Idol round by round - with a very special guest
Posted on May 20th, 2008 – 8:33 PMBy Neal Justin
Were they ready to rumble?
Yes, yes, we’re sick of the boxing analogy as well and are as guilty of overdoing it as the next “Idol” reviewer, although at least we didn’t make poor David Archuleta put on an oversized robe and put up his dukes.
I’ll give you my round-my-round analysis, but first, I wanted to share some thoughts from Minnesota-born songwriter Emily Shackelton. Her song, “Dream Big,” was not selected as America’s favorite (the one Archuleta, I mean, the winner, will sing on Wednesday) but it was good enough that David Cook chose to sing it Tuesday.
I talked with Emily about 10 minutes after the show, one of about 60 people who called her to congratulate her on the moment.
“I thought he did really well,” said Emily, who was out celebrating with friends in Nashville, where she now works. She admitted that it was a very different version than the one she had penned. That was much more pop-country, slower and written for a female. But you won’t find her complaining.
“I’ve never had a song of mine come to life by another artist,” said Emily, who hopes that Cook liked the song enough that he’ll put it on his debut album. Emily, who learned last Friday that her song would be spotlighted, but had to keep it hush hush, said she hasn’t talked to Cook yet, but they did exchange messages through a middle-person who wanted to know if it was OK if Cook changed a reference to “little girl” to “little boy” and made it into a rock song.
Uh, sure.
And what will Shackelton be doing during Wednesday’s results show? Performing her steady gig at a Nashville piano bar. Tip generously, folks.
Now, the rounds.
Round One: It was great to hear a U2 song (”I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”). The only other one I can remember on the show is “One.” Cook’s rock-arena voice was tailor made for the number, and while his tone was a little pitchy (kidding, kidding), it was slightly more enjoyable for me than Archuleta’s highly predictable version of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.” Dude, throw me a curve. Round: Cook.
Round Two: I liked Cook’s Journey-like version of “Dream Big,” but Archuleta’s choice, “In This Moment,” was more appropriate for the show. He nailed it. Round: Archuleta.
Round Three: All the kudos in the world for Cook to pick a new song and he did an admirable job with “The World I Know,” including some effective tears at the end. But Archuleta knows to dance with the one you brung and that meant revisiting “Imagine.” Round and knockout: Archuleta.
Can you see any outcome that would be any different? Let me know…and we’ll chat Wednesday night.
23 Responses to "Idol round by round - with a very special guest"
The judges must be looking for serious cheese. Archie is so boring and predictable.
And I agree - The judges were completely off in Round 1. Cook was awesome!
I thought Cook turned “Dream Big” into a hit. I loved it. Man, I don’t know what the judges were hearing. I thought Cook won the first two rounds with the third round being a tie.
I thought on body of work, the entire season, Cook was the best and should win. Does anyone think Archie has the charisma and personality to be successful?
I think Archie will win, but that is par for the course lately for AI. The most talented does not win. Taylor Hicks, Jordan Sparks, Little David. That streak needs to stop.
While I don’t think either of them will sell very many records (Cook is unoriginal/dime-a-dozen; Archuleta doesn’t have a very marketable sound with a record full of ballads) Archuleta took all 3 rounds. I haven’t cared for Cook’s attitude/personality all season long (smug and arrogant) and his music left me ‘meh’ most of the time. Gives off the “poser” vibe - his whole look and sound.
Not sure why anyone thinks Cook as a negative, smug or arrogant personality. Despite the fact he’s got a brother going through some serious cancer he’s done absolutely great. I think he’s actually been quite humble and gracious. I have no doubt he’ll sell big records. Archuleta is as sweet as apple pie, pure and rich and frankly boring. I like both of their sounds. I don’t think I could listen to either of them all of the time, perhaps a little of both. May they both find success.
David Archuleta is unfortunately going to win with all the hormonal teen females and, yes, males (both gay and straight) who vote for him. And this is probably good as his father won’t beat him as severely as if he loses. But “Imagine” is a song it sounds like he’s been honing on his Guatamalan-Mormon prosyletization circuit for years, and he doesn’t yet have enough emotional-cognitive development to get the scathing cultural critique of Lennon’s text. Furthermore, Archuleta has brought the same, now very stale, schtick every week: take a “let’s sing an inspirational, one against the world” song and slather it in vocal pathos and we can save the world. A couple songs like that in a concert would be wonderful. A whole concert of that singing-in-blinders schmaltz either puts him in Liberace’s slot in Vegas (a good lifetime gig, no doubt)or has every intelligent audience member reaching for ice picks to perform self-lobotomies.
David Cook has shown a bit more versatility and innovation and deserves to be the winner.
David Archuleta, if he keeps up what he’s been showing us, cute and sweet as he is, will be consigned to playing half-filled county fair seating areas and to grandmotherly social groups. But grandmother’s ain’t what they used to be, and as a demographic, they will have lived a far edgier life than Archuleta appears capable of living and they will expect Archuleta to bring some real hard-knock life experience and edginess to his concerts, which I don’t think he can deliver.
