Well, the person that should have. It was David Cook and not young David Archuleta that took home the top prize and by a pretty hefty margin. I really thought that Archuleta was going to win, but that Cook would ultimately do better in the long run. Well, Cook won and will do better in the long run, so good for him.

David Cook was, by far, the best from start to finish on American Idol season seven. It will be interesting to see what his first album sounds like. He should have a good chance of joining the likes of Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, as winners that also sell a lot of albums.

I didn’t sit through, what sounds like an excruciatingly long, product placement filled two hours, but what else would you expect from American Idol. I was too busy watching a great comeback win by the Los Angeles Lakers over the San Antonio Spurs. They came from 20 back in the third to win by four.

Anyway, congratulations to David Cook on winning season seven of American Idol.

To view the photos from the season seven American Idol finale click the more link below. Otherwise, just scroll down, cause you’re on the page already.

(more…)

It is nice to be on vacation, as I would normally be at work right now. Instead, I just finished watching NCIS and Shark, then had a little snack and now am clicking up the performances from the Top 2 on American Idol season seven, here at 11:28 p.m. instead of around 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Tonight, it is David vs. David and they will be singing three songs. The Michael Buffer opening only makes me think that one day in the future we will get a reality show involving boxing and former Idol losers. Anyway, Clive Davis is choosing their first song, the second one is their choice of from the Top 10 of the song-writing contest, and the final song is their choice.

David Archuleta won the coin toss, so he elected to go second, which is smart if he can nail that last song.

How Did the Performances of the Top 2 on American Idol Season 7 Rank?

1. David Archuleta - He is going second and Clive chose “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Elton John for him to sing. It is looking like round one is going to DA. Randy thinks it was “the best performance of the whole season.” Paula got “chills.” Simon thinks it is his “best” and he agrees with me that round one goes to DA. For his second song, he has chosen a song called “In This Moment” by Ryan Gilmore. It is looking like round two is going to DA as well. Randy thinks it’s “another hot one.” Paula loved it. Simon thinks he chose the better song and again agrees with me that round two goes to DA. For his third song, he has decided to sing “Imagine” again. Ladies and Gentleman, your next American Idol is David Archuleta. Randy thinks he is “the best singer, season seven.” Paula thought he was “stunning.” Simon thinks he has won by “knockout.”
2. David Cook - He is taking the stage first and Clive chose for him to sing “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2. That is a tall order, to sing an iconic song by the greatest band in the world, but he is sounding really good. Randy thinks it was “hot.” Paula thinks they have found what they are looking for. Simon thought it was “phenomenal.” For his second song, he has chosen to sing a song called “Dream Big” by Emily Shackelton. He has stepped it up from round one. Randy said, “You were singing your face off.” Paula thought he took a song that nobody knows and made people love it. Simon thought it was a “6½ out of 10.” None of them particularly liked the song. For song three he has chosen to sing ” For his third song, he has gone with “The World I Know” by Collective Soul. Well, it was his best of the night. Randy thinks it was “a very nice job.” Paula truly applauds him. Simon thinks it was the wrong song choice for him at this point in the competition and that he should have chosen something he had already done really well. I don’t know about that, but he definitely should have gone with something where he could have rocked out.

Based solely on this week’s performances, I think David Cook should be exiting the show and that’s who I think it will be. David Archuleta will definitely get more votes and be the next American Idol. But, in the long run, I think that David Cook will be the most successful contestant from this season. Much like Chris Daughtry and Clay Aiken from seasons past.

What do you think? Who should go home after the Top 2 performed on American Idol Season 7? Who do you think will be going home?

It is once again time to watch the performances from the Top 3 on American Idol season seven, here at 4:03 a.m. Wednesday morning via the old DVR.

Tonight, the contestants are singing three songs. They will choose one, one will be chosen by the judges, and the producers will choose one. By now, they should each have a good idea of what they are good at and choose wisely.

How Did the Performances of the Top 3 on American Idol Season 7 Rank?

