The Voice

DAVID ARCHULETA

Author Archive

« Previous Entries

David Archuleta ~ Calling Home On Mother’s Day

Posted by MT on Saturday, May 11, 2013

mdbawww11156

There’s magic in a Mother’s touch,

and sunshine in her smile.

There’s love in everything she does

to make our lives worthwhile.

We can find both hope and courage

Just by looking in her eyes.

Her laughter is a source of joy,

her works are warm and wise.

There is a kindness and compassion

to be found in her embrace,

and we see the light of heaven

shining from a Mother’s face.

 Author Unknown

stock-illustration-150977-rule-line-15

Wow! Another year has passed and it’s already Mother’s Day again. That means David gets to call home!  Since I’ve never had to leave my family for two whole years, I can’t imagine how much he misses his mother and the rest of his family. But I imagine it will be a happy day for all of them when he makes that call. Lupe must surely miss his laugh and that brilliant smile.

I know how much my mother means to me and I thank God every day that she’s still with me. Not everyone is so fortunate. I talk to her every day. She is my rock. She’s the one I turn to when I don’t know what to do because I know that whatever advice she gives will be what she believes is best for me. She always has my back. She is a staunch supporter of anything I want to try, often having more faith in me than I have in myself. She is always sympathetic, always caring, and when she speaks to me it is always with love in her voice.  I know David must feel the same way.

cartoonR

Cartoon find by Bluesky

In times when life can be so hard

And worry can darken our day

There’s always one person who understands

And knows just what to say.

♥♥♥

I hope David and Lupe have a nice long chat and get to share lots of love and smiles across the miles.

Wishing you a day filled with joy and laughter.  To each and every one of you …

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY !

Video by Familysharecom – with thanks to Beloirti for the find.

MT is a Staff Writer for The Voice

Posted in David Archuleta | Tagged: , , | 54 Comments »

David Archuleta’s Heart Falls Out ~ A Review

Posted by MT on Saturday, April 6, 2013

daheart22578

Let me start by admitting that I know as close to nothing as you can get about the technical terms in music. I just know what I like and this song falls into the category of, David songs I really love. It makes me want to take a course in music just so I could talk about it in the proper terms. But since there’s no time for that, I’ll say it as simply as I can and hope you get what I mean because as far as I’m concerned, this song deserves special mention. It is beautiful and sweet and light and airy. It gives me chills and makes me want to dance.

From the first notes, “Heart Falls Out” makes me smile. It begins with a fuller sound rather than with the simpler, acoustic type beginnings in some of David’s songs. I love the way they used synthesized sounds, adding techno effects and  drums that almost feel like a heart beat. Somehow, that drum beat forms a connection to my own heartbeat and makes the music feel like it moves through me.

The first notes he sings are just ‘ohhhhhh, ohhhh noooo.” Oh, boy! When he’s just making sounds, with no words, it feels like it’s pure emotion. Right there, he has me hooked and the rest of the song just keep pulling me along. As he begins singing the lyrics, you  hear his beautiful, pure, clear voice, then the auto tuned part kicks in and seems to duet with him.

I was actually a little surprised at first by the auto-tuning effects on his voice. Some may not like it but I personally love it. I think the mix of auto-tune with his normal voice gives a wonderful mix of textures to the vocals. I think it actually makes his natural, organic voice stand out more and I seem to react stronger to his voice in those places where it appears in the song, like at 2:03 and 2:15-2:25.  (Would you just listen to the rich velvety tone of his voice! Gahhh, gorgeous!)


