David Cook vs. David Archuleta: Giants Beware in This American Idol Finale

So here we are, down to the final set of performances in this years American Idol. David Cook vs. David Archuleta!

Almost in Biblical proportions, we have the seemingly unbeatable and ever-proficient Cook up against the loved-beyond-good-reason Archuleta. The Biblical David was described as "but a youth, ruddy and of a fair countenance." Sound familiar? Mr. Archuleta grins so much it makes my face hurt but yet is surprisingly composed for someone his age. Mr. Cook seems to be the wily veteran (no I won't be comparing him to Goliath) and seems very comfortable even in the face of hostile Simon criticism.

Let's break down these two contestants in a "tale of the tape" and predict a winner.

1. Singing Talent

This is a hard comparison as each has their own style of performance and genre. If you go on belting ability, Cook is the easy favorite, but if voice quality is the standard by which we measure, Archuleta wins hands down.

Therefore we can only go by that which we know. As Randy likes to say, David A. could "sing the phone book." While I'm not a personal favorite of Archuleta's upbeat performances, I do believe he can sing anything you hand him. David C. however, is somewhat limited in the sound he can produce. I'm a huge voice control person and I love a person who can control pitch bends with the proper breath strength and tone. David Archuleta has proved he can do this time and time again! Therefore on singing talent, Mr. Archuleta gets the nod.

Edge: David Archuleta

2. Stage Presence

This makes me want to bang my head on my desk as I don't understand David Archuleta on this point. The boy is just goofy in interviews and looks very awkward when trying to dance or move to an upbeat song. He looks very calm and confident when behind the piano and if you couldn't see him, you would swear he was a much older, more seasoned performer. David Cook is always cool and collected no matter what and has the feel of a veteran rocker. The Mic is his friend, his guitar brings comfort and he is 100% in his element on stage. David cook very much so gets the nod on stage presence.

Edge: David Cook

3. Physical Appearance

Well, being a guy I don't know that I can give a completely accurate report on this but I will do my best based on what I have observed.

This question can really be answered many different ways. In example, if I were a 13-year-old girl, Archuleta would be my dream and Cook would seem "old." However if I'm a 25-year-old woman, it would seem very odd and "ew" to find Archuleta attractive.

So, I believe this can be answered differently based on the demographic; therefore I deem this as a TIE.

Edge: None

4. Record-selling Potential

This is getting harder by the second. Herein lies the next dilemma: Both of these artist will appeal to different types of fans. I believe David Cook can come out and sell big very early. I think it may take David Archuleta a while to find his groove but his sales will still be respectable. That being said, I firmly believe that David Cook will out sell Archuleta by a mile due to the fact his music is more marketable and an easier "radio listen," Therefore, I say David Cook has a higher record-selling potential.

Edge: David Cook

5. Career Longevity

This is an area that I feel David Archuleta has a HUGE advantage. David Cook is talented, likable and sings very well. His music is much like that of Daughtry and has that same power and appeal. But this is only going to carry him so far! Let's face it, many rockers come and go and their careers (outside of reality shows) are not the longest in the business. David Archuleta, on the other hand, will have a career in radio, has the face for videos and commercials and will more than likely end up on Broadway doing music theater. Therefore, Archuleta has the potential for a much longer career in the spotlight than Cook.

Edge: David Archuleta

6. Intangibles

It comes down to this category to define our winner as we are in a tie with two votes each for the Davids.

The intangibles will make the difference in that it is the things out of their control that will decide. No doubt both will give flawless performances and equally of no doubt both will have their share of screaming fans. The stage presence may favor Cook, but the cuteness and lovable factor for Archuleta levels the playing field. This contest will be decided by the fans. Obviously, you may say, but it's deeper than just "America Decides" as Seacrest likes to say all the time. This contest will be decided by those who live on the phones any way. Yep, you guessed it. Teen aged girls.

David Cook has a large fan base of ladies no doubt, but the majority of them are late teens and into their early twenties. In short, they are responsible to jobs, college or even husbands in many instances. While they would like to see Mr. Cook win, the passion and fire to burn up the phones simply won't be there. American Idol is one thing, getting up to go to work or class is another.

On the other hand, Mr. Archuleta has all the pre-teen to younger teen fans. These kids live on the phone and will be more than willing to call again and again until the lines finally close. No doubt, this will be the highest vote total in Idol History as these fans will passionately call to show their dedication to young Mr. Archuleta. Therefore, Mr. Archuleta will definitely win the battle of the intangibles.

Edge and 2008 American Idol Winner: David Archuleta.