(photo credit: Naree)
A Universal Truth
An Archie aches to see David Archuleta up-close. To hear the dulcet tone directly from that 9th wonder of a voice box; to watch him emphasize a point with his hands not through a small screen; to be rendered speechless by the lethal ArchuGaze. And if Lady Luck is on one’s side, to have his autograph or a photo taken with him.
Am no different, esp since am a long-distance admirer. But am told am more realistic than most people. So I stay thankful that I had seen David perform live at least once.
The crux of my story is this: Gratitude is what got it started. Being thankful provided the twist. And am convinced being grateful will keep similar stories multiplying.
The Archies here in Manila prayed for the travel advisory alert to be lifted so David’s visit could be finalized. Naturally my prayer had an additional clause. YAY for prayers! But little did I know that the invite would shape up to be more than I ever imagined. A week later…
That night I finally found time to check my personal inbox. SF sent one with the subject line: “Sorry if I Overstepped”. Now THAT GOT my attention. I rushed to TheVOICE to find out what the fuzz was. It didn’t take long – I was bawling over what SF had written. Ay mi amiga! See what you made me do!
Another Universal Truth
It has been said that an up-close and personal ArchuEncounter is like no other. So another universal truth is for Archies to wish upon other Archies to have the same experience. In SF’s comment at TheVoice, she prayed that I get to spend some precious time with David. Moreover, she asked TheVoice and SnowAngelz to join her on this fervent wish.
Though I think SF usually gives me more credit than I deserve, I always welcome her heartfelt appreciation. But more than the thanks and the special mention of my recent circumstances, what got me emotional with her post was the TIMING.
CS : For your M&G tomorrow…
Me : Haha… you mean the presscon. M&G is on the 17th!
CS : No. I meant as texted.
I have never looked at a message as intently as I did with the last one. I even blinked hard thinking I might have misread it. Dialling his number, I was so sure we were miscommunicating.
After a short talk, I was dumbfounded. I was wrong. O.M.G. Aside from the presscon and the SkyDome autograph signing, I was actually going to meet and greet David Archuleta. In private. More than 30 seconds. As Rachel Zoe would say: “Literally, I Died.”
I didn’t tell anyone. Not at home. Not in the office. Not a word with my friends or other Archies. I was SO afraid to jinx it. But I felt my chest would burst so I called Doc Naree, who hurriedly finished a consultation so we could shriek like school girls over the phone, LOL.
The Universe Listens
SF threw her wish for me to the ether. Archies from TheVoice, SnowAngelz & TDC chimed in. They had no sooner root for me than CS thought of surprising me with a bonus M&G. I didn’t think to ask for one. I was content with the presscon invite.
This one personal inspirational song started playing in my head as I realized what actually transpired.
When there’s no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won’t come true…
I truly believe that I got my ArchuMoment because of some thoughtful folks, some who used to people TDC. Nevertheless, we’re still in one big Archie community, looking out for each other. The wonder of prayers. The Universe indeed listens – even for some trivial pursuit such as fangirling….
Fast Forward to the PressCon
Remember my BFF, “safe distance”? Well, scratch that cos when we arrived at ManilaPen I was told David wanted a more relaxed & informal set-up for his media day. So instead of one big room like what they had last year, his presscon was held in a small room, the press ushered in by batches. I was put in the 8th batch of about a dozen people. At least I still have the presscon period to compose myself before any up-close encounter, right?
Scratch that again because upon entering the inner sanctum, I saw lounges & chairs arranged in a semi circle. “Oh my… the whole time, he will be just 2-3 feet away from me. Daaaangerrrrrrrrrrous…”
When batch 7 completely left, he excused himself to freshen up. That was our cue to take our positions. To calm myself, I reviewed my notes (Why yes I’ve come prepared with questions!) and summoned all common sense to take over for this presscon.
Anw, I chose to ask about his journal and about future books – so others will know about him making the NY Best sellers list. The guy to my right, from Phil Entertainment Portal was impressed.
I actually prepared 5 questions. Good thing I mentioned some of them to Sony execs while we were at the airport. When they found out that I was only able to ask one question, they came back to me with the answers. They asked David on my behalf. Wasn’t that neat of them? So here they are
- Jive had a change in management, when David didn’t have his own management. WEG is sure to straighten out priorities.
- WEG has a track record of successfully taking care of their talents.
