These AOL Sessions are a strange hybrid. They contain all the trappings of a live performance but without an audience, and the control of a studio set-up but without the finesse. I’m not convinced that this is a worthy trade-off. The interests of those performers for whom only a massive amount of audio manufacturing will do (Beyonce) are nicely supported in this format, whereas those performers whose artistry is fueled by the kinesis of playing to living hearts and minds (John Legend, Pink, David) are invariably compromised. We wind up getting something slightly more spontaneous than a recording session, but not as viscerally electric as a real live performance. I feel like I’m watching tour practice. Maybe they should be called AOL Rehearsals.
By allowing him to build the songs on his own, the setting does offer a greater glimpse of the true scope of David’s vocal prowess, and provides evidence of capabilities that were often truncated, compromised, or unrecognized in the studio production rush. But even though they are eminently preferable to the overblown studio treatments, the more holistic band-backed versions do tend to point up the rather insipid nature of most of the writing. David soars but the material sinks, which results in a fairly low altitude overall. In what is quickly becoming an obvious trend, the numbers on which David had a hand in writing are here again the most successful.
I feel like I am still watching potential more than execution with David. And some of it, quite frankly, is his own fault, however exacerbated by limiting circumstances like accelerated studio schedules or live performances that live people can only see recordings of. The truth is that there is a lid on this kid that we’ve only seen blown off in rare instances: finale night, Utah concerts, Tulsa. The lid has yet to be even cracked in the studio.
In the performing arts, there is a delicate dance between control and abandon. Because music has so far been the only dimension in David’s young life where he has allowed himself any abandon at all, most of his performances are both utterly thrilling and ultimately frustrating, as they remain at some level subject to the limitations he imposes on himself in other areas. Far be it from me to imply that David should relinquish his treasured incorruptibility, but a life led with the lid on isn’t likely to be abandoned in its entirety on the stage, in the studio, or anywhere in-between.
Just in time to give thanks to all the passionate and creative Archies who contribute their own talents so that we can celebrate David’s talent, a set of wonderful new works from Rabid. Get a super XXL version of the above image here. Thanks, James!
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, everyone. I know you will all be joining me in giving thanks for the gift of music. May we have many more Thanksgivings accompanied by the feast that is David Archuleta.
Looks like you’re going to have to broaden your definition of the word, “hunk,” David, to include the luminous beam of a young singer in the midst of realizing his dreams.
No matter how high his star rises, I get the feeling that David Archuleta will always be as graciously focused on what other are doing, on what others represent, than what his own particular role may be. I can even foresee a time, decades from now, when David himself is one of the luminaries, one of the legends at an event like the American Music Awards, when an interview such as this portrays David speaking with hearfelt enthusiasm about the the young newcomers who represent the future.
Our expectations of David have evolved so much in such a short time that it is no longer a surprise to see him being both affable and articulate. But it’s still a delight to feel his own enthusiasm for being part of something represents so much of his aspirations, and perhaps more so to see him just beginning to believe that he belongs there.
In this his first professional year as a musical artist David Archuleta has been specializing in second. Runner up to the first-place finisher on American Idol, his debut single peaking at No. 2, and sales of 183,000 putting his freshman album just behind the top spot on the Billboard Album chart for the week. If nothing else, David’s well-known integrity has certainly expressed itself in an admirable consistency.
I really like this position for David at this point in his career. Two feels true. The connotations associated with second are more correct for someone who is by no means reaching his full potential. There is room to move. Peaks to be scaled. A number-one spot confers definitions and expectations that are not always entirely ideal, especially at this point in a career path. Had David been hitting number-one spots with the material off this particular album, I think I would be concerned that it would be assessed as being a better fit than it is. And that would be far too limiting.
The plain truth is that although David might be in the big leagues now, he is not yet batting homers. Solid singles, doubles, maybe a triple here and there (”Somebody Out There”), but the kid is still working out. The number-two spots are just the right place for him at the moment; far above the mean, nipping at the heels of glory, setting the stage for great things to come. What is abundantly clear to anyone watching is that while most of his contest predecessors peaked with their first efforts, Mr. Archuleta is just getting started.
In the end, these kinds of rankings are meaningless, of course, especially when considering where the value of an artist really lies. With the right material, David has the ability to create an exclusive channel between his heart and the heart of the listener such that the world veritably disappears. The most hardened critics (if they are worthy of the title) have already acknowledged this potential. They know it’s coming. The irony is that David’s real stardom will not ensue from clever executive strategy but from a commitment to trust David himself.
This is easily one of the most jaw-dropping segments of David Archuleta “in action” ever captured.
Even though they both happen to be favorites of mine, it is inescapable that David Archuleta and Kathy Griffin could not be more opposite kinds of people. Just seeing them together is slightly earth shattering to me. While Kathy is incisive, irreverent, quick-witted, smart-assed and cynical, David is …well, not. At all. Like, he barely even gets the jokes. I submit that if anyone who knows who David Archuleta is–including his die-hard fans–were asked what would happen if he were thrown into a room with Kathy Griffin, the answer would have been along the lines of, “she’d devour him like a mated praying mantis.”
