Once-upon-a-time Teen Idol Frankie Avalon recently told a Laughlin Entertainer reporter that he sees David Archuleta approaching his former Teen Dream status:
Q. Is there anyone out there these days who comes close to the teen idol status you achieved?
A. There are a few. Justin Timberland. He’s extremely talented and I keep hoping he has a career that will last. I also like David Archuleta, I just saw him on a video the other day. He’s doing a lot of good stuff.
Does David have a Beach Blanket Bingo in his future? You decide.
Fasten your seatbelts as three SnowAngelz tell their harrowing tales of cross-border life in the David Lane.
Refnaf:
Never in my previous non-ODD life, have I ever “crossed over” the divide between our lovely countries as often as I have in the past year. Canada and the U.S. may share the longest unguarded border in the world, but I, on the other hand, feel very guarded with every venture.
Will the questions asked reveal the real reason for my trip? Will they proceed from “Where are you headed?” to “Whose concert??” at breakneck speed? Will the border guard notice the hesitancy in my voice as I wait for the inevitable “That little guy from A.I.?” or “David who??”
My biggest fear is that I may answer, “I am going to see The David, The Only David, The Best David,” and may even be tempted to add “My David!!!”
On my way to see David Archuleta’s summer tour stop in Hershey, P.A., the customs person was the most encouraging I have met so far. He not only knew who David was, but proceeded to “grill” me about what Cook was up to lately and even asked “What about that girl who could really belt it out?”
Then he started chatting about pre-A.I. 7 seasons. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that my Idol knowledge was limited to Season 7. I mumbled some inanities about Simon Cowell (feeling like I was locked into a game of A.I. Trivial Pursuit) and looked for TOfan, who I was sure must have been wondering why I was getting the “interrogation.” As I finally got away, I had to smile…. only in America.
TOfan:
I could never be a drug mule. Not because I’m above all that crime business, but because of the panicked look that takes over my face every time I cross the border. I’m convinced I’ll somehow “fit the profile,” be strip-searched and held for further questioning … just ’cause.
So for me, of all the “firsts” I’ve experienced as a David fan, voluntarily subjecting myself to border-guard scrutiny in order to get to a concert has to be the most nerve-wracking.
Yes, I could just vaguely tell them I’m visiting friends, but experience has taught me honesty is the best policy when faced with federal offenses or, gasp, missing David’s show. But you try travelling with fellow ODDers and answering the inevitable, “How do you all know each other?”
I’ve found that a quick “we’re friends going to a concert” works best. It is (a) the truth and (b) avoids having to explain hooking up with strangers online (it was hard enough to type that, never mind say it out loud to an armed official).
In the scenario Refnaf described above, I had no idea her “interrogator” was an Idol buff. He had her chatting so long I figured he didn’t believe we were flying Stateside just for a concert and we’d miss our flight … or worse. Beads of perspiration collected on my brow as he called me forward for my turn in the hot seat.
“So,” he said, leaning back in his chair, one eyebrow raised. “David Archuleta, huh?”
“Yes,” I gulped. “He’s good!”
“Ya, I know,” he nodded, handing back my passport. “Have a safe trip.”
"Wait! I can explain why the ticket says 'Demi Lovato'!"
Sunshine:
Although I’ve had the good fortune to travel a great deal in my life, I’d never been apprehensive at any border crossing. That is, until I contracted ODD.
Suddenly I was a regular at airports, ferry crossings, bus stations and immigration checkpoints — destination: David, anywhere USA.
I could feel the sweat trickle down my back when an immigration official asked me to produce my Jingle Ball ticket before entering Buffalo on a Greyhound bus. I felt equally uncomfortable when asked to explain why I had been to New Jersey when I had not gone on business and had neither friends nor family there.
Ummm, well, you see … I went to a music concert, sir. Are you a singer, he asked? blah! Ummmm…no, I went to hear someone else. Oh, man… here it comes. Who, he asked? David Archuleta (sotto voce). Did you purchase any tobacco? Whew! Off the hook again.
