O! Say! I’m enjoying my 2010 calendar because every month features some of my favorite photos of David Archuleta. The photo for July is “Patriotic David,” a composite created by the graphic artist R4D.

Photo of the Week is July Photo Art by R4D.

David Archuleta sings American patriotic songs like no other. He has proven his ability to handle the one and a half octaves of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” with clarity and flare. This year on the Fourth of July, he will be singing our National Anthem at PBS’ “A Capitol Fourth” in Washington D.C. Marking its 30th year on broadcast TV, the musical and fireworks extravaganza airs live, 8 ET/tape delay PT, (check local PBS listings). Set your recording machines to capture this momentous occasion. David will be singing to the biggest audience ever! As many as 300,000 people will be there and millions more watching on television. Joining David to help celebrate the nation’s 234th birthday are Gladys Knight, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, John Schneider, classical pianist Lang Lang and the National Symphony Orchestra.

“I love getting a chance to sing a really special song, and what better place to do it than an event like this?” says Archuleta, 19. He’s also set to perform “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King.

Here’s another composite photo created by James Ortega, better known among David’s fans as Rabid4David or simply R4D. He’s a Filipino artist who has created many digital art posters of David Archuleta. David plays a left-handed guitar, so you can see the artist has taken a little creative license.

• Photo Credit: more info about R4D on MySpace. Thanks to R4D.

Did you miss last week’s Photo of the Week?

David Archuleta, a Photographer’s Dream

SongsDavid Archuleta has been working on a new album scheduled to be released sometime in the fall of 2010. Many fans like me are earnestly awaiting this new album and looking forward to hearing David’s new material. So much has been discussed on various fan sites and in recent interviews with David about his work for this album. He has reportedly helped to write many songs and has worked with some very talented and well known music writers. I am really excited to hear the new songs that will be selected for this new album.

I have often wondered how songs are chosen for an album. Is there a formula? Who picks the songs? I am sure the artist has a lot to do with it, but I also think many decisions are made which are beyond the artist’s control. How do “the powers that be,” aka the record label, decide what will be a hit and what won’t? And why are there so many album versions? It was never this way when I was a teen back in the ’70s. Gosh, back then it seemed so much more simple. An old-fashioned LP would be released and there was only one version to buy. It was that easy and a lot less expensive! But for David’s debut album, there are at least three versions I am aware of: the regular version with 12 songs; the Walmart version with an extra song, “Works for Me;” and the Japanese version, which omitted “Your Eyes Don’t Lie” but added a “Crush” remix and a song unavailable in the US called “Save the Day.” Oh, and I can’t forget about the i-Tunes Deluxe album which could only be bought from the i-Tunes store online. In my opinion, that version included some of David’s best songs—”Waiting For Yesterday,” “Somebody Out There,” and “Falling.”

I find it all a bit crazy, confusing and complicated. And honestly, I have to admit I have not always agreed with some of the choices that have been made. Which leads me to my song choice this week. This song was not chosen for David’s first album. However, it was discovered a few months ago and though I do not agree with David’s music being ‘leaked’ to the public, this is a great song and I just can’t figure out why it was left off the CD. So I am going to share it anyway, because it has now been ‘put out there’ for anyone who wants to hear it.

The Song of the Week is…

“She’s Not You”

The song “She’s Not You” was written by Eman Kiriakou, Jesse Cates, and Lindsey Robbins. This group of talented writers also helped to write and produce other songs that were included on David’s first album. “Crush” was co-written by Eman and Jesse.

“She’s Not You” is about trying to move on after a break-up. The young man in the song is dating another girl, but he is having a hard time letting go of his previous girlfriend. The new relationship just doesn’t feel the same for him. Once again, David sings the song so convincingly that he has the listener believing he knows all about heartbreak. Yet as David has said in many interviews, he has never had a girlfriend. He is a master at expressing heartfelt emotion in song. Take a listen….

David’s ‘officially’ unreleased song “She’s Not You.”

Whatever new songs are picked for David’s upcoming album, one thing is for certain, I will be excited to hear him sing them. It is my opinion that David Archuleta is one of the most talented performers of our time and when he sings anything, I am always thrilled and left wanting more! 😉

Have a nice week all, and take care,
Katie

Listen to Song of Last Week.

