ROUND 1: SMASHING SINGLE
CARRIE: The reigning American Idol, Carrie Underwood, released her first Idol-themed single “Inside Your Heaven” shortly after winning the nationwide competition. At best, the track manages to be another typical “dreams made” kind of song.
MELISSA: On the other hand, the debut single recorded by Canadian Idol Melissa O’Neil is an above-average EP for any Idol winner to date. Blended with pop lyrics and a rock-like chorus, “Alive” sounds like it could have been written for Kelly Clarkson.
Sorry, Carrie. It looks like Melissa is getting “Inside Your Heaven”! Mel scores!
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 0
MELISSA O’NEIL – 1
ROUND 2: RATINGS RUMBLE
CARRIE: Millions of Americans tuned into the season finale of American Idol 4 to see Carrie beat runner-up Bo Bice for the Idol title – 30.3 million to be exact! The show averaged 12.5 million viewers at any given moment.
MELISSA: While Canadian Idol may be popular at home, it can’t compete with its American brother. In contrast, only 5.8 million Canadians watched part of the third season finale (2 million on average) in which Melissa outperformed rocker Rex Goudie.
American Idol gave Carrie greater public exposure. Carrie is in it to win!
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 1
MELISSA O’NEIL – 1
ROUND 3: NEAR KNOCKOUT
CARRIE: Amazingly, Carrie joins an elite group of American Idol contestants who have never been in the “bottom three,” including season one winner Kelly Clarkson, and season two runner-up Clay Aiken.
MELISSA: Meanwhile, Melissa fell into the bottom three during the first two weeks of the Top 10 Round. Afterwards, she quickly bounced back to become the favourite to win the entire contest.
Luckily for Mel, this isn’t an elimination round. Carrie takes the lead!
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 2
MELISSA O’NEIL – 1
ROUND 4: SONG STYLE
CARRIE: Although the Idol franchise is a primarily pop venture, Carrie Underwood is indisputably a country girl. On the show she sang country hits like Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”, and Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
MELISSA: Melissa, however, is true to the show’s genre. In fact, she started singing after hearing the Spice Girls! Mel is also more versatile since she hasn’t committed herself to one particular style and has succeeded in singing everything from Big Band to classic rock.
Melissa is still “Alive”! The score is tied…
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 2
MELISSA O’NEIL – 2
ROUND 5: ROLE MODEL
CARRIE: Hailing from Checotah, Oklahoma, Carrie is a lot like the girl next-door whose personal goal in life is to be happy. She embodies the all-American southern charm and proves that nice girls finish first.
MELISSA: At the ripe age of 17, this Calgary flame represents the best of Canadian talent. Melissa is the first female to win Canadian Idol and she still plans on finishing high school rather than dropping out (Avril, anyone?), making her a positive role model for Canadian teens.
Simply put, Melissa is the true definition of an Idol.
SCORE: CARRIE UNDERWOOD – 2
MELISSA O’NEIL – 3
ROUND UP: Both Idol winners have proven beyond doubt that they deserve their titles, but next to Melissa O’Neil, Carrie is more underwhelming than Underwood. With millions of singles already sold, Melissa is a homegrown wild rose and promises to be a huge singing sensation.
Web Links:
www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com
www.melissaoneil.com