This has to be one of my favorite photographs from the entire tour, taken last night in Charlotte. At the risk of reading too much into it (Mamma Josie insists, “he’s just being seventeen;” I remind her that she’s not a guy and couldn’t possibly understand the importance of such frat-boy style mischievousness), there is so much here I don’t even know where to begin.
First and perhaps foremost, I don’t think David would have been caught dead doing this even two months ago. The fact that he his feeling his oats, as it were, expressing his new-found freedoms and power, especially in blatant disregard for the uptight pronouncements of the tour producers against any “unauthorized choreography or stage shenanigans,” is to me extremely amusing and very encouraging. David always shows so much deference, so much humility, that I confess I privately worry now and then whether he’ll be able to, well, do what he’s doing in the picture and take some names if necessary. I read this as a pretty hilarious indication that it’s well within his grasp.
Judging by the spate of fan videos that have been posted over the past week or so, David is undoubtedly revealing a more rogueish side of himself, and I for one couldn’t be happier to see it. It’s not just the revelation of his comfort level in public settings that I find so appealing, but the indications of a more faceted personality. I’ve had a number of indications of this from private sources, so it’s not that it’s a surprise, but seeng him express it more openly is a dang lot of fun.
Finally, I think it’s hilarious to think about how this photograph might be used in, say, oh, I don’t know… late November…?
I LOVE IT! David is soooo happy with his life now and it’s wonderful he can relax and really enjoy himself without fear of any misperceptions. He deserves to have fun in this most important time of his life…he is working so hard! This pic is priceless! I hope he laughs and enjoys this pic as much as we are. And I hope we see many more photos just like this!
I think it’s particularly ironic that Cook is wearing David’s much maligned jacket!
Heh, loving the pic (and loving the title that goes with it!)
Bow to the boy, dear Cook, bow to the boy! 😀
I’m not a guy but even I enjoy goofing around like this and so I agree David is finally letting loose a bit. Now, I wonder if he will let loose a little more with the dance moves. I am Latina and am wondering if his Latin roots will come thru next. I could only hope. Sigh.
Love your headline, Rascal! And thanks for the smile-fest. Between this pic, silverfoxe’s drive-by antics and the following post I read on another site, I’ve been grinning all day long.
Oh, here it is, just had to share — hilarious response to a photo of Archie signing autographs:
“Lord of all of the powder on moth’s wings…….!!!!! Never in the history of the world has a t-shirt on a young man’s solid, compact torso been such a magical, transcendant, awe-inspiring epiphany of enchanting bewilderment!”
You’re so right — it’s great to see David letting loose — and, from the looks of things, his fans are too!
“there is so much here I don’t even know where to begin.” You are such a tease. OK Rascal, please explain to all us girls… what does it mean? now, at this moment in time?
I can hazard a guess what it might mean from a guy’s point of view when in late November DA’s album possibly outsells Cook’s?!?!?! Am I off base here? I am trying to think like a guy here.
I think David is emerging from his shell – turtle that is. The first I saw David was when he sang Shop Around (I didn’t hear WOTWTC or Heaven till later). A carefree performance, then Imagine and all the praise. David retreated into his safe shell, unsure of what to do. In his eyes he now had an imagine to stand up to? He only poked his head out to sing each week. Sure we saw glimpses of different sides of his personality throughout AI and more seriously in interviews after the finale. Now finally he is within a comfort zone where he can be more expressive.
momofteens I didn’t notice the jacket! Maybe Cook will have pulled the seams apart and TPTB will have to outfit our David with something new?
I do believe that we are going to have fun with this one!
ram…I am Latina as well, and David CAN dance!! I knew it from the “Shop Around” performance…he has the “moves”, the smooth, hip swivelling moves that Latinos are famous for…look at the AI Finale, one of the group songs…he’s the only one really moving to music..oh yeah
he CAN dance! And I can tell he loves to dance! We’ve just seen glimpses of it.
