The Soul Singer vs. the Gritty Rocker -- Crystal Bowersox vs. Lee DeWyze in American Idol final

Head-to-head competition -- The American Idol final 2010 promises to be one of the most powerful and exhilerating battles in the show's history.

Lee DeWyze, straight from a goosebump inspiring semi-final performance of Leonard Cohen composed "Hallelujah", seems the front-runner as the competition nears the finish line.

But how can powerful Crystal Bowersox -- seemingly a reincarnation of packed-with-soul Janis Joplin -- be counted out! During the competition Bowersox indeed wailed the Joplin mega-hit, Me and Bobby McGee -- and did Joplin proud.

One has to believe that a Bowersox performance of Joplin's "Cry Baby", if she should perform it, could illuminate the studio audience and voters equally as much as DeWyze's powerful "Hallelujah." Certainly, short of Joplin, no one could sing "Cry Baby" better than Bowersox!

Indeed, Bowersox and Joplin not only exude that gritty and bluesy "soul" in their style and their performances, but at the very heart of their music they seem "soul sisters." Even without sound, their faces clearly display the emotion of songs -- love, heartache, sorrow or happiness. Their intensity and edginess cannot be matched.

But Bowersox will need to be at her best next week, taking every risk and pulling out all of the stops, to overtake DeWyze, already labeled by many as the season winner.

DeWyze's task will be to remind fans of his finest "moment" -- his performance of Hallelujah -- by following it with equally impressive compositions. He has the talent -- and he has the edge. So for him a win will come easier than for Bowersox to has to overtake his lead in the stretch.

The American Idol final next week should be a once-in-a-lifetime battle of two equally talented performers. Both Bowersox and DeWyze have shown their willingness to pour heart and soul into their numbers -- and it promises to be entertaining and interesting to see who will capture the coveted American Idol crown.

The only thing that is clear today: no matter who wins -- Bowersox or DeWyze -- either has the magic to sit on the American Idol royal throne and be counted among the most talented artists in American Idol show history!

Let the battle begin! Sphere: Related Content