AMERICAN IDOL 2011 GRAND FINALE: THE COUNTRY BOY WINS

Thousands auditioned, hundreds were brought to Hollywood, 24 were chosen to perform for America, 13 were given the chance to perform for the finale, and now, 2 are left for the final showdown, but who will win?

The show was opened with Ryan announcing that there were 122 million votes sent in last night. He then introduced the judges and the top 2. After that, we get a performance of "Born This Way" by our Top 13 Finalists, who are all in white.

James Durbin then performed with Judas Priest, with the songs "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking the Law".

We also get to see Randy Jackson's video of the season, he is the Veteran, followed by Jacob Lusk's performance of "I Smile" with Kirk Franklin and Gladys Knight.

Casey Abrams then performed "Fat Bottomed Girls" with Jack Black, followed by the Ladies performing Beyonce songs; "Single Ladies", 'Irreplaceable", Deja Vu", "If I were a Boy", and were later joined by Beyonce who sung "Crazy In Love".

Steven Tyler's video of the season tells us that he is The Loose Cannon. Haley Reinhart then performed with Tony Bennett with the song "Steppin' Out". The performance was followed by Jennifer Lopez's video of the season, and she has the title "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World".

TLC then performed, followed by Scotty performing "Live Like You Were Dying" with Tim McGraw. They then showed us a video of the most Epic-Failure of the Auditioners who didn't make it to the Hollywood rounds. Marc Anthony then sung, with JLo dancing.

Another video, James and Casey were having a fake fight of which elimination was more shocking, until Pia Toscano went out with the title.

The guys from the top 13 performed a Medley of Tom Jones' songs, who later joined them with his performance of "It's Not Unusual".

We get the final music video of Ford, "You Remember" then the top two gave cars to Lauren's principal, and Scotty's music teacher, and they were also given any ford car they want.

Lady Gaga was up with "The Edge of Glory" followed by Lauren performing "Before He Cheats" with Carrie Underwood. Her performance was followed by What the other contestants think of the final two.

Beyonce was up on stage again with "1+1" and the Spiderman In the Dark cast with U2 performing some songs. Steven then followed their performance with "Dream On".

The results, Ryan announced that the winner of American Idol season 10 is SCOTTY MCCREERY with LAUREN ALAINA as runner-up.

Did America get it right? Please leave a comment.

Note: See you all in season 11, I'll be posting you updates about X Factor, and Survivor: South Pacific soon.

AMERICAN IDOL 2011 FINAL PERFORMANCES: REVIEW

This was the best night of American Idol for me. Other than all the performances, I'm happy for Lauren, and I'm glad that she was able to perform on the show, because if she didn't, we won't see "Like My Mother Does". That's the best performance of the night for me. Both of the final songs did get me, and whoever wins it is deserving for me by now.

REVIEW IN RANDOM ORDER:

• Lauren Alaina - "Lie My Mother Does" - I love the song. Lauren really did a good job, she even hugged her mom while she's singing. The performance made me teary-eyed, and I really want Lauren to win now. I love her. I think this performance also changed everything, she won two rounds based on the judges, I hope the voters also see this. I'm gonna play this song always, and it will never be out of my playlist. Lauren Alaina has just proven that she is in it to win it, and she is really going to win it. There were a lot of Lauren haters since Haley was eliminated, but that didn't stop her. She's young, and I think seeing all those harsh comments could hurt her. She cries everytime the judges don't like her performance, but we have to understand that she's young. Anybody on her age, except some, will really feel bad, and some will just keep that to themselves, but they will get hurt. Lauren Alaina is the winner for me.

• Scotty McCreery - "Love You This Big" - it has been a long journey for Scotty. From not finding a group for a long time during the Hollywood week, he's now in the finale. I think all those who rejected him from their group are now regretting what they've done. Scotty is a great singer, and he proved that since he auditioned for the show. This final song also made me want to cry, but I just kept it, and released it on Lauren's performance. There are a lot of Scotty haters out there, but there are more supporters. He's also in it to win it, and for a 17-year-old, the awesomeness of the performances he gave America is enough for him to win.

• Lauren Alaina - "Maybe It Was Memphis" - did she really have a problem with her voice? Why is she so good on all the performances during the night? She did a good job with the song, that made her win this round. I love how she sung the song, and I love the fact that Carrie Underwood chose this song for her.

• Scotty McCreery - "Check Yes or No" - Scotty is everybody's man, he's the man, yeah. He also did an awesome job with his performance, and that gives everyone a hard choice.

• Lauren Alaina - "Flat on the Floor" - I was right, this was one of the top three songs on my list, and I guessed that she will be singing one of those three. This was her first performance of the night, and though there were some parts of the song where she is losing her voice, she still did awesome. SHE'S IN IT TO WIN IT!