I’m sure that one day the customs card will offer three options for the question, “What is the main purpose of your visit?”: 1. Personal. 2. Business. 3. ODD. Who am I kidding? I love the secret, exhilarating life of a well-travelled SnowAngel.
Essential cross-border packing list:
Passport (keep up-to-date at all times)
Canadian flags (part of master plan to hypnotize David during concert so he’ll feel the uncontrollable urge to tour Canada)
Concert tickets (for professional nosy parkers aka border guards)
Those strange-looking bills that are all the same colour
“When we pay forward, the idea multiplies to more and more people, touching their lives directly or indirectly.”
— Catherine Ryan Hyde, Pay It Forward
David Archuleta’s gentle kindness, support to charities and soulful caring, reminds us of the capabilities of our own kindness, which in turn can affect everyone on the planet. When I first started learning of David’s charity work and kind gestures to fans and others, it brought to mind a book called Pay It Forward.
Itwas written after the author experienced a traumatic night in a secluded spot, where mechanical trouble brought her late model car to a stop, leaving her stranded and scared. Two people came running towards her waving a blanket and she thought they were going to cause her harm. When they reached her, she saw they were running to put out the flames from underneath the hood of her car – a gesture that likely saved her life.
She was overwhelmed by the kindness of the passersby and this feeling of gratitude inspired her to return the kindness any way she could. She began to realize that even small acts of kindness can have a great affect on people, and when we “pay them forward,” the idea multiplies to more and more people, touching their lives either directly or indirectly.
In the beginning
Reading that book took me back to cherished stories about my grandfather — of how he once gave away his paycheque to a homeless family on the street just before Christmas. He then came home from his job to his family of eight without a penny. He told us more than once about how much trouble he got into with my grandmother that Christmas. Sometimes giving costs dearly, but it was imprinted in our memories to care about other people.
These stories must have stuck with me more than I realized. For, I hadn’t planned to “pay it forward” with concert tickets, but when illness prevented me from using my tickets to Virginia Beach to see David at his first ever solo tour concert, it felt like the right thing to do. I contacted a David admirer with the screen name of Kizzi, knowing that she would be attending his first concert. And this is where my ticket gifting began. I wrote back and forth with Kizzi and communicated by fax and phone until we had the Box A, seats 1&2 tickets in the hands of two girls Kizzi had met outside the venue. The girls were absolutely thrilled.
The art of VIP gifting
For the September Manchester concert, I happened to have an extra VIP ticket with me. I was standing in line with my David friends when a young mother came up to our line and stated that it was really early to be in line. When she heard that it was the VIP line she excitedly said that she had never met David and would love to do so. Well, that was it, my VIP was in the process of being gifted right there in line. She shook with excitement and disbelief.
Just minutes after we entered the VIP room, my name was drawn to ask David a question. Everyone said, wow, the gift that keeps on giving. I enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to speak with David and he sang for me “Ave” from Ave Maria, before Ray interrupted him, but David continued our conversation. This was even before the Christmas tour, so to hear anything from Ave Maria made me happy.
Salt Lake City spirit
Photo: Gengen
If you could put all of David’s concerts together, you would create the first awesome, Christmas From the Heart concert at Abravenal Hall. Several days before the concert, I was contacted by an administrator from SnowAngelz to ask if I might like to gift my extra VIP to a young lady who was the second winner in a contest at Snarky Archies, (open to fans who had been inspired by, but had never met, David).
Arrangements were made to meet the young lady at Abravanel Hall and it was there that I met her with her mother and younger sister. We had a wonderful time together at a lovely VIP. I thoroughly enjoyed her company as we bridged the gap of many years between us by sharing our passion for David’s beautiful voice and stage presence. The next evening she left her family to sit with me, as I was alone and had an empty seat beside me. We sat close to some very special people in David’s life.
