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.
One of the highlights of our time in Shanghai was getting to visit the Shanghai Baby’s Home. It was started to help kids in orphanages who need lifesaving treatment. It was touching. These littlest ones are people who can’t help themselves. I’m amazed by Daisy and the Shanghai Baby’s Home crew who constantly are fighting to help these kids’ lives. So glad that the Cook Family brought us here! It reminds me that I need to be grateful that I’ve had a home and a family who has taken care of me. We played in the play room and made forts. The kids saw my phone though and seemed to know that there may be some games on there. 😳😅. They immediately found a Disney game that I whip out from time to time. Glad we could all share a love for Disney. Link to their Facebook will be in my bio.#Shanghai#shanghaibabyshome#China#orphans
I had to post one more. This is little Snow. She has a congenital heart defect and lives at the Shanghai Baby’s Home. She has had one operation and is going to need another one. It was awesome getting to play with her for a little while trying to show her pictures of a cat. She was more interested in the paper cover though. I guess it had a shine to it that she preferred over the pictures. 😂 Photo Credit: Daisy at Shanghai Baby’s Home #Shanghai#shanghaibabyhome#orphan#China#Littlesnow
The first night in Arizona the gathering of fans began early at the Olive Garden. So great to have a group of people who don’t cut you off when you mention David. Haha
All photos property of Dayzee unless stated otherwise
Jan and I reached the venue an hour early and there were fans milling around everywhere. Met old friends, some we had not seen since the last time we were in Arizona (home of the infamous chair scooting incident). Some we had met at Tuacahn last fall. Seeing those familiar faces is just what you need when your tummy is full of butterflies and you are so high you can’t keep track of your tickets and keys.
David’s pic on the door
The door of the venue was covered with a pic of David and fans were standing in line to take photos of themselves with that David pic. Jan said when the line slowed down she would take a picture of that herself, but the line was constant and even longer after the performance.
Line of people waiting to take their pics of themselves with the door pic
Inside, Jan and I separated as we had bought our tickets separately. I was by myself but had a ticket for front row center. Yayy! As I found my seat a girl jumped up from the adjoining chair and said “I hope we don’t make too much noise for you.” LOL. As I got to know this new fan I realized she was pretty much the opposite of me. She was 18, I was 81. It was her first time to see David, it was about my fifty-first. We no doubt had little in common, yet here we were, side by side at a David concert.
I showed her some videos on my phone from the Richfield concert. She was quite excited at the thought of getting her own videos and promptly started taping. About half way through the show I told her I would have to stop because my phone was almost dead. She said, “No problem” and hooked me up with a power plug she had found right on the edge of the stage. What??? Arizona not only let you take all the video you wanted, but helped you power up. I love Arizona.
My new friend Nicole was absolutely delightful. She helped me get through “Everybody Hurts” and I helped her through “7 Years”. You know, sometimes David is just overwhelming and you need a hand to clasp or a thigh to squeeze.
As soon as David left the stage I helped Nicole jump up and she gathered set lists and water bottles, handing them to fans standing at the edge of the stage. Everyone loved her. She scampered from the stage, barely escaping the grasp of the stage police.
According the David, the way we will be watching him drink water now since he has decided it’s weird to have 700 people watch you drink
It makes me happy every time I open the refrigerator door.
Nicole came and gave me a hug the second night. Perhaps we will meet again when David visits Arizona. I will not worry about her because I know she has the very best role model. Makes me happy to know there are new young fans. How long can we old ladies carry this banner anyway?
I had not met SuzieQ before, but was fortunate to be sitting next to her on the second night. I loved her for the respect and enthusiastic admiration she showed David.
Remember all those one-armed hugs we used to get from David? They have evolved into two-armed hugs of appreciation that are shared by fans of all ages everywhere!
Turning 25 is considered a milestone. An age where we seriously begin to ponder where we are in life and where we’re headed. Throughout our lives, we make decisions for known and unknown reasons. These decisions lead us down new paths, take us new places, places where we meet new people and suddenly, the world shifts again. What was going to happen can no longer happen and what will slowly turns into what’s meant to be. One decision folds into the next, and our life lays out before us. Most days we can get so caught up in daily life that we don’t stop to think about how each decision leads us to the next opportunity or away from it. Wherever we may find ourselves we hope for happiness, always. David has lead by example on how to live by listening to his heart and soul for that voice, that feeling that guides him. Whether we agree or not, it is his journey. Here’s to many more experiences as David fans.
