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The Critic's blog
The final Duel for David Cook and David Archuleta
Can you believe it? It's finally here! The final performance show of the year for American Idol. Tomorrow night, one of them will be crowned the winner of American Idol.
Tonight, the two Davids take to the stage for the final time to try and secure your vote - and the win.
The polls have David Cook with a slight edge over David Archuleta so tomorrow's result will be interesting. But tonight, will it be the rocker or the crooning swooner that impresses.
If you haven't already, why not join one of our Office Pools on the right and see if you can pick who is going and who is staying.
Also, If you need the voting numbers, they can be found here.
Here is tonight's recap:
David Cook
Original: 
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-05
What a fantastic way to start the show. David has certainly come to play tonight!
Randy: "It was a great way to start off this duel of 2007. It was hot baby!"
Paula: "You may not have found what you're looking for but we have. David Cook has arrived amen amen."
Simon: "You looked very tense, very emotional. So taking all that together, I thought it was phenomenal."
David Archuleta
Original: Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-06
WOW! Game on! We finally have a real competition on our hands!
Randy: "It doesn't matter what happens right now. This is one of the best performances of the season. That was flawless and unbelievably molten hot! Crazy vocals!"
Paula: "The sun is never gonna go down on you. I got chills up my arms. That was a beautiful exciting performance."
Simon: "It's easy to get overexcited tonight. Last week I thought you were ok. I thought tonight this is the best you've been so far. Taking everything into account, round 1 goes to Archuleta!"
David Cook
Original: Dream Big - Lyrics
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-05
What a fantastic song. Very David Cook. Very cool!
Randy: "The beginning of round 2. The song was just ok but you were singing your face off. Nice, nice."
Paula: "We sit in awe mesmerized by you. Congratulations"
Simon: "Using the boxing analogy it was bit of a lightweight. It's supposed to be a winning song, it didn't sound like a winning moment. That was a 6.5 out of 10."
David Archuleta
Original: In This Moment - Lyrics
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-06
Again, a very Archuleta song but I have to disagree with Simon. This was a far weaker song and completely boring! Round two to Cook!
Randy: "Right now, once again the song I wasn't crazy about the song but right now you are so in the zone that you could sing the phonebook."
Paula: "Another magical performance. That is why you are here. Congrats."
Simon: "I love the egotistical lyrics. You chose the better song. Much more in keeping with the night. Round 2 goes to David Archuleta"
David Cook
Original: The World I Know
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-05
A very strange song choice for David. And a wrong one. Completely blew the final opportunity to win votes.
Randy: "One of the cool things about you is you're showing different sides of Cook. This is the kind of record you could get by with. Very nice job."
Paula: "You're standing in your truth and you're delivering performances with originality and integrity. I truly applaud you."
Simon: "You are one of the nicest and most sincere contestants we've ever had. It was a beautiful song, but it was completely and utterly the wrong song for you. You should have sung "Billie Jean". You understand what I'm saying?"
David Archuleta
Original:
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-06
Another signature performance by David Archuleta.
Randy: "I'm really happy it's the two Davids. You are exactly what the show is about. The best singer of season 7 is right there!"
Paula: "You left me speechless. You were stunning tonight. This is what it's all about."
Simon: "You know, we've taken a bit of stick this year but at the end of the day, this show is about finding a star. My opinion David, you came out here tonight to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout."
After tonights show I score Round 3 to David Archuleta, Round 2 to David Cook and Round 1 a draw. It's too close to call despite the judges obviously favoring David Archuleta. How will the results look tomorrow? See you then for the Grand Finale!
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David Cook is the best American Idol!!!
WOW!!!!! I thought all 6 performances were stellar. No doubt that the two finalists are as different as day and night. DC you are ready to go. Great performer seasoned from years in your band. Go, do your own thing and sell millions. DA your melodic a capella of "And So it Goes" gives me goose bumps. Who needs a band when the music is in your voice. I already have your "In This Moment" on my ipod. Whomever wins it's obvious AI will have to market him correctly. They really need a star this year. And DA does way more than ballads. Anyone who says thats all he does is obviously not watching every week. Sweet Caroline & American were uptempo and he nailed them. No doubt he could do pop songs and sell them. Best of luck to both winner and runner-up.
