Let’s go back to the evening of May 21st 2008. We’re at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles and it’s the American Idol finale. Nearly Forty million viewers are tuned in to hear Idol host Ryan Seacrest announce the final results of season 7. He’s on stage with the two finalists when he steps up to the microphone as the house lights dim. “Here we go America,” he says. “Ladies and gentlemen, David and David, the winner by twelve million votes of American Idol 2008 is David……………………………………….COOK!”
What? Wait it minute! Wasn’t he supposed to say David Archuleta? Wasn’t he the one who was destined to be an American Idol winner? You could practically hear the shrieks of despair from teenagers across the country. Each week during the spring of 2008 this shy, humble, somewhat fragile, squeaky-clean, and (dare I say) adorable kid from Murray, Utah wowed the judges and endeared himself to the television viewers with his perfect pop voice and commanding stage presence. When he sang there was a maturity about him that belied not only his seventeen years of age but his bashful and innocent demeanor as well. He may have finished second but he was the unquestionable star of Season 7.
The reality is there’s always more than one winner each year when it comes to American Idol. Both David’s got recording contracts with 19 Recordings/Jive Records and both were quick to release self titled CD’s. Young David’s CD has sold close to a million copies and featured the hugely successful hit single “Crush.” In fact David Archuleta now has a second CD out called “Christmas from the Heart.” The disc is filled with traditional songs such as “Joy to the World,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” and “What Child Is This?” among others. There are also a couple of more contemporary ballads included such as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” David will be touring the country singing these songs and spreading Christmas joy throughout the advent season.
Connecticut is rapidly becoming a popular destination for David. He first played here on August 8th of 2008 when the American Idol tour stopped at the XL Center in Hartford. He was here again with the Idols on September 6th of 08 when the tour came back to the Arena at Harbor Yards in Bridgeport. Once the Idol tour was over David was back again less than two months later on October 29th when he hosted the Boo Bash at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford with former Idol winner Jordin Sparks. Early in 2009 David toured for the first time fronting his own band. Although there was no Connecticut appearance, he did play a show in Northampton, Massachusetts on March 2nd. However, he was back in Hartford a few months later when he opened for Demi Lovato on June 21st at a sold-out XL Center. Now David will be back in Connecticut once again when his Christmas tour takes him to the magnificent MGM Grand at Foxwoods on the evening of Thursday December 17th. This phone interview was done on the morning of Wednesday November 4th.
BH – Congratulations on your new “Christmas from the Heart” CD. You must be really proud of it.
DA - "Yeah, you know with every project you try to put a lot of work into them. So when you really get involved in a project and work hard to make sure you did all you can to make it the best that you could, you feel a very close connection to it. It’s like it’s your baby. So it was a good project for me to work on.”
BH – I’m familiar with all of the songs except “Pat-a-pan” and “Riu Riu Chiu.” Could you tell me a little bit about those tunes?
DA - “Those are some of my favorite ones on the album actually because they bring a different element that people usually don’t connect with Christmas. ‘Riu Riu Chiu’ is a renaissance kind of song. It’s an early Christmas carol that people aren’t really familiar with but it has a mysterious sound to it and really captivating music to it. And plus, it’s Spanish and I loved being able to do a Spanish song on the Christmas album. It was really exciting for me because I’m half Honduran so being able to give something to that side of my culture was really great for me. And then with ‘Pat-A-Pan’ that right now probably is my favorite song on the album. I don’t know the history behind it but it’s a pretty simple, generic song. We had to add a chorus to it because it was the verse over and over. And I sing the beginning in French and that’s my first time ever trying to speak French at all. It was a real challenge and I was nervous at first because I didn’t know if I was singing the words right at all. But I had a friend who I called the night before to come and help us out and make sure I was saying all the words correctly because if I’m going to be speaking French and trying to reach out to people who speak French I want to make sure I’m doing it the right way and respect them. Because this is their language and it’s a beautiful language and I don’t want to be messing it up in any way. But it was real fun and I love the mystical beginning with that song. And it’s one of the more up tempo, fun songs on the album. I feel it stands out on the album because of how different it is.”
