Author Archive

We Concur, He Conquers: Bebe’s Recap

Posted by bebereader on Monday, August 30, 2010

Get out your sparklers; there were fireworks at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium on Saturday as David struck the stage to perform his two singles. One, a double-platinum hit and the other, by all indications, will one day reach multi-platinum.

I bought tickets for this event early, but wasn’t sure if I’d be able to attend due to other commitments. I was ecstatic when those other plans fell through.

Mr. Bebe and I, in our General Admission seats high in the sky, sat through a few other acts before the STAR came onstage. I have wondered what all the hoopla was about the Jonas Brothers. Clearly, the kids in this New York City crowd love them and the people running the show took every opportunity to mention their names to get the crowd roaring. However, let it be said that at the mention of David’s name, the crowd went wild with excitement, too. The Jonas Brothers, up first, are nice guys who sing a generic blend of mediocre pop songs. They sound good onstage but are not outstanding in any way, in terms of talent, in my humble opinion. Take each bro singularly and they don’t come close to being in David Archuleta’s ballpark or in this case, tennis stadium. When you can have filet mignon, why settle for ground beef? But kids love McJonas burgers; that’s why the fast food industry does so well. Demi Lovato’s turn was next. I enjoyed her but truthfully, I was too busy admiring her hair and boots to pay attention to her songs.

It felt like forever but finally it was David’s turn! Although it was 95 degrees on Saturday, I got the chills when Adrienne Bailon introduced him as “one of the most gifted performers on the planet.” You ain’t kidding! Make sure you check out David’s modest smile, in reply, on the video. He looked beautiful in khaki pants and a blue plaid shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

“Something ‘Bout Love” took on new dimensions as David led the crowd to a more stepped-up version of the song as he instructed us to jump with him. Keywords: LED THE CROWD. Clearly this was no American Idol runner-up; this was an artist with stature, charisma, stamina, talent and enough experience to lead a stadium packed full with 24,000 people. This song is an epic arena song and conducive to audience participation. It is magnificent LIVE. David lived and breathed SBL as if his life depended on it. He stepped up the beat and flew across the stage with confidence and made people believe the song. I was watching the audience. Most didn’t know the song but that didn’t stop them from participating and trying to follow the lyrics. The audience was transfixed on this young singer, and seemed very interested in hearing his message about love. “Crush” was done a little differently this time. David stood and played the keyboard, then walked away with the mic, each time to sing the chorus. Very fresh and new. The song was well-received and much of the audience sang along.

It dawned on me that David is now a businessman. This was a huge deal; the beginning of the US Open. There were thousands there who probably were exposed to his music for the very first time. Well aware that the show was being taped by CBS for airing on national TV the next day, he was out there to share his music and to gain new fans. It was evident that he accomplished his goal.

I find it remarkable that, although in his memoirs, he claimed to be painfully shy, in a very short time, David has now come full circle, and is able to take full command of an entire arena. I was filled with pride as he had that audience in the palm of his hand. We sat in the sun for three hours, after having walked a few miles from the parking lot to the stadium, then another half an hour to find our seats, only to do it all backwards again. Does that make me crazy? Does that make me cray-zee, cray-zee, cray-zee? Possibly. But, oh my stars!!! What a wonderful time we had! David sparkled like a jewel on that stage and I was there to witness it! I’d do it again in a New York minute!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: David scores big at the US Open, Tennis anyone? | 92 Comments »

David Archuleta – The Early Collection

Posted by bebereader on Friday, August 13, 2010

I was in the Voice Unplugged a few nights ago, watching old videos of David’s first tour, when it dawned on me that with the release of “The Other Side of Down” on October 5, there will be a whole new set of songs. I am more than ready for new music and I wish David the best of luck with the release of his new CD, especially since he had a hand in writing most, if not all the songs.

Yet, as a hardcore fan of The Voice, who attends multiple concerts, I will always yearn for David to sing the songs from his first, self-titled CD, the songs which will one day be referred to as ‘The Early Collection.” These songs are dear to my heart because I have come to love them not only for their merit but because they are the original songs David sang on his first tour.

Video credit chicagoarchie0000

I realize that the new setlist will be a combination of old and new songs but I can’t help but feel nostalgic because I won’t hear my personal favorites, “Barriers”, “My Hands” and “Waiting For Yesterday” like I did before.

Do you feel like I do? Are there any “must-have” songs from David’s “early collection” that you hope he includes in the setlist for his next tour? Now is your chance to voice your opinion. Please choose three ‘must-have’ songs from David’s early collection.

