David Archuleta and A Thursday Things Post

After seeing the BENCH FiX Billboard on the last day in Manila. We had Sherwin our driver drive by it a few times. Just could not believe how big it was. Its just crazy.

So good to see David’s smiling face again. Thanks so much, Kari!

Some of u posted pix in front of @DavidArchie BENCH ad. We pulled over on the hwy 2 get this. TY @benchtm & @BCbench The @benchtm billboard of @DavidArchie was put up the day before we were leaving Manila. The pic of him was taken on our last day there.

Credit: Kariontour

Oh my gosh. I can’t even. This photo is just tooooo much. Thanks, David and Kari (and Bench)! CLICK HERE to see David and David, large.

Too cute to handle! Thanks to ommygoshashley for the photo!

As most of you know, last night, Joshua Ledet sang “Imagine” on American Idol. I’m pretty sure most of you think that Joshua’s version didn’t hold up to any of the 3 performances of David’s on the show, and I would have to agree. Below are a few excerpts from Idol blogs that suggest others felt the same way. Thanks to jackryan on The David Chronicles for the list.

“Joshua Ledet – “Imagine” by John Lennon. He dropped the line “Imagine no religion” because really, that’s not something Joshua can imagine. It’s hard not to compare this with the low-key original or even David Archuleta’s subtle take. It’s good but not my taste for this particular song. Grade: B/B-plus ”

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2012/05/16/american-idol-top-3-performance-show-recap-who-won-the-night/?cxntlid=thbz_hm

“I’m not sure this was the right song to propel him into the finale, either. “Imagine” has been done before in more memorable fashion (David Archuleta comes to mind). Although it was controlled and had beauty to it, it was not unbelievable.”

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2012/05/american_idol_2012_recap_jessi.html

“@bodiecruz: @anagfeleo Nowhere near Archuleta’s version of “Imagine” during Season 7.”yupyup. that was classy.
@anagfeleo

“JOSH’s hometown trip just reinforced my complete 180 with him. Five weeks ago, he annoyed the hell out of me. Now he strikes me as a fine young man with a great family from a great background and a personality that is actually growing on me. That said, his choice of “Imagine” just didn’t click. It’s not his age. It wasn’t a great arrangement, and it took me back to when David Archuleta nailed this song in Season 7.”
http://markdavisshow.typepad.com/marksworld-multimedia-adv/2012/05/idol-top-3.html

“CONTESTANT’S CHOICE: “Imagine,” John Lennon
Once again my hopes for unpredictability from Joshua were dashed when he went with this overdone “Idol” staple, one that is still associated in many viewers’ minds with David Archuleta’s landmark performance from Season 7. Joshua explained that he picked the tune because its message connected with him when he heard it on the radio this week, not because it was a big, belty song–and while I admired his intentions, I still didn’t think this was the point in the game for him to start holding back. Joshua didn’t receive a standing ovation this time, but the judges still adored this effort. Steven called it “another thank-you-God moment,” Randy said it was “brilliant,” and J.Lo actually praised Joshua’s restraint, saying, “It was a pulled-back and controlled performance for you, which I know is the hardest thing for you to do.”

http://ca.music.yahoo.com/blogs/reality-rocks/idol-top-3-recap-jessica-stumbles-joshua-soars-030855478.html

“Now let’s get on to our American Idol 2012 top 4 recap and see how the contestants did on Wednesday night’s performance show! Although honestly, I do have to question how we ended up with “Imagine” at this point in the competition when David Archuleta already went there and did that and who wants to be compared to one of the most iconic song of Idol history? ”
http://gossipandgab.com/2637/american-idol-2012-live-recap-the-top-3-performances-videos/comment-page-1

Here’s a lovely version of Imagine. This is David signing at Apple’s Infinite Loop campus in May of 2010. Thanks to Betsy of The Voice for the find.

And last but not least, look what’s coming to the US!

Oh man! I have always wondered about this! Here is how Bryce Avery and David hooked up to write Stomping the Roses. From an interview posted on Select-O-Hits:

The Rocket Summer: A State Of Independence (from Highwire Daze magazine)

What was it like working with David Archuleta of American Idol and how did this alliance come about?

Oh man, he’s such a good kid – a good dude – a tremendous vocalist. I actually ran into him – it’s so weird man! I had this really weird thing happen one night where I was hanging out with friends and somehow we ended up bumping into Paula Abdul. And long story short – and of the weirdest things I could explain – but Paula Abdul ended up in my rental car with me in a parking garage – and we listened to my entire record Of Men And Angels. And then the very next night was the American Idol finale – and I was in the studio making a song called The Fight. And I got invited to that, and I was like “Well I can’t go, but maybe I’ll try to go to the after party.” I had to work. So I went to the after party and I ran into David Archuleta. It was a really humbling experience and flattering at the same time, because a lot of those American Idol people were coming up and wanting to take photos and stuff – which I thought was kind of the most surreal thing because I’m not famous or anything. But it really put even more into perspective how crazy that American Idol thing is, because it’s literally just guys and girls that go to shows that have great vocals – they tried out and made it onto the show and within a couple of months they’re superstars. And so I was meeting a bunch of thoseAmerican Idol people, and they were explaining how they had been to a bunch of Rocket Summer shows. And David Archuleta was a big fan. He just asked me if I would ever write a song for him, and I had never really done that. It was a cool experience to put myself in somebody else’s shoes and try to write a totally different song for his demographics. He came over to my house. We went and ate Thai food and wrote a little pop jam. And it was fun! (Editor’s Note: The song was called Stomping The Roses)

Thanks to DAVN for the photo!

CLICK HERE to check out other photos on Sherwin Semora’s FB.