Congrats David

After a three week hiatus, I returned tonight to my couch to watch the actual singing part of the American Idol Finale. Here are my thoughts about the singing competition's penultimate (what a fun word) episode.

I think that David Archuleta is going to win. I think that's a good thing.

What tonight's competition proved is that David Cook is the better artist, but that Archuleta deserves to be the American Idol. If he was six feet tall and handsome, this would not even be a question, but since he's a munchkin, it's still up for a bit of debate, but I think Archuleta is exactly what America is looking for in its American Idol. The watchers of American Idol, who are eventually going to buy the CDs and singles produced by the artist that is declared the winner on tomorrow's night show, don't want gritty. They want clean, well produced music. They want to hear sappy emotion in every note. That's why a "rocker" has never won AI, and it's why when the votes are tabulated, one won't win tomorrow night either.

Cook sang better tonight, he took more chances. I really think he delivered outstanding performances in two of his three performances. Everyone had to know though that his attempt at singing any of the treacle tunes written for the American Idol finale was going to fall flat. While I would certainly buy Cook's version, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," that's not the single I'd get to buy if he won. I'd get that weird song about living in the moment.

I hope that Fox and American Idol releases Cook's version "The World I Know," I thought it was great. He took a chance, he did something different. Simon wanted him to sing Billy Jean again. Why? What would he have proven by singing a song he'd already sung again? That he can repeat his performances? That he can remember lyrics? (David Archuleta thankfully won't have that problem once he gets into the recording studio.) I think Cook was the most interesting and original artist on the show all season, and that's why it'd be better if he loses.

If Cook loses he can have a record company put a band together, make him the front man, and make a very solid first album, a la what Daughtry did. (Although he already had a band waiting for him.) That album is going to sell to fans of alternative rock, and fans of good music, because Cook is a good artist. From watching the career of Matchbox 20, Twenty, twenty. It's really hard for a band to consistently make Top 40 music without sounding stale or completely changing its sound. So I think not having that pressure will make Cook's album that much better.

And as for Archuleta? He'll be perfect on stage waiving to the teeny-boppers that will come to every one of his concerts. He'll easily sell out arenas. His first song will probably be bought by millions of people. It will be incredibly sappy, it will be cute, and it will be a commercial success. I will be interested however, to see where he goes from there as an artist. I don't see the room for growth in Archuleta's genre that I see in Cook's. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

Tomorrow night David Archuleta will probably be crowned the king of American Idol, but I think David Cook will be the real winner.

A Touch of Sports - Congratulations to the Chicago Bulls, the winners of the NBA Draft Lottery. It will be exciting to see if they bring back Chicago's native son Derrick Rose of Memphis. He's an outstanding young player. Now the questions begin.