American Idol Season 7 Finale

After more than 97.5 million votes last night, YES!, DAVID COOK is the new American Idol! :)

Archuleta received 44% of the vote and Cook received 56%. I’m so happy for him, I really believe he deserved the win tonite, and I think he will have much success! Good luck to David Archuleta as well!

I’m not going to review the two hour finale tonite, but I will say this, the coolest performance on the show tonite was David Cook performing “Sharp Dressed Man” with ZZ Top. It was awesome! :)

Check here for a full recap of tonite’s show and complete Idol coverage:
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American Idol Summer Tour

American Idol Finale, Final Two performances

For me, tonite’s show was a big disappointment. I wasn’t truly blown away by any of the performances, and after all the hype, it seemed a big letdown to me.

Round 1, Songs Chosen by Clive Davis

David Cook sang “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, and it was absolutely perfect, a great performance. Randy said it was hot, Paula said he was in great voice tonite, and Simon said it was phenomenal.

David Archuleta sang “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”. It was very good, and I liked this better than any of his previous performances. Randy said it was one of the best performances of the season, molten hot, crazy vocals. (Randy is ridiculous.) Paula said it was beautiful and stunningly perfect. Simon said it was the best he had done so far.

Round two, New Song Choice

David Cook sang “Dream Big”. It was a great, rockin’ performance. I liked the song. Randy said the song was just okay, and that his voice made it work. Paula said it was great to take a song we don’t know and make us love it. Simon said the end was okay, he made the most of what he had, but he didn’t feel like it was a winning moment. Simon gave it a 6 and a half out of 10.

David Archuleta sang the sappy “In This Moment”, which is a typical Idol coronation song. The song was boring but he sang it well. Randy said he wasn’t crazy about the song but that David could sing the phone book.. blah blah blah, how many times has he said that this season? Could he be more obvious? In fact, could any of the judges have been more obvious than they were tonite about just who is and always has been the Chosen One this season? But, I digress.. Simon said he loved the egotistical lyric and that Archuleta chose the better song.

Round 3, Contestant’s Choice

David Cook sang “The World I Know”. I think this was a beautiful performance. His voice sounded great. Randy said he did a very nice job. Paula said he delivered unbelievable songs with originality and, “I applaud you”, and then she did. Simon said Cook is one of the nicest and most sincere contestants ever, but that it was completely the wrong song choice tonite, and that David should have sang “Billie Jean”, or “Hello”.

David Archuleta predictably sang “Imagine” again. I missed most of this performance and both Randy and Paula’s comments. (I’m sure I could guess what they said though, so no loss. It was no doubt something along the lines of “molten hot”, “in the zone”, “in it to win it”, “best performance ever!”, etc. etc. etc.) Simon said that Archuleta came out here to win tonite and that we’ve just witnessed a knockout.

I think both David’s had good performances tonite. Who do I think will win? I prefer David Cook by a mile, and he gets all my votes. I still think he deserves the win, he’s shown the most versatility, the best voice, and he is definitely the most current and the most marketable. He’s also the only one I would buy a cd by.

So, what do you think? Who’s going to be the next American Idol?

American Idol Top 3 performances

Top 3 performed three songs each tonite, one song chosen by the judges, one chosen by the producers, and one of their own choice.

Round 1, Judge’s Choice

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David Archuleta - Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes”, chosen by Paula Abdul
Good, but just another boring, sappy ballad to me. Randy thought it was a dope song and that he was in the zone. Paula said it was a pure and stunning performance. Simon said it was very good but not outstanding, no surprise and a bit predictable.

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Syesha Mercado - Alicia Key’s “If I Ain’t Got You”, chosen by Randy Jackson
Boring and blah to me. I was glad when it was over. Randy said she did an amazing job and had peaked at the right time. Paula said she was proud of her for being the last girl standing, and that she looked stunning. Simon said she sang it very well.

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David Cook - Roberta Flack’s “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, chosen by Simon Cowell
Wow, this was good, very, very good! Great performance that just further proves that David Cook can sing anything! This was the best performance of the night, by a mile. Randy said he had loved him since day one but he wishes Simon had picked something more rock. Paula said it was one of her favorite songs and that now David was her second favorite to sing it. Simon said it was one of his best performances to date, and brilliant.

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Simon says the first round goes to David Cook.

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Round 2, Contestant’s Choice

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David Archuleta - Chris Brown’s “With You”
To me, this really sucked. It was not believable at all to me, I think it was a ridiculous song choice and so very awkward, and I think he might have even messed up the lyrics at one point. Randy said he applauds the fact that he tried something new, but that it was not believable. Paula said it was perfect for the tone of his voice and he did a great job. Simon said that he applauded him for not doing another treacly ballad, but that it was a bit “like a chihuahua trying to be a tiger”, the song wasn’t him.

