A Sparkling Future for Jordin Sparks

CONGRATULATIONS TO JORDIN! For showing such vast vocal range so rare for someone her age, for improving from week to week (well, except for Bon Jovi week, when she sang "Livin' on a Prayer")--she deserved to win.

But much as I'm impressed with her talent, I had sort of rooted for Blake--that is, until he sang "This is My Now." But his rendition of "You Give Love a Bad Name," (Bon Jovi week) together with LaKisha's version of "(And I'm Telling You) I'm Not Going" (Top 24 week) and Melinda's "I Believe in You and Me" and "Nutbush City Limits" (Top 3 week) remain to be the American Idol Season Six's most memorable performances, at least in my mind.

And Melinda is still my American Idol. And between Jordin and Season Five's Paris Bennett, I'd pick the latter any day as the best 17-year-old contestant the show has ever featured.

And before I forget, how ironic that Jordin won at the end of a finale that sorely lacked her surname. I mean, nagkulang ba ang budget ng 19 Entertainment? So low-watt? So "so what?"

I really hope Season Seven will be better.

(Photo courtesy of FOX/Michael Becker)

Dreary Dozen

Let’s face it: on its own this year’s American Idol Top Twelve is at best an arguably decent batch, as decent as Season Three’s dozen. The fact that both batches have the women outclassing the men in virtually every way reinforces the comparison. But damn those who says that this year’s dozen improves on last year’s. I mean, come on! Seriously. No comparison at all.

I would've preferred Sabrina Sloan to be in the Top Twelve instead of Haley Scarnato. It seems her early exposure during the audition rounds played a key part in Haley’s surprise inclusion, for her semi-final performances contributed very little to back it up. She’s certainly this year’s Melissa McGhee (or Lindsay Cardinale. Or Leah LaBelle.). As for Antonella Barba, her vocal skills really paled in comparison to the divas (Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Jordin Sparks and Stephanie Edwards, even Gina Glocksen) in the dozen. But I have to admit, she's really easy on the eyes.

If I were Jared Cotter or Sundance Head (who must be really singing the blues now), I would demand a recount. Sanjaya Malakar? Yeah, he’s a sweet-looking fellow, and I have to admit I find his voice pleasant (he’s rarely off-pitch in his semi-final performances as far as I can recall), but he really has no business being in the Top Twelve. He’ll be easily blown away by his competitors. Even last year’s Kevin Covais could beat him. America obviously didn’t mind how he creepily looked like Michael Jackson during the second semi-final week or how his hula demonstration made him look so much wimpier than he already is. Like in Haley’s case, I believe his extensive airtime in the show before the semi-finals, among other things, helped him advance.

God, I hope both Haley and Sanjaya don’t make it to the AI summer tour.