American Idol 2014 - Top 2 Finale Post-Show Power Rankings
It was an all-out battle on American Idol 2014, as the Top 2 gave it their all in what turned out to be a very solid finale performance show. But how did Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene stack up? Was this a stronger night for one than the other? Or are they neck-and-neck? Well, since nobody was bad tonight, and since I'm a fan of both finalists, I just decided to go with my gut. This is my immediate reaction to the performances I saw tonight, and while I might look back someday and wish I'd chosen differently, this ranking just feels right based on my first impressions.
You can vote on who you think will win American Idol XIII in our final poll of the season, but, once again, I'm not trying to predict who will win the show with these rankings. These are just my own personal, subjective rankings based on my immediate gut reactions at the end of the show. If you missed the show, I've got a complete recap up with links to full videos of each performance, so check it out. And then feel free to vote in our poll on who you think will win American Idol XIII!
I welcome you all to add your rankings in the comments below! Let's get to it...
Credit: FOX
1. Jena Irene: Maybe Caleb delivered the more complete package as a performer, with his insane vocals and over-the-top showmanship. But tonight? I just felt Jena Irene had him. Outside of a spotty opening with "Dog Days Are Over," Jena had a positively stellar night. Her vocal on "Can't Help Falling In Love" was impeccable, and her winner's single, "We Are One," was performed with the kind of verve and gusto that made Jena seem less like a competitor in the finale of American Idol, and more like a guest performer brought on to punch up the finale results show. It's kind of stunning how far she's come over the course of the past three months. Though her path through the series hasn't been as seamless as Caleb's, there is a clear trajectory in her journey that reads like a novel, of sorts: from under-the-radar Hollywood favorite, to early frontrunner passed over by America, rescued by the judges, and saved by America from subsequent Bottom 3 appearances. She grew more comfortable onstage and more self-assured in her artistry, bringing her to this finale, where she delivered her best at exactly the moment she needed to. I was incredibly impressed with Jena tonight and, put simply, I enjoyed her the most out of the Final 2. (WATCH: "Dog Days Are Over" / "Can't Help Falling In Love" / "We Are One")
2. Caleb Johnson: Sure, Caleb is probably going to win this thing. And if he does, he'll deserve it, because he's been damn good every single week of this competition, matching Jena's "I want to WIN, DAMMIT!" intensity. But from a purely aesthetic level, I didn't think he had as good a night as Jena. He took the first round fairly easily with "Dream On," but stumbled a bit in round two with "Maybe I'm Amazed," a performance that should have been better than it was, but which suffered from the lingering damage to his vocal chords from last week. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly up to Caleb's previous standards, nor was it on par with Jena's second round performance (although I imagine few performances were ever going to be). Luckily, however, he was able to finish strong with "As Long As You Love Me," a performance which, like "Maybe I'm Amazed," suffered from the remaining vocal damage. Yet, unlike "Maybe I'm Amazed," Caleb was able to sing around his limitations, powering through the vocal and delivering a fun, upbeat, radio-ready performance. I might say Jena seems more like a returning superstar and less like a contestant, but the exact same superlatives apply to Caleb, who is just a consummate performer. No matter what happens on tomorrow night's results show, we're getting a deserving winner. (WATCH: ""Dream On" / "Maybe I'm Amazed" / "As Long As You Love Me")
Ultimately, I feel pretty good about Season 13. Even though getting to this point wasn't always the best experience, I would argue this was still a fairly strong season overall. I mean it with all due love and respect in the world when I say I don't care who wins -- Jena and Caleb are both worthy.
But what do you think? Sound off in the comments with your rankings! See you tomorrow night as American Idol declares a winner!
Credit: FOX