CONCERT RECAP BY LULU (originally posted @ the NUMBER 2 SYNDROME article):

Hi, this is LULU writing from grafico.artista’s computer, I haven’t been on this website for a while and have missed the articles, I loved this one. The outcome of AI bothered me for quite some time because it was obvious that David was the best contestant they ever had–and he lost. And the show is so heavily publicized that anyone who doesn’t win is kind of overlooked by the media. The manipulation of the votes–providing they were ever honest in the first place–was also obvious. I think the producers of AI deliberately gave David a hard time because the competition was basically over after “Imagine,” yet the show still had to go on so a lot of controversy was cooked up in order to attract viewers and turn the stupid show into a soap opera. David knew he wasn’t going to win and he didn’t look too unhappy when he lost–he looked relieved! WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT AMERICAN IDOL IS NOT A LEGITIMATE SINGING COMPETITION. IT’S A STUPID REALITY SHOW AND THE PRODUCERS CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT, INCLUDING MANIPULATING THE VOTES OR LYING ABOUT THE RESULTS. It doesn’t matter. What bothers me is the rest of the world is so slow to catch on to David Archuleta. But I believe that will come in time. There’s such a big deal made over not winning American Idol. WHO CARES? In the eternal scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is THE VOICE. And if it hadn’t been for David being on that show, we still wouldn’t know about him. David never needed to win–he just needed the exposure. And the producers knew that; they’d make money on him even if he lost. He was a sure thing from the beginning. But they kept him in because they knew that ratings would dip if he was voted off early and viewers would be suspicious. Let’s face it–in the end, it’s all about the money.

I see that pictures from the show last night at Abravnel Hall are already on TDC. It was a wonderful show! The VIP was not what I was expecting, us fortunate 150 people got to see him do a sound check and hear him sing two songs. One of them is new, called “The Riddle,” it sounds great! Then we went back upstairs and he came back up for a photo session (no autographs). There wasn’t a lot of time to be intimate with him but when you said a few words, you had his undivided attention. Dorothy and I stood on either side of him for a pic and I said to him how much his fans appreciate this opportunity just to see/talk with him for a few seconds, I forgot his response, something like “Oh, I don’t mind, I love my fans.” I told him I had flown all the way out from NC to attend the concert and his eyes got big and he said, “Really?” He couldn’t believe anyone would come so far (I think one fan came from Taiwan) but he’d be surprised how far most of us are willing to travel to see him.

To make a long story short, Dorthy and I missed Benton Paul, there was a 1/2 hour break, then David came on at 8 p.m. The audience went nuts, we had seats in the 3rd row, front and center. My mother’s camera that I had borrowed had dead batteries (discovered too late), Dorothy’s camera was giving her problems, my cell phone was about to die. The magic moment was coming and nothing to commemorate it with! I took what few pics I could, Dorothy managed to get her Nikon up and running. David dressed casually and sang songs from his 1st CD. That boy can move, he had everyone jumping. Then he changed into a casual suit and tie outfit and sang almost all the songs from his Christmas CD. Lupe, his mom, joined him for Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. That’s where David gets his voice from.

Great show, it was over too soon. I know David’s heart must be hurting this time of year because it will be the last Christmas his parents will be together (Christmas of 2005 was hard for me, as my hubby and I filed for divorce on the 23d of December) but maybe that vanishes for him when he’s on stage doing what he loves. He never lets anything get him down and keeps smiling! David’s grandfather, James Archuleta, was there last night to watch and he must have been so proud–2 sellout shows for his grandson. What a fine young man David is, so humble, so honest, so talented. I’m looking forward to reading his autobiography next year.

I have a busy day ahead and need to get going. HOPE YOUR HOLIDAY TOMORROW IS TERRIFIC!

CONCERT REVIEW FROM SALT LAKE TRIBUNE:

“Regardless of David Archuleta’s performance Tuesday night at Abravanel Hall, the tweens and teenagers in the audience would still have shrieked and squealed in delight every time the 18-year-old Murray pop singer sang a note.

Illustrating a talent for building a solid, thematic set, Archuleta then performed two songs that served as a transition between his opening set and his closing set of Christmas tunes. The highlight was when he was accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, singing a rendition of Sting’s “Fields of Gold” that changed the vocal melody to make the song his soulful own. It was then time for the main show to start…”

For the rest of the article: http://blogs.sltrib.com/burger/index.php