'American Idol' Tracker: Many roads to the Final Three

Just two months ago, 12 strangers stepped onto this stage, bearing the weight of a multigazillion-dollar entertainment powerhouse on their collective shoulders. Eight weeks later, the crowd Tuesday in the Idoldome was no longer swooning for mere firmaments in the franchise’s galaxy, but as the fans of three individuals who have sung through fire and earned their places among "Idol" immortals. 

Ultimately, what was quantified by this column as the most talented season in "Idol" history, has produced a Final Three worthy of the name, and three individuals worthy to stand with the Final Three of any season. Along the way, giants have fallen; the losses of Michael Johns and of the greatest performer in "Idol" history (also the most electrifying), Carly Smithson, still sting. And the lights still shine bright from the supporting cast -- Chikezie Eze, Ramiele Malubay, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, David Hernandez, Brooke White and Amanda Overmyer, still with two months' hindsight, not a forgettable talent amongst them.

But ultimately from this chaos of unknown talents, three singers, David Cook, Syesha Mercado and The Chosen One, David Archuleta, emerged from the thickets hardened, weary but determined, the youthful bloom of Hollywood Week long gone, but in its place the calm that comes only from hard-won experience (except for Archuleta, who seems as nervous and giggly as the day he stepped on this stage.) 

The pressures of life in the "Idol" contestant ranks at these exalted heights are incomparable. This week alone, the survivors were forced to master and make their own three songs (two of which were foisted upon them) while dealing with wardrobe, photo shoots, gala trips home, studio sessions, Ford commercials –- all of which comes at the end of two months of nonstop labor in a bubble isolated from their family, friends and home. And while all performances were not perhaps equal on Tuesday night, all rose to this challenge and performed, at worst, decently.

Each of these combatants, however, found his or her way to this exalted place in a very different way.  Let us examine then the paths to glory taken by each of Season 7’s Final Three.

• Syesha Mercado: In February, handicapping the women of the Top 24, I predicted (I was stunned to find when I was re-reading today) that Syesha would win the entire competition. However, I wrote that while I saw her as "the one female candidate with true star presence,” I cautioned that her “Celine/Whitney style may be too familiar to 'Idol' competition.” Within days, I was backing away from my prediction of triumph, seeing her as a generic throwback to the traditional sort of contestant, a model whose time seemed to have passed in the face of genetically engineered superpowers such as The Chosen One. And for week after week, Syesha seemed to hang a hair's breath from mortality, claiming as her own one of the bottom-tier stools. 

But while given up for dead by the punditry, Syesha refused to quit. After a disastrous maiden outing in the first week of the Top 12, she delivered performances that, if they didn’t garner raves, were always at least passable. And then, after finding herself suddenly in the Top Six, she suddenly turned it on, week after week, when little was expected of her at this point, favorably surprising again and again.

The public seemed only barely to notice her, however, continuing to consign her to the lower tiers. One night several weeks ago, after turning in one of the most memorable performances on an Andrew Lloyd Webber night and still finding herself in the bottom, Syesha, who always kept her happy stage face on, turned her back to the audience during a break and gave herself over to tears, seeming to say, will nothing I do ever be good enough? But little by little, it was good enough, and to much public shock, Syesha found herself in the Season 7 Final Three.

• David Archuleta: In February, I predicted The Chosen One would finish in second place, citing his “strong appeal to 'Idol'’s most powerful voting block” (tween girls), while warning that his youthful persona might turn off everyone outside that demographic group. It seemed to me that, raised on "Idol," studying the works of Kelly Clarkson, Jason Guarini and Clay Aiken from his infancy, The Chosen One was the fulfillment of "Idol" Prophecies, the messiah of the unswerving voice forged to lead the show from its wayward, clumsy youth into a realm of perfection and vocal gymnastics at heights never before seen in the annals of competitive singing. 

Mostly, Archuleta has done that.  Never straying from the top tier, having only the rarest of off-nights, The Chosen One provided the show with a backbone of perfection to see it through its lowest moments.

What I did not foresee, however, was that Archuleta might become this year’s Melinda Doolittle.

Having established from the first moments of the season a standard of perfection, Archuleta left himself almost nowhere to go. The tween girls continued to swoon, screech and speed-dial, but to many in the crowd, seeing him once again turn in a flawless rendition of a adult ballad became very familiar. However, his presence remains magic to "Idol"’s most important voters, and that may be more than enough to guarantee him the crown.

