kris brought in a higher vote.
That took the 2009 American Idol to its actually logical conclusion. A hard and wildly over-the-top rocker against a soft-spoken and modest pop singer. Both talented.
Kris really was the likely winner between the two if you think about it.
