David versus David: Fight to the Finish

7:00 p.m.: The mike drops into “the ring.” They make the Davids wear silly robes. David Cook manages to look cool; the Archuleta looks stupid. The showdown has started. And the announcer guy does a more annoying “THis is AMMMMMMMMerican Idol” than Ryan, though. Wow.

7:03 p.m.: Stupid Ryan intros the judges. Ryan explains the rules, like we need to know by now, and we get a goofy explainer video about the “head-to-head match up.” It makes me want to shoot myself a little. Bring on the singing!

7:06 p.m.: David Cook has on a weird jacket that I can’t really get behind, and the Archuleta rasps about how he’s as prepared as he could be. I am proud that the Archuleta put on a jacket. And so did Simon! Wow! Ryan tries to cook up some hatred between the Davids, but they see right past it and play nice. Oh well. Ryan gives up and we’re off to the break.

7:13 p.m.: Round 1: Clive Davis picks the song. He’s looking for a song that captures the “yearning” of the generation and goes with U2 and Elton John.

David Cook is good at the beginning of “Still Haven’t Found What I”m Looking For,” making it a little more yearning and full of loss. And he gets out in the crowd, and I fall a little bit more in love with him. He makes me nervous by extending the last note and going up to the top of his range. But all is well. I swoon—and revive to hear the judges. Randy confuses the year but says it was hot; Paula says something that could be gross but is meant to be complimentary; Simon says it was phenomenal. Love me some David Cook. Stupid Ryan looks tiny next to David Cook. The morning after, and I still think this was a pretty good performance. Maybe some would say The Archuleta is the best technical vocalist, but David Cook is the all-around performer.

The Archuleta starts “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” sitting on the stairs. He’s good, really good. He gets a little sharp and very, um, bouncy. I have to say that kid is amazing, and he was good. Randy loves it; Paula has chills and rambles for awhile; Simon says Archie was OK last week, but this week was the best performance yet. Simon gives round 1 to the Archuleta.

I don’t know that I agree; he’s not my cup of tea, but he is very talented. Oh, well. What’s next?

7:27 p.m. Stupid Ryan is out in the crowd as he intros Round 2. The Davids have gotten to choose their favorite songs from the top 10 entries in the songwriting competition. This is going to be good. (That’s sarcasm, folks!) I hate this part. Andrew Lloyd Webber encourages the Davids to mean the lyrics (love you, Andrew!) and the boys seem ready to go.

David Cook sings “Dream Big.” This is definitely better than last year’s weird blah song. He starts rocking it out and I enjoy it. There’s a bit of cheese in these lyrics, but overall, pretty decent. And David even throws in a rock scream. I want to like it, really, really like it. Randy says it was good; Paula says. . .something sorta nice; Simon says it was lightweight, but said it didn’t feel like a winning moment. I want to like it so much and I think David sang the heart out of that song and made it the best he could. What else could he do? It’s not like he had great lyrics or melody to work with.

The Archuleta’s singing “In This Moment.” Guess what? It’s a ballad! Snooze. Wake me up when this gets interesting. The Archuleta is wearing the ugliest jacket ever. More than the Panic! at the Disco jacket David Cook wore when he sang that song by Our Lady Peace that was not a good song choice. OK, The Archuleta’s good, but this song is boring. It seems to be doing the same thing melodically over and over and over.

I personally don’t think either David was great, but they really didn’t have much to work with. Randy says the song was bleh, but the performance was good; Paula calls it magic; Simon says he loved the egotistical lyric and compliments Archie on picking the right song and gives round 2 to. . . .the Archuleta. Grr. Maybe he did pick the better song, but both were rather bleh. And David Cook obviously picked a song that meant something to him and spoke about having faith and dreaming big. I can’t help but think that his brother’s illness might be part of that for him.

Anyone else think Stupid Ryan is wearing mascara and eyeliner? Yeah, go check your DVR. I posit it’s because he has about 14 jobs and never sleeps.

7:45 p.m. Round 3: Contestants’ choice. Please, please, please, David Cook, do well. Pick a good song! He’s doing “The World I Know” by Collective Soul. Oh, boy—that could either be really good and work in his favor or bite him in the butt. I’m not sure which. Archie is doing “Imagine,” imagine that. It was his best performance so far, so that may be a good choice.

David Cook looks all emo and beautiful in his black outfit and red tie. The bongos come in and sound terrible! I want, want, want to love this, but I’m not connecting emotionally, until the end, when he does his falsetto. And then he cries, which tells me this meant something to him because David hasn’t really become overwhelmed much on stage. Randy says he showed a lot of sides of himself to the viewers; Paula says he was standing “in his truth” and stands and applauds; Simon says David is one of the nicest most sincere contestants ever, but a wrong song choice. I don’t know about that. He didn’t want to bring out old stuff and re-do it. But he hasn’t really connected emotionally tonight.

Now it’s time for the Archuleta and “Imagine.” I really liked this the first time around, but I think he’s throwing in too many trills and runs this time. It’s amazing that he can do that with his voice, but like accessories and perfume, too much gets cloying. It was beautiful, though, and Archie will probably win. But I’ve been up in the air lately, trying to decide if I wanted Cook to win or lose produce the album he wants with no strings attached. Randy gets all excited and loved it; Paula says he was stunning; Simon says Archie came to win and did. The tweens scream. The Archuleta fights back the tears and I wonder what Ryan would do if Archie fainted.

Final take: Archie was amazing, but David Cook performed a concert, picking songs he’d actually sing and actually performed them. The Archuleta is very talented and probably the best singer technically, but David Cook is an all-around performer.

Prediction: Archuleta wins. And David Cook records the better album that I actually buy. And when he comes through town on concert, I’m there. (No, I will not be asking him out. Should he read this blog someday and want to talk though, my e-mail address is on the info page.)

And we’re forced to endure Ruben singing the good-bye song live. Eww.