With budding maturity, David Archuleta captures two years’ worth of introspection and reflection, dozens of songwriting sessions, long days spent in the studio and nights in the air, all leading to The Other Side of Down, his highly anticipated second album.
Not only the follow up to David’s 2008 self-titled debut, it’s a reintroduction to the American Idol runner-up with the angelic voice who 30 million television viewers fell in love with during season 7—now older, wiser, with faith still on his side and an eternally optimistic wide-eyed outlook. Hence, the album’s title. “For me, it’s about moving forward and making progress,” David explains. “I’m heading towards ‘the other side of down,’ which is ‘up.’”
On Saturday April 6, 2013 a group of devoted fans got together in honor of David Archuleta and his music with the goal of benefiting Child Fund International and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, two children’s’ charities that David supports.
Pamela Pike did a terrific job arranging this event which I had the pleasure of attending! We had a delicious buffet lunch consisting of grilled chicken and steak, together with greens and wonderful desserts.
I had a great time with Winnie, she’s lovely. It was also great fun meeting up with known fans and meeting new ones. I hope we can continue to have fan get-togethers.
Here are the highlights:
Mariners Elementary School Choir of Newport Beach sang for us. It was a great surprise to hear them sing Nandito Ako, they were so cute.
Newport Platinum Dance Academy danced to Zero Gravity and My Kind of Perfect, some more cuteness.
Singer/Songwriter, Sunny Hilden emceed the event. She has so much energy and spunk. Sunny handled the auction duties had us in stitches. While auctioning off a large David poster she encouraged us by saying it could serve as a wrinkle remover lol. I can see why she is David’s friend. It was a privilege to have some words with her. She is a genuine person. She loves and admires David. Sunny spoke of David throughout the event, sharing how she met him at the AI finale when Randy Jackson told a bunch of kids wanting to sing for him to go sing to Sunny, she’s a singer and songwriter, so they all went to her and sang. David waited to the end. She knew then he had something special and kept in touch with him. Sunny also shared with us a story about The My Kind Of Christmas poem David read to the kids on the Christmas tour. They are actually part of the lyrics of a song by the same name she had never completed. It has since been completed and Sunny read it to us. She shared that the melodies in this song are beautiful. She’s hoping and praying that David record’s it when he returns (I added to my list of prayers).
I was so excited to meet Michael Orland, Musical Director of American Idol. He and I have some tweet history and I’ll never forget him saying “David came to us a genius and left a genius”.
Dorian Holley, AI vocal coach, spoke so highly of David and his time on American Idol. Noting how David in his quiet way stood his ground on things going on behind the scenes. Dorian mentioned how everyone liked David and that his work ethic was something else.
Special video appearances by:
Rosanne Simunovic better known as Masterclass Lady who is a voice instructor also spoke highly of David and has a huge admiration for not only his voice but person. She told the story of meeting David during AI tour in Canada. That upon meeting and introducing herself to David he quickly asked her for help in regards to his singing, always trying to improve.
Dean Kaelin David’s voice instructor sent a video in which he spoke about his singing and the decision of going on a mission. Dean got teary at one point talking about David’s decision.
I understand this will be on the DVD of the day. I hope it has Kari’s parting words at the end, had us in tears.
I was able to speak to Kari for a bit and meet Jon “The Broken Man” I named him. I introduced Winnie to her as a new fan. Kari asked Winnie how she became a fan and Winnie told her because of Nandito Ako. Kari’s face lit up and said “Wasn’t he good?” lol We said, “YES! Still hoping for that DVD!”
Kari thanked us for our support of David through tears. Told us she and David are so appreciative of all we do for him and that David WILL START WHERE HE LEFT OFF UPON HIS RETURN AND THAT THINGS WILL BE BIGGER AND BETTER!
I have chills every time I repeat this. So let the countdown continue.
They played I’ll Be Waiting by Aaron Paul in closing.
How have things changed? Because they have. I’m not talking about how many new Twitter followers David’s gained, or how many album sales, or how many Facebook Likes he has. I’m talking about us.
Some days I HAVE to listen to him. Have to.
Some days not.
I went over a week without, just didn’t feel like it. Listened to a lot of Gavin DeGraw and I’LL ADMIT IT LEE DEWYZE.
Some days I comment on posts. Then I’ll disappear for a little while.
(and it’s not always because life gets in the way, we can say that till the cows come home, but there was a time we stayed up all night discussing things, laundry decaying in piles lol)
Sometimes I think there isn’t anything worthwhile for me to contribute anymore, after five years of online fangirling, I think I’ve said everything I could possibly say. What HAVEN’T I said?
