The American Idol winner is…

ai1
Despite all the advance praise for rocker Adam Lambert, the winner of last night’s winner American Idol was Kris Allen in an upset. It may have boiled down to good kid Allen’s lack of controversy vs. Lambert’s edgy appearance and risk-taking song choices. Many were surprised by the final verdict, especially since the press and online buzz has heavily favored Lambert:

Kris Allen was crowned the “American Idol” Season 8 champ on Wednesday night (May 20), after nearly 100 million votes declared the 23-year-old Conway, Arkansas native the winner over runner-up Adam Lambert.

During the two hour-plus season finale, contestants were paired with veteran recording artists for duets. Allen broke out the guitar with Keith Urban to perform the country singer’s “Kiss a Girl;” third runner-up Danny Gokey and Lionel Richie did a medley of “Hello,” “Just Go,” and “All Night Long;” Cyndi Lauper teamed up with fourth-place finisher Allison Iraheta on “Time After Time;” and Lambert joined the glam rock band KISS for a pyro-heavy take on “Detroit Rock City” and “I Wanna Rock and Roll All Nite.” All thirteen contestants provided the vocals for Carlos Santana on “Black Magic Woman” and “Smooth,” and Lambert and Allen performed “We Are the Champions” with the big surprise guest of the night, Queen.

Allen’s victory came as a surprise to “American Idol” followers, particularly those who frequent “American Idol” blogs and fansites. Between the two Season 8 finalists, Adam Lambert has topped Kris Allen in blog buzz by an average of about 51% since both singers made the Top 36 in Feburary, according to Nielsen BuzzMetrics. And while overall buzz for both has grown as the pool has narrowed, 16% more bloggers mentioned Adam Lambert instead of Kris Allen on May 19 after the final performances aired.

[From Billboard.com]

The NY Daily News notes that it may come down to red state/blue state type politics when it comes to who people vote for. Allen has appeal with more conservative call-in voters who could be turned away by Lambert. Simon Cowell told Radar Online earlier this week that he thought Kris Allen would take home the title and he was correct.

Does it really matter, though, who wins Idol? The winner gets a record contract but that doesn’t mean automatic success. Some of the most successful former contestants weren’t the winners while some of the past winners are floundering in their careers. Lambert is likely to go on to more success when you consider how much the press loves him. Allen’s future isn’t as certain, even though he got to sing the cheesy song at the end.

Thanks to OK! Magazine for these screenshots from last night’s show.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

30 Responses to “The American Idol winner is…”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. JackieSA says:

    We are a day behind here in SA so I’ll only see the finale tonight. I couldn’t stop myself from looking! I also thought Adam would walk it, but Jennifer Hudson has done far better than whoever won that year. Adam is going to be around for a long long time. Adam is Elvis reincarnated.

  2. 88Modesty88 says:

    I just have to wonder whether people voted for Kris, or AGAINST Adam…

    Kinda OTT but not: Our Idols competition here in SA ended three weeks ago but it has since emerged that the chick who won actually got 200 000 votes less than the dude who was considered favourite to win.
    So what did the broadcaster do? It judged that BOTH were winners! Each got a recording contract and all the other prizes.
    So much for “there can be only one”.
    (Oh wait! That’s Highlander)

  3. truth-SF says:

    Each got a recording contract and all the other prizes.
    So much for “there can be only one”.
    (Oh wait! That’s Highlander)
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    LOL 88Modesty88, that was a good one.

    As for Idol, I didn’t give 2shit who won, considering I haven’t watched since season 2 or 3. But I must say, I heard Kris rendition of the Kanye’s “Heartless” song, and I think he did that song some major justice. They should replace Kanye’s with his version.

  4. 88Modesty88 says:

    Truth-SF, I obviously dated myself with that one — or do tweens know what a Highlander is? In that case, I’m 12…

    LOL, NOT!

    I usually only watch the first rounds, to see people who really suck at singing. And every year I think the same thing after every lame-duck tryout: Dude, your friends don’t love you enough if they told you “Go for it, you really stand a chance of winning!”

