David Cook wins!

Cook wins American Idol 7 by 12 million votes.

From being a cannon fodder in my book to nailing all (well, at least for me) his performances in the finals—Eleanor Rigby, his first finals perf easily converted me to a fan—Cook grabs the title and poses as one of the most successful contestants ever. Admit it, you’ll even download Dream Big if that ever comes out in his debut. Looking back, I think, since Hello in the semifinals, David’s road to this big win has already been paved. And even if Archuleta stumped him last night in the competition, it seemed that his consistency throughout the season is not that easy to beat. Congratulations to David Cook for living up to the true definition of an American Idol.

I’m definitely watching out for this guy.

Now, who else can’t wait until the next set of bad auditions roll on our TVs? Sheesh, January seems so far. Lots of things can happen (including Ramiele Malubay’s visit to the Philippines or maybe, Syesha Mercado’s first film feature, haha!).

See you next season, guys! Cheers!

The Top 2: Davids Duel

So it has finally come down to the ultimate and seemingly inevitable Davids face-off. Both have been exceptionally good throughout the season and it all boils down to who puts up a better fight in this most important night.

Round One: Clive Davis’ Choice

David Cook – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

Cook sang this really well and with excitement-inducing impeccability. This is my favorite of his for the night. The long echoing note at the end is the most earth-shattering, mind-blowing I’ve heard all season.

David Archuleta – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me

Archuleta went all out with Clive’s favorite Idol song. He came out with unbelievable stage presence and gritty determination. This is truly the most revelatory performance of the season; a sign that Archulator is not about to let go of the competition and is definitely up for a fight. I am stunned with awe.

Round 1 goes to Archuleta for coming out with resonating confidence which burned down the cool atmosphere that Cook initially set up.

Round Two: Contestant’s Choice (New Song)

David Cook – Dream Big

Cook went the inspirational route in this round, choosing an uptempo number with encouraging lyrics. Again, Cook sang this like as a pro and this is the kind of song I’m sure he’ll be recording.

David Archuleta – In This Moment

Archuleta took the egotistical route and sang “Simon’s favorite song” with “self-centered” lyrics. His usual melismatic take was almost absent and what resulted was something pure-sounding, simple and beautiful.

Round 2 goes to Archuleta for an arguably better and more competitive song choice which, fortunately, was not given his usual overwrought treatment. Meanwhile, Cook is merely “having fun playing with 7,000 people”.

Round Three: Contestant’s Choice (Any Song)

David Cook – The World I Know

Cook went mellow with his last song. The performance was soothing and awesome, laced with Cook’s gyrating vocals. I loved the high falsetto at the ending.

David Archuleta – Imagine

Archulator sang the Archuleta anthem which we won’t ever grow tired of (even if we think we will) hearing him sing. For a finisher, it wasn’t that ground-breaking power ballad like in seasons past but oddly, it had the same awe-inducing effect.

For the night’s third and last round, Archuleta definitely assumed the upperhand with a stronger song choice that will be more memorable for voters.

Verdict

Cook gave us a tiny little concert tonight. Every performance was in its own right executed in an almost flawless fashion and defines Cook’s ability and identity as an artist. All three songs make up for what seem like a teaser for his debut album.

Archuleta gave us the impression that he’s so in it to win it. It was an all-out display of the young guy’s competitive and unwavering spirit. The Archulator was officially fierce; he was incredible; he blew me away.

Tonight was more of a concert for Cook, but isn’t American Idol more a competition than anything else? I was expecting an all-out bout from the two. And it so seemed that it was only Archuleta who lived up to that expectation. Cook has been consistently stellar all season, tonight definitely not an exclusion. But Archuleta peaked in the most important night of the competition and I can only guarantee that he swayed a lot of middle-voters to his side.

Bold Prediction

Alas, I finally surmise, David Archuleta emerges as the seventh American Idol.

The Top 3

Tonight, the last three were up for challenges from the judges, themselves and the producers. Did tonight’s performances turn tables or just build stronger foundations for crowd favorites?

[Note: Unlike the usual, this week's performances are arranged in the show's chronology. Rankings are stated in the last paragraph of each round.]

Round One: The Judges’ choice

David Archuleta – And So It Goes (Billy Joel)

A good choice by Paula and a good opener from David. His sweet-sounding vocals, unfortunately predictable take on the song in disregard, reminds us of why we rooted for him in the first place

Syesha Mercado – If I Ain’t Got You (Alicia Keys)

Syesha as per Randy’s choice tackled Alicia’s most beloved and sang it just a few notches above the amateur singer but never really measured up to the original. I personally think it’s not a good choice for her but the fans, if ever she has won a solid many, are probably happy.

David Cook – First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)

I side with Simon for choosing “something different” for David. This performance brings to mind Clive Davis choosing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” for Bo Bice. David proved he can do justice to a song even when he loosen up. The ultimate note of glory absolutely won me over.

Idol classic moment: Simon chooses the song for David because his girlfriend says he embodies it and disses Randy’s choice. Randy bellows “I love him” at David and gets back at Simon by saying he loves rocker David more. Now, is Randy snapping at Simon by way of overcoming his jealousy over David or what?

Round 1 goes to Cook for giving “something different” the same stellar performance he gives each week, with Archudiva trailing behind for a predictable take on a song and Syesha in the dead last, victim of being pitted to sing an awesome song that also happens to be the worst choice.

