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Last night the final two contestants on season 5 of “American Idol” performed for the final time before America lit up the phone lines to determine the winner. It was the “McPheever” of Katharine McPhee versus the “Soul Patrol” (sorry kittens) of Taylor Hicks.

And while you would figure both of them would leave it all out there on the Kodak Theater stage, there were moments when you weren’t sure if either one really wanted to win this thing. Here’s the Marley recap:

KATHARINE McPHEE

Katharine started off with KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” a song that she sang about a month ago which validated her status as a contender. Randy said it was fun and Simon said it was “Good with a small ‘g'”…..in other words, she didn’t dazzle like she should have on the final night of performances. Her second song was “Over the Rainbow,” a tune that earned her a spot in the finals last week, and it was once again very very good. Simon said it was even better than last week….but I don’t think it was. She finished with an original song, and her first single that will be released some time in the next few months, depending on if Katharine finishes first or second. The song, “My Destiny,” was absolutely awful. Randy Jackson even said he didn’t like the song, but that Katharine sang it okay. Simon said she went from brilliant to “quite good” in one song, and that’s being generous. I think the song sucked, and she butchered it, plain and simple. That said, Katharine has one thing going for her that’s going to earn her votes….she is undeniably hot.

TAYLOR HICKS

Taylor started off with Stevie Wonder’s “Living For the City,” and he absolutely nailed it, something that Randy Jackson said he was nervous about when he heard the song choice, based on the fact that Stevie is Stevie. Simon said it was a smart choice and great start for Taylor. Paula said something in her drunken stupor, and I think she dug it. Taylor’s second choice was Elton John’s “Levon,” and it was a bit boring and uninspired for some reason. Simon correctly said that Round 2 went to Katharine. Then Taylor sang his single, “Do I Make You Proud,” a better song than Katharine’s but still quite lame. However, the difference is that Taylor left it all out there like he really wanted to win. Simon declared that Taylor probably won based on that performance, and I’m going along with that since I’ve been touting Taylor as the favorite for the last month or so.

A side note on songwriting……look, I know that songwriting is kind of a lost art now that radio congolmerates have done their best to homogenize stations, songs, and advertising. But please…..those two songs that were performed by Katharine and Taylor were horrible. Both songs are likely the result of industry powerhouse songwriters sitting around in a room, putting formulas of hit songs into a computer, and spitting out a new song that sounds like, well, regurgitated crap. The songs had no feeling or emotion, so how then were Katharine or Taylor supposed to convey those things? Well, Taylor for the most part did, and that’s probably why he’s going to win.

But back to songwriting….you want a great song? Daniel Powter performed to close out the show…..his hit song, “Bad Day,” has been the anthem for contestants of “American Idol” getting voted off each week. Granted, the show has helped Powter become an overnight success, but here is a great song with a great melody with a hook and with feeling….and when he performed it, it made those other two songs look like the crap that they are.

Okay, so I had to get that rant out of the way. Now it’s on to business…..and likely crowing Taylor Hicks, the gray haired wonder from Birmingham, the next American Idol. See you tomorrow for the recap of tonight’s 2-hour finale.

Marley, OUT.