We will tally up the votes and present them to David at an upcoming M&G, the top three songs that we can’t live without.

(Crush is not listed because it’s a given that David will sing it since it was his first hit.)

Which three songs are your must-haves?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: David Archuleta, the early collection, something bout that first CD | 93 Comments »

“I Sing Because It Makes People Feel Good..”

Posted by bebereader on Thursday, July 29, 2010

Unique. Angelic. Powerful. Calming. Expressive. One-of-a kind. Mesmerizing. Priceless. Unmatched. Addictive. Healing. The kind of voice that comes along once in a lifetime. I am nearly out of adjectives to describe The Voice of David Archuleta. For two and a half years I have craved the pure sound of his voice ad infinitum. Could there be a scientific explanation for this? Is it possible that his voice has a healing power?

It occurred to me that David’s voice might actually contain a quality similar to other sounds I find soothing like waves crashing at the beach, birds singing or the sound of rain falling. When I hear his voice, very simply, I feel good. His speaking voice has the same effect on me. There is a magical quality in his voice that is hard to define and, for me, remains a mystery. The timbre of his voice makes my blood pressure go down and my endorphins begin to multiply. But there’s more.

Music has always been a very large part of my life. My favorite songs are like comfort food but this is different. It’s personal. David’s voice speaks directly to me and makes me feel happy to be alive. It transports me to another hemisphere, eases any emotional pain and somehow makes me feel whole again. David’s voice puts all the fragments of my hurting soul back together like a completed puzzle. How he does this I don’t know but I do know that it’s part of his gift. His voice is healing for me.

Aiming to create a balance in the body, hospitals use music to help patients heal. The desired outcome is, of course, to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, relieve muscle tension and to improve quality of life. Music is played in the background in doctors and dentist’s offices to make people relax; in elevators, in malls, in gyms to put you in a good mood. There is a theory that when we were babies, still in the womb, we were influenced by our mother’s heartbeat, the first calming sound. And we never stop craving that safe environment.

Science is now documenting what mystics have known forever, that everything that exists does so with vibrations. Humans and animals respond to certain tones and frequencies. Anything that heals us somehow alters our frequency resonance. Our brains produce wave patterns that can be measured with instruments. Our voices also produce wave patterns that show frequency information which relates to our physical and emotional health.

“Our voices tell our life stories, they are the very blueprint of our psyche, and therefore how we use our voice can utterly change our lives.”

~~Stewart Pearce, “The Alchemy of Voice”

There are daily accounts by people who come forward to tell their stories of how the sound of David’s voice has healed them. Names have been removed for purposes of anonymity.

“Trust me…like you…David Archuleta has touched many of our lives..and I can’t tell you how many times his music has lifted my spirit. He is truly inspirational and surprises and brings enjoyment to my life every day.”

“…..just recently helped me through a really difficult time. It was like a balm on my soul when I really needed it. David’s voice fits perfectly with the lovely melody of the song and the combination delivers a wonderful calming and healing vibe.”

“…I took out my iPod and thinking about what I wanted her to hear of David for the first time, I had chosen ‘Somebody Out There‘. She took my ear buds, placed them in, and I started the song. I quietly prayed that she would be able to feel David’s words ease her pain. About half way into the song, I looked over and her eyes were beginning to fill with tears. She then covered her eyes and began to weep. Yikes! I was a little afraid that maybe this was something that I shouldn’t have done, yet I knew David’s music WAS affecting her. When the song finally finished, she removed the ear buds and looked over to me…She quietly said, ‘I don’t know how to thank you for letting me listen to him…listen to his song. …This David’s voice is like an angel and his words were words that I’ve needed to hear.’ We talked a little more, then I said here’s one more, and this one’s for you. This time I played ‘Angels‘ for her and although she began to shed tears again, this time she was smiling…I’d been given the chance to share ‘David and his music‘ and it HAD made a difference in someone’s life that day.”

