Candice Glover Wins ‘American Idol’ Season 12: Review Revue
After a night of major anticipation and live-tweeting, there is finally a new American Idol winner! The season 12 finale was jam-packed with stellar performances from Idol alums Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert, tons of glitter (thanks, Mariah Carey) and of course a sad farewell to Randy Jackson.
Candice Glover, who has auditioned for the show three times in a row, was crowned the first female AI winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007, and you can already hear the studio version of her new single, “I Am Beautiful.” We thought it was a satisfying end to the season, but what did the rest of the Web have to say? Check out our roundup of reviews below.
:: Rolling Stone kept it blunt, noting the finale “was a rewarding ending for fans and, undoubtedly, the producers, who hoped that a woman would take the title after five years of white men with guitars winning.”
:: Crushable poked fun at the show’s infamous musical chairs of judges: “So last night Candice Glover won the 12th season of American Idol. Which not only ensures her at least 24 full hours of fame, but also the knowledge that she’s now going to be the answer to a trivia question at a bar night approximately 13 years from now. You know, when the American Idol judges get completely replaced by robots, Madame Tussaud’s wax statues and a dancing dog who made it to the final rounds of America’s Got Talent.”
:: Hollywood Reporter raved about Jordin Sparks, especially her clever jab at that other singing competition show: “The best zinger in the package came at the end, when the season six victor advised the boys to cheer up, as ‘Idol leftovers have been doing really well on The Voice.’ Snap!”
:: Many thought Candice Glover was the right choice, including The Los Angeles Times: “At times, she seemed to want the win more than anyone else in the contest, to be willing to fight for it with performances that blew the competition away and to roll with the punches when things didn’t go her way.”
:: According to New York Daily News, the endless beef between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey led to major karma: “the judges’ preening and squabbling may have drowned out the singers, but it appears they’ll suffer for it in the end. Randy Jackson has already announced his departure at the end of this season, and Us Magazine reports Minaj will ankle as well.”
:: Mariah Carey‘s diva-tastic medley performance got everyone talking, including Pop On And On: “I loved everything about Carey’s Idol medley performance, the singer put the d-i-v-a in diva and here’s why — Her vocals were absolutely flawless. Her mic and stand were bedazzled as usual. She performed surrounded by a gathering of fans with signs that praised her Godly presence. She never moved the bottom half of her body more than an inch at a time, your fave could never.”
:: Carey’s longtime rival Jennifer Lopez didn’t get as much love from Zap 2 It: “Well, we thought we were going to get out of here without a J-Lo performance, but no such luck. She’s there with Pitbull to sing and dance — and cackle in a weirdly maniacal way. Also, what’s with J-Lo and the dancers in those babydoll Greek superhero get-ups? Hmm.”
What are your thoughts on the American Idol finale? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!