BH – Also it must be nice to include your own original Christmas song “Melodies of Christmas.”
DA – “With ‘Melodies of Christmas’ it was funny how little time we had. I was on tour and trying to record the other Christmas songs at the same time. So with ‘Melodies of Christmas’ it was literally the last thing that we were working on before we had to finish. We wanted to talk about how Christmas, and the songs of Christmas, affects people and what kinds of memories are brought back because of these songs. So it’s just kind of describing how Christmas music affects people during that time of the season and that time of year.”
BH – It looks like you put together a nice tour for the holidays with two shows in Utah and then home for Thanksgiving before hitting the road and being home for Christmas.
DA - “I don’t know if we’re going to be home for Thanksgiving or not. We’re trying to work that out though because I’ve never missed a Thanksgiving with my family. Even last year I was in New York for the parade. I did that in the morning and flew back during the day and was able to have dinner with my family in the evening. So I haven’t missed a Thanksgiving yet but we’re trying to figure out how I can spend as much time home until I have to go to the next city and rehearse there. Because the next date I have after Utah will be in Michigan with a symphony orchestra there. So it will be interesting to see how we can manage the schedule for everything. Family time is just as important as anything else.”
BH – You have an orchestra in Michigan? Aren’t you traveling with a touring band?
DA - “I have a traveling band with me with this tour. The Michigan date is a little different because they invited me to come as their special guest for the orchestra, whereas for the rest of the tour it is just my performing band with the normal theater setup of doing a show. For the most part they are the same people that I’ve been doing shows with. Some of them I’ve been touring with since the beginning of this year.”
BH – Besides the Christmas CD will you still be singing songs from your self titled debut CD?
DA - “Yeah, I still feel that that’s what the people are familiar with and that’s what people relate to me through. So we’re going to have a little pop section. People always want to hear ‘Crush’ and stuff so of course I’m going to sing that and give a fun recognizable song set. So I’ll give a little bit of the pop stuff in a section of the show.”
BH – Also I noticed that you have an opening act named Benton Paul. Can you tell me a little bit about him?
DA - “I actually met him when he opened for me at a Sundance thing back in January. He opened up for me at one of the shows at the Sundance Film Festival. He also opened up for me in my Utah show. He does some great music. He’s a really talented guy from Utah and I just have really enjoyed his music. We’ve had some jam sessions too and I think people are really going to enjoy his music because it’s not too out there or too crazy. It is music I think that everyone can really enjoy. He’s great artist.”
BH – Can you contrast the differences between the touring you’re doing now compared to the tour with the American Idol group?
DA - “The difference between then and now I guess is that was my first time ever touring and so it was so new to me. I didn’t know what to expect or how to deal with things. But now it’s my fifth tour and I’ve definitely gotten the hang of things and you learn how to keep your endurance going because it’s easy to blow out your voice the first show and then not have a voice for the rest of the shows. You learn how to pace yourself and get into the routine of things and understand how it works. With this tour versus the American Idol tour I’m by myself. I don’t have everyone else there. Instead of just being part of the show you are the show. You have to learn how to keep you energy going in the show and keep the emotion in all the songs going every night. But it’s really something I enjoy doing and its so much fun.”
BH – Are you able to get out and do a little sightseeing when you tour?
DA - “I know that there are some days off that I have that they’re thinking about filling with other things. But it’s nice to have days off too because you get to see different places and get to know what its like in different parts of the country. Because even though it’s all the United States, it’s really fun getting to see the differences in all the places I see along with the different cultures too. It’s even amazing how different the food can be or just what the nature is like from the mountains to the oceans to the plains. I remember in Ohio getting to see the Amish country. It was so cool just being able to see that. We have so much here to enjoy and learn from. It’s always fun getting to do the touristy things too because those memories really stick out to me during a tour.”
BH – Yeah, I guess a guy your age shouldn’t be going from the bus to the hotel to the stage back to the hotel and then back on the bus.