Why is it every time David A. talks I feel like a pedophile? Creepy.
No idol there.
Hope more than America's teenybopper fan base voted last night.
David C. is more than a great talent. He's articulate and has a winning personality. His victory will add some credibility to the program that it has lost in recent years.
David Archuleta did a better job in the finals. He has a beautiful voice, no doubt. But the post-Idol hype, I'm not sure if he'll sell records.
David Cook could be a better Chris Daughtry. Whether he wins or not, he will sell records, and he will sell concert tickets. His 'Always Be My Baby' rendition is even playing on the radio now. Odd for just a contestant.
Yes, Archuleta won the night. He may even win it all in a few hours. But if America wants an artist, Cook should be singing the winning song.
Both did amazing last night. Comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. In originality, I'd give it to David Cook. He has a great voice which some rock singers do not. He knows how to work music to make it his. As the judges said, he has a recording career ahead of him--and it's all up to what David C. makes of it. He could do very, very well. And I hope he does. David Archuleta has a wonderful voice. He did very well last night and evidently picked the songs the judges liked although I don't agree with them 100 %. But David has a ways to go to be big performer. His songs will only appeal to a certain venue but David C.'s will appeal to a broader group. David A. could be good doing Branson shows--and he'd pack the house. David A. might be the "Idol" winner tonight but as it shows from previous shows, that doesn't equate to the career that stays. Clay Aiken is one such example. But to all, and to Syesha and the others---you've done well. Go for it!
David Archuleta did a better job in the finals. He has a beautiful voice, no doubt. But the post-Idol hype, I'm not sure if he'll sell records.
David Cook could be a better Chris Daughtry. Whether he wins or not, he will sell records, and he will sell concert tickets. His 'Always Be My Baby' rendition is even playing on the radio now. Odd for just a contestant.
Yes, Archuleta won the night. He may even win it all in a few hours. But if America wants an artist, Cook should be singing the winning song.
I love both David's, and I think they will both go on to have great careers regardless of who wins. I just have to say, though, in regards to David A making changes in "Imagine"....good for him! I wish he wouldn't sing that theme song of communism at all, but it does suit his voice perfectly.
Note that a rocker has never won American Idol, it's always been a singing competition and Americans seem to vote that way too. Both are great artists, but in the end it depends on the way American's vote and history tends to repeat.
Does anyone else also think it's totally absurd that David A's daddy does all his dirty work? Cook is an artist. he's creative, and actually passionate about what he's presenting. Hell my mom can sings ballads over and over.....and OVER again and make them sound good.
To totally Re-work Michael Jackson and Lionell Richie and turn them into fantastic ORIGINAL compositions is brilliance. Cook wins running away.
Even Cook admits that his Billie Jean was a copy of an already re-worked version
ok dont get carried away with cook changing them songs. come on now. he has help . for gods sake he is a bartender he sang every rock song they played at the bar on the juke box. and Lil david big age difference and much better singer. did frank Sinatra bore every one with his ball eds. he is dead and still selling music.and cook could never compare or change billy jean. and make a hit like Michael Jackson. and tonite proved i t with his cocky ways grabing the mica-phone. and saying why should i sing somthing I've done already. he should have. like your favorite billy jean. because tonite he sucked.
David Archuleta was amazing, he deserves to win after tonight's performance.
David Cook should be the winner of American Idol. If everyone would think of all of his past performances and tonight as well. He has from day one shown his orignality and creativity in all that he has sang. He has shown that he has real talent and variety in his voice and can sing anything. His performances were never repaticious or boring. I'm sorry but I agree with what Simon said about David A in the past that he sounded as if he should be singing on a Disney parade float. I'm sorry but every performance he has performed has sounded exactly the same as each song he has previously sang. I wish he would just go ahead and start crying after each performance instead of standing there with that same baby pitfull look like I'll cry if you say something bad. Honestly people, get real I dont think he will sell enough albums in the long haul. He may win American Idol but will soon be forgotten when he doesn't sell any albums. This is suppose to be a talent show not vote for the little boy popularity contest.
Can't you guys figure out what David Cook did tonight?