“I have saved and lost many soldiers on my hospital beds in the E.R. in Baghdad, Iraq, 28 CSH. For the last six months I could not find peace in my heart after I left. I could not find sleep. I could not find reason. I found all of those things tonight as you sang, and I wept so hard. You have an amazing gift. I will take the risk and dream again. I will imagine. Thank you, David. You brought belief back to a grieving soldier M.D. Your voice is a healing balm.” ~~Iraqi soldier (ITunes commenter on David’s “Imagine” during American Idol Season 7)

In Chords of Strength , David confirms that he’s aware of music’s ability to heal…

“I personally love the type of music that has the ability to lift and heal and inspire.” ~~David Archuleta, p. 180

“As a singer I feel it quite often, and when I look out into the crowds, I can see when they feel it, too; it is a momentary and collective catharsis that packs a punch.” ~~David Archuleta p. 196

“It was one of those moments when music came in where words could not–when a melody could do for a person’s soul what a string of spoken sentences would never be able to do. Here was music stepping in, not as entertainment, but as genuine emotional help, an insight that would give meaning to the kind of singer I would always aspire to be.”~~David Archuleta p. 202

“Though I didn’t necessarily know what I was singing about, I knew exactly how that song made me feel–a raw sentiment that I saw reflected in the eyes of an elderly woman whose tears of appreciation slowly trickled down into her lap. She was in a wheelchair, she could barely talk, but here she was very touched by the song, perhaps transported to a happier time in her life when all was well. She later told us that the song instantly rekindled lost memories of her late husband, and gave her an unexpected feeling of happiness that day…I could feel the melody soothe so many of this poor woman’s pains, and I could see the lyrics fill her heart with peace.” ~~David Archuleta pp. 197-198

“It was another one of those moments when the power of song, combined with the truth about human emotion, came together in a way that felt totally healing. Once again I understood that a certain song could strike enough feeling to inspire the kind of therapeutic force that we need when bad things happen.” ~~David Archuleta p. 200

…but does he realize how healing his own voice is?

David Archuleta and his voice will continue to touch people’s hearts and lives. In Chords of Strength, he said “I sing because it makes people feel good, and that is the truth.” Perhaps his destiny is to bring happiness and healing to the world with his voice. Onstage, he dares to give it all away and he surrenders his heart and soul to the music. His voice may be as soothing as ocean waves. It may have the same frequency as the patter of rain falling on the ground. It may even have the same vibration as that of a songbird. But I won’t put it to the test because I don’t have to. The proof is already out there.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Feeeeeeelssss so good, thacharuth is out there | 140 Comments »

Something ‘Bout SAM and Sluggo

Posted by bebereader on Saturday, July 17, 2010

From @claudette4u @DavidArchie You wrote the song , right??
From @DavidArchie @claudette4u Yep With Sam and Sluggo

S*A*M and Sluggo, co-writers (with David and Chris DeStefano) of “Something ‘Bout Love” is a New York City-based songwriting and record-producing team composed of Sam Hollander and Dave “Sluggo” Katz. Collaborating since 2005, they helped transform ‘emo’ music (punk rock with emotional lyrics) from an underground genre to a more polished sound in the 2000′s.

“There is no tension in their songs, even though the songs are almost uniformly about the inconstancy of young love. They hew to a simple, effective blueprint: a twisting, pleading vocal; dense walls of rhythm guitar and bass; hooks with enough space to encourage sympathetic singalongs. It’s mood over skill, blunt feeling over nuance.” ~~ Jon Caramanica, The Music Review

In 2008, S•A•M & SLUGGO were named “The Rolling Stone Hot List Producers of the Year.” The multi-platinum hit “Shake It”, co-written and produced by Sam and Sluggo is perhaps their most popular work to date.

Video credit AmandaClaire09

Sam and Sluggo began their partnership in 2005 when they worked together on the title track for the movie “Snakes On A Plane” by Cobra Starship, which went to #1 on Fuse and MTV. Since then, they have written and/or produced Top 40 pop hits for Boys Like Girls, Gym Class Heroes, Kelly Rowland, The Cab, Carole King, Cartel, The Academy Is…, Coheed and Cambria, Metro Station, We The Kings, Katy Perry, Blake Lewis,Train, Arrested Development, Sugar Ray, Tom Jones, Uncle Kracker, Charlotte Sometimes, The Virgins, Hey Monday, All Time Low, David Cook, O.A.R., and Mike Posner among others. In researching the careers of S*A*M and Sluggo I’ve found that they have quite a repertoire of songs that have gone gold and/or platinum including “Check Yes Juliet” by We The Kings, “Cupid’s Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes, “The Great Escape” and “Love Drunk” by Boys Like Girls, and Katy Perry’s “If You Can Afford Me”. Further, many of their songs have made it to Rolling Stones Singles of the Year List including “About A Girl” by The Academy Is. The duo have also written and produced for Blake Lewis of American Idol, Season 6 including “How Many Words”/”Here’s My Hello” and “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” which went to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart and Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Songs.

Once upon a time on a rooftop in New York City, while ducking the pigeons, a song was born. It is something about love. And the rest will be history.

Something Bout Love

Click on Song Title to Listen

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Bebewriter's songwriter series | 43 Comments »

Is Fifteen Too Young?

