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Some people were shocked by the announcement that David Cook was the winner of American Idol's season 7. Others who were paying closer attention saw it coming the whole time. The signs were all there. Here are the reasons the right David prevailed, over David Archuleta and the other season 7 contestants, by a whopping 12 million votes.

1) Charisma

In the brief interviews after each performance, Cook was engaging and cool at the same time. He always seemed genuinely comfortable. Archuleta, despite long stage experience, seemed awkward in his post-song interviews. He seemed baffled most of the time, with a deer-in-the-headlights expression. Being a star is partly about publicizing yourself. People want famous people to seem cooler than they are themselves, and Cook has cool in spades.

2) Intelligence

The "word nerd" proved that intelligence is an attractive quality. Voters have proved that they're tired of bubble-headed celebrities. Cook is a guy who isn't embarrassed to spend his time reading or working crosswords, and he is also articulate. Archuleta on the other hand, admitted that he didn't know any Beatles songs a mere week after singing "Imagine". Granted, he's young, but his dippy personality was sometimes more upsetting than cute. That's what a lifetime of being a child performer gets you.

3) Reality

David Cook came out of nowhere. He didn't even mean to try out for the show. Idol is about finding an unknown person who may be hiding out there somewhere. Archuleta was the junior winner of Star Search. Rather than being a real, relatable person, he's a trained singing automaton. Cook is one of us.

4) A Good Story

David Cook's poignant concern for his brother with cancer struck a chord in the hearts of America. Far from being a pity vote, the public response was more due to the fact that someone undergoing difficult family problems could still turn out hard-hitting performances. Cook seemed humbled by the whole experience, and had the attitude of a person who felt like he didn't deserve the attention, which was refreshing in the midst of contestants flaunting themselves with a strong sense of entitlement.

5) A Bigger Fan Base

David Archuleta appeals to young girls. His voice is great enough to be recognized as appealing to people of any age, but his youth and cute style made it too difficult for older women to idolize him. Sure, they could enjoy his singing, but an adult woman screaming over a teen is disturbing. Cook is old enough to be deemed sexy by girls and women

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