"Idol" finalists David Cook and David Archuleta took the stage Tuesday in what was the most competitive and unpredictable finale since Ruben Studdard battled Clay Aiken in season two.

David Cook started things off with "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Though the song became one of U2's biggest hits, it is neither the band's most challenging nor most emotional song, so David Cook had his work cut out for him in terms of making the performance special. He mildly succeeded. Cook did very well with the vocals and showed personality as he engaged the crowd, but he did not necessarily reveal an intimate bond with the song. He actually had some incredible moments during the performance, but none quite reached the level of his "Billie Jean," "Hello" or "Always Be My Baby" in terms of showing ownership. It was just a really good opener. (B+/A-)

Round one thus went to David Archuleta, who served up one of the best cover versions of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" to ever be performed on stage. His vocals were not completely perfect, but he did what David Cook could not—he made it seem like the song was written specifically for or by him. The emotion he injected was amazing for anyone, let alone someone of his age, and he really set himself up for a great night. David Archuleta is untouchable when he is on top of his game, and this round proved it—Cook was far from mediocre on his song, but it was just not enough to rival Archuleta. (A-/A)

David Cook then led off the second round, which featured the performing of songs from the Songwriting Contest. Cook selected "Dream Big," a generic rocker that allowed him to show off the distinct skill that made him recognizable early in the competition. The song had its moments, specifically when Cook came alive in the choruses, but it was as a whole not a very memorable song. It was current and credible enough for a mainstream rocker, but it seems more like album filler than a major hit single. Cook seemed a bit lost and out of touch during the pedestrian vocals as well, which only made the performance less inspiring and less representative of how well Cook had been doing during the season. (B-)

Archuleta followed with "In This Moment," an utterly lame and corny song that epitomizes why so few of the "Idol" coronation songs have been successful—it just does not fit in the modern pop scene. Archuleta, however, once again made the song work by nailing the vocals and by making a true connection. He captured the subtle, soft moments but did not fall short on the power parts, again showing what distances him from the competition. It did not resonate the way his first song did, but it did further his edge over Cook. (B+/A-)

The final attempt for Cook was "The World I Know." Cook rebounded from his second round disappointment with a contemporary, soulful version of the song that was leagues better than the original Collective Soul version. There were one or two dull moments, as Cook still lacked the emotional connection that Archuleta was showing, but it was ultimately a great performance. The problem, as Simon Cowell pointed out, is that it was better suited for a different week. Had David Cook performed this song several weeks ago, he would have gotten rave reviews from all of the judges and had fans going crazy. For the finale, however, it fell a bit flat and lacked the "magical" moment that so often ends up defining who wins the competition. It was good, but it was ultimately no more significant than last week's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing." It really should have been. (A-/A)

David Archuleta closed with a reprise of his show-stopping version of "Imagine." The performance lost a bit in translation from the semifinal stage, however, as the more intimate moments were replaced with a bit more belting that sometimes got screechy. At the end of the day, though, Archuleta still nailed the song and showed he is the better singer and storyteller. He came across like an "American Idol" on this number. David Cook never did Tuesday night. (A)

So, Who Will Win?:
Simon Cowell started a trend of correctly picking the winner for season three's Fantasia victory; he has been right every year since. He preferred David Archuleta Tuesday night, and with good reason—Archuleta was the better singer and the better performer. He also had the emotional, magical moments that are usually needed to win the "Idol" crown. It sure seems like a bet on Archuleta is the way to go.

What creates a slight complication, however, is the fact that David Cook started to develop the more passionate and extensive fanbase as the show went on. In all cases since season three, the person who performed better on the finale and received Simon's blessing was also the frontrunner. Up until last week, Archuleta might have also held the frontrunner title. David Cook gained the last wave of momentum, though, and probably entered as the "expected" winner. The fanbase could prevent the better contestant from winning Tuesday night, especially since Cook was still good enough that fans do not have to feel guilty about voting.

David Cook gave his supporters enough fuel to vote, but Archuleta gave his fans so much more. Archuleta should and probably will win, but Cook is harder to rule out than contestants like Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice, Katharine McPhee and Blake Lewis, who all went against clearly more popular performers in their finales.

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