American Idol Season 7 ~ Episode 40 – May 20, 2008
David Archuleta Final Round Winner

By: Mary Cavaliere

I loved how the show began – with both Davids dressed in fighting gear and boxing gloves presenting themselves to the Rocky theme song!  David and David had the opportunity once again to work with mentor Andrew Lloyd Weber helping to prepare them for the final competition along with Clive Davis who also chose one of the three songs they sang tonight.

Round 1 ~ Clive Davis’ Choice

DAVID COOK:  I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2 ~ I thought this was a bad choice on Clive Davis’ part.  This song had a three-note range and David is capable of doing something a bit more complex, especially at this point in the competition.  Although it wasn’t a fantastic song (and it should have been), David still rocked it!

DAVID ARCHULETA:  Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John ~ Now this was a perfect song choice for David Archuleta.   It kind of makes you wonder if the “choices” were intentional.  Or am I just getting paranoid?

Round 2 ~ Contestant’s New Song Choice

DAVID COOK:  Dream Day ~ I thought the song choice was just o.k.  It didn’t do much for me.  But David did the best with what he had. 

DAVID ARCHULETA:  In This Moment ~ This song sounded like it was written especially for David.  It was pure perfection.

Round 3 ~ Contestant’s Choice

DAVID COOK:  The World I Know  by Collective Soul ~ I found myself being distracted by other things in the room while David was doing this song, and I felt bad about it.  But I guess the only way to put it is although it was a beautiful song, and David did it well, it just did not mesmerize me in the way I had hoped it would.

DAVID ARCHULETA:  Imagine by John Lennon ~ When David announced this was his song choice I truly thought it was a bad decision.  I thought maybe he should have done something we haven’t heard him do before.  But as the judges said, David was definitely in the zone tonight, and not only did he sing it differently than he did the first time, if it is at all possible, he sang it even BETTER.   It truly couldn’t have been any more brilliant! 

During the first few weeks of the competition when David Archuleta first did “Imagine” I posted the video on my My Space page and title it “The Next American Idol”.  I stand strong with that conviction.  I do have one concern though.  With David being overwhelmed so easily, I’m worried when they announce he’s the winner tomorrow night that he’ll pass out!

You can read more of Mary’s television blogs at www.myspace.com/italiangirl57

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