Ok, so I just posted this comment in brackets below after the last Rascal article and now this, so I’m reposting it here, only to say I guess I was partially wrong about David not letting loose yet at the Tour! LOVE it! “A more faceted personality” is a great way to describe this. But I was not all wrong after all but did not expect this side of him to surface during the Tour. Please see this too, the video of him crawling under the table I mentioned before if you haven’t seen it yet
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I was surprised that he was capable of goofing around to that extent when I thought he would be too polite to disrupt someone’s interview.
[Speaking of David being himself, I think a lot of us got hooked on David at Top 24 when he did Shop Around (if not earlier at Heaven or Waiting On the World to Change) and we noticed how beyond Imagine, he never got back his free spirited enthusiastic demeanor. It was really fun to see him alll pumped raising his fist and turning around to the audience behind him and yelling “Yeah!”, it almost seemed uncharactistic of him seeing the David that followed (much shier, awkward, etc.) when in fact, that was completely characteristic of him. So deep inside, the whole rest of the AI season I was waiting for that side of David to resurface. After Imagine, it seemed like something had changed/shifted in him. This interview that Josie posted at Rickey.org explains a lot. And now with the Tour, I am sure he is not letting loose either because of the reasons others had raised, his concerns for the idols, etc. I think that spirited and more carefree side of him came out a lot within his performance of Shop Around and to this day, that one still remains one of my all time favorite, besides Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me (to name a few).]
Awestruck, wouldn’t that be nice? It does seem ridiculous that the jacket FITS Cook… he’s a bigger guy than David… don’tcha think TPTB would have noticed that? Oh well… a lot of people have tried to get the message across, what with petitions and such, to no avail… even Josie’s charm doesn’t seem to have had an effect!
One has to smile at the two of them as they bask in the glow of their own good relationship. They are the ones who can lampoon this whole nonsense between the more base members of their respective fan groups and turn it into pure entertainment. Also don’t forget since they both have enjoyed independent success their power has grown and they probably feel they can play more by their own rules and perhaps thumb thier noses a bit at the “mandate”. Either way it’s good to see Archie “let loose” a little.
Cook is a complex character and he loves a good joke, but I do wonder whether deep inside that the king doesn’t feel upstaged by the prince. There is alot of truth in a joke!
This pic should be DA’s album cover (haha)!
After all the ups and downs of AI this season I have to admit to a little thrill of satisfaction when I see the “Archie’s Revenge” photo. I certainly hope Nigel and Simon each receive a humongous poster sized shot of this picture…
I love love love it that there is some fooling around going on in that last number. What number of shows are we at? # 35 of about 50? Good grief, they need some space to goof around. At the very end of the Lexington show that I attended, Cook took a poster from the fans and headed off stage with it (“Save the Gnomes”, I think it said). Archie was laughing as he watched Cook. Boo to the AI uppy ups who are banning any shenanigans. The fans love it when our sweet Idols mix it up. I too didn’t notice at first that Cook was wearing Archie’s jacket. Ohmigosh, too funny!
#5 TOfan -- LOL that’s my quote about the moth’s wings -- I’m a goof!
I have to say that Cook has been exceedingly nice and sweet with our David during the season and the tour -- kudos to him! I’ll never forget how he was hugging David at the finale and dragging him around the stage with him while he sang his coronation song. That really helped ease my pain that night and seeing them “play” around on the tour has been just great! Our David is really coming out of his shell -- it is so nice to see. I’ve never understood what I considered to be a lack of confidence -- but I know he is humble and gracious and introverted by nature so I’m sure it is difficult for him to do what he does.
I’m so anxious for the video for Crush -- wow -- what a summer it has been!
Funny Girl kind of beat me to it! I was going to say how awesome it is that Cook is treating our David so well. At almost every opportunity, Cook has been deferential to Archie’s mad skills. He’s no dummy.
