“American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta has posted a farewell YouTube video to fans as he prepares for a two-year Mormon mission in South America.

The 21-year-old singer says in a video blog posted Wednesday that his contact with fans will be limited while he’s in the undisclosed country.

KSL reports he entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Wednesday as a precursor to the assignment.

Archuleta competed on the seventh season of “American Idol” and has since released three albums. He announced at a December concert that he’d be going on a mission, like many young men in the church.

He says in his video that he’s “trying to focus on something else” besides his career, and looks forward to spending more “one-on-one time with my Heavenly Father.”

She makes everything better.

You know how I began this season sort of “Meh” about “American Idol,” not because the kids weren’t talented – they are, incredibly – but because the themes, choices and judging combined to produce a giant snore? Last night’s “Sing your personal ‘Idol’” theme turned out so much better, mostly because these kids – and they are kids – got to choose a song that meant something to them, rather than the least-scary song from a list that they’ve never heard of.

Again – I don’t mind the older songs in part because being able to learn and interpret a song on the fly is one measure of how adaptable a performer is. And I’m all for being stretched. But it’s pretty amazing to see the difference when they connect with a song personally. I wasn’t thrilled with everyone, but there were some really great moment last night, which I attribute to song choice and connection, and to the combined mentor powers of Jimmy Iovine and his former collaborator and old friend Stevie Nicks. She was an inspired judge, because she has nothing to prove. She isn’t trying to get cool points with them. She just wants to help them, and she was moved and thrilled to do so. You could tell. Adore.

Before I get into this: Can we do something about those frigging swaying masses in the front? I know someone tells them to do that, but it’s incredibly distracting to viewers – and maybe to the performers – when they are not on the beat. We don’t need to know you’re there. Just watch the show. Gah. Also, someone has to warn them to stop booing all the time, since mostly the boos come any time  Randy Jackson dares to say anything remotely critical about a singer. I mean, he’ll say “You didn’t get all of the upper notes” and they boo! He’s telling the truth! He’s not saying “Dude, they should enact a law to stop you from singing.” He’s trying to help. Criticism is good for you when it’s constructive, kiddies.

And no, they don’t get a trophy for showing up. But they do get international TV exposure, a tour and a shot at a huge contract. So…they’ll be fine. Now, shut it.

Colton:I love how this show makes me feel old, because the contestants are so young that their idols are people who have been famous for like five minutes. Colton loves Lifehouse, and although he did a good job, I didn’t feel it. He’s a cute boy. But he’s not exciting.

Skylar:It scares me a little that a kid this young can do such a good job with “Gunpowder and Lead,” a song about heading over to shoot your abusive husband as soon as he gets out of jail. That’s rough. But Skylar is – and I keep saying this – a performer. She is so into the story of the song, even though it’s a crazy story, that she sells it. This, to me, is the difference between Skylar and last year’s country cutie Lauren Alaina. That one was so spunky and country/rock when she auditioned, and someone – I imagine the producers – bleached so much of what interesting and spunky out of her. They made her cute and pretty, when she was kick-butt and fearless. Maybe it was fatigue or her own nerves, or maybe she just wasn’t sure who she was, and how to defend that. But Skylar seems to. Adore her.

I was sorta through with Heejun, just like Jimmy and Steven were last week, because he really didn’t seem to want to be there. And there are thousands of other singers who wish they were, and it seems he was just wasting everyone’s time. But this week, he came back appropriately humbled and ready to work. I have seen and heard better versions of “A Song For You” on this show – hello, Elliott Yamin! – but he did a really heartfelt job, and his voice was as pure as ever. He needs to work on his diction and enunciation, some of which may be a language issue. But he’s proved he’s worthy of being there.

Hollie made Stevie Nicks cry, in a good way, because if she had upset her without her wanting to, she probably would have smacked her with a scarf-covered tambourine. But her “Jesus Take The Wheel” got to Stevie, because it was coming from a pure, naked emotional place. I felt that story about her mother dying, and how that was all she was thinking about, and how Hollie had to tap that pain that comes when everything overwhelms you and you have no choice but to pull from some place of strength, anywhere, and survive. She was great. I’m tired of this song. But she was great.