• Scotty McCreery - "Gone" - this was 4th on my list, so I wasn't right. I liked this performance better than the first one, and this song is one of my favorite performances by Scotty. He's also in it to win it.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but whatever will be America's decision, they're right for voting these two to the finale. Who do you think will win? Please leave a comment.

AMERICAN IDOL 2011 TOP 2: PERFORMANCES

This is the last chance of the top two to perform and win America's votes. What will happen tonight?

The song selections of the night will be chosen by: our contestants, where they will be choosing among the songs they performed on the show; Personal Idol, where George Strait will be choosing for Scotty McCreery while Carrie Underwood will be choosing for Lauren Alaina; the final song will be the single they will release if ever they won the show.

Before the show begun, there were news saying that Lauren lost her voice and if she can't perform, she has to drop out and Haley Reinhart will replace her, but it was later confirmed by TV Guide that she will be performing.

PERFORMANCES:
ROUND ONE "CONTESTANT'S FAVORITE":

• Scotty McCreery - "Gone" from TOP 5 by Montgomery Gentry
  
• Lauren Alaina - "Flat on the Floor" from TOP 5 by Carrie Underwood

ROUND TWO "PERSONAL IDOL'S CHOICE:

• Scotty McCreery - "Check Yes or No" by George Strait (George Strait's choice)
  
• Lauren Alaina - "Maybe it as Memphis" by Pam Tillis (Carrie Underwood's Choice)
  

ROUND THREE "SONGS THEY WILL RELEASE":

• Scotty McCreery - "I Love You Big"
  
• Lauren Alaina - "Like My Mother Does"

ROUND ONE goes to Scotty, ROUND TWO and THREE goes to Lauren.

NUMBERS:
Scotty McCreery

• 1-866-436-5701
• 1-866-436-5703
• 1-866-436-5705
• 1-866-436-5707
  

Lauren Alaina

• 1-866-436-5702
• 1-866-436-5704
• 1-866-436-5706
• 1-866-436-5708

WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD WIN ? Follow me on twitter @RenzAlfonso, or Leave a Comment.

AMERICAN IDOL 2011 TOP 2: SCOTTY MCCREERY PERFORMANCES REVIEW

I'll be ranking the songs performed by the top 2 since the Top 13, and I have a feeling that one of the top three songs will be one of their songs for the finale on Tuesday. This review is for Scotty, and the ranking of each of his performances.

REVIEW BY RANK:

1. "You've Got A Friend" (Top 6 "Carole King") - this is Scotty's best performance for me. It wasn't boring, unlike some of his other performances.
   
2. "Amazed" (Top 3 "Contestant's Choice") - he sung this during the first round of the top three performance night, and for me, he was better than Haley in his performance.
3. "The River" (Top 13 "Their Personal Idols") - this is a good performance which followed "Letters from Home". I like how he takes on folkish country songs. I also loved the lyrics of the song, which match his deep country voice reaching for his dreams.
   
4. "Gone" (Top 5 "Songs from Now") - this song was upbeat, and because Scotty is always doing the slow, sleepy, boring songs, I really liked him in this performance which is one of the only few upbeat performances he had on the show.
   
5. "Can I Trust You With My Heart" (Top 12 "Year They Were Born") - this is a soft country song, and I wasn't bored. He did connect with the audience on this song, and that is one thing in the music industry.
6. "Always On My Mind" (Top 5 "Songs from Then") - the emotion and connection he put in the song really got me. This was the part of the competition where I knew that he would be in the finale.
   
7. "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" (Top 3 "Iovine's Choice") - the judges loved his performance, and I did. This is one of the songs where I really saw his personality.
   
8. "She Believes in Me" (Top 3 "Judges' Choice") - awesome performance. He's really in it to win it after his performance, and I already knew he would be in the top 2 with one of the girls.
9. "Country Comfort" (Top 11 redux "Elton John") - what Elton John could Scotty sing? He thought he was on risk again after he found out that they will be doing Elton, until he found this song, and really did a good job with it.
   
10. "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" (Top 4 "Inspirational Songs") - the song did inspire me, though I really believe that it's just an average performance.
    
11. "That's All Right" (Top 9 "Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame") - also an average performance for me, but I love the song, and his take in it.
    
12. "I Crossed My Heart" (Top 8 "Songs from Movies") -another average performance, I didn't like it, and I didn't hate it. I just want him to take on risks during those times.
    
13. "For Once In My Life" (Top 11 "Motown") - he was at risk, but he put a twist on the song, so he wasn't. The judges liked it, but I kind of didn't. Maybe if he did something else which is not country-ish, I would have liked his performance.
    
14. "Young Blood" (Top 4 "Leiber and Stoller") - I don't get the song, and I don't get his take on it. That's all.
    