The other two questions left unanswered were:
– when can we expect a return of the “Soul Man from Utah” in his music
– when will he do promos for the huge markets of Japan & Canada.
“Thoughts become things… choose the good ones!”
This is a good adage to remember especially this Thanksgiving weekend. And if I had to make a short list of things I am grateful for, it is this: my family’s health and safety, music, and friends-near & far.
See what your prayers gifted me with —highlights of my upclose & personal encounter? 😉
Embracing the Artistry
Judging by the hero’s welcome David received in Singapore and the Philippines, Asia seems to embrace the kind of artistry he offers. With that in mind, I think it’s my turn to toss my own wish to the ether —
I pray that the US market and its music industry soon develop an ear for David and other artists like him. After all, if the Universe itself listened, couldn’t David’s own turf follow suit?
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
– jackryan4DA
For Part 1 of this story- David Archuleta Live in Manila! (DALIM) 2.0
JR -- wonderful questions and so glad that some were answered -- insightful. I too would like to know when ‘soul man from Utah’ will emerge -- something to look forward to.
There’s something to do with elevators and fan encounters heh!
Thanks for this.
This is cool, DA’s guesting at the Star Power Singing Competition was covered by Examiner w/ the vid I uploaded 🙂
David Archuleta meets all girls singing competition finalists in Manila (w/ video)
David Archuleta has been on a whirlwind tour across Asia and last night America got to see some of his work as it was played on International television. On the show ABS-CBN’s STAR POWER the former American Idol contestant got to meet and inspire the singing show contestants.
Looking extremely excited and overwhelmed at the experience, the ladies were treated to one of Archuleta’s concerts in Manila and after the show went back stage. Talking a bit of shop and lots of inspiration, David shared some of what he does with these finalists to inspire them to really take their music to a whole new level.
Sharing nothing but positivity, the ladies seemed impressed with David and were super excited.
Take a minute to check out David Archuleta in the video clip. This is the segment where he meets the ladies and they go crazy excited!
SOURCE: http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-headlines-in-national/david-archuleta-meets-all-girls-singing-competition-finalists-manila-video
Thanks AWESTRUCK! Yeah I was glad that SonyPhil really did make David’s day here about the fans.
And yes, what about David, elevators and encounters? Hmmmm… 😉
JR: This made me tear up. What a beautiful meeting -- every aspect was covered; questions and answers, handshakes, hugs, a chance meeting at the elevator and a little singing. I’m so happy that you were able to have this experience. It didn’t quite register with me what had happened in your prior comments and article. Somehow I missed that you were right there, front and center.
Yippeee! 🙂
MARLIE -- That was on purpose. I wanted to divorce my personal fangirling experience from the DALIM 2.0 coverage. Even in this 2nd installment, I tried to divide the treatment by media.
And your observation is right. Though I was front & center in the planning, I never got to see David until the presscon cum M&G.
I was taking pix & vids at the airport -- but we got trumped by the media. They barricaded David so none of the fans were able to see him properly. Especially me cos I think am the smallest and the oldest in Team NAIA!
Team PEN was luckier cos w/o the press and as observed against the advise of his Mgt, David got down and met the fans then & there. SonyPhil would have wanted me to be in the hotel so they can give their blessings that the fans line up along the car way. But by the time they told me, I was at the airport already.
I also wasn’t able to watch him perform cos I got crushed as mentioned in the 1st article.
I could have met him again when it was time for him to leave but I knew he was exhausted by that time, what w/ his long full day, the late dinner and very early flight. So I just completed the business of delivering the additional gifts to him.
So it was really a blessing that I got invited to the presscon. And truly a gift that I was given some “alone” time w/ him.
Want to know another serendipity? Got swamped at work so my part 2 story was delayed. I totally missed Ft. Wayne, his weekend gigs etc… (that’s why no Tour Page for them yet) But I got to post this one in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. Neat, eh?
Two more good things that came from this 2010 event
1. Sony & David’s Mgt saw that the fans leading the welcoming efforts are organized and well behaved
2. We got to talk to Melinda about a future invite by National Bookstore for David to come back for a book signing session. Expenses shouldered by NBS.
Truly, so many things to be thankful for.