The rhythm: Maybe it’s because I’m a dancer at heart that the rhythm appeals to me so much. This song has such a beautifully smooth, silky sound, a slightly faster tempo, and an almost sensuous dance rhythm to it. Even when I’m sitting in a chair or sitting in the car listening, I can imagine how I would move to it on the dance floor. The feeling is heady, almost intoxicating. I want to just breath in the music. *sigh*

fedaha4

One more thing I need to make note of is the background vocal track. I’ve always been a fan of his background vocals because they seem less “rehearsed,” more raw and emotional, and I think this is where David truly shines. I am a big fan of the riffs and runs David adds to live performances and the background vocals sound like the same thing. They feel spontaneous and real. If I could change one thing on this song, it would be during the last 1:30 of song. The volume on the background vocal is too low for me and I find myself straining to hear it. I would love to hear what it would sound like if the volume on that part was turned up enough to sound like a duet because those vocals are what capture my attention and reach out to me.

The combination of all these things, along with so many others that I don’t have the expertise to even try to describe, makes this an outstanding song for me. If I have time to listen to anything these days when I’ve been so busy, it’s this song. It’s been on repeat since it downloaded from iTunes.

I love this song. And when I say I love this song, I really mean it. Love, Love Love. It’s a keeper and will probably remain at the top of my playlist for a very long time. Kudos to David, LadyV, and the producers for doing an amazing job on this song.

By the way, if anyone reading this has any control over the contents of the vault this came out of and find more like it, please feel free to share.  :)

* * * * * *

MT is a Staff Writer for The Voice

Posted in @DavidArchie, @LadyVmusic, Appreciation, Art, David Archuleta, The Voice | Tagged: , , , , | 96 Comments »

More Than Technique ~ David Archuleta

Posted by MT on Saturday, February 16, 2013

DSC_0257-L

We all know that David Archuleta is “The Voice.” That’s why we all became so enamored of this wonderful artist from the beginning. David is one of those rare individuals whose voice can reach out and touch your soul through song. I’m not sure why it happens or how he’s able to accomplish such a task.  I just know it happens, at least for me.

From his early days on Star Search to the present, there has never been any doubt about his abilities. We’ve all read one article after another about his technique and his natural ability to make a song his own.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s an original of his own creation, one that was written for him and sung by him, or a cover of another artist’s song.  Once David sings it no other will ever compare, at least not for us. It’s a never-ending riddle for me as to why that is.

Why does no other artist give a song the power that David seems to imbue within its lyrics and melody? I’ve often tried to describe where I feel it comes from and to this day have not found the right words. I’ve said that he has “an echo chamber in his chest.” How else could he give such fullness to his voice? I’ve said that “he has music in his DNA” and it just oozes from every pore. I’ve thought perhaps it’s because of the shape or size of his mouth that he’s able to pronounce and sing words so beautifully. Or perhaps it’s a result of the vocal paralysis and resultant recovery that his tone has such richness.  But none of these explain why his voice reaches me, touches me, in the way that it does.

There’s something far more than technique, no matter how perfect, that makes David’s voice so special.  In the video below, Climb Every Mountain from Salt Lake City on the MKOC Tour, David gives a performance that, when I am able to make my self pay attention to that aspect of the song, appears to be technically perfect. But what makes this performance so special is something more than that.

Credit: jtmlm1234

While I’m quite sure he has practiced this song to make it as powerful as he can while performing it, there is no evidence that it is “rehearsed” during the performance. There is no spot that I feel is contrived to add power, no place that feels forced. It feels like it’s just being written as he’s singing it. It feels like his own words and his own feelings being released from his mind and heart at the very moment the lyrics are sung.

I have, years ago, dabbled in song writing. As you’ve all seen, I love writing poetry. Rhyme comes naturally to my mind somehow. I once wrote a poem that created its own melody in my head as I wrote and then read it. The result? A song. It took only minutes but was something so personal and powerful to me that when I sang it out loud only moments after writing it, it made me cry.

I tell you this because that’s how I feel when David sings a song like “Climb Every Mountain.” It feels like the song wasn’t written until that very moment and is something very personal and powerful to him. It feels like it’s being created from the very depths of his being and sung for the very first time, in the “here and now,” from the very first note until the last. Perhaps that’s the key.