Am I as invested as I once was? Probably not. Or maybe I am. I don’t even know anymore.
I miss David. Some days more than others.
I miss his random, funny tweets.
I miss his vlogs.
I miss his random bursts of song. In person and written in tweets.
I miss planning trips to shows, and knowing, just KNOWING how great it’ll be.
I miss his smile, his laugh, his hugs.
I miss staying up late and looking for new concert footage the night of a show.
I miss a lot of people who have drifted away, not just since he’s been gone, but even before that.
I miss the friends I made at the shows. The friends I attended shows with. Had great dinners with. Held hands with and cried while the most beautiful songs were being sung to us. While Ave Maria was happening in front of us. Peeked through a crack in a door to watch David soundcheck with. Talked like the oldest and best of friends while eating some fab food. Laughed hysterically in the car when someone’s iPad ran out of minutes and she frantically added time so we could continue watching videos that were popping up after our show. Danced to TOSOD in a gas station restroom after a show. Ran like a foolish 13 yr old to save a place in the front row of a show outside in the cold. Sat in a chatroom till all hours discussing every minute particle of every song. Every change in our lives.
Wow, we’ve really been lucky. Really, genuinely lucky.
A year ago, I wondered what it would be like in a year. I wondered if people would still frequent the sites. Who knew what would happen? We all said we’d be here, but life has a way of curving, changing.
We are closer to the coming back than the leaving.
Passover and Easter are the only Jewish and Christian holidays that move in sync, like the ice skating pairs we saw during the winter Olympics. ~ Marvin Olasky
It’s time to celebrate the release of the album, No Matter How Far by David Archuleta!! This is his third album released since he left on his mission. David’s current single “Don’t Run Away” is being played on radio and internet radio stations around the world.
Music video by David Archuleta performing Don’t Run Away and music video animation by Kylie Malchus. 2013 Entertainment One U.S., LP, DavidArchuletaVEVO. Published on Mar 24, 2013.
Join in the World Wide Trending Party Monday, 3/25/13 at 7 PM Utah time to celebrate and let the world know that David Archuleta’s archangels are waiting for #DA2014 and are here to stay!! ↓
#NoMatterHowFarDavidArchuleta
Billboard.com posted an article and hosted an album listening party and Twitter blew up! So many tweets and retweets!
As you all know I’m a voting, commenting, viewing, anything to get David’s name out there junkie lol. I put up the occasional link for you all to see and join in if possible. Some do some don’t, either is fine, doesn’t make any fan better than another. I try to touch everything put out relating to David but even in his absence it’s hard to do. So I pick and choose what are the best promo opportunities IMO and go at it
This leads me to the Ryan Seacrest poll. Will Seacrest debut or play David’s single or any other of his songs? Not likely but not impossible. Seacrest is viewed and followed by not only fans of almost every artist but also the media, music and news alike. So I put this poll as the #1 priority. And after seeing these tweets I feel this is more than a mindless poll. I believe this will show the interest in David is still strong and that his fans are here waiting for him.
Voting ends tomorrow so this time I’m asking to please put in your vote. You can vote multiple times by clearing your cookies and history after every vote.
FINAL ROUND: Who’s Album Are You Most Excited For in 2013?
Ella Henderson
David Cook
Girls Generation
David Archuleta
Avril Lavigne
Be sure to check back Tuesday, March 5 to see who wins!
You can vote on computer, laptop, iphone, & ipad! Vote now!
iPhone, therefore iAm. Think about it.* My iPhone has become such an integral part of my existence that the very thought of losing it sends me into a panic. Take the other day at work. I’m just sitting there, happily gabbing with my friend Sherry, when suddenly I realize my phone is not on my desk or in my pocket! Having just concluded a meeting with my boss, I rush down the 50 foot corridor to his office, burst inside and anxiously demand if he’s seen my phone. “It’s in your hand.” “It’s not on my desk or in my pocket and….what?” “It’s in your hand.” Removing the phone from my ear, I stare at it in shock and awe, as though a live grenade has suddenly appeared in my hand, and a second later, it explodes with shrieks of laughter. “I gotta go, Sherry.” Now it’s my boss’s turn. He collapses into his chair and slaps the desk, laughing like a baby tickled into hilarity or the way porky pig laughs at daffy duck. I waddle back down the hall to my office with him holding onto the door for support and gasping after me, “Thank you. Thank you very, very much!” Dethpicable.
