David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. At ten years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances.[6] When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2.[6] In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol.[7] In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.
Posted by bebereader on Wednesday, January 6, 2016
credit Pamela Pike
The final season of American Idol begins its 15th year at 8 p.m. Eastern tonight on Fox, with a finale in April rather than May, ending four weeks earlier than normal.
I have not followed the show since Season 7 ended but I can’t help feeling a bit nostalgic at the mention of the end of an era in TV entertainment. Sure it ran its course; it was one of the pioneers of talent search shows, aside from Star Search that never made it quite as big. It provided many hours of good TV but most of all it gave us David Archuleta, The Voice, whochanged our lives in more ways that we can count on our fingers. And for this I will be forever thankful.
I lost interest in the show for a lot of reasons, but mainly because I no longer trusted the integrity of the voting tabulations (I mean, really!); I was tired of Simon’s lacerating put-downs and I was resentful that the show focused too frequently on watching people with no talent try out. It was dishonest. If the show was looking for the best talent in America, why focus on the worst? To get a laugh at thecontestant’s expense?
According to a New York Times article, “Idol pulled in north of 30 million viewers at its peak , (but was able to draw only 11 million during its most recent round in 2015) and Fox milkedit, expanding the excruciating audition rounds and padding the episodes. Celebrity guests flocked to pitch their wares. It was the biggest thing on TV; at times, it practically seemed like the only thing on TV.
Posted by bluesky4home on Sunday, December 30, 2012
When I see something wonderful that talented people are doing, I always get excited and I wonder, “How is this going to fit into what DA will need, or be doing, or have available, etc. when he comes home?”
Why? Because: I believe.
I believe that things that bless others will also bless him. I believe that because there are so many changes happening within the music industry and how “brands” are created, produced and marketed, that a new paradigm is emerging that will bless his life as well as the lives of others. I believe DA is young, savvy, focused and inspired. I do not say that it will all be roses, smooth sailing, or that everything will magically fall into place, but I do believe absolutely that new horizons of opportunity will be available to him. And when he is blessed, so are we.
My case in point for today: ThePianoGuys.
I had been hearing about Jon Schmidt, a creative composer/pianist, for a long time and have gone to two of his concerts. He is well known in our area and offers concerts each year. When I first saw him on You Tube, I saw this title above the vid: ThePianoGuys. I thought that was a little strange, since he was the only person in the videos. Later, I saw several vids where he was performing duets with Steven Sharp Nelson, a wonderful cellist. I loved the music but was still a bit confused by the title. Being that I am a bit slow, it was not until this last summer when I attended a concert close to home that I caught the full vision of what they, ThePianoGuys were all about.
From their Official Channel:
Five guys from different walks of life with different skill sets, from different places — each had built their own careers: a piano store owner/videographer (Paul Anderson), a music producer (Al van der Beek), a videographer/editor (Tel Stewart), a pianist (Jon Schmidt), and a cellist (Steven Sharp Nelson). But all with the same ambition: to inspire the world with the talents given them. Each met through seemingly-happenstance, but divinely-influenced circumstances. Combined, they had the tools, the passion, and the drive necessary to independently build one of the most successful music video production companies in the world. They are famous for taking their instruments (especially grand pianos) and video equipment to unbelievable places. But above all, ThePianoGuys love what they do — and it shows. At the end of the day, they are ordinary guys that love their families and that thank God for the opportunity they have to do what they love.
It was then that I finally realized that ThePianoGuys was a collaborative effort: when you go to their website, the three that seldom appear as performers on video are given top billing and space. All are equal to the importance of the creation of their “brand”. What is most exciting to me is that their very successful brand was chosen, produced and offered to the public on their own terms, not those of someone else. No record company told them what they could or could not be. No marketing body handed them a pre-fabricated identity, relegating them by color, size, or sound to fit neatly into one of the few molded shapes allowed in a modern music cafeteria tray. They became famous through YouTube, posting their first video in March of 2010. Two years and 39 videos later, many produced a week apart, they now have a total of 205,419,123 views and 1,178,305 subscribers to their channel.
