Curtain Call: ‘American Idol’s’ Top 2 Steal the Show

(photo: Fox)

Some people say American Idol is a “singing competition.” Others claim it’s a “search for a superstar.” Some say it’s all about stellar vocals, while others argue that it’s more about artistry and “making a song one’s own.” On a good night, Idol is all of these things.

And Wednesday’s Idol top two show – the last competitive episode in Idol history – was a very, very good night.

On Wednesday, we found out that the two singers left in the running to be the final Idol are… Trent Harmon and La’Porsha Renae. This makes Season 15’s showdown a classic battle of world-class vocals, a la Ruben vs. Clay, Fantasia vs. Diana, and Caleb vs. Jena. No disrespect to Dalton Rapattoni, of course, who was sent home Wednesday in a more-than-respectable third place – that kid is a STAR, for sure, and if he had made the top two, he would have represented Idol proudly. But a grand finale starring the two greatest vocal powerhouses and song interpreters of the entire season is the best happy ending that Idol producers and fans could’ve hoped for.

Annnnd I think I just teared up a little while typing that paragraph. Damn it, I’d barely recovered from my crying jag over Wednesday’s top three opening number, of Kygo’s “Stole the Show,” which featured the following heartbreaking lyrics:

Darling, darling, oh, turn the lights back on now/Watching, watching, as the credits all roll down/Crying, crying, you know we’re playing to a full house, house/No heroes, villains, one to blame/While wilted roses filled the stage/And the thrill, the thrill is gone/Our debut was a masterpiece/But in the end for you and me/Oh, the show, it can’t go on/We used to have it all, but now’s our curtain call/So hold for the applause/And wave out to the crowd, and take our final bow/Oh, it’s our time to go, but at least we stole the show…

Man. It’s so hard to process that 15 seasons of American Idol are coming to an end. But I am going to enjoy every last fleeting minute of whatever’s left of this season. Thankfully, on Wednesday, the top two sang three times – their potential singles (or “coronation songs”), selections by show creator Simon Fuller, and encore performances that the contestants picked themselves. Let’s get to Reality Rocks’ (gulp) last competitive-show Idol recap. Ever.

CORONATION SONGS

Trent Harmon, “Falling”

Just as Phillip Phillips in Season 11 got a legit song that could actually compete on the radio (“Home,” which went on to sell 5 million copies), Trent really lucked out with his single. “Falling” (co-written by Keith Urban, who grooved and sang along excitedly behind his desk) is an alt-bluesy barnstormer – think Alex Clare, John Newman, Amos Lee – and it’s a perfect song for Trent. And judging from the way he tore into this song like it was a medium-rare filet mignon from the Longhorn Fish & Steakhouse, Trent was thrilled with it. He sang it with so much gusto, I thought his famously wobbly jaw was going to dislodge and fall right off from overuse. (That’s a compliment, by the way.)

La’Porsha Renae, “Battles”

La’Porsha got a more traditional-sounding coronation song, a triumph-over-adversity power ballad about “never giving up.” The song of course spoke to La’Porsha’s own emotional backstory, and she seemed comfortable onstage, working the crowd (and a fantastic outfit) with huge smile on her face. But the song was weak, and unlike fellow belter Trent’s single, it was not a suitable showcase for her magnificent vocals. Seriously, last week’s “Glory” would have been a better coronation single for La’Porsha than “Battles.” Actually, Scott Borchetta could have even given her “This Is My Now 2016” and it would’ve been an improvement. La’Porsha sang well, but she deserved better than this treacle. Borchetta, get her back in the studio and give her a hotter track!

Dalton Rapattoni, “Strike a Match”

As stated earlier with a somewhat heavy heart, Dalton didn’t make it to the top two, but at least he got a proper sendoff package – unlike last year’s poor third-placer Jax, who was brushed aside during the top two show’s extremely cold open, and practically escorted off the set by security, before Kieran had even dimmed the lights. This Wednesday, Dalton got to sing one more song before his exit, and it was “Strike a Match,” which would have been his first single. (You can still buy it on iTunes and Amazon.) His song wasn’t as catchy as Trent’s, but it was better than La’Porsha’s schmaltzfest – and, as was the case with Trent, it was a perfect match (no pun intended) of singer and song. The upbeat, Jimmy Eat Worldly pop-rock anthem is exactly the kind of music I always imagined Dalton would make after Idol (and hope he will make, because I think he has a career ahead of him). Dalton sang it like he wrote it – and like he’d already won. In some ways, he did win. Congrats, Mr. Rapattoni, on a great run.

