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CHRIS SLIGH While acknowledging the first week is the most difficult, EW.com's new ''Idol'' watcher says only three of the top 12 rose to the occasion

All About

American Idol

We have seen over and over again that American Idol can change lives. Every year, it's exciting to see contestants come in and slowly transform from unknowns to celebrities.

First week is always the hardest — some kids come in having never been shown, while other contestants have been over-''pimped''...this year was no different. This week, though, Randy and Paula seemed to be on mind-numbing drugs that caused logic to go out the window (seriously, Randy, Jason Castro was just okay?!? Michael Johns is like Michael Hutchence?!?). And Simon finally returned to form!

So, let's get to the performances.

Several performances stuck out for me: David Archuleta is an incredible singer and performer. Though I dread hearing ''OMG!!! He's 17!!!'' for the next three months from the judges, he is one of the few 17-year-olds that deserve the ''pimping.''Jason Castro's jazzy pop take on ''Daydream'' was inspired and commercially credible, and Michael Johns gave a somewhat pitchy but credible performance of ''Light My Fire.'' I think both of these guys will be around a while.

I personally am not understanding the judges' love of David Cook. His arrangement of the Turtles classic was horrid, and Randy comparing him to Alice in Chains was one of the most groan-worthy comments in 7 seasons of Idol. And on top of it all, his voice is just okay.

To me, Robbie Carico is an okay singer, but I felt Simon's pause about Robbie truly being a ''rocker'' was deserved. In my opinion, Robbie is going to have to do a lot to separate himself from his days in Boyz N Girlz United.

NEXT PAGE: Chris Sligh on the debut performances by David Hernandez, Colton Berry, Garrett Haley, Jason Yeager, Chikezie, Danny Noriega, and Luke Menard


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