Homeward bound
I have one last gifting story that did not cost a penny and I love it. On my way home from Salt Lake City, we changed planes in Chicago and could not go on further to Halifax. We were rerouted to Ottawa for the night. A lady sat down next to me on the plane. She had been with a friend shopping in Las Vegas. The lady asked about my trip and upon hearing that I was at a concert, she mentioned her family’s involvement in choirs in Ottawa and made mention of her musical interests, extended education and favourite opera singers.
After we talked, I put my iPod earbuds in place and settled in for a few, uninterrupted hours of private time with music and SLC memories. As we were landing, the woman passed her serviette to me with a pen and asked me to write the name of the young man who she could hear on my iPod. She also wanted me to write a few of the Christmas songs on the serviette so that she could go right away to YouTube.
My inspiration for ticket gifting and reaching out to those around us has been renewed by David and from the good people who keep in his company. Each time that I hear David sing, it is a gift to me and to everyone. In turn, we tell people who we meet on the street, people we sit next to on airplanes, taxi drivers, and people on elevators just how enjoyable and inspirational David is. Then they, in turn, tell people and the joys of David’s music continue to be shared … to be paid and repaid forward.
Best wishes to David on his 19th birthday, and to all of you for a peaceful, healthful, music-filled New Year!
From left: refnaf, sunshine, TOfan, conditioner. Filmed at Toronto’s City Hall under the “Freedom Arches.”
Congratulations on celebrating the big 1-9 on Monday, David! May the coming year be filled with joy, laughter, friends, family … and music, music, music!
Please join us in adding your own birthday wishes for either Ricky or David Archuleta, below!
Another birthday tribute: a beautiful CFTH Tour Summary slideshow from Calgary’s Gengen, using about 100 of her amazing shots (out of more than 1,500 she took during the tour).
Have you ever thought you were losing your mind? Is it a bad sign that I’m even asking that question? I’ll tell you why I ask.
I’ve come to realize that as wonderful as David Archuleta concerts are, they always require a certain recovery period to regain your equilibrium — the way scuba divers need to hang out in the decompression chamber before they come up for air.
For other concerts, you can sit back, enjoy the music, then go home and move on to other things. But David’s shows? No way. They are thrilling but exhausting. Like riding a roller coaster standing up. After each one, I feel as though I’ve scaled Everest, run a triathalon, landed on the moon and given birth … all within two hours.
And this can last for days, making it hard to readjust to “normal” life again. Work, home, the grocery store – all seem out of sync for a while, as if my ArchuLife is what’s real and the rest is surreal … like Alice stepping the wrong way through the looking glass.
I do eventually snap out of it and reacquaint myself with old routines, loved ones, local customs.
But this time it’s different. This tour is different. I don’t know if it’s the heightened level of David’s performance skills, the soaring excellence of his vocals or the profound spiritual connection I feel with these Christmas songs, but I can’t seem to snap out of it. I am still processing the shows themselves and the ripple effects of David World.
Certain songs, events, moments from the tour linger in my mind …
● Reading the stories and recaps from SLC and wishing I was there.
● Sitting in Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium and pinching myself that I was there.
● In Cleveland, clutching my husband’s hand during The Riddle to keep from falling off the edge of the earth. And I love you free … I love you freely….
● Reading the stories and recaps from Kansas City and Baltimore and Montclair and wishing I was there … and there … and there.
● Walking through the immense Foxwoods complex and hearing River call my name and running into Ninaf & Mr. Ninaf coming out of the elevator as if it was just a small town of David fans… David friends … Refnaf, SF, knotliser, Dawn65, Abrra, chickee, rocketdog, bubbly … so very cool.
● Feeling like I could spontaneously combust from the fierce power and electricity of David’s Foxwoods set, which could’ve lit up the Eastern Seaboard. I not only wept during FOG, Ave Maria and OHN, but The Riddle. The Riddle??? From the first note he plunked on the piano. … And I noticed a burly guy sitting in front of me with his tattooed arm around his wife, the other wiping tears away during Ave Maria. They weren’t even fans when they came in. It was that good.