SIMON FULLER’S CHOICES

Trent Harmon, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”

Clearly Fuller knows Trent by now, and knows what sort of artist Trent should be. He chose this song very wisely. The Gamble & Huff classic, first recorded in 1972 by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, could have come across as dull and old-fashioned (I recall other singing-competition contestants struggling to slog through it), but Trent did for it in 2016 what Simply Red did for it in 1989. He gave the song new life.

“It has been extraordinary to watch how far you’ve come in this competition, and absolutely amazing to see you onstage going up against La’Porsha. You have given her a run for the money like I’ve never seen,” said Keith. (Side note: I don’t know why the judges kept depicting Trent as the underdog this evening. It has been abundantly clear since he sang “Chandelier” two weeks ago that he is the contestant to beat.)

La’Porsha Renae, “A House Is Not a Home”

Fuller sure loves old Idol standards – Tamyra Gray had a big moment with this Bacharach & David ballad way back Season 1. But La’Porsha gave it a gorgeous update. She made me feel every word. My tears sprang anew as she performed “House” as if it were, well, her coronation song.

“I love the Luther Vandross version, and the Dionne Warwick version, and now we have the La’Porsha version,” gushed Jennifer Lopez. “One of the greatest things about the way you sing lyrics, you never overdo them. You keep them in the realm of believability. That told me a lot. From a musical point of view, you spoke volumes about what you know about harmony. To provide that with a great lyric interpretation and something that moves me is about all you can ask for,” raved Harry Connick Jr. “All I know is that I don’t even smoke, and I need a cigarette right now,” joked Keith, in one of his best critiques ever. Well played, Mr. Urban. Well played.

ENCORE PERFORMANCES

Trent Harmon, “Chandelier”

Well, apparently lightning can strike twice. It was no surprise that Trent would choose his Sia Week breakthrough for his reprise, but “Chandelier” had been such a high point for him, he ran the risk of not living up to that fantastic, not-too-distant memory. But instead Trent actually did the unimaginable and topped himself. He swung for the chandelier, and he succeeded. This was stupendous. The audience’s joyous shrieking was so loud and out-of-control afterwards, the judges could barely get a chance to speak.

“If you were going to do anything to make this the hardest decision probably in the history of American Idol, that was it,” said Harry. “For some people, you might have made it an easier decision,” Keith interjected, adding: “An extraordinary performance. Your vocal transition from chest to head and falsetto is so gorgeous. A real magnificent thing to get to hear you sing that.” And then Jennifer summed it up with: “From the very beginning, I saw something so special in you. I knew you would be here in the last two… You deserve to win. You do.”

La’Porsha Renae, “Diamonds”

OK, maybe this was La’Porsha’s proper coronation moment. “Diamonds” was La’Porsha’s first real breakout on Idol, many weeks ago – the first time I realized she could (and maybe should) win. And tonight, she had a full-circle moment with it – vamping it up, totally letting go, and embellishing it effortlessly. She took it to a new level. She was shining brighter and more diamond-like than ever.

“This is what I can’t wait for: to go to a show of yours, and see you let loose. You know, like, ‘I don’t have to keep it together right now. I can just go off.’ I want to be there,” said Jennifer. (Side note: I want to be there, too. That’s why I wish there was a tour this summer!) And then, Harry delivered the final critique of the entire series. And it was: “I have nothing to say. Amazing.” It seemed like a bit of a wasted opportunity, but then again, maybe all of America was speechless, realizing that they’d just seen the final Idol competitive performance ever.

And now, for the last time… it is prediction time. Who’s going to win this thing and become that “Kelly Clarkson bookend”? I can declare with 99 percent confidence that it will be Trent. He easily won round one and narrowly won round three, and while J.Lo gave round two to La’Porsha, I think that round was a tie. Keith claimed this will be “the closest race in Idol history,” but I disagree.

But you know what they say… it ain’t over till a cast of about 50 Idols sing! So join me Thursday night with a massive box of Kleenex, as your Idol favorites put on the show of shows. Thanks to returning producer Nigel Lythgoe, there will be Bowie medleys, rock medleys, diva medleys, medleys upon medleys, and probably a lot of wonderfully cheesy step-touch group numbers.

And there will be tears. See you then. Parker out.

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