1. David Cook - He is third to go and Simon has chosen for him to sing “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack. He definitely changed it up. The finish was outstanding. Randy wished Simon had picked a rock song. Paula thinks he is now her second favorite artist that sings that song. Simon thinks that the first round went to him. For his second song he has chosen “Dare You To Move” by Switchfoot. They are actually one of my favorite bands. Started out a bit slow, but it isn’t a really great version. Randy thinks it “wasn’t your best” and a bit “pitchy.” Paula thinks it showed how hard it is to take a three-minute song and put it into a minute and a half. Simon thinks that the middle round was just “okay” for everyone. For his third song the producers have chosen “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith. Sounded pretty good, but it almost seemed like his voice was struggling a bit at times. Randy thinks it was “okay.” Paula thinks he will make the finals. Simon thinks, “David Cook wins the night.” I would have to agree.
2. Syesha Mercado - She is second to go and Randy has chosen for her to sing “If I Aint Got You” by Alicia Keys. She has really grown over the course of the competition. This might be the best she has sounded. Randy thinks it was “amazing.” Paula liked it. Simon thinks she sang it “very well,” but that she needed to have changed it up a bit more. For her second song she has chosen “Fever” by Peggy Lee. She is making a case for making it to the final two. Randy thinks she sang it “amazingly well.” Paula is surprised by the song choice, as was Randy. Simon thinks she did a “lame cabaret performance.” I was surprised by their reactions to the performance. For her third song the producers have chosen “Hit Me Up” by Gia Ferrell. She sounds really good, but I don’t think the producers have done the contestants any favors. It just seems kind of weird. But, I liked the first two songs. Randy thinks it was “okay.” Paula thinks she “did the song very well,” but she doesn’t think it was good enough to get into the finals. Simon doesn’t like the song choice and that it didn’t give her a “defining moment to end the show.” If she could have sung these songs in reverse order, she might have been able to make the final.
3. David Archuleta - He is first to go and Paula has chosen for him to sing “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel. He can sing really well, but it is kind of boring. Randy thinks he is “in it to win it.” Paula thinks it was “beautiful.” Simon thinks it was “really good,” but “predictable.” For his second song he has chosen “With You” by Chris Brown. He may be trying something newer, but it isn’t working that well, at least not in the beginning. He finished off all right. Randy thinks it “wasn’t the right song.” Paula thinks he “did a great job.” Simon thinks it was “a little bit like a Chihuahua being a Tiger.” For his third song the producers have chosen “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg. He always sounds good, but he bores me. Randy thinks it was “hot.” Paula thinks it was “lovely.” Simon thinks he sang it “very well,” but that it was a poor song choice. He also thinks he has done enough to make it to the final two. Nothing grabbed me, would like to see Castro vs. Mercado in the final next week.

Based solely on this week’s performances, I think David Archuleta should be exiting the show. Based on the contest up to now, I totally think Syesha Mercado will be the one going home though. At least I was finally right about Jason Castro last week, it was about time. Overall, I would say the judges did the best job of choosing songs for the contestants, the contestants did so-so for themselves, and the producers were down right terrible.

What do you think? Who should go home after the Top 3 performed on American Idol Season 7? Who do you think will be going home?

It is once again time to watch the performances from the Top 4 on American Idol season seven, here at 3:55 a.m. Wednesday morning via the old DVR.

Tonight, the contestants are singing songs that are in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Each contestant will be singing two songs tonight and be judged after each, so Paula doesn’t get confused.

How Did the Performances of the Top 4 on American Idol Season 7 Rank?

1. David Archuleta - He is last to go and is going with “Stand By Me” by Benny King. He is the best of the night through one song. Randy thinks it was “hot.” Paula likes that he is taking in the advice and using it to get better. Simon thinks it is the “best performance so far.” For his second song he is going with “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley. He is having the best night overall, as he has done very well with both of his songs tonight. Randy thinks it is “great.” Paula says that it his her “favorite” song of his so far. Simon thinks that he “crushed the competition tonight.”
2. David Cook - He is first to go and for his first song he is going with “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran. He does not sound good. This is the worst I have heard him so far in the competition. Randy thought it was an “okay performance.” Paula liked it. Simon thought it was “good,” but not really his best. For his second song he is going with “Baba O’Riley” by The Who, or as people may no it these days, as the theme song for CSI: NY. It was way better than his first song. More like we have come to expect. Randy thinks it was “great.” Paula wants more David Cook. Simon says, “Welcome back David Cook.”
3. Syesha Mercado - She is the second to take the stage and has chosen “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner. She is definitely having fun with it and sounds pretty good, but it is sort of Tina Turner light. Randy thinks she is “in the zone.” Paula thinks she made “magic.” Simon thinks it was “a bad shrieky version” of Tina Turner. For her second song she is going with “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cook. She is sounding really good and almost held that last note for quite some time. Randy didn’t love it as much as the first and thinks it “fell flat.” Paula thinks it was “beautiful.” Simon agrees with Paula.
4. Jason Castro - He is going third and has picked “I Shot the Sheriff” by Bob Marley. This is just a weird sounding version of this song and is serving to show why he should have been gone already. Randy thinks it is “really karaoke” and “nothing special.” Paula wasn’t “crazy about the performance.” Simon thinks it was “atrocious.” For his second he is going with “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan. If this isn’t his last week then there is something totally wrong going on here. Randy thinks he is “not in the zone.” Paula thinks it didn’t “blow her away,” but he does. Simon thinks he should start packing. Truer words have never been spoken.

Based solely on this week’s performances, I think Jason Castro should be exiting the show. Based on the contest up to now, I totally think Castro should be going home. As I said above, if it isn’t Castro after this doubly poor performance, then something has gone completely wrong.

What do you think? Who should go home after the Top 4 performed on American Idol Season 7? Who do you think will be going home?