Round Two: Contestant’s choice

David Archuleta – With You (Chris Brown)

We should have seen this coming after Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” made a surprising and unwelcome apparition last week. In David’s dire attempt to bring forth his “young” side, he tries to channel his inner Chris Brown and tackles on a popular R&B song. He doesn’t have enough blues to bring justice to it, his phrasing didn’t go well with the rhythm, and the dancing which was just moving his hips left and right looked ridiculous. But then those were probably enough to please his fans, the young squealing girls of America who’ll take anything and everything from him.

Syesha Mercado – Fever (Peggy Lee)

Syesha’s theatrics make a comeback this week basically in the form of a chair. Now, come on, if this is what she thinks will save her this week—which everyone thinks is impossible anyway—then let’s cut her some slack. so we focus on her singing but can’t help but remember how the great Paris Bennett from two seasons ago sang the bejesus out of this song and again, Syesha’s sexy take can’t measure up to that. Poor girl.

David Cook – Dare You to Move (Switchfoot)

Cook is no Jon Foreman. The beginning was sappy but as the song builds up and David makes the whole thing his own, the effort pays off and comes out as the winner of a mediocre second round.

Cook gets away with the second round for sheer awesomeness of the song choice. Archuleta comes second with points for boldness and Syesha is on the last spot yet again for being insufferably boring (Sorry girl, you get the coveted Cannon Fodder of the Season Award anyway).

Round Three: The Producers’ choice

David Archuleta – Longer (Dan Fogelberg)

This is a weird song choice from the producers for David as it is kind of lackluster and doesn’t do David any favor. On the positive side, at least the vocals on this one make us forget the horrible second performance (but there, I just reminded you). As expected, he sang it very well and definitely earned him a spot in the finale.

Syesha Mercado – Hit Me Up (Gia Farrell)

Finally a song that showcased the different textures of Syesha’s vocals. The lyrics “maybe I should turn it up a little bit more” couldn’t be more fitting. This is the Syesha I loved. It’s too late for her though ‘cos this might also be the most forgettable performance for voters. Thank God for chairs and Alicia Keys.

David Cook – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith)

In the smartest arrangement I’ve ever heard of this hackneyed piece, David blows us away with serious ferocity. This is arguably the night’s best. If there’s anything predictable here, and I’m looking at you Randy, it is that David is gonna be singing his ass off at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live next week.

Cook obviously wins it, for me, in round three. Syesha takes second place with one of my favorite performances of her—which, unfortunately, is her last. Archulator loses on my book but definitely wins the “hearts all over the world tonight”.

Hands down to David Cook for winning the night all out. David Archuleta should be more pressured, eh? Or not. I guess the teenage girls demographic is a force to be reckoned with. As for Syesha, I have only two words: Bye bye.

Top 4: Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll night

Tonight we were treated with performances from the 500-track Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll catalog. Did the Idols rock or did they just roll?

1. David Archuleta – Stand by Me (Ben E. King) and Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley)

Okay, that “Beautiful Girls” snippet was a bit corny for me but it’s evident that David stole the night with very strong song choices coupled with his trademark soothing vocals.

2. David Cook – Hungry Like the Wolf (Duran Duran) and Baba O’Riley (The Who)

The first one was so-so but David certainly came back with a really great performance on the second take. I personally think Baba O’Riley is the night’s best.

3. Syesha Mercado – Proud Mary (Tina Turner) and A Change is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke)

Syesha’s Proud Mary was just okay and a tad shrieky. I really really loved A Change is Gonna Come though. I liked that she started it with that high note.

4. Jason Castro – I Shot the Sheriff (Bob Marley) and Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan)

Jason is so out of the competition. I thought he was gearing up for a fight with the last song until he screwed the lyrics. And was it just me or did he actually mouth “Don’t vote” while Ryan was announcing his numbers?

I can’t believe we’re just two weeks shy of the big finale. I’m hoping for a Davids face-off.

Top 6: Andrew Lloyd Webber night

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals and I aren’t that acquainted (okay, we did an Evita imitation in 3rd grade and Jesus Christ Superstar was done by my mates in high school) but I still go with my raves this week.

1. David Archuleta – Think of Me (from The Phantom of the Opera)

The only performance that sounded contemporary and less theatrical (although I’m not sure if that’s a plus for everybody; worked for me). And, as usual, David’s vocals were mesmerizing.

2. David Cook – Music of the Night (from The Phantom of the Opera)

Unadulterated vocals from David. It was nice to hear him lessen the roughness tonight. I loved the perf but I’m not sure if this is the side of David that we’d like to see. But who can blame him on ALW night?

3. Syesha Mercado – One Rock and Roll Too Many (from Starlight Express)

Syesha was both sassy and sexy performing this. She was also able to play to her strength, showing more personality in a perf than ever. There were just some bum notes in the middle that I didn’t like but other than that, Syesha buried the blandness of weeks past.

4. Carly Smithson – Jesus Christ Superstar (from Jesus Christ Superstar)

Carly certainly came out strong with this piece but I thought she shouted most of it. I prefer the sultry, controlled Carly of yesterweek.

5. Brooke White – You Must Love Me (from Evita)

I kind of liked that Brooke chose to restart. I thought the fact that she immediately knew she had to make the orchestra restart was smart (or, if not, staged). Nevertheless, Brooke’s struggle to focus didn’t take the dramatic effect this song has on me ever since. It was as though she’s really imploring America to love her after the mishap at the start.

6. Jason Castro – Memory (from Cats)

I don’t think Jason struggled. He did put effort into it and tried to make it his own. It’s just that the whole thing plainly didn’t work.