I have some cool news about David, but first...

A correction, according to the show David Archuleta is 16 not 17. But at least you all got it correct this time and said Murray rather than Salt Lake like you did recently I think.

Anyhow...

Congratulations to David for making the top/final 24!! Way to go! I hope he goes far in this (at least the top 10 so he can go on the tour) or even wins. I love his voice. Everyone here in Utah let's band together and flood the show with votes for David starting next week. Soon we'll have us a new "Idol" commentator.

OH!! And the cool news about David. As of right now (1:00 PM on 2/14/08) he is leading a poll on MSN for readers favorite "IDOL" contestant (he has 20%, the runner up has 18%, then EVERY other contestant has less than 10% of the vote)! That's what the whole country on MSN is thinking so far, cool huh? I'd post the link so you all could see and maybe vote, but it's not allowed here. It's in MSN reality TV section, in article about the final 24 today.

Congradulations to David. He has worked hard to achieve where he is at this point. He has really impressed millions of viewers with his great voice. I want to see more body movement and facial expressions for the songs he sings.Best of luck to him next Tuesday and forever. He is truly exceptional.

I'm not an American Idol watcher, but knew a Murray, Utah boy was competing. I was very impressed with this 16 year old. I will be watching while David is on and I will be calling in to support him. Let's get behind his music and show that we in Utah do care. Congratulations, David!

Steve-

I agree-David is great! But actually, he IS seventeen, according to the interview he did himself with FOX 13 the other night. I think he would know better than the show, don't you? Oh, and I think Carmen did say David was from Utah. Check her second column. She's got her facts right.

Steve-

Carmen has always said David was from Murray. She's never said anything else. David is 17, it says so on his American Idol website and the judges themselves even said so. Perhaps you should check your facts, not Carmen.

Also, it seems like you would be wishing for David to earn fame and success instead of simply becoming Utah's new Idol spokesperson.

That said, best of luck to David he has a great voice.

I lived in SLC for 32years before moving out and to this day I still follow what's going on through the Deseret News online. Here you have David Archuleta making the American Idol top 24, that I might say is quite a feat, but cannot even make the front page of this newspaper. I begin to wonder if David is not a Mormon because someone from Southern CA named Brooke White was featured on the newspapers front page on Jan. 25 - "MORMON POP: AMERICAN IDOL".
What gives????????????? Best of Luck David, you're a good singer.

To Nene:

Who cares if he is Mormon, or not, that doesn't make a bit of difference for his talen. He has an amazing gift. We wish him well.

I'm starting tho think this Steve guy has the hots for David Archuleta. I've read several comments by him now and he sure seems to keep up on everything David; what polls he's in, how old he is, where he's from, how wonderfully talented he is. The passion is incredible!

Actually David is mentioned in the 4th and 5th paragraph of the same article. The one left out was the guy from Spanish Fork. But that just might have been because he wasn't shown very much on the show. Mormon or not, they were all great!

Several months go by between auditions and Hollywood week. Do you suppose he might have had a birthday during that time? Wow, maybe everyone is right! Is there anything else we can argue about?

Amazing voice. Yea he is from Utah. We have had a lot of that lately with dancing with the stars, etc.

Heather, I'm confident my facts are straight. I distinctly remember in either the Deseret News' and/or Carmen's first article mentioning David that they said he was from Salt Lake City (rather than Murray). This week they both got it right, they said Murray.

Maybe David turned 17 AFTER the IDOL episodes we've seen were filmed... the tryouts were last year at the end of the summer/early fall. And I DO wish David success purely for that, I DO want to see him go far or win for him and him alone. IF (as I hope happens) he becomes the new Utah Idol spokesperson (replacing Carmen), that's just a pleasant added plus/benefit.

Steve-what is your deal with Carmen? Every comment you make is about how in love you are with David and how much you dislike Carmen. Let it go bro. She's obviously a great girl with a lot of talent...and so is David. Why is this some competition to you? There's plenty of room for more than one "Utah Idol." Relax dude, and take a break from the internet for a while.

Steve-

If you acknowledge that David might have turned 17 in between the audition process and Hollywood (which is what I believe is the case), why did you tell Carmen to check her facts? Seems to me that her knowing he was 17 would prove she was more up to date on her facts than you.

My main point is, Carmen and David can both have success and do Idol correspondence for Deseret News, it doesn't have to be one or the other. Your hatred for a girl you obviously have never met and know very little about is quite frightening. Supporting your favorite contestant, doesn't mean you have to do everything in your power to tear down an intelligent, sweet, down to Earth girl who was in the competition 5 seasons ago.

Most people commenting her seem to be able to support both of them, so why can't you just comment on David instead of throwing in barbs about Carmen.

I think you need to do what the poster above me mentioned and relax and take a break from the internet.

Steve-

Also, why do you only bother commenting on articles that Carmen has written about David. It seems as such a David supporter you would comment on all stories about him.

I'm a fan of David's, that's all. I don't like Carmen. Simple. Nothing more. There's no competition between the two. Don't like my view? Then don't read my comments, feel free to ignore them (though they're just as valid as those coming from Carmen's fans).

