Sunshine and the Lava Bomb
“My heart’s still pounding, David. I’ve got chills up and down my arms. The sun’s never going to go down on you because you bring out so much sunshine in everyone throughout the whole world through your singing. And, David, that was a beautiful, beautiful stunning performance.”
This was Paula Abdul’s typically gushy comment after David Archuleta’s AI finale performance of DLTSGDOM. Funny thing is, the following was Randy Jackson’s comment about the same performance…
“It doesn’t matter what happens right now, you gotta know one thing, this is one of the best performances of this whole season, and you picked the right time to peak, baby. That was flawless and unbelievably molten hot.”
So which is it, sunshine or molten hot lava? Apparently, David Archuleta is hot either way. But I ask you, “How do you prefer your Archuheat? Sunshiny or lava bomb?”
Me…I prefer the lava bomb. Not that I am not a fan of sunshine, quite the contrary, I am a sunshine lover. I love its soothing warmth on my face and the glow it imparts on my skin (not to mention its life giving rays). It’s just that the sun is… so far away…. and…. so common, and well,….. taken for granted. As “countless as the stars in the sky”, blah, blah… No ma’am,…this is not a fitting description of David Archuleta.
Lava on the other hand, is exotic…dynamic, molten hot, and flowing with the power of 2500 degrees, the evolving earth blowing its insides out…in the process it reminds us up close and personal of the consequences of trapping all of that incredible energy …. Just the thought of it, gets the blood flowing. What happens when the heat and pressure builds up? It finds a way out. One way or another…the molten hot lava finds a way out, even the Earth’s crust can’t contain it. Yes sir,….. a much more fitting description of an Archuperformance.
Of course, some of you astronomy types are thinking, lava vs. the sun? Get real. “Lady, what about a supernova? Supernovas create blackholes, masses with such attractive forces that nothing can escape….not even light.” Surly this evokes the inescapable power that is the performing David Archuleta? Well, you have a point… stars ARE fitting too I guess. But Paula said “sunshine”, no mention of stars and supernova, so I stand by my molten hot laavvaaaa……..maybe it’s just that I enjoy the volcano imagery more. 
~happy
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Interesting post happy!
You ask, sunshine or molten hot lava? I have to go w/”sunshine” because I admire David so much for his positive aura and attitude. Re. Randy’s comment, he stands corrected. DLTSGDOM is one of the best performances of ALL the seasons.
Happy -- I love the maturity and perspective of your writing. Mad skills, my dear, as it is definitely a challenge for we seasoned humans to write eloquently and respectfully about the artistry and celebrity of a very young and youthful 18 year old!
So I had a little fun in thinking metaphorically about your post…here goes:
I think “sunshine” is the feminine way of addressing radiant, scorching energy and “molten hot lava bomb” is the masculine way of saying the same.
And, the Earth’s Sun is a yellow dwarf star and brighter than 85% of the other stars in our galaxy; it is in a plasmatic state which is a fourth state of matter (other 3 are solid, liquids and gases.) Its energy is produced by nuclear fusion. The core is at a temperature of close to 13,600,000 kelvin (or 13,599,726 Celsius.) By contrast, the surface of the Sun is around 5,800 kelvin or 5626 Celsius. So sunshine is celestial and the product of nuclear fusion and heat beyond our imagination. Sunshine keeps our earth viable for life.
Lava is the product of a volcanic eruption and is molten rock (a solid turned liquid.) When first expelled from a volcanic vent, it is a liquid at temperatures from 700 °C to 1,200 °C. Lava is a the earthly, planetary experience. Lava creates new earth for life.
Now ‘super nova’ may be the definitive adjective. A supernova is a stellar explosion. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy. (Sounds like David’s AI and evolving performances for us fans.)
During this interval of shining the brightest in the galaxy, a supernova can radiate as much energy as the Sun could emit over its life span (est. 10 billion years.) On average, supernovae occur about once every 50 years. (A Voice of a Generation--ok several.)
Supernova play a significant role in enriching the interstellar medium with higher mass elements. (Lives have been enriched by Mr. Archuleta’s artistry and more.)
Furthermore, the expanding shock waves from supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars. (Mr. Archuleta certainly highlights current and up and coming artists in his frequent communications to the media, fans, etc.)
So I have to vote for supernova. And, I believe we haven’t heard the best from Mr. Archuleta. That will be evolving over the years and at the end of his years, I believe with 100% certainty, his body of work will be legendary, ground breaking and among the most radiant, the most luminous bodies of work to date.
Both analogies Work for Me … David is a force of nature, after all!
I think you’ve beautifully captured that duality of Singing David (pure lava bomb) and Talking David (full on sunshine).
