One thing is certain, the next winner of American Idol will be named David!

This year's final result is turning out to be one of the most anticipated in recent years. Unlike in last year's finale when Jordin Sparks was the obvious choice of the majority, it is quite different this year. The two finalists, David Cook and David Archuleta, are pretty evenly matched going into the homestretch. It wasn't like this earlier in the season though. All season long, David Archuleta has been the presumptive champion. He captured the viewers' attention right from the auditions and cemented his place as the top favorite through the eliminations, top 24 and top 12 semi-finals. That angelic voice, that
joyful smile, that clean cut demeanor - what else is there to look for?

However, nobody could have predicted that a mysterious rocker with a five o’clock shadow would gradually get the viewers' attention and threaten little boy Archie’s crown, and yet that’s exactly what happened. Week after week, David Cook surprised audiences with his performances, even making a believer out of the most critical judge of them all, the feared Simon Cowell. The same is true with this me. I didn't notice David Cook at all during the eliminations as my focus was was on prodigy Archuleta, Michael Johns, Carly Smithson and compatriot Ramiele Malubay (for obvious reasons). But little by little, he gained my respect and awe with every performance. I am now a true David Cook believer and I am hoping that he'll win.

Cook is more at ease as a performer, and is clearly more versatile. It has been a joy to watch him grow throughout the competition (in contrast to Archuleta, who started at the very top and stayed there by way of one monotonous performance after another).

Many say David Archuleta will be the more marketable artist of the two because of his huge fan base, the teens. But look at what happened to Taylor Hicks. His soul patrol fan base left him out cold after the competition. On the other hand, I think Cook is the more marketable of the two because of his versatility. But no one can be serious in saying he has a better voice than Archuleta. The young prodigy's voice is absolutely beautiful, literally arresting in its depth, with a much greater range and a terrifically evocative timbre. However, he can only sing one genre and it's ballads, and that's where the excitement ended for me.

Even odds makers who favored Archuleta all season are changing their tune to David Cook. According to EOnline, "former bartender and Missouri's favorite rocking son David Cook is the odds-on pick to succeed Jordin Sparks during next week's finale, given a 74 percent chance of winning the whole shebang, per the online bookies." And despite starting the season as the overwhelming favorite, David Archuleta has just a 32 percent possibility of becoming Simon Cowell's newest protégé. However, the last time we checked, minors are still prohibited from betting online so Archie's biggest vote bloc is out of this statistic. He he.

Whatever the odds may be, we won't know for sure who this year's American Idol will be until the envelope is opened and the winner's name is announced.

"Congratulations, David ______________!"

Update: The wait is over! American Idol season 8 is here! Watch the 2009 American Idol 8 premiere, aka American Idol season 8 premiere 2009, and see the auditions for new talents this year.

The American Idol 8 premiere has been invaded by Katrina Darrell, the American Idol 8 bikini girl, also known as the 2009 American Idol bikini audition. And see Kara DioGuardi, the new judge, in action.

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David Cook or David Archuleta?

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