David vs David: The Finals

With few surprises along the way, producers got their wish: A David-David finale. Will it be pseudo-rocker David Cook or cherub-like David Archuleta and his overbearing stage father Jeff (cuz you know, that's a package deal)? The battle begins...

The show begins with fanfare from Rocky. The contestants decked out in boxing robes. Actually, watching these two fight for the title might be more interesting than watching them sing the boring songs they'll likely be saddled with. "Two men with one name and one desire, to be crowned champion," Ryan reads, continuing the boxing motif. "The strategy for this match is ta keep on doing what I've been doing," Archuleta says, summing up the problem with this season's contestants. Few have stepped up their games, most all of them have stayed within their comfort zones. No wonder it's been boring.

Simon suggests that hating one's opponent is key to win. Little David immediately gushes about Big David who, in turn, showers little Dave with good tidings. The love match betwixt the Davids is a bit sickening, no? It's nearly 8:15 and we still haven't heard one song and there are six to do between them. Even this performance show is painfully padded. Tomorrow's gonna be unbearable (and not just because Carrie Underwood is to sing one of her awful songs).

Clive Davis chose U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For for David C and Elton John's Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me for David A.

First up: Cook on U2. Ordinary and forgettable emo rock version. Idol hasn't found what it's looking for this season. Randy thought it was hot, Paula, who cares what she thinks, Simon thought it was phenomenal. It wasn't. He's become so bored this season, he's become punch-drunk.

Second up: Archie on Elton. Predictable Idol showboat version from a kid who hasn't lived long enough to grasp the emotions in any of the songs he sings so this, like most of the others, winds up an empty performance with a lot of big notes and no resonance. Archie nearly breaks into sobs when Randy gushes that he has peaked and Paula says "the sun will never go down on you." Simon: "Very easy to get overexcited tonight. Tonight's performance, arguably the best you've done so far." Archie looks like he's going to have a stroke when Simon gives round one to Archuleta. Me? Round one to Archie's fine by me, but I'll stick with Elton's original masterpiece.

Contestants' choice: Why is irrelevant Andrew Lloyd Webber taking such a big role on tonight's show?

Cook: Dream Big. Shouldn't we be hearing and seeing performances that give us chills at this stage of the finals? Where's the chills with these two? This generic rock song and Cook's typical forced rock vocal did nothing for me. Simon found it lightweight. Yep. "Didn't feel like a winning moment."

Archie: In This Moment. This isn't the Idol song but it sure sounds like the kind of sappy, saccharine type of ballad producers pick every season. Vocally, it's richer than Cook's, but that's not saying much. Simon loved the "self centered lyric" and gives round two to Archie, giving Archie the lead (and win) if viewers vote Simon's desires. Though not a fan of either man, based solely on tonight's performances, I'd have to hand Archie the win, too. He's beating Cook who doesn't seem to have his heart in it to win.

Contestant's choice: (I thought that was round two?) Cook takes on Collective Soul's The World I Know, Archie plays it safe by re-singing John Lennon's overplayed Imagine, his winning moment from earlier this season. Hate when contestants repeat songs.

Cook: Does he want to win? He's thrown in the towel. Drained all the energy, tempo, feeling and life out of this good Collective Soul '90s hit. Cook's offering the most defeated Final Two performances I can remember in Idol history. I didn't buy the sensitivity Randy found in this performance. David's weeping, that'll buy him some sympathy votes. Simon finds him "one of the nicest, most sincere contestants we've had" which seems inconsistent with his earlier comments when he complained that Cook was pompous or arrogant. But Simon also found it the complete wrong choice, suggesting he re-sing Billie Jean or Hello, his early in the season favorites."For me this whole thing has been a progression, so why do something I've already done," David countered, failing to note he really hasn't progressed a lick all season.

Archie: Did Imagine better a few months ago, but that doesn't matter. Archie played it to win tonight and did so, handily. Whether that will translate to fan votes to beat Cook is hard to predict. But my recent predictions that Cook had this sewn up a few weeks ago are not how I'm feeling tonight. Randy calls Archie "season 7s best singer," Simon says "at the end of the day this show is about finding a star ... and you came out here to win and what we have witnessed is a knockout."

Archuleta's winning American Idol. If this is a true fight to the end, he deserves it. He cares, Cook's distracted and just not very good. He's what he's going to be, a mediocre rock singer, forgettable; Archuleta, when he matures and can deliver songs with real understanding and gravitas is going to be someone to be reckoned with.

Comments

[Lesley]

I have to say, even though I said I was going to vote for people this season to get rid of others, this is the first American Idol since its inception that I have not voted for anyone. I don't think I care enough to dial tonight either. Wow.

[Lesley]

cute opening but does Archuleta really weigh 100 lbs????? Can't imagine if Syesha were in the competition they'd even go near the weight thing!

[Lesley]

nice that they are capitalizing on Daughtry as a winner when he never won Idol!

[HoCo]

Yeah, but Daughtry has outsold all the other winners except for Carrie and Kelly and both Carrie and Kelly are on the downswing while Daughtry remains commercially hot and may wind up the biggest star from this series yet.

