By rascal
I realize the Clayton photographs are old news already (sometimes I think this fan base gets news of things before they actually happen), but I’ve been waylaid with attempts to mitigate that impact of the financial crisis on practically every aspect of professional and personal business. Occasionally my career has to come before David’s. But only occasionally.
I like the Clayton photographs. I don’t love them. Aside from the styling (not diggin’ the hair), the problem for me (and it’s not really a problem so much as it is a stylistic choice) is that there is really nothing in the way of attitude or viewpoint in these layouts. Nothing to really sink your teeth into, as it were; nothing even remotely inscrutable. Clayton is a skilled photog, but more of a talented journeyman than an artist. His work is lovely, classic, fresh, and authentic. He avoids, for the most part, anything mawkish or trite, even as he stays quite safely within the bounds of well-established convention. Nice work, nothing more.
I remain in a state of chagrin about the continued pimping of David in those awful teen magazines. I was given a vivid reminder of why I’m so against this strategy (or lack of one) when I read recently about the actor Chris Evans, and the issues surrounding a much passed-around shirtless photo spread of him that appeared in Flaunt magazine. The shoot lead to a ban by the actor’s publicist on photo shoots of that nature, so as to protect his chances at becoming a serious actor. Said Evans of the shoot: “I really didn’t think twice about taking my shirt off at the time, but my current publicist would pull her hair out if I did that photo shoot today.” Evans’ publicist is exactly right. Image is everything in show business and the careful crafting and aggressive control of perception is especially critical if an artist wants to be taken seriously. David cuddling stuffed animals in the pages of Teen Bop Tiger Pop undermines his potential to be seen as a serious musician just as surely as Chris Evans flaunting beefcake in Flaunt compromises his intentions as a serious actor.
It’s time for David to decide what his intentions are, and make certain that the people who work for him are carrying out his wishes.
By rascal
The short-sighted narrow mindedness of Jive that has resulted in the over-saturation of Archie in almost exclusively teen and tween oriented events and publications diminishes the scope of his appeal and undermines his artistic credibility, but he will rise above it. In the meantime, there are compensations. Here’s one.
Random observation: I’m liking the self-deprecating humor that’s creeping into his (extremely well-written) blogs; there’s also a delightful intimacy about it that acknowledges how well his audience already knows him:
“I don’t think I can explain (not like me being unable to explain something is anything new) how intimidating and nerve wracking it was to be sandwiched between Kanye West and Chris Brown in the lineup…”
By rascal
David may be keeping the lid on, but there sure are moments when the pressure seems to be mounting. Click for a larger view.
By rascal
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.
Click the image for an XL view.
By rascal
One of the great things about immense talent is that it inspires others with great talent: A virtuous cycle that cross-pollinates from music to photography to journalism to fashion to songwriting and back again. I confess I didn’t think we would see David in the Christopher Makos – Interview – Late 20th Century – Classic Rock Icononography photo mode quite so soon. But, indeed, what else for a seventeen-year-old pop god?
This image is part of a series created for Elle Magazine of some of the Season Seven Idols, in which, I believe, one can arguably conclude through objective assessment that Mr. Archuleta accomplishes the most arresting image — by a landslide.
By rascal
SnarkyArchies is reporting today on a page from this month’s edition of Details Magazine that in many ways breaks through the clutter of teen-oriented positioning in David’s current press. The Details audience is male and comprises the twentysomething and thirtysomething demographics; decidedly not the center of David’s current fan base (although, I’m not sure there will ever actually be a center; David’s audience is nothing if not diversified). Considering the dismissive, snarky tone adopted by much of the editorial in the pub, it seems even more remarkable that David gets the best copy of all the profiles, not to mention the premiere position in the layout. I realize it would be presumptuous of us to assume that the wider world is going to fail to catch on to the Archumagic at one point or another, but oh my heck, it’s interesting to see it starting already.
By rascal
Um. Wow.
Update #1: While I’m gathering my thoughts (and picking my jaw up off the floor), I give you the following as a soundtrack for your comments on this topic. In honor of the new album cover, the following has been selected as the notingDavid Executive Steering Committee Theme Song.
Those of you on the Steering Committee, you know who you are.
Steering_Committee_Theme.mp3
Update #2: Wherein Rascal redeems himself from his initial, slightly less-than articulate, “Um. Wow.”
Okay, so, I’ve given this a lot of thought and I’ve made my decision. I don’t like it. I love it. This image telegraphs something very specific to the market. Not just from David but from his producers, from his label, from the very people who are tasked with the rather significant responsibility of saying–especially the first time out– “here’s how we think you should consider this artist.”
And the overall message? Serious.
Yes, gosh-dang-it, yes!
It would be easy to talk about things like street cred, or thug rep (if David could look like this in certain areas of my beloved Brooklyn, he’d do just fine), and that’s all well and good, but I don’t think that’s the prevailing message. Seriousness is the message the market should be getting from David’s label on his first time out, even if some of the music is light and fun. This man, despite–and in addition to–his young looks, his tween appeal, his boyish charm, his wholesome lifestyle, and his initial pop-music leanings, is an artist to be taken seriously.
I know all you Mrs. Robinsons out there (God love you) are seeing smolderosity in this picture. And goodness knows (as do most others) that I can see smolderosity in David, too. But I’m not seeing that here. Not nearly as much, anyway, as I am seeing a combination of maturity, sense-of-purpose, real depth, and a degree of certainty that just isn’t possible from lightweights. No, in fact, I suspect that Jive was probably somewhat surprised when the proofs from this photo session arrived; they very likely wanted, and got, a wide range of attitudes and expressions in a variety of outfits. But if this is indeed the official cover shot, then I suspect Jive saw something in this image that they might not have expected to see.
In fact, their surprise may have been perfectly consistent with their experience with David in the production of his music. It’s hard for me to believe (despite the desire that Jive reportedly had for him, and the allegedly good deal he got) that they really and truly had any idea what they were getting. Not, in any case, to the degree that his more serious fans had an idea. I think one of the reasons the Jive marriage has been rocky (and it has), is because Jive had expectations of David that were easily exceeded at every juncture. I can imagine a scene where an underling goes running to management to report, “he’s not doing what we’ve asked for,” and management, after listening to the product of what’s been going on, replies, “You idiot! He’s doing ten-times more than we asked for! Get a better producer!” Of course, that’s just my imagination. But I wouldn’t be surprised.
The release of this image–whether or not it’s the official cover image–is to my mind yet another indication of Jive’s acknowledgment of David as a serious musical artist. It plays against type, but it’s not a misrepresentation. We’ve always all been so amazed at how David can be such a sweet, genial, compassionate, lovely person when he is with fans, or in any situation when he is not singing, and then suddenly, in performance, he turns into this powerhouse of emotion and strength and hunger and pain and resolve and integrity and intelligence. This remarkably serious, intense picture is perhaps the only picture we’ve seen so far that actually captures the David who sings.
And, okay, yeah, he’s hot. Coo coo cachoo.
Thanks to