15. "Swingin'" (Top 7 "21st Century") - worst among my bottom three songs of McCreery. This is another performance I really didn't get, and I don't think he was taking on risks during his performance. I thought he was going to sing something more like Brad Paisley, or maybe "Country Girl (Shake it For Me)".

WHICH SONG SHOULD SCOTTY SING FOR THE FINALE? Tweet me @RenzAlfonso or Leave a Comment.

AMERICAN IDOL 2011 TOP 2: LAUREN ALAINA PERFORMANCES REVIEW

I'll be ranking the songs performed by the top 2 since the Top 13, and I have a feeling that one of the top three songs will be one of their songs for the finale on Tuesday. This review is for Lauren, and the ranking of each of her performances.

REVIEW BY RANK:

1. "Anyway" (Top 4 "Inspirational Songs") - this was Lauren's best performance from the top 13 to the top 2. I really felt it because her singing came from something, the destruction on her hometown.
2. "Candle in the Wind" (Top 11 redux "Elton John") - this song really redeemed her in the competition after all of the performances she had since the Top 24. This is a big hit, not only to the judges, but also to her fans, and to some of the people who aren't really her fans.
3. "Flat on the Floor" (Top 5 "Songs from Now") - I love Country, I love Carrie Underwood, and I love Lauren Alaina. That is one of the success why I fell in love with this song, and the way she took it really hit me.
   
4. "If I Die Young" (Top 3 "Jimmy Iovine's Choice") - this was actually in my top three, but since she just sang it, I guess she won't be singing it again. I love the song, and the lyrics and vocals of the song match Lauren.
5. "Any Man of Mine" (Top 13 "Their Personal Idol") - the judges didn't love this performance, but I did. She has to do this song in the finale, and take it in a different way, where the judges will be impressed.
6. "Trouble" (Top 4 "Leiber and Stoller") - she took on a really big risk, and I really loved how she took on the song. She doesn't want America to think that she's evil, and they didn't, but she really did a good implementation of acting in the song.
7. "The Climb" (Top 8 "Songs from Movies") - I agree with Iovine, her version was much better than Miley Cyrus'.
8. "Bron to Fly" (Top 7 "21st Century") - I disagree with everyone who said that she pulled back with this song, she's a country artist, and she's just sticking with her genre just like what Scotty is doing.
9. "I Hope You Dance" (Top 3 "Judges' Choice") - great job for Jennifer Lopez. The way she sung the song was really awesome, and she connected with the audience.
10. "Unchained Melody" (Top 5 "Songs from Then") - this trended on Twitter after her performance. The song is old, but the way she sung it make it modern.
11. "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" (Top 9 "Rock and Roll HAll of Fame") - we see how mature Lauren is on this song, and how brave enough is she to take on a really hard song.
    
12. "Where You Lead" (Top 6 "Carole King") - the part of the competition where I really fell in love with Lauren and her voice, week after week, I've really seen her grow, and this song also brought her back to the competition.
13. "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (Top 11 "Motown") - the beat of the song really made me feel like moving. This also showed us that Lauren really has powerful vocals.
14. "I'm the Only One" (Top 12 "Year they were Born") - this is one of the performances where I didn't quite see Lauren shine, but she also did a good job with this one.
15. "Wild One" (Top 3 "Contestant's Choice") - I never thought Lauren would choose a song like this, she has really good vocals, but the performance was boring.

WHICH SONG SHOULD LAUREN SING FOR THE FINALE? Tweet me @RenzAlfonso or Leave a Comment.

AMERICAN IDOL 2011 TOP 3: GOODBYE GROWLING, THE COUNTRYBOY AND THE COUNTRYGIRL IN THE FINALE

The show started with Ryan announcing that there were 95 million votes sent after the performance show last night. Jimmy then predicted that one of the finalists would be a guy, and obviously, he was talking about Scotty.

They then made fun of Randy's favorite line of the season "You're in it to win it." There were two stools on stage where the top two will be sitting by the end of the show.

Haley's hometown video was then show, where 30,000 fans attended followed by the Ford Music video. We also got a performance from the Italian boyband Il Volo.

Scotty's hometown video followed the boyband's performance, and then Nicole Scheringer performed with 50 Cent with her new single "Right Here". The video for Lauren's homecoming was then viewed.

The results followed, and Scotty was announced safe first. Lauren was then announced safe next, and Haley was eliminated.

This would really be an extra fun finale, two young artists, both country singers, but will it be the country boy or the country girl? The top 2 performance will be on Tuesday next week, same time, and on Wednesday, the finale would follow with surely lots of surprises.

What are your thoughts about the top 2? Did America get it right? (I think YEAH!) Leave a Comment