So it’s Kree Harrison versus Candice Glover for the American Idol title after a somewhat shocking Thursday night elimination show.
First off, congrats to Candice, the gal from St. Helena Island, S.C., who had tried out for Idol twice before and failed to make it even to the semifinals.
Candice Glover performs earlier this year on American Idol. (FOX Photo)
Very early on in Season 12, it was apparent she was one of the favorites.
Very early into the finals, it was apparent she was the best singer on the show.
But being the best singer doesn’t necessarily translate into an Idol victory. Just ask Adam Lambert or Crystal Bowersox.
It doesn’t even necessarily translate into a spot in the Idol finale. Just ask Haley Reinhart or Joshua Ledet.
This year, the best singer made it to the title round.
Quite honestly, the Idol stage would have seemed empty next week without performances by Candice Glover.
But somehow, when Idol ended Thursday night, I had the feeling we’d been robbed of a classic final two showdown of the likes we haven’t seen since David Cook and David Archuleta squared off at the end of Season 7.
Angie Miller might not be able to match Candice Glover run for run or glory note for glory note.
But she had a flair for performance and a fire in those performances that no other Season 12 Idol contestant has matched on a consistent basis.
So how did she finish behind Kree Harrison?
Kree Harrison performs earlier this year on American Idol. (FOX Photo)
Kree undoubtedly benefited from that incredibly touching trip home clip that aired Wednesday night, focusing on how she lost both of her parents at an early age. By the time it ended, I was blinking tears from my eyes.
Kree probably benefited from the fact that Idol seemed to have her marked for elimination for three weeks now and did it again Wednesday night. Nothing rallies votes from fans quicker than a sense that their favorite is in danger.
Kree probably benefited from the demographic that watches Idol. Country singers do very well on this show. Just two years ago, we had an all-country finale. Remember?
And then there’s this: Kree is one heck of a fine singer. Superb in fact.
For the first four weeks of this year’s finals, I had her ranked first among all the Idol finalists.
In Top 6 week, I dropped her to number two behind Angie.
Eventually, she settled in at number three, behind Angie and Candice.
The fall had nothing to do with her singing. It had everything to do with improvement on the part of her competitors. And the fact that Kree’s performances just didn’t seem as impassioned or quite as fiery as you’d expect from someone determined to win the Idol title.
Hopefully, the certainty of a top two finish will bring out the best in Kree next Wednesday.
At her best, she can certainly hold her own with Candice.
If that happens, we might still get that classic Idol showdown.
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8 Comments
Great summary Mark! I agree that David vs David was probably the best finale ever, other than the novelty of the first season. Looking forward to next week.
I agree awesome summary! I can actually say I’m SO excited about the finale this season. I’ve wanted these two in it. I think they both deserve it.
Candice -has the voice that’s a mix of an angel sent down to earth and Aretha Franklin, this is gonna sound ridiculously odd but it makes me think that Whitney herself had her own hand in making us all take notice of this truly talented woman.
Kree- The vulnerability and raw realness that she shows time and time again makes my heart pitter patter. Her voice goes right through to my soul and I literally feel every single word. Which sounds odd given that “emotionally connecting” is apparently (according to critics & judges) her weak point. I think that she is far wise and mature beyond her years. I could tell during her home visit interview that she really didn’t want to share that much about her parents with us(understandably, that’s ALOT of stuff to have been through.) I think she hates when people keep probing her and poking her trying to incite some sort of emotional response out of her. I’m the same way (I can feel things deeply, but I can’t just “turn it on” for people) It has to be real and genuine and I cannot stand someone trying to provoke those emotions out of me. I have always gotten where Kree was coming from. I also was thankful that as painful as it was, that she shared her past with us, & I will bet my life that she didn’t do it for the votes.
Angie- Hmm, I haven’t been the biggest Angie fan at all. I will acknowledge that she has talent (obviously!) It was her personality however, that did her in for me. She seemed to grow more cocky with each passing show. The more she tried to “prove” to whatever haters out there that she wasn’t “pageanty” unfortunately the more she in fact became pageanty. I noticed all along ,but I noticed that other people noticed it more & more a few shows back when she got that tweet from Jessie Jay & either played “dumb” so they could give her the reaction that she wanted from it (I mean Drake did JUST come on the show for Candice) or was trying to soak up some sort of attention like a flower in the desert. At least that’s how it came across. It seemed like w/ every celebrity that came on the show, Angie tried to “upstage” the person who they were actually coming for with her own reaction to it (In Angie’s defence- jessie jay should have made an appearance for the girl,I mean she is clearly your biggest fan!)
However I think the biggest thing that did her in was a combination of her being wayyyy too “comfortable” during the results/judging time. Also the fact that she didn’t play piano on the Elton John song that Jimmy Levine choose. BIG mistake, even BIGGER mistake admitting that it was because you weren’t comfortable learning the material. It was a young persons mistake no doubt, but one that she will hopefully learn from. NEVER come across as not being capable or show that your not willing to work for it! Stay up all night & learn that sheet music girl! Your career depends on it! (she didn’t even stay up along w/ her own brother practicing for her home visit, tsk, tsk) Jimmy had basically handed her a amazing guaranteed WINNING opener with that Elton John song (she still did very well btw) BUT Jimmy wanted her to OPEN the way that Candice had CLOSED! She failed to deliver, more importantly she conveyed that didn’t want to put in the extra effort, she wanted it handed to her. I guess she ended up showing her haters that she was a little too pageanty after all. Unfortunately she further more proved that after her elimination as well. That should have been her chance to show us that America “got it wrong.” That was her chance to show us why we should remember her! She didn’t even finish the song, & whatever it was that she tried to sing, made poor Lazaro sound like Luciano Pavarotti. It was very dramatic and over the top, in true “Angie” style indeed.
She got emotional, I give her that. I didn’t think she was expecting to go, I think she expected to win the whole thing that’s why she was very upset. If you knew you’re going anyway, there’s not reason to be upset. It’s a lot easier to sing if you pretty much knew your fate. They should not let them sing in the first place after just losing.
I totally agree with Jimmy that she should have played the piano and sang an acoustic version of that Elton John song. I remember Robbie Rosen singing the same song for the wildcard round which was very moving. She would have moved the audience but she missed on that one. Because there were 3 songs to learn she didn’t have enough time to learn the Elton John song and would be easier to concentrate on the singing.
Absolutely love Kree – her vocals and her back story!
I really think that what got Kree to the Finale was her moving backstory that she revealed to America on her trip back home. It really helped her garner more sympathy votes. Was not really expecting her to be in the finale until that moment. That lead to Angie’s shocking blindside!
Kree also has the full backing of Vote for the Worst website. There you go.
Don’t be spiteful Don.
Need to edit you sentence, “It doesn’t even necessarily translate into a spot in the Idol finale. Just ask Melinda Doolittle, Elliott Yamin or Joshua Ledet.”