Ode to Melinda Doolittle

I am a self-confessed "American Idol" addict. I have watched every episode of Season 6 since January. But I will not be watching the finale this week. Why? Because America screwed up BIG TIME last week. When it came time to choose between the final three contestants, America sent home Melinda Doolittle, who is not only the best singer this season but is the best singer who has ever appeared on the show. "American Idol" has a habit of sending home good singers early, but this takes the cake as the worst decision in the history of the show. So rather than watching two inferior singers duke it out in the finale, I am composing a love letter to Mindy Doo.

Where to begin describing the awesomeness of the Doolittle? How about the gorgeous timbre of her voice, a rich contralto with a hint of rasp and texture compared at various points by the judges to Gladys Knight and Tina Turner. What about the amazing control with which she wielded her instrument: other than a couple of flat notes during an impossibly-difficult Whitney Houston ballad she was forced to sing last week, Melinda sang flawlessly through thirteen rounds of live competition. And she sang brilliantly no matter the "theme" for the week -- her singular achievement was putting her vocal stamp on everything from jazz to Bon Jovi. Below are the three performances that I think highlight how nimbly Melinda navigated the different genres of music. Take her beautifully-phrased version of "My Funny Valentine":



Then check out her take on "I Got Rhythm." Note how her voice shifts gears not once, but twice during the song to bring it home:



And lest you think that she can only handle oldies and standards, watch her rock out on Bon Jovi's "Have A Nice Day." If you have a fever, the only prescription . . . is more COW BELL:



As you can see from the clips, Melinda is more than just a gorgeous voice; she is a compelling performer. She tells a story with each song. That's what sets her apart from previous contestants like LaToya London (my previous favorite), who had an amazing voice but a listless stage presence. Melinda's appeal is her unique combination of superior chops with the performance skills of someone like Kelly Clarkson or Fantasia. LOVE HER.

So how did Melinda lose? Some viewers found her consistent excellence "boring." (This "culture of mediocrity" bullshit also drove many voters away from the candidate who seemed "too smart" in the 2000 presidential campaign. And look where that got us.) Others took issue with her meekness (check out the Soup's hilarious parody of "The Melinda Doolittle School of Humility"). But in the end, I think the biggest problem was that voters didn't find Melinda conventionally pretty or "marketable." Which could not be said for two young, attractive finalists. Grrrrr. I intend to prove these naysayers wrong by buying Melinda's album sight-unseen (sound-unheard?) the minute it comes out. If you liked what you saw in the clips, I urge you to do the same. GO TEAM MELINDA!

Okay, I'm done.

Wait, one more clip. Best audition ever: