And then it hit me...

American Idol is almost over, so if you yawn through/don't read the posts about American Idol. Be strong--only one more week until I won't be posting about it any more! I just read a very interesting article that has my mind turning. The article focused on the fact that "The real rebel in this competition is David Archuleta." It is brilliant. He continues, "David fits no mold whatsoever, and that’s precisely why the press has had such difficulty trying to explain and categorize him (definable buckets being the critical workaround to having to characterize something truly original). Oh, the critics have tried glibly to pigeonhole David as a Disney type or a Christian singer or a boy-band figure, and there are perhaps elements of all of these in him, but none define him with any real measure, not the way the simple moniker of “rocker” defines David Cook. Originality is the true iconoclast, and indeed the only value that has the potential to really change the game, if not the world. I think David has a better chance of doing that without the crown."

And here is my favorite part:

"But most of all, the winner of this competition becomes saddled with the American Idol brand even more so that the runners-up, and that’s a dubious achievement to be sure. The question is really whether the American Idol brand is truly congruent with the David Archuleta brand, and the short answer is that no one knows just yet what the David Archuleta brand is. The worst thing that can be done right now is to over-define it with the heavy-handed mantle of “American Idol.” When David does finally determine the scope of his professional character he will almost certainly see the title as a hindrance more than a help.

In the beginning, it seemed obvious that David Archuleta was the quintessential American idol. Who better to serve as an example of young talent and national pride than a wholesome, handsome teenager from middle America with such refreshing humility, and manners that would put a diplomat to shame? But I’ve gradually come to see that the title–at least in the way that 19 Entertainment defines it, or even for that matter the way the majority of the American public wants it–is too narrow for David.

In many ways, David Cook is the ideal American Idol. He’s familiar, he’s predictable, he fits easily into a predefined genre with which everyone is quite comfortable. Because the scope of his professional character is already delineated the additional branding of American Idol won’t succeed in fully defining him. But perhaps most important, he’ll make people feel as though they’re choosing something a bit rebellious when in fact they’re choosing the most conventional contemporary archetype of them all."

I don't mean to bash on David Cook--because I think he is extremely talented and will be very successful. But as I posted earlier on my blog, I feel like there are things about American Idol that are so ridiculous and absurd that I would prefer my favorite NOT to win. I'm sure Chris Daughtry isn't bawling himself to sleep over not winning "the crown"...he's doing just fine. And Taylor Hicks who? Exactly.

I was upset with Tuesday night's show because it was so obviously favored towards Cook. The song choices were a joke for Syesha and Archie. A commenter on the article says, "I listened to a radio show today that featured Richard Parkinson, David’s music arranger and pianist, for the last 2 1/2 years. He said that they had worked out a new, contemporary version of “Longer” for David’s performance on Tuesday. He said it was hot, that it would have been the only thing people were talking about on Wednesday. However, American Idol producers shot it down, told them they had to do a straight cover of John Fogelberg’s song." Tell me that's fair. I dare you. Anyway, I guess we'll see what happens next week. I will still be voting for Archie because I know how badly he wants this and because I think it would be exhilarating to see all his hard work be justified in such a big way, but honestly, I know he is capable of more than what the "AI" stigma will give him. No matter what happens--I'm an Archie for life!

Thoughts?

Article found here by "Rascal"