kat v. taylor: a simulblog...

It's been a long season. And a very brief one. And it's ending tonight, because tomorrow is all about fun. Well, until we crown one and execute the other, shoving him or her to the side so that we can make room for confetti.

Three songs, one original that no one will like tomorrow, and two that are getting their second run, now on the really big stage. And this is a simulblog, written as it's happening, complete with typos and misplaced commas, with breaks at every important stop. There will be no worst to first ranking, at least not until the morning after.

And I must say, that as a voter with no dog in this fight, it is awfully relaxing to watch without the aid of antacids or adult beverages. Well, maybe some adult beverages, but only cause I want to.

Because THIS is American Idol.

Randy, Paula and Simon are giving mundane advice before we're treated to both of their journeys, because with only six songs, even counting the Bad Day song planned by Daniel Powter, we've got a lot of time to McPhill. (Sorry.)

YAY it's Chris Daughtry! And Dad McPhee isn't crying yet.

And Katharine is up with Black Horse and a Cherry Tree. And thankfully she is on her feet this time, but in a really terrible shirt. Smart girl. But her drummers are back, and she's pulling some Tayloresque dance moves. Randy agrees with me that this was a better vocal than the last time she delivered it. Paula is typically Paula. Simon calls it a warmup, because the occasion, he says, is bigger than the song she selected.

Taylor is up with Livin' for the City, his Stevie Wonder performance, and he's in the brightest purple velvety blazer I've ever seen. He works his way through the audience [Elliott sighting!!], up to the stage, back to the audience, up on the catwalk and back to the stage, and ignites the crowd into one of the longest applauses this season. That was terrific. Randy says it's a hawt one. Paula has lost her mind and it's still early. [Ace sighting!] Simon has to pan the jacket. [Pickler/Bucky sighting!!] but gives him the Simon thumbs up.

Round one: Taylor in a knockout.

So Katharine is going to run the risk of crapping on her moment from last week by sitting on the stage and pounding out Somewhere Over the Rainbow. And I actually think I like this week's version better. McPhather is bawling, and the audience won't shut up. Randy says she "worked it out." Paula calls her possessed by one thing or another. Simon says it was again her best performance of the season. She's happy, I suppose, that she was given good critiques, but happier that she started on the right key, considering her earpiece was picking up the Comedy Channel or something. But as long as she's happy, I guess that's all the matters.

Taylor's dad introduces his boy's Levon, one of my personal fave performances from the semi-finals. [Lisa/Melissa sighting!] Randy calls it pitchy, Paula says it's not pitchy it's Taylor (whatever) and Simon gives this round to Katharine. I agree.

Round two: Katharine by a field goal.

We get to see the requisite parent-remembers-kid-growing-up-singing puff piece, and she's climbing the wall of death, commonly and affectionately referred to as the crappy original song. Hers is My Destiny. And this is the first time all season I've said this: she looks stunning. It's very Inside My Heaven-ish, but makes some of those crappy original songs seem, well, exciting. She does get a choir though, and they have robes on. That's always a plus. Randy hates the crappy song, but says she sounded good. Paula assures her that she didn't write the song so it's not her fault just in case Kat decides to go all last week on them, and Simon gives her essentially the "it's been nice to have you" speech. Ouch.

Taylor's crappy original song, Do I Make You Proud, starts with about the same amount of excitement as the one that preceded it, but then busts into that obligatory choir chorus and, yep, sure enough, here come the robed ones. "Everybody needs to be loved" seems to be the main message here. Oh Taylor. You're gonna have to record this crap. Please Taylorize it in the studio. Randy hates the song only slightly less, but loves Taylor. Paula loves Taylor. Simon tells him he's just won the whole thing.

And I agree. Without question.

But will he?

See you tomorrow. Now go vote.