This video piece is from yesterday’s Good Morning America. Friends vouch for David’s Dad. They say there isn’t anything out of the ordinary about their relationship. Also interviewed is David’s vocal teacher, and there are clips from some of David’s early performances. After the Jump…
Thanks Lawrence, for the clip…
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Great story on David!
I would have no problem with them doing this kind of in depth story on Huhchuletta…if they contributed the same amount of time to each of the other contestants. Wondering why David is getting the star treatment? I guess his vote total must be going down.
So did I hear right, Daddy Huhchuletta is a bachelor? How did this happen? Anyone know the story?
They are doing the story because people are talking about it. I really don’t know if Good Morning America has access to Idol’s vote totals, or is doing their bidding. This isn’t like the presidential elections where the candidates get equal time.
ETA: He has a nice, normal group of friends. Could it be he’s just a normal kid, heaven forbid.
Ok.. I feel better.. maybe Dad is such a supportive soul and not as bad as rumors suggest.
I don’t think David id getting the “star” treatment and if you go by dialidol..his vote total is anything but down….but who knows..I love the kid..he moves me..he makes me smile.
As far as TCO, I actually think that was reserved for MJ and Carly but they didn’t live up to the hype so they changed their pimping to Archie after Hollywood..Why would they have chosen from the jump a 17 yr old with no life experience when they had pro’s Carly and MJ with their huge voices and pro career exp.?
I think the morning talk shows are looking for viewers for their own show, nothing to do with FOX and TPTB. AI gets people’s attention. Controversy on AI gets LOTS of attention. People will watch their show if they know AI stuff is on it.
Funny it was on the Today show the other day wasn’t it? not GMA? Odd to cross stations……
t2 - David A. is getting this kind of attention because as Simon said from the beginning, “He’s just got it”. Fans of AI have been talking about Archuletta since the Hollywood rounds, and then he backed up the hype with stellar performances early on.
Johns is finally showing his star quality (thank god!), after several weeks of competition; Cook has been steadily consistent, but became the front-runner only last week; Castro has quite frankly been tanking. As we move forward, I suspect the others will get more attention. Personally I can’t wait to hear more about David Cook.
But the fact remains that Archuletta is uber popular and a great vocalist - which means a TON of attention (both good & bad).
i don’t think people get it. He’s popular for a reason- BECAUSE HE’S A DAMN GOOD SINGER. All this other garbage about him being ‘pimped’ early on doesn’t me SQUAT. People don’t pick up the damn phone thinking, “oh lets vote for him because that’s who they showed a lot.” they pick up and vote because of the talent. you cant hide a crappy voice (especially in a singing competition)
He’s blowing everyone else out of the water and he deserves it. Carly is mediocre(ly) inconsistent and Michael John’s didnt do squat til last week. And everyone else is just border line. But when you look at david week by week, he has been the most consistent with undoubtedly the best vocal performances 4 out of 7 weeks..and when he sang ADIP he was in the top tier. David Cook is good, but unfortunately hes never again going to math Billy Jean. Sucks for him but i think he will be mustered out by Michael Johns if theings stay the same for him.
anyways, that my two sense.
And the other thing i hear about is how he can’t go mainstream with an album. Um, I would love to know if these are the same people who called and voted for Taylor Hicks because i will laugh. Everyone and their dog knew he couldnt be on the radio. and his album did terrible in comparison to the previous AI winners debut albums AND he was on the season with the largest idol viewership! Anyways, the point im trying to make is that no one was speaking of his ‘marketability’ when he was on the show, so why start now?! I think its just because they want to find something wrong with David. Plus, i think he’s super-marketable and his album will sell like hot cakes. u mark my word. Oh, and he will do well on radio, especially with an upbeat song!
dukesterathlete - haaaaaa. good one -People don’t pick up the damn phone thinking, “oh lets vote for him because that’s who they showed a lot.”
I love mjs but I think you and I are the only ones here who are on the ARchuuuuuuuuu train..LOL…
anyway to everything you said - WORD!
I voted for Taylor Hicks knowing full well he’d never cut it as a mainstream artist. My questions about Archie’s marketability (and I think Cook and Brooke are more marketable than Archuleta, imo) is why TPTB seem to be pimping him. What David A has demonstrated in the competition isn’t as marketable as either Cook or Brook.
I remember having these conversations with Taylor fans back in Season 5. At times, it wasn’t pretty.
ETA: Back in Season 5, although I was a Taylor fan, the Daughtry pimping made absolute perfect sense to me–TPTB wanted the winner who would make them the most money. But voters vote for who they like, as it should be. Taylor won, as he should have, because he got the most votes. That’s how it works.
I think marketability isn’t much to do with what kind of songs he is singing in this show now. Case in point: Jordin Sparks. Who would connect her album with the songs she sang on the show?
