This recap dates back to November 30, 2010, but I’d never seen it so I thought maybe some of you might not have either… enjoy!
.
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Totally awesome.
I guess that would be the best description of what I felt when I met David Archuleta and had a chance to watch him answer some of the press’ questions last November 17th. I watched him, yes. I was not able to utter A SINGLE FREAKING WORD. All I did was smile the entire interview. Well I couldn’t help it; his smile is contagious.
How it started.
My friends and I were hanging out in Starbucks after we’ve bought our CD/tickets when I received the TEXT MESSAGE THAT FREAKED THE HELL OUT OF ME. A friend of my friend (who works at Sony) sent me a text asking me to cover David’s press con on that same day. I was like AHJIUASHAADJIAKLSJ aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh what WHAT WHAAAAAT??!!! I’M GOING TO MEET DAVID ACHULETA AND ASK HIM QUESTIONS?? I’M GOING TO SEE HIM UP CLOSE AND DO GOD-KNOWS-WHATEVER I CAN TO HIM IN A ROOM FULL OF PRESS PEOPLE?? I’m pretty sure David would not approve the thoughts I had in my mind at that time. LOL.
This is it.
So I went to the press con totally unprepared. There’s no one to blame but me. I left my CDs at home. I forgot to bring his book, Chord of Strength, which was comfortably padlocked in my pedestal in the office. Good thing I brought a few clothes with me ‘cause I knew I won’t have time to go home after the “mini-concert” and I need to change outfits cause I had to go to work after the show.
On the way to the hotel, I was thinking of the questions I’ll to ask him. “Will you marry me?” is always out of the question but it never left my mind hehe. Seriously, it was really hard to form serious questions in 2 hours when you are going to meet the MOST AMAZING PERSON IN THE WHOLE WIDE UNIVERSE.
The press con was held by batches. Naree and Ditas, of Archuleta Philippines, got slots for the interview as well so I chose to join their batch instead of joining the “real writers” batches. We were the last group along with a few members of the press. There were 4 batches, I think, and as soon as the third one’s done, my knees started shaking. OMG OMG, I’m going to meet David Archuleta and I don’t have a freaking question/s to ask him yet!! But my worries went away when I saw him about 5 feet away from me. Standing. Wearing black top and tattered jeans.
AND SOCKS.
Yes, HE WASN’T WEARING SHOES OR SLIPPERS for Pete’s sake. That was seriously cute! This kid is so a-dorable.
So the interview started. There were 9 of us sitting in the couches, David sitting in front of us, and about 3 photographers. The only thing that separates me and David is this rectangular table. Someone asked him if he’s tired and he said ‘no’. A writer introduced herself as Aileen and then for-the-love-of-butterflies HE SANG HER NAME. Aaskjdhas;h.
And then it’s done.
Oh, wait. What happened to the interview? I don’t know. My mind and soul left my body. I was just there.. looking at him.. smiling. The entire 13 minutes.
The Other Side of David.
Thankfully I remembered to turn on the audio recorder of my phone before the interview started because I know I am not going to remember what happened during the interview. Now that I’m listening to it, I am really proud of what he has become. He’s immature in a mature way.
David co-wrote 10 out of 12 tracks in this album. He wanted to be personally involved; he wanted to put what he wanted to accomplish and what he wanted to say. David said it was hard, at the beginning, to open up, but eventually he learned how to express himself. He felt that “he didn’t have to hide himself because of the mistakes he’s done.”
Talking about his album pictures is one of the best moments of the interview. He said he the pictures show “Happy/Fun David.” He doesn’t want to include pictures with serious I-know-you-want-me oh-look-how-cool-I-am kind of shots. He wanted to show the “real” David and wanted to become approachable.
The end.
Time really flies fast. We were told to ask one last question, and by this time, I still haven’t said a single word. He signed a few CDs, shirt, and calendar. He actually signed my The Other Side of Down CD which I bought earlier. We had a few group pictures and the girl beside me ran so fast that she was standing next to David during our pictures (I should make my 5k-run a daily habit). When we were about to leave I threw all my nervousness away and asked for a hug. Yes, I was able to hug David Archuleta. SCORE!
No complaints.
My signed CD got lost. I only slept for 5 hours in 3 days. I was not able to get a video-greeting from David for people who weren’t able to come at the show. I was quite late so I wasn’t able to get a good spot and wasn’t able to see him properly during the concert. I forgot a lot of things along the way.
