Bogus Gold American Idol Season Seven: The Finale

Subtitle: The Judges and Producers Quit Meandering And Flat Out Demand You Vote For David Archuleta

It's been a great Idol Season. Yes, I know, some of you have decided to introduce your own mass histrionics into the proceedings to showcase how this is some AWFUL turn from the Idol you all have loved. Trust me... the producers love it. Attention, attention, attention.

Which is not to say a few stress fractures haven't appeared in the Idol franchise this year. The fact remains, it's darned entertaining television. Also it's not the audience's problem if the eventual winner can't sell more than a few dozen records after the show. We tend to pick the Idol who makes the best television, not the best records. Gee, I wonder why?

But this finale had a little different feel for a number of reasons. It was like everything of Idol past meeting all the Idol "new" they unleashed this season, with allowing more of the "artist" crowd in... the kind of singers who can play their own instruments and write and arrange songs.

And while David Archuleta proved he knows his way around a piano keyboard, he definitely represents Idol past. He's a big-voiced non-threatening balladeer. The show was built to look for this type, and David Archuleta may represent the pinnacle of this style. He's been performing in reality shows like this since he was twelve. This is his life.

Then there's David Cook, representing the new breed. He had a prior (teeny-tiny and independent) record deal once. He's performed professionally - but in bars, not on tours. He breaks the form one expects from Idol, and yet there he is on their stage.

A truly interesting show down in the finale...

So of course the judges all went into the tank for the easily marketable and controllable kid, just like they'd been pimping all season. Lordy. If I didn't get a serious kick out of the cheesy way Idol is so wantonly market-driven I would be pissed. As it is I simply must laugh and shake my head that I ever thought it might be otherwise. Of course the producers want Archie to win. They hadn't exactly been subtle about it previously. And tonight was obviously the night to pull out all the stops toward that end. And good lord did they try.

So we're just going to ignore what the judges said tonight, because it didn't really correspond to the quality of any of the performances. They want you to vote for David Archuleta was the message. But I'd rather talk about who's performances were better.

Performance recaps after the jump:

(Why read this stuff when I've already been told who was best?)

Related Posts (on one page):

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Mindy Jeanne (mail):

Thank you for saying what I was thinking. Especially about the first two performances. Honestly, I did like the Collective soul song, and I think that as matched a voice Daughtry was for Fuel; I believe Collective Soul was for David. Although Shine may have proven a better hit for the Judges, I like that he didn't choose it, with that said, Gel may have been a better choice, Recognizable but not as so.

To add a little to your pre-amble, I'm just disappointed in the producers for not standing behind, what appeared to be a cognizant change in Idol. Look at the first season: Wardrobes/age/studio etc. to this season...It would appear that steps were taken to completed revamp the show; Make it appeal to an older crowd. And then when that happens, we're surprised at the changes in the demographics ????
Confusing.

Lastly, both Davids are already guaranteed a record deal. Nigel has said so. For David Cook, probably acknowledging that Archuleta is what the producer's wanted, seemed to play to his Fans. That's all he really needed to do. And it probably will show to have been a smart strategy.

5.21.2008 12:35pm

Mary Ann (mail):

My cable was acting up last night and decided to wig out completely during the entirety of David Cook's second song. I listened to it today on Youtube, and I can only wonder what Simon was smoking last night when he said that David A. picked the better song. "Dream Big" isn't the greatest thing ever, but David C.'s version is definitely something that I wouldn't mind listening to on the radio. David A.'s song, on the other hand, was accurately described by you as a "treacly" ballad and I would hit the button on my car radio the second it came on.

When you listed the reasons that David C. is a better performer, you left out stage presence. Even after repeated instructions from Sir Andrew, David A. can't manage to keep his eyes open through an entire performance. Someone commented on another site that his lack of stage presence means that David A. won't be able to fall back on Broadway like so many other Idol alumni have; that sounds about right to me unless he acquires some performance chops during the tour.

Dial Idol has David C. way ahead. Dial Idol hasn't been all that accurate this year (at least when I've checked) but I would really enjoy seeing David C. win after the shameless way the judges pushed David A. at America last night.

5.21.2008 1:16pm

My top moments:
1) Absolutely David Cook with ZZ Top!
2) David Cook and Guitar Hero...
3) Jimmy Kimmel
4) Glady's Night - It's all about Jack Black :)
5) Carrie - Last Name
6) Brooke duet with Nash ( although the beginning missed on the beautiful harmonizing, the ending with their distinctive voices was great )
7) Jason reprising Hallelujah

If I only had seen this show last year, these are things I would be thinking:

1) Michael Johns should have been in the final 2 with Cook. He sangs so well last night, and it became obvious, he just didn't know what songs to pick.

2) How did Archuleta make it to the final 2. He seemed so out of place at times.

Any thoughts on, the possibility that Simons disparaging comments and the unwarranted flaunting of Archuleta inspired Cook's fans to vote multiple times.

5.22.2008 7:56am

Doug (www):

Mary Anne and Mindy had more trust in America than I did. I'm such a cynic. But the right guy won in the end.

Mindy, I think the vote margin was big enough to rule out anything more than "David Cook was WAY more popular in the end." And while I shared the sentiment I didn't see that coming. So much for the vaunted Idol power of the texting generation.

Big agreement about Michael Johns by the way. He wanted sooo much to be a classic rocker. But he really shines in blue-eyed soul. It was his rocker song choices that doomed him. That arrangement of "The Letter" last night was a nice blend of the two, conjuring up Joe Cocker. And am I alone in thinking Carly and Michael make a great combo? They should do an album together. Or at least a couple of singles.

5.22.2008 10:10am

Your sentiment [michael/carly] has been agreed in the blogosphere a few times.

Big Question though: When Simon apologised to David, did he know the end result ????

Surprised you didn't get on me for not having "Unfaltering" dedication for Jason Castro. [ as good as Hallelujah was, he kind of flubbed Bryan Adams :) ]

5.22.2008 11:10am

Mary Anne and Mindy had more trust in America than I did.

I wouldn't say that. I was expecting David A. to win. But my pleasure in David C.'s win was multiplied several times because of my irritation at the way the judges behaved on Tuesday. You're probably right that the vote margin was wide enough that it didn't really matter, but I wonder if David C. picked up some additional votes from people who were are cheesed off as I was.

Big Question though: When Simon apologised to David, did he know the end result ????

It took me about half a second after Ryan announced the winner for me to think that Simon had been tipped off and that's why he did the big-time backtracking. That probably makes me a cynic.

5.22.2008 3:02pm

Mindy,

I doubt Simon knew the end result. I think he got caught up in the enthusiasm last night, and when he looked back at the tape he was a bit embarrassed because:

A. Archie's first performance wasn't all that good other than the glory notes he got to belt.

B. The middle Idol-contest number by Cook is WAY more current and marketable regardless of how well Archie sang the second one.

C. Telling Cook to play it safe and bring out a "greatest hits" performance in the final went against everything he'd been praising him for all season.

None of that added up remotely to an Archuleta knock-out, and he had to see that upon review.

And I don't think you're a sell-out on Jason Castro anyway, so I don't expect you to praise his less-than-stellar performances.

Mary Ann,

I'll bet it did earn Cook some extra votes, but probably not in the millions. It hurt the judges credibility though. And after this season's Paula-scandal they didn't really need that.

5.22.2008 6:20pm

Bogus Gold

Meh!!!

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