By rascal
Todd Rundgren, back in the day.
The more I read and hear about the devotion and especially the overall character of David’s fans (this was highlighted once again by the reports from Z100 regarding the number of calls and emails since yesterday’s announcement), the more I think of how similar it is to the nature of Todd Rundgren’s fans, a parallel I’ve mentioned before. Todd’s fans are (or were, at any rate) known for bestowing gifts onto the stage of his concerts throughout entire performances, until the proscenium was filled with flowers and packages and baskets. They cherished him, defended him, and protected him in much the same way I am seeing David’s fans do. I think it’s interesting to consider the similarities between these two artists and why their fan bases respond to them the way they do.
Todd Rundgren, for those of you who don’t know or need a refresher, is a singer-songwriter-musician-producer-innovator who, although by no means a hit-maker (by choice and by design, I suspect), has enjoyed a significant degree of chart success since the late 1960s with songs like “I Saw The Light” (1972), “Hello It’s Me” (1973), and “Can We Still Be Friends” (1978). Of particular interest is that in addition to being a consummate collaborator, some of Todd’s most successful and critically acclaimed albums have been entirely written, performed, and produced by the artist alone–and these are in many cases lush productions with multiple layers of instrumentation and vocals. I am reminded of David’s cross-disciplinary musical virtuosity.
But what seems most similar between the two is a certain, shall we say, “wise innocence” that pervades the musical character of their work. One of the most interesting things to me about Todd’s music has always been its ability to be unabashedly romantic (in the broadest sense) while maintaining a distinct intelligence that never allows it to veer into sentimentality or mawkishness. The result–and I find this extremely similar to what David is able to achieve–is that it empowers the listener to indulge in the pleasures of pop sensibility and yet be able to discover enormous depths of emotion in the process. People talk about spontaneous tears, seemingly out of nowhere, when listening to David Archuleta; Todd Rundgren’s music has done precisely the same thing for many people.
David’s studio version of Think of Me is a prime example (I know, I can’t stop writing about that performance, but I really believe it will go down in the Archuleta canon as one of the first glimpses of his true genius): A lovely show tune that David took into the realm of pop sensibility and for which he delivers a beautifully textured performance. But there are a series of moments in the last third of the piece that take this charming little confection to another level altogether. It’s as if a chasm opens beneath you and above you, and both the heights of glory and the depths of despair become one, and all of life is suddenly, momentarily, visible. Todd Rundgren accomplishes these kinds of revelations through his writing and production; David has so far been able to achieve it almost entirely with his voice alone.
Here are some examples of Todd’s wonderful work.
All the Children Sing
All_the_Children_Sing.mp3
Hurting for You
Hurting_for_You.mp3
Love of the Common Man
Love_of_the_Common Man.mp3
Hello It’s Me
Hello_Its_Me.mp3
By rascal
Now that it appears likely that 19E / Jive have put David into Tier One of their marketing machine, it begs the question as to the ultimate value of this support. The nature of the situation may at first seem like a no-brainer: What could possibly be undesirable about big-budget, A-list positioning for David? There are, of course, pros and cons to everything, and nothing is purely good or bad. Recent blog and board postings have already explored the process that is likely to unfold here:
This is being set up almost identically to Jordin’s “Tattoo” release last year. This is how Jive operates and if they are going for the Friday Z100 in-studio premiere, there will be a lot of payola behind this song, so it should receive substantial airplay (good or bad, requests or not).
This is how it works: Z100 will premiere it on Friday morning and play it several times over the weekend. They will officially add it on Monday. Other major markets who play monkey see, monkey do with Z100 will start playing it and add it over the month of August. Then, on the official impact date of Sept. 2, the song will be released to itunes and the overall radio push will commence in order to get a respectable to good Hot 100 debut. After the AI tour, the big payola will start with lots of in-studio radio promotions in major markets and contests like “Win breakfast with David Archuleta” or something like that. This will continue for about 2 months to keep the single moving up the charts. It will conclude with the album promotion and release (so, November 4 seems just about right).
This is an entirely different ball game from a runner up single that gets thrown out there with no radio promotion to temporarily appease fans.
