I’m going to boil this down tonight because, like many of you, I am underwhelmed with this season of my all-time favorite show!  Nonetheless, I am dedicated and fairly consistent, so I cannot forgo the review altogether.  With that said, here we go…

After Crystal fumbled her way down the aisle, with an awkward run, dropping her microphone and stopping randomly to pose and hug audience members, and finally made her way up to the stage, I got the impression that she was a little wired tonight – you know, a ball of nervous energy , which to me came off as cockiness.  And am I the only one who was totally shocked to learn that she wore braces as a teen?  I bet her dad feels like he should get at least a partial refund on that investment!  The Top 12 were front row, center in the audience tonight… probably looking at these two thinking WTF?  And Kara… what’s up with the side pony tail tonight… not your best look girl!  Moving on…

First song for Lee – “The Boxer” which was a touching, audience fave, but he strolled through the song instead of picking up speed, which he should be doing during this stage of the race.  He sauntered I tell you – run Lee, RUN!!!  Quite frustrating, but hey – two more songs to go for him to redeem himself from this first lack-luster performance!

First song for Crystal – “Me and Bobby McGee,” with her guitar in hand, special/fancy microphone stand in place, and dirty dreads rocking the stage.  Yeah, yeah, she sounded good and had a lot of energy, but that blue eye shadow and over-zealous performance did nothing for me.  She wants it, and she wants it bad… we get it!  But for some reason her persona is rather unappealing to me.  Nonetheless, Round 1 went to Crystal!

Second song for Lee – “Everybody Hurts”… I was so excited when I heard this was the producers’ pick for him, not only because I LOVE his song, but also because I thought it was so suitable for his voice and felt he could really sink his teeth into it.  But alas, I was rather disappointed and frustrated yet again.  He did it well, but he could have done it so much better!  He had the back-up choir working for him and a rock groove going… so I am not sure what the apparent self-restraint was all about.  It was obvious that he was so nervous and I felt bad for him in that regard.  I will say, however, that I noticed him doing a little bit of that Kris Allen-styled side-mouth singing that always kind of bothers me… now please just stop that!

Second song for Crystal – “Black Velvet”… Alanna Miles… really?  I would never have picked such a sexy, sultry song for our toothless wonder, but hey – no one asked my opinion!  She tried to produce a dramatic, Glambert-styled entrance, coming down the lighted stairs in her black satin dress and stiletto heels, but it just didn’t work for her like it did for Adam.  First and foremost, I kept waiting for her to miss a step and come tumbling down, and then of course, she would win simply by receiving all the sympathy votes.  You could tell SHE was nervous about it too because she was looking down for every deliberate step she took.  Secondly, that dress revealed that mammoth-sized tattoo on her back, which I also find very unappealing (but that’s just me).  I did not like the sound of her doing this song and I thought she screamed a lot – but not in a good, Adam Lambert kind of way.  Ellen compared the evening to a “Cher concert” with all the wardrobe changes, which made me LOL!  Simon said she “nailed it,” but I respectfully disagree.  She was working – no, she was over-working – the audience in a seemingly desperate attempt to garner the popular vote… but all that was really annoying me.  Just sayin’!

Lee’s third and final song – “Beautiful Day”… you mean for his first release he is going to cover a U2 song?  Weird!  Lee came out with no guitar in his red tennies, stumbling around the stage, with no idea what to do with his hands… he seemed truly lost without his guitar, but I thought he sounded fabulous!  It was by far the best of his three performances tonight, which is a good note to go out on for the evening.  Simon’s parting comments to Lee were touching because I felt they were genuinely heartfelt – good for him for describing Lee in such a truly flattering way.

Crystal’s third and final song – “Up to the Mountain”… evidently some folk song they sing in the Appalachians as they sip their moonshine and strum their banjos while barefoot on the front porch of the cabin.  (Get the visual here?)  Crystal did her thing with her acoustical guitar and delivered a moving performance of this song I had never heard before.  She sang it well, all the while choking back the tears, and making us understand that she want the Season 9 title really, really, really badly!  Again – we get it!  But your constant attempts at audience interaction, combined with your obviously contrived (yet unrehearsed) words of encouragement to Simon, were all just on my last nerve!  Stop it – play fair and just sing!  Stop talking because you do not do it well!  Nonetheless, she did shine (in her own ratty-haired, yellow teeth way) with that last performance, which was perfectly timed.  She is unique alright, but does that always mean the most desirable?  I think not.

And what happened to the traditional lame-o song, written by Kara or some random fan who conjured up some lyrics and sent them into the show for some ridiculous contest, that served as the “winner’s song?”  In all previous seasons, the two finalists had to perform the same song, regardless of how badly written or inappropriate for their voice  it may have been – you know, so we could compare apples to apples.  I felt like tonight I was comparing a pineapple to a crab apple, which made it hard to declare a “winner.”

With that said – I will conclude by stating that Lee’s nerves affected his performances tonight, while Crystal was in prime form.  I still think Lee is a favorite, at least partly because so many people find Crystal “icky.”  It will be close – but tune in for Part 2 of the Season 9 finale to find out who will reign as this year’s American Idol, plus Simon Cowell’s bittersweet departure from the show.  Ryan eluded to some “surprises” for tomorrow night’s show, but I have not heard any reports of a star-studded cast like there was last year.  Until tomorrow friends – good night!