Posted by bebereader on Thursday, July 1, 2010

Recently American Idol lowered the age requirement from 16 to 15. This was the first change since 2005, when the age limit was raised from 24 to 28. If anything, I expected the age requirement to be raised up two years from 16 to 18.

David auditioned for American Idol when he was 16, requiring a tutor each day to work with him on schoolwork. He also needed a legal guardian since he was a minor. Clearly the producers realize that younger contestants on American Idol undergo the most pressure and are thrown into an adult world before they’re ready.

In “Chords of Strength”, David speaks candidly about the grueling demands placed on the American Idol contestants and, for those who were minors, the pressure was even more intense with the addition of three hours of school.

“The very thought of being on live television every week was incredibly stressful for all of us. No one…was ever relaxed. I know I constantly had that tense feeling in my shoulders. It was a lot of work and every day felt like a series of hurdles to get past with next to no time.”

“After that rehearsal, most people got to take a load off and have a rest, but of course I’d still have to go back to school.”

“Throughout all of these months, it seemed like we often times didn’t even have enough time to prepare for that week’s music, and the various random tasks that got added to our already crazy schedules made it very difficult to juggle everything….Most days started as early as five or six in the morning, and wouldn’t end until ten or eleven at night.”

“I felt like I was completely overwhelmed.”

“There was so much emotion surrounding these few last shows that between the crazy schedules and the levels of hysteria in the air, many times I didn’t know how I could possibly juggle it all.”

“From the moment I was announced as one of the Top 24, I went from being just David to David-Archuleta-on-American Idol. It felt like such a massive responsibility. All of a sudden people expected me not only to perform, but also to continually outdo myself.”

“You had to be ready for anything, and the one thing you knew for sure was that your life was completely dedicated to the show. It didn’t matter what the schedule was, you had to do what ever they said and be wherever they wanted you. There was not much wiggle room for anything, and because we were all committed, we just played along and did what we were told.”

“Things were moving so quickly and unexpectedly all the time, there was hardly ever any time to think.”

“Sleep had become scarce and I was exhausted all the time.”

“…there were many moments when I didn’t know if I would be able to handle another minute.”

“I spent all of my time between my hotel, the room where I studied and the studio. That’s it. I got so pale because I never saw sun. I started to forget what normal life felt like, and sometimes even got scared that I wouldn’t know how to readapt when it was time to go back.”

Besides David, there are just a few other teenagers who made it far in the competition; Jordin Sparks, who won the title at 17; Allison Iraheta, who made it to Top Ten at 17; and Fantasia Barinno, who won the title at 19. But they are the exceptions; most teenagers are not able to last very long. Unable to handle the pressure, we learned that often, some of the younger contestants burned out.

There are several possible reasons for this change. With failing ratings this past season, this change may be a way to make the show become relevant again and to get more young people to tune in. Or, maybe it’s an attempt to find the next great talented tween. Whatever the reason, I am opposed to this change. The pressure of standing in front of 30 million people and being judged is hard at any age, and has to be that much harder for younger contestants. Let kids be kids for as long as they can. Agree or disagree?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Without Chords of Strength the cradle will fall | 139 Comments »

Hijole…Spanish Music!!

Posted by bebereader on Thursday, June 17, 2010

In an interview on the red carpet at the recent American Idol finale, David stated that after he finishes his current album, he’ll record another one in Spanish.

Further confirmation came this week when David was interviewed by The Morning Paper/KHOP in California. He said that it’s always been one of his dreams to do an album in Spanish and hopes to do one soon.

When David Archuleta crosses over to the Latin market and starts releasing music en espanol, the buzz is that his career could skyrocket. It was the Latin community who embraced him and bestowed on him the prestigious Alma Award for “Rising Star” and the Latin community who invited David to participate in “Somos El Mundo,” the Spanish version of “We Are The World,” to raise revenue for Haiti.

It didn’t take long for fans to realize that two of David’s new writers, Mitch Allan and Shelly Peiken have some Spanish songs to their credit. Speculation became high of the possibility of the inclusion of a Spanish song on David’s new CD.

“Ni Freud, Ni Tu Mama” (Neither Freud, Nor Your Mom), a collaborative effort of Mitch Allan and Shelly Peiken was written in 2006 and recorded by the Mexican singer, Belinda. It became a top 5 hit single in Central and South America.

Ay mi corazon! Could they be collaborating on some Spanish songs for David? Still reeling from “Contigo en la Distancia,” more gems may be on their way. With David’s unique interpretation skills, he can tell a story in any language because he communicates not just with words, but with his whole being.

