David Archuleta has signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records. Archuleta is currently gearing up for the upcoming American Idol tour which kicks off on July 1st in Glendale, AZ. The 17-year old is expected to release his debut album later this year.

“Signing a record contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records is truly a dream come true,” states Archuleta. “Being a fan of American Idol since season one and admiring the alumni, I am honored and humbled to be a part of that group. I’m really excited to start working on everything.”

David Archuleta, the runner-up on the current season of “American Idol,” has three songs entering the Hot 100 this week, starting with his remake of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at No. 36, along with his rendition of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and his finale song, “In This Moment.”

Simon Fuller, creator of the popular TV series and chief executive and founder of 19 Entertainment Label Group, states, “It was fascinating to watch David’s journey through Idol. He is a genuine pop star, and is a gifted singer who instantly won over a huge audience when he first appeared on the show. Since then, he has dealt with the pressure and the high level of expectation with real fortitude; he’s given us some of the best performances of the season. Without question David Archuleta has a great future ahead of him.”

Tom Carrabba, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Jive/Zomba Label Group comments, “David Archuleta has already shown the world that he is a star. He’s a young, talented singer with wide appeal and we’re thrilled to have him join our roster.”

The finale we’ve all been expecting for several weeks now is upon us. You know what that means. 1 hour and 58 minutes of filler. After that, we will find out live whether the American Idol 7 winner is David Archuleta or David Cook.

David Archuleta from the early rounds was obviously going to be in the final two. It’s just been a question of who would be going up against him. I’d argue that he has shown to be the best, most consistent singer this season, and his performance last night once again proved he was in it to win it.

That said, David Cook eventually emerged as the clear second person to make the final two. He’s stood out as one of the more unique singers, able to present a new twist on an old song (even if, like Daughtry, the twist was at times merely a cover of someone else’s new twist).

Unlike Archuleta, who I’d be more skeptical about as far as making a modern day album, Cook has shown that he has a good contemporary sound. Either way, I’m expecting a good quality singer to take home the crown, much better than the winners of most previous seasons.

Simon says that, for the first time ever, he doesn’t really care who wins because both of them have done terrific.

The American Idol 7 winner by 12 million votes is David Cook, who received 56% of the 97.5 million votes cast.

As much as some may like to pretend that American Idol is fading since its ratings are declining, it remains by far the #1 show on TV, taking this season’s crown by about 7 million viewers. So obviously, American Idol will be back on Fox once again for season 8 next January.

It’s apparently time for the final two to rumble.

David Archuleta won the coin toss and has decided to go second.

David Cook
Song: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for by U2
Randy: Great way to start. Hot but don’t know if you did everything you could with it.
Paula: We have found what we’re looking for.
Simon: Phenomenal taking into account how tense you looked at the top of the show.

David Archuleta
Song: Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John
Randy: One of the best performances of this whole season. Flawless. Unbelievably molten hot.
Paula: Heart still pounding. Chills up and down my arms.
Simon: Okay last week but arguably your best so far this week. Round one goes to Archuleta.

For the second song, the guys will pick the song they want to perform the most out of America’s 10 favorite entries from the songwriting contest. May be some indication of the type of music we can expect from them when they make their albums.

David Cook
Song: Dream Big
Randy: Song was just okay, but you were singing your face off.
Paula: Great way to take a song we don’t know and fall in love with it.
Simon: Bit of a lightweight. Made the most of what you had. Didn’t feel like a winning moment. 6.5 out of 10.

David Archuleta
Song: In This Moment
Randy: Wasn’t crazy about the song again, but you’re in the zone.
Paula: On fire tonight. Pure magic.
Simon: Chose the better song. Round two goes to David Archuleta.

David Cook
Song: The World I Know by Collective Soul
Randy: Showing people a lot of different sides of David Cook. Very nice sensitive side.
Paula: Integrity and originality. I truly applaud you.
Simon: One of the nicest, most sincere contestants. Beautiful song but completely and utterly the wrong song choice.

David Archuleta
Song: Imagine by John Lennon
Randy: So good tonight. Exactly what this show about. The best singer of season 7 is right there.
Paula: Left me speechless. Stunning.
Simon: You came out here to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout.

David Cook’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-01, 1-866-IDOLS-03, 1-866-IDOLS-05
David Archuleta’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-02, 1-866-IDOLS-04, 1-866-IDOLS-06

That wraps up the final night of performances, and tomorrow night we will find out who the American Idol 7 winner is. Phone lines will be open for voting for the next four hours.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol 7 episode 42, where we will find out who the winner is.

Results will be posted live as they become available.

After killing an hour, the results come in at about 2 minutes before the show’s done. No big surprise there.

As has been expected for about 6 weeks now, it’s a battle of the Davids. Syesha Mercado is eliminated. The final two contestants David Archuleta and David Cook will compete for the title of American Idol 7 winner next week.

Results from American Idol 7 Episode 37 will be posted live as they become available.

With 51 million votes cast, the top three are all within 1 million votes.

David Archuleta is safe. David Cook is also safe.

Syesha Mercado is safe. Jason Castro has finally been put out of his misery.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has opened its doors to American Idol.

David Cook
Song: The Wolf by Duran Duran
Randy: Just okay.
Paula: Left with a big appetite.
Simon: Good. Little bit copycat.

