The New Queen

 

Candace Glover was the winner of the 12th season of  "American Idol". She is the first female winner since Jordin Sparks won five years ago. I have no doubt the best overall voice won the contest this time. But I'm not sure this wasn't an attempt to recapture some loss ratings. They were the only show of it's kind in the beginning. Now they have "The Voice" and the "X-Factor" to compete with who are growing in popularity  And they don't have $ 12M judges who can't sing.There at the end there were a couple of strange twists that left me scratching my head. I might be wrong but these are some of my observations.

It was obvious early on the females were the more talented group. But there were one or two men who should have lasted longer.This season they got rid of the girly men right off the bat. They put the flames out early. Curtis Finch Jr.was the first one who went home. America wasn't ready for the holy dance yet. They didn't have a Clay Aikin or an Adam Lambert to make it hard. Notice I didn't say Jacob Lusk. Because even if America does select a homosexual, he won't be black. But even among them I detected something strange. After Burnell Taylor wasn't the last man standing. That was it for the fellas. Lazro was clearly one of the least talented males in the final five, but he was the last one to be eliminated. He lasted four shows after he cried. At that point I started to worry whether emotions would have an unfair influence on this contest.

I really don't remember a lot after season three. That was the year they had three people who could have easily won in other years. The prize eventually went to Fantasia Barrino. Who needless to say has turned out to be a disappointment. In my humble opinion Jordin Sparks was a compromise for that mistake . The show was turning into a country music showcase before her. Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks didn't represent the audience they were seeking. Hence we have Jordin Sparks. She was just talented and pretty enough to pull it off. After the tabloids and Fantasia. She  did  wonders for the image of the show.

My favorite this season was really Amber Holcomb. But the fix was in for Candace from the start. This is the first  time they supposedly didn't use the one time save. Indirectly they did with the no elimination week though. That was Ambers' week to go home. No matter how she sang, along with Nicky Minaj throwing shade. She just couldn't get over the hump. That show saved Kree. Otherwise she would have went the following week. Her identity was blurred from the start. She couldn't decide on whether she was Contemporary or Country. I detected a little snobbishness that she couldn't quite hide, or maybe that was on purpose It showed up when she lost. She just knew she had it won when Angie Miller got sent home.  But her fans didn't vote for Kree. Last week Angies' fans took a break and she got sent home. She still might end up with the best deal in the end  though. Angie signed before she left the show.

It's ironic Candice and Jennifer Hudson would sing a duet. The Grammy winner was put in a sticky situation. The Idol winner did a better job. That's why Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey sung by themselves. Poor Nicky Minaj didn't sing at all. Mariah did a medley of some of her hits where she could do some runs. Prove she not only talks the talk, but walks the walk. Aretha sang via satellite from the studio. She wasn't going to go on the stage with those younger women and be exposed. The pipes are not the same.  Aretha caught that shade they threw on Candace. She scared the AI producers to death. Since they stole some of the show with Angie's big announcement. She gave away the results ahead of Ryan Seacrest. A true diva move.on her part. Aretha gave Candace the biggest compliment I have ever heard her give anyone. She might be passing the torch. I think Candace represents the chance to recapture the one that got away.I like  her better now  that the show is over. Candace Glover might be the new Queen.