I believe Archie is very, very marketable.
She sang a lot of big ballads, but she managed to mix it up too. Plus, chicks singing big ballads–that’s something you hear on Top 40. I don’t think her album was that huge of a departure from what she did on the show, imo. During her run, I could imagine her on the radio.
I voted for Taylor Hicks way back when and I did know the probably would not be int the mainstrem music wise but did not care. I enjoy his pre-Idol music not ashamed of it at all and Yes I knew Daughtry would fit perfectly . I also need to get my walker out because one band I did discover was on a show on NPR.(joke)
Brook and Jason would they go country or what ?
I don’t disagree that David is both a good singer and popular. That doesn’t mean that I have to like his style, or his performances, or that I have to vote for him. I can see his talent, and still like someone else better. This stuff is all very subjective, and no one has a corner on the market of “rightness” when it comes to musical tastes.
Some people are turned off by the early and excessive pimping of certain contestants and that is their right. They don’t have to like it, and they’re free to comment on it.
See, to me he’s not. While he’s definitely had some really good performances, I haven’t felt that he’s been consistantly, exponentially better than all of the other contestants. And, this is a competition - no one deserves anything.
Actually, I think the point you’re trying to make is that Archie is the the greatest thing since sliced bread and anyone who doesn’t think so is an idiot. They just don’t “get it”. And what would make it so funny if “these people” were Taylor fans? Maybe some people watch and vote for who they like the best and don’t give a rat’s ass what happens after that person leaves the show. Are you assuming that everyone who now thinks Archie is not marketable is a former Taylor fan who thought he’d tear up the radio waves? And, how do you know those things weren’t discussed when he was on the show? Were you privy to every single idol related conversation amongst all American viewers?
I have no clue who is and who is not marketable. I can’t figure out why people like the Jonas brothers and they’re selling CD’s like hot cakes. Sometimes, musical success is like lightning in a bottle - you just don’t know who’s going to get there and who isn’t.
So, my point is that you can’t singularly declare that people who find Archie unmarketable are wholesale morons. At this point, no one has any idea about that one way or the other.
Dukester-
The best singer doesn’t always win. You need more than a good voice for people to vote for you. Elliott had the best voice season 5 but did not win. He didn’t have the “performance” part of the equation. Neither does Little David. He is popular because of the young girls.
they pick up and vote because of the talent. you cant hide a crappy voice (especially in a singing competition)
hmm-if people vote because of talent Jasmine Trias would not have been number 3 in season 3. she didn’t have the voice that many of the others had. You might think Little David is great and has a great voice but he doesn’t do it for everyone. Do I think he is the most consistent-maybe, maybe not. I find him boring and can’t watch him sing. Is his voice good-yes but he doesn’t move me to vote-not once. Who does-Carly, Jason, and David Cook. No one can see into the future so who knows if he can top Billy Jean. I didn’t think he would top ER and he did. I feel he is way more talented and rounded than Little David. But that is my opinion. Carly has a very pure voice but she won’t win because she doesn’t have the “it” factor. And as far as picking someone because they won’t look as good with the other idols-Ruben isn’t exactly GQ material and neither was Clay. There are several people this year who can win this thing and they are very talented. That’s what is great about the show-not everyone likes the same person and one persons steak is anothers burger.
I am of two minds as to the marketability of Archie. I fear that if they push him towards the Hanna Montana, High School Musical tween market, they will end up with another Bo or Taylor on their hands. His heart is clearly in big message songs and ballads and not light, synth pop ditties. If they let him put out an album of the songs he truly favors, are they going to lose all the screamy tweens? Then again I look at the success of Josh Groban and think that he might do very well for himself in that genre (and speaking of Groban, can’t you see him doing “You Raise Me Up” on IGB night?)
The same PTB who sensed the pot of cold that Daughty could be, feel the same way about Archie. They sense there is a young untapped AI audience for him.
And their track record is pretty good.
Yes! If his team is thinking long term success–this is the direction he’ll go. But, if he goes the Adult Contemporary route, he might not be a huge success right off the bat. Josh Groban sells a ton of albums despite the fact that he doesn’t get played on Top 40. I don’t know if 19 is that patient.
Some folks said Jordin should have been marketed to the Disney crowd. But it’s good she’s not. She may not have been a huge success right out of the box, but I think the direction she’s taking ensures she’ll have some longevity. Unfortunately, because she’s an Idol, she’s considered a huge failure because her album didn’t go platinum right off the bat. That’s the downside of winning, that expectation for insta-success.
Wow, a unique perspective of a Taylor and David A fan, me, lol.
You know for me it’s always about the voice first, then the content, because if I don’t like your voice, what you sing has a harder time of reaching me. When David sang I believe it was “Heaven” during Hollywood week that was it for me. I thought his audition was cute, but Hollywood made me take notice of two guys, Michael Johns and David A. As the show began it was David A who lived up to the hype. It’s only the last two weeks that MJ has lived up to earlier expectations.
