The voting viewers have spoken. After almost five months of performances, from the totally weird and awful to the amazing, a new star is born. America has crowned David Cook as

American Idol champ for 2008!

Let me first say this because I want to get it off my chest. That has to be one of the corniest openers for an American Idol season finale yesterday. With famed boxing announcer Michael Buffer at the microphone, accompanied by the theme from Rocky, the two finalists were introduced from their "corners". Appropriately garbed in boxing robes and gloves, the two "fighters" enter the "ring" to the cheers of the crowd. Did Simon think of this one? Whoever it was he should be given a knockout punch, twice!

Coming from a different timezone, I scoured the internet for reviews of the performances last night, my eagerness getting the best of me. However, I was disappointed to find less than encouraging reviews of David Cook's performance. All that I could find were a seemingly unanimous praise of David Archuleta and how he will be the next Idol, even quoting Simon Cowell when he said the Boy Wonder delivered a knockout blow to my favorite David Cook.

When I finally saw the performances, my spirit was lifted. David Cook's performances were very good. In fact, I could say they were at par with his previous numbers in the elimination. However, David Archuleta's vocals were undeniably superior, and this is a given. But vocals alone don't make an Idol and this was what happened with tonight's final result. The momentum of David Cook's performances, how he gradually and consistently wowed and converted us to his fold throughout the season made him the American Idol. And it was he who delivered the knockout! According to Ryan Seacrest (if I understood it right), he won by 12 million votes! That is amazing!

What made the evening doubly special for me and for millions of Pinoys watching was the live performance of Renaldo Lapuz. The 45-year-old, Nevada-based Filipino became an instant internet sensation after his audition for AI was uploaded on YouTube. The video clip of his audition early January of this year shows how entertained judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell were over Lapuz's rather distinct performance. He delivered his "We're Brothers Forever" a capella with much gusto which was later accompanied by a marching band (and cheerleaders to boot) who walked in to the surprise of everyone. The moment was made more remarkable when judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson went up on the stage to dance with Lapuz. Simon, ever the killjoy, stayed seated. He he.

Congratulations to the new American Idol! By the way, it was a double victory for me. Manchester United won the European Champions Leagues title earlier.

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.

If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

David Cook wins American Idol!

Recommended Reading

You may also want to check out the following:

My SideBar: Ads, Search Bar and Widgets

Recent Posts

television round up