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BBC MUNDO RADIO
Who won 'American Idol' season 9? After 17 weeks of 'Idol' performances, Lee DeWyze captured the 'American Idol' crown in the finale over Crystal Bowersox.
Some fans may be mystified that DeWyze took the crown as the next 'Idol,' especially after his performances Tuesday night, where he often sang out of tune, looked uncomfortable onstage and mustered only a negligible amount of energy. Bowersox, on the other hand, did everything right and sounded terrific. And yet, DeWyze garnered the popular vote and emerged victorious.
First up in the two-hour finale, which also happened to be Simon Cowell's last: The Top 12 returned to the stage for a group performance of 'School's Out,' with the legendary Alice Cooper emerging from backstage to finish off the song. Cooper, who was as scary-looking as ever, sounded markedly guttural.
The reigning 'Idol,' Kris Allen, sang his single 'The Truth' next. Although the beginning of his song was marred by chatter from Ryan Seacrest's open microphone, and Allen's voice cracked at one point, his performance was effortless and made us pine for the contestants from last season.
A jokey tribute to Cowell followed, then Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus sang a few bars of 'How Deep is Your Love' by the Bee Gees before being joined onstage by Robin and Barry Gibb. In the end, the song became a study in who could sound more nasal -- Magnus or the surviving Bee Gees.
Afterward, Michael Lynche hit the stage for a duet with Michael McDonald of 'Takin' It to the Streets' by the Doobie Brothers. Comedian Dane Cook then rattled through an unfunny song cobbled together using past insults from Cowell. A gaggle of 'Idol' rejects bum-rushed the stage at the end of Cook's song and quickly derailed the number, causing the camera to cut away in embarrassment.
After the women of the Top 12 sang 'Beautiful' and 'Fighter' by Christina Aguilera, Aguilera herself came onstage and sang 'You Lost Me.' A performance of Hall & Oates' 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)' and 'Maneater' by the guys of the Top 12 segued into, predictably, Hall & Oates themselves singing 'You Make My Dreams Come True.'
Bowersox took the stage next, singing 'Ironic' by Alanis Morissette, who then joined her in a duet of 'You Oughta Know.' If this doesn't qualify as another reason why Bowersox should have won, we don't know what does.
'Idol' winner and country phenom Carrie Underwood sang her single 'Undo It,' a song co-written by Kara DioGuardi. After that, Casey James sang Poison's 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn' and was joined by Bret Michaels who sounded good and looked well, despite his recent aneurysm and warning stroke.
Chicago performed a medley of hits with DeWyze, then General Larry Platt reprised his hilarious audition song 'Pants on the Ground' complete with a hip-hop beat, backup dancers and support by William Hung. Regrettably, the segment was all too short.
Departed judge Paula Abdul made a surprise appearance that was typically rambling, and jokingly said that the reason she left 'Idol' was because of an illegitimate child between her and Cowell.
All eight past 'Idol' winners came together with various 'Idol' rejects to sing Delta Goodrem's 'Together We Are one,' with Cowell giving a farewell speech from the stage. "I didn't think I was going to be this emotional, but I genuinely am ... The show goes forward. It'll be different, but I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support, the fun," he said.
After Janet Jackson sang her songs 'Nothing' and 'Nasty,' Bowersox and DeWyze roared through 'With a Little Help From My Friends' with Joe Cocker. Finally, DeWyze was revealed as this season's winner.
"Thank you guys so much for everything. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you guys so much. Everybody. I can't believe this. I love you guys. This is amazing. Crystal, I love you ... I'm just happy, man. I'm so happy right now. I've never been happier in my life," said a visibly emotional DeWyze. DeWyze then capped off the evening with a performance of his first single -- a cover of U2's 'Beautiful Day.' (Click here for an exclusive first listen.)
