Reader comments
Mercado is unwilling to pick 'Idol' winner

She should just reply, "Why David of course" and be done with it.

Amen Syesha! You by far were the best as far as our family voted. Syesha is an entertainer and performer and she will no doubt have a great career in the singing business. Go girl. Yea Syesha.

As far as I'm concerned, the top 3 are all winners and each has a bright future in entertainment.

Reports are coming out in the news that the Idol producers are biased towards David C. I think that was somewhat evident in the producers choice of song in last Tuesdays show. The song the producers chose for David A was the worst possible song that chould have been selected for him to sing.

Looking at the bright side, David A would probably be better off by NOT being the Idol champion. He'll still end up with a record contract and probably a better one at that.

My only hope is that David A would NEVER, EVER feel that he let anyone down should he end up in second. David, you have made everyone at Murray and in Utah proud!! Regardless of the final outcome, we love you and appreciate your hard effort and sacrifice! You have represented your hometown so well. From the bottom of my heart (and I'm confident that I speak for the rest of the hometown crowd), THANK YOU DAVID and best wishes.

Good answer! I like that one.

Way to go Syesha, she has become good friends with both of them, this is ridiculous for press to even ask such a stupid question! I agree with Anonymous, DAVID IS GOING TO WIN THE COMPETITION!

Personally I think if it's a popularity contest David Archuletta will win it. If it's based on over all talent and artistic ability, well sadly for those on the Wasatch Front, we will see David Cook win it. He has been the most "Original" and has really shown the side of an artist. Where our David Archuletta as great of a career as he might have in front of him and as talented as he is, isn't the Musical ARTIST that D. Cook is, or at least he hasn't shown it.

Before you get all over me, I know he can play the piano, but what songs has he "Changed" and "Adapted" to make his own? D. Cook has done that to almost everything he has sung, or should we say "Performed". With his OWN BAND behind him I think he will be a ROCK & ROLL Staple in America's Future!

Syesha definitely had a good voice but the girl was not memorable. There was nothing that made her stand out. She should have been off the show many contestants ago. As far as her picking an Idol winner, why should she do that. The voters are so fickle that they could end up voting for Simon Cowell instead of one of the contestants.

I am looking forward to Syesha's future success-I am hoping she will go the Broadway route-it is a PERFECT fit for her. Great Job Syesha!!

Whoever said David Cook will win if the show is about artistic ability either has a weird sense of what is art, or has his Davids confused.

When's the last time you heard any vocalist as good as David Archuleta - anywhere? Chances are you haven't unless you're an opera buff.

David Cook is a Kurt Cobain wannabe, and what he does is not very unique and requires little talent. Pick a random block in Seattle and start opening garage doors and you'll find 4 or 5 exact copies of David Cook.

No, if this show's about talent, David Archuleta will win the thing going away. If it's about popularity, it's David Cook's to lose.

The AI game is obvious. ppl are not dumb. They are
intelligent enough to see what went on on the TOP 3
episode. The song choice made by the judges and producers clearly showed the favor went to DC. But
God can work in mysterious way. He will know what is best for our David A. David is happy no matter what
the outcome is next week.

I'm as much of a Utah homer as the next guy, but would you buy a David A. CD unless you needed help sleeping. Come on, he's got a good pure voice, but it's all so boring!

At least David C. is interesting.

The end game has nothing to do with talent. It has to do with whomever the people vote for. if you want to know which one is going to come out the "American Idol, crunch the numbers." There are millions of LDS people in this country, and millions more in the world. if you only get half their vote, you have a big edge. I see it as being a lock for David Archuleta. It has already been decided. the next show will not mean a thing. the people at this point have made their choice. I personally would like it to be Archuleta. I think the young people need a role model like him.

That Cook kid screams most of his songs while Archuleta is actually singing his songs. Joe Strummer had a better voice than Cook's.

To Couga Keith: Do not underestimate David A. he has
been singing since 7 yrs old and won the star search competition. Vocal paralysis put his dream on hold. The fact is this kid possess a beautiful voice that able to touch ppl's heart and soul, a rare gift that could only be Godsend.He's only 17. There is something in him that no one can take away and that is, the drive to become a good singer, a lifelong dream from a 17 years old is being fulfilled before our eyes. When given the opportunity, he will unleash his full potential after the idol is done. I found out the contestants have to follow rules in song choices,etc which limit their ability to showcase their talent.
DC is now known to have produced an album and had sold MP3 while in competition. Therefore, it is not surprising his popularity has grown due to exposure
in AI which in turn had a direct impact in the sell out of his album. Observation had been made by many during TOP 3 episode that the producer was obviously
in favor of DC to win the title...

I'm amazed at how some fans don't seem to have a clue as to vocal quality. Of course, very few people have an ear for the right notes, let alone other qualities of a singing voice. IMHO Archelata is far and away the best singer in this competition. While not as original as Cook, he misses fewer notes with less effort. He will sell millions of records and will be remembered 30 years from now. Cook will be forgotten after 10 years.

#1 place would obligate David to the Idle producers for too long.
Vote for Cook, so Archuleta will have more choice!

I fell for David the first time I heard him open his mouth on Idol. At this point, it doesn't really make much difference in who wins since both of them will be given a recording contract and will be indentured servants to Idol as they have been since they signed the dotted line. And what does the vote prove anyway except who has the fleetest fingers and the patience to vote for 4 hours.