Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Patience, folks, patience.

We’re still two hours from finding out what we all want to know:  Who came out on top after those record 132 million votes were cast last night.

In the meantime, we’ll be treated to what should be some musical treats.

Fantasia is reportedly returning to the Idol stage to duet with Joshua Ledet.

Jessica Sanchez is supposed to participate in an Idol tribute to Donna Summer.

Aerosmith is supposed to perform their new single.

And Rihanna will be among the other stars on hand.

Of course, Miley Cyrus couldn’t make it.  Drats.  I was looking so forward to that.

And I doubt Jennifer “middle American appropriate” Lopez will be shaking her tush at the camera as Marc Anthony sings, as she did a year ago.

So if you get bored, you can check out why I think Jessica Sanchez should still be the American Idol and, who the experts are predicting will prevail tonight.

Plus I’ve posted my suggestion on how Idol should handle future performance finales after last night’s final songs turned out to be so lopsided.

And here we go, starting out with a group number of “Runaway Baby,” featuring the top 12, minus Jessica and Phillip of course.  Funny.  Joshua tried some fancy dance moves. I don’t think they went quite as planned.  I’m not a huge fan of group numbers, but this is a high-energy start to the night.

Performances

Phillip Phillips kicks off tonight’s duets, singing with John Fogerty on “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.”  Nice performance.  John’s sure into it, judging from that ending.  This was a good choice to perform with Phillip.  Now they’re doing a second song, “Bad Moon Rising.”  Hey, nice little two-song set.

Joshua Ledet takes the stage to perform Elton John’s “Take Me to the Pilot” with Fantasia.  My, my.  Fantasia is sporting a new look, not the mention pants with the sides cut out.  And a fascination with oversinging.  I’m pretty sure I would have preferred that more if Joshua were performing alone.

Top 6 girls:  They’re singing a medley, and clearly someone had trouble picking songs that would suit all the varied voices in the top six. Now they’re joined on stage by Chaka Khan, who’s going to wail away in a bodysuit someone should have told her not to wear.  Could Jessica Sanchez please give these female stars some fashion advice.  Well, at least “I’m Every Woman” came off better than the first two songs in the medley.

That was cute.  Jessica gave her musical mentor and Phillip gave his brother-in-law Ben Neal a new Ford.  Heck, I didn’t even mind the in-show commercial.  Well, not too much.

Rihanna:   In the first big stage number of the night, Rihanna is wheeled onto the stage in some sort of triangle.  She strides out and starts singing “Where Have You Been.”  Interesting.  And she ends the performance with “I love you Idol.”

 Skylar Laine: Here comes some country sass, Skylar style.  And she’s joined on stage by Reba McEntire for a rendition of Reba’s hit “Turn On Your Radio.”  Skylar sounds great on this.  And check out her outfit.  Very nice. Probably the best duet we’ve heard tonight.

Jessica Sanchez:  She takes the stage to sing “I Will Always Love You” again.  Beginning a cappella she’s going to demonstrate right now why she should win Idol Season 11.  Just superb.  Wish she would have reprised that for last night’s performance finale.

Idol guys:   Now they’re going to do a medley, including “Coming to America,” “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “I’m a Believer.”  Joshua is going a little crazy, in the best of ways, on the latter.  And now they’re joined by Neil Diamond.  For “Sweet Caroline.”  The guys are pulling this off much better than the Idol gals did.

 Jennifer Lopez: Now we get a couple of dance numbers from Jennifer Lopez.  I was right.  No Marc Anthony this time. Of course, that was an easier prediction than most of the eliminations this season.  OK, now Jennifer got her turn on stage. Let’s get on with the show.

Now, a first-ever proposal on the Idol stage.  Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo are now officially engaged.  By the way, Diana released an EP and Ace released a single earlier this week.

Hollie Cavanagh and Jordin Sparks make up the next duet, singing “Never Walk Alone.”  Somehow the timing of this number seems appropriate, huh?  Even if the song was a little overblown.

The Idol guys:   They’ll sing a medley of BeeGee hits.  I can’t imagine this is going to be special.  Oh, they are murdering this.  Except for Joshua at the end, that was just horrible.

Jessica Sanchez and Jennifer Holliday:  They will sing “And I’m Telling I’m Not Going.”  Jessica’s performance of this song during the season was my favorite of the entire season.  Jennifer is doing her best to over-sing, Fantasia style.  And some of those expressions would make me run in the other direction.  But brilliant ending by Jessica.

Aerosmith:  They’ll perform “Imaginary Child.”  Have no idea what Steven is singing, the music is so loud. Probably best that way.  But I could have sworn I heard strains of “Walk This Way” through that.  Oh, so now they’ll do “Walk This Way.”  Good thing they performed the second song.  The first was an absolute mess.

Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips:  They’re going to duet on “Up Where We Belong.”  This is almost cruel for Phillip. It’s a power ballad in Jessica’s wheelhouse.  It’s hardly in Phillip’s.  But nice to see him dressed up. And nice to hear them singing together.

The results:

And now we get the results of those 132 million votes.

The winner of American Idol is …

PHILLIP PHILLIPS

Hardly a huge surprise.  And now he launches into a version of “Home.”

And after appearing so cool when the news was announced, he breaks down with emotion midway through the song, as confetti falls around him.

And he doesn’t even try to finish the song, going out into the audience to share the moment with his family.

Editor’s Note: Check back for recaps and a photo gallery in a few.