One post for American Idol

I didn’t take the time to post my opinions of American Idol this season, even though I enjoyed this season very much and had a few things to say.  I’ll just do it all now… the morning after the finale; the morning of the finale results. 

Right from the get-go, back when they brought on the final 24, I have loved that little David Archuleta. When he first started singing, I remember it just made me smile.  I enjoyed him so much and I was happily surprised at his ability to entertain.

He’s not the only one I like, though.  I enjoyed this season so much because there weren’t any real duds in the entire top 24.  There were a couple I would have put in the top 12 instead of a couple who ended up there, but mostly I liked everyone anyway.  They can’t all win, so I can live with the way it went.

I started to get a little annoyed with the judges, however.  Even though Simon wasn’t his usual obnoxious self for most of the season, it was easy to see who he wanted in the finale.  He knows that “The Davids” were the money makers for him.  David Archuleta will sell to the teen and old lady crowd and David Cook to just about everyone else.  So, when Syesha blew them away last week and several other times before, the judges, especially Simon, gave her false bad feedback.  I mean, as much as I like both of the Davids, they kind of sucked last week. Syesha didn’t in any way.  That’s why I think the judges should just shut up at this point.  If they could sit there and critique without being biased, that would be great, but it’s completely obvious that they were looking at dollar signs or pressured by the producers for that reason.

That said, I would like to voice my opinion on last night’s performances.  During the first round, I thought they were both really, really good.  Vocally, David Archuleta was better, but David Cook was very entertaining and unique.  The second round I liked both songs.  I thought they each picked songs that fit their own styles and personalities… way better than that lame song last year!  Both were performed equally well in my opinion. And the last song for each was also excellent for both of them.  I liked that David Cook sang a song he’d never performed before, but David Archuleta’s rendition of Imagine was so great the first time, I didn’t mind hearing it again.

So, do I care who wins? No.  Would I like to make a prediction? Well, OK.  I think it will be David Archuleta.  Why? I don’t know.  I just think he’s the American Idol type, I guess.  I also think I’ve heard more people say that they like him the most, the judges have favored him all season, and although they’ve been just as nice to David Cook, I have a feeling Cook is like Bo Bice and Chris Daughtry… and Blake Lewis, kinda… not quite pop enough.

********************* UPDATE–after the results show ************************

OK… so I was wrong. Wow! That was a really entertaining show!  I loved all the duets!  One thing about this season that I really didn’t enjoy and forgot to mention earlier is the group songs on elimination night each week.  For one thing, David Cook and Jason Castro, among a few of the others, look totally out of place doing that Osmond Brothers/Mickey Mouse Club kind of performance.  The other problem is that as opposed to other seasons’ finalists, all of these are lead singers and their styles are so different from each other that they didn’t blend well at all.  Last year, maybe because a few of them were professional backup singers, the group songs were quite entertaining.  Anyway, tonight I really loved the song the Davids sang together and a few of the group numbers were good.  I also enjoyed David Cook with ZZ Top, Brooke with Graham Nash, and that they had Jason sing Hallelujah again (I love that song!)  I thought Carly and Michael’s duet was terrific and I liked Kristy Leigh Cook’s parts (I always thought she was better than they gave her credit for).

Good for David Cook! I feel a little bit bad for David Archuleta. Although he doesn’t have anything to worry about.  I doubt his career would be any different. David Cook would still sell more albums in the long run.  But, I think David Cook could have handled second place better.  Oh, well.  They both did great and now my Tuesday and Wednesday nights are completely free, Yippee!!!