But here’s the thing: He totally takes over. Watch what happens at 1:21. It is quite astonishing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone turn Kathy Griffin around on herself quite as successfully as David does here, when he completely disarms her by asking her if she sings. What? Excuse me, what? His manner is charming and cool and absolutely devastating. I’ll get nasty emails for this, but David’s assertiveness here is breathtakingly sexy. The power. The control. The sheer force of will deployed with utter nonchalance.
I guarantee you that Kathy Griffin has a new-found respect for David Archuleta, because there’s nothing she appreciates more than being bested. And she was. Oh, she was. By none other than little David Archuleta.
Nathalene is one of our most creative Archies (she and her husband have a design company in California) and was inspired to include David in her contributions to the Imagine Peace Project. So that David could be aware of what had been done in his name, Nathalene put together an absolutely beautiful book commemorating the “wishes” added to one of the project’s initiatives, Wish Trees for Pasadena.
But Nathalene opened her heart even more. Instead of giving the book to David on her own behalf–even though everything comprised her ideas, thoughts, and activities–she invited several of David’s most devoted Internet fan communities to take part in the dedication to David. David is blessed to have an Archie like Nathalene, and we are honored to have her as part of our community here at notingDavid.
Nathalene got a chance to present the book to David yesterday. Here is her wonderful story.
I’m happy to report MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I was able to get it to David at the taping of the Spike Feresten show last night. (Either myself or fellow fan, Monica, will have a full report on fansofdavid.com.)
Myself, my BFF Jen, and fellow Archie, Monica, were lucky enough to be in the studio during David’s sound check. We were the only fans there. He saw us there, we waved to him, and stayed out of the way. The check lasted for about 15-20 minutes, and while David met with all the crew, we had a pleasant chat with Jeff. I now know what other people mean when they say that Jeff talks about David just like we do. He thanked us for our support, to which we had to retort back “No. Thank YOU!”.
After the check, one of the production mgrs started to lead David out of the set to go get ready. But they stayed behind us, and we could still see David through the equipment. David was peering through to us as well, so I waved and said “David, I have a gift to you.” He gave me the “oh, ok” look and he obliged to come back to us. So sweet.
I took the book out and started to explain it. Let me just say, I wouldn’t have chosen any better way to give this to him. I was so grateful to be in a quiet, more private setting. But whatever setting it may be, David always gives you his undivided attention. I continued, and he seemed intrigued that it was part of the Imagine Peace Project. Then that same production manager interrupted, telling David that he had to go get ready, but David stayed, and remained so patient with me. I basically ended by saying, “It’s just a simple gesture. It’s all explained in here, if you have time to read it.” And he gave me that signature “Awww, wow, that’s so cool. I will. Thank you so much.” It was very sincere, and I was very honored to give it to him.
After the show, we got to go backstage and we ran into David, Jeff, and David’s family friend (same one from Leno who was with Lauri). She came up to me and told me that David loved it. My heart swelled. As we were getting ready to leave, I gave David one final gift — a retractable sharpie marker. (I always see him using the one with the cap when signing autographs and I can only guess how tedious it gets taking that cap on and off). He looked me dead straight in the eye — a look that kept me in a frozen trance — and said “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
I’d like to think he wasn’t just thanking me for the sharpie.
Thanks to all of you who shared in signing the book with me.
-Nat
Click in for another pic of David and his new friend, and for a few images from the Imagine book. Thank you, Nathalene, for allowing us to participate. Read more »
One of our loyal and beloved notingDavid regulars emailed me earlier today and gently suggested that I might turn my gaze to joy. Fair enough, I replied.
And so, to joy.
The joy of discovery in new music. One of the blessings in being a fan is that the surprise of new material is married to the warmth of familiarity. It’s like traveling to new and exotic locations with a lover. But the depth of David’s soul contains discoveries of its own, and nothing is perhaps more rewarding than noticing a special nuance or a shaded note, even after multiple plays, that you hadn’t noticed before. And suddenly all is deep and wide and reeling again as you marvel at the grand and glorious subtlety that David extracts from even the simplest phrase.
The joy of watching David’s joy. Even through all the impossible stops, the traveling, schedules, and faces, David not only endures through it all, he delights being put through his paces. Surely he knows that he’s living his dream, he is grateful, we know that, it shows. But David knows too that his public is part of it, they’re on the journey as well. His commitment to the grind is a selfless gesture, a gift he bestows to his fans. It’s thrilling, and he wants to share it.
The joy of soaking in David’s voice. Critics who listen are already groping for adjectives. Foggy. Velvet. Winsome. Melancholy. It cannot be reduced to words, of course. Neither can it even really be heard with the ears but indeed must be felt with the heart. It pierces, it soothes, it bundles and wraps. It soars and it slides and it whispers. There’s infinity in them thar notes.
The joy of sharing in David’s accomplishment. That circular piece of polycarbonate plastic is not just the result of three crazy months of traveling and recording and selecting and agonizing, but indeed the result of a lifetime of preparation… Of daring to think, as he watched Les Miserables or listened to Mariah Carey, that it might be him; that he, too, might someday sing and that people might listen; that he might one day even dare to dream of joining the pantheon of performers who reach beyond the recordings and rest in people’s hearts.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend, everyone. I know you will all be joining me in giving thanks for the gift of music. May we have many more Thanksgivings accompanied by the feast that is David Archuleta.
Nathalene is one of our most creative Archies (she and her husband have a design company in California) and was inspired to include David in her contributions to the 
