American Idol 2008: The David Versus David Throwdown

Will Fans Choose Boy Band or Bad Boy?

And then there were two. Last week's ouster of Syesha Mercado left the last two American Idol competitors standing: 17 year old boy wonder David Archuleta and 25 year old scruffy rocker David Cook. The final two competitors both have a shot at becoming the next American Idol but have wildly divergent styles and very different fan bases. Both of the Davids have previous singing experience: Archuleta as a winner on Star Search at the age of twelve and Cook as an independent recording artist and touring band member. Each David has his own strengths and weaknesses that may impact American Idol fans' final decision.

Singing Talent

Both the Davids have proven themselves to be accomplished singers. Archuleta has more controlled strength in his upper range where as Cook owns the lower Eddie Vedder/Scott Stapp territory. Archuleta has a pure clean voice that would be as comfortable in a church choir as it would be dancing on stage as the fifth Backstreet Boy. The precision of Archuleta's voice makes it difficult for him to convey strong emotion and to make a real connection to the audience. Cook's voice is forged by his experience on the road, and, while rough and not always in perfect pitch, is able to speak to the angst of teens and young adults. Both have the talent but speak to different audiences.

Physical Appeal

Both the Davids are handsome and easy to look at. David Archuleta, being 17, appeals to younger teens and tweens and that is where his fanbase lies. He is the "pretty boy" of the two and his shy, halting interview responses highlight his youth and inexperience. For some contestants, like Jason Castro, this would be the final nail in the coffin, but it only enhances Archuleta's appeal to the Hannah Montana set. David Cook has the rebel just-crawled-out-of-bed, tousled look that draws older teen and early twenties girls but also speaks to the boys-turning-men in the same age range.

Stage Presence