Crush Remix

This Crush/Canon in D mash up is by far my favorite of the “Crush” remixes.  ’Member this one?

Crush Live

The David Archieversary celebration continues.  This time with his live performance on the Today Show, when his album dropped.  Wow! When you look back at his early days of live performances, what a difference a year makes!

The Celebration Continues

Hey guys! I’m going to be pretty much preoccupied this whole weekend with organizing a weekend event, starting today.  So, to keep my blog active (and once again relying on you fabulous blog sitters), I’m extending my DavidArchieVersary celebration. 

Beginning with this sweet little trip down memory lane.  ’Member when this was dominating the VH1 countdown? Ah, the power of the Archulator! 

Also, check out the response to the music video premiere on Rascal’s Noting David.  What a moment! Specifically, check out my lengthy critique at comment #130 (and yes, Rascal’s response at #133 is why, no matter what has developed this past year, he will always have my respect). Actually, if you took the time to read the 200+ comments, it reveals what is so great about David’s fans and what is so wrong with us sometimes.

Happy DavidArchieVersary!

In celebration of the one-year anniversary of David’s debut CD, there is a Twitter Trending Party going on (don’t forget to tweet #DavidArchieVersary).  In addition, I’ve decided to reprint my review of the David Archuleta CD last year, when I was blogging as an Anxious Black Woman:

Glimpses of Vocal Prowess: My Review of David Archuleta’s Standard CD

David Archuleta brings out the Roberta Flack in me. From the first time ever I saw his face, back in February, I declared to the world that I had a crush. Little did I know that, nine months later, it wasn’t going away-ye-yay-ye-yay-ye-yay-ye-yayyyyy! Because his voice is killing me softly with his many songs, and since I’m a grown woman, I can only imagine how he’s slaying the young’uns.

While many of us who discovered David on American Idol can identify the one song that made us “believers” in his talent (for many that would be his performance of “Imagine,” for others – myself initially – that would be “Heaven”), I would have to identify a moment more than an individual cover. That moment for me was Top 3 week, when idol contestants were given two songs to sing – one from the judges, the other from the producers – and then chose their own song. That week, Paula Abdul gave him some ancient and obscure Billy Joel song “And So It Goes,” a song about an aged man who looks back on his life with regret at the many heartaches he’s had and hoping that he wouldn’t be so jaded as to not open his heart for new love. Yep, that’s the song that Ms. Abdul thought a fresh-faced 17-year-old, who has admitted in interviews that he’s never had a serious relationship, was going to be able to cover and translate the pain of love.

Not only did David step up and deliver in spades, his voice haunted me that entire week. That the producers gave him the “gooey” insipid ballad, “Longer,” by Dan Fogelberg to interpret, was a clear sign of sabatoge, but being the good little trooper that he is, David managed to turn that lemon into lemonade. He had no choice, after those songs, but to choose a current song, and so he selected Chris Brown’s “With You,” which many thought he performed awkwardly (it was the disconnect in seeing this cleancut Rocky Mountain boy singing urban lyrics like “hey little mama,” “shorty,” and “I need you boo” that threw many off). Still, it was undeniable, to me at least, that – when taking all three songs together – David illustrated his incredible gift to dig deep into a song and let his gorgeous voice do the work of translation. The combination of Chris Brown and Dan Fogelberg also showed that he could sing anything (from contemporary R&B to schlocky crap) and sound good. As Randy Jackson was fond of saying, “Dude, you could sing the phonebook, and it would be good!” (A gimmick that TRL reenacted when both David Archuleta and David Cook were subjected to a phonebook-singing contest.)

 

So, knowing this about David’s vocal prowess, I bring my ears – already predisposed to love anything coming out of his mouth – to his self-titled debut album (which will be available in stores on Tuesday, while bonus tracks in addition to the 12 tracks on his standard CD, are available on the itunes download). I’m not surprised that other reviews have started pouring in, describing the album as “generic,” while others don’t deny his immense talent as an accomplished singer in all his 17 years. However, if there is any reviewer whose opinion I respect, it would be Rascal at Noting David, someone who takes David’s artistry seriously and who laments that “much of this production treats its eponymous star like an ingredient rather than as the main course.” I’m inclined to agree with this, but only to a certain extent. You see, this view underestimates the power of a vocal musician, which is what David is, even if – from what others have reported about his early attempts at breaking into the music scene – he was encouraged to play an instrument and write songs to become a “real artist” (Whatever…does that mean musical geniuses like Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, et al, who only sang and didn’t play instruments or write songs, are not “real artists”?)

