American Idol's Final 3

I think it was James Durbin’s screaming that did him in. It was powerfully impressive the first time. Still a wow the second time. A, this guy is great, the third time. A, will he keep doing this every week, in the next? And finally, A, if he keeps on doing this, I am going to start screaming myself. America agreed. It was not ready when Adam Lambert screamed and it is still not ready when Durbin did the same. And that is how the 22-year-old rocker was voted out of American Idol, Season 10.

I also think that he picked the wrong song from the Leiber & Stoller catalogue last week. I do not know for the life of me why he had to choose Love Potion No. 9 by The Clovers out of a list that includes Stand By Me, King Creole, There Goes My Baby, Hound Dog, On Broadway, Loving You and other rock and roll classics. Screaming or not, I can just imagine what he could have done with any of those songs.

Anyway Durbin is now old news. That is until he comes up with his own hit album like Chris Daughtry did or gets an Academy Award-winning role like Jennifer Hudson did. At this moment all eyes and I suppose, also ears, are focused on the three remaining contestants, one of whom will be proclaimed the 10th American Idol next week. And these are Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and Haley Rinehart.

I like all of them. These three, along with Casey Abrams, who was sent home three weeks ago, were my favorites this year. And this is saying a lot about how good this year’s batch really was. I would sometimes have one or two favorites or none at all, per season. But I had four this year. Actually I started out with five until Durbin’s screams made me think of doing some screaming myself from the housetops. And so I say that although only one will win, in my book, Lauren, Scotty and Haley all deserve to be the new American Idol.

Scotty McCreery. This kid is the traditional All-American dreamboat. His is a combination of qualities that Americans find hard to resist. He goes to high school in Garner, North Carolina, plays baseball and plays the guitar and the harmonica. Best of all, his singing style has hints of Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Hank Williams, Garth Brooks and other pop music heroes. Add to this the fact that he is only 17 and therefore a likely crush of the tween girls department, who, I must add, are very active texters. He is set to sing She Believes In Me by Kenny Rogers, swoon, girls, swoon, which I think is an excellent choice.

Lauren Alaina. This pretty girl is Scotty’s female counterpart. She is a 16-year-old high school student from Georgia who is also a cheerleader. She also has this young wholesome quality that most Americans expect their daughters to have. Singing-wise, I think she combines the rock chops of Kelly Clarkson and the southern belle appeal of Carrie Underwood. I have been waiting all season for her to sing a LeAnn Rimes song and it is finally happening on Thursday with How Do I Live. I have a feeling she’ll be great.

Haley Reinhart. She is a 20-year-old music student who is majoring in jazz from Illinois. She has a versatile voice that sounds great with anything and she looks real sexy on stage. Her problem is that she is sometimes all over the place. It seems at times that she has this lack of coordination in her movements. I guess this also affects her singing and leads to her being inconsistent in her performances. I wouldn’t mind it if she wins but I do think, it will be a surprise if she does. This is because contestants at Idol are not supposed to sass the judges. Those who did in the past did not win and Haley has done this a few times.

I will be sad to see one of them go home on Friday and I will be happy with whoever wins this year. I guess though that the real winner is American Idol. Thanks to the new chemistry among judges Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and the oh so beautiful Jennifer Lopez and a wonderful line-up of contestants, American Idol will be alive and well for another year. And hopefully another. And another. And another.