● Snapping to attention in the Stroudsburg VIP when a hearing-impaired girl asked David if he had ever considered having someone “sign” his concerts. I’ll never forget the gentle way David crouched down closer to her so she could hear him. He told her that others had offered to sign for him and that he used to wonder why it would be necessary since he figured a person couldn’t enjoy his music if they couldn’t hear it. But then he learned more about how you can experience music through your whole body, through the vibrations and beat, and how the monks used certain tones of sound for healing. So yes, he had considered it.
Helping hands (photo: Gengen)
● Also at Stroudsburg, watching David try to engage a little girl of about four sitting in the front row, on the left side. As he sang to her, she huddled against her dad away from the noise of the speaker. At the end of the song, David quickly ran off to talk to someone off-stage and I assumed there was some technical problem. Turns out, he’d asked for someone to bring earplugs to both the girl and her father, which one of the crew members did quietly via the side door. The kind and generous Trish ended up switching seats with the dad, who held his daughter on his lap as he kept shaking his head in disbelief throughout the show. He explained that he was a local singer himself and was blown away by David’s immense talent.
● Locking eyes with David at the beginning of HYAMLC in Stroudsburg. His gaze so searing I’m amazed I didn’t turn to dust. His focus and improvisational mastery on that song was something to behold. I felt like I’d been transported in a time machine to watch a Future David fulfilling his destiny. Maybe I was.
● Reading the tweets and watching the vids from Boston and Westbury and wishing I was there.
When the first solo tour ended, I remember how sad I felt that it was over. But this time it’s different. This tour was different. There were so many precious gifts that came to us along the way, I feel truly blessed. From the CD release onwards, every day’s felt a little like Christmas.
A music historian on CBC radio this morning explained that, in Medieval times, the first Christmas carols were written and sung by people outside the church. He described the early carols as “proletariat-inspired outbursts of joy.”
So maybe I’m not losing my mind after all … just feeling the after-effects of what this tour’s been for me — one big David-inspired outburst of joy.
Writing recaps is something I have resisted doing…. Words seriously fail me when I make an attempt to describe the David concert experience … many fans do such an excellent job of describing each song, analyzing the nuances in his voice, examining the ability David has to bring any song to emotional life. My last concert experience in Cleveland on Saturday night affected me, again, on a very spiritual level and I want to at least try to put that experience into words.
Walking in to the beautiful Palace Theatre in Cleveland was in itself inspirational. Marble, gilt, red damask, sparkling chandeliers — a wonderful historic venue for David’s Christmas tour. I kept thinking back a year to the 2009 winter solo tour. The contrast is quite remarkable. From the somewhat seedy, grungy venues with the mosh pits, heavy metal stage barriers and ‘interesting” security guards to this!! It is a blessing to me to have seen the different venues, a journey for us as well as for David.
The anticipation, the happiness of knowing that within a few hours I will soak up the Voice (with some amazing and wonderful friends) is one of the best places to be. The desire to hold on to the moments is overwhelming. The anticipation is so sweet. This is not entertainment, this is a life experience. For me, seeing David perform live is an addictive experience, one that gives me so much that it defies logic and explanation. A cleansing, emotional, spiritual high.
It became more obvious to me on Saturday that David understands what his musical gift can do. He knows. He gets why we get him. He understands the hope and love and beauty that his singing can give. He understands that music can heal and refresh and uplift. Not in a egotistical way, but because music has done the same for him. Open, honest sharing is what David does best. Each song a gift. Each note a blessing. Each person in the audience touched.
Arriving home from a concert, compelled to act … this is one of the most stunning parts of this particular David concert for me. I have been pushed to the point where I will go and do something for others. His speech before his rendition of Prayer of the Children was so heartfelt and showed real caring, so beyond the “’tis the season for giving” platitudes that we hear at this time of year. I want to be as giving as he is. I want to help others. I want to give. I want to share. This is what he has given me.