I know that many think that only oldy moldy women and tween love David A, but I don’t think that’s true. First of all I am neither. And while I think that David needs to change it up, I have no doubt he can. I frankly think that we haven’t seen the best of this kid by far.
I don’t need for my choices to be validated, that is why I wasn’t so disappointed that Taylor didn’t set the world on fire. Frankly I am glad that cd didn’t go double platinum as he would have been stuck doing stuff that wasn’t him. While I don’t know if the second will sell any more that the first, I do believe that it will better serve his purposes as far as longetivity is concerned, frankly that is what he is interested in I am sure. Not having to worry about paying the bill while doing what he loves. He is certainly there, mission accomplished.
I think we as American Idol fans get caught up in the my idol is better than your idol in spite of knowing that who we love to listen to is such a personal matter. At least it should be. What we love is shaped by our, upbringing, experiences, and emotions. I never buy based on what’s popular. The most pop stuff I buy would be from American Idol contestants. We are all not going to like the same thing, and that is a good thing. I could no longer listen to David A, or Michael Johns and nothing else. In this American Idol thing, it always seems like all or nothing.
I have attested from the very beginning that TCO’s have been very fluid this year. Even before the show started airing they had already honed in on Carly, then Michael, then David. While others have shined, it has always been them, that is why they have all gotten the benefit of the doubt during subpar weeks. And when David sucked he was still middle of the pack as he has never been the worst. I think he is easy to pick on because of a vocal impairment, because of his age, because of his values, because of his Star Search past, his father etc. All of it is fair game, as it should be no matter how juvenile some of it seems, the scrutiny he is getting now is indeed par for the course. He’ll survive.
As for the marketing aspect. If they are interested in just a quick buck I guess David should go the Disney route. He could have a show, it really doesn’t require much acting, seriously, and launch a cd at the same time. He could use Miley and the Jonas brother’s writers and he’s off. He would probably be doomed because I couldn’t support that. I would buy it for my 11 year old and probably my 17 year old, but that wouldn’t do it for me. I think he should do an neo/soul kinda thing. He seems to love message music and he could do an India Arie/Anthony Hamilton type thing, introspection & save the world, etc. It might not sell as much as the Disney thing, but it would be something he could grow into. In that genre it’s about the voice and lyrics. It seems the lyrics are really important to David and something like that would be up his alley. I know it sounds a bit far fetched but this kid is not like anything else out there at the moment, so why not be different.
ETA: I am glad that Jordin didn’t go the Disney route, she will be fine as she has a very business savvy Daddy, and she seems to be in it for the long haul. It’s funny that we always expect immediate success from this show, I can’t wait for a person who placed tenth to rise from the ashes years later, or a Taylor, Trenyce or Ruben type to have a bigger success in the future. I mean they are all working so hard, even if the press doesn’t take notice. That is how this business works.
Bees- If he sing “You Lift Me Up” I am going to shoot myself. So on that note, The gun is ready, but the safety is on.
Best singer….In your world, not mine. I too was a huge Taylor fan and thought he could do well in the AC arena but not on top 40. NEVER. Did that stop me from voting or buying his album…HELL NO. I want someone that will entertain me, while having a great voice to go along with it. Archie just doesn’t do it for me. Nice voice- yes. Entertaining- no. He has shown me no ability to mix things up. When I listen to music or attend a concert I want to relax and escape, not listen to ‘messages’ Carly( much to my dismay), Brooke, DC and MJ (depending on the route he would take) are much more likly to see me purchase their albums because I know the entire thing won’t be Josh Groban music. Don’t get me wrong JG is a phenomonal singer and quite successful but I tolerate him in very small doses. I would also go see those Idols listed above in concert. They have more stage presence and charisma. I have watched Archie and he does a couple of things repeatedly. Stands in place and bobs up and down, not to mention dresses like Alex P Keaton.
If his fan base is full of Tween girls, guess what…they have a very short attention span and will move on to the next big thing in a heart beat.Wasn’t Haily Duffy or whatever her name was huge before Milley came along? Where is Haily now?? What does that leave for Archie in five years time??? Re-invention or college??I don’t think he has it in him to change.
Ugh, I’m starting to get a little irritated with the Archie fans running around acting like the rest of us are morons for not having him as our favorite (not all Archie fans are doing this but the ones who are are very prominent).
