I’m writing this for two reasons… first, I was blessed to see Aretha Franklin in concert last night and wanted to share how aMAZing she still is at 71 years of age.
And second, imagine my surprise when I read the program before the show and learned that she released 10 whole albums…. TEN… before she had a single hit song.
Aretha toured the gospel circuit as a teenager then was signed by Columbia and recorded steadily from 1960 to 1966 “showcased in a variety of settings … while mainstream acceptance eluded her.” (Her father was her manager for these years, btw.)
I almost fell off my chair when I read that. How on earth could mainstream acceptance elude that Voice??? π―
During her Columbia years, they appreciated her talent, Β apparently, but didn’t quite know how to market her. (Is any of this sounding familiar? π )
In 1967, at the urging of her new manager, her husband, she signed with R&B label Atlantic, recorded her 11th LP, featuring Otis Redding’s “Respect,” and the rest, as they say, is history.
I’m mentioning this for all the people, including myself, who’ve experienced any moments of impatience that David assemble the perfect team, sign with the perfect label, find the perfect producer, record the perfect song … NOW… when he’s barely out of his teens.
Aretha undoubtedly worked hard during those early years of recording and performing, honing her craft, learning the business, and I’m sure, enjoying every single second she was able to make a living doing what she loved to do. And I bet her fans during those early years loved having her all to themselves. π
Am I crazy comparing David with Aretha? Heck, no. As I sat in the nosebleed seats of that beautiful hall, listening to that iconic Voice fill every soul there up to the rafters, of course I thought of David, who has the power to do the same… and has done.
My videos suck from last night, sadly, so instead I leave you with this… be prepared for serious chills… her live Amazing Grace recorded in a Baptist church with her preacher dad in attendance, who remarked: “”she has never left the church!”
p.s. adding this appropriate drawing tweeted to me by the lovely @Archugeezer π
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
I listened to this lo
Help. Bumped the wrong button. Let me try again.
I listened to this track, loud and more than once, last Sunday – introducing my music loving son to Aretha for the first time. I wish you could have seen his eyes.
Someday I’d love to hear David riff for ten plus minutes on just about anything!
And I love your writing, as always π
you did?!? awesome! gr8 fans think alike! lol … a 10-min. David riff… oh my π―
Indeed…..Sounds very familiar. I’m always happy with any Music David gives us, realizing he has yet to reach his potential. I still prefer his Music and know of many musician and groups who didn’t have hits right away but kept working at their craft. Beatles were “discovered” on Ed Sullivan but had many songs, records before that.
Looking forward to 2014 and beyond while enjoying the 6 albums and many You tubes of Live performances.
Must have been fabulous to be at Aretha’s concert…..Praise the Lord and thanks for the You tube!!
…plus lots of Memories of LIVE performances including his last two US concerts. π
… for sure, Heidijoy, those live performances are like GOLD, aren’t they!
Wow!! That Amazing Grace left me with chills!! How I would love to here our guy record that one day or at the very least, hear him sing it live!! It is my all time favorite hymn π And I do agree with you TOfan regarding patience with David…I think we maybe sometimes forget how old he really is and we get caught up in the hoopla of how famous all of these other kids (JB, TS, 1D, etc.) in music industry are and then we panic that David does not have the same status!! You and I all know that David is not even close to being in the same category as these singers…they will have their day and then fade into the background as someone bigger and better than they are comes around! David is the modern day Aretha Franklin…he had the soul and voice that will be around for decades to come! We forget that David has a plan and it’s not necessarily to become the next famous pop artist just because we think and know that he could! God has a plan for this boy and as Kari said, he will come back from his mission and will be bigger and better than ever before :). We just have to remember to be patient and enjoy this ride with him! He will rule the music world one day…I can feel it in my heart β€
Preach it, dangit! π Loved every single word! Esp: “We forget that David has a plan and itβs not necessarily to become the next famous pop artist just because we think and know that he could!”
AMEN!!! TOFan π
David has yet to be ‘discovered’ and when he is, watch out music world! He will shine like we know he can… he will rule! β₯
Good lord, I love Aretha! So loving that you saw her.
dangitdavid,you said it all right there, you are so right
So glad for you TOfan!!! What a treat to see AF!!! The similarities to David that you have brought up seem bang on to me!! Really interesting that she had 10 albums before her first hit!!! It is sooo true that David is so young and has his entire career before him> and us blessed peeps get to watch it all unfold! CAN NOT WAIT to see the person and musician that David is when he returns…. get shaky just thinking about it!