David was gifted with the amazing ability to perform a song day after day, show after show, as if it’s the very first time, as if it’s an original written straight from his heart in that moment, as if he is speaking his thoughts through song. Once he begins, the technique, which is probably as close to perfect as one can get, is no longer noticed. It’s all about feelings. And what I feel as he begins to sing is his heart pouring out onto his audience on a beautiful wave of sound and genuine emotion.

He has the rare ability to connect very personally and powerfully to the music and lyrics of a song. The second part of that very rare gift is the ability to pass that on to his audience. The result is that, rather than just hearing it, the listener “experiences” the song in the exact same way David feels it. And he knows it.  No wonder he’s so very careful what he sings.

It may very well be why his wonderful heart is mentioned so often. It’s the tenderness, the sweetness, the innocence, and the love in his heart that comes through to us in his voice. Each time we listen, we are given one sweet moment of all that is beautiful in this world.

“Climb Every Mountain” is my example. Do you have a song you feel this way about?”

Posted in Art, David Archuleta | Tagged: , , , | 64 Comments »

A Common Theme Among David Archuleta Fans?

Posted by MT on Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Photo-3cd18fd

In a recent conversation (yes, it involved David :) )  I was asked if I played an instrument or sang. I answered the question in as few words as possible (for me) and then moved on to another topic. But later that night, it really got me thinking about what things we David fans may have in common.

Quite often in chat, topics other than David are discussed. (I know! Unbelievable, but true?) One night, it started with a  comment about white boots and ended up with me confessing to singing the song “These Boots Are Made For Walking” by Nancy Sinatra in an elementary school talent contest. Yes, it elicited much laughter but resulted in discovering that several of us had owned those “cool white boots.” (You know who you are!) We were definitely “In With the In Crowd” back in the day. ;)

I confessed to dancing in first and second grade for those talent shows. From third to sixth grade, I sang and danced. (No trophies for singing though. I guess I should have stuck to dancing.)

I loved singing and dancing with all my heart back then. (I still do.) Just like David’s parents, if my mother wanted to keep me amused for a while, all she had to do was put on something that involved music. A movie musical was best. I would sing at the top of my lungs and dance around the living room. My Fair Lady and The Sound Of Music were two of my favorites but I would even sing the songs from The Wizard Of Oz and dance with Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tinman, and The Cowardly Lion.

I discovered as I got older that, although I enjoyed singing, I didn’t have a very good voice. But dancing was something I could do and really enjoyed. Once I started, I kept finding new ways to incorporate dance into my life. It didn’t matter what kind of dancing it was; Square Dancing, Cajun dancing, Jitter Bug, Cha Cha, Waltz, Two-Step, Line Dancing, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, free style. You name it … I’d try it.

There has always been something in music that reached out to me and brought me joy.  Dancing was my way of expressing that joy. There is something in the graceful rhythmic movement that helps to release something inside me that words could never express.  Just  like singing, the true beauty of expression in dance comes from the soul.

I hadn’t really thought about all the different styles of dance I had tried over the years until was asked that question. It made me realize how much dancing is a part of me, just like singing is a part of David. The thoughts and memories stirred in me by that one question made me understand a little better how David must feel. Maybe understanding/feeling the passion he has for his art is part of what drew me to him in the first place.

Although I could never hope to dance nearly as beautiful as David sings, I can understand having such a deep love of something that lets you express yourself in a way that nothing else can.  He’s very fortunate that he is extremely good at what he loves. What greater joy could there be than making your living, spending you life, doing something you have such passion for?

One last thought: We seem to be discovering more and more often that we have many things in common. I wonder if there is a common thread among fans that draws them to David, a reason why some people “get it” and some don’t? Musical backgrounds maybe? Or perhaps it’s even more broad than that. After all, a passion for creativity and expression come in many forms.

So, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do a little poll to see if it’s possibly a shared passion for expression that might help us to understand and connect to David and each other in a way that others may not. I’d also love for you to expand on your answer in comments and let us know what it is . If you don’t want to comment that’s okay. But I do hope you’ll mark an answer in the poll.

Posted in Art, David Archuleta, fandom | Tagged: , | 95 Comments »

David Archuleta ~ You are my Song

Posted by MT on Monday, January 7, 2013

130l

David Archuleta

He is my Song

~~~

None of you will be surprised

When you hear me say

I was talking to a friend

About David the other day.

 

But when I started talking about

All the things he’s done

It came to mind that I would rhyme

Every single one.

 

Listening to his music

Has now infected my brain

I now think of him lyrically

And my words come in refrain.

 

I don’t know why it’s happening

But I have no control

Every time I think of him

To speak my heart and soul.

 

My thoughts become the lyrics

To a song within my head

Echoing to his melody

As each new word is said.

 

OMG What’s happened to me?

This is all so wrong.

The only explanation is …

It’s because He Is My Song.

♥

 Dang!

 I tried to write a paragraph and this is what came out!

I give up. It is what it is. The Voice is what it’s all about.

Video credit ShelleyFOD

Is it 2014 yet? :)

Posted in David Archuleta, poetry | Tagged: , | 112 Comments »

Exchanging Gifts ~ David Archuleta

Posted by MT on Friday, December 14, 2012

gift2

With the holidays upon us, we are reminded that the Christmas season is about caring, and sharing, and thinking of others. It’s about spending time with family and renewing ties with friends we haven’t seen in a while. And it’s about giving.

Giving comes in many forms. Some gifts come wrapped in pretty paper all tied up with ribbons. Some are gifts from the heart that we share. Some heartfelt gifts are planned; like when we bring gifts to children’s hospitals, drop a toy into the Toys-For-Tots box, bring canned goods for a food drive, or blankets and coats to shelters for the homeless. But sometimes we give gifts from the heart that we don’t even know we gave, gifts that money can’t buy.

While watching a video of David performing My Hands in Lancaster, PA during his first tour, I couldn’t help noticing David’s reaction to the audience singing “hold on” along with him. The small, sweet smile that crosses his face at the 1:02 mark says it all.

In the video below, watch :48-1:03 where David notices the fans singing “hold on”, and then at 1:55 where he lets them sing that part alone, and again at 2:05 where he figures out that if he encourages them and holds the mic towards the audience, he gets a “sing-along right there.” Solo shows were still new to David at that time. He still clung tightly to the mic when singing. But you could see things start to transform in his mind as he realized what was happening.

My Hands – Lancaster, PA

Credit: braves071025

Somewhere in the middle of this tour, I think it finally hit David that the audience was comprised of fans. Not just any fans, HIS fans. I think it was quite a revelation when he realized that these people weren’t just fans of American Idol, they were fans of David Archuleta. Their show of support encouraged him to let go, to connect with them and start letting go of his fears.

It must be a strange feeling for such a young man to realize that he actually has his own fans. And although he didn’t know it, that was just the beginning. I think it took him quite a while to realize just what kind of fans he really had, that these weren’t just ordinary fans. They would prove to be quite a different breed of fan than that of the average artist. Over time, a unique bond formed between David and his fans. Because he began so young, he was still learning. He was new to performing in front of large crowds and it must have been terrifying. But David’s fans gave him the freedom to learn, to try new things, even to make mistakes, while loving anything and everything he did.

They gave him the gift of patience and loyalty while he learned what it was all about. They watched and waited as his performance skills and his confidence grew. They understood his shyness and his sometimes-awkward speeches in the beginning, even cherished those things and received them with a smile.

It was a gift given at a time when he needed it most. Maybe that’s why David is continually telling us how grateful he is for the journey we have helped him to take. He’s even said that it’s the fans that have taken him on this journey. In a way, that’s true. David began his journey solo, but the fans helped him to continue that journey.