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Syesha Mercado - Peggy Lee’s “Fever”
Well, she wore a very short dress and danced around a chair. It was okay, but a little silly, and definitely a strange song choice at this point in the competition. Randy said it was an interesting song choice and she sang it amazingly well. Paula said she was surprised she picked this song and that she’s not sure it shows who Syesha is an artist. Simon said she will probably regret the song choice tomorrow and that it was a lame, cabaret performance.

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David Cook - Switchfoot’s “Dare To Move”
The song started off a little weak for me, but he rocked it. I didn’t care for the song very much, but as always, David sang it very well. Randy said it was a great song choice but that performance-wise, it wasn’t David’s best, it was a little pitchy. Paula said she felt like he just sang the beginning and then the song ended abruptly. Simon said it wasn’t the best melodic song, but it was okay.

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Simon said all three had “Okay” performances for Round 2.

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Round 3, Producer’s Choice

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David Archuleta - Dan Fogleberg’s “Longer”
And yet another sappy, boring ballad. He sang it well, but oh-so-predictable. He always sounds exactly the same, and all his performances just blend together for me into one big dripping ballady whine — nothing stands out at all. Randy said it was a very interesting song choice but that David can sing anything, and then predictably said, “it was another hot one!”. Paula said it was very lovely. Simon said he sang the song very well, but the song lyrics were horrible and gooey.

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Syesha Mercado - Gia Farrell’s “Hit Me Up”
It was just okay, another just okay performance. Randy also said it was just okay. Paula said she did the song very well but again, she doesn’t know if this type of song defines Syesha as an artist. Simon said it was better than her second song, but not as good as last weeks “Change Is Gonna Come”. He said Syesha was forgettable, and she had no defining moment.

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David Cook - Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”
The arrangement started out a little weird for me, with violins and strings, but it got better and better. I liked it, it was another great performance by David Cook. Randy said he loved the song and it was okay. Paula said, “See ya in the finals!”. Simon said it was one of the greatest songs of all time, and that “David Cook wins the night!”

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So, who did you like tonite? I agree with Simon, David Cook definitely won the night. I think David Cook has shown that he’s the best and most versatile singer this year. While Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul always tell David Archuleta that he “can sing anything, even the phone book”.. all of Archuleta’s performances sound exactly the same to me and are about as interesting as someone actually singing the phone book. To listen to an entire cd of that? No way, my attention would be wandering midway through the first song. David Archuleta is a technically good ballad singer.

On the other hand, David Cook really can sing anything, and from Lionel Richie’s Hello to Broadway night to a Roberta Flack classic, from Mariah Carey’s pop to hardrock to musical theater to ballads– David Cook has proven without a doubt that he can sing many styles of music, and he sings them very well. I hope he wins it all. I got in a few votes for him tonite, but not many — all three of his phone lines were almost a solid busy signal. Syesha? I think she’s gone tomorrow night.

Results Update, May 14
Not surprisingly, Syesha Mercado was eliminated tonite. The two Davids are headed for the finale next week. I hope the right one wins. :)

American Idol Top 4 performances and results

Tonite, the final four contestants sang songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”.

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David Cook - “Hungry Like The Wolf” This was good, but not one of his best. I love his voice, but to me, he didn’t seem to ever really connect with the song. I was kinda disappointed in this song choice…and something was missing in his performance tonite. Randy thought it was an ok choice and a solid performance, but just okay for David. Paula said David’s Hungry Like A Wolf left her with a big appetite, and that watching him grow and flourish was remarkable. Simon said he thought it was good but a bit copycat, and that it was good enough to get through another week.

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Syesha Mercado -“Proud Mary” I think she started out way too slow with this song, and then speeded it up way too much. It was okay for me, but not a standout performance. She seemed to be having a lot of fun though, and I like her much more lately than I have in previous weeks. Randy said what a difference a couple of weeks makes, and that she was in the zone. He thinks she’s heated up late in the competition, right when she needs to. Paula said she looked like a star, with a magnetic voice and presence on stage. Simon said it was just a bad, shrieky version, and a bad impersonation of Tina Turner. Syesha interjected that she “had fun”, and Simon said, “Good. I didn’t”.