But you wouldn’t hear any complaints from me. As David said, “I don’t always get everything that I wanted. It doesn’t turn out just the way I thought it all should be. I can’t complain.”
So thank you. To Zhorai and Mara, thank you. So much. For giving me the opportunity to see David Archuleta up close. To Sony Music Philippines, thank you for bringing David here even when he’s not suppose to be here. To David Archuleta. Thank you for continuing to inspire us with your music and personality. I can’t wait to see you again!
And here’s the amazing JR’s video of the whole thing:
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
It amazes me how introspective David was about his life. The process that would would not overtake him. He fought for all the details . His intuition was better than most. He to this day remains true to his music and artistry. As we all know, he is real, an inspiration, and a very compassionate individual . David in the coming years will be a force to admire. Lets all wait and see the individual he becomes. His strength of character will never wain! Thanks for your post Debbie I loved it.
eggs-act-ly Harold!!!
Just home from a brief but crazy road trip and checking in around the ArchuWeb to see what I have missed. Came here, and Omigosh!!!
EEK!!!!! and AIBNOBVMXSOIENB!!!!!! I have been looking for this interview clip since I first heard it, like forever!!!!! Well, since 2010 at least. You know that part at the beginning where David repeats the name of a reporter, like right out loud, and then he goes straight into the he-can’t-help-himself songburst? It is really “Come On Eileen”—not Aileen. I swear it’s true. I know stuff! Why such a big deal for me? Glad you asked, because this is where I momentarily hijack the comment section in a random and bizarre fashion (“an immature way of being mature”).
When I am not busy being an Archugeezer, I am an Eileen!! Not her, the lovely reporter in that clip, although we (Aileen/Eileen) sound alike—haha—but the name in the song, that Eileen!
It is also sad but true that the name “Eileen” has nearly faded into oblivion. I am almost certain my parents had a moment of baby-naming uncertainty before landing on said moniker. Either that, or they were doing their part for some kind of save-the-name cause. My apologies to other Eileens out there—I love you, all of you—but the name is not popular for babies. It is ranked at #1536 this year, meaning that unless you are born into the Duggar family, you don’t have much of a chance.
The name “Eileen” is Greek in origin, which makes perfect sense. [How do you say/spell that? I dunno; it’s Greek to me.] Many folks guess at how to say it when they see it, or guess at how to spell it when they hear it. After all these years, I just answer to whatever is thrown out there: Elaine, Ellen, Erlene, Eileena, Evelyn, Irene, Ilene, Aileen, etc. I even respond to various combinations—Arleena, Ernesteen, or bad jokes—I lean. It’s my own Greek tragedy.
So, what’s the big deal? To have David Archuleta—THE David Archuleta—not only say my name but SING my name in a hit song from the early 80’s, years before his musical genius self was even born, is a very big deal indeed! It is bigger than a big deal for me. It’s like adult-onset euphoria for ODD chicks.
Imma gonna go make my MGR now.
It never ceases to amaze me how fast David can blurt out a song like that. 🙂 Nice to have such meaning for you Eileen:)
hahahahaha, SOOO happy for you, Eileen! He’s so happy & snappy while he’s singing it too! 😆 😆 😆 And did not realize the name was so rare, interesting! … “Imma gonna go make my MGR now” ROTFL
Thanks Tofan for the trip down Memory Lane! So glad JR captured the interview. …and thanks Harold for your response.
Love your recap Che :)) Many of us can identify!!
wow!! i finally made it to @snowangelzz’s blog LOL! thanks for posting this.
Thanks for posting the recap and David’s old interview. I think the lyrics on TOSOD accomplished what David wanted. The lyrics in so many of today’s pop songs are so shallow and sometimes dirty so it’s great to have songs that are fun, but have some meaning. It will be interesting to see what songs David records in the future.
I also enjoyed the mv of “Come on Eileen”. A blast from the past!
Such a blast, thanks TOfan for that find. Warms the heart and feeds the soul. So many tidbits to enjoy. Time flies…onward to 2014.
Eileen, enjoyed your comment. Words have meanings, names have power. Names are, indeed, poetry.
Confucius said: If names are not correct, language will not be in accordance with the truth of things.
Come on Eileen too-loo rye-aye
Come on Eileen too-loo rye-aye
Toora toora-too-loora
Yep, the truth of things for sure. 😀 😀 😀
New post/thread!
🙂