The result came as a surprise to many observers and onlookers after Idol judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell all but handed the title Tuesday to Cook’s rival and finalist in the competition, 17-year-old David Archuleta.
David Cook, 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Missouri, was crowned the latest American Idol, in a surprise result at the 7,000-seat Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
On the other hand, David Archuleta, the 17-year-old Utah native was the front-runner much of the season. On Tuesday’s finale, he easily won the duel of the front-runners: He sang better, and with more passion, than Cook, but perhaps Simon Cowell’s words should have served as a sign of things to come. For years, Cowell’s reputed get-out-the-vote strategy for his favorite has been to chastise the contestant he wants to win. Why? So that fans will be motivated to vote against Simon.
A record 97 million votes were cast overall, 23 million more than American Idol’s previous season. David Cook won by a relatively wide margin, 56% to 44%, or 12 million votes.
Idol host Ryan Seacrest seemed really anxious as he read the results, in a moment before the scheduled end of the two-hour live broadcast.
As luck would have it, although Archuleta was the younger competitor, Cook’s song choices reflected a more modern sound. Cook’s song choices ranged from ‘90s Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul to Aerosmith and U2, while Archuleta stayed within his comfort zone of ballads, including Phil Collins, Elton John and John Lennon.
What did this all mean? That “Idol” had something to prove. This megahit can still draw the big names, create an “Event,” and make the pundits swallow their words.
Anyway, both of them are a Winner of Season 7. To get to the Top 2 finalist is a victory!
Who do you think deserves to win this season?. “Probably David Cook,” he drawled. “I think he’s done more to deserve it over the eleven weeks. He’s taken more risks, he’s done things with certain songs that have been more interesting. If I’m gonna base it on who has done the best performances over the live shows, David Cook deserves to win.”
