Coldheartedreality

The Kinks - 1981

Apparenty American Idol gave Danny, Katie, and at least one other contestant the cold shoulder and simply didn't invite them to the finale. You don't expect to see them sing, but you do expect to see the top 24 at least hanging around the finale.

Well it was a knock out afterall and as I predicted, it was David Cook left standing winning 56% of the final vote. If I do my math correctly he got somewhere between 53 and 54 million votes (which is more than George W Bush got in 2004). Hows that for some perspective on our American culture?

I won't take anything away from David Archuleta. He was a great contestant and had this been a six or eight week competition I think he would have won it. But over the course of time it was David Cook who was able to successfully show the various sides of himself that the longer season demands. It was the ability of David Cook to continue to do the unexpected that made all the difference in the world. It was also DC's ability to sing a larger variety of songs than DA was able to sing... and that was never more clear than the final two shows of the season.

While I certainly think that Archuleta had a solid night tonight, I think that the judges are definitely giving young David a false sense of security. By no means do I think that the night was a "knock out" and I think when push comes to shove that Cook may even have gotten the better of it.

Let me clarify.

Round one - Simon proclaimed this round to Archuleta, but based on what exactly? He flubbed at the beginning of the song and really seemed (unles there is a stevie wonder version I have never heard) lost somewhere in between the Elton John and George Michael version of the song. He hit most of the notes, but if I am comparing his "tone" I would prefer either John or Michael. While I think "Don't let the Sun" is one of the great all time rock ballads, Cook did a better than reasonable job on a very cool "contemporary" U2 song that will reasonate better with the thirty and under crowd that votes.

Round two - Neither song was outstanding, which is not unusual for the coronation songs... but of the two I could see the David Cook song selling as a contemporary top fourty pop song (in the Goo Goo dolls sort of way)... whereas the David Archuleta song would get lost on the easy listening charts. Simon seemed more concerned that the Cook song was not "typical" of the coronation song... which is exactly why it will probably draw more votes. If there is one thing people hate about American Idol and the final performances, it is the sappy coronation songs.

Round three - At this point of the night, Simon Cowell was simply being rude for no apparent reason. Again, his issue seemed to be that David Cook did a song he had not performed before rather than do a repeat as is typically done. Never mind that his version of the Collective Soul song was easily the most inspiring of the night. It didn't fit the mold. Granted, David Archuleta does a nice job on "Imagine", but all it really did was guarantee that Archuleta would show no other side to himself but singing sappy ballads.

Bottom line - I think the judges (especially Simon) got caught up in the moment a little too much and couldn't see the forest for the trees. One contestant stepped up and showed multiple sides of himself, while the other was predictable. One contestant was original and showed a pair while the other played it safe. The entire basis of the show (with the whole boxing anology) implied that the contestant who took chances, went the extra mile, and pushed things to the limit was ultimately who would win. If that truly becomes the criteria, then it was a knock out. Unfortunately for Simon, it was his David who ended up on his back.

Luke Menard Diagnosed With Inoperable Cancer

Whoda thunk it?

Actually a pretty good contrast in styles and the best possible final that this season could have manufactured. I actually think for once that both David Archuleta and David Cook will be able to sing the sappy American Idol final show song fairly well. Look for this song to be right up David Archuleta's alley and for him to sing it straight, and look for David Cook to play into the "First time ever I saw your face" sort of feel...

I will be curious as to which songs the two choose as their repeat songs. Probably "imagine" by Archuleta and maybe that Lionel Richie song (Hello) that Cook did?

Looking forward to it...

but my dream hypothetical finals matchup!!

Jason Castro vs Sanjaya Malakar.... think about it!