Who Will Win/Should Win American Idol? 

by Dave Verhaagen

Last year during the finale week, I posted that David Cook would win American Idol (though, in fairness, I did call it for Archuleta earlier in the season) and David Archuleta should win.  This week, my post is much easier because I think the same guy will win and should win.  Two months ago, I called the race for Adam Lambert and I'm sticking to my guns.  

He's going to win.  

Not only that, but he should win.  The theatrical, over the top, risk-taking showman is in a class by himself.  Love him or hate him (and there are plenty of folks on both sides), there is no denying that this guy has a voice the likes of which we haven't heard since Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, or Steve Perry.  Unique and almost otherworldly, he has the most remarkable, distinctive vocal chops that we have ever heard in the eight seasons of this show.  I'll take it a step further: I think he's the most talented person they have ever had on the show.  

In my view, there have been many very talented singers on the show, but only three true originals:  David Cook, Chris Daughtry, and Adam Lambert.  There are some who get close, Kris Allen being one of them (if you doubt, go ahead and download Heartless off iTunes and then get back to me).  In any other year, I would be leading the Kris Allen charge.  He's talented, creative, humble, and seems like a genuinely good guy.  However, he is no match for Lambert, the one who revitalized the show that we thought had just moved past its prime.  

Yes, Lambert who infused old songs like Tracks of My Tears and Mad World with such emotion and meaning, it made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  Lambert, who took If I Can't Have You, a disco throw-away, and made it ache, then wailed with pleasure on Whole Lotta Love.  

That's the guy who's going to win.

P.S. Check back later today for another opinion and then come back tomorrow for the ten best performances of the season.