Another of Idol's most memorable and iconic performances of all times. Archuleta's Imagine.

Although this was done in 2008, I remember exactly where I was when David sang this. I had just came home from the hospital, my grandfather just passed away from a heart attack. My sister and I were a mess, and she said "Let's watch some Idol." I told her no, but she turned it on anyway. David was about to sing when the TV came on. The first note came, and I was floored. To this day, it's still one of the most beautiful renditions ever, and I think of my grandfather when I listen to it.

The best performance on American Idol. After 15yrs I still like to listen to it.

Best ever, hands down, no debate. I get chills even today

This was one of my favorite idol seasons ever. Him and David Cook were both amazing. I can't believe how young he was here and him doing justice to one of the best songs ever written. He was and is way beyond his years.

I am a lifetime Beatles fan an this is one of the best covers for Imagine that I have ever heard. Still makes me cry

David is one of the most loved singer in idol history for his voice and personality.

One of my favorite live performances of all time! This kid has mad talent. Projecting your voice wide open with that much control is uncanny. It's like a window directly into his soul. Goosebumps.

Can I just spend my life with him?

To this day, one of my favorite performances of any song of all time. He was absolutely everything Hollywood and the music industry needed but didn't deserve. The whole package. The voice of course (with one working vocal cord at that). Genuine innocence, kindness, beautiful smile, glowing from within. So much more than just a teenybopper star. There are a rare few celebrities whose career and personal life I follow for longer than a few years. I've been a fan for almost 15 years, more than half my life. He moved hearts through music in this performance, now as an adult he's moving hearts and minds by navigating being an openly gay star transitioning out of a church that caused him to ultimately lose his career with the general public. He's a star no matter what charts or Hollywood says.

This performance continues to bring me to tears and fill my heart with joy. David James Archuleta you are truly a genius.

I honestly don’t know how he didn’t win. He has a beautiful voice 😍

This was that "moment" that the judges always talk about and still do with the 2014. Yet so many American idols haven't come close to having the moment that David did. 1st x I heard it on tv, I was moved, and I still watch to witness a moment like that but haven't since this guys' performance here

One of the most beautiful renditions of an iconic song…I cried when I heard it.

David sang this song so perfectly and beautifully. I remember when this episode first aired and I happened to be taping it...I could not stop replaying this performance over and over!! The best secondary rendition I've ever heard!

The best thing about this is the song arrangement + his soft vocals that complimented it, especially the last part. All the runs that was poured in delaying the part that says, "will live as one" were so put together to emphasize on that most important part of the song.

David had a shy way about him, but when he sang this song, he stopped being shy. John Lennon would have been very proud of the way this song was being sung by this young man. I always have tears when I hear Lennon singing it, but David Archuleta did the same. It was great.

peace to everyone, This David was definitely supposed to win that season, and he didn't I stopped watching American idol. This guy is amazing.

The best performance, and most emotional/moving performance I've EVER seen on American Idol, had a lot of memorable ones, but this will always be #1 for me. Thank you..

Still my favorite performance on Idol. I listen to this performance all the time. And, it's 2022!

We knew back then just how talented The Macaw was. 😊

Watching this after Ken Jeong made reference to it on Masked Singer - absolutely beautiful 🥰

Today is 7/1723. As many times as I have heard this song sung by David, it still makes me cry! I would hope to and love to meet him one day. ❤️ His voice is unmatched. 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽

I come back to this particular performance time and time again. I think it is probably my single favorite American Idol contestant performance in the entire series run. It's virtually flawless. One gets totally caught up in David's version of the song. If he had done as good a job in the finale as he did in this, he would have been the winner that year.

this was so memorable

I have been in love with this man since this moment. This song lives in my head rent-free. Thank goodness for the internet preserving it for all of us forever.

I just learned 10 minutes ago David Archuleta is gay he gave a moving KZfaq video that has touched my heart tonight and I am so happy for him! Much love David and a happy future!! 🌈❤️👏🏻

It’s 2020 and this version remains to Be my all-time favorite! Amaziiiing!