• David Cook: In February, I wrote that Cook managed to be “alternative without being scary,” but predicting that he would finish in 10th place, I warned that “the John Mayer path might be too intense and limiting to go the distance.”

When the story of this season is recorded in history books, the rise of Cook will be its great tale. Coming out of what seemed too obscure a niche to become a credible contender, Cook has steadily broadened his appeal far beyond the indie demo. In the Idoldome each week now, grandmothers and, more ominously for Archuleta, children, identify themselves as his fans. Throughout the long season, Cook’s performances –- often surprising and always seemingly carefully considered –- became the most anticipated of each night. Of all the contestants, Cook seemed the most comfortable on stage, singing apparently without fear and behaving in his interview segments in a low-key but self-assured manner that conveyed both humility and a strong sense of self. In the early weeks of the Top 24, Cook appeared almost bratty on stage, snapping at the judges, and was informed by judge Simon Cowell that he was entirely without charisma. But he quickly seemed to bring himself under control at once, restraining what flashes of anger he may have felt and projecting a very likable, unaffected personality.

Finally on Mariah Carey night, a month back, Cook broke through. His performance of “Always Be My Baby,” sung with his ailing brother in the audience, was the most dramatic of the season, producing an ovation that lasted through the break as Cook waded into the crowd to visit his sibling. That applause held the season’s record, until tonight, when Cook’s final song produced an ovation so thunderous and unrelenting across the Idoldome, the night almost felt like a coronation.

But still, one more elimination lies ahead and one more challenge for the surviving two next week. And it is still very, very possible that this season may yet have a surprise (or two) up its sleeve.

Note: Please join me for a live online chat today (Wed) at noon PST at chat.latimes.com

 

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo courtesy of Fox

Comments

[david]

Just to clarify things, this is a "who can get the most votes" contest, unless, of course, its rigged. There is no doubt that David Archuletta has a great vocal instrument, but he is a mediocre musician, and a bad performer. It's not the sound of his voice that's the problem, it's what he does with his voice. His interpretations of the songs he sings are boring and predicable. I can't imagine why so many people praised his version of "Imagine." To me it was totally self-indulgent, and had the affect of showing off his vocal chords and completely missing the message of the song. When I listen to John Lennon's version I genuinely feel his message of peace. When I listen to Archuletta's version, I just get the same generic, syrupy-sweet feeling that I get from every other song he sings. The fact that he is a naive,17-year boy, with little experience in the world comes blaring through in every song. So when he sings songs that were written by someone with a different experience, one that he hasn't had and can't relate to, the song doesn't work at all. He just doesn't get it.

[PATRICIA]

To those of you who are "Negative Archuleta" I could not disagree with you more. You folks are forgetting that this young man is 17 years old. Yes, he lacks maturity and several other qualities of a seasoned performer. He does have one important quality, "charisma". Being of the senior crowd, he takes me back to the days of Neil Sedaks, Paul Anka era. His voice is pure and angelic. His smile is sweet and sincere. His appeal to the "tweens" is apparent but he also appeals to grandmothers, like myself. He may not win the idol, but I certainly hope that he has a career in music as he has much to offer to those of us who still lilke "music" and not head banging screaming noise.

[Houston]

If it were simply a talent contest, David Cook would win hands down. As it is more of a popularity contest, who knows? I wonder what you're smoking if you consider Carly Smithson and Michael Johns to be so great. Neither had any charisma, and were just okay singers.

I'm with the other grownups on the board though when it comes to David Archuletta. He's just not interesting. Maybe when he's about 30 and has had a couple of broken hearts he'll have enough experience and soul to actually understand the emotions about which he sings. One can only hope. I'm hoping he's eliminated tonight.

Someone in my office suggested that the judges beat up on Syesha in order to get the Jason Castro fans to vote for her out of sympathy. That's more logical than the judges' criticisms of her last night. I thought she was hot when she sang "Fever," the only song she chose last evening.

[Kim]

I two had written AI off, but when I heard David Cook sing I was drawn back to the show. I can not miss any of his performances. I loved when he sang "Music of the Night", as I am a huge Phantom fan. His voice is pure and moving. He gives me chills when he sings. Last night when he sang "The First time ever I saw your face", I fell in love with this song all over again. I didn't really care for the second song (see I can't even remember the name).
But truly the last song, was amazing!!! I am so proud to be a David Cook fan and so is my husband. The other two contestants are good, but not great. Personally, at the beginning I thought DC was a little scary looking(don't mean to be cruel)...but he has grown on me , I feel drawn to him and that is what music makes you do. I voted non stop for him last night and I will be waiting tonight for the results. I wish all the contestants good luck, but my heart is with David Cook.

