Hopefully you all remember Luke Menard, it’s going a way back, but how can we forget this one? He was such a sweet crooner, and I was so sad to see him go, but now even more sad to hear of this news. Luke Menard was in the top 24, and made the cut to the final 16 this year, having been booted from Idol at the beginning of March. So close! It may have been best that his Idol time was cut short as Luke now has some serious health challenges facing him as he has just been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Luke is 29 years old from Crawfordsville, Indiana and his Idol stats show his favorite quote as being “Don’t fight. But if you have to…hit first and hit hard.” And this is one motto he may have to take with him on this struggle he has ahead. David Cook is devastated, and found out the news just days before he was crowned this season’s American Idol, and literally dropped everything to visit Luke at the Los Angeles hospital before the finale. David and Luke hit it off on Day 1 of Hollywood week, along with Michael Johns and Jason Yeager, and this group of buddies referred to themselves as ‘The Four Horsemen’. David told People Magazine, “Any time one of your own is going through something as horrible as that, it makes everything else seem a little bit insignificant.” And David is no stranger to cancer in his life, his older brother Adam has been fighting the battle against brain cancer for 10 years now. David wants to use this chance in the spotlight to see what he can do for those that he loves.

Photograph: Jennifer Buhl/ Pacificcoastnews.com

Now that the American Idol has been chosen, it is common for America to wonder what happened to their other favorite. He was after all a favorite in order to last to the final two in the competition, so what is in store for David Archuleta now? It is no secret that many Idols, final two or otherwise go on to create big things in the music industry, but from an interview with People Magazine, music is not the only thing on this David’s agenda. He’s still only 17 and wants more focus on finishing school and tidying that area of his life up and stressed to People that school is very important to him. And yes, he does want to create music. His vision for his musical career is something along the pop lines, but he is inspired by pop artists John Mayer and Sara Bareilles who have meaning to their pop music. He thinks their music had depth and that’s a direction he definitely wants to go in. For David, that should come very easily as well. But as far as careers, he is not thinking that music will be the only thing. Which is a good thing that school is so important to him as he is considering a career as an ear/nose/throat doctor. He himself has struggled with issues in that area and he wants to be able to help others overcome those struggles in the same way he has. This boy wonder however has a long life ahead of him, and whatever he touches along the way, it is no doubt that it will turn to magic.

After a gripping finale, and a voting tally of over 97 million votes, yes America, you have inducted your latest American Idol. David Cook won the grand finale of American Idol last night in front of over 7,000 fans becoming America’s 7th Idol. David, the 25 year old bartender from Blue Springs, Missouri was shocked, saying he came into the show as the nerd of the group. But overall as he took his win, he fought tears saying he was completely amazed and thanked the show, his fans, and of course, you America. After winning, the classy man that he is, David congratulated his fiercest competitor, David Archuleta, for giving him a run for his money. This win is of mixed surprise to judges and America alike. Tuesday night’s final performances led the judges to say that Archuleta had won the night, but Simon Cowell predicted the title would go to David Cook. Why did you choose Cook, America? Simon chalks it up to the fact that THIS David took more risks, and made certain songs more interesting for the American audience. But even though it was too close to call at many points, it wasn’t last night as David Cook won by a landslide with 12 million votes more than David Archuleta. The show ended with David Cook singing what will more than likely be his first single, the win from this year’s song writing competiton, ‘The Time of My Life’. And Paula’s last words to both Davids? This is anything but a finale, this is just the beginning for both of you.

photo:Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos Press Room 2008 American Idol Finals

Wow suprised me even, thought the other David would win even though I liked Cook better… I’m just glad the finals for american idol were not like it’s been the last few years. I couldn’t stand all that lovey dovey music they made the contestants sing.

Yes, another Idol sang her swan song on Wednesday night, and given the way performances and judging went, this was one elimination that was far from being a blindside. Syesha Mercado was sent home Wednesday night, leaving the two Davids left in the competition to battle it out. Tuesday night was a rough one for Syesha, and it almost seemed like the judges were telling America to send her home, her performances and judging that followed received less than accolades. But, Syesha handled it all, including her farewell, with the grace and aplomb that she has become very well known for. Last night when saying goodbye, she appeared more proud than disappointed for having gone this far. She expressed her gratitude to her fans, to the judges, and to American Idol and concluded her Idol journey with a performance of Alicia Keys ‘If I Ain’t Got You’. But, as sad as they may have been to say goodbye, this leaves David Cook and David Archuleta breathing a very big sigh of relief as they move forward to duke out their vocals in next week’s finale. All of the Idol judges are saying even this one is too close to call yet. Whatever happens at this point, we have seen many bright recording careers come out of the Idol contestants, whether they won the big gig or not. So both of these two boys have very bright futures ahead. But it begs the question, which star will be the brightest, well America, it’s up to you. Who is going to be your next American Idol?

We never really hear about what goes on behind the scenes at American Idol unless someone’s made a sex tape, been a former porn star, gotten arrested, or has a rap sheet. So, this year, and only just recently, things have gotten a little heated in the backstage scenes of American Idol. David Archuleta apparently has a stage dad from hell, and it is causing quite the kerfuffle. Last week, David’s dad was seen yelling at David to the point of reducing David to tears, and producers quickly learned that this stage dad had control issues that were less than appropriate for the already tense set of American Idol. Last week, David’s dad Jeff crossed the line by insisting that David change the lyrics to ‘Stand by Me’. The change was to include a verse from Sean Kingston’s
‘Beautiful Girls’ and because copyrights need to be purchased for every song performed, Idol producers were racking up some bills as a result. They put their foot down, Jeff got irate, and he’s facing some consequences. The Associated Press is reporting now that Jeff Archuleta, David’s dad, has now been banned from any Idol rehearsals. Now, Jeff will not be allowed to help David prepare for the show’s performances, which for David, the producers are thinking it may be a good thing. Now David will be able to perform without the added stress, but will this help him or hurt him? Well, we will know this week, won’t we?

Huh, Duh I can’t hear you, Thats why I don’t know I sound so bad when I sing

This dread locked singer has finally had his swan song, with last night being his final night to grace the American Idol stage. Jason Castro bit the dust after a ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ competition on Tuesday night. Criticism of this natural crooner was harsh for Jason, so he must have seen it coming. Simon, usually a big Jason fan, used the word atrocious, and Randy Jackson used the Simonism of ‘karaoke’ to judge Jason’s songs. When Jason forgot the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr Tambourine Man’ in his second song, Simon foreshadowed the final three by saying to Jason ‘I’d pack your bags.’ Jason was joined by Syesha in the bottom two last night, so is this a prediction that the Davids are going to be your final two America??

Here’s your final four folks – Syesha Mercado, David Cook, David Archuleta, and Jason Castro. Quite the eclectic bunch, no? It’s anyone’s game now….The AI final four headed to the Mirage Resort in Vegas this weekend, and it looks like they had a few people expecting them. The final four were in Vegas to see a performance of the Cirque Du Soleil show “Beatles Love”. Too bad they didn’t have time to squeeze that into their schedule when they actually WERE loving the Beatles on stage. However, looks like even the final four need a little security detail. So sad to see this group without the smiling happy Brooke, isn’t it? My money is still on Cook in the end. Who do you think is getting the ax this week?

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