Sharing this experience with all the people I have met is the other gift that keeps on giving. After a concert like this I just want to reach out to everyone. Real-life friends sharing a bond with, and because of, an 18-year-old musical genius… Amen!
I must say that, in hindsight, the San Francisco VIP experience was a “coulda, shoulda, woulda” moment for me. David was so tired in sound check/meet-and-greet my heart ached for him. Four nights in a row seems just too much for someone who gives more than his all at every performance.
During sound check I wish that I had jumped up and said “yes please” when David asked if anyone wanted to hear What Child Is This — consistently my favorite song on the album. Especially, as he did not sing it either night — Santa Rosa or San Francisco.
Also, after seeing David so visible tired – exhausted really – while waiting my turn to “meet & greet,” I wanted to ask him how he was feeling and to reassure him that his fans would appreciate whatever he was able to give them that night. Sigh. Instead I told him his concert the night before had “all kinds of awesomeage in it” and turned to pose for the picture.
Tonight — unlike last night when I was demonically focused on figuring out exactly what it was I wanted to say — I took the opportunity to observe David more closely. I did not expect him to be tall, but what surprised me was, despite his broad shoulders, how slight he is in stature. Not in demeanor though. His body language gives you the feeling that he truly wants to meet you. Such a giving person and how he does this, night after night, reflects the absolute joy and thankfulness he has for his fans.
The show must go on
My respect and admiration for David increased 100-fold in San Francisco. This concert was all about grit, determination and HEART. Some highlights:
Fields of Gold again floated through me with his sublime mastery.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – a surprise to have Lupe join David. What a wonderful treat. Lupe has a lovely voice and a confident, relaxed stage presence. It was evident in the tone of David’s voice as he introduced her how much he loved having her there. Truly felt the beauty of the sound of their voices together, which was made even more special because of the obvious close bond between them. And, as moms tend to do, she tried to get him to dance with her – much to his embarrassment. A loving hug at the end.
Ave Maria was tender in its reverence this night.
Silent Night was sung with a more intense focus than the night before, an inspirational ending to the concert with several people calling out “Thank You, David!” at its end.
Encore: O Holy Night.
I heard about David’s “my voice is shot” tweet shortly before the concert began. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t already suspected. David struggled the entire night, fiddling with his in-ear monitors, adjusting the sound device he carries at his back, lowering the high notes or singing them ever so softly and carefully during his pop set, and drinking water after every song.
The strain evident on his face just about broke my heart. He tried to maintain his singing energy level and was, for the most part, successful. Yet he was, at the same time, trying to conserve that same energy with less banter and not as much movement. There was more emotion in every song than the night before and particularly in the ones I mentioned above (I asked myself how was this possible?).
Throughout the night, the audience (the lower section for sure) acknowledged his efforts by remaining on its feet the entire time, encouraging him. I waffled between enjoying what he was able to do – which was utterly remarkable – and hurting for him as I watched him struggle.
As David ended Silent Night, he seemed a bit stunned and mesmerized for a moment by the audience’s response to him. He gamely smiled, said thank you and quickly took his leave. I honestly thought he was not going to return for an encore, but when he did and once more stood behind the microphone he said that this song [O Holy Night] was a difficult one to sing and although it would be a challenge for him to sing this song tonight, he wanted to try to do it for us.
He did a beautiful job. My immediate impression was that it was as good as the night before. After he sang the last note, smiling seemed an effort for him and you could see him simply deflate. His posture slumped and what little energy he had drained right out of him.
He stood for a half minute or so hanging onto the mike stand for dear life just absorbing the crowd’s incredible response to his effort. Gathering himself up, he smiled then hunkered down and moved quickly to touch all the hands reaching up to him from in front of the stage. Upon his exit I sat, broke down and wept.
