David Archuleta vs. David Cook: Who'll win the most showbiz awards?
Sure, David Cook beat David Archuleta on "American Idol," but now they enter their next arena, battling over music sales and critics' huzzahs as their debut CDs hit the market just days apart.
David Archuleta debuted in second place on the Billboard 200 chart last week behind Taylor Swift, selling 183,000 discs. According to MJ's Big Blog, that places Archuleta third in the first week of sales of second-place "American Idol" contestants, after Clay Aiken and Bo Bice, and in 10th place among all "Idol" star releases. MJ warns not to read too much into those numbers, considering that CD sales in general are down 25% this year after falling drastically the previous few years too.
Looks as if Cook will top Achuleta's numbers soundly. Industry estimates project sales of about 300,000. Currently, Cook is No. 1 on both iTunes and Amazon's music charts.
Cook's CD got better reviews from critics, but that's to be expected, frankly. Music journos tend to be macho dudes fond of raging against the kind of dreamy heartthrob ballads that Archuleta croons. At Metacritic.com, Cook has a critics score of 67 compared with 58 for Archuleta. However, regular users of the site give Archuleta a towering score over Cook: 9.3 to 7.4.
Entertainment Weekly likes Cook's "husky, expressive vocals," while the New York Times says, "David Archuleta has a lovely, foggy R&B voice out of scale with his small body."
Looking ahead to the awards arena next: They're both nominated for American Music Awards this weekend, but, as all kudos experts know, those don't count. Let's consider the Grammys. Archuleta might have much in common with past Grammy grabbers Michael Bolton, Justin Timberlake and John Mayer. David Cook could become the next Rob Thomas.
Photo: Fox TV
This is questionable that David Cook is popular than Archie. It's David Archuleta who is much, much more popular than David Cook. For Archie popularity is not only in the U.S. but its all over the world Philippine, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Canada other country that also what Paula Abdul say and Plus yes you are completely correct when you point out that David Archulta has a better voice than David Cook - Its not only that he has a better voice but he is a great singer to be reckoned with for his young age for his voice is very original that is identifiable to him that makes him unique. Plus he deliver is lyrics clearly and beautiful and he connects well with his audience and one proof is the AI Tour and I was a witness for I was there.
Posted by: The Watcher | November 25, 2008 at 08:01 PM
love david archuleta!
Posted by: fay | November 25, 2008 at 07:16 PM
They lie to their teeth and Cook CD ALBUM never been to #1 that is the truth and its already #11 in iTune in just 8 days. Don't believe in everything they say for they are pathetic liar. Cook CD-ALBUM they sound all the same and copying Chris Daughtry Style. Please don't waiste your money if you like ROCK buy Chris Dauhgtry CD ALBUM instead - For it is good its success is through word of mouth its sold 6 million copies. And if you like POP buy David Archuleta CD ALBUM for it has a variety of song different tempo and has different flavor in each song and you will like. There is no doubt David Archuleta has A GOLDEN VOICE.
Posted by: Don't believe David Cook Die Hard Fans | November 25, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Don't buy David Cook CD for he sound like Chris Daughtry - I think his copying Chris style - Chris is much much better as a ROCKER. Cook has no originality and his A SCREAMER ! Go back to YouTube and watch the video of AI the group singing: SHOUT TO THE LORD he is trying so hard to reach a high note and he is screaming like an idiot he likes to over power the group instead of doing it in unison and he think his a star of the show - Its just laughable. And his die hard fans will do anything to oversell this dude and saying that he has an amazing voice when you don't even understand his words when he sing and talented and brilliant , when his cd album they all sound the same don't waste your money. Plus Cook Fans are pathetic insisting his CD ALBUM is #1 THEY LIE TO THEIR TEETH ITS NOT - ITS ALREADY #11 AFTER JUST 8 DAYS AND LIGHT ON IS #43 IT USED TO BE #72iTune and never reach #9, then they blame the songwriter for not making it to #1. How pathetic that can be hahahaha! Don't buy Cook CD for you will be disappointed there is nothing extra ordinary in it - no originality. If you like ROCK you might as well buy Chris Daughtry CD-ALBUM for it sold 6 million copies and its good and its word of mouth that why its successful. If you like POP buy David Archuleta for its a must have CD ALBUM for its has variety of song with a differrent flavor and different tempo I can guarantee you will like it. Its very popular in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Philippine, Canada and other part of the world.
Posted by: Pathetic Cook Fans who will never stop | November 25, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Well, for those archies talking smack about sales and success, why is it that Cook has debuted at over 100, 000 more than archuleta? So by your own reasoning , If the archies are saying cooks a failure , what does that make archuleta ? A MAJOR loser ?..Hmmmmmm..Im not saying he is , im just using the archies own reasoning skills ..lol And for those talking about Cooks placement on the charts ..Well, even if he not #1 anymore , archuleta is way below him ..So whats that say about Archuleta ?