To me, Archie has a beautiful voice. And that’s it. I don’t think he has very good stage presence or that he connects with the audience. The lip licking and wheezing are a little more than I can handle sometimes. I prefer him with my eyes closed, actually. That cures everything except the wheezing. Also, Archie doesn’t interview particularly well…he kind of awkwardly giggles his way through everything. I just remember last year with Jordin, all of the OMG!! 17!!!!!!!!!!! Archie is 17 now, but I feel like he’s about 5 years younger than Jordin or something. Jordin always seemed put together. She looked nice (for the most part), she presented herself well, and she acted like she was 17 when interviewed (as opposed to Archie, who acts 12). He seems insecure and that will not serve him well in that big bad world of entertainment.
All of that said, do I like Archie? Yes. Do I want him to stick around a few more weeks? Yes…I’d like to see him outlast KLC, Syesha and MJ at least. Although I’m sure he’ll probably win, because his fanbase is largely made up of teenage girls who have nothing better to do than sit and vote all night. Plus, he has them all to himself. He won’t have to worry about vote-splitting…I think that CCJ are splitting some votes amongst themselves.
Add me to the list who don’t see Archie’s marketability at all. To me, he’s a Clay fetus with only a fraction of Clay’s charisma. I can definitely see him making the same type of radio unfriendly, genre-less music, and singing the hell out of it, but not much more. I think his voice is lovely, but also sort of one-dimensional. Plenty of people like this kind of stuff and he would do fine. But I don’t think he’s going to be the next Carrie or Kelly or DAUGHTRY if he sticks to the type of stuff he’s doing on the show.
The whole idea of him being the male Hannah Montana or as big as the Jonas Brothers I just don’t get. Even Miley Cyrus seems jaded and edgy compared to David. He may sing better than the Jonas Bros.,but I don’t think he has the performance skills to sell those crappy songs as well. Those kids are performers. If they wanted a teen to mold into a big pop star, they could done better in their casting. My daughter (age 10) is right in the target market and visibly recoils when she sees him on the TV screen. She thinks he seems like a dorky 12 year old.
Either way they decide to market him, I shudder to think of the material they would give to him. He is gifted as a singer, but I wish he had developed an actual musical identity before trying out for the show. Does he write his own songs at all? Maybe he could aim to become the next Josiah Leming? ; )
If they want a marketable male winner, then I think David C, MJ and Jason all fit the bill better than David A. Do I think DC is the next DAUGHTRY? I have no idea and I hate the inevitable comparisons. He seems to appeal to a lot of people who didn’t like Chris D. (myself included), but I don’t know if CD fans generally like DC. I think he’s a better writer, more versatile singer and all around better performer than Chris D., but that doesn’t mean he’ll have anything resembling Chris’s success. His music is only superficially like Chris’s (yes, it’s all modern rock), and I don’t see why radio couldn’t take them both.
Heh….
Asthmaletta is not my idol…..that is FOR SURE
I can see a bright future for Archuu as a preacher. A tele-mormonist if there’s such a thing?
He has a lot of girl-buddies. Strange.
My 2 cents: I think Archie chooses message songs (a) because he likes them, but more importantly (b) because he’s too young to sing adult love songs, or songs about heartache believably. He’s only 17. He’s lived a comfortable (and slightly sheltered?) life. He’s not a ladies man. He’s never experienced any great loss in his life as far as we know. He can sing message songs believably and connect to the lyrics. Whether that’s his idea or he’s being advised to do so, I don’t know.
If/when Archie wins, he will be able to sing earnest inspirational songs OR High School Musical-ish teen pop “puppy love” type songs and be convincing. And I DO think the PTB are planning to market him to the Disney market. I’m convinced there’s a connection between the fact that this season and last have teenagers pimped as winners - the same year that American Idol cobrands a new attraction at Disney World. I don’t think it’s a surprise that Jordin Sparks, Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson get a lot of play on Radio Disney either. the HM/HSM/Jonas Brothers market is where the albums are mostly selling. And selling UNITS is what the PTB want.
ETA:
I notice Simon doesn’t bad-mouth Broadway anymore. He may call a performance theatrical, but there seems to be a new found respect for what former Idols do on the Great White Way. Fantasia, Diana, Clay, Frenchie, etc., all received accolades on Broadway, and they sold lots of tickets. JHud won an Oscar for a movie version of a Broadway show. All that goes back to the show - at least as far as TPTB must be concerned.
And Broadway loves Idol talent too. ALW will mentor? Well, why not? These kids have guaranteed fanbases that buy theater tickets and a good work ethic. I think there is a new-found mutual respect between the denizens of Broadway and the PTB, even Simon… although we’ll see when Broadway night comes.
I tried to update my previous post but the ‘puter eated it…
I was going to add that I think Archie (and Carly?) could end up on Broadway if his career as a 21st Century Donny Osmond ends after a couple years through the AI/Disney sausage mill. Actually, Donny Osmond sang sappy ballads and covers and bubble gum pop… NOT that I was a HUGE fan of his when I was eleven and would be in the position to know that, mind you. Nuh-huh. ;) He also ended up on Broadway for a while.