But maybe D. Archuleta can find good gigs at elementary schools’ self-esteem building seminars and at national non-competitive game festivals.
I liked what Simon said on the tonight show. Cook deserves it…he’s worked hard (as a bar tender), while Archuleta hasn’t experienced the hard work but still is under the wing of his parents.
Has there ever been a more boring, predictable cast member than Archuleta? Imagine if every performance wasn’t the same? Imagine if every song he sang didn’t sound the same? Imagine if he had any stage presence? Imagine if every performance didn’t look and sound exactly the same as his audition? Imagine if he had any personality?
I do think he’ll win and it will be a shame. If nothing else, maybe he and Taylor Hicks can form a duo and hit it big.
Cook should win. Archuleta kind of makes me ill with the controlled and contrived persona. I am almost offended that he did Imagine, again! Its a very serious and non-mormon like song, and I have issue with him singing something that I doubt he believes. That he is going to win is sad, and I’m thankful that Cook will get a record deal as well, and I would bet will outsell pukey little Archie. (at least in the long run…)
Patrick, kudos to your comment, sir! It was more entertaining than the article!
I hope Cook wins. I enjoy his performances a thousand times more that David A. David A seriously bores me to tears. Yes, he has a good voice, but that doesn’t make you a star alone. Cook as well did a great job with “Dream Big” - it was catchy and pop (a new thing for him in my opinion)
FYI…Archuleta attended Murray High School in SLC. That’s a Catholic school. So you might want to lighten up on the Mormon references. However, he is still boring.
“the one Archuleta, I mean, the winner, will sing on Wednesday”
Why do people suppose Archie is a given, or even a favorite? DialIdol and just about any discussion forum shows Cook as the favorite. Oh well. Since they’ll both put out crappy records and sell a few hundred thousand copies, it’s basically moot at this point which one actually wins.
I hope Cook loses. Two word, Chris Daughtry. He’s done much better as a Idol “loser”.
Daivid Archuletta can sing, he lacks soul. It’s not his fault, he’s seventeen! Nut, at the end of the day, they call this American Idol.
If I’m David Cook, I want to be an American Rock Star. Archuletta will be forgotten eventually as other than his voice, he bring nothing else to the table. At least not until, he has his heart broken by some guy, his father, someone burns him business etc. Was it not plain last week when he sang so it goes, he had no feel, sense or passion for what that song is.
Sorry Archuletta, you can sing, you’re an Idol. But Cook will have the career. He’s the Star.
Dream Big….excellent song choice for him. Most AI fans will vote for a poorly song they know before a good song they have never heard.
IMO American tastes in music are moving away from the the rock style to an R&B flavor.
Something I’m not happy about.
DC does not have the voice to be a Star. DA does. He’s 17. They can teach him to have a designated stage presence to pull off a concert. It’s a lot easier than teaching someone to sing. DA, with his voice, if he develops his persona, will have a great chance to be a Star in 5 years. With DC, what you see now is what you are going to get. Nice guy, not a Star.
I agree that David A. is a better match for the AI title. David Cook will have just as, if not more, successful career if he doesn’t win. Cook would have contract freedom if he doesn’t win. If he is being compared to Chris Daughty - then I’m sure Chris would be the first to say you may be better off without the title. David A. being still a minor needs the structure that Idol can offer. Both have great voices but I have to give the nod to David A. As far as David Cook’s attitude the only thing that bothers me is that he keeps referring to David A. as a “kid.” One or two references I understand but everytime is a bit disrespectful.
And Robyn Dochterman? Murray HS is a PUBLIC High School. I think you are confusing it with Hill-Murray, which is a Catholic High School in Maplewood. I highly doubt Archuleta was a student there. LOL
Ron, Being a star has nothing to do with a great voice. They can work that out in the studio.
Tahnk you to all specialist bloggars Niles Andy SALAS and Greengurl. I tink brookwhite should be winnar but will now be Archaleva wiht Kristy Lee Cook tanking second palace but will have sucessfull careeer.
lavalampluva, right you are. DA is LDS. Murray is public. I wasn’t confusing Murray with Hill-Murray, but I was wrong about everything else. Except that he’s still boring.
Interesting … of the postings written here, it would appear that David Cook would win A.I. How many of you actually voted? There may be more Cook fans out there than we take credit for … tho’ David A. got more on the noise-o-meter last night. I’m glad this season is over. Goodbye mosh pit and waving hands. May we never see you again. Amen.
like cook said, the competition is already over…both have gotten the same exposure. cook is more mainstream and will do better overall, archie will end up on a disney tour - “shocks, gee”… - and likely will will AI because his fan base is more likely to call in & redial - plus, then we won’t have to see him cry and fear what daddy will think if he loses.
If you really think about it, Archuleta could have a great career as a wedding singer.