— Awestruck
Post-script It really upset me so to see David so very tired and struggling with his voice in San Francisco, but according to all info re Anaheim David was back in fine form! Wouldn’t it be nice to be so young that a few hours sleep and a day off with family gets you going again at full speed?
All Santa Rosa smiles. (Photos: PressDemocrat.com)
Before this tour, the only time I’d seen David Archuleta perform live was in Salt Lake City in March – the final concert of his first solo tour. But I’d never met him in person … until Santa Rosa. At the VIP.
Why was it important for me to meet David in person? I just really felt the need to tell him how deeply he has affected me and influenced my life. To thank him for that.
As others have reported, the time you get to actually speak with David is very short. What a blur. On the whole, I managed to remain quite calm somehow. On the advice of a very wise and sage person, I had – in advance – memorized what I wanted to say. I am unashamedly admitting here my almost desperately driven need to have him know how intensely I felt.
Because I sat and watched most everyone else have their moment with David, I quickly realized I needed to figure out how to summarize my 30-second explanation down to a single sentence. I initially wanted to introduce myself and my husband, and tell David we were from Western Canada and go on from there.
But I could see there’d be no time for such pleasantries, so I just walked right up to David (after indicating to Kristen that I did not want a picture taken), stood right in front of him (not too close though) and, making sure to look him directly in the eye, said “I just wanted to tell you how profoundly you have touched my life both emotionally and spiritually.”
I figured that I would forever remember the look in his eyes and the expression on his face as I spoke these words to him, but alas it was not to be. Bizarrely, it seemed that my eyes just glazed over. I cannot recall even seeing his eyes or a complete facial expression just vaguely saw him smile and heard him say, “Aww, thank you,” in a most heartfelt way – to which I immediately replied “No, thank you.” Why did this happen?
I was so glad that my husband was there to tell me afterward that David’s eyes opened wide in acknowledgment of my words and that he was sincere in his thanks. I think at that point I said that we were from Canada, he said something about Vancouver, and I responded we were from Calgary.
Mr. Awestruck asked David if he would be coming to tour in Canada. He said that he would love to. And then it was over. I don’t think I ever told him my name. I do remember the palpable relief I felt knowing I had accomplished my goal and that I sat down grinning from ear to ear. How is it that at my age I should take such great and wondrous pleasure in my being able to express such sentiments to my teenage idol? David’s ability to connect with people in a most intensely profound way transcends any age barrier. It is a magical thing indeed.
"Yo, S.R., I said, SING IT!!!"
Santa Rosa: The concert begins
At last winter’s SLC show, I thought David displayed a new level of confidence, of heartfelt ownership on stage. More assured somehow, freer in his delivery. I noticed even more of this confidence and self-assuredness watching him in Santa Rosa. Was it accomplished through a greater sense of self-belief on his part?
David even allowed himself the luxury of accepting the audiences’ ecstatic reaction at the end with three lingering bows (both sides and centre stage) before exiting with a smile, a wave and a bounce in his step.
In terms of performance, The Riddle surprised and impressed me. David’s expanded piano playing was more than merely competent (actual playing versus simple chord progressions). He was confident enough to tackle instrumental sections of just piano, and his playing was much more connected with and to the vocals than I’d noticed before. Oh, these leaps of growth slay me and I eagerly anticipate the day he accomplishes such a performance playing his own compositions.
Other highlights:
Fields of Gold with the shimmering gold curtain behind him; he took me to those fields with his lovely flowing vocals
Prayer of the Children – He introduced this with a preamble about how this song has begun to mean more to him because of his involvement with causes involving children and went on to thank the fans for their much appreciated support of these causes. Well-thought-out segue to the Christmas set.
HYAMLC was an exceptional interpretation, jazzy-bluesy feel with exquisite vocal nuances.
Pat-a-Pan – you can obviously see how much he enjoys singing this song and the last three words – Pat a Pan – with the last Pan going down to that spine chilling LOW note. Oh my.
