"American Idol" Finale: Judges Crown David Archuleta Winner (VIDEOS)

***Scroll down for video of Tuesday's final performances***

NEW YORK (AP) _ Each of the dueling Davids raised his game on Tuesday's "American Idol," but only one received three glowing reviews from Simon Cowell, who called it a "knockout" performance.

That would be David Archuleta. The doe-eyed teen faced off against David Cook for the "Idol" title Tuesday night, and in Cowell's opinion, out-performed the 25-year-old rocker. Each David performed three songs in the final performance show, which rolled out announcer Michael Buffer ("Let's get ready to rumble!") to introduce the finalists in boxing robes and gloves.

Three rounds later, Cowell made his traditional prediction:

"You came out here tonight to win," Cowell said, "and what we have witnessed is a knockout."

In the first round, Cook and Archuleta received both stellar reviews for their respective renditions of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and the Elton John anthem "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." But Cowell declared the 17-year-old from Murray, Utah, the winner.

Cowell also handed the second round to Archuleta, whose performance of "In This Moment" impressed the judge more than Cook's take on "Dream Big."

And Archuleta went back to the well to take the third round, closing the show with a repeat of his version of John Lennon's "Imagine." Cook, who chose a song he hadn't yet performed in Collective Soul's "The World I Know," didn't stand a chance against that.

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Both Davids cried after their performing their final songs.

The competitors exchanged compliments during the live telecast.

"This guy's awesome," Archuleta said about Cook, of Blue Springs, Mo., who called The Arch "consistently nice."

"As far as I'm concerned, competition's over and we're just having fun," Cook said.
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Watch:

"Imagine" by David Archuleta:

"Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" by David Archuleta:

David Cook covers U2 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For":

"Dream Big" by David Cook:

Comments

[clancy11]

David Cook is the best performer.......I would buy a ticket for his show.
David A. is too young, lacks stage presence and too wimp;y. Needs years to
grow. Cook is Cookin.

[rbspickles]

While both are very talented and I enjoyed both, I have to agree with you. Cook is more comfortable on stage and A has need of a little more experience with an audience. Both deserve a decent future in music and will hopefully get it.

[filmex]

If little Mormon boy David A. is going to continue to sing John Lennon's "Imagine" can it at least be mandated that he not edit out the most important line:

"Imagine no religion..."

[dartagnan]

Oh, and wasn't that whole boxing metaphor thing tacky and cliched? God, they pay their writers a ton of money and that's the best they could come up with?

[CheshireCat2]

I suspect this is another swipe at AI, since it is on a FOX channel with yet another successful airing.

[jneems]

That's how I felt, too. Tacky. Why it is that every other show on tv now is about people fiercely competing against one another to be top chef, designer, model, survivor, weight-loser, dancer, apprentice, singer, etc. etc. At least the two Davids didn't take the bait and attack one another. They showed a lot more class than the writers/producers.

[CallMeDeaconBlues]

Allegory: 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression2: a symbolic representation : emblem 2 - Merriam Webster's Dictionary

I thought it was clever and both David's took it in good stride and with a grain of salt.

[dartagnan]

I've said it before: Archuleta is the better singer and Cook is the better musician and performer. Before last night I predicted Cook would win but Little David probably has turned it around. In any case they're both extremely talented and both should have great careers ahead of them. Neither has reason to be disappointed with himself.

One other thing: I think AI should have a rule against any contestant performing the same song twice during the competition.

[zenlikejen]

I agree on the song repeat - it seemed ...."lazy". I understand wanting to play it safe, but c'monn! That being said, I've read elsewhere that apparently it's not an uncommon practice during the season finale for singers to perform songs that they already sang earlier in the competition. This being the first time I've wathced a final two showdown - I was more disappointed in the judges than the performers.