Well, let them laugh. I can’t help it. I love my phone. I get my mail, access social media, the internet, listen to music watch movies, read books, jot down notes, record where I parked my car, take pictures and videos, check the weather, look up addresses, get restaurant and movie reviews, read the news or the scriptures, and text my friends. Sometimes I even use it to make calls.
And there are games. Addictive games. Be guided by me. Do not download Candy Crush Saga. I made it through 28 levels, loving the rush of the sugar crush more and more with each level completed. To fail over and over and then to see those words quietly appear on the screen___Sugar Crush. Then to watch all the red, green, yellow, orange and purple candy explode and fall downward in a torrent of sugar crystals. What a rush! What a rush! And I ALWAYS have to yell the words out loud whenever it happens. “Sugar Crush!!!” Like Honey Boo Boo Child, it makes me holla. Finally one day I arrived at level 29 and spent the next three weeks trying to achieve sugar crush. I accepted these repeated failures with my usual maturity and grace.
At last I succeeded and two days later, sugar crushed on levels 30, 31, 32 and 33 in just two hours! Not being a smoker, I savored the occasion instead with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. And this. What better way to celebrate a sugar crush than with a sugar rush? Feel free to copy and share. Divine! That’s another thing about this game that is so enticing. With even the slightest competent move, a man’s deep voice encourages you with, “Divine!” “Sweet!” “Tasty!” “Delicious!” Abrra has lost her mind playing the game. She has given up all semblance of struggle and now self-indulgently plays level 7 over and over and over, just for the cheap thrill of a quick and easy sugar crush. Sad.
Here, in a series of texts sent to me by my concert buddy and monthly Archulunch partner Biz, is documented proof of the addictive properties of the game. There are a million stories in the Candy Crush Saga. This, is just one of them.
I know David wanted us to develop ourselves while he’s away working on the person he can’t wait to bring back to us. I had such big plans for these 2 years. I meant to go outside, honest. The only exercise I did for the DA2014 Fitness Club on twitter was to push the follow tab. I was going to learn Spanish. I downloaded several Spanish language apps but that’s as far as I got.
Now a whole year has passed and what have I achieved? Level 45 so far. I hope to achieve level 65 before he returns, which by all reports is virtually impossible. Then I’ll work on scoring level G, rows 1-10 for that other crush I’m so obsessed with.
* With apologies to René Descartes: “I think, therefore I am.”
This will be David’s first birthday and Christmas away from home while on his mission. In the past, he has always managed to wrap up tour in time to be home for the holidays. This can be a difficult time for missionaries, when the sacrifices they are making seem most acute. According to this tweet from Kari, this is the last week to get your cards to her so she can get them to him in time.
Mail your Birthday and Christmas card this week to:
David Archuleta
PO Box 4297
Apopka, Fl. 32704
USA
Please take some time this week to get your cards mailed. Let’s let him know we remember him. ♥
True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long, we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” –Dieter F. Uchtdorf
11/27/12@kariontour Look at all the letters coming in for D for the holidays! These will put a smile on his face when he gets them (KS) pic.twitter.com/NJ1k6wgD
Keep those cards coming! We have till end of this week to get them to her! Let’s see how big we can make him smile!
David fans are the best gifters ever. Most of the time they want to remain anonymous. We want to thank them all who have so selflessly gifted. Here are a couple of thank yous we’ve received; not all sent them, but as long as they are loving David Archuleta and his music, all is well.
English Translation
Hey guys, it’s Georgette here! Haha, sounds familiar? Well seemed like a good way to start this email since that’s how David begins his video blogs every time he makes one, and I love how he does that.
I became an “Archie” or “Arch Angel” as I watched the episode of Hannah Montana on Disney Channel 2 years ago. I felt an incredible connection with David and his way of being caught my attention, so I searched for him in Google (as anyone who wants to know a little more about someone LOL) and what I liked the most is that David has Latin family! wow! That shocked me very much, so I quickly went to YouTube and looked for videos of David speaking in Spanish… I was shocked! Not only by his way of speaking, but by its simplicity, humility, passion and all the feelings I noticed when David speaks, sings or simply expresses himself.
I also noticed that David participated in American Idol and came in second place, so I looked for the songs that he sang and all performances on YouTube. What else did I do? Download all the songs obviously! I converted to an Archie at around September, a little before the release of The Other Side Of Down. I remember it very well.