Syesha Mercado
Song: Proud Mary by Tina Turner
Randy: In the zone.
Paula: A star with a magnetic voice and presence.
Simon: Bad shrieky version.

Jason Castro
Song: I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley
Randy: Really karaoke.
Paula: Performed well to the audience at least.
Simon: Utterly atrocious. As bad as I’ve ever heard. Like a first round audition massacre. You can’t do that.

David Archuleta
Song: Stand by Me by Benny King
Randy: At least there’s one guy trying to win the whole thing every time he hits the stage.
Paula: Ramble ramble.
Simon: Very well placed considering the last song. Struggled a bit at the end but the best performance so far.

David Cook
Song: Baba O’Riley by The Who
Randy: More like the David Cook that I’ve grown to love.
Paula: More. More.
Simon: Welcome back.

Syesha Mercado
Song: A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cook
Randy: Did not love as much as the first song. Not a good arrangement.
Paula: Standing ovation. Beautiful. Superstar performance.
Simon: Have to be fair and agree with Paula.

Jason Castro
Song: Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan
Randy: Not in the zone tonight.
Paula: It is what it is.
Simon: Pack your suitcase.

David Archuleta
Song: Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley
Randy: Another great performance. So tender and caressed each word. Hot vocals of the night.
Paula: One of my favorites from you.
Simon: You crushed the competition tonight.

Results will be posted live as they become available.

Jason Castro is safe.

David Archuleta is safe.

David Cook is safe.

It’s down to either Syesha Mercado or Brooke White.

Brooke is heading home. Syesha is safe.

Results will be posted live as they become available.

The Davids are up first. Both David Cook and David Archuleta are safe.

Syesha Mercado and Brooke White are next. Brooke is safe. Syesha is in the bottom two.

That brings us to Jason Castro and Carly Smithson. Jason is safe. Carly joins Syesha in the bottom two.

Carly has been eliminated. She’s one of the more talented singers to leave, but I do wonder about just how marketable she is considering her first record deal went down in flames.

Kristy Lee Cook’s time was finally up in American Idol 7 Episode 32, which brings us down to 6.

Seacrest tells us they’re going out of their comfort zone tonight. Tonight’s theme is the music of Andrew Lloyd Weber, known for his work in musicals. This could end poorly. Simon and Randy expect this to be the toughest night of the season.

Syesha Mercado
Song: One Rock & Roll Too Many, Starlight Express
Randy: Could be a huge broadway star.
Paula: Brought the house down.
Simon: Very sexy. One of her strongest performances. Personality that hasn’t been seen thus far.
Syesha’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Jason Castro
Song: Memory, Cats
Randy: Uh. You know. Uh. A little bit of a trainwreck. Too much melody. Too big of a song.
Paula: Not a female power balladeer.
Simon: Longest two minutes of his life. Like a young guy being forced to sing at a wedding by his mom and dad. Miserable throughout. Don’t vote at home.
Jason’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Brooke White
Song: You Must Love Me, Evita
Randy: Not great, but at least she listened and believed what she was singing.
Paula: You must never start and stop (they told her on an earlier episode doing that was professional). She was just being her, which is why people love her.
Simon: Too tense and uncomfortable. Very brave and right to restart, though.
Brooke’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-09

David Archuleta
Song: Think of Me, Phantom of the Opera
Randy: Exactly what this show’s about. The bomb. The one to beat.
Paula: Absolutely perfect. Quite able to turn it into a pop ballad.
Simon: Pleasant but one of his weakest performances.
David’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-10

Carly Smithson
Song: Jesus Christ Superstar (following Lord Andrew’s suggestion to not sing a Phantom of the Opera song)
Randy: Bigger voices are doing better. Definitely good.
Paula: Love it. So unexpected.
Simon: A little bit shouty in the middle but one of his favorite performances of the night.
Carly’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-11

David Cook
Song: The Music of the Night, Phantom of the Opera
Randy: Amazing vocal performance. Unbelieveable.
Paula: Fantastic. Proves he’s well rounded.
Simon: Made the most of the song he was given.
David’s numbers: 1-866-IDOLS-06 or 1-866-IDOLS-12

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for continued coverage of American Idol 7.

Results will be posted live as they become available.

Jason Castro is in the group to Ryan Seacrest’s left.

David Cook starts a group to Ryan’s right.

Carly Smithson thinks Simon has been a bit hard on her this season. She joins Jason’s group.

Kristy Lee Cook is also not happy with Simon. She joins David’s group.

Syesha Mercado joins Jason and Carly’s group.

Brooke White joins David and Kristy.

That leaves David Archuleta. Seacrest, do we need to do this every year at the final 7?

David Archuleta is safe.

David Cook and Syesha Mercado are asked to switch groups. Now it’s David Archuleta’s turn to choose which group he thinks is safe. Yeah, this lame nonsense again. David sits down. Seacrest tells him which way to go. He still doesn’t budge, so they come join him. David Cook, Jason Castro, and Carly Smithson are also safe.

Syesha Mercado, Brooke White, and Kristy Lee Cook are in the bottom three.

Syesha is safe. Simon is unsurprised by the bottom two and says that Kristy’s time may finally be up. Brooke White is safe. Kristy Lee Cook has been eliminated.