DeAndre is a one-trick pony. It’s a pretty trick, and he’s a pretty pony. His hair is legend. But…and I was an early fan…I am tired of that trick now. I want to see something else. He can sing in a lower register quite well but keeps finding those songs that are all falsetto. It’s not exciting anymore. He can do better. I don’t think he’s brilliant. But he can do better.

Jessica: Meh. I liked her so much better in the Madonna medley, where she was sassy, mature, and in command. I hate the ballads, mostly because they bore me. She is so much more sassy and loose than they let her be in competition, or than they push her to be. I kinda blinked off during this, because it was boring me. So, she’s a talented, gorgeous girl. But most of her performances put me and my cat literally to sleep. I mean, that cat was OUT. She didn’t even stir when I shook her food dish. Of course, when I stomped on the ground to make sure she was still breathing, she shot up like she’d woken up next to a cannon. Wish I was nicer to my cat. But I think I’m being fair to Jessica. I know. You hate me.

Phillip:Not much to say other than that I love him, and Stevie loves him, and he’s the real deal. The difference between his insistence on being himself and Heejun’s is that his is based on an understand of who he is and who he wants to be, which is a performer, wheras Heejiun seemed to be freaking out over the prospect of having to be there at all. Phillip is a grown-up performer who can only get better with age and maturity, but is already someone I would pay to see. And I don’t pay to see much of anything.

Joshua:That was gorgeous. Just like the judges said – he connected to something in “Without You,” and the moment was very heartbreaking and real. Jimmy was on the right track to explain that Harry Nilsson’s original was unique at the time because it featured a man being vulnerable, opening himself up to the pain he was feeling. You could feel that when Joshua broke at the “I can’t give anymore” line, because who hasn’t been there, when you have coughed up all your pain and heartache and disappointment and hopes, and you have literally nothing else to give. And that is a painful and cathartic and honest place to be. Wow.

Elise:My new favorite. There was a soul connection, an honest one, with her and Stevie, maybe because their influences seem to be the same, or because she’s so good. But when they sang “Dreams” together, and you knew that Elise knew the words and was trying not to freak out, I clapped. Like a seal. Her “Whole Lot of Love” impressed because it had everything – it sounded great, she performed it excitingly, and because she felt it so much. Can’t you hear Nigel Lythgoe on the phone with Robert Plant right now begging him to be on the finale?

Erika Van Pelt is the latest contestant to be eliminated from the 11th season of American Idol. Since the live shows began a few weeks ago, Erika has been a consistently low vote-getter who needed to be saved by the judges just to make it to the Top 13.

But for the 26-year-old Rhode Island DJ, the news isn’t all bad. She survived long enough to make the Top 10 and earn a spot on the nationwide Idol summer tour.

Erika talked to reporters about her Idol send-off, her drastic makeover, and why she thinks it was so difficult for her to score votes.

On her problem connecting with voters.
“I felt like I didn’t have enough momentum right out of the gate. Even though I was progressing every week and really coming more out of my shell, I ended up lagging behind a little bit in the eyes of the voters.”
Read the full story

When will you realize that Billy waits for you?

I have not been incredibly tuned into this season of “American Idol” – even though the talent is pretty cool – and that might have to do with the songs. Ten years ago, when they had Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder week, many of the young singers had no context for either the specific lyrics, styles or emotions of the things they’d had to choose from. And now, those songs are 10 years older, and the young singers are 10 more years removed from them. They’re still young and may or may not have heard of them or experienced the very real, personal emotions that they’re being asked to evoke — and penalized if they can’t.

So I can’t get too mad at teenagers from a specific time not being able to completely relate to songs written maybe even before their parents were born, that were written from a very specific experience by a very specific guy. Then again, the most impressive singers have the ability and maturity to connect and to sing something they just learned and blow it out like they wrote it. The insistence on young singers, unfortunately, means that some of them haven’t had the time to develop the chops and maturity to let it swing like that.