Mitch Allan

Artist/Producer/songwriter Mitch Allan has sold over 10 million records with Faith Hill, Chris Daughtry, Bowling For Soup, The Jonas Brothers, Belinda, Tokio Hotel, Leslie Roy, Takota, Anberlin, Bo Bice, Shinedown and his own band, SR-17.

Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Mitch Allan grew up listening to the music of Steely Dan, Pink Floyd and Super Tramp, his father’s favorite music, and was taught to pay attention to each instrument used in a song. He became very active in the Baltimore music scene in the mid-nineties as lead singer and guitarist for his first band, Honor Among Thieves who later became known as SR-17 when they signed with RCA Records. Currently focusing on song writing and producing, Mitch Allan started working with Kara DioGuardi. They wrote their first song together so quickly that he approached her about other song writing opportunities. The second song they co-wrote was “Bella Tracion” for Belinda and it won him a Latin Grammy award for Song of the Year.

“I have known Mitch a long time and his talent as a writer and producer never ceases to amaze me. He is a diverse talent who I am proud to call a friend…”, said Kara DioGuardi.

Mitch Allan, Kara DioGuardi and David Hodges collaborated on the song “Lost” which became a hit for Faith Hill. In 2009, he co-wrote with Kara DioGuardi, the American Idol winner’s song, “No Boundaries“.

Mitch Allan’s fun song “1985”, a huge hit for the band Bowling For Soup, went on to become certified Digital Triple Platinum. It holds the iTunes record for the most downloads in one week. After this song, Mitch’s phone started to ring off the hook and he became a sought-after songwriter.

His other Spanish credits include “Algunas Mas” (Someone Else) and “Perdido En Ti” (Lost In You) co-written by Mitch Allan for Diego Gonzalez. It charted within the Top 5 in Mexico.

Shelly Peiken

“I never take anything for granted, never assume there will be another hit.”

Shelly Peiken, a Grammy-nominated songwriter is an accomplished lyricist in the pop and rock world and has written hundreds of songs for artists like Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Mandy Moore, Meredith Brooks, Taylor Dayne, Natasha Bedingfield, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Keith Urban, Michelle Branch, Selena Gomez, Celine Dion, Ashlee Simpson, Backstreet Boys, LeeAnn Rimes, Cher and many more.

The song she is most famous for is ‘What A Girl Wants” by Christina Aguilera.

Other songs Shelly Peiken has written or co-written:

“Come On Over Baby“, “Too Beautiful For Words“ – Christina Aguilera
“Bitch” – Meredith Brooks (Grammy nominated)
“Almost Doesn’t Count – Brandy (Grammy-nominated)
“Stumble” – Natasha Bedingfield
“Pieces” and “Trouble Is” – Allison Iraheta
“I Can’t Cry” – Natalie Cole
“Whenever I Run” – Keith Urban
“Trouble With Good-bye” – LeAnn Rimes
“I’m Not Your Girl” – Reba McEntire
“Por Qui” and “As If” - Myra

Shelly Peiken didn’t plan on being a songwriter; she envisioned a career in fashion designing. But music bit her early on when she started writing songs as a young child. She performed in clubs in NewYork, waiting six years to finally earn enough to support herself solely from her music. In interviews she said she writes about 50 songs per year. From those, she estimates that half will be recorded, eight will be released, three will get radio play and hopefully “one will be a big hit.” By establishing relationships early on with labels, producers and managers, she was able to get her songs heard by artists and record companies which opened a lot of doors for her. She crossed musical genres, and now writes not only pop and rock music but also country music and for international recording artists.

There’s a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months in ArchuHeaven. We’re being showered with a NY Times bestselling book, TV appearances, book signings, radio interviews and performances. The drought is over and I predict a flood of soft consonants coming our way. Find some high ground, hold on tight, and kiss your corazon goodbye!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: :)), el español es muy romántico | 247 Comments »

Feeling His Warmth

Posted by bebereader on Friday, June 4, 2010

Recap#1 from the Bookends signing from Bebereader. To be continued. Stay tuned tomorrow for a recap from archiesfan4life..

Hordes of fans waiting to have their copy of “Chords of Strength” signed by singer/songwriter turned author, David Archuleta were already gathered in a line that wrapped around the block outside of Bookends in Ridgewood, NJ when I arrived there on Tuesday. Even the short rain shower would not diminish the joy that was in the air. Although Bookends is known for their author signings, they had to be overwhelmed at the sight of roughly 1,500 archangels lining the quiet tree-lined streets outside their store.

