David vs. David

Tonight's final performances on "American Idol" come down to David and David, Archuleta and Cook. The former is a teenager who has made an early career of acing singing competitions, while the latter is a 25-year-old bartender who auditioned for the top-rated Fox show on a lark. The husky-voiced youngster, 17, has found his niche with ballads, while Cook is a rocker with musical range. Little Archie has sailed through to the finals with the help of his screaming girl fans, but Big David has found a huge audience, too. We'll find out who wins on Wednesday night's results show. But here's our week-by-week look at how the two Davids fared in the Top 10 rounds and how that bodes for who will be the next American Idol. DAVID ARCHULETA DAVID COOK

Round 1"We Can Work It Out""Eleanor Rigby"

Justin: Archuleta not only forgets the words; he forgets he can't rock.

Salas: Cook worked it out simply by not flubbing his lyrics.

WINNER: Cook.

Round 2"The Long and Winding Road""Day Tripper"

Justin: Archuleta's superior lungs trump Cook's superior arrangement.

Salas: Slight edge goes to the teen balladeer, with the Beatles tune being an ideal fit.

WINNER: Archuleta.

Round 3"You're the Voice""Billie Jean"

Justin: Archuleta's status as the frontrunner is no longer so clear.

Salas: Cook borrowed Chris Cornell's version of the Michael Jackson song and stole the show.

WINNER: Cook

Round 4"Smoky Mountain Memories""Little Sparrow"

Justin: "Sparrow" fails to fly, while "Smoky" rises.

Salas: Cook goes acoustic and Archie goes schmaltz -- for a draw.

WINNER: Archuleta.

Round 5"Angels""Innocent"

Justin: Cook is guilty of phoning it in, something he'll do again and again.

Salas: Archuleta scores big after a rare Cook misstep.

WINNER: Archuleta.

Round 6"When You Believe""Always Be My Baby"

Justin: The kid sounds as rich and full as Mariah and Whitney's voice put together.

Salas: Both guys get props for covering Mariah Carey well, but Cook is the bigger surprise.

WINNER: Split.

Round 7"Think of Me""The Music of the Night"

Justin: Cook comes across like the phantom of the oppressed.

Salas: Cook looked uncomfortable singing Broadway.

WINNER: Archuleta.

Round 8"Sweet Caroline"/"America""I'm Alive"/"All I Really Need

Is You"

Justin: Archuleta plays it safe, and it finally catches up with him. Yawn.

Salas: Archuleta goes for the hits; Cook goes for originality -- and the win.

WINNER: Cook.

Round 9"Stand by Me"/"Love Me Tender""Hungry Like the Wolf"/

"Baba O'Riley"

Justin: Cook looked about as hungry as a poodle.

Salas: Song choice wins as the youngster goes big with Elvis.

WINNER: Archuleta.

Round 10"And So It Goes"/"With You"/"Longer""The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"/"Dare You to Move"/"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"

Justin: Consider them both losers. Boring, boring, boring. These are the finalists?

Salas: On an alarmingly weak night, Cook ekes by with superior musicality.

WINNER: Cook.

In a close battle, David Archuleta wins over David Cook 5-4 in our view, with one round a draw. But who will voters pick as the next American Idol? Tell us at www.startribune.com/remoteisland.
Neal Justin is at njustin@startribune.com. Randy A. Salas is at rasalas@startribune.com.