I think that Kris' win came down to positioning, David. Adam is a dynamic talent and, I believe, got the lion's share of votes all season long. But the thing that makes this program unpredictable and surprising at times are the types of singers competing and when they leave the competition. I had a suspicion that Kris would win. This was based on the elimination last week of Danny and where the votes that had kept him in the competition would go. I had a hunch that the majority of Danny's votes would swing Kris' direction and not Adam's.

And, frankly, this is the best possible outcome for both of the finalists. Coming in at number two may not have gotten Kris the jump start he would have needed to launch a successful recording career. As the winner he has the Idol machine behind him promoting him for the next two years.

Adam, on the other hand, won the lottery tonight. After the summer tour he can walk away from Idol with no contractual obligations. Like Chris Daughtery before him, Adam will record an album that will probably ship double platinum --- and he won't have to settle for the American Idol winner's share. I had joked around with Cheryle last week that if I were Adam my song selections for the final week would have been The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Little Rabbit Foo Foo. In other words, I would have thrown the competition to avoid contractual obligations. To his credit, Adam didn't do that.

And, I'm not sure that Adam is light years ahead of Kris in the talent department. He is an amazing vocalist, but if you had watched the show last night I think you would have seen that Kris did a much better job with the maudlin song that was written for the finale that both finalists had to perform. And, what Kris lacks in vocal gymnastics he compensates for with musical skills on keyboards and guitar. In the end he may be able to become a successful singer/songwriter while Adam may have the persona but nothing beyond his voice. That's not to denigrate his voice. It is amazing. But without the other muscial skills he may be at the mercy of songwriters. If he has those skills he has the potential to become a talent for this generation like Freddie Mercury or David Bowie., cutting edge and avant garde.

Does anybody in music still use the term avant garde???