Be More Like David – Ignore the Haters!
(Reprinted with the kind permission of HelloGorgeous, from her blog SoulDavid – Eds.)
Archies, I know how you feel. David is simply amazing, and we want everyone else to know. His latest efforts with Christmas from the Heart confirm this. Yet, we must accept that our truly great artists are not going to be immediately accepted and adored on a mass scale. Heck, our greatest and most influential people in history – think Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. – were GUNNED DOWN. Heck, Jesus was CRUCIFIED!
Perspective, my peeps. I say this because I don’t know what’s more embarrassing: the knucklehead tone-deaf reviewers who give David’s Christmas from the Heart a bad review or the army of Archies who come out of the woodwork to leave hate-filled comments. Let’s all learn to be more like David and respond to the haters by simply IGNORING them. That’s what David would do. Heck, David would simply say in response to their negativity, “Gee, that’s unfortunate,” or “That’s too bad,” and move on.
Seriously, any review that begins by describing first David’s physical appearance that amounts to the belittling of how young he looks for his age is not a review that is based on the music. It’s based on his image, which they think is “uncool” and so, no way, no how is that reviewer going to have a heart that grows seven sizes like the Grinch. It just ain’t gonna happen.
So, let’s ignore the haters. Pity them, yes, for clogging up their eardrums for no other reason than that they don’t want to admit to a “former American Idol’s” genuine talent, but honestly, leaving negative comments only proves their point that you have to be an insane cult-like Archie fan to like David’s music.
One day, they too will see the light, but in the mean time, you can’t force the cave-dwellers to come out of the darkness. They must desire the light on their own.
Meanwhile, let’s go back to “dissecting away” at some of these awe-inspiring gems on the album.
Another great selection: O Holy Night.
Not sure why this track hasn’t topped the Archie polls, but after What Child is This and Riu Riu Chiu, it is his most accomplished vocally.
- HelloGorgeous
(Thank you, HG! We invite people to comment at the original article over at SoulDavid – Eds.)
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Hg, I was pretty surprised by some of the more “colorful” reactions from Davids fans. I actually cringed on a few. My response was to only let Ann know that I felt her review was confusing. The heading was done to grab our attention…the responses got out-of-hand. I usually try to think of how David would react, as you did.
The rebuttal letter from the editor was also a way to get more hits on the article. It also lacked in professionalism.
It’s been a long while since I’ve been called a f*&^#%@ ! Ha! Ha!
Good article HG, great points! In order for him to be accepted as more mainstream, the appearance of a cult-like following could be more of a hindrance than help. Some of the actions of the more over-zealous fans may be coming back and biting him in the butt.
It will happen, in due time.
Yes HG – totally agree with you – the comments to Ann’s scathing article were so over the top. I know that we all feel protective over David, but there were lots of responses that were more of an attack on Ann personally, rather then on the article she wrote.
I had to respond to the review because I am a UW graduate and my daughter is currently a student there. I spent many college days reading the Badger Herald. It was never one of my favorite student papers, but back then there were many more choices.
I chose to answer Ann’s review in a more humorous way – as if I was not taking her seriously. I advised her to take a step back, go out and enjoy Halloween, (which is a huge deal at UW), let some time pass and listen to CFTH again. I also suggested that with a 2nd more objective listen, she might just end up enjoying it….LOL
Can I also add that the negative review being discussed came from a COLLEGE newspaper, not the NY Times furcryingoutloud lol! The responses mentioned above – ignoring, or reponding with humor, certainly seem most appropriate.
BTW – There was a link to the review of David’s first CD which was printed in Nov. 2008. It was surprisingly good and very well written – as if the writer actually listened to the album. Of course, it wasn’t Ann who critiqued it…Oh well – to each his own.
How true HG. But I posted a short comment (nothing nasty). nevertheless in that UW diatribe But with the editor joining the fray now with an open letter to DA fans it has become surreal.
Then you have the Hollywood Outbreak article with a very misleading title
http://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/2009/10/16/david-archuleta-senior-year-is-overrated-compared-to-stardom/
Not to generalize but what’s up (actually down!) with these media people?
Have a story to share:
Was in the parlor this afternoon and the people there were talking about Charice (she just finished guesting in a noontime show), when one of them exclaimed “Oh and she has a duet with David Archuleta! She is SO lucky!”
BINGO! Opportunity (me singing in my head)
ME: So you got the album?
STAFF: No cos it was out of stock in the store I went to.
CUSTOMER: My son was able to buy a copy for me and he said they were selling real fast! Like the stores didn’t even have time to put the CDs in the rack. They were getting it straight from the box.
ME: Would like to hear the duet?
ALL: Of course!
Turned over the CD to the manager and played the duet. They loved it of course! CD continued playing… then they re-started from JTTW.
Next thing I knew, the staff & the customers were singing along. It was like a scene out of “My BF’s Wedding” with all the community singing! LOL
When I was about to leave, the CD was still playing midway and the staff’s faces fell. So I decided to gift the CD to the parlor so they can continue listening to it and other customers get to hear it
on a condition that they don’t re-copy it. Then,referred them to TeaArchies’ gifting campaign in case they cannot secure a copy.
When I reached home my daughter commented: “…that must have been some parlor visit. You haven’t stopped smiling since you arrived…” Haha, if she only knew!
Great story, JR! I think Bebereader is the other person I know who gifts to her local stores – or maybe it’s betsy – anyway, nice!
MARLIE – A number of PinoyArchies do it too
Have you guys seen this? 2010 Archufied by Zaren
http://www.workzofzaren.blogspot.com/
JR – fabulous story. Thank for sharing.
JR – What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing David’s music, I’m sure, because of your kind gesture, David now has many more fans.
JR, Love your story.
HG. I have to agree with following your advice. I imagine if David were to walk up to the lady who wrote the article that has been so lambasted by archie fans. She like almost all other people who cross paths with David would have a different point of view of him. That being said, she is still entitled to her feelings. I am a student at Utah Valley University. There is no lack of David Archuleta haters there. Trust me it is kinda like Donnie Osmond II. I was a fan of D O when I was in High School, and it began to be popular to NOT be a fan. I never stopped being his fan. BUT BUT BUT it all boil down to this. We don’t serve our beloved David well when we go out to bash those who don’t like him. When someone (some wolf) out right trashes David and for that matter a man that David loves and looks up to HIS FATHER JEFF. We can only kill that wolf by NOT FEEDING IT!!!!