And Kizzi, “the expanding shock waves from supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars” … watch out Milky Way!
happy -- you know my vote -- “molten hot lava” just does it for me. Because a volcano erupts intermittently, that fits my picture of David -- he is sunshine a lot of the time, but when he gets on stage, explosion! Sweaty David -- running, jumping, hunkering down, grasping that mic for all it’s worth. I just love his performance moxie.
kizzi -- I’m always amazed at your general knowledge of…almost anything LOL. Supernova. Watching David’s trajectory to legendary status will keep us all happy for years to come.
Oh, and thanks for that Paula quote. Looking back at all the judges’ comments from last season, if you could get past her loopy delivery, Paula actually had the most accurate, insightful things to say where David was concerned, imo.
She was the only one of the 3 who gave him positive feedback on his With You performance (which I still love, rocky start and all) and rightly advised him to pursue that soulful-pop direction post-Idol.
TOFan#5: I am in full agreement about Paula. After AI was over last year I thought about her comments and learned a little more about her as I wasn’t an AI watcher in the past.
She did get him in spades; she is actually quite brilliant and insightful. I remember her comment about his “glorious aura” which fans call his “glow.”
happy, your “lava bomb” is the bomb!
kizzi, terrific expansion on happy’s post. I am always amazed at the many new things I learn from this site.(and looove your last paragraph!)
The talent here blows me away, and reminds me daily how I soooo do not belong here. You guys are awewsome!
I want sunshine and molten hot lavabombs and hunkerdowns and bunnies and supernovas and rainbows and shoulder shimmies and new stars and thigh thlaps and black holes and unicorns and megawatt smiles and closed eyes head whips and luminous bodies (lol) and random human jukebox …and…and… I want it alllll. And then some. What’s so nice is David happily obliges. (Ain’t it grand?)
Kizzi, your little trip through the archu_universe was positively divine.
TOfan… have I said lately that I am positively BONKERS for David’s With You? Well, I am.
(and I am not really here.) (*poof*)
Happy, Great post! The juxtaposition and the effortless morphing between sunshine and lava bomb is what has kept us spellbound. It’s the ying and yang of David Archuleta and both are so captivating.
Happy, Interesting post. I think you title “Sunshine and Lava bomb says it for me. I think he’ both and not one or the other. Off the stage, Smilely Boy, sunshine. On the stage, Molten Man, lava bomb.
Kizzi, you always have the greatest background information.
The first thing I have to say is -- this blog has the most incredibly brilliant and gifted writer’s I have ever experienced. First it was Ronald’s post, then Angelica’s, (which by the way I never commented on, but just beautiful), followed by Kizzi’s comment and now Happy’s post, as well as many other’s, (don’t be insulted if I didn’t mention you, I just can’t think of them all right now). The bunch of you, could run an incredible writing symposium and I would be the first one to sign up.
BTW-Happy and Kizzi, you both lost me when you got into your scientific explanations on both sunshine & lava bombs..LOL
The first thing that crossed my mine when read this post was BOTH WAYS! Just because he is sunshine, does not mean he can’t be a lava bomb!! The way he sang DLTSGDOM, stirred up both these types of feelings and emotions in me, it is still one of my favorite David performances.
happy,
Love your beautifully written analogy of David being either sunshine or lava bomb. hmmmmm…let me think, this may take a while. lava bomb!
Even though David, the young man, is all sunshine and warmth, I think it is David, the performer, that blows us all away and that is, for me, definitely a volcanic experience! He is a force of nature and when he gets up on stage and that energy is unleashed, he slays us all, even with the ballads. It is just controlled, contained, and concentrated then. The guy is Mt. Etna and Vesuvius and Mauna Loa all rolled into one!
happy….. I am in awe of all the mad writing skills here at TDC. Bravo, girl!!
This topic is one the most intriguing aspects of David. David the sunshine boy, and David the lava bomb, two sides of the most interesting artist coin. I will never forget my first experience seeing DLG live, molten hot lava indeed.
Beebee, I’m with you, I want it all and it is very grand!
Kizzi, you amaze me, love your go at metaphorically thinking. You my dear, rock.
I have to say every time I check in to this site, I’m glad to be here. (((hugs))
Happy, now you KNOW I love the sunshiny David..so cute, sweet & lovable! I just don’t see the SCORCHING HOT LAVA BOMB at all! His DLG is so nice. I just sit back with a nice glass of wine, close my eyes and enjoy the music…
BTW..I just bought the Brooklyn Bridge and some hot property in the everglades which I’m selling really cheap! Anyone interested??
See ya later..I have to take a cold shower!
Loved your post, happy! But please don’t make me choose! haha If you add them together, Sunshine David and molten hot lava David are both parts of who he is. I wouldn’t take one without the other! I love them both!