[franksters]

This really boils down to a matter of opinion and preference. I prefer David Cook's style and music, while acknowledging that David A. is a good vocalist. Both have deficiencies but both appear to have audiences. It was clear from the start who the AI crew wanted to win...they were pretty easy on David A. all along. I did not think that he nailed all of those songs last night. Both performers seemed nervous and strained. But in the end, I predict that the title will go to David A. David C. will be fine. I mean, after all, there are millions of wanna-be performers out there---these guys both have gotten maximal exposure and the rest is up to them.

[DesertLight]

Archuleta rocked the house last night!

[Dave1955]

Uh, no. You may have liked his singing, but he did NOT rock. He sang ballads.

[enoughalready]

And every one of DA's songs sounded the same. His monotone minimum range just grates on me. Cook on the other hand always had something new and I really looked forward to his performances. Cooks final performance last night was guttsy and really heart warming. I loved it.

[pdsldl]

Both David's are very good, but very different performers. Young David has the best voice, but needs some seasoning on the stage presence front, which can be learned. He's 17 and can develop into a very strong performer. David Cook on the other hand is the better performer with a very good voice. He just needs to write for himself and rearrange music to suit that low, bluesy, rocker style of his.

[MarkyM]

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[jgalvan]

You people who post about marketing and sales act like you are record producers in the industry, grow up. This is just a television show about young artist who need a push into the public eye, Really, who cares how many compact disc David Cook or David Achuletta sales? David was hands down a much better singer then Cook, all you had to do was listen to last nights show, and all you airheads who believe that David Cook is the second coming of Eddie Vedder please, Stop hating.

[kellygrrrl]

If I was going to pick one of these guys to make an investment
I honestly believe Cook is a thousand times more marketable than Archuletta.

clearly Archuletta was coronated last night by the 3 stooges, and frankly who cares who wins at this point.
They will both have a golden career road laid out for them

not to be mean, but I see Archuleta having a full Britney Breakdown in the next few years.

[jgalvan]

You need to put your bong down.

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

'Archuleta'. Spanish surname. One 'L'. The kid is Hispanic!

[DesertLight]

Whose album would you buy first? I could listen to an Archuleta album based on his songs for A!.
You have any idea how hard that first song was? To be in the same company as Elton John and George Michael, is no small achievement.

Now I now we can never agree on anything.

You are just as hateful here as you are with politics. What a cynic?

[Felicty]

When little David discovers he's gay, Daddy is going to whip him senseless. Again.

"Being on this stage, performing in front of all these people. Nobody can take that away from me."

What was he trying to tell us?

[CallMeDeaconBlues]

God, how hateful. Are you naturally jealous or what?

[McFlipFlop]

Archuleta is such a natural. Will be great to see the youngsters make him a star.

[ColoradoDan]

This kind of crap entertainment is part of the problem in America today.

Corporations are now telling Americans who their 'Idols' shall be.

Decadent and awfully sill.y

[jeananotgina]

I really love David Cook. If you go to you tube and listen to his songs one after another, it's quite impressive. I'm with most of these comments; DC will most certainly be very commercially successful and who wins tonight is almost irrelevant. I think AI should put out a solo DC cd of all his AI songs, from the tryouts to the final songs last night, recorded in the studio. I would buy that in a minute.

[jgalvan]

can you say "group"e

[theidaexpress]

Watching the videos just now, Archie didn't seem to do as well as everyone thinks--he was out of tune every time he strained for those bigger notes. But nothing will stop those tweens from voting for him.

Cook on the other hand, was just OK, but not out of tune--as far as talent goes, I am sure he has more. He can actually arrange music, which is something young Archie has yet to learn.

My prediction for winner is: David. (har har har)

http://www.theidaexpress.com

[CammyV]

Little David is an awesome singer, but not as marketable as big David. However, the teeny voters don't have to take that into consideration, and there may not be enough rock fans to outnumber the pre-pubescent girls with cell phones and wifi.
I wont cry for big Dave, if he comes in 2nd. He'll get a great record deal and will become the rock star that he deserves to be.