American Idol Finale: The Double D Debate

America has been watching and voting all season long. Elation and disappointment sets in each week, as contestant after contestant is sent packing. Cries of outrage are heard from the fallen contestant's fan club. The club was just positive that their favorite should win.

Was it because their favorite had the most talent and deserved to win? Not necessarily. Many hold that American Idol has become a popularity contest, with overall talent having a backseat. Young girls scream and cry over having just a glimpse of these newly crowned "teen idols." And young girls text their votes, even for the simple reason of, "OMG, he's so cute!"

So, now we are down to two: David Cook and David Archuleta. America has chosen them as the last two standing, left to face off in the finale. America will choose the winner. But on what merits will either of the two Davids win on? The winner of American Idol is supposed to be chosen based on their over all package presentation. So, let's take a look at these two guy's "overall package."

Talent

David Cook and David Archuleta both have talent, or they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have, no matter how "cute" they are. Someone out there is surely voting based on talent. So, yes, they both have the talent to sing a song. But to what degree does that talent reach? David Cook seems to have a much wider range in this field. He has the talent to not only sing the song, but to rearrange it to make it his own. He certainly proved this with his version of "Billie Jean."

David Archuleta, on the other hand, seems to miss this mark of talent. Several forum posts have stated that he has become, "very boring" in his song choices. While he is quite capable of singing a beautiful ballad, this seems to be his only genre. The few attempts he has made to liven up his style, has been less than complimentary to him. Some fear that he has reached his potential.

Stage Presence