  Theo Tams set to go note-to-note with Mitch MacDonald.
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Do you know who you're voting for, Canada?
Obviously, I'm not talking about the U.S. presidential election. We have no say in that. But we can decide who's going to lead our own country for, oh, say, the next 15 minutes.
That's right -- it's time for the sixth annual Canadian Idol crowning. On Monday, Nova Scotia's Mitch MacDonald and Alberta's Theo Tams will have one last chance to sing for your votes, and the CTV sing-off's final results will be unveiled during a two-hour season finale on Wednesday -- which will feature performances by Mariah Carey, John Legend, Idol alum Jacob Hoggard's band Hedley, last year's forgotten Idol Brian Melo, Idol mentor Jully Black, and the songsters from this year's Top 10 whose names have already slipped my mind.
Flashy guest stars aside, the main event will take place in the final minutes of Wednesday's show, when host Ben Mulroney reveals whether MacDonald -- a boyish soul singer -- or Tams -- an ivory-tickling belter -- has won the oh-so-coveted Idol title. To be sure the wrong karaoke star doesn't get elected, it's best you examine what each has to offer.
If that sounds like too much effort, you can just read my little matchup -- which also includes input from Mulroney and judge Farley Flex.
Mitch MacDonald
Age: 22
Hometown: Port Hood, Nova Scotia
Pre-Idol Occupation: Carpenter
Sounds Like: Your 8-year-old nephew? MacDonald's distinct, nasally voice is definitely youthful. But Ben Mulroney says that isn't a bad thing: "Mitch has a unique tone that, as Jake (has) said, you'd recognize on the radio very easily -- which is important." Whether or not you'd leave the radio on after recognizing said tone is another story.
Best Performance: Some Idol viewers might not have heard of CanRocker Joel Plaskett or his tune Love This Town -- but MacDonald changed that during Top 6 week, when he pulled off a sweet cover of the ballad that had usually bitter judges Zack Werner and Jake Gold comparing him to Paul Simon.
Worst Performance: Bryan Adams didn't look so good on Mitch -- particularly his croaky rendition of Heat of the Night during last week's performance show.
Road to Success: Proud Nova Scotian MacDonald's route to Idol's final round has been on the steep and rocky side -- with plenty of bumps along the way (remember when he took on late great Jeff Healey's Angel Eyes?). The judges have given him mixed reactions throughout the season, and heck, I'm still not sure what to make of him. Canada, however, seems to adore his awkward, happy-go-lucky charm. "He sang some obscure songs that he got people to fall in love with," says Farley Flex. "I think the heritage that Mitch brings to his song choice and style of the East Coast is appealing to people." There ya go.
On the Downside: As Flex puts it, MacDonald isn't exactly the "watercooler type of character." Unless you and your co-workers are bored enough to talk about the latest in eyeglass frames. Being such a nice, non-scandalous kinda guy hasn't gotten MacDonald many headlines -- and it probably never will. Plus, he kind of reminds me of Season 1 winner Ryan Malcolm. Who? Oh, never mind.
Ward's Prediction: MacDonald's distinctive pipes have gotten him this far, but his lack of star power will prevent him from earning the top spot. Let's face it, nice guys always finish second -- or something like that.
Theo Tams
Age: 22
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alta.
Pre-Idol Occupation: Student
Sounds Like: Your middle-aged uncle? Tams' manly chops are way beyond their years, and the fact that the classically trained singer usually performs behind a piano gives him a maturity that makes me wonder who exactly has been voting for him all these weeks (because it can't just be the teenyboppers). Is that you, Mom?
Best Performance: While I really dug his take on Timbaland/OneRepublic chart-topper Apologize, it was his performance of Howie Day's Collide the following week that really validated him as a piano man on a mission to the top.
Worst Performance: Let's just pretend that wretched remake of Bryan Adams and Mel C's '90s hit When You're Gone didn't happen, m'kay?
Road to Success: Who woulda thunk Tams would have made it this far after watching him audition before the judges with Lake Superior-sized pit stains? "When I saw him go in to the audition room all sweaty I didn't think he would be the next Canadian Idol," Ben Mulroney admits. "But I didn't see why he couldn't get into the Top 10." Tams stopped letting his nerves get the best of him after the Top 100 round, when his stellar take on Sarah McLachlan's Angel had the judges speechless. He's been consistently strong -- and increasingly confident -- over the past two months, and has proven to be significantly more diverse than his fellow Top 2 contender. "You could see him playing anything from a retirement home to a concert in Massey Hall," Flex says. There's also something relatable about Tams. After all, we all have sweat glands.
On the Downside: Unless you're Elton John, people probably won't pay to watch you sit behind a piano all night. (Heck, they might not even be willing to pony up the hundreds Sir Elton himself is charging these days.) Tams has taken several semi-successful stabs at performing solo, but it just didn't look right.
Ward's Prediction
It's pretty hard not to like Tams, so I'm positive the final votes will fall in his favour -- even if his performances on Monday happen to fall flat. He's just THAT good. Now on with the show!
