Idol Chatter & Voice Views

They went three rounds on American Idol Tuesday night, did Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze.

But the most important factor in Tuesday’s Idol finale might have been something that happened at the end of last week’s results show.

A coin was flipped. Crystal won.

She opted to perform second on the final performance show of the season.

So we had Lee DeWyze singing “The Boxer” in round one. He sang it well, but not quite as passionately as the judges would have liked.

Crystal responded with “Me and Bobby McGee,” a song she was born to sing. A song that displayed her vocal prowess. Round one to Crystal.

Idol producer Simon Fuller picked “Everybody Hurts” for Lee’s second song. The only person that song choice hurt was Lee. He was barely audible over the chorus.

Crystal was handed “Black Velvet” — which sort of makes up for last week’s luck of the draw with song selections. And she rocked the song like it’s seldom been rocked before.

Hey, and don’t say Crystal hasn’t improved over the course of this competition. Or at least learned how to play the game.

Did you hear that glory note near the end? As good as any screech that ever came out of Siobhan Magnus. Oh, and note how she performed her second song without her trademark acoustic guitar. Round two to Crystal on a standing eight count.

Then came the coronation songs — not one song performed by both contestants, but a different cover song by each one.

Lee got U2’s “Beautiful Day,” except the song did nothing but bring clouds to what was supposed to be his night to shine. Let’s just say it wasn’t Lee’s greatest moment. Or a performance I’d want to hear again.

Crystal got “Up to the Mountain.” And, wow. An Idol moment. One of those moments Idol has been searching for so desperately all season. And a nice change of pace after Crystal had belted out her previous two songs.

This time, it was Crystal by a knockout.

Back to the coin flip.

Three times Lee DeWyze sang.

Three times Crystal Bowersox followed him to the stage and sang better.

That’s why she should become the American Idol Wednesday night.

(And, Simon Cowell, shame on you for not saying so.)

Song-by-song grades.