The drama nears climax in the final "American Idol" week as the season comes down to two Idol hopefuls: Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood.
One hundred thousand (100,000) auditioned and if this were a sport, Bo and Carrie’s showdown would be nothing but a down-the-wire finish to the colorful season of the top rating show on Fox TV.
When the finalists were trimmed from 24 to 12, Bo and Carrie’s names had long been close to each other. The official site idolonfox.com has always arranged the names of the contestants in alphabetical order using their first names which always placed Bo and Carrie’s names one after the other. A forewarning?
But alphabetical order is as far as their common ground goes.
Coming from the opposite ropes of music genres, rocker Bo and country girl Carrie are to grab America and the world for a two-hour face-off on May 25 and 26 (local time) before America votes for the last man (or woman) standing.
Last week was a crucial, crucial stage of the elimination, perhaps as crucial as the finals itself because all three (Bo, Carrie and Vonzell Solomon) have grown with the series and its encompassing audience.
Unfortunately for Vonzell, her "Idol" bid drew to a close, hence erasing the possibility of another African-American winner. The last two seasons witnessed Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino take the "Idol" title.
You’ve seen the season; its ups and downs, its twists and turns. Not many outcomes were predictable but we were sure Bo and Carrie wouldn’t be voted-off that easily. We were right.
If you’ve trailed our "Idol" updates, we always wondered what America is really, really looking for this season. Now that it’s only Bo and Carrie, we can aptly conclude that the voters are looking for the most consistent contestant. Both are consistent good vocal performers. Bo and Carrie also have the charisma to fill stadiums and stadiums of fans. And lastly, both hardly got negative feedbacks from the judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell.
Now that it’s crunch time, indulge in odds and chances, lacks and weaknesses that these two warriors of music have in their armors.
Bo’s strengths:
• Bo’s confidence level is unshakable. This native from Alabama performs like he’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain each week.
• He’s utterly likable. Bo is the only Idol contestant who consistently acknowledges the band every after performance. And that speaks so much character.
• Bo is a risk taker (like Wednesday’s a capella surprise) and more often than not, he pulls it off.
• He knows himself all too well. At 29 years old, the guy is mature enough to know what to do and how to execute his songs. Bo is least likely to commit screw-up song choices because he just knows his stuff.
• Bo explodes with rock firepower yet he’s able to win hearts with his subdued picks (remember "Time In A Bottle?).
• Finally, the rocker appeal tells America it’s about time someone wearing leather jackets, sporting long hair and closed fist performer rule the land of the pop.
Bo’s weaknesses:
• Is America really ready for a rocker Idol? If Bo wins, how come a rocker figures in a supposed pop-dominated contest? There’s that chance that when it boils down to ‘idol’ image, Bo’s angst-ridden, rock act may not be too adhering to "American Idol."
• Bo’s very relaxed aura may strike the audience like he doesn’t really want (as in want) to win. In interviews, he’s never expressed that he’d really like to win. In fact, when he landed once in the ‘bottom three,’ he seemed very OK with it and even said his "Idol" bid is "just, after all, a bet with my mom."
Carrie’s strength:
• Consistent favorite. If Bo is consistent with his performance, Carrie consistently belonged in the upper bracket of the finalist. She has NEVER landed at the bottom three. Bo had.
• Versatility. Whatever Bo sings turns into a Bo song (Read: a rock song whether it’s dance rock, slow or pop rock). The 21-year old Carrie has that ability to slide in a few different genres other than her forte which is country. She can also rock and ballad her way through.
• The diva factor. Somehow, "American Idol" is identified with ‘divaic’ contestants. Carrie can belt like one.
• Being a very emotional contestant can work for Carrie’s favor. She has cried for almost every contestant who left the show and the compassionate sense in her easily wins fans.
Carries’ weaknesses:
• Carrie lacks solid identity. She doesn’t have the kind of character power that Bo is oozing with.
• She also doesn’t seem too sure about herself at times. Carrie easily looks nervous during performances and you can’t get away with things like this during a final showdown.
Prediction:
This "Idol" season seemed to ‘rock’ the entertainment world with its scandals and happenings and even the kind of contestants we’ve gotten to know. If it’s a rockin’ world out there, then Bo’s the man.
