(No matter who wins and who loses, we are all in this together.)
Finalists, former contestants, judges, and the audience that watched this, Season IX of FAN Idol, welcome to the Finale.
First, let's have our two finalists, Felicity Smoak and Orangeutan, stand up and take a bow. 46 Rounds is, quite honestly, more than one should be asked to play through but you two did so with heart, ingenuity, and aplomb. The more obscure the category, the more demanding the Round, these challenges seemed to inspire you to reach toward a level of play our competition seldom seems. Felicity Smoak dominated at times throughout the Season, winning several Rounds. In contrast, Orangeutan often played from behind, grinding it out and besting some of the very best players FAN Idol has ever seen.
I'd like to take this time to thank the following FAN members for playing this Season:
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Brad Loves Shannon
Felicity Smoak
Gus Richlen
Hayden
J
Jazzman
Joshsparkles
Knailsic Loves to Boggie
Lodi "Wyatt" Rulz
Moonie
Mr. B. Natural
Myself
Orange
Pegasus Warrior
radradsley
Sloth Spartan
Spiderfab4
Square
Suave
wadefan22
Waffle
Widow's Peak
As always, the contestants displayed a vast and rich understanding of music, selecting songs that covered numerous genres, time periods, nations, and levels of professionalism. We had music from rock and roll hall of famers as well as from young, up and coming artists; music from soundtracks and musicals; songs from across the globe.
Judging those songs are a list of FAN judges that sometimes go unheralded for what they bring to our game. I want to thank the following judges, both current and past:
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Cageking
Demented
fw91
Jazzman
Moonie
Mr. B Natural
Pink Shirt Mod (Canctus)
radradsley
stinger4christ
Waffle
Z-A Sandbaggin' Son of a b!%hIt is not easy to be a judge for a competition such as this. It takes a good deal of musical knowledge to judge effectively, tolerance of many different genres, and the sheer amount of time to judge in a timely manner. So, while the judging panel was not consistent this Season due to its length and demands, the judges were still able to get the job done and I thank them for that.
I think a word also needs to be said about the other two contestants that rounded out the Final Four. Pegasus Warrior, multi-time FAN Idol, does not need an introduction. He's played, judged, and hosted FAN Idol, filling all roles available. Much like Cageking and Anonymous GM, when you think about FAN Idol, you have to also consider Pegasus Warrior. He played an unbelievable game this Season, selecting music from across the board. Suave made it to the Top Three and faced Orangeutan in a thrilling Round 45. Suave played marvelously in this, his first, Season and compiled a fantastic song list. He should be considered one of FAN Idol's best and most musically diverse players and, should he play again in the future, a favorite to take home the title of FAN Idol.
But that's in the future. We are in the here and now.
Felicity Smoak.
Orangetuan.
Please stand up.
The two of you were tasked with selecting a total of eight songs, 5 to fulfill 5 judges' categories and 3 songs of your own choice. You were then to arrange them in the order in which you wanted them to be heard in, creating 8 song pairs that would go head to head. A contestant would win each head to head song pairing if they garnered at least three of the five available judges' votes and thus earning one point. If a contestant won 5 or more of these head to head battles, receiving 5 or more points, then they would become our newest FAN Idol. If there was a tie, then the overall number of votes would decide the winner.
A public vote was held where in former players, the judges, and the board as a while were asked who had the better song list, Felicity Smoak or Orangeutan. I declined to vote.
The winner of the public vote, receiving 10 votes to 1, was Felicity Smoak! She earned an additional 1 point to her total
Starting out, it was Felicity Smoak-1, Orangeutan-0
For the first Song Match-up, Felicity Smoak selected the legendary Fleetwood Mac's the Chain for her Tempo song, a song literally composed by chaining different musical pieces together performed by the band, while Orangetuan countered with by ex-Passion Pit member Ayad Al Adhamy's garage rock revivalist band Team Spirit and their Teenage Heart as one of his Free Choice songs.
The winner of the first match-up, earning three votes to two is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Orangeutan!!!
Score-
Felicity Smoak- 1 Point, 2 votes
Orangeutan- 1 Point, 3 votes
The second Song Match-up found Orangetuan finding his rhythm with the bass and drum style of Alternative Punk Rock/ Thrash Metal duo Death From Above 1979 (a personal favorite) and their recent release Trainwreck 1979 for one of his free songs; undeterred, Felicity Smoak fought back with English space rockers Spacehog and their In the Meantime, a playable track in the video games Guitar Hero 5 and Rock Band 3, also featured in tv commercials, as her commercial pick.
Did Orangetuan stay on track? The winner of the second match-up, garnering 4 votes to 1 is...
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Felicity Smoak!!!
