American Idol Top Four: the War of the Davids
There are not too many people who have placed bets on Syesha Mercado winning American Idol. In fact, it is expected that Syesha will go home next week. Syesha has had her share of ups and downs this season. She has had stellar performances, especially on Andrew Lloyd Webber night, along with sub par performances that have failed to grab the American Idol viewers' attention. Syesha has proven, however, that she has a gorgeous voice. She can deliver her songs in tune note for note, but has been plagued by song choice and likeability. For some reason, Syesha has failed to connect with the audience as a whole. That failure to connect will cost her next week.
Connecting with the audience has not been a problem for Jason Castro. Week after week, he has won the American Idol viewers over with his sheepish smile and soft, folky vocal arrangements. However, Jason lacks the power vocals to take him to the finish line on American Idol. He certainly has talent, but he is the kind of talent that belongs on an independent record label. He is the male Ani Difranco. The words of the song mean more than the delivery. That has its place, and it is certainly a wonderful style of music. Jason will be more comfortable in a smaller venue, such as a club, strumming his guitar as he sits on his stool and sings. There is definitely a future in music for Jason Castro, but he will still not win American Idol.
American Idol is going to come down to what was promised to the viewers all season long. It will be a battle of the Davids. There will David Archuleta, small and timid with a powerful voice. Opposing him will be David Cook, a rocker with swagger, and a surprisingly delicate touch on certain songs. First place will be up for grabs for the two of them. It is there for them to win or lose.
Both David Archuleta and David Cook have secured a strong fan base. Archuleta is especially popular with the tween crowd and their mothers. Cook has a broad appeal amongst twenty and thirty somethings. Since both are so loved, it will basically come down to who will gather more of the fans of contestants past.
That is where David Archuleta is going to have more of a problem. Because of his age and his style, he only appeals to people who enjoy a certain genre of music. He has nailed the younger and older demographic, but he has failed to pick up many of the twenty and thirty year olds that have been the fans of many of the voted off contestants.
David Cook is in a good position to pick up voters of Carly Smithson, Jason Castro, and Brooke White. All three of those contestants appealed to twenty and thirty year olds.
David Archuleta is more likely to pick up some of Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook's voters. Kristy Lee Cook showed she appealed to an Archuleta type of crowd when her voters pushed her through after she delved into patriotic song choices. Archuleta will get Syesha's fan base because they are more of an easy listening crowd.
If David Cook gets Carly, Jason and Brooke's fans, and David Archuleta gets Syesha and Kristy Lee's fans, it will be almost certain that Cook will win. He would carry over fans of the more popular artists on American Idol, whereas Archuleta would get the fans of less liked contestants.
While it will be a close contest, David Cook will be the next American Idol. David Archuleta's inability to appeal to different types of people will be his downfall. He will live by his fan base and die by them.
Published by Amy Cox
I am currently working on my first novel. I'm hoping this forum will give me some extra experience with writing. View profile
- American Idol's Pretty Boy David Archuleta Sings Neil DiamondAs usual, Archuleta caused young teenage girls everywhere to swoon (and then to pick up their telephones and vote).
- The Davids Stay on Top on "American Idol"On Neil Diamond night, the Davids were their dependable best, while Syesha was also at her best. Brooke (White) and Jason (Castro) struggled, as they have the past two weeks.
- Just Hand Over the American Idol Title to David Cook, Already!David Cook is by far the most original "American Idol". He can sing. He can change old songs into "fresh" ones as Simon so often points out. If the contest were over, he would have won already.
- American Idol: The Talent of David Cook
- American Idol: David Archuleta is the Next American Idol
- American Idol: Jason Castro Sings Memory from Cats
- Why Jason Castro Will Be Voted Off American Idol Tonight
- The American Idol Final 5: Who Should Stay and Who Should Go?
- David Cook First, David Archuleta Second: American Idol Top Five
- Jason Castro's Diamond Performances on American Idol
10 Comments
Post a CommentTotally agree with the writer. Cook is going to win. Go David Cook!
...has shown rare courage week after week. He knows no matter what he does he will be vilified, called boring, disney-esque, etc.
