Idol 9: the final 2 perform

This is the night. The sing-off everyone has expected for most of the season. Crystal vs. Lee. They will each get three songs.

First off, the singer's favorite song from the season.

Lee (The Boxer): Very good. Maybe a bit too laid back, but fine all the same. He gets a 4.7 out of 5 from me.

Crystal (Me and Bobby McGee): What can I say? I love this gal and the way she sings. Fine performance. She gets a 4.8 out of 5.

Next, songs chosen by producer Simon Fuller.

Lee (Everybody Hurts): He gets the backup choir again. Sadly, it just doesn't stir me. He just doesn't look like he is in it to win it. I'm giving him a 4.5 out of 5.

Crystal (Black Velvet): I didn't care for her trip down the stairs; she looked so tentative and scared that she's about to plunge headfirst to the bottom. But there was nothing tentative about the all out way she sang the song. Simon said he was almost allergic to that song because he's heard it done so badly in the past, but she "absolutely nailed it!" She gets a 4.9 out of 5.

Finally, the song they will record and release if they win. (No coronation song as past finalists have had to do. Good riddance.)

Lee (Beautiful Day): Hmm. I'm feeling so disappointed. Lee is not living up to the night. I'm not sure he has the chops for this song. And the pause just felt like a … pause. No breathlessness involved while we waited. The best I can give him is a 4.4 out of 5.

Crystal (Up to the Mountain): Oh. My. Word. I would buy this song for my iPod. So much heart and emotion in it. She gets a 5.0 out of 5 from me.

Hands down, the night went to Crystal. If the voters go for best performances, Crystal will definitely be the winner. She deserves to win. She has been consistently great throughout the season, and tonight she really shined.

Good luck to both of these young people.

~robin