My wishes & prayers came true! I have been anxiously waiting & watching for part two of your Close Encounter with David and you did not disappoint! There was only one comment I must disagree with…
“Though I think SF usually gives me more credit than I deserve”
So not true! I don’t think you realize what to do for David is very selfless. So good things do come to those who wait & are deserving. I can think of no other fan of David who is more deserving than you, so it was your time to see & meet David up close & personal. One more thing..a photo with the you & David accompanying Part 2 would have been awesomeage!! 😀
JR, I hope you don’t mind me bringing my this over, which will help explain to your readers you mentioning me in your recap. I think my thanks to you which was posted on The Voice & Snow Angelz on 11/14 was relevant then & still is so it bares repeating, IMO.
**************
I just want to bring this up here & I hope jackryan4DA doesn’t mind. I just think everyone should know what an incredible woman she is. Not to mention one of the most devoted and inspiring fans of David. She does so much for us. She has incredible technical skills which she uses to bring us information we otherwise may not get as quickly as we do, or at all, because of her generosity in sharing. And that is my point in this…she SHARES. She doesn’t have to. JR is an Admin for another fan site, TDC. Yet she realizes, correctly IMO, that it’s ALL ABOUT DAVID, so she shares the information she tirelessly gathers, with other fan sites. I just find that to be so incredibly generous from an incredibly loving & generous spirit. No other Admin with her expertise does this and I just wanted to thank her here.
A few weeks ago, JR & her children were involved in a traumatic experience which many of us would have become unglued and perhaps taken a long leave from this crazy fan world we are involved in. But instead, she kept on. She “put one foot in front of the other” and continued to give & share with us, while still making sure her children kept faith that there’s more good in humans than not. She is young enough to be my daughter but she is an inspiration to me. I may never meet her in person as she lives on the other side of the world, but if I could have one wish come true, it would NOT be for ME to meet her, but it would be for her to meet and spend even a few precious moments with another kind, gentle, generous & loving spirit, David Archuleta.
Forgive me JR, if I’ve overstepped, but I just had to do this. {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
**********************
Thank you again JR, for all you do for David & his fans!
PAT-A-PAN HD VID thanks to zpfxlrdnajs —
SF: Thanks for bringing your note over…every word is true. JR is so deserving of the opportunity to meet and spend time with David. She is tireless and very much appreciated by fans at many sites. 🙂
Oh, finally, the Christmas season has now begun! Pat-a-Pan!
JR <3 <3 <3
I'm so happy for you! You deserved to meet David -- heck, you'd deserve to meet him 8769 times. You are awesome and so is your article <3 I just wish I'D get to meet you someday.
You said you were afraid of jinxing your change to see David in person if you talked about it. Well, I'm a bit scared of jinxing this too, but here goes: I'm multiplying. Meaning I'm gonna have a baby (Ronald, if you're reading this, don't worry -- it's not yours). I'm a bit freaked, but very happy 🙂
I'm determined to turn this baby into an Archie 😉 I've played David's music to the baby constantly. I want my child to have a role model like David. Nothing worries me as long as there is a person like him in this world.
embe, congratulations and thanks for sharing your good news! I lingered on your last sentence, because it is amazing how many of us, in very different life situations, gain comfort and draw strength from knowing “there is a person like [David] in this world.”
JR, congrats on your “face time” with David! And thanks for your write-up, including the five questions and the responses you were able to get.
EMBE -- congratulations! What a blessing! A Junior Embe in the making -- will the world ever be ready?! I also hope you are ready to have as many virtual godmothers and godfathers for JrEmbe 😉
8769 times? Hmmm… is that a lucky combo number you are projecting? Too bad, the biggest lotto jackpot in the Phils had been won last night -- Php741m or about US$17m, just ONE winner, whew!
OLEM -- yes am thrilled to have finally met TheArchuletor. It was, as everyone said and more.
Thanks everyone, for liking my recap.
In the meantime, got to go back and fill the TDC Tour pages!
Embe: Congratulations! Yes, play “David music” and the little one will be soothed and content like the rest of us when we listen 😉
JR!! It was worth the wait, wasn’t it??? So happy for you the stars aligned (thanks to fan prayers across the globe!), you MET David, GAHHH! The recap is great, thoroughly enjoyed it. And your vid, “Ocular inspection mode”, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! He is beeauuutifuuulll. One has to be blind to not be mesmerized at the sight of his face up close and personal. That is just the truth!
