Songs I am a fan of the show American Idol. Season 7 was for me the best season that has come from that show in a long time. It was the season that introduced me to David Archuleta!

I have watched Season 9, the current season, since it started last January. Although I have heard some talented singing, no one has made me stop and take notice the way David Archuleta did two seasons ago. None of the latest contestants has touched my heart and soul the way David has. I have enjoyed a few performances, but none of them has moved me the way David’s did. I just don’t see the same caliber of talent on this new Idol. Yes, I have chosen a few people who stand out as far as talent goes—Shioban Magnus and Crystal Bowersox, to name a couple—but I have not felt a real connection with any of them.

Even when David had moments that were less than perfect, and there weren’t many of those, I still felt something when he performed. He had/has a way of drawing his listeners in and holding them captive until his performance is over.

The 9th season of American Idol is now down to the Top 11. Last week’s Top 12 performances were so-so. Again, I have not been blown away by anyone. This leads me to my Song of the Week. David performed a song when he was in the Top 12 and though he made a few mistakes—he forgot some of the lyrics—his voice was amazing and he was able to rise above and hold the audience until the end.

The Song of the Week is…

“We Can Work It Out”

“We Can Work It Out” was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles in 1965 as a “double A-sided” single with the song “Day Tripper.” This was the first time both sides of a single were designated in a first release. The song reached No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, making it The Beatles’ fastest-selling single since their hit song, “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

While doing research on “We Can Work It Out,” I learned an interesting fact: in 1991, Paul McCartney played an acoustic version of the song for an MTV Unplugged performance, wherein he flubbed the first verse (just like David). It was McCartney’s humble nature and calm reaction, again like David’s, that was remembered by so many that evening. The performance was later released on Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).  So David was not the first one to forget the words—the original artist did the same thing!!

Here is the video “We Can Work It Out” where Paul McCartney forgets a few words in the beginning of the song and has to start again. Too bad David was not given that chance!

In this post, I have also included a studio recording of David Archuleta’s version of the song “We Can Work It Out.” I chose not to show the ‘live’ performance from Idol in which David forgets the words, because I wanted you to hear the way David can sing the song. David did go on to say in a later episode of Idol that his live performance of the song was a good learning experience. His voice coach Dean Kaelin revealed in American Idol and David Archuleta – An Insider’s View that during Beatles’ Week, David had struggled with strep throat. There were also problems getting the right song arrangement. Originally, the song was going to be performed as a disco number!

Dean Kaelin further explained in his eBook that David was very busy filming a commercial for Ford that week, while also being the only Idol contestant who had to attend high school class every day. And, most importantly, he did not have as much time to rehearse on the new larger stage, which included a staircase that he had to descend as the song began.

David had a lot to think about that evening, and though he may have forgotten a few lyrics, he was on key and never missed a beat. He continued singing and finished the song with a smile on his face. If you’ll pardon the pun, he “worked it out”!

Here is the recorded version of David’s “We Can Work It Out” from American Idol season 7. Hope you will enjoy many of the outtakes as well!

David reminds me that no one is perfect and mistakes are a part of life’s lessons.  But more importantly, he shows me that we can rise above our mistakes and move on. He is such a resilient and wise young man. Very talented too.;)

Here’s to a good week all!
Take care,
Katie

Listen to Song of Last Week.

David Archuleta, the Voice