The Power of Ten

It was David's to the power of three as the 1960s gave way to a much-improved set of songs from the’70s last night and the guys put their own personal touches on the Me Decade:

Chikezie Eze: "I Believe To My Soul" by Donny Hathaway

Danny Noriega: "Superstar" by the Carpenters

David Archuleta: "Imagine" by John Lennon

David Cook: "All Right Now" by Free

David Hernandez:"Papa Was A Rolling Stone" by The Temptations

Jason Castro: "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb

Jason Yeager: "Long Train Runnin’" by The Doobie Brothers

Luke Menard: "Killer Queen" by Queen

Michael Johns: "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac

Robbie Carrico: "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner

That electric guitar let David Cook bring out the rocker within, and David Hernandez clearly impressed all three judges with his vocal gymnastics. But it was David Archuleta who established himself as the show's frontrunner with his inspired take on Lennon's classic.

"Dog, that's one of the best vocals I've ever heard on this show," Randy raved, while Paula melted into an emotional mush. "David, you are ridiculous,” she gushes. “I want to just squish you, squeeze your head off and dangle you from my rearview mirror." (We're not really sure what that means, either). And when Simon declared him the one to beat, that might have been a shudder from the 19 others who've been put on notice that the bar has been raised.