"Idol" Chit Chat: David Squared

David Archuleta and David Cook did battle last night for the title of "American Idol."

The first song choices were picked by record mogul Clive Davis.  For David Cook he chose "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," and for David Archuleta he chose, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me."

Cook sang well enough, but as always, he didn't make me feel anything.  It's like listening to background music in a restaurant, as soon as he starts singing, I start thinking about something else I could be doing.

Archuleta did a better job with his song, but the choice of the song did half the work for him.  And he almost looked like an adult in that little corduroy jacket of his.

Afterward, I thought Randy was going to have a coronary during his "molten hot" critique.

The second song was chosen by the Davids from the top ten favorite songs entered in the song writing competition. 

David Cook chose a rocker-esque song about dreaming big, called "Dream Big," and David Archuleta chose a ballad about being in "this moment," called "In This Moment." 

Yo, Idol producers?  In future I'd like to ban songs with the words, "this moment" in them.  Enough already.

That said, Archuleta picked the better song and sold it beautifully.  That's the performance that will lock in his winning vote.  It was emotional, it was just the kind of sappy, "in this moment" song that his fans are going to want to see him sing tonight as the winner.  Even I, yes, even I, was moved.

As Simon said, the song was "fantastically self centered," and an excellent song choice.

The third and final song choice was totally up to the Davids. Cook picked "The World I Know," a song I'd never heard of but which seemed to have great meaning for him, since he was crying at the end of it.  Either that or he was crying because he was so happy all this is almost over.  It's the first time all season, I felt like he was a real person and not a "rocker dude."

Simon told him, "You are actually one of the nicest, most sincere contestants we've had."  But having said that, he also said "It was completely and utterly the wrong song choice for you on the night." Simon and I are in sync on this one.

As his final song, Archuleta chose to repeat his take on "Imagine." I didn't think that was such a hot idea, but the judges loved it and it's really the second song that's going to give him the win.  Overall the judges agreed he was the best of the night.

My Final Predictions For 2008:

Should Win:  Based on last night only, David Archuleta.

Will Win:  America will finally get their teen dream, David Archuleta.

A final note, it was nice to see and hear Ruben Studdard.  Why can't somebody produce a hit record for this guy?

That said, Archuleta picked the better song and sold it beautifully.  That's the performance that will lock in his winning vote.  It was emotional, it was just the kind of sappy, "in this moment" song that his fans are going to want to see him sing tonight as the winner.  Even I, yes, even I, was moved.

As Simon said, the song was "fantastically self centered," and an excellent song choice.

The third and final song choice was totally up to the Davids. Cook picked "The World I Know," a song I'd never heard of but which seemed to have great meaning for him, since he was crying at the end of it.  Either that or he was crying because he was so happy all this is almost over.  It's the first time all season, I felt like he was a real person and not a "rocker dude."

Simon told him, "You are actually one of the nicest, most sincere contestants we've had."  But having said that, he also said "It was completely and utterly the wrong song choice for you on the night." Simon and I are in sync on this one.

As his final song, Archuleta chose to repeat his take on "Imagine." I didn't think that was such a hot idea, but the judges loved it and it's really the second song that's going to give him the win.  Overall the judges agreed he was the best of the night.

My Final Predictions For 2008:

Should Win:  Based on last night only, David Archuleta.

Will Win:  America will finally get their teen dream, David Archuleta.

A final note, it was nice to see and hear Ruben Studdard.  Why can't somebody produce a hit record for this guy?