Easy prediction

It's the final edition of 'Expert Predictions', and none too soon.

One thing's for sure: Next season, we're all gonna be replaced by trained monkeys wielding dartboards.

Eileen Fredes (8 for 22)
-Jordin

Anne Machalinski (7 for 22)
-Jordin

Jonathan McCarthy (6 for 17)
-Blake

Jamshid Mousavinezhad (7 for 22)
-Jordin

Jordin surges ahead - and may take it all

So the last song is the winner of the song-writing competition, and ironically enough, the songwriters are from Seattle, the audition city of both Blake and Jordin. The song, "This Is My Now," was written by Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody.

Blake sings it first. It's a nice song - I'd listen to it if it came on the radio, although I have to be honest - maybe not if Blake was singing it. Let me explain - I like Blake a lot - but this is not his world. He's a dance music guy - techno beats, music you can move to. This kind of song - the slow kind with meaningful lyrics and all that - suits Jordin much better. But I haven't heard her version yet, so maybe I'm speaking too soon.

Blake doesn't blow me away - he's out of tune in a bunch of spots and if the judges don't mention it this time, I'm going to be really annoyed because it was impossible to miss.

Good... finally. Randy doesn't sound enthusiastic and tells him that this kind of song doesn't really suit his voice, but that he did a pretty good job, that it was all right. Paula said he did a great job and Simon said it was odd - that it wasn't a bad song, but not the type of song he would normally sing, so that people have to judge him tonight primarily on his first two performances because there's more than one song in the competition.

Jordin's up next, and of course, it's much better. She has a few spots out of tune, too, but she hits those big notes and it's like you forget any mistakes she's made. she gets emotional at the end and it's all very endearing.

Randy puts it all out there and tells her straight out that she was the best singer tonight and that she deserves it all, that she is what it's about. Paula tells her she has a lot to be proud of - that she's an angel. Simon says that last week he didn't think she was good enough to make the finals and that he wants to tell her publicly now that he was wrong because this is a singing competition and she just wiped the floor with Blake on that song.

So this week, instead of choosing the next one to go, I'm casting my vote for the winner - and I think it's fairly obvious - I choose Jordin Sparks.

Jordin fights back

Blake's a smart guy - people loved his Maroon 5 performance last week, so he's sticking with that sound again and singing the band's, "She Will be Loved."

I hear a bunch of flat notes in there - I wonder if the judges will comment on it. This is not his best performance at all. He sounds nervous and even a little shaky - the song requires a certain control to his voice that he doesn't have. I think this performance may have helped Jordin out, especially if she chooses a great song next.

Randy says it's a great song choice and a very nice vocal - I wonder how he missed all the "pitchiness." He's usually on top of that. Anyway, Paula says he sounded relaxed and I don't know what else. Simon says it was good, it was safe, that it wasn't as good as his first performance, and that he wouldn't have chosen that song in the finals because it doesn't make that much of an impact.

Jordin chooses to sing "A Broken Wing," which she sang during Martina McBride week. It was the week Simon told her it was the first time since they'd met that he believed she could win the competition.

This is great choice for her - it's slower, really showcases her voice beautifully. She sounds much better than her last song, and much better than Blake's last song.
I'd say this round definitely goes to Jordin.

Randy tells her that he loved her from day one when she auditioned in Seattle, that he still believes she's the most talented 17-year-old singer he's ever seen. He says it was flawless, unbelievable, that its was better than the original. Paula tells her she's soaring. I think Paula is soaring, herself. She's gotta be on some painkillers, because she sounds really out of it. Anyway, Simon simply adds, "Well, that was good."

Blake may have a slight edge

I had completely forgotten that Jordin had tried out in Seattle. They show clips of the tryouts and it's kind of cool to see it all again from the beginning. But what stood out for me was the guitar that Blake was playing with at the end... was that the guitar from the Guitar Hero video game? My friend at work is obsessed with that game and I just assumed that he was the only grown adult to be so into a kids' game, but apparently not. So, rock on Adam, you're not alone.

