By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, March 13, 2015
Nick Fradiani took home the Season 14 prize tonight.
While Clark Beckham seemed like a favorite to win through much of the competition, he wavered a bit closer to the end. It didn't help that the judges and mentor Scott Borchetta clearly favored Nick. And Nick had the better coronation song.
I predicted Nick would win based on what happened last night. It came down to two WGWGs with very different styles. Nick was clearly the more marketable pop guy. Clark's insistence on the sleepy jazzy soul arrangement of "Your Man" two weeks ago might have done him in because that was what he considered his "soul" song. Last week, Borchetta threw him a U2 song and he botched it. And his coronation song last night was godawful through no fault of his own.
The past two winners disappeared into the ether. We'll see if Borchetta (Taylor Swift's muse) can do more with Nick and help him generate a couple of Daughtry-like Hot AC hits. I'm not sure if "Beautiful Life" is strong enough to become a radio hit but it's not the worst coronation song "Idol" has ever come up. (I still cringe at "Inside Your Heaven" poor Carrie had to croon.)
The show this year was very low frills. There were mostly musical performances but the show has cut back on highlights from the season and comedy bits. There are no more hometown parties shown via satellite either. But the two hours went by smoothly. While not every act was quite up to speed with 2015 (The Jacksons???), there were plenty of fun moments.
Here are the performances from the finale:
Fall Out Boy's "Centuries." (Nick, Clark) Take a guess who was more comfortable doing pop-rock?
The Jacksons' "I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save/Shake Your Body" (Tyanna Jones) - She sang the Jacksons earlier this season so it (sorta) makes sense but it wasn't a show stopper. They should have had her sing something a bit... newer.
A Nile Rogers medley featuring Sister Sledge "We Are Family"/Chic's "Le Freak"/"I'll Be There"/"Good Times"/"Rapper's Delight" (The ladies) - Much better than the Jacksons medley. And yes, Maddie Walker still looks like a pageant contestant. And Niles even tries to rap a bit.
Rickey Martin "Mr. Put It Down" (solo) "Living La Vida La Loca" (the guys with Quaasim and Quentin getting front and center love)/ "She Bangs" (guys)/ "Cup of Life" - Ricky hasn't had much of a profile in the states in awhile but his 1999 hit "Living La Vida..." still rocks! Unfortunately, bringing "She Bangs" out reminds us off... William Hung.
Janelle Monae "Yoga" - Silly song but it's hard not to like her.
Prince Royce with Pitbull and JLo "Back It Up" - Proof that JLo still has it, as she 'backs it up" into someone 19 years younger than her. Pitbull? He looks like he just stepped out of "American Hustle."
Echosmith "Cool Kids" (Joey Cook) - Joey sounded better than the lead singer of Echosmith.
Keith Urban "Even the Stars Fall 4 U" - I haven't liked his more recent output compared to his early hits. This one isn't half bad. I'll need to give it a few more listens to make a firmer call.
Jamie Foxx "In Love By Now" (Rayvon Owen) - A very pretty song that works well with Rayvon. And Jamie sounds better than he did before the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight (though I didn't think his National Anthem was that bad.)
The two finalists get Ford Focuses and so do their mentors.
New Kids on the Block medley, including "Step By Step"/"The Right Stuff" (Daniel Seavey) - Frightening but NKOTB's heyday was 25 years ago, a full decade before Daniel was even born. At least his mom is probably excited.
Vance Joy "Riptide" (Quentin Alexander) - This makes me miss Quentin. I wish he had outlasted Rayvon.
Chris Brown featuring Pitbull "Fun" ( Qaasim Middleton) - It seems Quaasim should have performed with the Jacksons because he seemed to have stolen all of MJ's old moves.
Steven Tyler "Love is Your Name" (solo)/"Piece of My Heart" (Jax) - His country song wasn't half bad. And Jax just tore the house down rockin' with him.
Michael MacDonald "Takin' It To The Street" (Clark) - Clark was pretty torpid doing this solo but having the real Doobie there energized him and the results were much better.
Andy Grammer "Back Home"/"Honey I'm Good" (Nick) - Pure fun. They pair off well.
JLo/Harry Connick Jr./Keith Urban "Diamond" (JLo)/"Locked Out In Heaven" (Keith/JLo vocals) - Very "Voice" like, eh?
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