hoLLy goSSip

Season 7 of American Idol didn’t have to proceed to the finals. Both Davids were genuine winners.

Now, both have released their first singles for their upcoming album, to be issued a week apart from each other. Archie’s debut album is set for release on Nov. 11, while Cook’s will go on sale Nov. 18.

But in the meantime, their debut singles are being pitted against each other. No need to set them as rivals because obviously they belong to different genres. Duh.

Anyway, David Cook’s Light On, about a guy who’s hitting the road and leaving a loved one behind him, is a fascinating track.

It’s a midtempo rocker that displays 25-year-old Cook’s soaring husky vocal range – complete with the growly and gruff moments. The song can be considered part of a diet that consists of Nickelback and 3 Doors Down.

Meanwhile, Archie’s Crush is a catchy, pop tune that obviously sings about teen crush, no surprise there. The slow-dancing song sets millions of fans, young and old alike, swooning over the golden-voiced prodigy. As proof of the magnetic appeal this 17-year-old boy has, the song has peaked at number two in the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.

While the track is a pleasant-sounding one that showcased just how excellent his voice is (for a surprisingly young owner), I’d personally prefer he covered slow tempo tracks like In This Moment or Angels, songs he both performed during the AI finals. His unbelievably rich, smooth vocals just send you some place filled with Archuleta-looking cherubs.

Absolutely, there’s no competition.