I’ve never been blown away by his music, but I have appreciated Cook’s own modesty -- and respect for our guy.
This has truly been the summer of ARCHU-KICKIN FUN!
Rascal,
As always, your insights are so true. David is finding ways to be fun, relaxed and creative. I’m confident that his true presence will always come through and he’ll be able to express himself in so many ways. It will be fun to watch his career unfold in so many new ways. Thanks again for bring this site to all of us.
If I remember right, Cook had a suit with sparkles on it (just not as much) early early in the tour. So I think it is his own jacket he is wearing, maybe.
But, ohh how much fun to watch David coming into his own. He’s having the time of his life right now and we get to watch.
We finally got some video of the infamous kick and Cook’s reaction to it. LOL!
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sorry, i have to change the subject just a little here…I have to watch the great raw FOX interview a few times a day, that’s my latest ODD fix besides listening to “Crush”..anyway I was watching it again just now and when David describes how he felt after watching Tamyra Grey sing AIATY on AI, his description of the way he felt…”Amazed” and thinking “WHAT JUST HAPPENED”! I was thinking THAT IS EXACTLY THE WAY I FELT WHEN I HEARD HIM THE FIRST TIME, THEN THE SECOND TIME, THE THIRD TIME…AND EACH AND EVERY TIME I HEAR HIM..I am amazed! And even more amazing is that he still can find it hard to believe the affect he has on his fans and what an inspiration he is. Just wanted to get that out before my heart bursts…thanks.
Silverfoxe, You are so right. David doesn’t really know his true affect on his fans. We all see his deep personal inspiration. I have my tickets to the Tampa show and I only hope it doesn’t get cancelled. It’s not so sunny here right now and I’m hoping to get the chance to get close to him as I already feel as though I know him.
I can’t believe that was you in the car! You’ll have to tell us how you got such a great parking space.
Thanks for linking the video. It’s even more fun when you realize that Cook is laughing as well at the prank. What makes this tour so special is all of them appear to get along well and can share a good time together. I always thought Cook was talented yet I voted consistently for Archie. I do admire Cook more now because he has been so generous with Archie. This song must get a tad monotonous to perform so often and it’s great to see them improvising.
thatguycansing…yup, that’s me alright…my 15 mins of fame, thanks to DAVID ARCHULETA..haha. as far as the parking space….it was just there when I came around for the 10th time, and backed into it. Didn’t know I was being filmed though…I’m thinking of starting a “GOLDEN ARCHANGEL DAVID ARCHULETA CRUISER CLUB AND HAVE A GOLDEN ARCHANGEL DO THE SAME THING AT ALL THE REST OF THE CONCERTS…I’m kidding!!
Gosh…the things I have done for LOVE (of DAVID).
silverfoxe, you are famous now! Every site I read about Lexington mentions the “car cruising around playing Crush,” and I even got an e-mail from a friend who went to the concert, and she mentioned the car blasting the song!! So funny!
juliebug, thanks for posting the video. It’s so funny to see it in action. I guess, even the act of kicking may be considered rude, David still had a very humble reason for doing it. It’s like saying “Get up already! Enough with the bowing!” But it’s true that David would not have been so bold two months ago with expressing himself in such a playful guy way in front of everybody.
silverfoxe, I had to go track down that link, and I found it….OMGosh, LOVED it! *high fives* so cool how you oh, nonchalantly backed up into that parking spot with Crush blasting.
It’s great to see David ‘opening up’ as it were. This is such a far cry from when he was on the show where he was put under so much scrutiny that he just couldn’t loosen up. Now we read more and more fan encounters on how easy and approachable he is with them. He laughs, he hugs and is just having such a blast while on tour. Many non fans have been bowled over by the amazing person that he is and are now completely won over. It’s really great to see him so happy and full of life.
