May 16, 2013 - 5:42pm
'American Idol' Season 12 RECAP: Candice and Kree battle it out for the 'Idol' crown
BY GIBSON JOHNS
- FOX
“American Idol” ‘s final Top 2 performance episodes tend to feel rather anticlimactic. At this point every season, the remaining two contestants have solidified fan bases and, presumably, have put forth everything they have. It becomes a formality to have to perform three more songs and people already know who they’re going to vote for.
Going through that formality for this year's crown were Candice Glover and Kree Harrison, who each performed to the best of their abilities last night. It was Candice vs. Kree, Candy Girl vs. Kreedom, soul vs. country and it was a thrill to watch.
For some reason, Kree elected to go first after winning the coin toss. For her first song, chosen by Simon Fuller, she sang “Angel,” better known as that song from the ASPCA commercials. Kree’s voice sounded pretty and, as Mariah noted, the song allowed her to display the delicate side to her voice, but overall it felt more sleepy than profound.
Simon Fuller chose “Chasing Pavements” for Candice which proved to be a fantastic choice. The song showed-off her lower register and Candice made the song her own as much as she could in the shortened version of it. Had she been able to perform the entire song, there’s no doubt Candice could’ve taken it even further, but there’s no doubt that Candice won the first round, and the judges agreed.
Carly Rae Jepsen then took the stage to perform “Take A Picture,” the song that America has helped her ‘write’ throughout the season. The whole thing — between the neon yellow leather jacket to the dumb photo effects on screen — was unfortunate and embarrassing for the “Call Me Maybe” songstress. Let’s just move on, you guys. I just can’t.
Kree’s coronation single, “All Cried Out,” felt like a perfect song for her despite her straining vocals on some of its high notes. Her voice definitely got stretched a little too thin (probably as a result of fatigue more than anything). The song has a great chorus and Kree’s performance earned her a standing ovation from all of the judges … except for Nicki.
Though I did love “All Cried Out,” Candice’s coronation single, “I Am Beautiful,” felt way more radio-ready. After Candice’s admission last week that her confidence has grown immensely because of “Idol,” the message of the song proved to be particularly appropriate for her. As Keith said, the song “fits her like a Glover.” Hashtag pow.
Kree’s final performance of the night was a reprise of “Up To The Mountain,” which she sang during Hollywood Week. It really was the perfect last song for her and she appeared much more at ease on this song — backed by a gospel choir — than the other two. She looked stunning in red and it was by far her best performance of the night. This was as close to a performance worthy of a champion that Kree is capable of giving, but unfortunately for her, Candice proved she could do even better.
Candice sang “I Who Have Nothing” in the Top 10 and absolutely slayed it back then. But even that can’t stack up to the rendition she gave last night. She sang the first verse completely a capella and it was beautiful. Like seriously, take about a ‘winning’ performance, y’all! This was on a completely different level than anything else last night. Incredible last performance of the season.
Tonight we find out who our twelfth American Idol will be and if there’s any justice in this world, it will be Candice Glover. Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a little biased here — I’ve been skeptical of Kree’s true capabilities as an artist from the beginning — but I honestly cannot comprehend how anyone could think that there is a more rightful winner of “American Idol” Season 12 than Candice. She was consistently better than everyone else this season and, in her third time trying out for “Idol,” she proved that she has a firm grasp of who she is and what her voice can do. Regardless of what happens tonight, Candice has put herself up there with the other all-time great “Idol” contestants.
Best performance: Candice’s “I Who Have Nothing”
Who should win: Candice
Who will win: Candice