What's not to like about Carmen? She just gaves props to your guy David. She's telling everyone to vote for him. She seems like a great girl who has the same appreciaion for talent as you do, only you continue to dog on a girl for no reason other than, "i don't like her." What are you, five years old?

I must say his passion for music is amazing. I love it. I think he's going to win. It says on the idol site he's 17. I think he had a birthday since auditions. They were in like september or august or something. When idol came here to seattle it was in September i believe. David was also in this interview saying he was from Salt Lake City so that might be where the confusion started. I think he was just saying that general area. I say I'm from Seattle area when people ask me cuz they won't know what the heck i'm talking about otherwise. My town isn't that well known.

OMG!!! we love david archuleta he is so sexy and he is an amazing singer. we really want him to win american idol and if he doesnt we will never watch that show again! Wats not to like about him hes so cute and funny and he is an incredible singer!!!
We love him<333

We eish him the best of luck and really hopes he wins!!

David is a very talented kid. He is awesome! I can not believe the voice that comes out of that young kid. I am hoping he will be the next AI. He seems like such a nice kid and is truly genuine. I just hope he doesn't turn into one of these stuck up kids that lets fame go to his head.

I don't watch this show much anymore it has gotten redundant and old. Hawaii kept Jasmine Tries in the running for a long time. I even called to vote for her. She has done very well in Hawaii and is huge in the Pacific Rim Nations. Life is not all about Mainland America. She is multi lingual which is how you get along in the World Today. You better know how to speak what the customers speak, or hire someone who does. They don't want to here "learn to speak English" They want service in a language that they speak and will seek out places that can give them that service. Very much true in Upscale Retail and Medical Care. Eye Care, Dental Care, etc. Idol is successful for the same reason Deal or No Deal is successful. It bares the Human Condition and leaves it to dry in the Sun with out Sun Screen. Artist like good sales people are largely ego driven. One needs the Sale and One needs the Crowd which turns into CD Sales. Last Comic Standing is more my style. Idol is okay.

Good to see you writing for DN, Carmen! And focusing on David rather than on Brooke White as well makes your columns "Utah-centered" rather than "Mormon-centered," which is as it should be. Loved your album, and always wish the best for you and yours!

I wish they would raise the age of AI to 18 again. It is great they have this opportunity for immediate fame and stardom, but seeing people who can barely drive on these shows drives me nuts. David has a good voice but it is so soft and weak that the band pulls back since there is no power in his voice and they turn the mic up as loud as possible so you can hear him.

Also, It seems like they only want rockers or 17 year olds on the show to attract the 14 to 28 year old crowd and many that didn't make the top 24 can really sing but they didn't show them much in the previous shows or else the viewers would wonder why they didn't make it. I taped the show last night and then watched it in about 15 minutes later. Good thing I didn't watch the whole thing, most of the songs were really bad. It gets worse every year with their plants who already have had a record contract and they failed, but I like seeing them play an instrument - it shows me they actually have a talent and could lead a band.

Great article Carmen. I wish you were on idol now. You are so incredible and have grown up so much since idol. Your new album is amazing and I love your book too. Keep it up girlfriend!

I disagree about the bottom age limit. It shouldn't be raised back to 18. Better yet, in my opinion it should be LOWERED to about 14 (though that would clearly drive both Simon and you nuts). Why do I say this? Because despite a person's young age, there are alot of very talented young singers out there. Look at both Billy Gilman and LeAnn Rymes. They both started at 14 or younger (Billy was either 11 or 12 I think and is still around today putting out CD's at 18 or 19).

The reason the lower age limit is 16 rather than 13 or 14 is most likely because the producers are of the opinion that 16 is pushing it, that someone younger than that might not be able to handle the rigors of everything that comes with being on "Idol" and afterwards (should they win). While I can see where they're coming from and in many cases they probably have a point, it's not true for all... some younger ones (like Billy Gilman) can probably handle the fame/media/criticsm etc. fine enough.

Go David!! I hope you win or make it at least as far as the top 5.

Carmen is a fabulous writer or she has a rewrite editor who could get a job anywhere. The DMN ought to give Carmen a regular job. I used to work for a top national magazine as an editor, and I recognize talent when I see it. She plays on words, avoids cliches, writes as a means to express rather than to impress, and she has an enviable sense of timing. Way to go, Carmen. I hope to be able to read your work for years to come. You and Lee Benson and Doug Robinson are the best writers in the paper.

Really, the third most popular article today was about this stupid show?

Okay, oh my goodness! I think i'm obsessed!!! My friend's cousin knows David and I can't wait for him to come back home so she can hook me UP!

David Archuleta is an awesome kid with an awesome voice! He should win some kind of prize just for that heart-melting smile! I hope he takes the prize....

i really dont think that david is mormon. both his cousin and his neighbors tell me that he isnt. but even if he isnt- he still deserves to win!

you should have one american idle for sure but me and machela my best friend are going to try out but anywho like i said you should have one your the best one ive ever hered so yeah i voted for you totaly.