Having said that, I enjoyed this week, for the most part, because it’s my favorite part of the season — you’re seeing some of the most promising singers rise to the occasion, or, in some cases, not quite hit the bar, not because they aren’t good, but because this just wasn’t their week. Or because someone else was better. And I loved that Diddy, who I usually have no use for, tried with Jimmy Iovine to explain the context of the songs to the kids that didn’t get them. My favorite is when he tried to explain to Deandre what a beast Billy Joel was, and the swagger he had, which included hot women like Christie Brinkley.

“You don’t even know who that is, do you?” he asked, remembering that he was talking to a very young kid. I liked that self-awareness, because Diddy does not seem like the most self-aware man on Earth.
Read the full story

James Durbin performs at WRMF's 'Just Us Girls Party for a Purpose' on Friday at the West Palm Beach Marriott. (AP file photo)

When James Durbin got the call from Revolver magazine about their "100 Greatest Living Rock Stars" issue, he was game to wax philosophic about some of "the people I’ve idolized my whole life… I was like ‘OK! Who am I talking about?’"

Turns out the music magazine – whose list included Axl Rose, Ozzy Osbourne, James Hetfield, Dave Grohl and others – had one specific rock star they wanted the 22-year-old American Idol semifinalist to focus on: James Durbin.

Which, you might imagine, took more than a few minutes to sink in.

"They were like ‘No, you’re one of them’ and I was like ‘Ex-squeeze me? Baking power?,’ " Durbin says, referring to fictional would-be rock star Wayne Campbell of Wayne’s World’s signal of incredulity. Wayne and Garth might be fictional, but Durbin’s rising star – as well as his status as a young stalwart of good old undiluted rock and roll – is very, very real.

Durbin finished fourth during Idol’s 2011 season and is performing Friday at WRMF’s "Just Us Girls" event. He’s promoting his hit album Memories of a Beautiful Disaster, and reveling in the experience of playing the music he’s always wanted to play.

Survived bullying

On Idol, Durbin always came off as older than his years – he was already a young father with his longtime girlfriend (now wife), and had lived through and conquered an incredible amount of difficult stuff. Diagnosed with both Tourette’s syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome, he’d survived bullying and the death of his father as a young kid to front his own bands and appear in community theater before auditioning for Idol.

And once on the show, he stood out less for his diagnoses – which, after a few mentions were never really discussed – than for his unapologetic hard-rock sensibilities and honest-to-Ozzy rock howl.

Of course, being a serious, humble guy, Durbin’s refreshingly reticent about tooting his own horn.

"Oh, man. I really don’t know," he says haltingly, when asked about his appeal. "I really don’t. I’ve just always been myself, and if anyone tries to change me, I’m not gonna let them."

Being an advocate

Being on Idol has allowed Durbin to meet some impressive people, including the band Judas Priest, with whom he performed on the show ("Sometimes I still can’t believe that actually happened"), and some lesser-known but important people with whom he relates. People like Cole, a 10-year-old who wanted to meet him as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Like Durbin, the boy had both Asperger’s and Tourette’s syndromes, but had also just had a dual kidney transplant.

"He’s just a little boy, but he’s a fighter," Durbin says. "I knew that if I could make one little boy happy, whose only wish in the entire world (was meeting him), than there was something bigger than me. That keeps me grounded and humble."

And it was that meeting that inspired him to become a spokesperson for the STAR Alliance, an anti-bullying initiative. It’s a subject he sadly knows a lot about, having "certainly had my share" from elementary school all the way through high school.

"I was beat up, spit on, called names I never want to repeat. And it ruined me," he says, quietly. "Growing up I never had anyone that I could look up to. And now I’ve felt that I’ve been able to be that person for kids who are dealing with what I’ve dealt with."

Clearly, moments like meeting Cole and being an advocate mean more to Durbin than winning a title or getting an award. But that part’s still cool too – he’s a nominee for Revolver’s "Golden Gods" awards, to be held in Los Angeles in April.

