David vs. Goliath: American Idol, Season Seven Final

And now there are two. The two Davids were long expected to be in the final weeks battle of American Idol Season Seven. It's David versus Goliath, according to some. In some respects, who is Goliath is not at all clear. So here, blow by blow, is our take on who will win.

The contestants are: Ballad-Belting, 17-year-old David Arculetta (Archie to some) and Rocking Bartender David Cook.  

This is supposed to be a singing competition, as Simon keeps reminding us, so let's look at singing and stage presence first.

David Cook (DC) has less than perfect singing ability unless the song choice is totally correct for his style. Then again, how many successful rockers have been technically the best at pure singing ability? Being a rocker requires super stage presence at DC has the edge in that department. DC also seems to have a wider voice range. DC's singing weakness is the slower songs and ballads, the at which kind David Archuletta excels.

David Archuletta (DA) is technically the better singer and can sing anything. That is not to say he should sing anything, because his stage presence needs to improve. It will grow with him as he ages and gets more experience. Ballads have carried Archuleta through this competition. The few occasions DA stepped out of the ballad zone his performance was definitely not as solid. However, last week, DA surprised most everyone by sining well Chris Brown's "With You." However good DA's singing was the dancing and overall stage presence just was not there. Despite that it seems that DA won last weeks votes, which bodes well for him in the final.

With more age and experience Cook shines through in the area of stage presence. It's hard to give good marks to DA on stage presence until he can get over singing with his eyes closed.

So for singing, David Archuletta gets and A+ while David Cook we give A-.
For stage presence DA gets a C while DC gets an A.