I also think the camaraderie among the ten of them is a wonderful thing to see. Maybe that helps to bring out the ‘naughtiness’ in David much more. No more competition, no more judging; its just time with each other and to have fun and just goof around more.
juliebug, thanks for the video link!!! I love the playful David so much so I long for the Shop Around David to return!
silverfoxe, hats off to you, woohoo…..if you have the guts we could do some jamming in the carpark.
I posted earlier about the joyfullness of David as he greeted his fans at the afternoon barricades and it just warms my heart to see him so goofy and free during the show. I love that he’s having such a great time!!
Uh oh! LOL! Looks like Cookie got Archie back for the kick….at the top of the stairs.
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It’s been such a joy (and now an extremely worrying addiction) to watch David embrace the tour and concert experience. The latest on stage interaction with Cook is particularly fun because David is so much more at ease with giving back to Cook as good as he gets. I could see this coming though.
Cook starting his routine of bowing down to David at the end of the concert when Crush first charted #1 after only one day on iTunes. David didn’t react too much to this deferential gesture until the Washington DC concert when he actually pushed Cook’s raised arm down. Link to video here: rel="nofollow">.
Then in Philadelphia, David was motioning for Cook to get up and when he didn’t, he actually pulled Cook up by the back of his jacket! Link here: rel="nofollow">.
So, while I’m loving it that David eventually kicked Cook in the pants, I’m not surprised!
Silverfoxe, you still have me laughing from the other thread…”I would but my son won’t let me”…ha ha ha!
Sorry, I think I have those concerts mixed up…Philly first, then Washington.
Ha! Juliebug, nice find! That was cute, too. I love seeing tour tom foolery and David joining in. Warms my heart.
Haha, I get a kick out of viewing this picture. David is having a fun time and he is not afraid to express it. David’s humility shines through his action and I feel that that he was quite embarassed by the bowing so he had to “kick” Cook to get up, as vermeeer has put it.
I was amazed when I first spotted David in the Hollywood week singing “Heaven” but I was really hooked when I heard him sang “Shop Around”. Apparently, many of our friends here have the same experience.
I have always feel that David is versatile with a multi-faceted personality as evident from the various observatiions I have of him. He is a boy-next-door during meet-n-greet sessions, turns into a seasoned (and manly) professional worthy of his craft during his performances, a photographer’s delight and pride (able to display a mood or expression to match the attire and the background scene). He is truely very special. He is not made of cotton-wool that can be easily dirtied and squashed. He is a tough cookie. But he is human.
Hi, silverfoxe, I like your “blasting CRUSH” at the parking area. It is the way to go, we are all fun-loving and hilarious ODDers. NotingDavid is the right place for us to come to make friends and get our fix, to leave behind any personal baggages (to be discarded eventually) we may have and enjoy a laugh or two. Haha, David is contagious, I am talking too much, have to go now, Cheers to all !
I too am enjoying David’s “opening up.” I think as he continues to grow in confidence of not only his abilities but also overall comfort on stage these little bits of personality will continue to shine through.
I think another thing that has contributed to David being a little more goofy is that the opportunities are presenting themselves, in the form of David Cook. I think DC, in his own way, is doing little things not out of spite or some deep down resentful nature but to kinda help DA along. Not suggesting by any means that David needs help with anything but, I really believe DC and even someone like Michael has helped to “relax” David just a bit. They’ve given him a means to expressing some of that hidden personality and I think their reasoning albeit ultimately for fun and laughs might also be just to help him to be OK with getting a little goofy!
Wow, a lot of good ODD stuff here! I too love seeing David come into his own. What a journey. On a little different note, I had a great thrill yesterday. As I left work I turned on my XM Radio in the car only to have them announce the next Top 20 song as David’s and then not only to hear his song, but to see the words “DAVID ARCHULETA” displayed across my radio -- just precious. That’s our boy!