That was our gift to David. And while he’s temporarily away from the music scene, his fans are still giving. Time is freely and happily given to keep up with David news, to write about him, to comment on articles about him, to tweet about him, to promote and buy his music, or to vote for him. His fans work hard to remind others that there is an incredibly talented young man out there that will be back in 2014.

But it isn’t like we’re giving and not receiving. It’s been an exchange of gifts.

While we were giving, we were also receiving from this kind and gentle and amazingly talented young man who sings like an angel and has shared his gifts with us. We have been blessed by his voice as he sings songs that make us smile and cry and dance and sing. He has given us years of joy and happiness by sharing his music and his heart with us.

In return for our gift of patience, we have received so much. Our lives have been enriched by David and by the friends we have made through him.

So in the spirit of Christmas, I’d like to acknowledge the gifts given to and from David and his fans.

Wishing you all …

Fullscreencapture12132012111857PMbmp_zpsssd33e0124_zps2ca9c819

 

Posted in David Archuleta | Tagged: , , | 87 Comments »

David Archuleta ~ The Total Package

Posted by MT on Sunday, November 11, 2012

Photo credit Naree

If you’re reading this, you’re a fan of David Archuleta. And not just any fan, a big fan, an ODD fan, because regular fans don’t go to fan sites. Right? So, why do we do it? What is it about David Archuleta?

In a conversation with another fan the other day, all of David’s wonderful attributes naturally came up. I mean, honestly, can you talk about David without going on for hours if you’re in the company of another fan?

Conversations usually begin with a discussion about his amazing voice and his most recent songs. Phrases like … beyond amazing … so incredible … like melted chocolate … and smooth as butter … are usually heard. Eventually, we run out of words to describe his gorgeous voice and the topic turns to his most recent photos and photo shoots.

What hasn’t been mentioned about David’s good looks? We have covered his smile, his eyes, his ears, his eyebrows, his chin, his fabulous jaw-line, his nose, his dimples, his flawless skin … AND THE HAIR!! OMG! THE HAIR! (Yes, I know, I have a thing for the hair. haha) But apart from individual traits, there seems to be a consensus among fans that when you put all those beautiful parts together you get one gorgeous young man who doesn’t seem to realize he is beautiful.

At the end of our conversation, I was remembering all the comments with a smile when it suddenly occurred to me that we spent as much time talking about his clothes and his looks as we did his wonderful voice.  And I thought, “What is it that really keeps me here?”

Is it still his voice and character, or because he’s gorgeous? Of course, it’s hard to separate the two because with David it seems to be a little of everything. But I can’t deny that he is a pleasure to look at. So I decided to try to dissect “THE WHY OF IT.”

For me, it started with American Idol. David was only 17 years old, 16 in the audition and Hollywood rounds. Oh yes, he was a real cutie pie, but I’d hardly have called him handsome. He was adorable. That’s all, just simply adorable, and he stayed that way for a very long time.

I fell in love during American Idol in 2008 with a 16/17 year-old boy who sang like an angel and captured my heart.  Just looking at him made me smile, almost the same way that looking at my grandson’s face does. His sweet face and his smile just melted my heart every time I saw him. He was literally a bundle of joy who, in some unexplainable way, made me happy. When the show ended, I realized I wasn’t ready to let him go.

Well, you all know how the story goes from there. I discovered YouTube!!! And fansites!! And chats with all of you guys!! Life was good! The ODD just kept growing like a well-watered plant!

Day after day, while I was reading articles and waiting up for concert footage, David Archuleta just kept digging his way deeper and deeper into my life. There were videos and concert recaps to enjoy, new concerts and events coming up to get excited about, and ALWAYS … my “David friends” to share it all with.

And theeeennnn … while I wasn’t looking, he grew up. During the My Kind Of Christmas Tour a new David showed up. Oh My Stars!!! He was dressed to kill, came out slinking onto the stage, smooth as silk, singing a jazzy little number and flirting with the audience ↓ and I thought,

“Where the heck did little David go? Who is this guy?”

Video credit 8thRowCenter