Join us in celebrating David Archuleta’s 25th birthday by having WWTT party!
I saw on Twitter that the Soul Davidian site is taking a Summer break. I am using this opportunity to reinforce our resolve to keep going through the lean times. While the David-related news has gone down to almost nil, fans still want to feel the connection. That’s why we’re still here; although I will admit that there are times when it is a difficult task to maintain a fan site based on commentary, rather than news. Our primary purpose is to provide a place for fans to comment and share their take on current events in David Archuleta’s career.
David was an unknown singer who virtually dropped from the television screen into our hearts. Back in the post American Idol days we had so much to discover about him and his music. Some would say we got too close to that young man who was so eager to share many facets of his life with fans. We were just as eager to find out every minute detail of his day, both personal and career-related.
And then he announced that he was going on a mission for his church.
At that time a few fan sites dropped out. Some said it was out of respect for David’s request for privacy during that time. What followed on the sites left standing was an uncertainty about what we could say or publish about his mission activity. The final shakeout was that pictures or videos were not allowed unless they were of public appearances.
And so the drought began.
Through this time we navigated our way along choppy waters of fans who agreed to disagree on what was appropriate to talk about in relation to his mission experience. We became aware that David was a celebrity even as an Elder in Chile. His brother Elders wrote in their personal blogs about the respect they had for him both as a missionary and as a singer. We were hungry for any news, if only to know that David was happy with his experience. The videos from Chile of Christmas concerts sustained the fan base over the two years. Counting down the days until his return was something that kept us motivated to stay on the course.
But the payoff upon his return to Utah was not what most had anticipated. Realizing that there is a period of adjustment for returning missionaries, patience became a word we used often. Other than a few seconds of video from the airport, there was silence. So much silence that some frustrated fans took to Twitter in order to force David out to speak about what he was planning next. In response, David posted this video on his You Tube channel:
Credit: David Archuleta
This is not the David Archuleta, the boy, we knew. This is a man who tells us he has gained his life back on his terms. He will now take the time to make music at his pace, without pressure to get it done fast and not be to his liking. It has been over a year since we got a glimpse of the man who is David Archuleta.
“I am still trying to unravel all of the knots that have been in my brain. I was so overwhelmed last time I was in the spotlight in front of all of you. I felt like I lost myself as I got caught up in trying to please everyone, because I disregarded what I cared about–what I thought.
It’s nice not having to keep trying to figure out how be something that I am not so that everyone will like whatever that is. I have come to realize that no matter what you will never make everybody happy, but you can make the most lasting impact on being yourself, and most of all out of all the people it will impact you are the one who is most impacted for the better. For the longest time, I tried to keep it on the down-low of who and how I really was because “I must not be likeable”, but it feels nice to just be who I am and live according to what has always been most important to me.” ~ David Archuleta
“What I am basically trying to say is I need silence in order to function. My quiet time is valuable to me. Everyone keeps asking me how things are in Nashville. I say “It’s really nice. It’s quiet.” Part of this is because I have decided to make this quiet time for me, but also this town is a place where I feel peace.” ~ David Archuleta
It seems that everything about the past has changed with respect to public performances and his participation on social media. This is what we can expect from David Archuleta going forward. The pace of his career will be more of a balance between his desire to have a personal life and his devotion to his craft. This is, in a sense, a fresh start for a new self-confident David who knows who he is and where he is going.
Posted by sandybeaches9 on Thursday, January 15, 2015
Paris est Charlie, Je suis Charlie,… I am a free man
Charlie Brown in mourning over the loss of lives after the attack at the Charlie Hebdo magazine which was named in reference to Charlie
After unimaginable tragedy struck Paris last week, the city had the eyes of the world upon it much like after the shocking events that took place in the cities of New York, Boston and recently in Ottawa. As they said then, Paris is the world today as it represents us who join in solidarity for world peace. It was said that these events will become common place events, but there are those who will not allow it to go on for generations. It is really about the decaying relationships between religions that generate wars and all that they say they stand for, when it is social psychological attitudes and the lack of respect for mankind that fuels the rages.
