David vs. David
I am stunned, flist. STUNNED. Flabbergasted. Angry. And wishing very much to throw Randy Jackson into a vat of molten hot lava bomb.
DCook wasn't really on my radar until he did "Hello" in the semis. As much as I enjoyed that performance, I never really thought he was a contender until "Billie Jean." Then when "Always Be My Baby" came along, I decided he was going to win, and as the finale inched closer, I felt that he DESERVED to win. I don't think Cookie was ever anointed a Chosen One in the minds of TPTB. He earned his Chosen status by delivering consistently good performances, with a few particularly outstanding ones thrown in along the way. I really admire him for the way he worked his way to the top. Coming into tonight's episode, I truly believed TPTB were all for a DCook win too. Yet here I sit, a hot mess of anger, shock, annoyance, and general confusion.
Round 1: Clive Davis' Pick
Cookie, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 -- Clive said he chose this song for David because it represented a generation searching for that mysterious, elusive something. Well, thanks for that deep thought Clive, but why not say you picked it because you thought Cookie would sing the hell out of it? Because he did. So pretty. <3 And of course he did the Bono move of strolling through the audience mid-performance! Hee. Grade: A+
Archie, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" by Elton John -- He sang it well, but I was so annoyed by what happened after the performance, all that appreciation was quickly wiped out How very strategic of Pageant Boy to wait until finale night to get his cry on. Gag! Simon declares him the winner of Round 1. Grade: B-
(Side note, Andrew Lloyd Weber, wtf? Was he helping them with their arrangements or something? And I kind of dug the corny boxing match theme, tbh.)
Round 2: Crappy Coronation Song
Cookie, "Dream Big" -- I never listened to the original, so I don't know if DCook altered it very much, but I didn't hate it. I liked that it was coronationy without being...coronationy. Simon doesn't get it, and I doubt TPTB get it either. They have to stop with these "proud to here in this heavenly moment now" craptastic songs. Move beyond that, and think of the bigger picture, dumbasses. Maybe it's time to let actual professional songwriters write an actual possible hit song for the winner's single instead of putting the finalists and the audience through this bullshit every year. Back to Cookie's song, I liked it fine. It was actually one of the less crappy coronation songs they've used IMO. Grade: B+
Archie, "In This Moment" -- I thought it would never end. I would never listen to it again on purpose. Simon says Archie chose the best song, and awards Round 2 to him as I start to feel extremely WTF and hopeless. Grade: F
Round 3: Personal Choice
Cookie, "The World I Know" by Collective Soul -- I loved that the arrangement was stripped down and really allowed David's incredible voice to shine. However, I did agree with Simon somewhat that a reprise of "Billie Jean" would've been a better option to bring the wow factor needed at the finale. But, I also liked that David chose to keep on progressing rather than regressing, and obviously the song holds a lot of meaning for him. Simon took the opportunity to tell everyone what a nice, sincere person David is and all I could see was red flags. That's like Paula telling you how pretty you look. :( Grade: A-
Archie, "Imagine" by John Lennon -- I never understood the big deal the first time around, nor did I get the big deal tonight. Randy Jackson disgusts me. I hope all of bbDavid's fans enjoy his album of sappy ballads. They'll never have to buy Tylenol PM again! Grade: C
Who got my votes: DCFTMFW.
Who will win: Archuleta. Le sigh.
Who should win: Cookie deserves it, unlike Archie who's been coasting since "Imagine" Version 1.0.
I really really really am shocked at the way Cookie got shafted tonight. The only possible reason for it I can come up with is that they want to have him front a band like Chris Daughtry, and that it's just easier to work that out if he's the runner-up rather than the winner. Idk, Idk. But I'm pissed.