February 26, 2004 - She's So Unusual

But who would join her?

Much to my surprise, and also to hers, Leah LaBelle, who had won rave reviews from the judges, didn't even make it to the top three. The worst part about this was that they kept cutting back to her and showing her crying quietly, tears running down her face.

But this turn no longer surprised me, because last week showed the voters don't always go with the judges' picks. The judges would have gone with Leah because of her strong performance, but there were other factors at play.

Those factors — namely personality and appeal — kicked in to complete the top three. Amy Adams, this year's red-haired contestant, and Jon Peter Lewis, a.k.a. "the pen salesman," so dubbed by Simon Cowell because of his outfit when he auditioned.

Until last week, I might have been surprised, because Jon Peter's performance wasn't as strong as Leah, a judges' favorite. But when Matt Rogers made it last week, it became clear voters were basing their decisions on factors beyond just talent.

Jon Peter had been in front of the camera enough, with a good-natured sense of humor, to attract a following. If his performance of "Tiny Dancer" had been less quirky, he would have been one of the finalists, easily.

But Amy had not just the personality but also a very strong performance when it counted.

We first noticed Amy at the auditions when we saw her looking at a mirror that read, "I Am an American Idol," given to her as a good luck charm by her mom. Since then, her cheerful good spirits, paired with her unquestionable talent, has endeared her to the American public.

Unlike last week, I was pleased with this week's result and understand why Amy was selected. Clearly, Amy has appeal. Now, Simon has said that if she won, it would be "Cabaret Idol." But I don't see why someone like her couldn't go on to pop stardom. After all, Cyndi Lauper did years before.

Amy has a very similar personality, not just the dyed red hair, not just a similarly shaped face. But she has that cheerful spunkiness, paired with an unusual individual style.

Now, will she win the competition? That remains to be seen, especially against such strong competitors as LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino. Now is the time for Amy to try something a little risky, something that will just blow everybody out of the water with a performance they can't ignore. Otherwise, she'll lose out to those with top performance skills.

Right now, LaToya has the best chance. When she performed again the song that got her into the finalists, she surprised me. She sang it completely differently than the first time, but it suited the moment. That's what a real professional does: not just be a jukebox but give an interpretation to a song that fits the time and place you're performing.

LaToya can do that, and that's a real gift. She has a real chance to go all the way.

 

Other Musings by Alyce on American Idol:

American Idol Index

Moral:
You've got to be special to win America's approval.