Score-
Felicity Smoak- 2 points, 6 votes
Orangeutan- 1 point, 4 votes
Let's move ahead to the Fourth Song Match-up, shall we? Adds to the suspense
.
For the Fourth Song Match-up, Felicity Smoak went back to the well and dug up her past, placing her faith in new wave innovators Depeche Mode and their monster hit Personal Jesus, to fulfill the Anonymous GM vs. Roxie Daggers category. In response, Orangeutan employed rockers The Gaslight Anthem's Stay Vicious from their Get Hurt album, said to have been inspired by artists finding themselves in a creative shift, for Cageking's Life and Death category.
Did we pick up the receiver and did Felicity make us believers? With 3 votes to 2, the winner of the Fourth Song Match-up is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}Orangeutan!!!
Felicity Smoak- 2 points, 8 votes
Orangeutan- 2 points, 7 votes
How about we return to the Third Song Match-Up? The Third Song Match-up found Orangeutan using one of his free songs, opting to bring us Joywave's song of love and freedom, Somebody New. Felicity Smoak kept the pace, unleashing one of her trademark bands, Florence + The Machine, and their My Boy Builds Coffins, to fulfill Cageking's Life and Death category.
Did Orangeutan continue to ride a wave of Joy? Sweeping up 4 votes to 1 is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Felicity Smoak!!!
Felicity Smoak- 3 points, 12 votes
Orangeutan- 2 points, 8 votes
For the Fifth Song Match up, Felicity Smoak made a bargain with the Thin White Duke and choose David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World for the Original of a Cover category, believed to be inspired by the poem Antigonish by William Hughes Mearns, and popularized by Nirvana's unplugged performance. Orangeutan didn't sell the world in his fifth song, All the Time by Juno nominated Canadian artist Bahamas, instead putting his work in front of his girl.
Did Felicity Smoak complete her search for form and land? Taking it with 4 votes to 1 is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Felicity Smoak!!!
Felicity Smoak- 4 points, 16 votes
Orangeutan- 2 points, 9 votes
Next up is the Sixth Song Match up. Orangeutan seemed to have some issues getting a few notes out of his head or it may have been a particularly bad break-up that inspired him to choose American Idol alum Chris Daughtry and his band Daughtry's Outta My Head for radradsley's FAN Idol Idol category, while Felicity Smoak caused us to pause and reflect with a song penned by "The Quiet One" of the Beatles, George Harrison, and his haunting While My Guitar Gently Weeps for one of her free choices.
Will Orangeutan ever get that song out of his head? Winning this Match-up, three to two, is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Orangeutan!!!
Felicity Smoak- 4 points, 18 votes
Orangeutan- 3 points, 12 votes
Coming up toward the end, we have the Seventh Song Match-up. Felicity Smoak stepped up with perhaps the greatest rock band going today, the Foo Fighters, forgoing bombast for a more contemplative turn with their Skin and Bones for another free choice song. Orangeutan brought out the big guns with Ram Jam's cover of the rock classic and possibly Lead Belly-penned Black Betty for his tempo selection.
Did Felicity Smoak put on a little padding to her lead? With three votes to two, the winner is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Orangeutan!!!
Felicity Smoak- 4 points, 20 votes
Orangeutan- 4 points, 15 votes
And now we arrive on the Eighth and Final Song Match-up. The winner of this will also be declared the winner of FAN Idol Season IX. This has been an incredibly close Finale, much like many of the Sing-Offs this Season. Whoever wins this Match-up will stand us one of the best players FAN Idol has ever had and will do justice to all the other contestants eliminated in our search for a FAN Idol to join the ranks of Widow's Peak, Pegasus Warrior, Anonymous GM, Square, and Z-A Sandbaggin' Son of a b!%
h.
This game tests a player's musical acumen, their game playing skills, their ability to take risks as well as use strategy to survive. When I come up with categories, I almost invariably see song selections that escape any preconceptions I had prior to the Round. I have been surprised time and time again, often by these two finalists, and that sense of surprise has helped motivate me to host to the best of my ability. It means the world to me to challenge you contestants and see my expectations blown away every time.
So, now to reveal Season IX's FAN Idol.
For the Eighth and final match-up, Orangeutan selected Gloria Jones' evocative Tainted Love, made famous by dark new wave band Soft Cell to fulfill the Original of a Famous Cover category. Felicity Smoak chose Stranglehold by the King of Wango Tango himself, Ted Nugent, for her final free choice.
With 3 votes to 2, winning the Eighth and Final match-up, surviving to the end of 46 Rounds, defeating 21 other, highly skilled competitors over the course of over a year of game play, to become the newest FAN Idol is...