DA - “You’re right because it can get pretty monotonous when you don’t have any breaks from that routine of going inside the bus to inside the venue to on the stage and then back into the dressing room back inside the bus and then go to sleep and wake up and do it all again. It’s like you’re always inside. I always joke about how pale and how much of a ghost I look like now because I never see the sun. But it’s nice being able to have a little break because sometimes, even if there’s a show that day, I try to make a little bit of time if there’s something fun to do in the city that we’re in because it makes the memory of that city all the more enjoyable.”
BH – Do you enjoy coming to Connecticut? December 17th will be your 5th time here already.
DA - “Connecticut has always had some of the best crowds. And I love that there’s such supportive fans in Connecticut that just really enjoy the show. Like with the summer tour, our first show with Demi Lovato was in Connecticut so it was just a great way to start the show. I remember driving through there in the fall last year and all the colors. I was taking pictures because the trees were so beautiful. One of memories of last year is just driving through Connecticut and I remember going to a radio station there and also doing the ‘Boo Bash’ in Connecticut too. I just loved the old fashioned style of some of the areas of Connecticut and the colors! I really enjoy nature so I’m always looking at the sky and the trees and the mountains.”
BH – By any chance did you happen to see the Michael Jackson movie?
DA - “No but we’re planning on this week. My aunt she went and saw it and she really wants to take me. And we’ve been trying to figure out how with my schedule. Like right now we’re on our way to a recording session and they last all day sometimes. But we’re trying to figure out a night to go see ‘This is It’ because Michael Jackson is one of my biggest influences but he’s influenced like everyone. Some of the earlier songs I’d sing were some of the Jackson 5 stuff and he’s really one of my favorite artists so I can’t wait to see this because I’ve heard a lot of really great things about it.”
BH – Are you planning on following the lead of some of the other Idols and trying your hand at acting? Have you taken any acting classes?
DA - “I haven’t taken any acting classes recently but I’ve been just kind of practicing on my own a little bit here and there sometimes. Mainly I’ve been focusing on music and trying to figure out how I can grow the most in my music. But I think acting is fun. I did some little appearances on ‘Hannah Montana’ and ‘iCarly,’ some of the kid shows and I had so much fun. So I would not mind doing it at all again. And if there is an opportunity for me to do it again or at least practice and take some classes some time then I’d be totally up for it.”
BH – Because of your success on American Idol you’ve been able to surround yourself with older experienced musicians. Has this luxury helped you grow as an artist?
DA - “Yes, especially in my writing. I think that is such a big part in growing as an artist and as a musician. Especially just recently I’ve been learning so much and it’s something I’ve always really wanted to do. Before I’d think I stink at writing and there’s no way I’m going to be able to do that. But in Nashville when I was there three weeks ago we were able to write six songs in a week. And yesterday we wrote and finished a song. So it’s really a big improvement for me for someone who wouldn’t even be able to finish a song in like two months. That’s how long it would take me before. Now being able to work with other people and learn from them and just really enjoy it. That’s what I love about it. I love the challenge and I love being able to learn and observe how other people work too.”
BH – I don’t want you to look too far into the future but what are your immediate plans for 2010?
DA - “I’m already getting back into the studio. That’s what I’ve been doing in between finishing the Christmas album and the Christmas tour. I’ve been working on the next album already and in the beginning of next year I’ll be getting involved with the next album even more. I’ll be meeting with new writers and working with writers that I’ve worked with before to really get involved with the writing this time around.”
BH – What’s your opinion on the new American Idol with Ellen Degeneres and no Paula Abdul?
DA - “I think it will be a lot of fun having Ellen there. I love Ellen and I think she’s so funny and everyone really loves her. So I think it will bring a new vibe to it and a new audience to the show as well. And it will be interesting to see what she says. She always has clever, witty things to say and I think people will really enjoy watching her.”
What a treat it is to have David Archuleta in our area singing songs from “Christmas from the Heart” just a week before Christmas Eve. For those of you who will be that the MGM Grand on December 17th I hope that you get the chance to personally wish David a very merry Christmas. Also, the kid turns all of 19 on December 28th. So wish him a happy birthday as well!