Are you guys aware of yoyr own rational ? lol Yikes i feel sorry for archuleta , some of his fans are lunatics.Wow
Posted by: Voiceofreason | November 25, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Whoever said Cook is #1 @ itunes, etc. better take another look or he is falling fast! He isn't @#1 anywhere today, #16 on amazon. Yep he may outsell Archie in the states but let's count every cd sold, Archuleta wins hands down. And the person who talked about his ppl buying to keep DC on top was absolutely correct. Example: awhile back Light On dropped to #97 on iTunes.....the very next day it was back to #12. How did that happen? We all know! At least Archuleta will make it on his own and without the massive help they are giving Cook! DC might be a rockstar for awhile, but let's all meet right here in a couple of years and talk about it when DA is a MEGAstar!!!
Posted by: anna | November 25, 2008 at 01:47 AM
david archuleta is really expressive singer with a very intimate soulful voice at his young age hope he will be more successful in the future and be humble always
Posted by: ismaelbarn27 | November 25, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Deb, So you are saying if people love cook , they must be tone deaf ? you must truly be an imbecile to say that bc someone likes another singer than you that makes your opinion superior..i have a feeling you must not be that smart ..One moment you are saying its ok for people to prefer different styles then the next moment you contradict yourself all in the same post..what a moron ..I love cook and am far from tone deaf ..And most people i know ( from work and in the neighborhood ALSO think he sounds monotone and all his songs sound the same..Obviously its our right to have that opinion. .Also , cooks fans arent upset about the artiicle .. They are upset of the psycho archies screaming that cook won bc his brother had cancer and other BS ...Cook won bc FANS love him and supported him .And by the looks of the CD sales , , the FANS are supporting him quite well..Bitterness only makes you angry spiteful people .Get over yourselves .Archies are only making themselves look like lunatics and should be embarassed ..I know if i was Archie i would be embarrassed these were my fans..If you are gonna spout BS make sure you dont look like a hypocrite LMAO
Posted by: cookielover | November 24, 2008 at 09:17 PM
This stuff is getting ridiculous people. Why can't we leave these 2 guys alone and let them do what they love best - SING!
They are way too different to compare. Archuleta sings songs that are soulful and touch the heart. Cook sings songs that are more grungy, but have a very deep meaning. All of this is to be expected. Remember Cook is at least 7 years older than Archuleta. I happen to love David Archuleta, but I also like David Cook very much. That's because I know how to respect different artists for their personal abilities and differences. Come on guys, let it go. American Idol is over and we need to bury it.
Posted by: Regina | November 24, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Archuleta has a very unique sounding voice and he has mad vocal skills while Cook is just like any other rock singer and screams too much in his songs. Archuleta hasnt even begun to show off his talent. Cook is obviously the more popular guy for now but I just know hes going to fade in a few years . I think Archuleta has what it takes to change the game and become one of those music legends.
Posted by: Berry | November 24, 2008 at 04:14 PM
I don't understand why the Cook fans are so upset about this article. It's not biased in Archie's favor, it's extremely fair. It's much more fair than most of the articles about Archuleta. I love David Archuleta's music (and I'm not a tween). I prefer his voice and music to those of David Cook, but I understand that some people like Cook better, that's perfectly okay. They are different, their styles are different. It is true, however that David Archuleta because of age and style, has a lot more room to grow as an artist. I think he's doing precisely what he should be doing at this point and he and his music will both continue to grow and mature over the years. As for Archuleta sounding monotone, that is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. A person would have to be tone-deaf to truly think that. Hmm...maybe that explains the preference...
The fact is that David Archuleta is practically pitch-perfect. He has consistently shown that he is actually more true to pitch than David Cook. If you're going to slam Archie, at least do it in a way that's a bit more believable.
Posted by: Deb | November 24, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Knocking David Cook does not make Archie look any better. It just makes his fans look crazy. Look at the album sales if you really want proof that America got it right when they voted David Cook as the winner back in May. Most stores are SOLD OUT of Cook's album. You are all just bitter and need to get over it.
It doesn't matter, as you'll all move on to the next teen sensation in a matter of months. I feel badly for Archie. He's a good kid, he deserves better fans.
Posted by: Kate | November 24, 2008 at 12:50 PM
David A. sings in one tone all the time, never higher or lower. Kind of a monotone. I like Cook better, his voice can go low, high and middle. Makes any song more interesting.
Posted by: Lenny | November 24, 2008 at 12:25 PM
David Cook is by far the better singer, performer, and songwriter. He has the most popular coronation single in the history of American Idol. His album is doing amazingly well despite the fact that he's duking it out with the likes of Beyonce and Nickleback. He has a strong musical point of view, a real knack for writing soul searing lyrics, and deserves the critical acclaim. His second single, Light On, is still climbing the charts in a steady fashion, yet the Archuleta fans insist on pegging it a failure at least once a week since it's debut because it's rise wasn't meteoric. I don't understand why they are so threatened by Cook's success. The only answer I can come up with is bitterness over finding themselves in the minority, over and over again. Archuleta seems like a nice kid and a perfectly harmless teen idol, but I can't see him ever sustaining a career of substance unless he finds a musical identity rather than being groomed and molded like a pageant contestant. John Mayer? Not quite.