[HoCo]

I haven't voted once this season. While I'd prefer Cook win tonight, I'm not passionate about either of these boring individuals.

[Lesley]

True, HoCo, but they should never have used Daughtry in the montage of winners even tho ironically he may be the biggest winner thus far!

agreed with the love fest but what are they supposed to say?

[Lesley]

Love Andrew Lloyd Weber's comments about Archuleta's eyes!

If David Cook cgave some of his confidence to Archuleta the kid would maybe not need an oxygen tank.

Cook rocks!

[Lesley]

excellent song choice for Archie...

[Lesley]

agreed with simon..was archie's best..and hahaa the song leaves us with so many fun innuendos to make re Archie....

[Lesley]

my fave version of that song is by George Michael

[flarma]

if you ever watch Rock the Cradle you realize how talentless the
contestants have been this season. The worst thing tonight though
is that this is almost the end of Hoco's columns -- I really
look forward to them every week and will truly miss them.

[HoCo]

Geo Michael has a good voice, but the production on the original Elton version is striking. No one recorded drums the way Elton's late producer Gus Dudgeon did.

[Lesley]

what song was that which cook sang? i loved it.

[Lesley]

disregard my previous question...

ahah, Ryan calls him Archie too!

[Lane]

sorry i'm late, I was watching the NBA draft lottery

[HoCo]

Thanks flarma! I enjoy doing the columns, too, and will try and keep the Idol Watch blog alive during the year posting news about Idols and also posting music-related items as often as I can, so please try and check back now and then. Thanks again!

[Lane]

was Cook's song one someone wrote for Idol?

[Lesley]

i dont love archie's song but i have to say you can tell he REALLY WANTS TO WIN. That, or his psychodad threatened to chop his you know what off if he loses...

[Lane]

anyone have insulin? I am watching Arch-bot-letta sing this saccharine sap.

[Lesley]

of course my mom AND my sappy girl friend both LOVE archie.....

[Lane]

whats with the fakakta anchor on his jacket?

[HoCo]

I think your second observation is the correct one, Lesley! Jeff Archuleta's standing off to the side with a big paddle to apply to David's backside if he blows one single note!!

[Lane]

I think Cook doesn't care if he wins...

[Lesley]

Cook snoozed this song down for me but I still love him. He's adorable.

[Lesley]

THIS IS THE MOST UNEVENTFUL IDOL FINALE EVER. AND THE CAPS ARE BECAUSE I NEED SOME EXCITEMENT HERE

[Lesley]

THIS IS THE MOST UNEVENTFUL IDOL FINALE EVER. AND THE CAPS ARE BECAUSE I NEED SOME EXCITEMENT HERE

[Lesley]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Lesley]

archie wins. good for him. it's been interesting guys..unfortunately i am missing the big reveal tomorrow night so i look forward to one more season next year......

[nonymouse]

Missed most of it because I was at a Toastmaster's meeting, but really like archie. He's adorable and I hope he wins (oh, and uh, hilary, too)

[IdolIdiot]

Cook flopped, but things were not stacked in his favor. U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is not an easy song to make special and lacks opportunities to show off vocal chops; Archie got a typical mid to slow tempo Elton John pop ballad from the producers right up his alley. The second Cook song, quite frankly, sounded like any song you hear on any soundtrack in any Gap store--surely Cook didn't pick it. Ultimately, I would have loved to see the producers make the guys stretch--force Archie to sing "Enter Sandman" or "We Will Rock You" or "Love In An Elevator" and make Cook counter with "I Will Always Love You" or "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" or "One Sweet Day." Oh well...

[Squiddo]

The second round was contestant's choice of songs selected from teh songwriting competition, thinks I.

[Andres Spivey]

I really don't think that David Cook really wants to win and I don't blame him at all. He'll have complete freedom to do what he wants and believe me, he will sell a ton of records! Archuleta on the other hand has a really good voice and will also sell a ton of records...now, maybe if I were a 10 year old girl I'd like David A. but I'm not, so I personally prefer David Cook hands down. To me, David A. is just so predictable and bland and boring...great voice yes, but absolutely NO stage presence, and all he sings are those cheesy slow songs that little girls eat up. The person who wrote this blog obviously likes Archuleta better as she was WAY off base on David Cook. She was correct in saying that Archuleta will win, but she wasn't correct on the reasons WHY he'll win, and on who will have the bigger post Idol career. David Cook is extremely talented and a much much better PERFORMER than Archuleta, who is just....blah...

[Icehawk]

All else being equal, based on last night I have to give it to Archuleta as well - and I've preferred Cook almost every week.

[HoCo]

Both Archuleta and Cook will be signed to Sony/BMG as a result of going top 2 and neither will be free to do as they wish.
As for selling a ton of records, I don't see it happening for either of them.

[Steve]

Wow, and I thought I wasn't impressed! I don't think I could have said it any better than you did in this post about the season "finale"...blah!

I think they both sucked pretty bad. It's almost like the presidential stuff and elections, who is the lesser of two evils to vote for?