The big showdown between Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze on 'American Idol' commenced tonight with the two contestants singing their favorite song from weeks past (DeWyse sang Simon & Garfunkel's 'The Boxer' and Bowersox sang Kris Kristofferson's 'Me and Bobby McGee.')

In the second round they performed a song picked for them by Idol's executive producer Simon Fuller. He chose R.E.M.'s 'Everybody Hurts' for DeWyze, and Alannah Myles' 'Black Velvet' for Bowersox.

The third round of the show was for unveiling the song that will be the winner's first single. In this section DeWyze had to tackle U2 and Bowersox ended up with a Patty Griffin's 'Up To The Mountain.'

DeWyze has transformed himself over the past two weeks. Now the 24-year-old paint store clerk is so close to glory he can probably taste it. Tonight he sounded confident, excited and acting as though stardom was beckoning (it is).

'A great way to start it off, dude,' Randy Jackson said, though he added that the first number was a bit low-energy for his taste. But Ellen DeGeneres thought that he had easily topped his last performance saying, 'I couldn't be prouder if I birthed you myself.'

But it looks like Bowersox might have a slight edge over DeWyze going into the final show, although it still looks too close to call.

U2's 'Beautiful Day' is so famous that it's hard to re-interpret but DeWyze made a valiant effort. Bowersox followed with her version of 'Up to the Mountain.'

'You are in a league of your own,' DeGeneres told her, adding that she would buy any album that Crystal records, watch her concert if she goes on tour and 'if you make a salad, I'll eat it.'

The two-hour season finale is tomorrow night. Who will you vote for?