The journey is over. It was the first season without judge Paula Abdul. It was the first season since the premiere in which the ratings entered “normal” territory. But for all the season’s flaws, the emotion for the finale was, once again, unparalleled by any other reality series on television.
The competition, which came down to Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, made people care. It made people feel. And even though Kris Allen proved last year that the winner is no lock for superstardom, it is impossible not to feel happy for the dreamer who gets the chance to celebrate an “American Idol” victory.
Wednesday night, host Ryan Seacrest revealed that the competition fell in favor of Lee DeWyze. Even though most critics (and the show’s judges) felt Crystal outperformed Lee on Tuesday’s show, it ultimately proved true that Lee DeWyze was the more popular contestant. He had the momentum, he had the likable personality and backstory, and as of this writing, he now has an “American Idol” victory on his resume.
(For a photo gallery from the finale, click here)
When the season first began, Crystal Bowersox instantly emerged as the frontrunner. The gritty singer, who was reminiscent of contemporary greats like Alanis Morisette and Melissa Etheridge, simply appeared to be in a league of her own. Her victory seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
But then came Lee DeWyze. His early performances were not pitch-perfect, but the tone of his voice and genuine personality started to gain traction, and as the other contestants began to meet elimination, he started to get a taste of being a frontrunner.
As the competition drew to a close, it was Lee–not Crystal–who was viewed as the frontrunner. While Crystal’s momentum started to die down, Lee’s excellence was just beginning. Crystal, no matter how talented, was going to be fighting an uphill battle at the finale.
It nonetheless appeared that she succeeded. She clearly outsang DeWyze in all three of the rounds, and her closing “Up to the Mountain” was rather universally viewed as the best performance of the season.
But the results revealed that sometimes a final rally is not enough. Crystal might have won the battle Tuesday night, but the war fell in Lee’s favor, and he is now the new “American Idol.” His first single will be a cover of U2’s “Beautiful Day.”