Idolbot: Is David Archuleta the Greatest ‘American Idol’ Contestant of All Time?
Has there ever in American Idol's history been a better contestant than David Archuleta? It's not just that he's the most vocally gifted of this year's finalists; it's also that — by nature, design, or mind-blowingly aggressive stage parenting — he embodies more winning characteristics than virtually any other hopeful in the show's previous six seasons. Sure, his performance last night may have been less than perfect, but we think he's still a lock for the win. Archuleta almost seems to be built from all the best spare parts of lesser Idols. Is he human? We're not sure! Can anything stand between him and victory? Probably not. Five reasons why, after the jump.
1. He's the cute one and the talented one.
On every season of American Idol there's one adorable, clean-cut contestant whose prepubescent fan base and popularity among old people practically guarantees him a place in the top five, regardless of how he sings (see John Stevens, Anthony Federov, Kevin Covais, and Sanjaya). This year it's David Archuleta. At the same time, there's always one steely-eyed professional whose laser-precise singing ability and natural stage presence typically make him or (usually) her a lock to win, even if she's as charismatic as a head cold (previously Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks). This contestant, too, is David Archuleta. Never before in the history of the show have these two been the same person, and with both huge blocs of fans dialing his 800 number, his spot in the finals is more or less assured.
2. He's a guy without a gimmick.
In general, male contestants on Idol have had a problem with mass appeal — which is why almost all the recent successful ones have defined their base early, then played to it relentlessly. Chris Daughtry won over modern-rock-radio fans by singing all his songs like Live's Ed Kowalczyk; Taylor Hicks and Bo Bice stuck to dad rock; Blake Lewis bravely added mouth percussion to songs in which mouth percussion clearly had no business (like this one), in spite of what the beat-box-hating majority might think. All four required a gimmick, while female finalists Kelly Clarkson and Jordan Sparks could coast to victory on just being the best singer.
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1. He's the cute one and the talented one.
On every season of American Idol there's one adorable, clean-cut contestant whose prepubescent fan base and popularity among old people practically guarantees him a place in the top five, regardless of how he sings (see John Stevens, Anthony Federov, Kevin Covais, and Sanjaya). This year it's David Archuleta. At the same time, there's always one steely-eyed professional whose laser-precise singing ability and natural stage presence typically make him or (usually) her a lock to win, even if she's as charismatic as a head cold (previously Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks). This contestant, too, is David Archuleta. Never before in the history of the show have these two been the same person, and with both huge blocs of fans dialing his 800 number, his spot in the finals is more or less assured.
2. He's a guy without a gimmick.
In general, male contestants on Idol have had a problem with mass appeal — which is why almost all the recent successful ones have defined their base early, then played to it relentlessly. Chris Daughtry won over modern-rock-radio fans by singing all his songs like Live's Ed Kowalczyk; Taylor Hicks and Bo Bice stuck to dad rock; Blake Lewis bravely added mouth percussion to songs in which mouth percussion clearly had no business (like this one), in spite of what the beat-box-hating majority might think. All four required a gimmick, while female finalists Kelly Clarkson and Jordan Sparks could coast to victory on just being the best singer.
continue...
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