Yes, many of the tracks are over-produced, but if you’ve been paying attention to current pop music, that was inevitable. There really is no point in musicians even trying to “Rage against the Machine.” The stroke of a musical genius in this current age is learning how to subvert the machine oh-so-subtly, and I think David does that here. Take my favorite track on the CD: “Barriers.” It is clearly the most over-processed song on the album, and what I absolutely adore about it is the way you can hear David literally shouting to gain authority over the syncopated beats and the mixer, which tries to subvert his voice by producing an “echo” of it during the chorus – really, as Rascal says, treating this singer like one little ingredient among many. But, you hear him struggling and ascending on the song so that it’s his voice that guides the melody and the harmony. And the irony of the “echo” is that it merely reinforces the vocal master that David is on the song. Take that, Machine!

It’s a rather dissonant song, which blends a dash of reggae with some R&B and pop rock touches. And yet, for me, it works and shows off what David does brilliantly (I’m digging the bridge especially because he strains for some high notes and adds some fascinating runs – a vocal style he has admitted learning from black female vocalists, like his idol Tamyra Gray from season 1, and Natalie Cole, both of whom he gives shout outs to in his liner notes, a style that has been identified on American Idol as “diva”). As non-diva as David’s personality seems to be, he brings the “diva” on in his songs. Which is another way of saying that David brings the “soul.” And you hear it in his runs, his melisma, and his falsettos, which come in unexpected places.

 

For someone who represents a kind of cleancut innocence, a number of songs on the CD are just straight up angst with a touch of melancholy, which perfectly matches the “heartache” that his crystal-clear voice can register and recall. It’s something Rascal calls “an underlying melancholy, symbolized by that cry in his voice; the feeling that in grace lies an awareness of suffering.” Another reviewer calls it “tortured-soul whisper-singing, angsty bellowing in an echo chamber and quivering falsetto.” This is felt in two different songs, “Desperate,” a cover song that offers an emo-like rock sound, and “To Be With You,” a soft ballad that captures that tortured longing for his life to begin and for love to find him and wake him up to the promise and the hope. It can also be heard in the catchy “A Little Too Not Over You,” whose bridge shows off David’s falsetto the most beautifully.

Lest we forget that this mature-sounding singer is only 17, certain tracks are shamelessly added for the teens and tweens: most notably his popular, near-platinum-success single, “Crush,” and “Touch My Hand,” a cute and fun rockish sounding pop ode to the girl in the audience to whom David is singing. I understand this will be the second single, which, unfortunately, doesn’t do much to establish David beyond his teen heart throb image. I’m sure it will do just as well as “Crush,” which is the bottom line for record labels, but if they wanted to branch out and give David a new sound and mature image, “Barriers” or “Desperate” would have done the trick. I have hope they will be released as singles in the near future.

Some of the tracks are pretty generic – “My Hands” and “Don’t Let Go” come to mind – but some have some really catchy melodies, like “Running” and “Your Eyes Don’t Lie.” I personally am disappointed that there is just one other new ballad, “You Can,” since few of the tracks really allow David’s vocals to shine and be the main feature. But, at least, his ballad anthem to his “Arch Angels” fanbase, “Angels,” closes the collection, and it truly is an impressive piece of soaring vocalization.

As a debut album, its success lies in creating a bit of distance from David’s persona on American Idol and in showcasing that he can fit easily into the current music scene. My problem with that logic is: David, as far as I’m concerned, is a cut above current music artists, and it would be nice if his label showed that level of knowledge, musical intelligence, and respect for who he is. That David brings his A-game with his beautiful voice, singing incredibly on one vocal chord, mind you, means that I expect record producers to meet him half-way. As such, the result is a B+ album (and the plus is mostly David). However, he’s only 17, and I expect him to do much more – possibly peaking at age 25, when most male artists do, with an album that perfectly aligns him with the right producer and songwriter/collaborator. Right out the gate, Jive hooked him up with several different producers and songwriters, without thinking much of creating a coherent sound and collection, not to mention David had so little time to really focus on this album while touring 50+ cities during the AI concert over the summer.