In December 2011, they released their first album and their second album, released in 2012 reached number one on the Billboard New Age Albums chart.
So… without further ado, here is an example of what can be accomplished when people follow their passion and remain true to themselves.
One of my favs, sure to make you smile:
One of my passions, sure to inspire:
One of their newest, sure to make you believe in dreams:
The other day I caught this comment on YouTube under one of their videos:
“wow that was awesome ps you guys should make a David Archuleta song”
Now, from time to time they do record their arrangements/videos with a singer. And I have a pretty good idea who I think would sound best. You might want to save some time on your calendar for a certain returned missionary in 2014 Piano Guys. Can you say “Broken”?
Post script: “The Piano Guys” last concert in SLC was produced and recorded for PBS and they just recently got signed by a label: Sony Masterworks. On first hearing this I worried. But then I saw the company they were in…
Placido Domingo, Jascha Heifetz, Vittorio Grigolo, Wynton Marsallis, Yo-Yo Ma, etc. …and I guess I am willing to believe that it is a “good place”.
Conclusion: Talented people are leading fulfilling lives sharing their passion and abilities on their own terms. Can David Archuleta be successful doing this? Things beyond our knowing are aligning for him and others like him.
Without question: Yes. I believe.
The following is a synopsis from PR Newswire introducing all Five Guys in a rare performance together on video:
Ironically, The Piano Guys, who got their name from a piano store in St. George, Utah, are a quintet featuring only two musicians – only one being a pianist. Store owner Paul Anderson devised a Facebook promotional page and a YouTube channel featuring well-established, self-described “New Age Classical” pianist Jon Schmidt , who teamed up musically with Steven Sharp Nelson , an innovative cellist. Together, Schmidt and Nelson form the musical core of The Piano Guys, with Anderson – who has since closed the store – joining forces with genius co-videographer Tel Stewart in creating The Piano Guys’ videos. Al van der Beek , the fifth “Guy,” heads up the group’s studio operations, and also assists in co-writing and arranging, as well as percussion and vocal texturing. As seen in their One Direction video, in performance, all five of The Piano Guys frequently appear together.
Hah! David’s newest vlog may appear to be a St. Patrick’s Day vlog to some, but to diehard fans, it’s much more. In fact, it was packed to the gills with so many random implications, things we’ve been patiently waiting to hear. Were you sitting on the edge of your seat, afraid you’ll miss something? How many times did you watch it?
Wishing us a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, he stood to show us that he has his green on, wearing a Gremlin t-shirt. He just wanted to check in and tell us that it’s been a crazy week!
Honoring the victims of the Japan earthquake, he points out how technology gives immediate access to show us exactly what is happening in Japan. He tells us to be mindful of others who may be going through hard times and encourages us to donate even a small amount. If you can’t do much, at least keep them in your prayers.
It’s been a really good week, he says! I’d really like to know what he really means by ‘really’. He’s working on some songs but it’s a matter of finishing them. He compares himself to the mad scientist on Jimmy Neutron who’s never able to finish anything. You know, it’s all a matter of narrowing the songs down, he says. Gee David, all you have to do is say the word and we can help.
He goes on to say that there’s been a lot of phone calls this week. David, I hope your cell was ringing off it’s hook! It’s his last day at home and wants to spend time with his siblings. Last day in Utah? Where are you going, David? “Going going back back to Cali Cali” and excited for tomorrow. Did you catch that sneaky grin? What’s going on in Cali Cali in the next few days? Writing more songs? Signing with a label? Interviewing new management?
The part that excited me most was when he talked about a foundation and of needing to get that foundation built before building the tower. The tower??!! I know what a foundation is but was more than happy to look it up since he sounded serious.
Definition of FOUNDATION
1: a basis upon which something stands or is supported
2: funds given for the permanent support of an institution
3: an underlying base or support; especially, the whole masonry substructure of a building
4: a body or ground upon which something is built up or overlaid
5: a woman’s supporting undergarment
6: a cosmetic usually used as a base for makeup
I’m assuming David means #1 #3 or #4.
