Yesterday I got my first good chance to check out David Archuleta’s new official site. My first impression was that it is very clean and easy to find what you want. I really like the colour scheme and the main bar across the top (especially the “charity” tab!). And it’s already been updated with a Stadium of Fire article! Amazing!
Writing this post I tried to think of something I didn’t like, but anything I could think of seemed like nit-picking and I love this site too much to nit-pick it right now. So this’ll basically be a lovefest of a post 😀
I particularly love the bio! It is a great summary of all of David’s accomplishments, written not in chronological order like you’d sometimes expect, but the way it’s written ties everything together so well. My favourite parts: “Now however, an older, wiser David has emerged, but with faith still on his side and an eternally optimistic wide-eyed outlook” and “Fast forward to the present, and you see many sides to David Archuleta. There’s the youthful David, affectionately known as Archie, who often lets loose mid-interview giggles on TV and radio.”
Another thing I love is the contests for the Asian fans that are advertised all over the front page of the OS! I imagine how exciting that must be for those fans, who probably often feel excluded from things because everything is always so American focused. And here you have David Archuleta’s brand new website and almost all of the posts are for you! I don’t know, I just got excited for them! If it was all about Canada, I’d be so pumped!
I have read some people’s comments on the OS so I know some people disagree with me on this one but I am a giant fan of the new “DAVID” logo. I’ve always been fascinated with words, names or sentences that can be read upsidedown or backwards as well as forwards – maybe it is my inner mathematician, or maybe it’s just because my name (Anna) is a palindrome. Whatever the reason, I just think it’s the coolest thing. And I will totally buy merchandise with that logo on it! (I would probably buy the merchandise regardless, but whatever lol).
I could probably count on one hand the number of times I went to the old davidarchuleta.com. In fact, when trying to write this post, I wanted to compare the new site to the old site, but I just couldn’t remember what it was like. I can barely even remember what it looked like. Because I never went to it. I remember it was rarely updated, and very generic. There was nothing there that made me want to come back, because I knew the fansites would have all the info, and probably way before the OS ever did.
But on this new site, I really like the “Tour and Events” page. I can actually see myself going there to check the time or place or how to buy tickets for an event instead of checking a fansite. It just seems so clear and easy to find and well updated.
The reason I choose to go to the fansites that I go to is because I find the writers of those sites often witty and funny but always respectful of David. And you can tell that those people will forever support him, and their writing reflects that. And I think that’s the main reason why I love this OS so much.
The people running it seem to “get” David the way we “get” him! And they also seem to “get” the fans — they understand what we want, who we are, why we love David. They get our David inside jokes, and even use them throughout the site :). I just love the atmosphere of this new site, it feels so homey, like a safe little haven where you can just immerse yourself in The Archuleta. I love everything about the site: the layout, the logo, the bio, but I have to say I think I love the admins and the atmosphere most of all! <3333
So what do you guys think??
— abanana77
p.s. A couple of pics from abanana77’s epic brush with royalty in P.E.I.! 🙂
PRINCE WILLIAM SMILING AT US! nbd. Extremely big deal!
Will & Kate getting into their car. We were accidentally parked right there like 5 hours earlier hahaha oops
More HERE.
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
LOOOOOVE your post, Agent Banana! I couldn’t agree more. I had zero expectations for the OS after the disappointing last two sites … and since the label controlled those sites and this one’s ALL David, it makes me even more excited for this new phase of his career now that he’s taking the reigns for that as well. 🙂
Brought over from end of last post, from Refnaf:
I have been trying to recap SOF, but can only come up with> wow, awesome, amazing, inspiring, overwhelming, beautiful> the adjectives that come to mind whenever I get the thrill of hearing him live. I am thankful for David, the joy he brings to my life and the wonderful peeps that get together wherever he is. His sincerity in his love for his country was crystal clear at SOF. > I truly could feel the message. In the one Fox 13 interview he said he wanted to “give people a moment” at SOF. He is able to do that> for me every time he sings, treasured moments of pure beauty. Not much more I can say. HE IS THE BEST as are his fans.
TOfan – love your screencaps!! I had missed some of those admin comments. I thunk I love them even more now! lol
and turns out you were right on about the logo, someone asked what the inspiration was behind it and this was the admin response: “The new logo is an ‘Other Side of Down’ graphical play. The name David reads the same upside down as right side up.” 🙂
Abanana77,
Great post! Love your enthusiasm about the new OS! Yes it’s so refreshing to have, after all these years, an official site that finally “gets” his fans — “they understand what we want, who we are, why we love David.” It truly seems to be a site for the fans and of the fans. The witty adm responses are icing on the cake – the excerpts are hilarious. 🙂
(And love your “epic brush” with W & K!!)
{waves to SnowAngelz!}
Hey, @abanana77! Love your post and I agree with every single word you said.