On http://www.DavidArchuleta.com page there was a countdown marking the days until 5 October. After downloading his songs I looked up the lyrics and I learned them very quickly. The connection I felt with David was very deep… he was not only “David Archuleta” he had become everything and more than I thought. I remember feeling inspired with the lyrics of his songs from TOSOD.
For me David is one in a million. The simplicity and modesty that he shows are a great inspiration for many people. Not many artists are like this. I’m in love with the fact that David sings because he loves singing and music, not because he is interested in fame or anything else that comes with it; He only sings because the music is his life. David can’t imagine doing anything else that is not singing, and I can’t imagine listening to different music than that of David.
It’s as simple as this, if there is no David, there is no Georgette because David is part of me and I see him as a very important person in my life. The things that he taught me cannot be counted with a finger and I am really thankful for it all. I sometimes think, “how can there be people who don’t like David? Or, people who like David, but don’t feel as inspired as I am? Don’t they feel his music like other Archies? It is not easy to say, but I’m sure that if they stopped a moment to listen to any song, the words, it will be an inspiration because what you feel when David sings is contagious… you can see in his eyes, his way of expressing that he has a message behind each song and I am proud to say that I know that message. I now understand the message better.
When David announced that he would leave on a mission for the Latter Day Saints Church, my heart broke… but I couldn’t be happier! David would be serving his church for 2 years preaching the word of God, the person who has taught me many things I know and I give thanks to him for putting David in my path and now David will reach more people. Wow that is incredible!
To make a long story short. I give thanks to The Voice for all that you do for the fans. Thank you for sending me a copy of Forevermore and the amazing bracelet … David: You’ve become part of my soul.
-Georgette, Venezuela.
Original in Spanish
Hey guys, it’s Georgette here! Haha, sounds familiar? Bueno me pareció una buena forma de empezar este email ya que así empieza David sus video blogs cada vez que hace uno, y amo la forma en que hace eso.
Yo me convertí en una “Archie” o “Arch Angel” mientras veía el episodio de Hannah Montana en Disney Channel, hace 2 años. Sentí una conexión increíble con David y su forma de ser me llamó mucho la atención, así que lo busqué en Google (como toda persona que quiere saber un poco más acerca de alguien LOL) y lo que más me gusto es que David tienen familia LATINA! wow! Eso me impactó mucho, así que fui rápidamente a YouTube y busqué vídeos de David hablando en español… Quedé impactada! No solo por su forma de hablar, sino por su sencillez, humildad, pasión y todos los sentimientos que noté en David al hablar, cantar o simplemente expresarse.
También noté que David participó en American Idol y que quedó de segundo lugar, así que busqué las canciones que cantó y todas sus presentaciones en YouTube. Qué más hice? Descargar todas sus canciones OBVIAMENTE!!! Me convertí una Archie al rededor de Septiembre por lo que faltaba poco para el lanzamiento de The Other Side Of Down, lo recuerdo muy bien.
En su página www.DavidArchuleta.com había un conteo regresivo por los días que faltaban para el 5 de Octubre. Luego de descargar sus canciones busqué las letras y me las aprendí muy rápido, es que la conexión que sentí con David era muy profunda… no solo era “David Archuleta”, él se había convertido en todo lo que pensaba. Recuerdo haber sentido una inspiración muy fuerte con las letras de sus canciones desde su primer CD hasta TOSOD. Para mí David es uno en un millón, su sencillez y modestia que expresa son de gran inspiración para demasiadas personas y eso no lo tienen muchos artistas. Estoy enamorada del hecho de que David solo canta porque ama cantar y la música, no porque le interesa la fama o cualquier otra cosa que venga con ella; él solo canta porque la música es su vida, no me imagino a David haciendo otra cosa que no sea cantar y no me imagino escuchando otra música que no sea la de David.
De una manera más sencilla: No hay David, no hay Georgette; porque David ya es parte de mí y lo considero como una persona muy importante en mi vida. Las cosas que él me ha enseñado no se pueden contar con un dedo y estoy realmente agradecida con todo. A veces pienso, ¿Cómo existe gente a la que no le gusta David? O, a la gente que le gusta David, ¿se sentirán tan inspirados como yo? ¿Sentirán su música al igual que otros Archies? No es fácil decirlo, pero estoy segura de que si se detienen un momento a escuchar cualquier canción de él y entender las letras, lo sentirán porque la inspiración es contagiosa al igual que los sentimientos que siente David cuando canta… se puede ver en sus ojos y en su forma de expresarse que él tiene un mensaje detrás de cada canción, y estoy orgullosa de decir que sé cuál es ese mensaje. Y ahora mucho más conozco el mensaje.
