Music appreciation is a personal thing. People who love Cook's genre of music probably would not enjoy Archie's style of music. and the same applies to Archie fans not appreciating Cook's music. Listeners of each found the other "boring" v :"screaming". What has been interesting though is that most fans seemed to actually get that both had exceptional voices for what they do. So what happened last night in a contest that could have gone either way?

I personally think it got down to the choice of the last song. Cook opted for contemporary while Archie repeated a non-contemporary song. Both sang their hearts out beautifully. Both earned the win. I suspect that when the judges remarks that gushed for Archie and crucified Cook conflicted with the absolute quality of Cooks performance it did infuriate many listeners stuck with knowing they just heard two great presentations. It doesn't matter that the judges retracted their critique after the fact and admitted Cook did a great job. I think an argument can be made that it goaded people to vote to make up for incorrect criticism but that alone can't explain how Cook garnered 12 million votes more than Archie.

Valid or not, I think the answer may be something as simple as that last song choice. No one can say that either has the best voice but they can say each has the best voice for their style of music contrary to what each side says about the other. Given that, Cook won this by being extremely smart by going Collective Soul. I think he may have lost had he picked a song in Archies category - Call it retro ballads.

What is true is that the two David's respect each other's talent and saw the other as a threat unlike fans who only heard their favorite and assumed they would win. Both will go far. Cook will sell more music simply because he is a versatile contemporary rocker but Archie has an International market to corner. perhaps along the line of a young Josh Groban if he wishes to go that route. If Archie goes that direction his career will be more lasting. It will be much more interesting to see how he develops in the next 5 years and what direction he will take.

It really does feel like we have two winners this year but don't make the mistake of thinking Cook is not the actual winner because he is. He won it with pure talent , an exceptional voice for his genre of music, and a very smart song choice.

Just looking thru all American Idol reviews everywhere, etc. You basically said everything I was thinking about both David's. Each is a gifted singer in their respective areas. I will post a question to Katherine's write-up also, but can you help me find any site that I can download the performance song David Cook did with ZZ Top on 5-21 and the duet with David A? Any help would be appreciated.

I'd check the American Idol website as they do post the songs for download. Hopefully they have those songs up as well.

Thanks for that suggestion....went to American Idol but didn't find those 2 song sets that I'm looking for. Hopefully, my research will be successful.

I felt that Cook did not excel in the finale but had already garnered a significant following through the program. He was the better choice despite stumbling on the finale. He nailed everything from the Phantom outward. But that hair! What is with the hair looking like a tornado aftermath?

Scoot don't know if you have relistened to his Collective Soul song on Youtube but I'm tellin' ya it truly was outstanding. That is what I heard initially but it was even better on the second listen. Check it out and see if you still think he did not excel. I thought the opposite.

btw I agree the highlight for me was his rendition from the Phantom of the Opera. As it turns out he has had formal training but at the time I was blown away.

About that hair: Good description. lol

I wasn't into Cook at first because he seemed like your usually Daughtry-esque "rock" american idol poser guy- as a die hard rock fan, I like to keep my cheesy AI obsession separate from the actual music I listen to. Therefore, I never root for the token "rocker." but Cook started to win me over when he sang "Hello." I was like "hmm. that was pretty cool." But then when he sang Billie Jean I was sold. Not only did I give him props for looking at a list of songs from 1982 and thinking "hmm, I could do the Chris Cornell arrangement of billie jean" (that totally wouldn't be my thought process!) but he sang it AMAZINGLY! I L-O-V-E Chris Cornell, and I think he has one of the best voices in rock, but I have to say, I think Cook sang it better!