David Archuleta, the Voice

DA week that was in the life of David Archuleta

Media   David’s World   Fandom

Follow links above to the relevant sections below.

Keeping up with the über-talented, awe-inspiring, world-travelling David Archuleta can be a full-time job. Even the most (D)avid fans among us don’t always have time to follow David. Here are some of last week’s top stories about the awesome David Archuleta.

Media Headlines

News, Reviews, and Interviews

Thousands of fans at Rexburg Book-signing
by Tony Potter, Rexburg Standard Journal, Rexburg, Idaho
18 June 2010

If you thought David Archuleta could only pack a concert hall, you should have been at Deseret Book Thursday evening. Fans swarmed to get their copies of Archuleta’s book “Chords of Strength” signed, in what was the largest crowd the store has ever seen….

Read more: Rexburg Standard Journal

David Archuleta will sing The National Anthem on the Fourth of July!
A Capitol Fourth, PBS-TV, live telecast in Washington, D.C.
18 June 2010

David Archuleta will join singers Gladys Knight, Reba McEntire, and Darius Rucker on July 4th at the 30th anniversary of A Capitol Fourth, to be aired live on PBS July 4, 8/7c, from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This is America’s 234th birthday!

More information: PBS Pressroom: A Capitol Fourth

David Archuleta debuts two new songs
Brigham Young University-Idaho Hart Auditorium, Rexburg, Idaho
19 June 2010

At David’s first concert in six months, he sang 17 songs, including two new ones that might make the cut for his next pop album. Watch them on YouTube.

“Not A Very Good Liar” thanks to 8throwcenter.

“Parachutes and Airplanes” thanks to StarryNites01.

Why the Hype?
Tony Potter, Rexburg Standard Journal
21 June 2010

I’m a 28-year-old male. My musical tastes include Keane, U2, They Might Be Giants, Regina Spektor and Broadway soundtracks. I am not what I would have called a typical David Archuleta fan. And even though I have interviewed him twice, and met him twice more, I had never, until Saturday night, heard a single song sung by him….

What’s the lesson learned here? I guess it’s that hordes of young ladies and women falling over the pop icon with dreamy eyes and a magical voice can’t always be counted on to be irrational and lacking in real musical inclinations. It turns out, every once in a while, the hype is dead on.

Read the entire story.

MJ Announces David’s Single
MJ’s Big Blog
25 June 2010

I’m hearing from a good source that the name of David Archuleta’s new single is “Something ‘Bout Love”. The song will be available on DavidArchuleta.com on July 13th and will be made availble [sic] on iTunes July 20th!

“Something ‘Bout Love” is from David’s 3rd studio album, set to be released later this year.

Source: MJ blog

David’s World

Blogs, Tweets, Appearances

Blogs and Vlogs

YOU Create David Archuleta’s New Deluxe Edition Package!
DavidArchuleta.com
2 June 2010

…David is recording a brand new album as we speak. There is no set release date yet, BUT David is already cooking up ideas to create a special fan package! What better place to find ideas for a fan package than from his fans! So he wants to hear what YOU, the fans, want in this potential special fan package to be available only here on DavidArchuleta.com….

Choose your deluxe edition item: David Archuleta Deluxe Edition Package

David Announces New Single!
DA MySpace Blog
24 June 2010

David’s new single from his upcoming album will be available exclusively on DavidArchuleta.com on July 13th! It will then be made available on iTunes on July 20th! Stay tuned for more David information!

SOURCE: David Archuleta’s MySpace

Join the Official David Archuleta Website and sign up to receive newsletter updates of his appearances, music, photos, blogs, and more.

David Archuleta Vblogs about the Photo Shoot for his new Single.
YouTube
26 June 2010

Appearances – Recent & Future

• Working on next album in Los Angeles and Nashville recording studios
• 4 July, A Capitol Fourth, Washington, D.C.: David will sing the National Anthem
• 11 July, Tejano Awards Party, San Antonio, Texas: David will sing Selena’s “Como La Flor”
• 13 July, first single from his next pop album will be available on his new Music Store.
• More book-signing dates are coming up.

