Speech From the Heart

Posted on 10/28/2009 by awestruck

David never does anything halfway and his speech at this week’s Utah Women’s Conference was no exception. Nervous at the start, he settled in quickly as his confidence grew.   What a joy to witness (thank you pattycake!). Through his archadorable self-described “rambling,” David shared more of himself to us … AGAIN. This young man never stops giving.

Highlights for me:
● David’s self-awareness: “A David Archuleta speech for me is like an oxymoron.”
● How he faces his fears: getting started by taking that first little step is the most difficult but allows you to have “greater growth in life”
● The importance of following your dreams: Dreams are “the desire to accomplish something that seems difficult”

● His take on taking risks: You may get hurt, but accomplishing the risky and hard things in life is what helps us / makes us grow and learn. “If everything were easy in life we wouldn’t be able to enjoy life as much. The hard things in life make us appreciate the great things in life so much more.”
● How he keeps things in perspective: look where you came from and look at where you are now.
● He tries not to lie to himself because lying to yourself can lead to lying to others.
● The importance of giving time to yourself

DA women's confer. Utah Oct.26-09

● Exercise  and Journal Writing are examples that give you time for yourself, help you to keep your perspective, allow you to reflect on what’s important in life
● How he stays optimistic / positive in his thinking: By turning negative thoughts to positive ones – “this is hard” becomes “what a great opportunity to learn”
● David can be random in his thought processes: Circ du Symphony…
● Always try your best
● David has faced and conquered / or is conquering a great many of his fears
● Helping people makes you “think less about yourself and more about others” which, in turn, makes “you feel better about yourself”

One of the things that has been proven to me is that having a strong value of yourself- taking care of yourself is the starting point to giving / sharing / loving / supporting others.

Here is my example:
I used to believe it was selfish to think of yourself first by looking after yourself. However, because of my battle with chronic pain, I have come to accept this as the foundation for being able to deal with – not only life’s day to day challenges, but being able to set attainable goals for the future. Dealing with the mental issue surrounding the life altering physical pain became paramount.

For me, this led to volunteer work. Brandy (my Shiba Inu) and I are a PALS team – Pet Access League Society – and we visit a senior’s residence as well as the Children’s Hospital). It provides me with a specific, limited time frame that I can handle, a ‘job’ with no pressure except to know that I ‘have to’ put a smile on my face as I let Brandy work her magic and I do the talking! It has actually given me a feeling of empowerment. I forget all about my issues and it persuades me to focus on others.

By bringing a moment or two of joy to others, I receive a deeply satisfying feeling of contentment. The return is tenfold.

Listening to David’s speech has led me to reflect on the things in my life I want to continue to do, what ideas I have re-captured and, what attempts I will make in the future.
Thank you, David

I would like to propose to all of you to also reflect. What did you learn / re-learn from David’s speech? How will you apply this knowledge in your daily life? [Download an mp3 of the speech here. (Thanks to Newangel, Archuleta Avenue, SnarkyArchies.]

Posted in Fan experience | Tagged , | 51 Comments

Projet Pat-a-Pan

Posted on 10/24/2009 by TOfan
Credit: Clare/SnarkyArchies

Credit: Clare/SnarkyArchies

There’s a top-secret international initiative afoot — okay, not so secret — to spread the love for Pat-a-Pan north of the 49th Parallel … that’s us.

I mean, could there be a more Canada-friendly track on David Archuleta’s Christmas From the Heart CD? It’s spunky, funky, was born in a northern climate (la belle France)  — and sung in both official languages!

It’s also the perfect gateway song for not-yet fans to get hooked on the mind-altering music of David Archuleta. And hooked they will be. It’s as addictive as Mr. Tu-re-lu-re-lu himself.

Pat-a-Pan is one of those rhythmic up-tempo numbers  (like Shop Around) that shows off David’s innate musicality, his ability to use his voice as one of the instruments rather than singing around the music. One minute, he’s leading the percussion section — pat-a-pat-a-pan — the next, woodwinds — tu-re-lu-re-lu. Amazing. Can’t wait to hear the dance-mix versions to arrive just in time for Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties.

Your mission, if you decide to accept it, is to undertake a stealth operation whenever the opportunity arises. Gift it to French immersion students or teachers, request it on your local French CBC station, email it as a theme suggestion to So You Think You Can Dance Canada, blast it while eating poutine. Or just listen and enjoy. (Oh, and after watching Angelica’s amazing video below, good luck trying to get the tune out of your head … for days!)

patapanGuillô, prends ton tambourin,
Toi, prends ta flûte, Robin
Au son de ces instruments
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan
Au son de ces instruments
Je dirai Noël, gaiement.

Willie, bring your little drum.
Robin, get your fife, and come,
And be merry while you play.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan
We will listen as you play
For the joy for Christmas day.

When the men of olden days
Gave the King of Kings their praise
They had pipes on which to play.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan
They had drums on which to play.

For the joy of Christmas day. / God and man became today,
More in tune than fife and drum, / So be merry while you play.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan
Come be merry while you play / On this joyous Christmas day.

pat-a-pan-logo-jean-michel-renaultWhile the angels wing / To the newborn King,
I will sing for the blessed Babe / On this joyous Christmas day.
God and man became today, /More in tune than fife and drum,
So be merry while you play. / Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan
Come be merry while you play /On this joyous Christmas day.

While the angels wing / To the newborn King,
I will sing for the blessed Babe / On this joyous Christmas day.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu-ra-le. Come and hear them patapan.

Bring your little drum. /Robin, get your fife and come.
Tu-re-lu-re-lu-ra-le. Come and hear them patapan.

Men of olden days / Gave the King of Kings their praise.
On this joyous Christmas. / Bring your little drum.
Robin, get your fife and come. /Come be merry.