Excited for today, he’s looking forward to letting us know what’s coming up, and will talk to us guys next time. He said “See ya.”
What a tease he is!@!@E#@@
So, what do YOU think is going on back in Cali in the coming week?
In 1999, Napster, a free online file sharing site arose. The music industry fought back by bringing suit and vanquished that foe but like the heads of the mythological Hydra, dozens of other sites sprang up in its place. That should have been all the heads-up the industry needed but it was not until 2003 that iTunes emerged. By that time, people who were accustomed to downloading tracks for free, didn’t find the 99 cent deal as tempting. Now, according to online download tracker BigChampagne Media Measurement, the volume of unauthorized downloads represents 90% of the market.
“It first started with computer software. Most computer users have routinely downloaded freeware (free to use) and shareware (free use for a certain time period, then pay a nominal registration fee for continual use). These habits strengthened with the migration of the publishing industry over the Internet. All major newspapers and magazines provided, and most of them still continue to provide their content, for which the print subscribers would pay, free of charge over the Internet in exchange for “eyeballs” and resulting advertising revenue. These habits are now affecting music, a newly recognized information good. The convergence of computing with audio technology and the advent of MP3 and other digital formats has allowed music lovers to download and distribute both legal and pirated music over the internet. “
The Music Industry in the Digital World: Waves of Change/Mihir Parikh musicwave.pdf
In the last several years, the music industry has undergone a sea change. The tide has turned and the old ways of doing business will not work in the new global Internet environment.
There is no turning back the onslaught of this new wave. This is a an inevitable change in an industry that has experienced many technological innovations over the years. We have moved from vinyl albums to cassettes to CDs and now the change is from a tangible product to intangible access. In this Information Age the internet has altered the structure of the music industry and the way it works forever. People are going to download music for free. Period. Even if all the sites that offer free downloads could be tracked down and punished, it wouldn’t touch the millions of P2P (peer-to-peer) collections that share music and are unpublished.
This is not a bad thing. It is a change in the means of distribution from the labels to the artist and his fans. In the old structure, the labels collect 85 to 90% of the profit from music sales anyway. That means an artist has to sell an awful lot of CDs to see any of that money. The little they do see goes back into the business of making music and touring.
In the new paradigm, artists will move closer to the center of power. They will gain much more control over the marketing and distribution of their music. Many will choose to remain free of a label and labels themselves will have to change or get left in the wake of the outgoing tide. In the very near future, the label’s role of finding talent will still exist but their position will evolve to a more managerial/consultant role.
Artists who understand this change and embrace it will find themselves freer and in more control of their art and the revenue from it than ever before. The Internet, in effect, cuts out the middleman and allows the artist to interact directly with his fans.
Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter along with a well designed, dynamic website will be the method of distribution for music and information and connecting with fans. The website could provide free downloads of music, (yes, I said free) vlogs, chats with fans, information about upcoming events, tours, and tangible merchandise for sale including CDs, high-end T-shirts, mugs, posters, and other products as well as advertising revenue. Video-taping and fan photos from concerts should be encouraged and promoted and occasional HD streaming of a live concert could be offered for a substantial fee. Most fans unable to travel to the concert would be more than happy to pay for this virtual experience in real-time. All of this is money in the artist’s pocket to help fund his tours, which also, without a label to take the lion’s share of the profit, will be much more lucrative. With or without a label, good management will be key but ultimately, his financial survival will depend on live performances and a devoted fan base. The recorded music will in effect be a way of introducing himself to a public of growing fans who will then pay money to see him live. Gone are the days when an artist was able to make a living on recordings alone. Ironically, the new age of computer technology that brought with it digitally engineered recorded voices has also, due to free access to that recorded music, ushered in a return to the sincerity of live performance. If a singer is of that rare breed who is actually better live than in the studio, he is well poised to take to the stage with confidence. If he, in addition, is getting a huge amount of illegal downloads of his music, he is standing at the crest of a rising wave, that if taken at its peak, will lead to a great future.
bebereader
djafan
voiceadmin
credit Pamela Pike
The Voice David Archuleta 