Riu Riu Chiu – lovely extended ending.
(Edit. by you-know-who: Apparently, black Sperry Topsiders completed this Deep Purple outfit.)
Ave Maria – my heart expanded with this one, a total ‘at peace’ moment in time, despite the fact that one of the notes slipped on him. Standing ovation.
Silent Night – what a powerful end to the concert, soothing, uplifting, reverent. Tears glistened in his eyes at the end. Again, everyone on their feet.
Encore: O Holy Night – David feels this song so deeply when he sings it, stunning to witness live. He closed his eyes at the end, going to that private place that he goes to, for a brief time – the audience quiet, followed by an eruption of reaction voicing their approval and thanks as David re-joined us and smiled that tender smile of his. Breathtaking. Tear inducing. STUNNING.
David sang with emotional intensity though out the night. The reverence in his voice particularly when singing Ave Maria, Silent Night and O Holy Night was humbling to experience.
Ninaf said it best; “…one of those performances that transformed me …it touched me in a very spiritual and personal way. I can only describe it as that feeling I get every once in awhile, of total contentment and happiness. Where I feel so blessed that I literally can’t move.”
It was a truly special night.
P.S. A shout out to all the David fans I had a chance to speak with – those fans I re-connected with, as well as those whom I met for the first time. You are such a diverse, creative and compassionate group that made my two day concert experience so much richer – thank you.
Stay tuned for California Dream’ Part 2: San Francisco
Life is wonderful and mysterious. It changes in big ways and small. Some years you live in New Jersey and some years you don’t, sometimes you are healthy and sometimes you aren’t, some weeks you watch The Biggest Loser and some weeks you don’t. To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. And of course sometimes you blog and sometimes you don’t.
My life is a life of phases big and small, long and short, sublime and ridiculous, and lately I’ve been in a not-fan-blogging-much-phase. Hey, I’m probably still in a not-fan-blogging-much-phase, but I was so moved by the recent Twitter video I saw that I was inspired to write this short reflection.
If you are hanging out at this blog then you know the Twitter video to which I refer — the “I’ll be Home for Christmas at the assisted living home” video. (Hey, here’s a disclaimer, “If you are turned off by schmaltz, stop reading now and don’t tease me later! ❤ ) It is Advent for me and Advent is a time of reflection, so you have no choice but to indulge me.
Anyone who is tuned in to life can see the beauty in that event. I need not expound on it. I just want to witness to the goodness. So I emerge from my present phase for that purpose. There is no mystery here, when people are righteous that inspiration demands and deserves appreciation.
Thank you, David Archuleta, for being a great kid; for loving humanity; for sharing your gifts with both young and old; for allowing yourself to see the precious gift that is life and spirit in all of God’s people even those who seem no longer relevant. And may you always retain the humble belief that you are one soul in a great sea of souls, attempting to witness to Love in a world in great need of Love; no more and no less, for that humility is in itself a great gift to you and to us. Peace.
Why is a nice Jewish woman listening – in quite an obsessive way, no less – to a Christmas album, you may ask? To David Archuleta’s Christmas album? Good question. To answer that, let me tell my own Christmas Story.
Growing up in New York City, the Christmas season for me was always a wonderful time. As a kid, it meant family time, school vacations, great movies and shows … and shopping! And beyond that, the holidays are a magical time in New York – from the stores with their fairy tale windows to the bustling shoppers and streets with snowflake decorations and lights and, of course, the delicious smell of hot pretzels and chestnuts on every corner.
What Christmas wasn’t to me, however, was a religious or spiritual time. Yes, we had Chanukah, but in the list of Jewish holidays, this one seemed near the bottom of the totem pole. It seems each year the Chanukah presents got more and more elaborate, though (probably in response to all the Jewish kids who started getting envious of all their Christian friends). When I was young, a Chanukah gift was some coins or a pretty hairbrush. My own children’s gifts ran the gamut of American Girl dolls and Game Boys when they were little to, more recently, iPods and cell phones. How did this all happen? But I digress.