  5. dubdub2000 says:

    Actually to me this is actually as it should be. If nothing else, Adam’s performances with Kiss and Queen showed that he is just too big for Idol. I don’t trust that they would find the right songs or avenue for him. Look at Daughtry or Jennifer Hudson, they have a stellar career while some Idol winners are lost into oblivion, then again from time to time you get a Carrie Underwood. I think Kris and his folksy/groovy thing, is something Idol will know how to handle and grow and turn into a superstar, I think they would not know what to do with Adam, but I’m sure Adam now has enough contacts and exposure to get whatever deal he wants so I think it all worked out for the best. Hearing the top 13 back on stage it was amazing to hear how far behind the other contestants were – lol: the top 4 are really in a different league. Twas a great season though with great artists and not just singers/performers. Last time I got into it this much was the season Carrie Underwood won. Hope they keep the quality next year. (plus to boot the top 4 seemed like really decent folk which is always an added bonus) as for the blue/red states liberal/conservative non sense: whatever… in the semi finals, Seacrest said there were only like a million votes out of 88 MILLIONS seperating Adam and Kris so really, I don’t think that’s the issue.

  6. boomchakaboom says:

    I can’t believe Kris Allen’s win is being turned into a case of homophobic, red state/blue state bullsh**! For the record, I didn’t know the young man, Lambert, is gay, but I assume he is from what I’ve read today. I liked both of their performances very much. Sometimes, nice guys do finish first and it appears Kris Allen is definitely a nice guy. Actually, they BOTH seem hellaciously nice.

  7. 88Modesty88 says:

    Boom, the guy hasn’t actually “come out” and said it, not that it should make any difference.
    I think it’s more a case of, like Celebitchy said, Adam being too controversial for mainstream USA with the hair and the piercings and whatnot.

  8. barneslr says:

    Why is anyone trying to inject politics into this? I mean, I love me some good political discourse…but not here. That’s not what Idol is all about. I don’t care if Lambert is gay or not. I just don’t. This red state/blue state crap is just some columnist trying to stir the pot.

    I was surprised that Kris Allen won, but not displeased. I think once you make it to the top 3 or 4 you have had enough exposure that you can, with good choices and good management, really take off with a great career. Winning doesn’t mean huge success (remember Ruben, Fantasia and Taylor?) All winners, but none of them have done as well as some of the runners-up. So, even though I was hoping for Lambert to win–he is phenomenally talented–I know we’ll be seeing a lot of him in the future. He’s just got that “something” that makes him a star.

    All in all, a good season. I am looking forward to next year!

    Oh, and I’ve watched every year…last night’s finale was by far the best yet. In past years I’ve found it kinda boring and just wanted to get to the results. They got it right last night, though–it was just good, entertaining TV.

  9. Sissy says:

    Adam was annoying and too over the top. He was also very cocky. I’m glad he didn’t win.

  10. truth-SF says:

    88Modesty88, Yea, I think you had to have been born before 1985 to know what Highlander was about, did I mentioned I was obsessed with that show when I was 12.

    I sometimes wonder from ppl’s comment about Adam being too big for idol, if it was his choice not to win, so that he won’t be chained by Idol’s contract and he could be free to do his own thing, kinda like Daughtrey.

  11. ash says:

    Sorry, Kris said it after he won that the title belongs to Adam. Which is definitely true.

    But in the end, it doesn’t really matter, as long as you make it to the final 2, you’re bound to get a deal out of it anyway.

    Adam was amazing. In my opinion he outshines Kris for sure.

  12. CRAZINESS says:

    Kris got the Christian vote (leftovers from Gokey). I LOVE THIS RESULT! Because Kris is adorable and humble and talented — and Adam will go on to do great things and keep us entertained for years to come.

  13. boomchakaboom says:

    88Modesty: Huh. So he hasn’t said he’s gay, yet it’s being taken by some that he didn’t win because he’s gay. So…makes a whole lotta sense.

    The guy performed with KISS. Nobody can outdo KISS in the makeup and controversy department, and it didn’t keep mainstream USA from embracing them. Not to mention Liberace. Flamboyant performers are nothing new. Sometimes I think the more we “progress” the further behind we get.

