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for June, 2008.
By rascal
David’s growing confidence onstage is apparently being matched in the studio, where those familiar with his past recording efforts have been nothing short of astounded by his unambiguous ownership of the sessions. Both Richard Parkinson (David’s sometime arranger, in the photo) and David’s dad, Jeff, both reported being amazed not only at what David was achieving with his performances but the degree to which he was driving the direction of every aspect of the recording. When they had been in the studio six months ago David had needed a lot of help and guidance. Not this time.
“He was a complete pro and really took command of the situation–more so than either had ever seen him do before,” according to a source close to the collaborators. They recorded several songs, which evidently included some Christmas songs, in hopes that some would be embraced by Jive to be included on David’s album.
Jeff was reportedly so enthusiastic about the results that when asked what he would do if Jive didn’t like the material or wanted to go a different way, he exclaimed, “If they don’t like them, we’ll go back to E19 and tell them they signed with the wrong label!”
While on the one hand it is immensely gratifying to learn of David’s emerging command and control offstage as well as on, I can’t help but question the wisdom of Christmas songs. Not that they wouldn’t be delightful, remarkable even, but I don’t see any reason at this early stage to toss red meat to the critics. David has his entire career to delve into genre music; I can see no possible advantage to doing it so soon.
By rascal
Profound experience is a communion with the divine. Those who have been led to this place by way of David’s music, his character, and his journey may seek to explain this experience in many ways, and I think it is helpful to both respect these different modes of expression and also to recognize their limitations.
First and foremost, it is important to recognize that David is not and should not be construed as the source of divination nor even the portal to it, but merely a rare conduit or mechanism by which our own inherent connection to the divine is activated. In other words, David is for all intents and purposes a naive outside agent by which our own pre-existing heart connections are opened.
I don’t mean to in any way diminish this extraordinary gift of David’s, but we must be aware that both the connection and the divine itself reside in us, not in David himself (not, of course, that it doesn’t also reside in David, but no more so than it does in us). It is useful to maintain a recognition of this not only for our own perspective but also for David’s well being–it would be unfair to levy onto him the magnitude of expectation that would accompany such prophetic appointments.
Secondly, it would be helpful in the course of discussion to confine the scope of our language to personal experience. To some, a profound connection with the source of all things has an obvious religious connotation; it is, in effect, a “religious experience.” But there are many others, myself among them, for whom there is a distinction between spirituality, which has a personal experience dimension, and religion, which has an organized institutional dimension. Because personal experience is not limited by institutional self-perpetuation, it is often easier to share a spiritual experience than it is to share a religious one, even if they may be two sides of the same coin.
Finally, I think it is appropriate to comment here on the essential illusion. The success–or at least the nature–of the physical world is dualism, or the appearance of separateness. Up and down, black and white, past and future, good and evil are all necessary aspects of the physical construct, and so we must acknowledge and respect them, but we needn’t be ruled by them. We have the capacity to transcend the petty constructs of the world and see that all–all, mind you–is the essential One. Art has the power to break this illusion and bring us to this transcendence in a blistering, blinding moment. David is such an artist.
By rascal
From the Zomba Label Group web site:
DAVID ARCHULETA SIGNS TO JIVE RECORDS
(New York, NY) – It was announced today that American Idol sensation David Archuleta has signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records. Archuleta is currently gearing up for the upcoming American Idol tour which kicks off on July 1st in Glendale, AZ. The 17-year old is expected to release his debut album later this year.
“Signing a record contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records is truly a dream come true,” states Archuleta. “Being a fan of American Idol since season one and admiring the alumni, I am honored and humbled to be a part of that group. I’m really excited to start working on everything.”
David Archuleta, the runner-up on the current season of “American Idol,” has three songs entering the Hot 100 this week, starting with his stunning remake of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at No. 36, along with his highly-praised rendition of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and his finale song, “In This Moment.”
Simon Fuller, creator of the popular TV series and chief executive and founder of 19 Entertainment Label Group, states, “It was fascinating to watch David’s journey through Idol. He is a genuine pop star, and is a gifted singer who instantly won over a huge audience when he first appeared on the show. Since then, he has dealt with the pressure and the high level of expectation with real fortitude; he’s given us some of the best performances of the season. Without question David Archuleta has a great future ahead of him.”
Tom Carrabba, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Jive/Zomba Label Group comments, “David Archuleta has already shown the world that he is a star. He’s a young, talented singer with wide appeal and we’re thrilled to have him join our roster.”