In sudden shock, I realized that David was no longer just that little cutie-pie I fell in love with. This was a man who was taking the stage by storm and driving the ladies out of their minds. You could tell by the SCREAMS in those first videos that I wasn’t the only one he caught by surprise! I’m not even going to get started on the Bench BTS videos and photos, the pink shirt and the fan, or the Rainbow music video.

So now, I am faced with adjusting my ODD to encompass this new development. Well … honestly? It wasn’t all that difficult. It took a little while, but I eventually got there and was able to accept that not only was I a fan of his voice and character, but I started to really appreciate what a good-looking young man he had become.

So while I still don’t completely understand my ODD, I have accepted that it is a work in progress. As David continues his musical journey and takes us all along with him, he will change and grow in many ways. Just as I began by loving his voice and sweet smile, then moved on to also admire both his character and good looks, I will probably always love what comes next.

It’s what just naturally happens when you become an ODD fan of an amazing artist and person who is “The Total Package.”

Posted in David Archuleta, The Voice, Transformation | Tagged: , , , | 121 Comments »

BEGIN. A Poem of David Archuleta

Posted by MT on Friday, September 28, 2012

Cloaked in silence, to contemplate

Inspiration is born

A time away from stress and trials

Ties to the past are torn.

~

To live without the daily grind

Free to think anew

Plan ahead for what could be

With hindsight still in view.

~

To walk away evasive of

The shadows of the past

Begin anew with visions held

To see the future at last.

~

The view is clear with thoughts untwined

Looking straight ahead

Focused on a single point

Where inspiration led.

~

That path now cleared of fog and smoke

Was chosen carefully

This is where his heart has led

He follows faithfully.

* * *

David has said this is a time of new beginnings. It’s not only a new journey for him in South America. It’s the beginning of his future as a whole. He will spend these two years quietly. And while he will be primarily focused on sharing his faith, he will no doubt use this time to contemplate his future as well.

It’s a time away from the ordinary world that David was used to dealing with on a daily basis, a time for him to learn who he wants to be and where he wants to go with his life and his music. His decisions will be made without the pressures of the music world and without the influence of family, friends, and yes, even fans.

In the end, he will know that the decisions he makes are his own rather than a reflection of what those around him may want.

Posted in Begin., David Archuleta, poetry | Tagged: , , , | 72 Comments »

David Archuleta ~ When Dreams Take Flight

Posted by MT on Monday, August 27, 2012

In a 2011 performance for Pandora’s Unforgettable Moments on Ice, David Archuleta did an outstanding job on every song. That came as no surprise to those of us who are familiar with him. His ability to sing pitch perfect time after time, along with a voice that can be both powerful and unbelievably tender is simply a fact. It’s why we are here.

Yet, as familiar with his voice as I am, every once in a while David still manages to catch me by surprise with its beauty. His performance of “Above the Northern Lights” with Mannheim Steamroller was one of those times. When the first clip surfaced, I was stunned. We all have moments in our lives that make us stop and catch our breath. This was one of those moments for me.

credit: smileylanie

I wish I knew the words to describe just how beautiful I think his performance of this song is. Unfortunately, I don’t. But what I can do is tell you how it makes me feel…

When dreams take flight.

Late one evening I was tired and trying to relax. So, what else would I do? I decided to pop in my ear buds and listen to David sing. I chose “Above The Northern Lights” because it always makes me feel good. I turned it on and put it on repeat.

As it began to play, I closed my eyes and felt myself begin to relax, drifting slowly toward sleep, feeling the worries and the world slipping away. By the second play, I was in that place between waking and sleep where reality has faded away, leaving my mind empty and receptive to the sweet melody and David’s voice.

As the first tinkling notes of the song began I could picture it in my mind. I could see the clear northern night, the icy ground covered with snow. Above, a starlit sky, and the northern lights shimmering brightly in the distance like rainbow-colored piano keys waiting to be played. As I drifted further David began to sing, and he brought me there.

