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It is done. David and David sing their final songs before the audience decide who wins the crown. Both contenders will battle it out in 3 rounds. The first round were songs chosen by music legend, Clive Davis. In the second, the contenders were made to choose songs from the top 10 American Idol Song Writer Finalists while the last round gives them the freedom to choose the best song that would prove they deserve the title.

Clive Davis chose U2′s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” for Cook and Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” for Archuleta. The judges found both performances satisfactory, but Simon, as expected, responsibly provided the needed edge that Randy and Paula could not deliver, by declaring that the round belonged to Archuleta. Cook chose a fast song entitled “Dream Big” while Archuleta went for “In This Moment.” Judges hinted that Cook’s choice wasn’t the best, though his performance made up for the wrong choice. Again, Simon declared the second round in favor of Archuleta.

The final round gave both contenders the choice to sing the best song they have ever performed, including any song they might have already performed during the competition.  Cook was in character when he chose to take a risk and performed a new song, The World I Know.  The song obviously meant something to Cook when he concluded the song in tears.  Randy and Paula gave kind reviews.  In contrast, Simon told him it was the wrong choice despite the tears.  He even suggested that a repeat performance of Billie Jean would have been the better alternative.

Playing it safe, the young Archuleta opted to repeat his best performance and sung Imagine.  His repeat performance got raves from the judges, almost as if declaring him the winner regardless of the final tally on the votes tomorrow.  Tomorrow, we will find out how much clout the judges’ opinion will have on the voting audience.

 

As American Idol 2008 rounds up to the finals, David Cook outshines the young David Archuleta and the lone surviving female, Syesha Mercado, last May 13, 2008. The last 3 contenders in this season’s American Idol sang 3 songs each to prove their mettle and fight their way to the final round. The first song was chosen by the judges where Cook shone brighter than Archuleta and Mercado singing Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” The song was chosen by Simon which had the hard-to-please judge declaring, “Round 1 goes to Cook and Cowell.” Archuleta sang Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” which was chosen by Paula Abdul while Mercado sang “If I Ain’t Got You” chosen by Randy Jackson. Both performers did not make any blunder but did a mediocre performance compared to Cook.

In the second round, the contenders sang songs of their choice where Archuleta sang With You, Mercado sang Fever, and Cook sang Dare You to Move.  None of the contenders scored in that round with all 3 getting bad reviews from the judges.

The final round, songs chosen by the producers,  was a bust for Mercado who sang Hit Me Up.  Meanwhile, Archuleta got an ok from all the judges for Fogelberg’s Longer but Cook got better reviews with his version of I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing.  Personally, it seemed like the producers were setting up the finals into a David versus David contest.  Although I initially favored Archuleta, I think Cook has a better chance of clinching the title for the seventh season.  He showed more creativity and versatility while the 17-year old’s talent was limited to performing ballads.

With American Idol, we don’t really know which end is up.  Still, both contestants deserve to be in the finals.  May the best singer win, rather than the one with the most votes.