Sparks Flies to 'American Idol' Win

May 24, 12:48 PM

Current Headlines: By Daniel Bubbeo, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

May 24--Have you heard that the new American Idol is only 17?

Jordin Sparks, the Glendale, Ariz., girl with the big voice, whom the "American Idol" judges reminded us each week was only 17, last night won the "Idol" crown over beat-boxer Blake Lewis after the more than 74 million votes were tallied. Overcome with emotion, Sparks had a hard time getting through her coronation number, the syrupy ballad "This Is My Now," which will be released as her first single.

Sparks' victory appeared to be sealed tightly after she performed "This Is My Now" Tuesday night after getting high praise from the judges. She also did a better job of injecting the dreary ballad with far more emotion than Lewis, who did little to disguise his disdain.

As if we didn't need reminding that Sparks was well on her way to being the youngest of the six "Idol" winners, Lewis, 25, got to sing the line "Well, she was just 17" to Sparks during last night's opening number, their duet to "I Saw Her Standing There."

The rest of the two-hour finale was something of an "Idol" reunion. Not only were all 12 of this season's finalists on hand, but past winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks also took the stage of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. The foursome each had a solo performance and later performed in a medley of Beatles songs.

Perhaps a further sign that Sparks was headed for "Idol"-atry was that she also got to sing "You're All I Need to Get By" with Studdard. Lewis, meanwhile, mixed it up with Doug E. Fresh, and third-place finisher Melinda Doolittle engaged in some gospel soul with BeBe and CeCe Winans, whom Doolittle had backed up in her pre-"Idol" days. Of the remaining finalists, the only one who got his "moment" was "Idol's" hair apparent Sanjaya Malakar. With accompaniment from Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and encouragement from Ashley Ferl, "the crying girl," Malakar delivered a frenetic performance of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me."

Turning on the star power as well were Smokey Robinson, who did a medley of his hits with the six male finalists, and Gladys Knight, who sang with the six females; Green Day, who performed "Working Class Hero"; Gwen Stefani doing "4 in the Morning"; and Bette Midler with "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Probably the most enjoyable moment came from the African Children's Choir, who won the hearts of the audience during "Idol Gives Back" and worked their magic again. Their charming song, performed in an African tongue, was far more touching than the treacly "This Is My Now" in English.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

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