This Song Is Hater-Proof

I stopped taking "American Idol" seriously years ago, so until very recently, I couldn't have picked teen runner-up David Archuleta out of a lineup. I'm still not certain I could immediately tell him apart from winner David Cook. That being said, Archuleta's current hit song, "Crush," has lodged itself in brain and will not leave. It's the musical equivalent of cotton candy: sweet, light as air, and utterly addictive. I think it scared my husband a little that I not only paid a whole 99 cents to download the song, but also memorized the lyrics in record time.

And what lyrics! Do you catch your breath/When I look at you/Are you holding back/Like the way I do/'Cuz I've tried and tried to walk away/But I know this crush ain't going away-ay-ay-ayyyyeah ... Poetry!

The nice thing about being my age is that I don't have to pretend not to dig this song. There is a time and a place for the many excellent, critic-approved artists populating my iPod, and there is a time and a place for songs like "Crush." So make room, Nick Lowe. David Archuleta's moving in.

It's For The Kids! I Swear!

Entertainment Weekly gave their album a B-plus and said parents would secretly dig it. Rolling Stone gave it four out of five stars, though I acknowledge that RS hasn't had any credibility since 1990. Newsday gave them props. So get off my back about maybe, sort of liking the Jonas Brothers' music! My son thinks they're cool. OK? Yes, the "Camp Rock" soundtrack was a crime against humanity, but even Paul McCartney has recorded some crap in his lifetime.

Hipsters, do not judge me. Because somewhere buried beneath your Vampire Weekend, Clipse and Pixies CDs is a copy of the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack. I just know it.