Ooh my!! It is so great to see David having fun and goofing around. I love David for always seeming to be in the moment. I think that is why he can give each fan his full attention and each song he sings his full emotion and each interview his full thoughts… I am rambling, but you all understand the ODD. He amazes me.
standbyme, I agree with you! It’s been good for David to be around different types of people (religious and non-religious), and to relax a bit. I expect that we’ll continue seeing different aspects of his personality as he continues to travel and meet people from all walks of life.
juliebug#31, thanks for adding more to the story of the pic with that video of Cook returning the kick. Ha!
I have to agree with Funnygirl#15 that Cook’s attitude toward David on finale night softened the blow of David losing. I had such an awwww moment when Cook went off stage during his coronation song to drag David back into the limelight (when David, all graciousness that he is, quickly rushed off stage when Cook was announced the winner). It was a such a big-brother/”bowing to the greatness” that is the Archulator thing to do that I didn’t have time to register my bitterness. Then, they had the “time of their lives” (pun intended) when they were doing their post-Idol New York city tour (the piggyback ride with the Z100 radio guy was the best!) that I can’t feel anything but fondness for these two guys.
All my bitterness is reserved for the show, but the two Davids -- I hope to see them do more events together after the tour.
I also agree with Silverfoxe and others that David really doesn’t know the full effect of his impact on others. I was reading over on idol forums that a fan who spoke with him after the Atlanta show told him that he has a real chance of debuting in the top 3 of the Hot 100 with “Crush.” David so did not believe him and told him that “slow and steady” is how the race is played, that his song will be alot like Jordin Sparks’ “Tattoo” in building up momentum over time since that’s how Jive works. Heh.
The fan chose to not dispute David, but he did get a kick out of his seeming cluelessness (as did I -- I mean, really, David, I like Jordin and all but she is not the Archulator, and you have surpassed her in so many ways with your first single). So much of this success has to do with the mobilization efforts of his fans,who are so devoted to his success -- and that’s all because of his incredible effect on us.
It’s endearing that he is choosing the modest success of Jordin Sparks as his measuring stick, but he doesn’t even realize that he is beyond anything the likes of which Idol has never seen.
In all honesty, I get the sense that Jive too hasn’t yet recognized the tremendous appeal of David just yet (I think they too are following the Jordin Sparks formula in marketing David -- but the good thing about labels is they learn early, and I’m sure they have noticed how “Crush” climbed to #1 on iTunes and stayed there for a week so far, without much airplay and a music video, apparently to be shot today!)
Anyway, at least such low expectations from David make for some surprisingly sweet moments of incredulity when the major successes start pouring in.
Ahhh, now we’re seeing full circle moments. Getting glimpses of the relaxed, “teen spirit” David Archuleta that we saw back in the “Shop Around” days. And now with the release of the interviews on-line yesterday, we now know why David’s happy demeanor had changed so after AI week #2 when he sang Imagine. I always wondered what happened; now we know. The pressure/adversity that David faced during the season will only make him stronger for the long haul in this pressure packed business. Seeing David so happy these days makes me happy. Cook always was so good to David, and for this I respect him. They have such great chemistry; they are a riot and always get me laughing when together. wow, this picture is worth a thousand words. And as always Rascal, your words always “sum it up for me.”
p.s. hellogorgeous, I too loved when Cook motioned for David during the coronation song to stand beside him, more than once, during those final moments. That is class, and the 2 David’s have a ton of it.
I see we’ve determined that Cook was not wearing David’s INFAMOUS suit jacket…but for a minute there the suit haters were hoping it would rip or something so David could wear something else…..so sorry!! I have a question…how many of you “suit haters” would decline if David had a contest and “THE SUIT” (right after the last concert and before it’s dry cleaned) was the prize ???? Come on, be honest!!!! Hate it or not, David BODY has been in that suit almost every night for months and I would “kill” to have it!! Call me crazy, but let’s see who gets to say “I TOLD YOU SO” when “THE SUIT” shows up someday in the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”! HA!