So Blake wins the coin toss and does the dumbest thing ever - he asks Jordin what her preference is. She says she doesn't want to go first, so he agrees to do it. He totally should have used that very slight advantage to be the last voice America hears before voting. We'll see tomorrow if it makes a difference, but if he does lose, I'll forever wonder if it's because he gave up the shot to sing last.

They have three songs again this week - one is their favorite of the season, another is a song they haven't sung on the show before and the last is the winner of the song-writing competition, a song called, "This Is My Now."

Blake starts with his Bon Jovi week song "You Give Love a Bad Name" - he couldn't have picked a worse song in my book. I think that's the week I was hardest on him because I hated how he ruined a classic. But, other people loved it, so maybe it's a smart move on his part. I still hate it - it's original and innovative - and it shows way more originality than Jordin has shown this season, but I still hate that he messed with Bon Jovi.

Randy gives him a 10 out of 10 on the beatboxing - he says it was hot, but he says the singing was just all right. Paula says he outdid himself and Simon tells him he's not the best singer in the competition, but he is the best performer they've had. He says the performance was great, the energy amazing, but he says the singing was flat in the middle and that he was shouting, but he says he doesn't think it matters because it was his best performance three of four week ago and he was right to have chosen that song.

Jordin chooses to sing a song she hasn't done before first. She picks Christina Aguilera's "Fighter."

She looks stunning - her tops is gorgeous - just another one of her picks I wish was in my closet. And just as an aside, a note to the person who has recommended that I go to starstyle.com to get the fashions of the show, I have checked out the site, but they don't ever seem to have the exact item, it's always a lookalike or similar item. and what I'm looking for is the exact thing, not an imitation. So, I appreciate the suggestion, but it's not quite what I'm looking for. If anyone knows where I can get the exact item, please let me know, because I definitely want the top she's wearing tonight.

But on to her singing, I hate to say it's not her best and I wish so much she could have come out and made people forget Blake's performance, but unfortunately, she's coming up a bit short, I think. Her voice just doesn't lend itself to these faster songs - she should have stuck to a ballad. It's almost as if there's no strength in her voice and how can you sing a Christina Aguilera song without some power? She picks up a bit toward the end with those big notes, but still, I'm not sure it's enough to overshadow Blake. I don't know - maybe the judges will like it.

Randy says it wasn't her greatest entertainment thing, but that her voice was stellar, that she was brilliant and sounded amazing. Paula repeats that she was stellar and adds an awesome at the end. Simon says it's great that she chose a younger song because she's only 17. But he says he thinks the vocals were a bit shrieky in the middle. He says Round 1 goes to Blake. Paula says it's a tie and Randy says performance goes to Blake and vocals to Jordin.

Starting off with a chuckle

And so the final week begins, the showdown between Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, neither one really deserving to be in the finale instead of Melinda Doolittle, but both interesting and entertaining in their own way.

Will tonight's performances really make a difference? Can a wrong note or misstep really cost one of them the competition? I don't think so - I think America has already decided who they want and tonight is just filler for tomorrow's results. but I could be wrong - after all, the two remaining contestants are neck and neck. Jordin has the better voice, but Blake has the originality. I guess we'll soon see which trait America values more in its "American Idol."

First laugh of the night comes almost immediately when Ryan Seacrest introduces the judges - he starts by introducing Randy and he says "Say hi to the very dressed up.... in something... Randy Jackson." And then the camera pans to Randy, and you see that he's wearing this weird, chained up kind of decorative military looking blazer that's reminiscent of the bedazzled blazers Michael Jackson is so fond of. It cracked me up. then it gets better, he introduces Paula Abdul and both Simon and Randy are pointing to her nose, which she supposedly broke after tripping over her Chihuahua, and last but not least, he introduces Simon Cowell as Simon Cleavage, a reference to his infamous man-boobs. Just a funny start to what I hope is a great show tonight.