Chords of Strength Book Signing Tour

David Archuleta’s memoir was released on 1 June and debuted at number 15 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction. What a great achievement for the young singer! The first week saw David crisscrossing the country on a book-signing tour. He has mentioned another book event in Nevada and more book events may be scheduled.

Buy Chords of Strength:
Amazon: $15.61 today
Penguin Books: Hardcover $22.95; eBook $10.99
Barnes & Noble: $16.52 online
Borders: Hardcover $22.95

Recent book tour dates:
✓  1 June – Bookends, Ridgewood, NJ
✓  2 June – Borders, Manhattan, NY
✓  3 June – Barnes & Noble, Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove, NY
✓  5 June – Barnes & Noble, Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
✓  7 June – Deseret Books, Salt Lake City, UT
✓  8 June – Deseret Books, Orem, UT
✓17 June – Deseret Books, Rexburg, ID

DavidArchie on Twitter

Monday, 21 June

> At the dentist’s office.
> I like how ‘What Hurts The Most’ came on the radio as I’m in the dentist chair getting worked on.
> So today was the longest day of the year? It was a nice day today.

Tuesday, 22 June

> Off to LA today.
> The Empire carpet commercial is so catchy
> The Way You Make Me Feel just came on the radio. This song makes you can’t help but move! I love it.

Wednesday, 23 June

> “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak and then to listen.”
> Just got into New York!
> I sat next to a guy named Harry who was going to meet his great-grandson. The first boy after all kids and grandkids being girls.

Thursday, 24 June

> Early morning today.
> Just saw the statue of Liberty! My first time ever seeing it. It was from a distance but still haha.
> Doing the album photo shoot today!! Pretty exciting stuff!
> Wow! Had a blast at the photoshoot! I never thought I’d have that much fun taking pictures haha. Can’t wait for you guys to see.
> “You look like one of my friends, can I take a picture with you?” uh… ok lol.
> It’s always awkward sitting in a restaurant and ‘Crush’ comes on lol.

Friday, 25 June

> Man the weather sure has been hot lately.
> It’s funny when people come up to you and say they have no idea who you are, and then talk about your whole life story.
> Having some meetings at the record label offices!
> The people in the car next to me are blasting Michael Jackson songs. Amazing the impact he had on so many lives, and still does.

Saturday, 26 June

> Good morning! I made a blog this morning that I’ll try and get up soon :). Sorry for looking scary in advanced haha.
> The mobile fan club? Something’s actually coming up on that.. 😉 RT @makistrippy Fact: The only person I have on mobile is @DavidArchie :3
> @DArchuletaGirl Haha, well I’m tired and it’s hot even inside here so I’m glad you don’t mind!
> @beccakayy Well something is coming up soon for all of you on the mobile hotline! (Reply to: “@DavidArchie yeah you haven’t called me in a while haha”)
> @juliamusic Don’t drive the people you’re with too crazy haha. (Reply: “Highlights of my day include getting @DavidArchie’s tweets to my phone and announcing them to whoever im with at that moment hah”)
> @StateOMind Happy Birthday! Reply: “@DavidArchie I feel sooo crazy writing the same thing over and over…lol but could you say happy birthday to me! It would mean the world!!!”
> @joejonas Saw your tweet in the top tweets this morning about your trip to Africa. That is very cool sir! Appreciate what you’re doing. (Reply: “Hello Hello Everyone, Sorry I have been out of touch for a while but here is what I have been up to over the (cont) http://tl.gd/24jh18”)
> @sandritangel Hola Peru! And the other Latin America countries too!
> @archielover895 They were awesome! I didn’t want people to see them yet though lol. (Reply: “@DavidArchie did you get to pick out the red pants?! loved all your outfits for the photoshoot!”)
> Hm, I should’ve waited ’til I was more awake to make this lol, but it’s long so here’s the blog! http://bit.ly/9qCPYM
> Just watched Toy Story 3! AWESOME!! You have no idea how excited we were to see Totoro in there haha.

Follow David Archuleta on Twitter. He has more than 397,000 followers, but who’s counting? —I am!!! During the past 11 weeks, David has averaged 3,840 new followers each week.