Cuando David anunció que partiría en una misión para la Iglesia de los Santos de los Últimos Días, mi corazón se partió… no podía estar más feliz!! David estaría sirviendo para una Iglesia por 2 años predicando la palabra de Dios, la persona que nos ha enseñado muchas de las cosas que sabemos y le doy gracias a Él por poner a David en nuestro camino; y saber que ahora David llegará a mucha más gente?? Wow eso es increíble!!
Para no hacer esta historia más larga me despido agradeciendo a The Voice por todo lo que hacen por los fans, gracias por enviarme una copia de Forevermore y el increíble brazalete… David: Te has convertido en parte de mi alma.
-Georgette, Venezuela.
English Translation
Hello, first of all I want to thank you TheVoiceDavidArchuleta and Blueberry Ice from CA, thanks to you I have this wonderful FOREVERMORE Cd and also to SandyBeaches from Canada for the beautiful bracelet she gave me. INFINITE THANKS!
DAVID JAMES ARCHULETA MAYORGA… MORE THAN AN IDOL
For me DAVID is more than an Idol, why? Because he is simple and humble despite being a famous artist, he has never changed and remains as who he is. I love his personality, so humble and generous to all, it is really admirable.
David is the best singer for me because he has an ANGELIC voice that not many have, his songs are very beautiful and meaningful. He inspires me so much.
For me he is a winner. He worked hard to get to where he is and he remains the same: the same sweet guy. Nice, humble, simple, charismatic, lovable and cute. I watched him on ‘American Idol’ in 2008 and I became a fan of David.
David Archuleta is without a doubt a complete artist! In addition to a great human being < 3!
- ALWAYS smiles.
- ALWAYS delivers the best in every interpretation.
- ALWAYS supports his friends.
- ALWAYS is proud of his Latin roots. <3
- ALWAYS cares for those around him.
- ALWAYS attends to his fans and talks with them.
- ALWAYS is attentive to everyone.
Thanks to his efforts. He has endured adversities but has been able to overcome :’)
The truth for me, and I dare say that for many of his fans he is an example to follow and a being that inspires us a lot. :’ (D)
Waiting for David Archuleta…
Lizbeth
Original in Spanish
Hola, primero que nada muchas GRACIAS a TheVoiceDavidArchuleta y a Blueberry Ice de CA, ya que gracias a ustedes tengo este maravilloso Cd FOREVERMORE y también a SandyBeaches de Canadá por la hermosa pulsera que me obsequiaron. J ¡INFINITAS GRACIAS!
DAVID JAMES ARCHULETA MAYORGA… MAS QUE UN ÍDOLO
Para mí DAVID es más que un ídolo, ¿porque? porque es humilde y sencillo a pesar de ser un famoso /artista nunca cambio y sigue siendo tal como es, amo su personalidad tan humilde y generoso con todos, es realmente admirable.
El mejor cantante para mí porque tiene una voz ANGELICAL que no muchos poseen. Sus canciones son muy hermosas y significan tanto, me inspiran mucho
El para mí es UN TRIUNFADOR, lucho MUCHÍSIMO para llegar a donde el esta , y sigue siendo el mismo: el mismo chico dulce, simpático, humilde, sencillo, carismático, adorable, lindo que veía en el programa ‘American Idol’ aquel 2008 que es desde allí donde me hice fan de David. :)
David Archuleta es sin duda un artista completo! Además de un gran ser humano<3!
- SIEMPRE está sonriendo.
- SIEMPRE entrega lo mejor de sí en cada interpretación.
- SIEMPRE apoya a sus amigos y cercanos.
- SIEMPRE se muestra orgulloso de sus raíces latinas. <3
- SIEMPRE se preocupa por los que están a su alrededor.
- SIEMPRE atiende a sus fans y conversa con ellos/as.
- Es atento con todos.
Y todo lo que ha logrado ha sido gracias a su esfuerzo, al igual que cualquier persona ha tenido debilidades y adversidades pero las ha sabido superar :’)
La verdad para mí, y me atrevo a decir que para varias de sus fans, es un ejemplo a seguir y un ser que nos inspira muchísimo. :’D
Remember this twitpic from Kari back in March? Now, we have 18 amazing seconds of David’s glorious voice, singing “Broken”! How can we go to sleep tonight? How can we wait 26 more days to have BEGIN. in our hands? I, for one, can hardly wait to read the liner notes, as I expect David’s words to be exceptionally heartfelt and emotional.
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