Can you believe we have reached the final performance of the season? I can’t.
Let’s get right to it.
The show began with the standard intro. After Sue introduced Ben Mulroney, he said that this was the “biggest show of the year.” He also said that he doesn’t go to lame parties and he certainly doesn’t host lame parties.
Sue Brophy came out and once again dropped the “CTV… world domination” line. Just as I said ad nauseum last year, I think the schtick is played out.
Sue also said that Mary Jo Eustace (the actress whose husband, Dean McDermott left her for Tori Spelling) was in the audience. The media section where I was sitting was totally buzzed with the news. Ah, to think that news of Mary Jo sitting in the same audience has us this excited is the life of a celebrity reporter I guess. Sue also said that there would be a Q & A with Eva and Craig after the show, and that it would be open to the public. Media were giving special purple flashcards so that our questions would be answered right away (if we had any).
The show began with a very very cool cold opening where they talked about the season and that Craig and Eva had reached the finals after 12,000 auditions. There was some fantastic music that accompanied this vignette.
For tonight’s show, the Idols would be singing three songs. They would premiere the first single that the winner will release, called “Meant To Fly” by Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida, their favorite song of the season and one other song of their choice. Ben also said that last year’s Canadian Idol, Melissa O’Neil and Nelly Furtado would be performing in the finale on Sunday. He also announced that 9 million votes were cast in the last two weeks.
The final two then came out and Ben asked them how they were feeling and how they were preparing.
Eva: Truly honored to still be here.
Craig: I have been rehearsing a lot!
Ben then asked the judges for their thoughts.
Farley: 3 songs each, what more can Canada ask for?
Zack: (Regarding Craig). This kid was a serious contender to go all the way. After tonight, it is what it is.
Jake: (Regarding Eva). She has grown more than anyone else in the competition.
Sass: They have what it takes to go all the way.
Ben then plugged Sass’ new album which drops on September 19 and said that the audience would all be getting a free copy.
A short clip of Chantal Kreviazuk was played where she talked about Craig’s voice with relation to the Idol single. This introduced the first performance of the evening.
Craig Sharpe
– Sang “Meant To Fly”
– Great song.
– Seems very relaxed.
– Lyrics are great.
– Idol singles have gotten progressively better over the years.
– Phenomenal performance.
– I cannot believe his confidence level.
– Very hot opener to the show.
– Farley is really into it.
– Getting crowd to sing along to a song they have never heard shows the mark of a champion.
– Simply awesome.
Jake: Last week, Zack and I told you to bring it. That was the best thing you have done on that stage.
Sass: Wow, unbelievably great!
Farley: You are a man to be respected at this craft.
Zack: (Gets up and hugs Craig!)
It really was a phenomenal performance and in all objectivity, probably the best finale performance ever.
Commercial.
Eva Avila
– Sang “Wild Horses” by Natasha Bedingfield
– Boring song.
– Singing well, but song isn’t really getting the crowd involved.
– Trying to show vulnerability.
– Not wearing any shoes.
– Meh.
– An average performance.
– Lack of interaction with the crowd exacerbated by the fact that Craig interacted so well with the crowd.
Sass: You are the jewel in the Canadian Idol crown.
Farley: Incredibly mature, incredibly Eva.
Zack: Not sure how brilliant it was to choose song that nobody knows. Cool, but you haven’t won a Grammy yet.
Jake: It was a peek into the kind of artist you’re going to be.
Commercial.
It’s clear that Eva won the coin toss as she would be performing last.
Craig Sharpe
– Sang “I Surrender” by Celine Dion.
– Takes guts to sing Celine on the finale… and even more if you are a guy!
– Craig definitely seems more focused.
– Hitting note after note.
– Very impressive performance once again.
– It’s quite clear that he wants to win.
– Showing incredible poise.
– Amazing moment when he sang with no music.
– Spectacular.
– It’s been close up until this point, but based strictly on tonight… so far Craig is the clear choice.
Farley: Fantastic performance!
Zack: You’re the Freddie Mercury of Canada.
Jake: Brave to do that song. At times, I thought the band overpowered you.
Sass: You broke out of your shell, God bless you!
Commercial.
They played another Chantal vignette, this time talking about why Eva would be perfect to release the song.
Eva Avila
– Sang “Meant To Fly.”
– Good, but once again, not spectacular.
– Seems more confident than her first performance, but her version is just not as stellar as Craig’s.
– The song is very catchy, but the fact that I am talking about the song and not the performer speaks volumes.
– Nice runs.
– A remarkable improvement, but needs a big third song.
Zack: Nobody on any Idol can compare.
Jake: I’d love to hear recorded version.
Sass: It’s like you had a hand in writing it. You delivered it like a goddess.
Farley: You’re a songwriter’s dream.
Commercial.
Time for the final performances!!!
Craig Sharpe
– Sang “What Hurts The Most” by Rascal Flatts.
– This was his favorite song of the season.
– Not his best of the evening.
– Sucks that it is his last one and the one he will be remembered for.
– I think he should have played to his strengths and picked a ballad to end with.
Jake: Not the best one you gave tonight.
Sass: The first time I saw you in Newfoundland, I knew you were a star. That hasn’t changed.
Farley: Smartest contestant we have had in four years because of your song choices.
Zack: I am not the biggest Rascal Flatts fan. Canada should judge you based on what you just did just then.
Commercial.
Eva Avila
– Sang “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore?” by Alicia Keys.
– This was her favorite song of the season.
– The last time she sang this was on Unplugged night at the Masonic Temple.
– Will she be able to capture it if it isn’t unplugged version?
– Farley is basically dancing at the desk.
– Eva made a very wise closing choice.
– This is by far her best performance of the night.
– She is hitting note after note.
– Crowd is in the palm of her hand.
– Playing to the camera well.
– A truly awesome display of vocal ability and range.
Sass: (Inaudible, because of crowd cheering).
Farley: You ripped it!
Zack: You may win or ay lose, but Clive Davis should down and kiss your Canadian ass.
Jake: Watching your background singers clap for you shows me how good you are. The best compliment you can get is from your peers.
So that’s all she wrote. Time for Canada to decide.
Everybody has asked me for my thoughts on the winner, so here is what I think it will come down to.
1. Newfoundland. Their guy (Rex Goudie) lost last year and I think they will be voting in droves.
2. Eva being the last girl standing and beating out her new beau, Chad Doucette and Tyler Lewis. I think she will capitalize on the fact that she will get many of the female votes… however…
3. Craig is good looking guy. If he manages to secure even a small percentage of the female votes, I think it is over.
4. Eva is from Quebec, a province known for their lack of voting.
5. Craig won the night, but Eva had the better final song. What will Canada remember?
CTV released information that this is the closest Idol vote in history, with the West determining the winner in the second voting window. The winner will be decided by 3.3%, or 133,000 votes.
I think that this information bodes well for Eva. If the vote is close, that means that Newfoundland has been neutralized.
In any event, I called Craig from the first show and that’s who I am going with.
On Sunday, I will be wearing a crazy outfit to celebrate the end of another Canadian Idol season. Stay tuned for that, details of the final press conference and interviews with the final two… just in time for the launch of Inside Pulse V3 and RealityDish.
Peace.