Ha! Ha!
Still a kid though….”Mom, check my teeth!”
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Oh juliebug, thanks again! So funny, the chew chew chew. He is doing a lot more chewing now since Michael Johns said recently that David eats a lot! But healthy food mostly.
That is so cute, juliebug. Thank you for posting!
They are such a cute family and David was so adorable -- eating and asking his mom to check his teeth for food before smiling for the camera 🙂
I love that the David’s are goofing off together on their final song. Mostly, I think I love that expression on David. He’s so sweet and sensitive, so to see that bit of playfulness is great. . In nine days, I’ll get to see the first of my two concerts. Can’t wait to see what’s happening by then.
Kait, Have you decided to go to the Tulsa show?
Debra, I’ve got my ticket (up high and to the side, but a ticket is a ticket) and I booked a hotel room. I’m going. Are you? I’d love to meet online friends. I’m really hoping to try for a before- or after-show meeting, because I won’t be able to do more than see the Aug. 29 show in Kansas City. It would be a shame to miss a chance to meet David Archuleta now, when he’s a very young star. Later it might very well be impossible.
Kait, yes I am going, am on the side as well and the second section up.
I think the second section back. Did you know the the Bok center will have only been open for like one of two other concerts when we go? It is brand new!! I hope the acoustics are good. Am taking a friend with me, she is a cook fan, but will convert her when she hears our David. I hope to get their early enough to meet the buses. I would like to meet David and get his autograph on my shirt. Maybe we can
meet on the picket line. ;-0
Kait, My e-mail is [email protected]. Give me a yell before time and we’ll synchronize. Did you find a hotel close to the Bok?
Thanks Juliebug and Lotus_b for the video links — apparently David had to shove a daydreaming Jason on stage in Charlotte cause he missed his cue. (Trust him to probably know everyone’s cues.)
And who else but Mr. David Archuleta could get me to watch THAT song three times in a row. lol
**attn davidfanLIZ** are you SDcouturedoll from the american idol forums?? Thanks.
FunnyGirl: Nope, that’s not me. I only make comments as Liz or as davidfanLIZ.
beebee: This is off-topic, but I just have to tell you how much I love your photo montage of David (previous post, comment #179). I have replayed the interview numerous times -- I love to hear David talk so passionately about his music. Your lovely photo recalls the many wonderful moments of this great interview and shows off the many moods of our sweet David. Thanks so much for making it and sharing it with us!!!
davidfanLIZ I’m so glad you enjoyed that. It was fun to make, and as I said earlier, I could dive into that interview footage a million more times and snatch unique stills from it endlessly! If I take the time to do it again, I’ll be sure to share.
Debra, got your e-mail and I’ll e-mail you. I did get a hotel fairly close — I think a half mile away. How about you?
I also wanted to add that someone at Idolforums posted this morning, saying that in this same performance, when Jason came onstage laughing and didn’t sing his lines, it was because he’d been spacing out backstage and DAVID ARCHULETA shoved him onstage. What a night he must have been having! I just love these stories.
I have always enjoyed the camaraderie between the two David’s and love evidence that he can give as well as take. I appreciate the fact the David looks on Cook like an older brother. I have kept in mind however my husband’s little brother who so looked up to and emulated his 5 older brothers and now is the wealthiest and most accomplished of them all. David will go far and is growing by leaps and bounds from that shy young man who first appeared on the show just showing what he loved to do.
Yes, let’s please save this picture for November. I’m actually hoping both Davids have success in their careers and we can stop with the comparisons….but the reality is that time and space is needed for that.
Rascal you are really something else.
I’ve been reading your write ups on David for a while now and have enjoyed every word you say, but never left a comment until now.
First, that picture of David and David is awesome. They have come a long way especially our David. I hope they both have very successful careers, although I think as we ALL do, David James Archuleta will be a Mega Star. He will be a Legend!