Finals
Hi, gang! I've had a little time to ingest and process - and now that the songs have been sung, the votes cast and the verdict given, I've got to say, AI can be so hard on you sometimes! I told my son this morning in an e-mail, "Honey, this is why I don't gamble - I always back the wrong horse -- but for the right reasons."
Y'all who are regulars here know my feelings about lil' David -- really wanted to see him in that confetti laden spotlight, singing the coronation song, eyes full of tears and smile larger than life at the end of the season - but that honor went to David Cook.
Don't get me wrong...I like Cook. His maturity really showed in his celeb adept personality and an ability to relate to the audience. Further, he could emote to his chosen music - which was always great. That's something that, once the music stopped, Archuleta had trouble with. Forget his father, please! By all accounts, he's not the ogre we've been led to believe by the Idol Machine and the media powers that be. Despite his youth he demonstrated incredible grace and a maturity far beyond his years. Thank his stage father, and his lovely mom for that, please. I mean, sheesh - the kid is young! Remember how shy and awkward seeming you may have been at 17??
Talent issues aside, I liked that DC had a genuine big brother vibe going on with DA. In fact, after the announcement, Archuleta didn't even really get a chance to take a bow, or receive any individual applause (Paula was too busy screaming for 'her boy' DC to observe such niceties, I suppose) but Cook made sure he kept dragging him into the spotlight so the crowd could at least express a bit of appreciation.
Farrago, I think you're spot on in your voting vs. voters analysis. Truly great observation. I watched last night,and swore I was done - that I wouldn't emotinoally invest in AI any more.
But, like a chickie with the word "sucker!" tattooed on her forehead, I know I'll be back. The show is, in the end, still a lot of fun and it definitely takes you for a ride, sometimes, right along with your favs.
You just need to know how to not be bummed when they come in second.
Till Idol 09, all!!!
Idol7_winner
Cook has a lot more potential to sell records and become a star than Archiletta ever will. And that's really what Idol wants, a legacy.
Archiletta is a nice young kid, but he's got to grow up before he'll be ready for the big time. He's perfect to do Disney cartoon movie sound tracks.
Cook is original and while he didn't hit a home run every time at bat like , Cook occassionally hits a grand slam. That's a hit in the music biz. His gig with ZZ Top doing Best Dressed Man was really good, even his guitar playing was outstanding.
97 million VOTES not voters
Adam, Adam, Adam, you are a bit off-base. Ryan did not say that 97 million people voted; he said that there were 97 million VOTES. Many of those people probably voted a hundred times each, which is why David Cook won. He appeals to an audience that is at once both older and younger than the voters for David Archuleta. So after the tweenies voted a couple times, they had to get off the phone and go to bed. After the over 55 crowd voted for David Archuleta, many of whom voted only ONCE, they went to bed. So while David Cook's fans were dialing in like crazy to vote and re-vote, David Archuleta's fans were sleeping, either unaware that they should have been doggedly hitting redial time and again to log more votes for their boy, or unable to do so. I'm certain that more PEOPLE voted for Archuleta, but more votes came in for Cook. Not the same thing, and since in this contest, the votes count, David Cook is our new winner, even though he's far less talented than our boy Archuleta.
America got it wrong
Adam, need I remind you of this? :)
It was fun, but I'm looking forward to getting my life back, too.
LOL
I'm sorry, I've tried to like the guy, but David Cook winning American Idol largely proves that most of the world is tone-deaf. Good image, average talent (vocally).
Finale
Hey TEX! David Cook WON! Yes it's true! He was the true "original" artist on the show this year. Mark Bliss called him the "Darkhorse" and it turns out that was the case.Chalk one up for you Mark!
This year the 'Idol' voting base got it right. What 'American Idol' has been about since its inception is being different, original etc. David Cook fit that bill to a tee.
I think many of us were fooled by all the hype surrounding David Archuleta. You must admit Tex that the kid is talented, but there was so much controversy in his camp with his Dad etc. That in itself may have taken a heavy toll on David Archuleta ending up with a second place finish.
I don't think that Little David will have any problem getting a record deal, but I do think that his father needs to lighten up, step back and stay in the wings. Leave the spotlight to his son, the singer! Dad appears to cause more trouble than anything for his son.
It's been fun on the page this year. I've had a good time swapping opinions with everyone. I hope to see everyone in January 2009!
