Last performances for American Idol

Simon Cowell gave his verdict on the two American Idol finalists as they took their last turns on the Hollywood stage on Tuesday night.
The British judge watched the performances of Blake Lewis, the entertainer, and Jordin Sparks, the voice, in three songs in Los Angeles.

Lewis, 25, opened the show with a reprisal of his infectious performance of Bon Jovi's You Give Love a Bad Name.

The crowd was delirious, but the judges were less impressed by Lewis' voice than his performance as a whole.


"Blake, you're not the best singer in this competition. But you're the best entertainer I think we've had," Cowell said.

Sparks then sang Christina Aguilera's Fighter. Cowell was happy the 17-year-old chose a song that suited her age, even, he noted, if "the vocals were actually a bit shrieky".

Round one, the tough judge decided, went to Lewis. But Lewis ditched his beatboxing and other performing flourishes in the second act for a straightforward cover of the Maroon 5 hit She Will Be Loved.

He pleased judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, but Cowell thought he had played it too safe.

All the judges swooned, however, over Sparks' soulful take on Martina McBride's Broken Wing. "Now, THAT was good," Cowell said.

Viewers in the US will decide on Wednesday night who should be crowned the new American Idol.