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Jason Castro - “I Shot The Sheriff” I may be the only person in the country who thinks this, but I liked this. I thought it was very good, he was more energetic than I’ve ever seen him and connecting more with the audience, he looked comfortable and like he was enjoying himself. But, OH, did the judges ever HATE this! Randy said it was really karaoke and nothing special, and not good for him. Paula said that she had never seen him perform with more connection to the audience but she wasn’t crazy about the performance. Simon said it was “utterly atrocious, the arrangement was atrocious, the singing was atrocious”, and that he didn’t know what Jason was thinking in performing -this- song, a BOB MARLEY! song. Wow.

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David Archuleta -“Stand By Me” I totally knew David Archuleta would sing this song tonite. It was good, predictable, and sounded the same as he always sounds. Sweet, but not my favorite. The melody sounded a little weird to me at times. Randy said at least there’s one guy who hits the stage to perform to win it, it was “hot mad vocals, dude, that was hot!”. Paula said she admired the way he delivered, and that he took their advice and the advice of Andrew Lloyd Webber in (using his eyes to connect with the audience), and she thinks he’s “seasoned”. Simon said David could have “whistled a song and it would sound better than (Jason Castro’s) performance”. He went on to say that although David struggled a bit at the end, it was still the best so far.

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David Cook -“Baba O’Riley” A great, great song, and David did a good job with it. He sounded great, started out very slow and then rocked it. I love him, but still, I think something was missing in his performances tonite, I don’t know what it was, just something was off a little. I was very slightly disappointed with both songs, although he is definitely my favorite. Randy said this was more like the David Cook he loves, it was great. Paula said she just wants more David Cook, and thanked him for sharing his soul. Simon said, “Welcome back, David Cook”.

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Syesha Mercado -“A Change Is Gonna Come” It was good, not perfect but very, very good. I think this was one of her best performances so far. Randy said he loved her first song tonite but didn’t love this one as much. He said he didn’t love the arrangement and felt the song was “trying to be something it wasn’t”, and that she felt disconnected. Paula stood up and clapped for her, and said how Syesha orchestrated her vocals was beautiful. Syesha was crying by this point. I think she was hurt and shocked by Randy’s criticism. Simon said he agreed with Paula and that Randy got it utterly wrong.

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Jason Castro -“Mr. Tambourine Man” Still shaken up by the bus that ran over him after his first performance, Jason sounded pretty good with this, except for forgetting the lyrics once. He played guitar, and I liked his performance. I like him. Randy said he was not in the zone tonite. Paula said, “it is what it is. It didn’t blow us away”. Simon said Jason should pack his suitcases. After getting slammed last week for a song he hadn’t even sang yet, and now being told to pack his suitcases, I think it’s no secret that the judges want rid of Jason Castro.

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David Archuleta -“Love Me Tender” Good performance, sickeningly sweet and tender. Another night, another ballad. Really though, it was good, just not my preference at all. I just don’t like his sound. Randy said it was another good performance, the “hot vocals of the night right there!” Paula said it was one of her favorite performances from David, and that she felt his heart. Simon said he crushed the competition tonite.

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After tonite’s show, I think: 1) Jason’s going home this week, 2) David Cook was the only one tonite to sound “rock and roll”, 3) David Archuleta can sing sappy ballads, and 4) It’s obvious who the judges want to win. What do you think?

Update - May 7
After nearly 51 million votes, Jason Castro was eliminated tonite. This was definitely not a shocker. Even though it was expected, I’m still sad to see him go. But after the feedback he has had for the past few weeks from the judges, Jason was probably relieved to go.

Musical guests tonite included Bo Bice (one of my very favorite Idol contestants ever!) and Maroon 5.

Next week, the Top 3 have their home town visits.

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American Idol Top 5 performances and results

Top 5 with Neil Diamond

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Neil Diamond is the mentor this week, and the contestants sing songs from his vast catalog. The show was extremely rushed tonite, Paula was ridiculous, and I think this was the worst show of the season so far. They should schedule an hour and a half show when 5 contestants have to sing two songs each. Instead of commenting after every performance, the judges waited until all 5 contestants each sang one song before giving their critiques.

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Jason Castro “Forever In Blue Jeans”  I liked this a lot. He did very well, and his voice sounds so nice especially in his higher range. I enjoyed this performance very much. Randy said it was just okay. Paula said she “loved his lower register” but that “the second song, I felt like your usual charm wasn’t — it was missing for me. It kind of left me a little empty”, and then she said that “the two songs made me feel like you’re not fighting hard enough to get into the top four.” oh wait, Paula, he’s only sang one song so far…! After absolute silence for a moment, Randy says that she meant that only for Jason’s first song. Paula looks blank and then says “Oh my god, I thought you — I thought you sang twice!”
She was reading from notes she had written for Jason’s second song before he even sang it! Unbelievable. She needs to get it together. What an awkward few moments in the show, and I’m sure it affected Jason’s second performance.
Simon said Jason’s performance was forgettable.