Fandom

Blogs, Stories, Charities

Stories

Fan’s Idaho concert photos.
Rexburg, ID concert
19 June 2010

Janel Woodbury and her daughter Alyssa are big David Archuleta fans. She has some beautiful photos of David’s recent Rexburg, Idaho, concert.

Charice on Glee!
from Idolator.com
21 June 2010

18-year old pop star Charice Pempengco, who hails from the Philippines, will be joining the cast of Glee as a guest star during the second season. Because the one thing a show with an already giant cast needs is yet another supporting player!

Source: Idolator

Which Idol’s fans rock the vote the hardest?
Brian Mansfield, USA Today
25 June 2010

Whatever you think of online polls, this one takes the cake. Methinks Mr. Mansfield has his tongue firmly in cheek. Many David Archuleta fans were warned not to take the bait, but we still came in second. The winner was Clay Aiken fans! But the big question is and will remain: who was casting the votes?

Source: Rock the vote poll results.

Fireworks: red pants!
Coney Island, NY
25 June 2010

David was on Coney Island for the photo shoot for his upcoming single. Here he sports a pair of red pants and the cute fan girl wears just the right shade of blue too. A great kick-start to the Fourth of July celebration!

Did you miss last week’s Weekly Wrap? If you’ve fallen far behind, you should seriously search the Archhives! It’s not too late to reclaim your status as a David Archuleta fanatic fan!

DA Weekly Buzz about David Archuleta!

That’s no jive! Jive Records is David Archuleta’s label. They’ve been tweeting about him lately. First, the announcement that a Music Store has opened on David’s official website. And just yesterday came tweets about David’s photo shoot for his sophomore pop album. We fans are all hoping that these are signs that Jive will fully promote David’s album which will be released this fall.

Photo of this week is…!

David Archuleta at Photo Shoot, 24 June 2010

• Source: JiveMusic Photos on Twitpic

Did you miss last week’s Photo of the Week?

David Archuleta, a Photographer’s Dream

Songs David Archuleta has heart, lots of heart. He sings with passion and conviction. He also has soul, tons of soul! He demonstrated both heart and soul at his first concert of the year last Saturday night. After performing sixteen songs, he had enough left for one more very special tune.

The Song of the Week is…

“Be Still, my Soul”

“Be Still, my Soul” is one of several Christian hymns sung to the music of Finlandia, a symphonic poem written in 1899 and 1900 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Most of the piece contains turbulent music, evoking the national struggle of the Finnish people. But towards the end, a calm comes over the orchestra, and the serenely melodic “Finlandia Hymn” is heard. Often incorrectly cited as a traditional folk melody, the Hymn section is of Sibelius’s own creation. Initially composed for the orchestra, in 1900 Sibelius arranged the entire work for solo piano.

Sibelius later reworked the “Finlandia Hymn” as a stand-alone piece. This hymn, with words written in 1941 by Veikko Antero Koskenniemi, is one of the most important national songs of Finland (though Maamme is the national anthem).

“Be Still, my Soul”: words to music.

In 1752 Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel (1697-1768) wrote the lyrics in German in Neue Samm­lung Geist­lich­er Lied­er. (Roughly translated, New Collection of Songs for Clergymen) Then in 1855 Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897) wrote the English translation in Hymns from the Land of Lu­ther.

David Archuleta has a voice that is ideal for soul-stirring hymns. The voice soars, rings true, and fills every heart with peace, love, and joy. Listen to him singing “Be Still, my Soul” at these two concerts two years apart.

“Be Still, my Soul” was the final song David performed at the BYU-Idaho concert.

Brigham Young University-Idaho Hart Auditorium
Saturday, 19 June 2010

(Video courtesy of annalisasinger84)

David sang “Be Still, my Soul” at a school for troubled youth.

After his American Idol experience and before the summer tour had begun, David was asked to sing at a fireside. He was accompanied on piano by Richard Parkinson.

Sunday, 1 June 2008

(Video courtesy of meleahrubino)

“Be Still, my Soul,” 3 stanzas

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend.
Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know.
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Listen to Song of Last Week.

David Archuleta, the Voice