As previously stated on this site, it was fairly obvious that Ms. Sparks would win. She was undoubtedly more talented than Mr. Lewis (even if she didn't prance around the stage), and, of the final 10 or so contestants, she was the best blend of photo-friendliness and talent. Will this translate into record sales and/or a career for the teen (or for any of the finalistst, for that matter)? Only time will tell. However, the odds seem pretty good that she'll amount to something: The last few seasons have produced a Jazz/Soul niche star (Fantasia), a pop/rock girl with a slight edge (Kelly Clarkson), a country superstar (Carrie Underwood), an adult contemporary soul singer (Taylor Hicks) and a straight-ahead (so-called "dark") rocker (Chris Daughtry). Maybe this is the right time for a younger, straight-ahead pop teen (Of course, that's what Diana DeGarmo thought, too, and it was an effort to even remember her NAME to include in this article).
One final note: Yours truly would like to give himself a large, well-deserved pat on the back for knowing weeks ago--during her first audition--that Jordin Sparks would make it to the end of the show, if not win it altogether. True, this crop of contestants wasn't exactly a musician's dream team, so perhaps picking Jordin wasn't quite that difficult. Like I said before, Jordin had the best blend of all the qualities the producers--and America, apparently--wanted, which should have been obvious by the middle of the season. A great voice is key, but it helps to be particularly hot and have an ounce of personality. (Note to
Anyhow. What a relief! Having predicted the winner, I can now return to my usual daily scorn of reality shows and how they've contributed to the downfall of our entertainment industry.