"It feels really surreal. I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s a really interesting feeling," he says. "I’m really honored to be a part of that."

James Durbin WRMF’s ‘Just Us Girls Party for a Purpose,’ 8 p.m. Friday at the West Palm Beach Marriott. Entire event is from 6 to 10 p.m., and tickets are $10 at the door. Info: www.wrmf.com/partyforapurpose.

It wasn’t such a sweet day for Shannon Magrane on “American Idol.”

The soaring 16-year-old vocalist from Tampa was eliminated from the Fox singing competition Thursday. Magrane was dismissed after reprising her rendition of Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” and failing to persuade the show’s judges to save her from being booted.

Magrane — the daughter of former major-league pitcher and Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Joe Magrane — was revealed to be among the bottom three vote-getters with 28-year-old teacher Elise Testone of Charleston, S.C., and 26-year-old disc jockey Erika Van Pelt, of South Kingstown, R.I.

There are 10 finalists remaining in the competition following this week’s elimination of Magrane and the disqualification of Jermaine Jones, the 25-year-old vocal instructor from Pine Hill, N.J., who was booted for not revealing that he had outstanding arrest warrants.

Jermaine Jones is apparently out on “American Idol.”

The 25-year-old singer from Pine Hill, N.J., tweeted Tuesday night that he would no longer be on the Fox singing contest.

A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.

Jones wrote on his official “Idol” Twitter account, “Awww I will no longer b on the show.”

The so-called “gentle giant” was among the show’s viewer-selected top 13 finalists after the judges gave him a last-minute spot in the 11th season’s top 13 male semifinalists.

Jones was among the bottom three vote-getters last week after performing Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet.”

So what I’m saying is that the judges, who I never give much credit for doing anything right, because they often don’t, made the correct decision to send Jeremy Rosado home last night. He seems like a sweet enough kid, but he wasn’t exciting. Or confident. And this group smells fear and reacts to it like toddlers to a burst pinata. And that is to say, like rabid beasts (I mean no offense to toddlers, but I have stood between them and candy before, and I am still in therapy. AAACK! SKITTLES!)

Anyway, what worries me is that if the judges keep picking, they might start picking off the people I like, otherwise known as the grownups. They’ve already labeled Jessica Sanchez as the winner, which, again is really rude, and having watched her “I Will Always Love You” about three more times again, I gotta say again…she’s a great singer. She hit that last note with confidence and strength. She made that note her plaything. She did not, however, make it her own. She made it just like Whitney Houston. And we already had one of those and we miss her. A lot. We don’t need Jessica Sanchez to replace her.

I want Jessica Sanchez to be Jessica Sanchez, you know? Not anyone else. Have some creativity. Be your own Jessica, no matter what that man in the sweater, Jlo and that odd man in the Stevie Nicks costume say.

Gutsy “American Idol” contestant Jessica Sanchez took on Whitney Houston’s biggest hit, delivering a performance that awed the show’s judges.

The San Diego teenager sang “I Will Always Love You” on Wednesday’s performance show. She was “just amazing,” according to judge Jennifer Lopez.

When host Ryan Seacrest asked the judges to name the night’s top two contestants, Steven Tyler was ready. Said Tyler: “Jessica Sanchez and Jessica Sanchez.”

The 13 “American Idol” finalists performed as the Fox show marked its 400th episode. The male and female singers who rank lowest in the audience voting will be announced Thursday, with the judges then deciding which contestant will be bounced from the show.

“I Will Always Love You” was played at the funeral service for Houston, who died Feb. 11.

The woman of the hour. Is it wrong that I don't agree?

We’re on the 400th episode of this show, and so far in this season I still haven’t kept up enough to know these kids yet. I’m only watching live-ish because…”Revenge” isn’t new and my husband’s not home yet and I’m out of Weight Watchers points. So…free night.

Apparently it’s men versus women. They’re being coached by Jimmy “Pull Yourself Together” Iovine and Mary J. Blige. Why couldn’t these be the judges? They don’t mince words and they’re not big phonies. Like some people.