David Archuleta is from Murray, Utah, a town outside Salt Lake City. He recently came to national attention and captured the hearts and imagination of a nation with several show-stopping performances on “American Idol.”
By rascal
Update: Jeff Archuleta had indeed received pre-authorization from someone at 19 Entertainment before he put everything in motion, and was reportedly very surprised when they changed their tune and pulled the plug. The producers apparently felt that a David concert would dilute interest in the Idol tour. There are two dates in Salt Lake, the first is sold out and the second is close to being sold out.
Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.
In yet another exertion of their iron-fisted power, 19 Entertainment has seen fit to crush the good intentions of David Archuleta by prohibiting his effort to selflessly express his gratitude to the people of Salt Lake City for their extraordinary support of him–and 19 Entertainment’s programming–during this year’s season of American Idol. This after allegedly giving Team David an initial thumbs-up for the event.
According to several Utah news outlets, the family thought they had a verbal agreement, but 19 Entertainment said late yesterday that “no one on the American Idol tour is allowed to make a public appearance until after the concert has passed through the town.” The tour dates in the SLC region are already sold out.
For good or ill, I have acclimated to the necessity of considering anything Idol-related with suspicion and skepticism. It immediately occurred to me upon learning of this concert that it was decidedly uncharacteristic of the ferociously controlling organization. Because there are nine other tour talents who could also conceivably fill venues on their own, the reluctance to license a potential chain reaction is perhaps understandable.
By rascal
It is expected to be announced tomorrow that as an expression of gratitude for their remarkable support, Salt Lake City will get a rare treat: the chance to see David Archuleta live in concert. No word yet on the venue, but tickets are expected to cost a nominal $1.00, presumably to cover the cost of the venue and staffing.
David is currently enjoying some well-deserved R&R at Lake Powell with friends. He leaves Saturday morning to start rehearsals for the Idol tour, and the JIve Records deal is apparently concluded all but for the dotting of i’s and the crossing of t’s. They are trying to find a single he could record to sell on tour.
Consistent with what we all observed during the media week following the finale, David himself has been characterized by those close to him as having really come out of his shell. The talk he gave at the church meeting on Sunday night was reportedly something of a surprise to those who have seen David in this context before. Usually brief and quiet when asked to say a few words, David was evidently downright loquacious, speaking from the heart with a power and confidence that moved many.
By rascal
One of the reasons I know that David Archuleta is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience is because there is an entire category of people who find themselves inexplicably drawn to this remarkable young man who are not the kinds of people commonly–if ever–given to fanaticism of any kind. It is also telling that a significant number of these people are music professionals.
As for myself, I’ve been involved in music, entertainment, and media for my entire career and I’ve seen a lot of talent come and go. I cannot quite recall ever having had quite the experience I had discovering David. Even after I had acknowledged my bizarre devotion, after I had started blogging about him, and after realizing (much to my relief) that I was far from the only responsible, level-headed adult who had gone completely batty over him, I was still surprised at how deeply I continued to be affected by his voice and his astonishing musicality. There are certain moments of David’s recorded performances that seem like direct portals to universal truth. Involuntary tears are not uncommon.
The degree to which David has the capacity to move people is a rare power. People want to give themselves–their emotional lives and vulnerabilities–over to him. His potential to be a star of profound dimensions lies as much in this artistry as it does in his character: that of a man who can be trusted with such an awesome responsibility.
I had always expressed the belief that David was far more in control of his material, his performances, and his career trajectory than anyone–particularly the smarmy and skeptical press–had given him credit for. What I hadn’t quite seen until the media week following the finale was that David has very definite ideas about where he is headed and what’s next. He was aptly vague on the specifics, but consistent and clear on the intentions. This was both more ataractic and more unexpected than the poise and self-possession with which he handled the media onslaught itself. Perhaps it ought not have been a surprise that the more substantive the engagement, the more successfully David rose to the challenge; he was thrown more by the condescension of cheek-pinching than by the demands to justify his lyric flubs.
It’s a mistake to think that gentle compassion and humility don’t reside on a foundation of enormous strength. My concern for David–maybe even some misguided parental sentiment–led me to convey some thoughts and warnings to him about how brutal and selfish the entertainment industry could be, and how easy it is to lose sight of one’s own personal path. I think now that I needn’t have been so concerned. The thoughts themselves are pertinent regardless, but David has expressed a certainty of purpose that, while perhaps still somewhat sublimated, nevertheless represents an artery of guiding principles that continues to reveal itself as enormously trustworthy.
David’s future is both bright and deep. Our confidence in his choices ought to be as unequivocal as our devotion to his work.