“The people running it seem to “get” David the way we “get” him! And they also seem to “get” the fans — they understand what we want, who we are, why we love David. They get our David inside jokes, and even use them throughout the site.” I think that epitomizes exactly why I like the site so much.
It’s obvious David has chosen an admin to run the site that has paid attention to fans comments on fan sites, twitter, facebook etc. and they are appropriately using that to make a fan site that is friendly, welcoming and informative for everyone! Like you I didn’t go to either of the old official sites all that much because they were not updated well at all and I agree they looked generic. I love the graphics on this new site and like you (maybe it’s the artist part or my long forgotten math skills part) I like the David logo.
I’ve enjoyed keeping up with Will & Kate through your pics, etc. You forgot to post the super cute pic of y’all in the “royal cows” shirts!
Cool, an awesome website review!
I would settle for a “me too!” here, but that’s not as satisfying as some self-indulgent rambling. So, let me just say that the new OS has a great personality! I get it and it seems to get me. We would be friends in real life.
I love the DAVID logo–a classy declaration of Archuleta fan-ness for the masses. Clever. Hip. Semi-cryptic. Anagram-ish. Symmetrical (yay!) Clean and Green.
Yep, I love the new site. I love the logo. I love this review and the brush-with-fame photo. I love David. I love his music. I love his fans.
OK, I’m set for a while.
“I get it and it seems to get me. We would be friends in real life.” hahahaha AMAZING description! Love your rambling!
Archugeezer, ditto to abanana & kizzi, LOOOOOVE your rambling! 🙂
Great review abanana. And ditto to all you said. 😀
I have been Google-ing William and Kate and following their Canada journey. Great pictures. They look ridiculously happy and in love, a fairy tale in the making with all the trimmings.
Archugeezer – you given me pause and food for thought with that phrase “self-indulgent rambling.” I always look forward to your comments, wise, funny, balanced.
Greaaat post abanana. I was the same, visited old site 2,3 times tops. Your description of the “homey” new site is perfect.
And I can’t possibly say it better than Archugeezer, so ditto ditto and ditto (thanks Archugeezer)!
(Looooove that new logo…if they print it, I will buy it!)
Great job abanana!!! I sooo agree with you> the OS has exceeded my expectations!!! I aso went to the old site 2-3 times….. the news was never timely or correct, and never really felt “connected” to David. This new one is full of Davidness!!!! The admins do get him and us!!!!
I also saw on the OS that he has patented his sqiggly pig!!! Woot!!!
So happy for your epic royal road trip!!! Awesome!!!
I am also thinking that the OS takes some pressure off of David……. fans will get the right news and info needed, without having to bug D on twitter etc. I am hoping he will take the opportunity to chill and trust the OS admins to do the “small talk” to fans. And perhaps a live chat every now and then, lol, without Mel in the background. teehee
“And perhaps a live chat every now and then, lol, without Mel in the background.” ROTFL, Ref.
Good point about the OS taking pressure off David, now that it’s actually updated & responsive to fans, I think it will def. do that. And I’m finding it hiLARious to read peeps random comments, like this one: “Late comment but i just got nose bleed because of David’s new pic haha. Thank you guys *nose bleed continuing*. Just want to give you guys a big HUG. Wish you guys come to Vietnam this summer *nose bleed cant be stopped*” 😆
I hadn’t thought of it but you’re so right, this new website will totally take pressure off David! 🙂
Now that the OS is being updated regularly, I’ll def. now go back pretty much daily for news (did NOT see that ever coming! lol) … but also for this:
😆 😆 😆
ROTFL amazing
Trust Joymus! 😀
hahhahaha
David’s interview on GoodDay Dallas:
VLOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGGG!!!!!
More info:
In Dallas, Texas for the Reebok 2011 Heroes celebrity baseball game. Singing God Bless America for it at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark for those who’d like to come. Getting ready for Asia too! New website is up if you’d like to see it at DavidArchuleta.com. We the Kings, David Cook have new albums out.
Tags:
* David
* Archuleta
* Dallas
* Texas
* Reebok
* 2011
* Heroes
* celebrity
* baseball
* game
* Dr.
* Pepper
* Ballpark
* God
* Bless
* America
* website
* We
Sooooooo much goodness in the vlog and interview. Feels like sunshine, warm sand, calm turquoise waters and good friends just got together.