Finale
I am so upset with what happened to me last night that I will not watch the finale or ever watch Idol again. I had my phone on speed dial for contestant 1,3,5 when I finally got through they told me Thank you for voting for contestant 2. I thought I might have messed up when I set the speed dials but I didn't and continued to vote when I got through again they said Thank you again for voting for contestant 2. I did this 2 more times before I realized my votes were going to David A. I told all my friends and they are not going to watch this fixed scam. What kind of crap is this???????? It shows me that they are going to put in that position anyone they feel regardless of how we vote. Simon Cowell you are way overpaid for your position
Finale
Archuleta will more than likely win tonight because "The Machine" has wanted him to all along. My God, could the judges have been any more one sided in their remarks? They kept taking shots at Cook, and just kept getting gooey over Archuleta. Simon, and Paula I understand, but Randy's a respected Bass Player/Producer that's been sucked in by the HUGE paycheck he's collecting from his comments on this dreck.
David Cook seems savvy enough that he knows how this thing is going to turn out, and just wants to get it over with. I'll be very interested to see how it goes for him. He at least exhibits some passion and a connection to the songs he sings, and he's gonna do just fine once he get's past the "Summer Tour".
But I'm with Bliss, and Slimchance on this one. Archuleta is an okay singer, but he is a one trick pony, and I think he will fall prey to the whims of the producers and record people that will provide an overproduced, and under written couple of albums for him that are destined for the Bargain Bin at Best Buy! I absolutely CANNOT imagine listening to an entire album of his. And I've said it before...wait till they throw his old man into the mix! It will become the bigger part of the story...you watch.
Oh yeah...and where does, (didn't Seacrest call him "Archie"), get off changing John Lennon's lyrics to Imagine? There's no line in that song that starts with "Take My Hand..."! That must've been Dad's idea too!
What a Joke!
Finale
Mark Bliss, you hit the nail on the head. David A. did not sing three songs; he sang one song three times (or has it been twenty times?) David C. may not have hit on all cylinders, but he mixed it up and there was anticipation in the air that the next thing he does might be absolutely great. The ability to create that kind of anticipation alone sets David C. apart from the rest, including David A. David A. can sing, no doubt about that, but do I want to listen to an entire album of the same tone, the same runs and the same slow, mellow theme? Give me someone who can mix it up and make me excited about what is coming next anytime. I voted for David C. last night; but more importantly, when I vote with my $$ it will be for David C. too.
Archuleta Idol
Once again, Adam Graham is right on, but Mark Bliss must have been watching a different show. David Cook proved what I've been saying for months: he's an average bar singer, that's sings just average songs with an average voice. If you get out in the world, you know there are much, much, much, much better singers out there. People, this guy is just plain AVERAGE! And last night he was at times below average. David Archuleta was incredible. I've said it since day one - he's the best. His version of Imagine (this time around) was by far the best per performance in Idol history (even slightly better than Kat McPhee's "Over the Rainbow")! If you know anything about music, you KNOW this kid has chops. His voice inflection is nearly flawless; very soulful for a young white boy.
I just hope he doesn't hyperventilate tonight when they crown him the new American Idol.
Castman OUT!
american idol
Checking in late again this week.....DVR tells me that David Archuleta is the new American Idol....David Cook should just congratulate him right now....That boy has been my pick from his initial audition...what a talented and genuinely nice kid. Not a ton of them out there these days, but this one here is the real deal. He'll be a super star and good for him. David Cook is no slouch and will do very well too, but David A. is not going to be beaten not tonight not in this venue, this night, this competition belongs to David Archuleta.
Round 2
David Cook: OMG this no one's heard this song but right now it's my favorite!! this is amazing! But can Archuleta do better?
David Cook
Okay, a think it was a tie for round 1. They were both incredibly AMAZING!!!! can't wait 'til round 2
David Cook
I LOVED David Cook's song. I totally agree with Simon, I thought it was really good. Good luck, other David
American Idol - Suggestions for improvement
Hey Farrago, You say that "instead of choosing the best singers, some of whom might be fat, ugly, or pretty but uninteresting, they choose the entrants who will provide the most entertainment. Like Ruban Stoddard, Fantasia and Taylor Hicks? I agree with you that AI likely does not find the best singing talent, but I think that's more a product of poor judging than the invidious discrimination you are suggesting.
