credit Lily (platinumarchie)

David Archuleta Chapman University 2016 Baccalaureate

I was lucky to get tickets to yesterday’s Baccalaureate service at Chapman University and my granddaughter, Divina and I headed out at noon.  It was great to chat with fellow fans upon arriving; Lily, Pam and Victoria.  The Musco Theater is beautiful with wonderful acoustics.  I’d love David to do a concert there.  We were ready to head up to the balcony where fans were sitting but by some miracle and being at the front of the line we were told by the door person that there were a couple of areas we could sit at ground level.

We sat in the midst of graduates and their families.  I wish I knew how to be inconspicuous and sneaky at the same time as I tried to take a couple of pictures but I felt like the spotlight was on me lol.  I’m so glad that Pam and Lily were able to capture a couple of moments.  They were sitting in front of me and I didn’t even know until today.

David Rehearsing

credit David’s Instagram

It was a beautiful service; the invocation was humbling and the presentations by graduates of many faiths and beliefs represented were inspirational.  That is why the majority present were there except for a few of us fans.  David had a beautiful introduction and the excitement of his presence was felt.  I didn’t realize the balcony had many fans until I heard them when David walked out onto the stage with that familiar smile.

Song list:

He Lives In You

I loved David’s passion and commitment to this song.  You felt it strong and real.  And I’m going to confess I think Kendra is great but this was all David and wow, just wow.  No distractions from that voice.

credit Pam Pike facebook

My Little Prayer

This is my favorite from the night.  I have seen the YouTube from Slovenia but it doesn’t do it justice.  It is a simple song but so large in meaning and feeling, more so after learning David wrote it. It came to him during the wee hours of the night.  He shared that he felt the prompting to get up and write it down but he wanted to sleep since it was four in the morning. But he was being urged to get up and write it or he might forget it.  It reminded me of a comment Dolly Parton made about feeling his emotion in the song; this was truly his emotion coming directly from him to everyone there.

credit Raymond Huerta

Be Still My Soul

This is the first time I heard David sing this song live.  What can I say; it stills not only his soul but ours as well.  It was beautiful.

credit Raymond Huerta

Numb

Oh Numb.  This one I’ve heard live a few times but never as stripped down.  I’m hoping that the recorded version is acoustic.  David sitting on stool not only singing the words but making sure we felt what he felt.  I believe he won’t run run run from anything;  David made sure of that.

Crush

My favorite performances of Crush are the David and piano ones. This was no exception and had to giggle when David said “You could call this an oldie”.   You could see many female graduates giving each other knowing looks and chair dancing as he belted out those familiar lyrics.

credit Raymond Huerta

credit me David singing Crush

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFqCukskDJf/?taken-by=amandeelee

Glorious

I’ve seen videos of graduates singing Glorious at their graduations but this was so fitting.  So much so that the lyrics were printed in the program and David did a great intro to it by quoting some of the lyrics.  It was perfect.

credit: Raymond Huerta

My granddaughter told me that this the best she’s ever heard David, something in the tone she couldn’t explain but felt, and something in his style too.  Yes, there was something for sure.  David’s voice was on point, rich, strong, deep, soulful, even better than Arizona, if that’s possible because I was there and heard that voice with my own ears.  Divina likes David and has been to many concerts with me, even a VIP picture moment.  She actually said she was a fan when asked.  Happy Grandma!

David speaking is always an added treat for me. He is so charming, unassuming, genuine, unrehearsed, I could go on and on.  I love it.

credit Lily (platinumarchie)

valariekaur

The only Baccalaureate Ceremony in the country featuring a Sikh keynote speaker and Mormon singer. Loved sharing the stage with David Archuleta. Thank you @chapmanu for an unforgettable night & congratulations Class of 2016!

I think I startled Pin Antonio (David’s stylist for Nandito Ako). She was walking up the theater aisle and I blurted the first thing that came to me, “Nandito Ako!”  She stopped and looked at me in shock.  I didn’t mean to do that. I told her I watched Nandito Ako and recognized her.

credit pinantonio instagram

A side story.

When looking for parking I saw Kari walking toward the venue, I rolled down my window and said hi!  I told her we made it and she said glad we did.  I told her there were several of us coming and she said that’s great and then said bye. It was seconds but was glad to be able to let her know and let David know fans were there supporting him and this new event.

At the end of the service when I was at the exit of the theater I heard my name being called.  I turned around and Kari was on the stage calling me!  I looked and she waved me down.  My granddaughter said she never saw me move so fast haha.  I want to share here that when I was at Queens Creek I got the nerve to ask if I could say hi to David after I saw many fans being allowed backstage.  I never ask.  I did that time and was told no, it was too late.  I was sad and told her thank you, maybe next time.

Well next time was here and Kari must have remembered because there I was backstage waiting for my turn!  She really has his back and understandably so; he is very sought-after.

My turn!  I spoke to David in Spanish.  I had been waiting to do so for so long.  It was great to be able to converse with him.  I said what I had been wanting to say. I thanked him for deciding to stay in music.  Before I left he asked me where I was from.  I told him here, South Cali, he said no, from where is your Spanish?  Oh, I said Mexico, my family is from Guadalajara and he broke out in song!  “Guadalajaraaaaa Guadalajaraaaaa!”  And we laughed haha.  Listen to the first 15-20 seconds and this is what he sang to me by Vicente Fernandez who is in the “Somos El Mundo” video.  The fact that he knows this gives me hope for that Spanish music we’re waiting for.

David, the same David I had spoken to years ago.  He has physically matured and yes his mannerisms are also more mature but his charm and wit is intact.  David shook my hand at greeting and at goodbye, always so attentive and kind.

The gentlemen who introduced him mentioned new music in his intro and David himself  said “the project I’m working on, album number #7.”  I can’t wait!

credit Ruth Munoz Cruz Landa facebook