Hey Rascal! Thanks for posting all these great videos! Keeps me from having to go elsewhere to find the very best David stuff. And I am sick and tired of going elsewhere, if you know what I mean.

This video is just another reason why David Archuleta deserves to be crowned American Idol next week. A magnificent singer and wonderful personality! What a great combination. There’s only one David A.
David Archuleta for the win!!!!

ariadne -- i’m trying to resist the conspiracy theorist in myself as well, but i wouldn’t be surprised. the last several weeks have shown signs of a well-engineered production.

i understand there will be a departure from last year’s format for the finale. Rather than allowing a contestants’ choice and reprise, the producers will be choosing a song -- along with the coronation song and a contestant’s choice, new OR reprise. smells of tighter reigns.

but we just have to remind ourselves that no matter the outcome, DA has already done more than enough to touch our hearts. let’s just hope he finds much joy in these last performances for himself..

I have to admit that I sometimes don’t understand David’s song choices. His choice this week was very bad I thought. I must be too old but I don’t actually know what a “boo” is. Perhaps I don’t want to know.

The best song choice for him was actually Paula’s.

Perhaps I’m old-fashioned and his younger fans wouldn’t like it but I’d love to hear David sing Jerome Kern or George Gernshwin.

But I suspect that ain’t gonna happen.

I guess my point is that David chose that song out of so many possibilities and it was a bad choice as was that choice about the “barrel of a gun” which I really hated.

Simon is right. It’s all about song choice. He’s made some bad choices but his beautiful, pure voice seems to come through no matter what.

After a strenuous week as an observer of the American Idol experience, I have two comments I would like to focus on offering. One is the hoopla about Jeff Archuleta, David’s father, and two,what David wants from this experience.

David’s father is getting some bad press about being the worst “stage dad” in modern times. Some background from Mormon culture might help give some perspective and maybe change some opinions about Jeff. Mormon culture is very patriarchal in nature, meaning the father in the family holds the decision making “authority” for his family. This is the environment that David has grown up in and considers normal. As a minor, he will always defer to his father for help on making decisions. Jeff is also David’s musical mentor. I choose to think of Jeff and David as collaborators. To an outsider, this kind of culture might appear as dominating the will of the child or minor.

Consider another scenario if you will. For those of my generation, you might remember Donny and Marie Osmond. They are my age and are natives of Utah. Their parents, George and Olive Osmond (now deceased), lived in another time, but by today’s standards could be considered demanding “stage parents” too. Donny Osmond has taken time to visit with David on while he is on American Idol; they come from the same religious background. As you can see, the Osmonds turned out pretty good.

Now, do we know what David wants from American Idol? While meditating on this question, I came to the conclusion, I think we do. Remember back to year one of AI when David sang acappella for Kelly Clarkson and company. Also remember he was interviewed for one of the early about that event. Now Rascal has provided a finale week interview with the final two contestants where he says he has wanted this for a long time. From his comments, I think he feels that the talent has been so good this year that he didn’t think he would make it. David stated as much in a text message he sent this last week to his high school buddy, Adam Ruben.

David Foster, the mega-producer that gave us Josh Groban and Michael Buble, is also a friend of American Idol. It would be awesome if he could mentor the growth of David Archuleta. David is often compared in the press to Josh Groban. What say you, Mr. “David” Foster? Mr. Foster told Access Hollywood that David Archuleta should win for his musical talent, but did not know if he would.

So now what do we David’s fans do? I am going to support David by continuing to vote for him. I know how popular David Cook is and appreciate the fact that he is a fan of our David. Lets do our part and may the best “David” win.

I just wanted to clarify something about his song choice of You’re the Voice (the song referred to as “barrel of a gun” by a previous poster). It was stated that he chose this song because he knew a 12 year old girl that was accidentally shot through the head by a friend playing with her father’s gun. He had sung the song at a charity event for keeping guns safely secured. California Senator Scott attended, whose son had also been killed in an accidental shooting. So while it may have not been your favoirte performance, it actually did have special meaning to David.

Hi people. ODD is gaining strength as we near tomorrow night. This is my second post in less than 24 hours.

Is it me, or is there something else here other than a confident maturity that we haven’t seen in David till now? I’d go as far as to call it a grim resignation. I saw this before the “Finding his voice” clip that appears to have been from the same session. My suspicions were calmed somewhat after viewing that one as the tone is lighter and David conveys a sense of peaceful happiness. He seems to be saying that whatever happens he’ll be ok.

Having said that, it’s difficult to watch the manipulation and conniving antics displayed on AI that have been discussed on this site. It’s disrespectful and abusive of the contestants. We can only assume the worst: the AI organization and its parent, value the contestants as product only. Aspirations and feelings are immaterial. They can’t see how short sighted this thinking is. It’s particularly difficult to watch when the contestant is seventeen. To see a boy of David’s calibre subjected to the same callous treatment is even harder to bear. (To AI: they’re not cattle to be prodded this way and that at your whim)

For David to realize his potential, he needs to have his artistry nurtured, not milked at it’s simplest level only to be abandoned when he doesn’t produce that way any longer. Let’s hope that all the positive forces come together to take our boy to the heights we know he’s capable of. He’s said that he’d love to practice piano all day long. I’d love to hear an album of DA compositions after his having had the space to develop his songwriting skills.

Since, according to David, his dad is a strong and positive advisor around his musical choices, I hope JA stays in the picture as long as possible. The fact that JA is a jazz musician is to me an encouraging factor. He has a broader musical perspective that will inform his guidance of David’s future choices. Should David win AI, Jeff’s supposed strong persona will be useful for negotiating on his son’s behalf.

Also encouraging is the growing list of artists that have expressed interest in writing for, or working with David. This can only lead to broader horizons outside any intended marketing ploy of narrow dimensions.

So in spite of my misgivings around the AI machine and the music biz in general, I have great hope for David’s bright future.

Regardless of the vote results, let’s prepare to be wowed tomorrow. It may be our last chance for a while to experience David’s amazing talent. Who knows what the future holds? Whatever happens, we are so privileged to have witnessed David’s greatness so far. I feel honored to have been a part of this, if only as a music lover, who has been affected in the most positive way.

Go David!
PS I can think of any number of great tunes I want to hear David work his soulful magic on -- the anticipation of what he’ll sing is killing me!

Rascal, thanks for filling me in. If it’s to be an Elton John tune, that’s definitely the period you want to select from. I agree, DLTSGDOM is perfect for David. I can already hear his soulful riffing taking it to a higher place…

In the past months I’ve found myself thinking of great songs for David to sing. There’s a haunting ballad on Bruce Springsteen’s “The River”. When David’s older he should try “Stolen Car” It’s a sad but beautiful tune that I know David would re-make into something very special if he connected with it. But it’s from the perspective of a ”bad boy” so who knows? I know that the “River” itself and many other Springsteen oldies are perfectly ripe for David’s soulful arrangements. But again, he would have to feel comfortable with the lyrical content.

Once more Rascal, thanks for shedding so much light on the unfolding David Archuleta story. You’ve provoked a lot of thought and helped to deepen people’s appreciation of this fine young man. I feel privileged to have discovered your work and also to have had the opportunity to express some personal thoughts here.

Cheers to you and your continued writing!

Thanks for creating this site about David Archuleta!!!!! Thanks abunch!!!!