david-archuleta_l
Illustration by Ian Keltie

All About

American Idol

DAVID ARCHULETA
I'm at a complete loss for words to describe David Archuleta. Much like the singer himself on the Beatles' ''We Can Work It Out.'' But look at the bigger picture: He's 17. He's adorable. And his performance of ''Imagine'' during '70s Week prompted the most delirious rave in American Idol history (''I want to just squish you — squeeze your head off and dangle you from my rearview mirror,'' cooed Paula Abdul). He even has a sob story about vocal paralysis, which only seems to have made his voice more distinctive than it was when he wowed Kelly Clarkson during an impromptu performance in 2002. The wide-eyed kid from Utah is still the one to beat. And don't you forget it. —Adam Markovitz