Suddenly I was standing on the snow-covered ground gazing up at the mystical lights above. The more he sang, the more enmeshed in the vision I became until finally I could feel it. I could feel the cold, crisp, night air on my skin and … as I listened, as David’s voice and the melody filled my mind and my heart … I became free, weightless, and filled with joy as the magic began.

I was standing there, face turned up toward the heavens, arms flung wide embracing the night as I began floating, twirling and turning, higher and higher up into the northern sky as if on gossamer wings. Finally I was there, floating in and out among the lights, skipping, swaying, and dancing to the music of the night. I was laughing. I was gliding. I was tiptoeing like a ballerina across the multicolored piano keys as the melody played on, becoming a part of the music as I reveled in this joyous abandon.

It was beautiful beyond words. I could have stayed there forever, dancing in the colors of the night. Perhaps it was just a dream, but it was also a moment out of time. It was a moment of complete freedom and sweet joy brought on by the feeling of the song and the emotion in David’s voice. I’m so grateful I was able to remember it when I woke. Now, each time I hear the song it brings back that sweet feeling of joy.

♥ What a precious gift David has given me. ♥

You can see the whole performance of Northern Lights here:

Credit: mrayburn8743

Posted in Appreciation, David Archuleta | Tagged: , , | 89 Comments »

David Archuleta ~ Crossing The Bridge

Posted by MT on Saturday, June 30, 2012

There is no finite line between childhood and adulthood. No one can pinpoint the exact moment in time that he or she becomes an adult. It is a blurred line that takes some time to cross, like a bridge over a river that one must cross carefully with slow, measured steps.

For some celebrities, that bridge is crossed by going out in public and drinking, doing drugs, or making spectacles of themselves in an effort to show the world that they are no longer children and are taking part in “grown up” activities. But no matter how hard they try, they can’t shake the world’s opinion that they are still children. The world simply sees them as unruly children. This method of making the transition is also very unhealthy for the celebrity.

Hmmm … perhaps time out of the public’s view is a better answer. As fans, we have watched David grow and can easily see the difference between the young person David was and the man David is today. But like many others, he still has some growing/maturing to do in order to leave the teen label behind and be seen as an adult. So, at what point in time can he definitively say he is now a full-fledged adult? There is no easy answer to that question.

David leaving for two years to go on a mission is not something that most fans are happy about. While his reasons are understandable and we readily agree that we accept it as something he needs to do for himself, he is greatly missed. David spreads joy in a way that few others can. Actually, I’ve never known anyone else who could bring so much happiness to so many with just a smile, a laugh, or a song. And yet, he does it so easily just by being himself.

But, although we miss him, I can’t help but think that this time might be the bridge that David needs in order to cross from “adolescent David” to “adult David” in the world’s view without having to resort to any of the nonsense that some celebrities feel the need to partake in. These two years will give him the gift of time and allow his growth and maturity to be real, not something manufactured in an effort to gain the attention and acceptance of a disinterested public. His mission work will give him a knowledge and maturity that comes from serving others. And it will allow him to cross his bridge in relative anonymity, emerging as a man who is ready to bring that new maturity to his music and his performances, a man ready to take on the music industry.

Without having seen him in over two years, the world will be taking a “fresh” look at the new David Archuleta. It could be just what he needs to remove that blurred line, making it a clean and clear transition. Returning with a new maturity at age 23 should make it easier for the world to see and accept that he is no longer a “teen star” and that it’s time to take him seriously, time for him to be treated with the respect that his tremendous talent deserves.

Posted in David Archuleta, Editorial, Personal freedom, Respect, The Voice | Tagged: , , , | 127 Comments »

« Previous Entries
 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 165 other followers

%d bloggers like this: