ETA: Nigel Lythgoe releases a few more spoiler details in an interview with Ryan Seacrest this morning on KISS:

• David Archuleta will sing “Imagine�?(there is also a rumor that Clive’s choice for Archie is “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me�? He chose not to spoil any of David Cook’s songs. Since Cookie’s camp is sealed up tight as a drum, we probably won’t know the songs until they are leaked right before the broadcast.
• The Top 2 were able to pick their own coronation song from the Top 10 vote getters of the Idol Songwriters contest. There were only 20 songs total to begin with. Some “contest�? huh? Think TPTB didn’t like the song that got the most votes? They just changed the rules of the game midstream. Makes it hard to do the contest again next year, don’t you think?
• There’s going to be another “Dead Elvis�?video (last year, Celine Dion sang a “duet�?with Elvis Presley), this time including several people. Blech.
• The “biggest star�?in the world will be there. Whatever!
• Nigel confirmed that the Top 5 will sing duets with “somebody�?

More spoilers here.

The producers are keeping a tight reign on the song choices for the Finale. Last year, the Top 2 were able to pick two of the three songs they performed for the big Tuesday finale showdown. This year, TPTB feel it necessary to allow Clive Davis, who was recently demoted from his position at BMG, to pick a song for the Final Two. The tight reign tells me that the producers are trying extra hard to control the outcome of this year’s contest. It’ll be pretty easy to tell who they want to win by the songs Clive picks for the contestants (Anyone remembers the crappy “Open Arms�?pick for Elliott Yamin Season 5?) and how the songwriters contest finally plays out.

I think the producers are gunning for a David Cook win. He’s the contestant with the most commercial potential. He’s got music that can be played on pop stations right now. Even his pre-Idol EP Analog Heart, although demo-quality, contains glimpses of Cookie’s potential as a successful artist. Archie’s appeal isn’t as certain. If his trainwrecktastic take on Chris Brown’s “With You�?last week is any indication, Archie may have a hard time finding a spot on the Top 40 charts. His inspirational ballads are better suited to Adult Contemporary–not a market that sells a ton of product.

But the producers don’t always get what they want. See Hicks, Taylor. The voters decide. Yes, I really do believe that. And this year’s contest is shaping up to be a close one. We haven’t had one of those since the Season 2 showdown between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.

So, here’s how the song picks are going to work One song is a pick from Clive Davis, One song is a contestant pick, the other is whatever heinous tune wins the American Idol Songwriting contest.

The Season 7 finale is this Wednesday. As usual, TPTB are keeping details of the final cheesefest close to their vests. But there is information leaking out here and there. Here’s what we got so far:

• David Archuleta and David Cook will perform 3 songs according to reliable spoilers on Idol Forums. One will be picked by Clive Davis (!!!) Wasn’t he recently banished to an island for irrelevant record executives? WTF??!!? One will be chosen by the contestants–either a reprise of a song already sung during the season, or something new. The third song will be whatever ghastly song wins the Idol Songwriters Contest. There are rumors swirling that there will be a twist regarding the coronation song. Maybe there will be two winning songs? Perhaps re-arrangements by the contestants will be allowed? If you remember, last year, Blake Lewis was forced to sing the horrid “Here Is My Now�?just as it was written, and the results weren’t pretty. Hopefully both Cookie and Archie will be handed songs they can make their own.
• Paula Abdul will debut a song from her upcoming album, and the Top 12 will also be performing alongside Paula for a special group number. Oh goodie! Yahoo.
• Two Idols from each of the past 6 Seasons of Idol will be appearing on the finale. Bo Bice has already announced that he’ll be one of the twelve. Yahoo.
• Jason Castro told an interviewer from the TV Guide channel that each of the Top 5 will duet alongside a special celebrity guest. Castrocopia.
• The Jonas Brothers will be appearing. Finally, something the kids will love. According to recent Nielsen data, the kids haven’t been loving much about Idol these days.
• The band One Republic (responsible for the mega-hit “Apologize�? Ryan Tedder from the band recently wrote for Clay Aiken and Blake Lewis) canceled a gig in order to be available for the finale. Daily Press
• There was a rumor floating about that Bryan Adams would be one of the celebrity guests, but I cannot find the source of that rumor. Anybody???
• The So You Think You Can Dance dancers will be appearing according to Ellen DeGeneres.  They will preview their routine on Wednesday’s show.