John Lennon will never be forgotten and neither will David Archuleta--David will be singing for the rest of his life and his fans will keep on listening. . . .David, you did a terrific job with this song; John's message came across loud and clear.

Feb. 2016 and this amazes me still.

I loved him in 2008 and I still love him now.. This performance is just brilliant

Watching in 2019. Still amazing!

Who’s watching this in 2019? Amazing singer

I get shivers every damn time. Go head boo! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm watching this in 2015, and he's as amazing as I remember.

Still listen to this video in 2019🔥🔥🔥

I stumbled across Emmanuel Kelly's cover of Imagine on KZfaq. With all the raving comments I guess I expected it to be "as good". Not even close. No one can deliver this like David. Such a wonderful young man.

The best Idol performance ever, imo.

One of the best rendition of IMAGINE in this Generation ! SIMPLY AMAZING !

still gives me chills every time

David can't wait until you get back from Chile you had awesome performances during the Christmas Program keep it up Elder Archuleta everyone loves you and as you know Heavenly Father is with you see you in a few months

Most beautiful, best vocals ever. The roar of the audience says it all.

the BEST VERSION of Imagine.....ever !!

2020 Watching this in Corona Pandemic

Down the memory lane. I saw this when he sang it. I t was incredible!

Such a beautiful person with such an astounding voice. A soul of purity so very evident. His Light is very bright. Very bright. God Bless you and what you stand for.

so much emotion and he made it sound so effortlessly beautiful. it's the performance i never forget and keep coming back to! my favorite AI season ever. i was rooting more for David Cook, but i couldn't help admiring Archuleta's wonderful voice all the way either. (:

This night in 2008 was when David Archuleta hooked me as a fan for life. It was amazing to hear such a beautiful and powerful interpretation, especially for a 17-yr old. And the longer I was a fan of David the more I saw how he lives his life kindly and with respect and charity. I'm a fan of the singer and the person. If anyone's on twitter he's DavidArchie & has 6 albums now. He's on a church mission but expected back April 2014.

I Love you David. Keep doing your thing cause you're amazing. I have never heard of a better rendition of that song and I so Loved John Lennon and what he stood for.I still listen to your version even 6 years later.One of my most memorable moments on American idol. I just wish it was the whole song so I could relish in your amazingness sweetie xoxox

I remember how he did that song on Idol and I was completely blown away by the performance and his voice!

This performance was a portend of things to come. David is now the best singer in the business and a dynamic performer to boot. What should have taken 5 years has taken less than 2. His concerts are epic and must be experienced to be believed.

It is impossible to "Imagine" a world without you, David Archuleta. You are so incredibly great!, an angel sent from heaven. You bless everyone who listens to your angelic voice. Paula is right when she said "that was the most moving performance she ever heard". That was the best and most moving performance ever in American Idol and elsewhere.

April 2016 - Still awesome. American Idol can hold it's head high over all other reality shows - actual TALENT shone through. Love this version from David. Have a great day everyone :)

and you can notice that paula Abdul was even crying here.. the way he delivered the song will really make u cry...he really delivered the emotion of the song..cry.. snippppp..

Every time i hear this song is performed on American idol i think of David's performance. Amazingly brilliant and I am 70 years old. So underrated extremely talented...👏👏👏👏

I watch this performance every year, at least twice… since it aired live. All time fav!

I remember this performance!! Still amazing to this day

On Idol they could only do 1.5-2 minutes of the song. David has sung the entire song both before and after Idol. As far as doing the song justice, after the show Yoko Ono called the producer of Idol to say how much she loved David's rendition.

Still my favorite Idol performance to date in 4 seasons undoubtedly. He did such an amazing job and I remember Paula crying and everything. He's always been one of my favorites on the show, his voice is so pure, and even when he was young, god bless him.

American Idol final brought me back here after seeing David on the show-I had to hear him sing "Imagine" once again-it is an awesome cover-Paul was here-04-09-16.