Photo & video: Gengen
A lifetime of song Music has been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father loved the old standards – composers like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Irving Berlin as well as the Broadway classics. Listening to this music marked the beginning of a lifetime of pleasure for me. During the Christmas season we sometimes listened to what my father would describe as “holiday music.” The songs were limited to the more secular types, the ones that didn’t mention church, Christianity or God. The radio would play our favourites, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” and, of course, the Queen of all Christmas music, adored by Jews the world over, “White Christmas,” which was composed by Irving Berlin, who happened to be Jewish, himself.
Judaism in my life
I grew up in a non-religious Jewish home in Brooklyn. We didn’t spend much time in synagogue, but I was always aware and very proud of my religion. The spirit didn’t need to be drummed into me – it was all around. My neighborhood was 95% Jewish and I just thought that was how the rest of the world was. Christmas to me was something I watched on TV in great holiday movies, or read about in fascinating books – it was never real to me, it was a fairy tale.
I brought my own children up with more of a religious awareness than I had. Maybe it was the different times we lived in, but I felt that I wanted more of a spiritual connection to my religion and the Jewish community, so my husband and I joined a neighbourhood temple. One of the things I realized immediately was how embedded music was in the Jewish religion. All prayers are sung (in Hebrew), and at all services there is a Rabbi as the officiator, as well as a Cantor, who is specifically trained to sing the prayers. What I found most humorous was the funny bickering that would sometimes go on about what synagogue had the Cantor with the best voice – voice competitions go on even in temple!
Photo: Jenleighbarry
Experiencing The Voice
Loving David’s voice was a no-brainer for me. From the moment I heard the first few lines of “Heaven,” I knew I was witnessing something very special. Are there other singers who have perfect pitch, incredible phrasing and an innate knowledge of drawing out the special nuances in music? Perhaps. Are there other singers who can emote and connect to you with their heart? Maybe. But it is the combination of these two things that puts David’s voice and talent on a whole other level. Then to top things off, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better then this, you have “David.”
That non-judgmental, optimistic, child-like and yet profound, funny person, who gets more joy out of giving than receiving. This mixture of talent, emotion and character seeps through every note he sings. And that’s what I find contagious, that’s the killer combo – that’s what keeps me coming back for more.
I remember last Christmas when I first heard David sing, “O Holy Night” at the tree lighting event. I have heard that song sung many times before – I even heard it being performed live by a talented opera singer. However, I never reallyheard that song, not until David performed it that night with just a piano in the background. I thought I would blow out my iPod with all my repeated plays and listens. It was just one of those performances that transformed me and although he is singing about Christ, it touched me in a very spiritual and personal way.
I can only describe it as that feeling I get every once in awhile, of total contentment and happiness. Where I feel so blessed that I literally can’t move. I just want to drink in every second of it, because I know that what I’m feeling is fleeting, that it won’t last, that’s what makes it so special. David’s voice in that particular performance brought me to that place, that feeling, and it was oh so perfect.
Christmas From the Heart, the album
I didn’t think twice about purchasing CFTH. My husband gave me a strange look though and said, “You’re not really buying an album of Christmas music?” With that I answered, “It’s David doing ballads with orchestras and choirs. Does it really matter what he sings?” And my assessment was correct. David’s voice was its usual exquisite instrument and even though in my eyes, nothing can ever touch last year’s performance of “O Holy Night,” this recorded version comes pretty close.
There is no need for me to wax poetic about this album – that’s all been done before my many who are much more eloquent and musically proficient than I. What is most important is that I now understand that the pleasure of this album has nothing to do with religion.
The connection of emotion and spirit experienced through his music is non-denominational – it breaks all barriers of race and religion.
How David does this, I do not know. I am just glad I am here to experience and take part in this incredible journey.
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 