You know the last song he did? the one that everyone thought was gonna be Billie Jean but then he picked a different song? well he picked a song no one had heard of and he sang it amazing. and do you know why he did that? so people won't vote for him, so he won't win and be contracted by Idol.He's done enough to get noticed now and he won't be contracted by idol and have to sing all the boring sappy songs they give him. And when he gets asked in interviews what he did wrong, he can just say "I picked the wrong song" and he won't be lying. He threw the competition. Well...not necessary threw it because I think he sang brilliantly tonight, but I don't think he really wanted to win. Didn't you guys hear his comment at the beginning of the show? "To me, the competition is already over, this is just for fun now"
Sarah,
Thats just what I was thinking. I felt a vibe from David C that he was trying to lose, but couldn't understand why. Thanks to you I get it now. Makes sense. He is so AWESOME, can't wait for his first album and concert!!!
if you have never heard Collective Soul then you need to check them out because they are awsome! I think David Cook did a fine job with their song and over all for the entire competition has proven he has the most range and creativity to his voice. He can sing anything and never bore you. I hope he wins. I'm sorry but David A has sounded exactly the same on every performance he has done. Yawn!!! I know what your saying about David Cook but I hope he wins because I think it would be a slap in the face to be beating by someone who should be singing to children at Disney World. David A would make a great mouse-ka-TEAR! Since he always looks like he's ready to cry.
DA is boring! Yes he has a good voice, but do we really need another Barry Manilow?
DC is much more talented and took many more risks that DA.
DC should win.
But AI wants DA..so we will see
Round 1 a draw? Round 2 to Cook? How do you figure?
I'm a big Cook fan but Archuleta absolutely smoked him tonight - Archuleta looked like the seasoned professional while Cook just left everyone thinking - "what happened?"
Archuleta wins this one going away, if the voters really pick on the best performances and best "Idol."
Oh my god i just want to say David.A your my biggest fan and if i saw you tonight i would be in heaven David.A i know i haven't meet you but everythime you sing you make me feel like a better persona and for that i thank you and I an praying that you win David.A you make me feel like you sister but im not unfortunetly but I hope you win cause you deserve it so much well i have to go now but I am watching you on t.v right now okay.
I LOVE YOU DAVID.A
I HOPE YOU WIN!
you biggest fan Taylor Miles.
(p.s no matter if you win or lose your still my biggest fan and i love you no matter what and you will always stay in my heart I love you and also no matter what you still will make me feel lik a better person.) I LOVE YOU(L)
I think what you're trying to say is that...
"David A, I'm your biggest fan..."
It's cute and endearing to see how much David A. has touched you with his singing, but I doubt he's your biggest fan.
Cute note tho... cute.
Oof, Round 2 and it feels like David C. is getting smashed by David.. If he wants to win the audience once and for all he better have something big coming in the third round.. After all, in the short clips someone (I can't remember at the moment) told him to not sing the best in front.
Only time will tell!
*David A.
Is randy drunk? 2007? Check the calendar men.
But let’s get back to the show. DC is way more of a artist. And over the show, and I do not mean tonight, has proven with many, many great performances. Like Eleanor Rigby, Billie Jean, Music of the Night, and so many others. In some he prove also that not only he can sing, but chose, and change in ways to make the song even better. Or anyone has forgotten the rock version of Happy Together, or the emo version of Hello. The arrangement was amazing.
Also David A change Imagine. Not only he cut to only a part of the song, maybe because he did not want to sing "And no religion too ", but he also change this
"Sharing all the world" to "Sharing for the world"
That totally changes the message of solidarity to charity with is not the same by any means. And do this is murder to the song. He is a good singer, and precocious, but not only D Cook is better, he should lose just because he did that with "imagine"
But even if he wins American Idol, that actually does not mean that much. Because unless he grows as an artist his career will, most likely not even come close to Cook.
Just to add, changes in the arrangement to make a song sound better is great, changes the lyrics so it adjust to your on belief is absurd, and disrespectful with the writer of the song, because changes the meaning of the song.
Lets remember David A also did that with that line “All you Beautiful Girls” with he added to the classic “Stand By Me”. I mean, come on, how can people that supposable appreciate music does not disapprove that kind of stuff.
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