Mormon Times videos, thanks to @stidwell53! (Each pic links to the videos!)
Part 1:
Part 2:
“We just have to remember to be patient and enjoy this ride with him! He will rule the music world one dayβ¦I can feel it in my heart <3" good words dangitdavid. Of course for many of his fans he already does that, ha.
Great post TOfan, sounds like a fabulous concert. Something about great music that keeps people going well in to their later years, there's a magic about it. I've never had the pleasure of seeing Aretha in concert, glad you had that experience, she's amazing! Yep, can see some parallels there.
Have lots of faith in David and his own magic, will take him places for sure.
Whatever avenues David pursues, he has so much on his side. One can only imagine the incredible possibilities. π
(luv the sidebar pic with D's little dance….always thought that was the cutest thing ever!)
“David and his own magic”… love that! Hope you’re feeling better, pepp!
Aretha rules. I love her early history. Just shows if you have music in your soul, it will find it’s way to the right audience. I saw her perform in the 1980’s and it remains one of the most memorable concerts I attended. Glad to hear she is still a wonderful performer now at age 71!
David is successful to me. I look at all the artists out there and their struggles and it seems to me that he fits right in to that working artist with a love of music who will find their way, as it unfolds. I think he is on his own path, listening to his inner voice which, I believe is the same voice that enriches his music and leads him to choose the phrasing and underlying emotions he delivers as his sings. When he has shared any thoughts about other artists he has met, he always focuses on their artistry, their message. He gravitates to deeper meanings.
What’s inside him will find it’s way to the airwaves….and, lucky me! π
Love to all at SAz
TOfan, yes I am feeling better (almost completely) thanks.
Kizzi…..” I think he is on his own path, listening to his inner voice which, I believe is the same voice that enriches his music and leads him to choose the phrasing and underlying emotions he delivers as his sings.” So true and “He gravitates to deeper meanings.”
That he does and it’s one of the reasons I gravitate to him. π
youTubes of Mormon Times interview (thx. Heidijoy for the heads up!):
Part 1:
Part 2:
And I had no idea the lovely cutter12 was behind the Mormon Times piece… bringing over her comment posted at TDC:
Hey Jr!
Big shout out to you and Mary Lou/ Pastel at Fans of David for your help on the Mormon Times story. I wanted to try and show that LOTS & LOTS of people enjoy Davidβs music and why we are such big fans of Mr. Archuleta. The producer was quite surprised that there are so many fansites about David. A few stories I want to share about the shoot. 1st — Itβs about me totally missing the mark on video I should have gotten. I convinced the producer to do a story because David had a new CD out, and, during the shoot, I totally forgot to get any close up video of the CD! So, I had to use screen grabs for both the CD and the liner notes!
And speaking of video — As we were setting up to do the interviews, the photographer, mid 20s male, rides a motorcycle, claimed he has been to 4 of Davidβs concerts. (Silly me to stereotype what an Archie fan must look like) π
And, the 3rd part: Sara, one of the young girls, was asked the question — Why are you a fan of David Archuleta? Sara leaned back her head and literally exhaled βOh my Gosh! looked back at me nodding her head and said βHeβs HAWT! Yep, I knew right then I had to put that line in. π
Source.
Loved this article! And that video? Whew!!
Not crazy at all to compare background notes between David and Aretha. I firmly believe David will have his time, his place, his way. I’m just happy I am here to witness the journey.
Me too, Ms. Geez, me too!
The lovely Betsy told me about this comment on David’s MoTab BSMS vid and I just had to share:
“Man has done some terrible things in the name of his beliefs, butο»Ώ occasionally he does something that truly gives you hope. Thank you for sharing one of those moments.”
*sniff*
Also loved this one from yesterday!
“OMG! How have I missed this beautiful Spirit? I was unaware of David until yesterday. Thank you David forο»Ώ your beautiful music! Thank you Father Mother God for the beautiful gift you have blessed David with!”
new post/thread!
π