I had the same reaction. Thinking of others at a time like that. I also thought it really showied how “unspoiled” and “uncynical” hie is.

Unlike his fellow finalist, he never seems to be “performing.” He’s just himself.

One thing that worries me after watching all the homecoming footage, as touching as it was, is, how does David go back to school there now. Can he? What would be the dynamic of his relations with people in general. He’s always said that he wants to complete school. I find it hard to see a return to normal life for him now. I want him to be happy but it seems that this part of his life might already be over.

Any thoughts, Rascal?

PS Never posted before but will when time permits. Thanks so much for your fresh insights and for articulating our feelings about this amazing young man. It’s obvious from the comments that you actually stir people to examine the “whys” around their fascination with David.

P.S. How does this boy look so beautiful, even when he’s crying? Dang!

Thank goodness for this site, I thought I was losing my mind! I first heard David sing the night I returned home after a close friend’s funeral — one of the lowest, darkest nights of my life. I turned on the TV planning to zone out on nothing in particular and came across David singing “Shop Around.” What happened next mystifies me still. The darkness lifted and I felt lighter somehow. For weeks afterward I tried to figure out what I heard that night that affected me so deeply. And I decided that it was more than just his beautiful voice, I heard something else as well — the sound of hope.

It also struck me that while the jaded players of the AI game are spending their time throwing accusations and trying to tear each other down, he credit AI for what he’s experiencing and iis simply grateful to the show for making the experience possible for him. At the end of the clip, he says…

“This whole experience is so emotional, the stuff that this show makes happen for you. It’s just things you’ve always dreamed of but never thought would happen….you can’t help but get a little teary-eyed.”

It’s especially poignant in the midst of all the cynicism we’ve been seeing. That’s one gracious kid.

Thanks Kait. I re-checked out the full FOX interview and saw the relevant part about his being prepared for this change. It’s an exciting and somewhat sad juncture in David’s life. His life before sounded pretty happy and simple.

To abcidol, you’re so right. And this one too: “Sorry I didn’t mean to cry or anything..” He apologizes for getting emotional after a massive and continuous outpouring of love and support by thousands. Like you said, “One gracious kid”

To Tofan and javemdaet, I’m stunned to read how many people have like experiences around this boy. I’d never seen an AI episode till this year. One night I was on Youtube and saw the link that said “Seventeen year old singing “Imagine’ …amazing” The two aspects: an intense, heart wrenching performance followed by David’s humble reaction to the audience going wild, really gripped me. I was moved to write later in a defensive response to a post that said, David’s showy vocalizing upstaged the song’s message: “There is a melancholy and longing which dominate David’s version but you can feel the hope, just beneath, that eventually rises up to win the day. David’s emotional delivery actually made the message more poignant.”

After being so impressed by David as a singer and even more-so as a special kid, I posted again:
“David Archuleta makes me wish the world was a better place and gives me hope that maybe it can be.” That hope word, routinely pops up in people’s posts about David.

Has there ever been a time in our lives that we need people like David more? With all that’s happening, on every front, we’ve never needed hope more than we do now. We’ve never, more than now, needed a shining example of how good a person can be. Our kids need to see that it’s possible to be their true selves happily, and that it’s way more satisfying to be good than to be cool and jaded. From what we can see, David embodies that goodness; he is that shining example.

Beyond my wish that he has a fulfilling music career, I can’t escape the feeling that David’s bound for something much greater. Possibly through music he’ll assist in effecting change in the world..( Remember South Africa? There’s no question that without the pressure and attention brought on by concerned musicians, the brutality of apartheid would have lasted much longer) I feel that he’s bringing about change already; not only has David touched our hearts but we’ve been changed for the better by it.

To Rascal, thank you for this site. I discovered it yesterday – so intrigued by your “Rebel without a crown” and so moved by “Oh wow” Such eloquent writing. Your readers’ comments further the experience. It’s great to see the outpouring of thoughts and feelings that your articles about our young “hero”, inspire. Keep up the great work!

Hey rascal,

Been reading your posts for quite some time (starting from the other sites) and i must say that i really appreciate the things that you wrote about David. You really have a way with words.

And i thank you for providing this site, not only to share your thoughts, but also to allow his fans to simply appreciate David, for the person and singer he is, without the conspiracies and without the drama.

David’s homecoming is pretty much one of the heart-warming things that i had the pleasure to witness on TV. And it doesn’t really get any more genuine than that. The way he teared up, the way he tried to hold it back, his sense of gratitude…its amazing that such a pure soul exists in this world, who also happens to have a golden voice.