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For the record

'Idol' finalists square off in season finale

Published May 21, 2007 at midnight

She: A 17-year-old daughter of a former NFL player with mega- pipes, a fresh style and a penchant for pop stars like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.

He: A 25-year-old beat-boxer who prefers Jamiroquai, Bjork and kicking it old school with vocal scratches, pops and drum loops.

It’ll be a battle of the sexes Tuesday night as Jordin Sparks squares off against Blake Lewis in American Idol’s sixth season finale.

They’re as diverse as their height difference (she’s reportedly 6 feet tall, he’s around 5-foot-7); song choices (Whitney Houston for her, 311 for him), and hairstyles (she sticks with a dark shade, he changes color from blond to brown to streaky weekly). Yet, both have knocked the contest’s front-runners off one by one .

So, who will win? Oddsmakers give the edge to Sparks, but America will decide Tuesday after the two battle it out one last time.

Jordin Sparks

Age: 17

Hometown: Glendale, Ariz.

Song highlights: I (Who Have Nothing), She Works Hard For The Money, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Hey Baby, Heartbreaker, Gimme One Reason

High notes: Judge Randy Jackson deemed her version of You’ll Never Walk Alone the best vocal performance of all six American Idol seasons.

Low notes: Her rendition of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer had us praying for the song to end.

Style file: She opts for dresses over jeans and A-line designer dresses with a cropped jacket here and a miniskirt there to keep her style young and age-appropriate.

Simon says: "I thought you were fantastic . . . That song is about 60 years old, I think you could have a hit record with that." (After singing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s You’ll Never Walk Alone)

Odds: 1.22 to 1

Blake Lewis

Age: 25

Hometown: Bothell, Wash.

Songs performed: When I Get You Alone, This Love, Roxanne, Imagine, I Need To Know, All Mixed Up, Virtual Insanity, Time of the Season

High notes: His modern take on Bon Jovi’s You Give Love a Bad Name, performed with beatboxing gusto, was a winner.

Low notes: Bee Gees night was not a good one for Blake. He picked a song no one had heard of (This Is Where I Came In); even Barry Gibb was surprised at the selection.

Style file: Favors V-neck T-shirts worn with a shirt and tie, plaid pants and sneakers. Think dressy skateboarder fashion.

Simon says: "(You are) definitely the strongest guy in the competition . . . For sure you are the frontrunning guy." (After singing The Cure’s Love Song)

Odds: 4 to 1

American Idol

• Final performance: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Fox31

• Season finale: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Fox31

• Watch videos of past performances and download songs by visiting

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