I am glad to see that you tried to step up to the plate and just say we prefer one style of music over another. Let's enjoy the performances, respect their choices and music genres and ADMIT that we are going to vote for our preference of music genre.
Give Archuleta some respect for what he has done, and then a little more b/c he is 17 - that is what you are doing for the other contestants and they haven't even had to navigate the long, winding media attack road.
Oh, btw, I am a music major at a university. A lot of my friends in the collegial music world (those 20+ year olds you are talking about) are looking forward to David A's first album. I, think, Amy, you too have seriously been biased by age discrimination when listening to DA.
... ways as possible-the most sustained, vitriolic, acerbic attacks in the history of any AI contestants. I like his voice and talent now; nothing to do w/adorable, cute, etc. It is his musicality and rare interpretation of the music by his voice. Entertainment media doesn't know what to do with him b/c it isn't cook to like a nice, kind, humble kid so they take the easy way out and lampoon and bash him at every juncture. AI format has not allowed him to select nor sing the songs that show his gift except early on and when he leaves AI and gets to control of his song selection sand arrangement, all will be forgotten by the entertainment media as to his age. We will see some rapid turnabouts.
It is a sad commentary that some listeners/viewers of AI have such prejudice for age and a sad state of our entertainment culture that we don't recognize rare talent and support such. Archuleta has been as poised as a just turned 17 year old can be; he has shown rare courage week after week. He
Either Jason or Syesha will go tomorrow night unless Cook or Archuleta completely bomb. I like Jason and Syesha both - different styles and enjoyable to listen to. I'll probably buy their music b/c they are enjoyable to listen to.
Cook has come on strong in the last half of the season. He is a mature, experienced performer, able to arrange songs to his style, a good rocker voice and the "sexy" guy. He has developed a fan base over the season. Some people like his genre some don't; I can appreciate his talent but I don't buy his genre of music. Nor do I go from site to site and trash him b/c he has competed well and enlarged his fan base. His music just doesn't do it for me.
Archuleta has been the front runner since Simon said he was the one to beat in the Top 20 performances (boys night)-no favor to him. He has run the gauntlet through the negative seeking & harsh entertainment press and national press; he has been both professionally and personally attacked in about as many way
I don't know about ALL 20-30 year olds but I can tell you that I know quite a few who are turned off by the overly earnest David Archuleta. They aren't all Cook fans either. I can close my eyes and hear a great voice from him but his performances are boring. I would not pay to see him in concert and unless he changes up the song formula I'm not sure I would buy his CD either. I would love to see him do some music with a more soulful feel...sortof like Shop Around. My mom really likes him and so does my 10 year old niece but I am not sold. Liked him alot at the beginning but he has become a little stale to me.
Tell Ms Cox, HOW do you know if David Archuleta failed in appealing to 20 and 30 somethings? Do you have a crystal ball?
Assumptions, assumptions and more assumptions. Predictable and real BORING!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent write up, nicely done!!!
Conspiracy is not just a theory. The producers and judges are conducting a smear campaign to get rid of Jason so they can have their dream ticket finale.
This incident last Tuesday had nothing to do with the rehearsal or Paula being "confused," as some people are trying to claim as excuses.
Here's her explanation from Ryan's radio show the next morning (when Paula presumably wasn't as "confused" as she was Tuesday night:
- Paula: "I was reading the critique of what I was writing for Jason Castro, and on the same page that I wrote, was also David's, and I got lost on my notes, and that's as simple as it was. I did catch the last minute of Jason Castro" (the rehearsal she watched on the monitor).
- Ryan: "So what you are saying is, you were talking about two different people, but accidentally you said 'second song.' "
- Paula: "Yes."
Obviously it was not David Cook's note she was reading. "I felt like your usual charm was missing for me. It kind of left me a littl
While I may not agree with your assessment of who the final two should be, and least it was far and balanced. Thanks for that. It was actually refreshing to read an article that brings out the positives in all the remaining contestants. Those are hard to come by these days-especially seeing AI is dead set on a David vs David finale.