Utahn David Archuleta has got what 'it' takes

This year hosts the biggest number of teenage contestants ever in "Idol" history, and they proved to be just as capable as the old pros. In fact, if anything, the pendulum swung in their favor.

Let's start with a favorite: Murray's David Archuleta. Just barely 17, David sang better than every other guy in the competition on Tuesday night, according to judge Simon Cowell (and millions of fans across the country).

"David, that was, by a comfortable mile, the best performance of the night so far," Cowell said.

Not only did Archuleta have the judges on his side, but audience members couldn't contain their enthusiasm, either.

"You can only vote for him, you can't adopt him!" host Ryan Seacrest joked to the screaming crowd. No doubt about "it" — Archuleta is definitely going on.

Texan Jason Castro, 20, also blew away the judges with his laid-back style. In fact, with his long dreadlocks and guitar, Castro took on a Bob Marley/Jack Johnson persona and it worked!

"I thought it was one of the top two performances of the night," Simon exclaimed.

Another 20-something who has "it," according to Simon, is Michael Johns. Originally from Australia, Johns, 29, threw "all caution to the wind," according to judge Randy Jackson, with his edgy version of "Light My Fire."

"You have the natural charisma of a lead singer," Randy said.

Seemed like the girls were going to have some tough acts to follow. And once again, the young 'uns owned the night.

Oklahoman Alaina Whitaker, just 16, sang an upbeat version of "More Today Than Yesterday," causing Randy to say what was on everyone's minds: "It's the year of the young ones!"

"If you can make a song as awful as that sound good, then when you actually sing a good song, you'll be great!" Cowell said.

But the judges didn't see eye-to-eye on everyone. Georgian Alexandrea Lushington, 17, received rave reviews from Jackson and Paula Abdul. "You blew the doors off of that! You got it!" Jackson said. Simon, however, "didn't get it."

"It reminded me of one of those terrible '60s musicals," he said.

I have to agree with Simon about his "favorite of the night." Missourian Asia'h Epperson, 19, knocked my socks off. After losing her dad a few months ago during the audition process, she wants to do this for him.

"I knew that (my dad) wanted me to push on, and I know that he's going to be here with me, saying 'Let's go! Let's rock it!'" She did.

Another girl with a super-strong voice is Floridian Ramiele Malubay, 20. Ramiele picked a song that was, in my opinion, too old-fashioned. However, she won the judges over with her class and control.

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