Oh, and abanana Los Angeles is wild about Wills and Kate. Stars are star struck, LOL. JLo (AI judge this season and hubby Marc) are attending a British entertainment event tonight to meet the royal couple. 😀
Here are some quotes from the Canada tour on the net:
William’s Best Lines
“Do we eat as we go? I’m quite hungry” – to his instructor at the Montreal chef school
“I’d love to go to classes on the beach, building sand castles” – to sand artist Maurice Bernard on Prince Edward Island
“Only half of me got wet” – on the aftermath of his dragon boat race, to reporters
“I’m not sure I have the moves for it” – to a member of The Young Canadians dance group, who invited him on the dance floor
Kate’s Best Lines
“I’m very, very lucky. He looks after me as much as possible” – on William, to former Army Colonel Robert O’Brien
“My grandparents used to live here so it’s a very special place for me. We’ve been very spoiled and got to see some beautiful places already” – on Canada
“We should get you a pair of these” – to William, about a rodeo champion’s chaps
The Best Fan Reactions (*sniff, sniff*)
“I’m shaking – She’s not just one of those pretty people in magazines. She’s actually even prettier” – Chiara Guglielmi, on meeting Kate
• “He told them, ‘Don’t ever let people put you down because a prince looks up to you'” Marie-Pier, on Prince William’s talk with homeless youth
• “When I wished her and William well with starting their own family, she said, ‘Yes, I hope to'” British ex-pat David Cheater, on meeting Kate
• “This has given me a tremendous lift. Did Kate ever remind me of Diana – she was just wonderful. It has been one of the best days of my life” – Terminal cancer patient Terry Joyce, on meeting Kate
LOLOL Kizzi, LOVE those!!! @omygoshashley posted a link to this touching story about a young Calgary girl with cancer (who’d lost her mom last spring) getting her dream of giving a princess (Kate) a bouquet of flowers *sniff*: http://t.co/yKd8GlD
… and à propos of nothing, I love Dr. Pepper 🙂
Tweets from the ballpark:
@brandoncozrt David Archuleta is five feet from me. Thinking about squealing like a girl and causing a scene.
@YoungShmuck: Just saw David archuleta #AmericanIdolSwag
@oliviabaker Just played a game on the field after the 5th inning, obviously we dominated! & David Archuleta just sang God bless America, it was magical.
Oh my TOfan. Went to that link and am now all “verklempt” *sniffle x a Gillion*
Meeting a Princess – a dream come true for the sweet little lady, Diamond….
That is the most amazing story <3333 I now love Kate more than I did before (if possible)
me too! … and the little girl’s mom’s name was Memory… *sniff*
Sooo sweet, liking Kate so much!
Hilarious tweets from @yvette2919:
Jkdfvjgegrfegrehehehg
GUYS I JUST SAW DAVID FREAKING ARCHULETA. HE WAS LIKE ONE FOOT AWAY FROM ME AND I SHOOK HIS HAND.
My hands are shaking rn I can’t even typw right sadbjehe
Wkrhjrjfwh HE’S SO BEAUTIFUL OMG http://twitpic.com/5nsyw3
YES I WAS THAT CLOSE.
I can’t concentrate. Jdshreh he said he was gonna come back devbhhg please please ahhhhh I shook his hand *dies*
Here’s another one. I was shaking so much lol xD http://twitpic.com/5nt4ck
He just sang ahhh dhehbe my friend took video bc I was too mesmerized by him LOL
I TOOK A PICTURE WITH HIM!!! MY LIFE IS COMPLETE!!
http://twitpic.com/5nt8lu
http://twitpic.com/5ntdua
On my way home. I’ll reply to you guys when I get home 🙂 Ps I AM NEVER WASHING MY RIGHT HAND LOL
Here are her pics (how perfect is it that D. is wearing a jersey that says “Heroes”?! 🙂 :
And from:
@YoungShmuck: So humble!!=David archuleta http://t.co/uexVB2N
“oh, wow, my nose is so shiny from this angle…. ilooklikerudolptherednoseriendeer” loing, at how quickly he can talk in monotone!!! bahhhaaa
Amazed at the new site….. hallelujah!!
GBA vid thanks to DavidFromTexas1!!! (love the way David defies your expectations of where this oh-so-familiar song is going… belt-out power gliding into soft, tender sections *goosebumps*)
Scans of a great interview with D. in the latest issue of Malaysia’s Hot Magazine, here: http://onedavid.wordpress.com/
(Can’t you just hear the awkward “heheheh” when they asked the screaming fans question? lololol)
Hey! The thing is that I wanted to talk about David’s performance of God Bless America, why? Well, because it was frickin’ GOOD! And since I see you haven’t talk about it yet, I thought you would want to check it out! Anyways, just in case you want to check out my review (as well as the vid of David singing God Bless America), I will leave here the link of the post I did about David’s performance!
Review: http://www.madetobenow.com/2011/07/david-archuleta-shows-world-how-to-sing.html
hey snowangelz!!! here is a link to a site that will send TOSOD Asian edition to the states and Canada> apparently it will not be available here.
http://davidarchuleta.sg/the-other-side-of-down-asian-tour-edition/comment-page-1#comment-1990
Forgot to say…. They are taking orders till 9:00am tomorrow.
thanks, Ref!!! … any volunteers to fly over for the Asia tour and pick us all up a few copies? 🙂 🙂 🙂
New post/thread!
🙂