Idol Finale!!! Clash of the Davids...

Here we are at the end of another season of the Idol. After a few months, we find ourselves at the finale that was apparent from the second or third week of the Top 12, the rocker David Cook vs. the teen David Archuletta. Neither person has every been in the bottom, not even coming close to a shock elimination.


David Archuletta:
As close to a frontrunner as we have had for the last three seasons, it was almost never in doubt he would be in the Top 12. He actually peaked during the Top 24, with his IMAGINE rendition making him a clear favorite. It actually looked at that point that there was a possibility of this season being like Carrie Underwood's season, with the whole show feeling just like a year long coronation. Since then, he's been consistenly good, but not great. He also suffers from at times feeling like he's a product, that someone else is choosing and arranging what he is doing. He'll pick songs from someone obscure he claims is his favorite, yet he'll not be familiar with The Beatles or Neil Diamond. Also, his youth is either something you find endearing or annoying, he's clearly somewhat shy. Most times he's interviewed, the answers are mostly giggles or 'aw shucks' type responses.


He's also coming in on some negative feelings, with his dad being kicked out of the rehearsals, and then his dad and others around him suggesting Idol is cheating for David Cook (by getting rid of him, of course. As if removing the annoying dad making his son nervous was a bad thing). He also had a bad final week due to the Chris Brown song choice, which was widely ridiculed. (In retrospect, the Chris Brown comparisons did make him look silly.) Still, he has a HUGE fanbase, and it's altogether possible that he goes into this final with more people assured of voting for him. Plus you'd think the Idol song, bad as I'm sure it will be, would suit him more.

He's yet to have his "Summertime" moment. This would be a hell of a time to achieve it.


David Cook:

The rocker who picks great song choices, and does (or chooses) great arrangements for his songs. Unlike David Archuletta, he's has quite a few high moments this season, Hello during the Top 24 (which bumped him up back of the pack to middle of the pack), Billie Jean, and then Always be My Baby during Mariah Carey week. He's older, more experienced, and has nobody annoying him like David Archuletta, so he comes into this week on a pretty good note. He's one of my favorite contestants of all time, and for me is really the high point of what has been a pretty disappointing season. (This season had the malaise of last season, less Melinda, Latoya or Sanjaya's sideshow.)


David Cook seems to have the most fans now, but I doubt he has the same fanatic supporters that David A has carried though. Still, when it's only two left, those fans are marginalized and the general public at large would seem to gravitate toward him. As well, the negative support (VFTW, Morning shows being funny, etc.) is all on David Achuletta's side, which really hurts once you are down to 3 or 4 people.

I've see the song choices, and David Cook's seem better suited to provide him a big moment. David A's big moment would seem to be his reprise song, which if you don't know what it is, you haven't been paying attention. The Idol song would seem to work in David A's favor (since it's destined to be a cheesy pop ballad), but from what I've heard, they are allowed more freedom to arrange it this year, so David Cook may be able to do something with that. You'd figure David A's version would be whatever he's given, more or less.

Should be an interesting show. My prediction - David Cook is great, David Archuletta slightly less (although Randy will say he's super great, best every dawg!) and David Cook becomes the next american idol!

JUAN