[angie]

David that was a good song.And i hope you win. You are the best.I love your music.

[piggybutt]

For all of you who continue to call this a singing competition...IT'S NOT. It is a performance competition. If it was just about the singing then we should have a screen w/ Ryan, Paula (ugh), Randy and Simon scratching their heads, dancing like a mule, playing w/ glasses or in Simons case admiring himself in the mirror. We would not meet the contestance until the final results show. We would get weeks of bad radio on TV and hope that the person that won was someone that we could stand looking at. Really, how often do you see the performers when you listen to the radio...which where the winners music will or will not be played. It's all about the performance and how you appeal to the crowd. Right now, the majority of people voting look past the fact that David A can't dance, but they like his "innocent" look and are endeared to him. Cook, he's there because he makes the most of a mediocre voice and blows you away with his arrangements, originality and going off the beaten path. YOu don't have to like what he is doing but any musician can appreciate that he can any song and make it hide his "weaknesses" and promote his strengths. Next will be an interesting week, will we have "Awe Shucks Boy" or "Yeah Sure, Dude." Either way, I'll continue to by AI winners' albums at the same pace I have for the past 6 years...

[Yoli]

I'm watching IDOL now and will admit that I already know who is leaving I peeked before leaving work. After watching Fantasia run around and scream on stage I wonder why I still have the TV on considering I know who is leaving. I watch because it's fun, and whoever wins (or does not win) if they are in the top 3 even 5 they will have their 15 minutes of fame. Good for them. With so much crazy in the world it's nice to chat on line and give opinions and listen to so many who think they know all their is to know about back stage secrets on the set if Paula and Simon are an item etc.

As long as a David wins I'll be back again next year (hopefully Fantasia will be on tour) What ever happened to Taylor Hicks and Ruben?

[Kate]

I just ordered a cool David Cook shirt from www.PantherTees.com. They said not to tell anyone, but here is a 10% discount code, “pts10“ (it’s case sensitive, so copy and paste it). Enjoy!

[Maria]

To duped. If you were not there and saw how Jeff Archuleta acts and reacts, then do not come up with your psychological analysis and assumptions. Star search is a contest by the way, not being part of bands and having published CD's. Get an education first before you judge people you do not know. The other contestants who have plenty to gain and lose, are backing up Jeff Archuleta as a supportive parent, not a control freak. Don't judge other people's parents based on your own parental upbringing. And I am sure you did not grow up in a musical family either. Hey this is america, you do not like a singer, you turn the darn radio off, we do not analyze the songs and their families. Get a LIFE. And yes, I am an adult that loves rock but does not feel David Cook is that good (but again some people think screaming their songs at us is talent).

[Sandra]

Not a fool, what is wrong with you? David Archuleta was 10 years old when he sang in front of Kelly at the AI try outs. He was at an age when he thought they admitted 10 years olds and was standing in line with thousands of contestants and Kelly happened to be standing in line. How can you get mad at a 10 year old? You have serious issues. Did you forget that this year, David Archuleta is the top 2 (and yes thank God for this country's voting power and I am one of them, this is still america we vote for the ones we like), and I am an adult. And yes he made the cut out of 100,000. what talent do you have? Did you make the top 2 at any contest or talent show? If not, then shut the hell up and go listen to other people's music. I can't stand negative human beings. But again with a name like not a fool, you seem like a very BIG FOOL. YUK Go away already, get an education and a talent people.

[Sam]

Hey kate. Glad you will be wearing a new David Cook shirt. Good for you. Now you are the proud owner of the loud rock, bad hairdos, not showered or shaved another day on national TV. YUK. You must relate and be proud. I hope you at least wash this once in a while. Waste of money. :)

[Darla]

Well if you do not like David Archuleta's closed eyes, I wonder how you felt about Stevie Wonder. I assume you already instructed David Cook to shut his big mouth and stop shouting his songs at us? We ran out of ear plugs. He can now shower and shave after the show is over. More freaks in this country we do not need. And some of you on these boards, really now, get a real job and an education. We all like and vote for the ones we prefer. This is the USA after all.