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Every season, The Hollywood Reporter’s Idol Worship team fights for why each of the American Idol top 3 singers should win it all. See below for why Alex Preston should win, and find out why Jena Irene and Caleb Johnson each have a chance at the championship.
Alex Preston wasn’t always a shoo-in for American Idol glory, but he certainly deserves it. He’s had his share of negative critiques and he’s found himself in the bottom two, but Preston has a few tricks up his sleeves that his competitors — even with their powerhouse voices — can’t touch.
PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 13: Meet the Top 10 Singers
See why Preston deserves to win it all:
1. He’s a solid songwriter. If you’ve been watching American Idol season 13 — and if you’re reading this, you probably have been — you’ve likely had Preston’s “Fairytales” stuck in your head. His jazzy single (about Preston’s first post-high school heartbreak) has been featured multiple times this season, including his Salt Lake City audition. Playing an original composition in your first Idol outing is a risky venture by any standards, but the move proved two points: First, the 21-year-old is already a skilled musician and songwriter. Second, and perhaps more important…
2. He’s a risk-taker. Let’s discuss exhibit A: for his top-8 performance, he put a new twist on The Police classic “Every Breath You Take” by completely re-working the song. He ditched the original melody, instead choosing to interpret the lyrics in his own way and create something new. The results weren’t entirely well-received (judge Jennifer Lopez much preferred Sting’s original), but his decision to go out on a limb and try something fresh speaks volumes to Preston’s talent and his courage. Could it have gotten him eliminated? Probably. But it didn’t.
3. He’s got guitar skills. While the average viewer may not catch it, judges Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. have noticed and remarked on Preston’s advanced guitar skills multiple times this season. Any way you slice it, the kid is talented, hardworking and ready to get his career started. Preston may not be the loudest voice in the room, but between playing, singing and writing, he’s certainly the most well-rounded artist.
4. He has a winning attitude. Humility will get you far, and perhaps Preston’s sweet and humble demeanor is partly to credit for carrying him through to this point. In an industry of ego-maniacs, it’s tempting to root for someone who is grounded and thoughtful, even when the cameras aren’t rolling.
5. He makes for a great story. Preston may be the finalist most ready to cut a quality album, but let’s face it, he’s still the underdog. It’s easy to imagine an Idol finale with two rockers attempting to out-belt each other, but where’s the fun in that? Great stories come from the unexpected, and something tells me that Preston’s story is just beginning.
Twitter: @SophieSchillaci
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