{Spoiler}{Spoiler}
Orangetuan!!! CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING THE FINAL IDOL FOR THIS, SEASON IX, OF FAN IDOL!!!
Felicity Smoak- 4 points, 22 votes
Orangeutan- 5 points, 18 votes
I will address you more but, first, we must say goodbye to Season IX's runner-up, Felicity Smoak. Felicity was not eliminated, however, and she can go out with her head held high, knowing that she performed at a level that only a handful of players have ever done over the course of Nine Seasons of this game.
Felicity, Roxie, you've been an absolute force in this and last Season. Time and time again, you pick incredible music that often feels just right for the category at hand, while other times challenging what the Round could be. You've selected music from a who's who of classic rock musicians, as well as contemporary artists across the musical spectrum.
It could have gone either way and, Felicity, you helped to create an amazing amount of drama throughout this game, culminating in an unbelievable finale. You won the popular vote, took home many votes, but Orangetuan just edged you out. You're an amazing player and thank you for all you've done this Season.
Please, everyone put their hands together for Felicity Smoak!!!
Orangeutan!!! You've done it! You've played several Seasons and this was the time that you ran with the ball given to you and brought us some incredible music. You were fearless in your battle against Suave and, right after that, you were able to defeat, bar none, one of the top 5 players this game has ever seen. You selected music from the current scene, you used artists not yet employed this Season, and you created an unbelievable set list for this Season. You followed your own style, one that no one else could duplicate, and you revealed yourself to be one of the top players in the game and more than earned the title of FAN Idol in this, the longest and hardest competition yet.
We have a new FAN Idol, one that fully deserves that title, so please give it up for Orangeutan, the winner of FAN Idol Season IX!!!!
Thank you each and everyone of you that played this game, judged it, supported it, and kept it moving on. Thank you to those who voted in the poll and for those who helped me through this.
What a Season!!!!
Finale votes:
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Song match-ups
1.
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac (Tempo)
Waffle, Cageking
vs.
Teenage Heart- Team Spirit (Free Song)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley
2.
Trainwreck 1970- Death From Above 1979 (Free Song)
Waffle
vs.
In the Meantime- Spacehog (Commercial)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley, Cageking
3.
Somebody New- Joywave (Free Song)
fw91
vs.
My Boy Builds Coffins- Florence + The Machine
Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley, Waffle, Cageking
4.
Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode (Anonymous vs. Roxie)
Pink Shirt Mod, Waffle
vs.
Stay Vicious- The Gaslight Anthem (Life and Death)
fw91, radradsley, Cageking
5.
All the Time- Bahamas (Commercial)
radradsley
vs.
The Man Who Sold the World" - David Bowie (Original of a Famous Cover)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod, Waffle, Cageking
6.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles (Free Choice)
fw91, radradsley
vs.
Outta My Head- Daughtry (FAN Idol Idol)
Pink Shirt Mod, Waffle, Cageking
7.
Skin and Bones - Foo Fighters (Free Choice)
fw91, Waffle
vs.
Black Betty- Ram Jam (Tempo)
Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley, Cageking
8.
Tainted Love- Gloria Jones (Original of a Famous Cover)
radradsley, Waffle, Cageking
vs.
Stranglehold - Ted Nugent (Free Choice)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod
Song match-ups
1.
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac (Tempo)
Waffle, Cageking
vs.
Teenage Heart- Team Spirit (Free Song)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley
2.
Trainwreck 1979- Death From Above 1979 (Free Song)
Waffle
vs.
In the Meantime- Spacehog (Commercial)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley, Cageking
3.
Somebody New- Joywave (Free Song)
fw91
vs.
My Boy Builds Coffins- Florence + The Machine
Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley, Waffle, Cageking
4.
Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode (Anonymous vs. Roxie)
Pink Shirt Mod, Waffle
vs.
Stay Vicious- The Gaslight Anthem (Life and Death)
fw91, radradsley, Cageking
5.
All the Time- Bahamas (Commercial)
radradsley
vs.
The Man Who Sold the World" - David Bowie (Original of a Famous Cover)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod, Waffle, Cageking
6.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles (Free Choice)
fw91, radradsley
vs.
Outta My Head- Daughtry (FAN Idol Idol)
Pink Shirt Mod, Waffle, Cageking
7.
Skin and Bones - Foo Fighters (Free Choice)
fw91, Waffle
vs.
Black Betty- Ram Jam (Tempo)
Pink Shirt Mod, radradsley, Cageking
8.
Tainted Love- Gloria Jones (Original of a Famous Cover)
radradsley, Waffle, Cageking
vs.
Stranglehold - Ted Nugent (Free Choice)
fw91, Pink Shirt Mod