Decisive

In 'American Idol' Showdown, Fantasia Holds Decisive Edge Over Diana, According to New Knowledge Networks Survey

It's all over but the crying. After tonight's show, there can be no doubt. I won't dwell on Diana, who clearly felt the pressure and saw her voice give out on her during both the new Idol single and her last song, which she had knocked out of the park only a week ago. She'll have a nice career for herself. But Fantasia--well, what can I say that Simon hasn't said already? The finale offered the first opportunity to hear what the same song would sound like being sung by each of the two finalists, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who didn't think Fantasia tore that song up. She felt it and she showed it. And while I didn't like the idea of bringing back songs from earlier in the competition, Fantasia both showed that she would take a risk with a new song on a night that Diana took no risks at all AND brought back what was at once her best and her most obscure song, "Summertime."

I've been taken to task for using such strong language in talking about the show, but there's no shame, I think, in using it here: If Fantasia Barrino isn't crowned the next American Idol tomorrow night, it will be a travesty the likes of which music hasn't seen since Steely Dan won the Grammy for Best Album instead of Eminem, and a travesty of a similar kind--the choice of safety instead of a mind-bending creativity and talent that can sometimes make you nervous. I doubt that the results will be as clear-cut as the survey linked above, which shows Fantasia walloping Diana 61-39; the text messaging effect and the limited number of calls that can go through for either contestant will bring it closer, I'm sure. But Fantasia has earned this. It'll be a real shame if she doesn't get it.