May I repeat that this is not your typical fandom and on Tuesday at Bookends this again rung true. At the first sight of David in the room where he was signing books, there was a frenzy of fans, shouting a variety of things like “I can‘t see him, where is he?”, “There he is!”, “I love you, David”, “OMG It’s him!” and a variety of other incomprehensible screams and sounds. Some fans got together to sing “Crush” to him, while others broke down in tears at the mere sight of him.

The first time I met David was at a VIP last fall. I was so overwhelmed that I was unable to be in the moment because the moment was so surreal. This time was a lot different. I had a very positive experience and I have “Chords of Strength” in part, to thank.

When it was finally my turn at Bookends:

Me: Hi David, congratulations on your book! (offering my hand)

David: Oh Hiiii, thank you! (He took my hand and held it gently for a few seconds ***SPARKS*** His hand was so warm and soft and….large!)

Me: I help run a fansite for you with three other people. It’s called “The Voice” (I pointed to “The Voice” button on my collar). Actually, these books are for the others who run the site along with me. He looked at the button and said….

David: OH, I know that one!

Me: (Big smile) David, you are The Voice! A voice like your’s comes along once in a lifetime! Your fans love you with a passion!

David: (Giggles, signs books, looks slightly embarrassed) Ohhhh Thank you!

For some reason, the security guard chimed in out of nowhere:

Security guard: Yes they do, look at them! (pointing to the waiting crowd)

And then my husband offered:

Husband: David’s the best!

David quickly finished signing all of my books and stacked them up in a pile as my husband scooped them up while congratulating him and asking how his hand was holding up from signing so much.

David: (looks at hand, giggles and shakes husband‘s hand) Oh…it’s doing okay.

I met several fans whose names finally came to life on Tuesday. To my surprise, some even claimed they knew me! It warmed my heart when they said how much they appreciate this site. There is always an immediate rapport when you meet another David fan, a kinship or natural connection that starts online and continues when you meet in person. I was lucky to spend the hours waiting and the time immediately following the signing with Zoe and ArchiesFan4Life, with whom I became instant friends. Since they planned to arrive earlier in the day than I, they kindly offered to buy my books for me in case they sold out before I arrived. A favor that meant the world to me. Thank you again!

Outside the store, another type of frenzy took place as fans renewed friendships with enthusiastic hugs.

David’s optimistic outlook on life as shown in “Chords of Strength” contributed to my second encounter with him going so well. His ability to live in the moment is something that I aspire to each day. I didn’t have the longest nor the most profound conversation with David but I succeeded in telling him what I didn’t get a chance to at our first meeting; that his voice is beyond amazing. In addition, I finally got to deliver the message that his fans deeply love him.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Facing his face | 64 Comments »

Softly Emerging as a Leader

Posted by bebereader on Friday, May 21, 2010

“By the choices & acts of our lives, we create the person that we are & the faces that we wear. By the choices & acts of our lives we give to the world wherein our lives are lived, hoping others will find our contributions to be of worth and that the world will be a little more gracious for our time in it.” — Kenneth Patton-selected tweet quote by David Archuleta

One year ago, if you had told David Archuleta that he was a leader I’m sure he would have denied it, declaring instead that he’s a quiet, unassuming guy who goes about his life minding his own business. But leaders come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re in charge of a work situation, you lead. If you’re a parent or older sibling, you lead. If you’re a teacher, you lead. If you have people in your life who admire you, you lead. The truth is that to be considered a leader, you don’t have to be a CEO of a major corporation, nor do you have to be interesting, rich, famous or powerful.

By living his life by his own morals and standards and by the compassion he shows to others, David has slowly emerged as a leader. And he got to this position just by being himself, with all of his imperfections. His moral standards are high but he never gets preachy; he leads by example. In addition, he possesses the one trait that is essential to great leadership, a capacity for compassion. It’s hard to affect anyone unless you care.

That David cares is evident in the way he spends a portion of his very limited time off, visiting hospitals and nursing homes in his hometown. We hear of these visits only by chance, and no doubt in many cases, not at all.

In addition, he’s involved in and brings awareness to causes that mean a lot to him. Many of these causes involve children. Angels for a Cause was created by David’s fans to raise money for charities he endorses including Rising Star Outreach, for families suffering from leprosy. Last year, on the property of Rising Star Outreach, The Pathway of Hope was launched to raise money to fund a new school.