I watched intently as the days unfolded and then over 40 world leaders including kings and presidents came together linking arms in a solidarity march that will go down in history as the decisive moment exemplifying that we must stand together against the aggressors. The strength of world peace commitment was strong in Paris both then and now.
A Parisian: “I had heard the news about how huge the rally was in Paris this weekend. I had read the reports about what it was like, there on the ground. But until I saw this, this guy turning around his own stereo speakers, to play John Lennon’s Imagine, not just in his apartment, but out the window to the crowd below so they could hear it, until I saw his video of the crowd hearing him do that, I did not really understand how big it was until then”.
credit: PandaInside
There amidst the crowds of millions of Parisians who had gathered for the rally, I spotted a large banner that recited lines from John Lennon’s iconic ‘Imagine’. Parisians looked to John Lennon for inspiration in their darkest moment and broke into song. My thoughts went back to the stage where David once stood, singing the same song, reaching out to everyone who felt the need for world peace. We heard it and his singing related easily to any one of the tragedies that has taken place since then. I can wind the film ahead in time and in my imagination see David singing to the people who value world peace above all else.
There is a place in music now for someone as musically influential as John Lennon, one who is looking at the state of the world and giving what he has to aid world peace.
It was a sunny Sunday morning ride to do a favor for an out of town friend. I had to feed her cats. As usual my iPod was hooked into the car stereo and “Something ‘Bout Love” was playing. Pulling up to the stoplight, I was first in line to go when it changed to green.
There’s something ’bout love that breaks your heart
Woah, oh, oh, oh
It sets you free
There’s something ’bout love that tears you up
Woah, oh, oh, oh
You still believe
A man was standing on the grassy island that separates the traffic coming to the stoplight at this busy intersection. He was simply dressed in a white long sleeve jersey and dark colored sweat pants. A baseball cap shaded his head from the sun. The most remarkable thing about him was that he held a sign. I was not sure why he was there until I read the sign.
It said, Homeless. Anything will help out. Thank you.
The skeptic side of me wanted to dismiss this scene and not look at the man. My heart told me to look him in the eye. It’s amazing how a few seconds spent sizing up a man holding a sign will soften your resolve to just drive past him. Did I believe that this man was motivated by self interest? You bet I did. If no one was going to hand him a place to live, he was going to do everything in his power to get by, including standing on a street begging for money. I can respect that. Did I consider that he might be an addict looking to pay for his next fix? I did. I can’t even imagine the pain that an addict feels, when in need of a fix. I decided not to press him for details on what brought him to this place in his life. Secretly, I hoped he would make the most out of what donations he got on this day. Maybe enough for a warm bed and a hot meal. The offer of a job, rather than a handout of cash, would surely help his situation most of all.
When the world falls down like rain
It’ll bring you to your knees
Something ’bout love that breaks your heart
Woah, oh, oh, oh
But don’t give up
There’s something ’bout love
Why do I bring this up now, you ask? I want to highlight the fact that no matter how comfortable we are in our lives, there are still so many others who struggle each day for a meal and a bed to sleep on. There are reasons why folks find themselves in dire need such as job loss or unexpected illness that can wipe out a family’s resources. I am inspired by David’s example of giving to those in need. There are organizations in every state that serve the homeless. Their budgets have been cut to the bone, making it difficult to maintain programs for the poor. Getting involved by volunteering and donating at food banks and shelters would serve this need so well. To get information on what you can do locally go here:
Your day will come
The past is gone
So take your time
Live and let live
I had a brief exchange with the man who stood on the grass holding his sign. He thanked me in a soft voice. When the light changed to green, I was on my way again. David sang “I won’t shed a tear, just as long as you stand by me.” It doesn’t happen too often, but I had tears in my eyes. For the man who had to resort to standing on the street to beg for money to live just another day in paradise.
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.
Some of you know about what happened with my older son, but most of you do not. None of this was David related until he announced the mission. It was then that a cycle of pain and loss restarted in my heart, and now, after many weeks of processing it all, I felt compelled to share it, with the hope that it may help someone.