Posted by: harley | November 24, 2008 at 12:20 PM
For all of you who are crying fault about rigging the votes because of sympathy, you should be ashamed of yourselves. I understand if David Cook is not your brand of music, but to attack the man who has had to live with such a heartache is simply disgusting. Until you know how it feels to watch a loved one suffer, how dare you presume to pass judgement. For that matter, David tried his hardest to hide Adam's illness and NEVER talked openly about it on the show. You are doing Archie no service in acting like children, and I hope that none of you ever have to suffer the agony that David Cook and his family are suffering.
And for the record - David Cook's album shot to number one in the first day it was on sale and his video debuted #1 on VH1. I say congratulations to David Cook for all his hard work in writing music that inspires and my heart goes out to him and his family as they continue to cope through Adam's illness.
Posted by: Eryn | November 24, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Why don't you just wait to see who will win more awards?Not who has more time to vote on these stupid polls!
David Cook will win, you know it and we all know it!
Posted by: Sydney | November 24, 2008 at 11:45 AM
No offense, but a few of you really sound like 2 year olds.
Posted by: DA | November 23, 2008 at 10:54 PM
yyou guys are so nice to eachother
awww:]]
Posted by: teehee | November 23, 2008 at 09:49 PM
http://www.david-hq.org/photos/displayimage.php?pid=6665&fullsize=1
:) :) :) :)
brothers forever :)
Posted by: Lauren | November 23, 2008 at 09:47 PM
facts matter? Facts are that COOK Did OUTSELLL archie in CD debut and by a landslide..A lot of people dont buy singles but will buy the album..How come Archies debut numbers are soo crappy if "crush ' did so well? ANSWER: archies were buying ii in mass quanties and then giving it away for free 'Gifting'..And this isnt a rumor.. its true ..i guess they cant afford to buy 50 copies a piece of a whole Cd now can they ? and look what happened .. the Cd itself is doing a lot worse than they would like ..BUT cooks is doing twice as much as archie and is crushing archie IN CD SALES..Seems to me the fans that seem to have a problem with success is archies ..They cant handle being outdone YET AGAIN .. so the FACT is .. Cook is beating archie in sales ..thats a FACT :)
Posted by: cookielover | November 23, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Why do you guys keep comparing them.
They dont' sing in the type of music.
BUT LOVE ARCHIE!
YAY!
Posted by: cakenbake | November 23, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Archie does Disco YEDL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBFJhSSxGQg
Posted by: DiscoArchie | November 23, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Why do I feel like I have to say this a millions time over? Whatever it takes, I guess. I am a die-hard Archie fan, definitely not a teenager, and I love his album! It is purposely geared toward people his age; the next album will be more "him". I love Cook as a person, but his music isn't my style. I know who I believe will win most awards (it's not too hard to figure out), but I refuse to take the media's bait and play the comparison game. It just causes friction and arguing, To both fanbases, please don't leave nasty or derogatory comments about the other David. It makes all of us look bad, when most Cook/Archie fans are wonderful people. If we all refused to comment, the media would have to find another story. Let's help them do that, shall we?
Posted by: Valerie | November 23, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Cook bombed with LO. He has a lot to worry about--which is why Cook's fans are in a dither about Archie's success.
My sense has always been that Archie's fans were more committed. They are lifetime fans--like the fans of Elvis and the Beatles. we are witnessing the start of an unusual--and transformative--musical career. Though Jive is marketing him as a teen idol, most of his fans know he is much more than this. He's a prodigy who has yet to come into his own--and his fans will bide their time until he does, supporting him along the way. Cook's fans were never as intense. Their failure to support LO is one clear indication of this.
it was AI who began with the two-Davids hype--all the while backing Cook while undermining Archie backstage and then in the media. And 19E has since drawn the two-Davids comparison in its recent hype for the album. How ironic if it turns out it has backed the wrong horse.
David's on his way, whether he sells 200k or 300k. It'll be all Cook can do to match his numbers.
Cook has yet to prove faith in him is justified. He did garner more votes for the win, but he's been mediocre during the finale, mediocre during the tour and mediocre in sales for his first non-coronation single. Facts matter.
Posted by: praepos | November 23, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Thanks archies for once again proving me and cookielover here correct...Already starting your psychotic rantings like lunatics on the loose ..sad and pretty damn pathetic .. Where is archies so - called originality ? Crush sounds exactly like Jordin sparks 'tatoo"He sounds monotone as well..All his songs sound alike ..he even has 2 songs about ' hands 'LOL.. Cookie will debut with at leat twice the Cd sales of archie and that just kills you doesnt it ? and btw wheres archie right now on the charts ? way below cook ..hahahaha..His cd never reached #1 AT ALL... and his sales are over 300;000 less than taylor swift..thats a HUGE gap..Archie LOST and is now losing in CD sales ..Now dont go killing yourselves over this and cry yourselves to sleep like you rant on about lol
Posted by: sickofthiscrap | November 23, 2008 at 08:36 PM