He is just so amazing. His voice is breath taking.

Who’s here after the Masked Singer?

This was one of my fav performances of David's also on Idol. His voice has grown soo much since then and I'd really love to hear him record this song again..it would be amazing!!

I watched this live five years ago and it was AMAZING !!!! Love David Archuleta !!! Also saw him at the Starland Ballroom In Sayreville, NJ.. GREAT !!!

Our family's favorite all-time American Idol performance. I wish he would sing this style more. Sooo good!

Oh my god, i am crying, this is beautiful

love, love, love Randy's comments. David deserved to have comments like that made about him.Kudo's to Randy for giving David his due, during his time on the show. David is a remarkable singer.

That performance is such PERFECTION. I love how Paula cried over it. I think that throughout idol she was moved by WHO David is, just as much as she was moved by his singing. I don't think it matters that David didn't win. Sometimes a title is just a title. What people experience and witness is more important and many, many people have experienced and witnessed that David was and is someone very special with an absolutely fabulous gift. We know the truth. Thats all that matters.

he's comparable in American Idol ..nobody ever sing this as beautiful as he did..he's 1 of the mark in AI..what a beautiful rendition.. AI is trying and trying another DA but no one and no one will ever be like him..he's exceptional..

David has the IT factor... it's a shame his career wasn't more than it turned out to be, but it's more important that he lives his life the way he sees fit. Incredible talent... and hopefully when he's older he'll make a come back.

how he switched it up with the "take my hand and join us" too clean my man.

2022. Still get get enough of the best rendition of this song ever performed.

It's October 2016. Still watching! And listening! 😘

the best vocal i have ever listened to..

This kid should've won American Idol that season, for this performance alone.

David -- you had me had me at Imagine...and 2 yrs later and that performance still brings tears to my eyes!

I still have a huge ass crush on him :)

This gave me chills

had to hear this before i go to bed. Makes me feel better. Thank you David for being you. Don't ever stop singing

Best renditon of Imagine I have ever heard. David sang this song with such emotion and heart. His vocal abilities are superior and who can resist that smile.

Hate him or not, this is arguably the greatest performance in Idol history

Enchanting! Even though it's already 4 years since I heard David performed this song, I still keep coming back here from time to time to listen to him. :)

I still love his songs. I cried when he lost to david cook. my sing called to make sure I was ok. still and always love him!!!!

So beautiful!!

... it's 2015. still here lol

He has s much more talent than most of the singers out there. His voice is so pure and his words are so heartfelt. Amazing!!!

I could watch this performance a thousand times and I still get goosebumps from it every time.

lennon would be proud of this guy...

It’s 2023. And I’m still here 🙌🏼

every night after coming from work, i surf youtube for all the american idol contestants.....and this is my personal opinion, david archuleta is still the most loved and popular contestant that american idol ever had........that charming adorable boy who now grew up to be a fine young man

I'll never get over the beauty and magic of this performance. David Archuleta you are truly one of a kind, and such an AMAZING person and role model. and when he sings, Pure Heaven ♥

I MISS PAULA AND SIMON SO MUCH

Damn, i remembered him being good, but i dont remember him being THAT good i remember this was the last season i watched of idol, and i voted for him :D

so much nostalgia during my 2000's era and i'm still closeted and crushin on him back then

I never get tired of watching/listening to this video. 2008 was the only year I bothered with AI and I'm glad I did because I discovered David. Since then I've met him and seen him 3x in concert. I missed this performance on AI, though, because I didn't start watching until Dolly Parton week. His rendition gives me chills. David is one of the best singers in the business. I just love this guy!

He's been on a Mormon mission out of the country for 2 years he comes back in March

when he didn't win I cried

think i've watched this a 1000 times since the live show. Still feel the same way....... perfect, swoon, awesome, beautiful!

Nostalgic! Remembering the good times. The best batch of American Idol for me.

i love my cousin. he did such a beautiful job with this song