Silverfox, if you are back for a moment, let me tell you that you always stand out among the crowd, and that is the truth too!
Embe!! What? A baby?? Awww congratulations!! Wow!!! What a gift <333
VERMEER -- Oh I knew that phrase “ocular inspection” would resonate with you guys! Haven’t we all done it?
And I quite agree, SF is a stand out, in more ways than one 🙂
Look what happened when the unsuspecting David walked into California Pizza Kitchen -- right smack into L.A. Chasters -- a bunch of Charice fans -- who were still still high from watching Charice perform live
Yeah, they are Pinoy Charice fans. What can I say except that at least they expressed their admiration for him 8|
He must have been famished!
Marlie, olemr, vermeer, JR -- thank you 🙂
JR, you’re not the only one that has expressed their concern for the poor Earth and how it can possibly manage Embe Jr. Many have started storing food and building underground shelters.
And can I just say how HAPPY I am to have all these virtual godmothers and fathers <3 As long as you can all handle my virtual hormones. They are seriously starting to take their toll on my family, and it's so early!
Guys, someone’s bday is coming up. Don’t forget to sign the GroupCard 🙂 we have until 9 Dec
http://www.groupcard.com/c/GSTHOnqgMcK
Orla Fallon’s Celtic Christmas is on in Rochester tonight at 8:00 PM -- you know where I’ll be!
Remember this? So sweet …
I don’t know whether others here have already seen this brief clip of “Riu Riu Chiu” from David’s concert last year with the Ann Arbor Symphony, but I just discovered it. I had not previously seen any actual video from the concert, although some audios and pictures have been available.
LDS Church Reacts to Sale of MOTAB Concert Tickets
For anyone interested, two other Ann Arbor Symphony video clips (“Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Zero Gravity”) are also available from davisthegecko’s channel on YouTube. It turns out that the three videos have been around for more than a year, and I am just now discovering them — or else I saw them before and forgot!? Oh well.
DAVID ARCHULETA INTERVIEW w/ Good Morning TX -- PREVIEWS PARADE
Hi OLEM -- yes those videos are great! You ay have missed it when I posted them on our ANN ARBOR TOUR PAGE
https://www.thedavidchronicles.com/2009/11/ann-arbor-mi-november-27-2009/
You may also want to check that out as we have more vids on that page.
But please don’t stop bringing more vids over. With the fast pace David promotes, am sure am bound to miss stuff, so this is a great way to validate our tour page listing 🙂
Thanks, JR! That tour page reminded me of how much I love “A Merry Christmas to Me.” Wouldn’t it be great if some day we discovered a video of that! 🙂
I hope he sings it again this year in any of his concerts. Perhaps in a VIP event, fans can request it.
Am so, so excited for the MOTAB concert!
Another vid from SUC2 event
Meanwhile, I have uploaded the DALLAS, TX CHRISTMAS TOUR PAGE
So far 4 vids had been posted -- SBL, TOSOD, TFN & MOC -- out of the 10 songs he performed!
I also added the interview he had with Good Morning TX in that page 🙂
JR, I ***LOVE*** your story!!! So, so happy for you. And SF, you are quite the miracle worker! 🙂
I have my own miracle story… I didn’t think I’d get to see David this season, shows are no where near where I live. But now, by a crazy string of accidental circumstances, I am going to be 34 min. away from The Grove on the 29th!!!!!! Wha? So of course off I go to see if I could still get a ticket (two actually), and YES. Score! We’re in the way-back section, but I’m thrilled!!!
heh heh… my friend won’t know what hit her!!
HIGHERVIBE -- That is such great news! Do you realize that that will be practically David’s bday concert? I think both the audience and David will be in for a VERY special evening!
Oh happy days….
Yes, JR, I realized that after I finished reserving the tickets. Oh happy days, indeed… I’m still beaming!!! And it’s close to my friend’s birthday as well, on the 26th. Wow, a lot of constellations lined up on this one!
2 additional vids re DA’s PressCon thanks to JulianandtheCity -- if am not mistaken, this was the batch before us
PART 1
PART 2
Really enjoyed those last two segments, thanks for posting them JR. He’s very articulate about everything, more so by the day it seems… except Stomping the Roses. Hm. Wonder if he’ll ever come right out and say it. Well, I sure appreciate that he managed to get it on the album. Those were all terrific questions… thanks to all of those interviewers! Great job.