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David Cook “I’m Alive”  This was pretty good, although I don’t think it was as good as some of his other performances. I loved his second song, and this one was just okay for me. Something was missing, he didn’t seem to connect completely with the song. I love David’s voice but I didn’t care for the arrangement on this one. Randy said it was very good. Paula said it was fantastic, and Simon thought it was just above average.

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Brooke White “I’m A Believer”  This was also just pretty good. I love Brooke, love her voice and her style and I think that if she would just loosen up and let go a little - - she would be awesome. She just looks so darn scared up there. Randy said it was better than last week but still a little karaoke. I don’t know what Paula said. Simon said it was a nightmare.

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David Archuleta “Sweet Caroline”  This was a mess. He sounded off key in parts, was all over the place, and I didn’t care for it at all. Randy said it was the bomb (what?!) and Simon said it was amateurish. Again, I don’t know what Paula said. She was really out of it tonite, even more so than usual.

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Syesha Mercado “Hello Again”  I didn’t care much for this song, and didn’t care much for her performance. Randy said it was nice and she had strong vocals. Paula (later) said her vulnerable side was beautiful, and Simon said it was forgettable and old fashioned.

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Jason Castro “September Morn”  Jason’s second perfomance tonite was also very, very nice. He’s easy to listen to and I liked it a lot. Randy said it was okay, just an “okay-whatever performance” and definitely wasn’t the best. Paula said it was safe and that he really needs to get out of his comfort zone. Next week she’ll be telling him he needs to get back to what he does best. Simon said “we don’t recognize you for the past two weeks”, that he struggled through both songs tonite and both were forgettable.

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David Cook “All I Really Need”  Great performance by David Cook. I loved this, and for me, it was the best performance of the night. He’s very, very good and he can sing anything. I really think he’s one of the best if not the best singer ever on Idol. Randy said he was a huge DC fan and that he rocked the house tonite. Paula said she was proud of David and that he was the only one who was able to pull it off tonite, and that she felt like she was already seeing the next American Idol. Simon said that it was brilliant, and that he made the song feel like it was written this year, and that it was smart and well done.

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Brooke White “I Am I Said”  I absolutely loved this performance. She has a beautiful voice and she sounded confident and relaxed during this, really one of the best of the night and the best by her in weeks. Randy said it was one of the tougher songs tonite and she did a nice job. Paula said something about how she had fun and then shows her vulnerable side and that it works. Whatever, Paula. Simon said he hated the first song but that this performance is the Brooke we like, it was a million times better, well done.

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David Archuleta “America”  When I heard it was Neil Diamond week, somehow I just knew that David Archuleta would choose this song.. It was better than his first performance but still, definitely not one of his better performances. His voice cracked at one point and I was disappointed in little David tonite, I didn’t really care for either song. Randy said that for a young man, David was in the zone tonite and it was another good performance. Paula said his voice was on point, she loves him, and that he was brilliant. Simon said it was a smart song choice, it “ticked all the boxes”, and was very good.

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Syesha Mercado “Thank The Lord For The Night Time”  Too much screaming for me in this one. I didn’t care for it at all, it was boring and I lost interest quickly. Randy said Syesha is finally realizing who she is and that he liked her “in this”. Paula babbled blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. I didn’t understand a word of it, but I think she liked Syesha’s performance tonite. Simon said it was a chaotic night and that Syesha is an actress/singer, and that she may be in trouble this week. He said it wasn’t a memorable second song like some of the others had.

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All in all, this was definitely not one of the better shows of the season. It was so, so rushed, that there wasn’t time enough to enjoy it and I felt stressed by the time it was over. Paula was so incoherent it was ridiculous, and the judges were way too hard on Jason Castro (I liked both of his performances tonite!) and as always, David Archuleta was over praised and over hyped.. Surely Syesha will go home this week. I loved Brooke’s second song tonite, so I hope she stays another week. After tonite’s fiasco, Paula Abdul is the one who should be sent home this week.

What did you think of the show tonite? Did you vote?

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Results, April 30
Musical guests were Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield.

After more than 45 million votes last night, Brooke White is eliminated tonite. I was so sad to see her go! I loved her style and wish her much success. I know I’ll be buying anything she records.

The show was all about damage control for Paula Abdul tonite, and not a word of apology to Jason Castro. The show never addressed the fact that it must have been difficult for Jason to have to perform a song that had already been completely slammed by Paula before he even sang it. Paula is not the victim here.

Next week’s theme is rock ‘n roll.

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