Dream Big

Well, I just finished watching the American Idol finale and I'm holding my cell phone on my shoulder so I can vote and blog at the same time. Isn't technology wonderful? But you know what isn't wonderful? The way the judges treated David Cook tonight. But I'll get to that later.

Vote status: I've gotten about 10 votes in and twice that many busy signals.

The show opened with a fun "Let's Get Ready to Rumble!" exhortation by that guy of rumbling exhortation fame. Then, they continued the metaphor all through the show, most bizarrely by having both Davids come out in shiny robes, ready for a day at the boxing spa. This was followed by a touching scene where each David said nice things about the other David, which I appreciated.

The first song for each was chosen by the "Man With The Golden Ears", Clive Davis. He chose these songs for the guys:
David C.: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
David A.: "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"

David Cook did a wonderful rendition of the U2 hit that came out when he was 5 years old. He really felt the song, and he used the platform behind the judges. I really enjoyed it.

David Archuleta did an equally fantastic version of his tune, released by Elton John was David A. was -16. He incorporated some of his trademark runs into the song, and did some cool things vocally at the end. However, it still didn't give me the chills it did when Clay Aiken sang it. Despite this, Simon gave Round 1 to Archuleta. It was a tie at best.

The next round was devoted to the Songwriting Contest Top 10 Winners. Rather than giving only a couple choices or, worse, making both contestants sing the exact same song, Idol gave the guys room for discretion. David C. selected a song called "Dream Big" and David Archuleta chose "In This Moment", traditional American Idol themes both.

I didn't particularly care for "Dream Big" when I first heard it on the Idol songwriting contest website (yes, I voted), but I found it quite stirring when Cook sang it. Its rocky quality belied the trite message. I must say here that I'm a big fan of trite, when done well, and by infusing a sentimental lyric with driving guitar, Cook did just that, making "Dream Big" a song I will surely download and sing loudly while doing dishes... If I did dishes. Once I have that song, I'll do some dishes :-)

"In This Moment" was a very pretty song, but it bored me, and it kind of encompasses the Entertainment Weekly joke of an amalgam of past Idol tunes: "This Is My Moment Like This Inside My Now" or something to that effect. I did really like the Ooh-ooh-ooh melody run in the middle, but I swear I've heard it before. I don't know from what song though. Again, Simon unfairly grants this round to Archuleta.

P.S. One of the best moments of this song during rehearsal with vocal coach Andrew Lloyd Webber. At one point the lyrics rhyme "reflection" with "perfection" and Andrew quipped "It looks like Simon wrote these lyrics." LOL

Finally, it was contestant's choice. David C. sang "The World I Know" by Collective Soul. I always thought Collective Soul would suit him well, though I would have picked when of their older hits like "Shine" or "December". It was a good performance, but it didn't blow me away. However, I was pleased that all three of his songs were new this week, instead of some recycled finales we've seen in the past. (Though he could have recycled "Hello" as much as he wanted and I wouldn't complain!). All new material, unlike...

David Archuleta encored one of his "biggest hits", John Lennon's "Imagine". It was well done, but lacked the punch it did when he played at the piano the first time.

In short, I'd give the edge to Cook for my own preferences, but I really think it was a close as could be. And yet Simon called it a KNOCKOUT for David Archuleta. Wait, WHAT? To compound the injustice, Ryan says "Well said, Simon." Again, WHAT? That was neither kind nor professional of them.

My cell phone is getting hot and I'm getting a little crick in my neck. I'm going to take a break from dialing.

Either of them deserves to win, but I'll send a prayer (along with scores of votes) David Cook's way.