The Lisa Lopes Foundation is funding a new medical center for the children and families of Honduras. The Plane to Haiti provides much needed medical supplies, wheelchairs, doctors and physical therapists to victims of Haiti. In addition, David was involved in the Hope for Haiti Telethon to raise funds for those afflicted by the earthquake. David also supports Invisible Children, for children suffering from the effects of war in Uganda and Make A Wish, for making a child’s dream come true.

In January 2010, David went to Central America on behalf of Enterprise Mentors to help impoverished families become self-reliant by starting their own businesses. He said of visiting with many and witnessing first-hand the poverty there, “We’ve been meeting with several of the families and seeing how it’s affected them. It’s really neat and touching to see how different other peoples’ lives can be from ours. We take so much for granted way too often in our lives.”

When David sings, he sings from his soul. He reaches out and touches you and brings out the best in you. He inspires you to take his lead, do good things and be a better person. Gladys got it right when she recently said, in The Voice Unplugged, “He inspires so much respect, no one would dare do anything wrong.”

David Archuleta didn’t set out to be a leader. He just lives his life, and that life is an expression of himself and his values. Through his choices, he makes us believe in the decency of mankind and gives us hope for the future. He’s an extraordinary role model who is secure in his beliefs about what is good and true about humanity. He believes there is good in everyone and lives this belief by being compassionate to all, regardless of their differences. That he has touched so many lives and has profoundly affected his fans in so many positive ways, just by being who he is, has made me respect and appreciate what he represents.

In the recent Ryan Seacrest interview, David had the chance to talk about fame and about how the decisions he makes are far-reaching.

I believe he now realizes that he is thought of as a leader and that people look up to him, depend on him and value his worth. I believe he is very aware of the responsibility of fame to be a role model. Not accepting that fact is a choice too, and one that all too many celebrities make, but he has taken, “the road less traveled.” I believe that David Archuleta is ready and willing to take that road and shoulder his power. And that, in the lives of many, will make “all the difference.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: leading by example | 98 Comments »

Eman-The Man

Posted by bebereader on Sunday, May 2, 2010

“How do we, like, make Eman an eternal member of the DA fan club? How do I show my gratitude for his hilarious, mind-numbing, evocative and mouth-watering tweets?!! (He should be a dessert. He should be his own DA blog. I want to adopt him.)” Quote from Bluesky

Of all the talented writers and producers David has been working with, I find myself coming back to one whom, along with Dave Hodges and Jesse Cates, wrote the double platinum hit, “Crush”, which debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #1 on iTunes. From the beginning, Eman has sung David’s praises (pun intended) and it is a privilege to learn more about this powerhouse of talent, prankster, angel in disguise, formidable singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Mr. Emanuel Kiriakou.

Because of Eman’s sincere desire to see David’s career lift off and take flight, David’s fans feast on Eman’s daily tweets:

Crossed the mountain today with @davidarchie. He took everything up 10 notches as usual! We’re on the final stretch. Stay tuned! 8:28 PM Apr 27th

These @davidarchie songs that I wrote with @claudekelly and @hodgesmusic have taken on a life of their own! They will be what they will be.. 5:13 PM Apr 27th

In the studio with the great @DavidArchie today! 1:06 PM Apr 27th

Do you want a @davidarchie update?? My latest vyqhp

This @davidarchie song is coming out NIIIICE…just like sittin’ with a cool breeze and an umbrella drink! 8:29 PM Apr 6th

Unexpected visit from @claudekelly. I had to play him 3 of our @davidarchie songs now that the vocals are done..he luvd…what’s not to luv 7:06 PM Mar 30th

About to cut a new song with @davidarchie. I think this is #5? Not a weak one in the bunch!! 5:26 PM Mar 19th

Most people are unaware that Eman produced, arranged and played acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, keyboards and percussion for “Joy To The World” on the “Christmas From The Heart” album. In addition, he produced “Come All Ye Faithful” and did the arrangement for “The First Noel”. He also co-wrote “To Be With You” and “My Hands” on David’s self-titled CD.

Aside from working with David, Eman is also collaborating with Nick Lachey, Elliott Yamin, Friday Night Boys, David Hodges, New Kids on the Block, Ry Cuming, Axiz, Vanessa Hudgens, Lesley Roy, Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, Cheetah Girls, Frankie Storm, James Fauntleroy, Kara DioGuardi, Jess Cates, Lindy Robbins, Guy Chambers, Evan Bogart, Craig Wiseman, Chris Tompkins, Troy Verges, Tia Sellers, Blair Daly, Darryl Brown, Zukhan Bey, Ashley Gorley, JR Rotem, Sacha Skarbek, Kasey Livingston, Jeff Cohen and Corte Ellis.