My oldest child, now age 12, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two-and-a-half. He was a healthy baby and was developing normally until 16 months, when he received 4 vaccinations during a routine office visit. Within one week of that day he lost all his words, eye contact, and started to have severe bowel issues. I am not trying to start a debate about vaccines, I am just telling you what happened to my child. Thus began our journey into the pit of despair and heartache. Several doctors, tests, and hours of research later we began to understand what we could do to begin to try to heal his physical and sensory problems.
The first step was special education preschool. The district here that diagnosed him told us that he would never speak, dress himself, never be able to live alone or have a relationship. We were told to start looking into long-term care options. Words cannot describe the loss and devastation that we felt. I’ll never forget the first day of preschool. I had to take him there; I just couldn’t let him take the school bus; he just looked so tiny. I dropped him off, both of us sobbing. The teacher had to block the door to keep him from getting out. I went out to my car and cried and cried and cried. I didn’t want to take him there. He was supposed to be home with me. Did he know I was coming back for him? Did he understand what I told him about school and that it would help him? Would it even help him? I trusted no one. Who were they to tell me what my child’s future would be? I sat there in the parking lot in my car sobbing. When I finally went in to get him I was so relieved. He seemed fine. The thought of doing it again the next day was too much to think about.
His preschool day was two-and-a-half hours every morning. The longest two-and-a-half hours you could ever imagine. In the meantime we were working on special diets, vitamins, sensory therapy and lab tests to help with the bowel issues. I thanked God for credit cards and that we were able to get high credit limits. Everything we tried with him was very successful and immediate. We did everything outside of mainstream medicine with the help of a doctor who I know is an angel. We went through about 15 doctors before we found her. The preschool was awesome, and it truly was needed to help him catch up on things he had missed. But having him gone everyday, even though it was just the half day, was very depressing. It was a true loss. Then after preschool would come elementary school. I would never get those preschool years back.
I never did get those years back. But what I did get was something even greater. Our son began to speak again. He began to interact with us. He was able to handle sensory input. He has been in a regular classroom setting since Kindergarten. He continued with speech therapy through 3rd grade. He was able to stop the special diet after 5 years. He is now in 7th grade and has all A’s in school. He scored within his grade level on the MEAP test two years in a row now. He has friends, sleepovers, normal relationships and is an awesome big brother.
Over time I began to accept that this journey with my son was somehow meant to be. I ended up working at the sensory clinic that helped him so much. I was able to talk to and give hope to thousands of parents. I was able to work with the children and see them progress. I have been witness to the restoration of my son’s health and well-being. I have come from the depths of despair to the triumph of redemption.
When David announced his mission I was in shock. The next morning I cried for six hours. I had not cried like that since that morning at preschool. All the feelings of loss and fairness and right and wrong and why and how came rushing back. I was losing my baby again. I know he’s not a baby, and he’s not mine, but you all know and understand that is exactly what it feels like. Much like taking my son to that preschool, this was something that had to be done despite how I felt about it. It was going to happen, and all my tears and frustration were no match for it. I came to accept that just as I took my son and handed him over to strangers, I had to support David in his choice because what is best for me is not necessarily the best for him. I could have not sent my son to preschool and kept him home with me. But I had to do what was best for him, despite my own pain.
For those of you that have not experienced a loss, and even for those who have, David’s leaving is devastating. The routine and activities of the last 4 years will change. We will have to find a new normal. And we will. Nothing will stop what is meant to be for David. We must be strong and have faith that the future will bring nothing but the best of times for all of us. My journey with my son taught me that even though things seem impossible you can never give up hope.
We cannot get back the two years that he will be away. What we can do is be here to support one another, buy whatever music comes out, and take good care of the love we have in our hearts for him. One by one we were chosen to be on this journey, for reasons we may never know. His voice took root in our hearts. His spirit made our own start to blossom. Now we must tend to the garden while he is away.
The My Kind of Christmas Tour hits the west coast today for a series of four concerts. Tonight David will blow everyone’s socks off in Santa Rosa at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts!
SANTA ROSA-Wells Fargo Center For The Arts
Tomorrow, Club Nokia in Los Angeles will be treated to his awesomeness.
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The Voice David Archuleta 