  14. t says:

    boomchakab and dubdub2000, you are so right. Over-the-top entertainers have always been around and made it big. And with only a million votes out of 100 million seperating them, it was almost a tie. I see no controversy in a 1% difference. Both were entertaining and well liked.

  15. ChristinaT says:

    i think one poster got it right in saying they were voting against adam… kris is good but he’s nothing special. adam is leaps ahead of him in talent… kind of a disappointment…

  16. Bella says:

    Adam is the true star, Kris can’t hold a note. The fact is that Kris won because all the “tweens” voted for him, and the small, close-minded people who are afraid to admit that Adam is amazing.

    Adam will be the true star, his talent will outshine all the rude comments.

  17. flourpot says:

    I’m Connor MacLeod, same clan, different vintage.
    lol, old and proud, baby.

  18. Kathy says:

    I voted for Kris because I think he is talented and adorable. I found his piano and guitar playing added to his sense of being a musician.

    Not everything has to do with some underlying political drama.

  19. Ana says:

    To me, it wasn’t because he may be gay but because I can’t stand to hear him screech. I don’t see how he got that far. He is a great preformer, but not a great singer IMO.
    I agree with Michael K at Dlisted-Kris belongs in 98 degrees or something.
    But I am glad that we finally have someone representing Arkansas (besides Bill Clinton-love him) that doesn’t act like a hillbilly.

  20. sonia says:

    Kris the next Taylor Hicks in terms of sales they always go for the Southerner

  21. Bubbles says:

    The Idols Finale was a great show….I voted for Kris from the start and although Adam is fantastic, he is not Idol material but a Hollywood one….so good luck to him. Kris performance was so appealing, he will go a long way.,..good luck to both but am happy Kris won!

  22. ChristinaT says:

    ana, not a great singer? did you hear his rendition of “mad world.” it was AMAZING!!

  23. LoisVancouverCanada says:

    I do not like the result and I am still upset that Adam didn’t win. Adam is still my idol no matter what. Who’s Kris? I agree with Sonia’s comments. I guess, another Taylor Hicks. Adam will do very well even if he didn’t win the title. I think people voted for Kris because they think Adam is gay, who care? Adam can sing. Where Kris comes from, those states, people don’t like gays. Btw, I am from Canada but all over the news, they talk about Adam being gay, who care?

  24. boomchakaboom says:

    LoisV: Nice to see you (from Canada, btw) wouldn’t think of taking an assumption and categorizing an entire state population as a bunch of gay people haters based on that assumption.

  25. teleskier says:

    get real, few people these days are homophobic…just the ignorant minority. Think about it- adam was voted in the top week after week while the other contestants were eliminated..am sure the voting was close…and we all know one thing for sure- adam lambert is the star!

  26. Ana says:

    I didn’t see that preformance. Did he not scream like a banshee? That was my only problem with him. Adam does have great stage presence. He would do great on Broadway.

  27. Vex says:

    Adam is simply too good to be trying to find success on a show like Idol.

  28. barneslr says:

    “Where Kris comes from, those states, people don’t like gays”

    How on earth would you know? You are not even from this country, much less one of “those states.” Why are you assuming to know something you obviously don’t.

    Quite simply what happened is that Kris got the votes that would have gone to Danny; that gave him the edge. They are both talented, but in very different ways. But, in reality, when you get that far in the competition, it doesn’t matter if you win or not…by then you’ve had a chance to show what you can do and build a career from there. Look at Daughtry, Pickler, Hudson…they didn’t win, but they have thriving careers.

  29. Zoe (The Other One) says:

    Adam is the new Jennifer Hudson. Kris is very cute with a nice voice but he is not even close to Adam’s stage presence or vocal abilities.

  30. Blondie says:

    Adam rocks…his sexuality shouldn’t matter – he is as people have rightly said too big for Idol.

    I only hope he does good after and not end up like Bo Bice who was fantasically talented but has kind of disappeared.

    Adam rocks!!!