Bio

At six years old Eman received his first guitar, one that made his hands turn green and by twelve, he was playing in his father’s Greek band. Like David, he knew early on what he wanted to do with his life and attended Ohio’s Youngstown State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Music. During college, he worked as a cook at his family’s Greek restaurant while moonlighting as a guitar teacher. After college, Eman had a short stint teaching music theory and song writing but quickly moved on to record for Target’s exclusive Lifescape’s label where he recorded and produced over 20 albums. During this time he wrote TV jingles for Burger King, BMW and Miller Light beer for which he won a Clio Award. An established instrumentalist and singer/songwriter by the late 90’s, Eman began to focus on his solo career. He collaborated with singer/actor Joey Mcintyre on two cds, “Meet Joe Mac” and “One Too Many”. He also released his first cd, “Favorite Enemy“ in 2002. Eman’s music has been featured in TV shows and major movie soundtracks including “Achilles’ Love” and the award-winning, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, which showcased some of his original Greek music.

List of artists/songs

Nick Lachey “What’s Left of Me” – Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100/received 2007 ASCAP Pop Award
Taylor Hicks – “Just To Feel That Way”
Jordin Sparks – “Next to You”, “Permanent Monday” and “Worth The Wait”
Celine Dion – “Surprise, Surprise” and “There Comes A Time”
The Backstreet Boys – “Inconsolable” and “Downpour”
Eman also wrote/produced on albums by Katharine McPhee, Ashley Tisdale, Bianca Ryan and Jesse McCartney.

By co-writing “Crush“, Eman helped launch David from an American Idol star to a hot ticket on the Billboard 100 chart.

Will Eman again be the one to help create the next hit single for David?

My money’s on The Man.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Bebewriter's songwriter series, Dessert anyone?, Our Big Non-Fat Greek Crush | 81 Comments »

The Motherlode of Fandoms

Posted by bebereader on Thursday, April 15, 2010

It’s been over two years since David Archuleta made his debut on American Idol and still…we can not get him off of our minds. His fans often take the heat and have been accused of being rabid and fanatical but it’s a testament to him, in fact, that we are this way. A music lover my entire life, I’ve been a fan of many artists. I know how to do the fan thing. I buy the cds and singles, keep up with radio and TV appearances, participate on their message boards, chat with other fans, clamor for tickets, attend their concerts, and purchase merch at their shows. Yet never have I felt this kind of intensity, the high, the true joy, the range of emotion, the passion, the loyalty, the respect and the outpouring of love and admiration for an artist that David Archuleta’s fans have for him.

We don’t just buy his CDs; we buy multiple copies and gift them to whoever we can, strangers included. We Tivo his minutest appearances, blog until we drop, drag into work after late nights indulging in too many videos at The Voice Unplugged. Oh just one more for the road, I can’t leave NOW! The next day, exhausted but still craving more, we compulsively search for new videos, new pictures, and any news of David. We VIP repeatedly, attend multiple concerts hours away, and throw twitter parties to get David’s name trended.

We wear our ODD whenever we can; on t-shirts and pins, on bumper stickers and key chains, and most importantly, with the smile on our faces and the light in our eyes. This is not a typical fan base. But David is not a typical artist.

In the J-14 interview last week, David said “I want to show people that I’m in a new phase right now. It’s a new time for me!” In that regard, he’s been bouncing all over the country, writing songs for his sophomore CD, with an abundance of well-renowned songwriters at his disposal, some of whom have songs ready and waiting for him to appear in their studios to record. In addition, his memoir, “Chords of Strength” and a new single are on the horizon. If we take a moment to reflect upon David’s generosity and all that he’s done for us, both personally and musically, the figures are staggering. 90+ combination of blogs and vlogs, 2,400 tweets, 2 full albums and non-stop back-to-back touring since the American Idol finale.

During the drought, when other, less uh, rabid fans would have taken a break and disappeared for a while to follow the music of other artists, we are still here. In fact, we’re stuck like glue. Like moths to a flame, we are unable to resist the light that shines in his voice, his smile, his eyes, his heart.

There is something undeniably captivating about The Voice that draws us in and makes us take up permanent residence in his proximity. Is it just his talent? Is there more, is there more? All I know is, this crush ain’t going away and we, his proudly fanatical Archeologists are methodically mining only the tip of a very deep iceberg.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Archulitis Rabidicus Faniculus, moths to a flame | 96 Comments »

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Which three songs are your must-haves?

Will Eman again be the one to help create the next hit single for David?

My money’s on The Man.