Youngest "Idol" David Archuleta Shines

There is no denying that 17-year-old David Archuleta has taken the seventh season of American Idol by storm. The Utah native again brought the crowd to its feet on April 1st with an inspired rendition of "Smokey Mountain Memories," a song written and originally performed by Dolly Parton. The girls in the audience swooned and Dolly herself was nearly brought to tears by the young man's passionate vocals.

All three judges gave the young crooner high marks and little criticism. The "Big Dog" Randy Jackson said that the performance was" the best of the night." It is easy to see why on a night when many performances appeared forced and uncomfortable. Even Kristy Lee Cook and Brooke White, both of whom seem to be natural fits in the country music realm, lacked the passionate delivery of their teenage counterpart. This should ensure that David moves on to the next round with little trepidation.

David Archuleta's style combines old school sensibilities with youthful exuberance. He has found a comfort zone in performing rich ballads, but has drawn criticism for choosing songs that were not easily recognizable to the public at large. After watching him perform for several straight weeks, one would like to see him stretch out into a wider array of genres. This was a hallmark of past champions Kelly Clarkson and even Ruben Studdard, who rocked the house with "Sweet Home Alabama," a far stretch from his R&B focus.

Archuleta certainly has the vocal prowess to take himself far into this competition. He nailed every note in the Dolly Parton classic last night. However, some of his songs have been less than memorable and his enthusiasm and innocent charm seem at points over the top and orchestrated. He may have difficulty holding off experienced performers such as Michael Johns and Carly Smithson when the true cream begins to rise to the top. Still, this High School Junior appears undeterred and not the least bit in awe of what lies ahead of him. Ah, the blissful ignorance of youth.