Still, considering that, under such circumstances, a less capable singer would have been disastrous and less adept at selecting the right songs, David has nothing to be ashamed of here. At the very least, it shows great promise for his next and subsequent efforts in later years. And, of course, on a more superficial level: that CD cover is destined to make many fangirls (and fanboys) swoon.

 

Update Nov. 13, 2008 – now that I’ve heard all the bonus tracks – “Waiting for Yesterday,” (the falsetto is chill-inducing!), “Falling,” “Let Go,” “Somebody Out There” (David Unplugged!), and “Works for Me” – they’re such a throwback to awesome music (very Stevie-Wonderesque), I wonder about his label’s decision-making skills in not selecting these for the standard CD. However, I have zero doubts about David’s musical talents (most of these tracks were co-written or solely written by him). This boy is going to shake up the music world very soon! I promise you.

Did David Prompt This?

As some of you already noted, here is Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist, vlogging on “Pop Artists and Prejudice.”

I never heard of this author until David started following him, and I think it’s awesome that they’ve gotten in touch with each other through twitter.  Now, as I’m understanding things, some of Coelho’s followers are giving him a hard time for following “pop artists”?  Is the issue that he’s following David?

I tell ya, if enough of us “serious adults” and respectable folk start praising David enough, others will follow suit!

David Sights, David Sites

So, David was having himself a fine time at the Imogen Heap concert last night (No videos yet? No David sightings yet? And did Imogen Heap not even invite him on stage? Sheesh!)

In other news, the David Archuleta Fan Scene site is down, due to technical problems.  I actually like that fan site.  The folks over there are so young and inspired, and they’re a breath of fresh air (compared to other fan sites which will remain nameless), so I hope they recover soon.

And, speaking of blogs, I would love to highlight a David-friendly site that I discovered this year: Bring Da Beat Back.  It’s a really cool, R&B and pop urban-oriented music site, which looks like it may be run by a sharp and savvy sistah, who just loves herself some David Archuleta – among some other R&B divas.  It’s really refreshing to find some soul mates who recognize the potential of “Soul David,” and I hope David’s label recognizes his potential appeal to an urban audience.

Can You Tell Me How to Get David Archuleta to Sesame Street?

Sesame Street turns 40 today!  Yippee!!

This show is looking good at 40.  And you know you’ve arrived when you land a guest appearance on Sesame Street.  You also know you’re an icon when you get your own muppet! Haha!

Wouldn’t David make the cutest muppet?  Wouldn’t he be loads of fun singing with Elmo or Big Bird?

Of course, the drawback with being the longest running kids show on TV is that children’s parents today were also once kids who visited Sesame Street.  Which means they get super-invested in the show in the most inappropriate ways. 

I already mentioned the Fox News/Pox News faux controversy, but what about this nonsense in which parents insisted that Cookie Monster go on a “diet” because he was sending a bad message that encouraged childhood obesity? Parents! Stop it! You are too old for the show, and leave Cookie Monster alone! (Sheesh, I can’t believe they made Cookie Monster go on a diet… what kind of message is that?)

However, I will lose my cookies (pun intended) if any grown-up starts complaining about Bert and Ernie’s “friendship.”

That’s why someone like David would be so cool on Sesame Street.  He gets kid humor, and he knows not to take things seriously.  He also embodies that reverence for the innocent (something that too many of us have forgotten).

I love that Sesame Street has always remained hip and relevant and multicultural and so edutaining.  But, let’s preserve its innocence by not imposing our adult angst and phobias onto children’s television programming.

Happy Birthday, Sesame Street!

Isn’t the Voice Enough?

