David Archuleta
News (Page 2)

... after last night's performance, it isn't hard to do.

David Archuleta caused girls to scream and Paula Abdul to cry with his rendition of the classic John Lennon song "Imagine" during the night that showcased this season's top 10 American Idol men.

Check out the comments it elicited from all three judges:

Randy Jackson said: "That's one of the best vocals I've ever heard on this show... That was brilliant."
Paula Abdul said: "That was . . . one of the most moving performances I've ever heard.. You're destined for super stardom."
Simon Cowell said: "Very, very risky to do a John Lennon song, particularly that one, but it worked. You're the one to beat."

Do you agree? How do you rate Archuleta's performance?

Might Jason Castro be a dark horse on season seven of American Ido? It's possible. All three judges loved his rendition of "What a Day for a Daydream."

Still, after the opening performances of the top 12 American Idol males, we see three favorites standing out from among the rest. They are:

- David Archuleta: How is it possible that this former Star Search winner is just 17 years old? He sang "Shop Around" and was told by Simon Cowell: "When you got it, you got it … That was, by a comfortable mile, the best performance of the night so far."

- David Cook (pictured): This wannabe rock star has the look and sound to go far. He turned the 1960s romantic tune, "Happy Together," into a fun, speedy tune.

- Michael Johns: He lit our fire, readers! Singing that classic song by The Doors, this Australian is as polished as any American Idol semifinalist, maybe ever. Former lead singer of a band called The Rising.

Who was your favorite of the night? Who do you think will be voted off? We think it's time for Garrett Haley and Jason Yeager to go home.

As the top 24 contestants on American Idol begin singing for their reality show lives tomorrow night (voting is now on you, viewers), USA Today is running a feature that outlines the professional backgrounds of a few finalists.

Perhaps in response to the timid album sales of Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, American Idol has passed a quintet of supposed ringers on to the finals, those that have actually had a recording deal with a label in the past. But that's a negative in the eyes of many.

"The reason I watch is to see someone journey from nowhere to stardom," Kevin Kotke, a fan from Milwaukee, told the newspaper. "The only kind of record a contestant should be able to claim is the $5 self-published kind from the mall."

But Season 7 contestants can claim quite a bit more than that:

• Carly Smithson recorded for MCA, which lavished more than $2 million on her debut album, then dumped her when it sold poorly.
• Kristy Lee Cook signed with Britney Spears' production company in 2001.
• Michael Johns' band, The Rising, was dropped by Madonna's Maverick label.
• Robbie Carrico sang with Boyz-N-Girlz United, an Orlando boy/girl band.
• David Archuleta won $100,000 on Star Search in 2003.

While some fans are bothered by this sort of experience, American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says the flap "is a storm in a teacup… Let's just let the stories unfold."

He adds that show rules require only that contestants not be currently under contract: "We're looking for 'great,' and, yes, those people in all likelihood have had dealings with the industry before."

What do you think? Should American Idol contestant be wholly undiscovered?