– from MJ’s American Idol blog
First of all, let’s remember that this is an indication of the belief that David can sell records, not necessarily in the belief that David is an artist of the magnitude we know him to be (their belief or not in this is essentially immaterial for their purposes). So, what, you may ask, is the possible downside?
The possible downside is that David’s legitimacy in the market, among the general public and, most importantly, in the wider music industry may be compromised by the fact that his initial chart successes might be based not on genuine public interest but on relentless promotion. The quality of the material will have a lot to do with whether critics, industry people, and influential cultural observers assign credit to David or to the money behind him. In other words, whether or not the hype is deserved.
The organizational entities involved here represent the slickest, most manufactured side of the music industry. Although many fine artists fall into this category simply because this how the industry works at this level, many “true” artists who are not the beneficiaries of such support (whether by fate or by choice) are openly contemptuous and perhaps privately envious of the process. It is a great deal of money, after all.
But the problem is one of transition, if and when David may decide to pursue it, to more interesting, less mainstream forms and directions. When an artist’s career begins at a commercial peak, it becomes extremely difficult to ignore the pressures and expectations that accompany subsequent efforts.
If David wasn’t such a unique and special talent, I might have no reservations whatsoever. Huzzah! Best thing that could happen! But as we all know, David is a wellspring of untapped potential. There are depths of soul-stirring sensitivity and power that few artists possess. It has always been terribly gratifying to see how many musicians have responded to David, it is just one indication of just how substantial his gifts are.
Given his integrity and his apparent lack of interest in anything so crass as purely commercial success, it does seem more likely than not that David will be able to eschew the interests of the industry and pursue his passions when the time is right… even if I do feel just a little wistful for the lost opportunity for him to develop in a slightly more independent fashion.
I remind myself of my own mantra: Trust the Archulator.
By rascal
Although it remains unofficial, several confirmed reports indicate that David will be a guest on Elvis Duran’s Z100 morning show in New York City this Friday, August 1st. And although not skedded for release until September 2nd, we will apparently get to hear David’s first-ever single, entitled “Crush.”
Radio station Z100 has an Internet stream, so everyone will presumably be able to share the excitement.
I just hope I’m as excited after I hear it.
By rascal
R4D was kind enough to send me his latest photo art of David (gorgeous — the art, too — ha!), and it immediately reminded me of David’s current location in Canada which, according to his latest vlog, he developed an immediate affection for (”I wanna live here!”). As if he hadn’t captured nearly all of my attention already, anyone who wants to go north is a man after my own heart. Then, he says he loves New York, too. Oh, David, now you’re just teasing me.
Click the image for a larger view and click here for a high-res version and for all of R4D’s wonderful work.
By rascal
The fan pics generally need a little help in the post-production department, which I am glad to provide, seeing as how one of my stupid human tricks is photo retouching. Still, it’s impressive how many really good images have come out of the tour so far. I don’t suppose that could have anything to do with the fact that David never takes a bad picture (what’s up with that?!).
To paraphrase Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, “you wouldn’t love an artist just because he’s pretty, but my goodness, doesn’t it help?”
Thanks to the original photographers. Click the images for a larger view.
By rascal
David has displayed an ability to assess new situations rapidly and incorporate his learning without sacrificing any of his unique characteristics. The challenges involved in working a crowd can be formidable, but after several weeks of performances David has clearly raised his game in this regard. His affection for his home turf in Utah certainly helps, but there is a considerable level of comfort and control in evidence here that offers exciting glimpses of what David is likely to bring to adoring audiences in the years to come. The ‘gosh laughs’ are still there (I hope they never disappear), but now too is some real bravado, and a level of ownership of the stage that we haven’t quite seen before.
I’ve said that when David has dominion, no one can touch him, and here’s a great example, Stand By Me from the Tuesday night show in Salt Lake City. Note how he works the crowd before the number. Becky/ITTO’s videos are also some of the best we’ve seen yet–be sure to check out the rest of her recent posts at YouTube.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ocjwxB8_A]
By rascal
Heaven
David_Archuleta-Heaven.mp3
Download it here
Crazy
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1MPjvVcfVc]
By rascal
NSFW if weeping will alarm your colleagues.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvoFTlj7bAg&e]
