I think your observations were spot on. I thought Cook did a great job showing diversity and range in his songs, while Archuletta did the same shtick (sad ballads) over and over. At this point, I think most people have their opinions on the two, and this episode certainly didn't do anything to change mine.T_Bone0806 wrote:On my Wishlist for next season: Either new judges or no judges. Randy was over the top obnoxious in his Archuletta love, Paula is overdue for an appearance on "Celebrity Rehab", and Simon's taste in music and idea of what constitutes "great" songwriting ensures that I'll never borrow his iPod.
I saw it TOTALLY different from the judges tonight. As in Hatfields and McCoys different. Yankees and Red Sox fans different. Even, dare I say it, Quake and Quisp different (THERE'S a reference for you MAWGS).
Round One:
Cook: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Started off a bit wimpy, the he et his spinach and powered up. Sang the song solid and good, no unnecessary filler. A
Archuletta: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me'. There WAS unnecessary filler HERE, though, as well as a weak first verse. Both David (in singing it) and Randy (in praising it) got carried away. I actually think this song is too powerful for little David. B-
Round Two:
Cook: "Dream Big". Hey! An original song I actually kinda like. In other words, an anti-Diane Warren sapfest type. The vocal was a bit shaky here and there but this is a radio-ready hit that's right up Cookie's alley. Better than the cliched "This is My Now" type pap they usually throw at us. B
Archuletta: "In This Moment". Did somebody mention "This is my Now" type pap? Welcome to "Cliched Idol Songwriting 101". Young David is savvy enough to know that this is the type of lowest common denominator stuff that the voters (and Simon) eat right up. Totally forgettable tripe. Some pitch problems, too. C
Round Three:
Cook: "The World I Know". I love this song. Collective Soul is one of my favorite modern bands. This may have had more of an impact if he had sang one verse and repeated the chorus (as the song builds in intensity the second time) rather than two verses and the chorus, but he did ok. An extra point for not playing it safe and repeating himself like Simon suggested he should've B+
Archuletta: "Imagine". And having said that, of course, Archie plays it safe and repeats the song that was his best performance of the season. However, rather than the fairly restrained take he gave us the first time around, this time he gives us more runs than a jug of Ex-Lax. Yes, his pitch was spot on, but as a Lennon fan, I was offended by the overbaked vocal acrobatics on the simple, elegant melody. Go sing in the corner, young man. B
Well, believe it or not, after keeping track of my grades all season, the final standings are:
David Archuletta 162 pts.
David Cook 162 pts.
Yup, it's a tie!!
However, on the basis of the original song, and who I see as selling more records, I am awarding MY crown to David Cook. I don't have a clue who will actually win. The judges really tried selling Archie to us tonight, but Cook has a lot of supporters as well.
Look, they both have a goodly amount of talent. It all comes down to personal taste. My only prediction is that two years from now, Cook will be selling records and Archuleeta will be appearing on Broadway as Simba in "The Lion King".
T-Bone out.
Round one: I was hoping Cook would ramp up his song more than he did after the first verse, but I still liked it. I though Archuletta's song wasn't nearly as good as George Michael's version and fell victim to the Whitney/Celine/Mariah/George Rule.
Round two: Cook's song was no "Stairway to Heaven", but I could still see that being an instant hit. Archuletta's song was duller than dishwater, and I could barely sit through the entire song.
Round three: I thought Cook did a decent job with this, although he certainly could have picked a better song. I liked his comment that he wanted to do something he hadn't already done -- which turned out to be a slap at Archuletta who reprised "Imagine". I didn't think he did as good a job as the first time he did that song, but maybe it was because he went without the piano this time.
It seemed obvious that the judges drank a couple of pitchers of Archuletta Kool-Aid before the show, and they went out of their way to push him as the winner. Overall, I think he's very limited in what he does, since anything but a sad ballad comes out like a train wreck. I predict a solid, Daughtry-like career for David Cook, while David Archuletta will be the next Shaun Cassidy or Leif Garrett, selling well for a few years before disappearing into obscurity.
As for the judges, I still think Simon is a must-keep. He's the only one who's ever brutally honest. Randy's comments often make me wonder if he's watching the same show as everybody else, and Paula can't string a coherent sentence together. Heck, she can't even string a coherent three words together. She has become an embarrassment to the show, and there has got to be somebody out there who could replace her -- Cyndi Lauper, Lita Ford, Joan Jett, Belinda Carlisle, etc.