The guys are doing Stevie, with the women doing Whitney (I will not call them girls and boys. It’s weird and condescending. Won’t do it.)

Joshua starts with “I Wish” and he kills it. I mean, he takes it like it’s his own show and this is his opening number featuring Stevie himself on the harmonica. So impressed.

Elisewants to do “Greatest Love of All” but Jimmy tells her she should do “I’m You’re Baby Tonight,” a song she clearly isn’t comfortable with. It is a better fit live, because she was struggling on the ballad. But it wasn’t her best. I don’t know why they would pick a singer as a theme who is so notoriously hard to sing. Not. Fair. I feel bad they switched her song to something she didn’t know. Then again “If I knew it for a month I could make it my own” is a cop out. Do you know Broadway auditioners learn a song and sing it on the  spot? She admitted that she needed to have learned it. Bad scene all around.

Jermainewas made to sing “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” which serves his lower register while  still being dynamic. In other words – it’s a well-written song that doesn’t just sit there and be boring. When he gets to the “I love you, I love you, I love you” part it’s pretty awesome. Kids? Meet a real song! Hope it changes your life! You’re welcome! Jlo thinks he didn’t connect to the song. Are you high? Were you listening? Stop planting seeds of doubt!

Did Randy just namecheck Jerry Butler? Wow! Grudging point to you, which I take back when he says Jermaine changed the chorus. No he didn’t? Stop sabotaging this kid with your lies! Wow! The hunger is making me mean. (Snerk.)

Erika is doing “I Believe In You and Me” and impresses Mary J. with her tone. I love this song – it was one of 87 finalists in the First Dance sweepstakes at my wedding. It lost to the theme song from “Tootsie.” No matter – Erika is struggling with the short arrangement, which allows for no build. This song needs a build. She sounds great, but it’s not a moment. The arrangement isn’t her fault. She remains one of my favorites, because she appears to understand what she’s singing about.

Coltonis doing “Lately,” and he does beautifully. It annoys me that off the bat the judges and all are like “Well, Stevie must be hard  for you.” How do you know? Maybe he’s a Stevie fan from way back! Don’t sleep on Colton! He sells it. Go, lil’ Spiky.

Shannonis not my favorite. She’s OK but I think she’s yelly, and growls when she can’t hit the notes. Don’t do “I Have Nothing” if you can’t nail it. And she can’t. I kinda hate this. She can’t hit the notes and it’s painful. And it gets worse because she’s afraid of the big notes. And they’re afraid of her, too. She can go home now. At least the judges are honest that she overthinks it, but Jlo is wrong – she can’t sing that song. She didn’t sound that good in rehearsal, honestly.

Deandre made Mary stand from her chair and give him the jamming arm pump. Brilliant. “Master Blaster” is one of my favorite songs, and he rocked it. Tyler namechecks Naima. Stop. Naima put reggae in songs where it didn’t belong, but it’s all over this song, and it’s…wow.

Skylar admits that she didn’t listen to Whitney growing up, but because Mary J. is magic, she lets Skylar find the Reba in “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” It’s stunning how a well-written song translates.

Heejun is stunning Mary J. on “All In Love Is Fair,” but live he’s overwhelmed by it. I love his tone, but it didn’t work for me because he was either holding back or overpowering.

Holliesings my favorite Whitney song, “All The Man I Need,” and shows how you hit a controlled note. Everything about this was right. Jlo…stop predicting the final on the  first live show. Disrespectful to those still in the running.

Jeremy is butchering “Ribbon In  The Sky.” Sorry. That’s the unofficial Black Wedding Anthem of 1982-1998. Why does no one else hate it but me. Well, Randy sorta does.

Jessica is doing “I Will Always Love You” and if she can’t nail it, it’s gonna be disaster. And here is the thing. The arrangement is a choppy disaster. She doesn’t get to finish one phrase before tackling another. She sounds great and nails all the notes, although a few times she does too much vibrato. It was perfect…but perfect karaoke. There was not one moment where I believed that she believed what she was singing. I realize no one will agree with me.

Phillip is love. He’s badass. He’s funky.

Well?