S10E35: I’ve been waiting for this elimination all season, and now that it’s here I actually feel kind of guilty. It’s not that I’ve changed my opinion about James Durbin’s vocals — I still think they’re overrated and unpleasant to listen to — but because Idol has this way of making you feel awful for the unreasonably strong opinions it forces you to form as soon as fates are decided.
Last night was a bit of a doozie, but it’s down to the top three so I should have known better. I honestly thought that it would come down to the ladies, Haley and Lauren, for the elimination but then were both safe on those incredibly uncomfortable (I’m assuming) stools, my mind immediately went to Scotty. For some reason, I had this notion that James was immovable. I didn’t think he could lose. In that two-minute commercial break, I assumed the worst and started getting angry thinking that America was sending Scotty home. I may not love country music, but I love that voice and he deserves to be in the top three.
However, after an interlude that included Steven Tyler’s new music video (which for some indeterminable reason I found infinitely less obnoxious than Jennifer’s copious self-promotions; probably because I can’t help but love Tyler) and a performance from a newly trim Jordin Sparks, Ryan delivered the blow. The top three is a set — for once in 10 cycles — that is completely made up of people I’m rooting for, but that didn’t make me feel any better when James’ farewell video played and we were reminded of how he lost his father, the diseases he battles and his adoring family. It felt a lot like when Chris Medina was eliminated in Hollywood. You want to like his voice, you want to vote for him because Idol has a knack for finding people with sob stories, but at the end of the day, you have to pick the best singers, not the people who you wish you could help. It’s a tough spot that the Idol process puts us in and it’s a tough spot that Idol puts these singers in. For every contestant that gets to that raining-glitter moment, there are droves whose dreams died thanks to this competition. While I’d like to celebrate the top three, I’ll be respectful for now and say goodbye to James. Maybe it’s because his last performance was so tear-filled, but it tugged at my heartstrings a bit. He’s a good guy and at least now he can be safe from my rampant internet criticisms.