Funny, but I’ve been thinking about something one of my regular Soul Daviders said concerning humor and the perceived lack of it in Archuworld (must’ve been Mike).  I do agree that, for some Archies, everything about David is taken quite seriously and quite literally.  Unfortunately, that means it doesn’t leave much room to poke fun at our idol or even at ourselves.

Or maybe it’s just the climate we’re living in.  After all, as Sesame Street gets ready to turn 40, the Fox News network decided to read deeper into a two-year-old episode in which Oscar the Grouch – reporting from his trash can for GNN (Garbage News Network) – deals with a viewer who threatens to switch to Pox News.  Somehow, Fox News (not understanding the play on words in regards to Oscar’s fixation on all things trashy – morons!) has decided this is yet another attempt at liberal political indoctrination of our children.  I kid you not!  That, my friends, is the humorless environment in which we find ourselves.  So why should I be surprised that some in Archuworld can’t take certain jokes either? 

But one thing has struck me whenever Archies come to David’s defense (whenever someone attacks his music).  There is always someone somewhere pointing to David’s “character” as a reason why he should not be mocked or why his music should not provoke negativity.  I know the one time I decided to respond to a naysayer (which was mostly due to the attack on David’s fans, and an attack that had no humor underlying it), I made sure the focus was on David’s music and talent and why both justified my fan status.  Somehow, defending David’s “character,” especially to naysayers who make fun of him precisely because they find him too clean-cut, seems an odd thing to defend.  

But then, I realize that I’m less concerned about “David’s character” as I am about his Voice.  For me, if David didn’t have the looks and the charisma and just had that phenomenal one-of-a-kind Voice, that would be enough for me.  Granted, I don’t know if I would be ODD about him, but his Voice would be enough for me to buy his CDs and his concert tickets.  David’s “character,” it seems to me, is just icing on the cake, not the main ingredient.

And then, I started wondering: is David’s “character” (however that gets defined) the main reason for some fans’ devotion? Is his character the “main ingredient,” while his Voice is just “icing on the cake”?  Maybe we’re not all the same kind of fan.  I’m only raising this question because there have been some phenomenal music artists whose “character” leaves little to be desired.  I believe Billie Holiday to be the greatest vocalist ever, but she couldn’t recover from her heroine addiction and led a bit of a tragic life.  Michael Jackson definitely led a life that I would hardly find admirable, yet there’s no denying his ginormous artistry, and I wept for him when he passed away as if he were family.  

I guess I’m just curious about those who harp on David’s “character” as their main reason for fan devotion.  It’s a bit unnerving, actually, because it sets David up on a pedestal, and should he ever fall from it (yes, our halo-wearing Angel on Earth just might be human enough to slip up), I fear there’s a certain segment of his fanbase that would fall away too.  It is with this type of fan in mind that I’m left to ask: isn’t the Voice enough?  I know it is for me.

Veterans Day Twitter Trending Party

Talk about our Archuduties!  Apparently, there is a Twitter Trending Party planned on Nov. 11.  According to Snarkies, the trend is #DavidArchieVersary.

Forgive my ignorance, but the only anniversary that comes to mind is the day his debut album dropped, but wasn’t that on November 13?

David Archuleta On Ice

For those who worry about the gay context in which David’s “Crush” is rumored to be used on the “gayest show ever!!” that is Glee, the latest TV show on Fox Network, all I have to say is: could you get any gayer (or at the very least cheesier) than appearing on an ice-skating program? 

I’m referring to his upcoming appearance in Kaleidoscope, a Thanksgiving ice-skating program special, airing on FOX on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 4 pm EST, and taping this Monday, November 16, at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. at 7 pm. 

Don’t read me wrong.  I like “gay shows” (and cheesy ones too) and anything that puts some bends and curves in the “straight and narrow.” Just saying.  I think some of us fans need to open up and not be so bothered by certain contexts, especially when David himself is very open (and as it turns out, pretty selective) about where he wants to appear and lend his voice.  And it is for a good cause, raising awareness and funds pertaining to women and cancer.  

Since I’ve always loved David’s soft sensitive side, I’m totally excited about his participation and the fact that we get to see him on TV this coming Thanksgiving! (I wonder what he’ll sing.)

Now, if only those rumors about him appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade were also true.