(Repeat)

Video credit: The most talented strangerphilosophy (Angelica)

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The lone arranger: Awaiting David’s Quincy Jones

Posted on 10/20/2009 by happy
Credit: Annie/David Archuleta Fans Germany

Credit: The talented Annie/DA Fans Germany

There I sat in the “hot seat,” aka the recliner next to the fire, laptop on the lap desk, reading my email. My teenage son was reclining on the recliner across the room reserved for the “cool folk” (of which I am evidently not one). I didn’t mind, I like it hot and I was keeping the volume down low as I began to play my new David Archuleta Christmas carols. I was minding my own business.

“That’s nice mom, I love Christmas carols,” offered my boy (…it’s in the blood. 🙂 )

“Is that David?”

I smiled. He nodded knowingly.

“Turn it up, I’d like to hear it.”

And so we sat by the light of the fire (and the lap top and the itouch, but who cared?) and shared the peace and love of a few Christmas carols in October. It was my first listen to the highly anticipated (by me of course, not my son) songs on CFTH.  And a lovely listen it was.  And that was that.

And that was that. Hmm. That’s it? That’s it. I liked them. What’s not to like about David singing Christmas carols? I liked them. But I had hoped that in addition to revealing the magic of Christmas, the songs would have revealed more of the magic of David’s art. Perhaps unfairly, I had afforded myself the selfish desire to be blown away by his artistry and not just his voice on this CD. The carols didn’t do that for me.

I used to do that on AI too. I’d wait all week, hoping that he’d reproduce the magical moments of Imagine. Some weeks he did, and others he didn’t. Oh well, that’s how it goes with art. Sometimes you write The Kite Runner and sometimes you write A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Of course, I am convinced that someday David will blow me away just about every time he sings.  His artistic instincts will be highlighted and yes … Arranged.  I am fully aware that the arranger seems to become the point of contention whenever David sings. In my opinion, this is because, up to this point, David has apparently not settled on his sound. When he does, I am equally convinced he will hear it in his head and insist upon it. Until then, he will work with a variety of arrangers, many of whom will deem their talent equal to his. But their talent will not be equal to his and their arrangements, in my opinion, will not do him justice. When he finds the arranger whose talent actually IS equal to his — well, then I will be hypnotized and mesmerized on a regular basis.

Frank Sinatra recording with Quincy Jones

... so what's really in the tea cup, Frank? (Sinatra, recording with Quincy Jones)

This is not a criticism of CFTH. In my opinion, it is a lovely Christmas CD. It is just an observation about my own reaction to my expectations for it, and the importance of the arranger in these expectations cannot be overstated. And it’s not about “liking it.” It’s about creating an artistic identity. Reference the early Michael Jackson albums that Quincy Jones produced/arranged.

Quincy took Michael’s melodies and harmonies and distributed them throughout the orchestra to create the sound that made Michael Jackson famous.  His vision and musical design of notes, rhythms, instruments, and mixing of the music was as important to Michael as Nelson Riddle was to Frank Sinatra. Riddle and Sinatra created “Sinatra.” To this day when we listen to someone sing Sinatra we are listening to the same orchestrations of the backgrounds behind Sinatra as were created by Riddle.

That’s the sound that makes us identify with him as an artist. Brian Wilson’s arrangements on the album Pet Sounds and Phil Spector’s “Wall Of Sound” for his artists are also monumental examples of what an arranger does.   When Aretha Franklin signed with Columbia in 1960 her recordings reflected a jazz influence as she moved away from her gospel roots. Then, according to Aretha, it was when she signed with Atlantic and worked with Jerry Wexler that “they made me sit down on the piano and the hits came.”

Wexler of course, coined the term “rhythm and blues” and is responsible for producing not only Aretha but Ray Charles, the Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett, Dusty Springfield and Bob Dylan to name a few.

And all of this brings me to the most recent and insightful question from my son, “What are you doing, Mom?”

“I’m writing a reflection about David’s Christmas album.”

“Why does anyone care what you think of his Christmas album? Do they care what I think too? … They’re Christmas carols and they sound good.”  He shrugs and walks away.

Out of the mouths of babes.

— happy

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Diary of an Archuholic Part 2: Anticipation to meltdown

Posted on 10/18/2009 by awestruck

Credit: Anne-Marie, FOD

Credit: Anne-Marie, FOD

October 13, 2009

Dear Diary,

I remember my great anticipation while waiting to hear David Archuleta’s debut CD.  Snippets be danged, I was determined to wait until the day I had the disc in my hand and could play it in its entirety.

Afterwards, however, I actually went back and listened to them to see, if indeed, I had missed something.  I wasn’t disappointed that I had waited.  They were after all, just snippets — they were incomplete and left you hanging….

So, it was not hard for me to do the same with Christmas from the Heart – and not listen to the snippets. My anticipation, however, has increased exponentially ….

Quite fitting then, that now at 4:30 a.m., as I download CFTH on iTunes, the snow is falling gently to the ground in big light fluffy flakes.  I listen on my headphones so as not to wake up my household.  I really listen to the words as David sings each song, then again and notice the accompaniments – the piano, the strings, the flute, the guitar, the orchestra as a whole and I am stung by tears when I get to What Child Is This.

73023239PM001_Cold_Spell_FiIt is now 6:45 a.m. and, as I let my dog out, I also find myself outside – in my housecoat and holey plastic garden ‘shoes’ – sweeping the inch or so of snow that has fallen.  Brandy comes running at the sound for she loves to jump at the snow as I propel it in the air.  She is exuberant.  I feel a joyous peacefulness settle over me and can’t help but grin.  What a glorious feeling it is to be alive at this very moment in time.

I am amazed at my reaction.  No meltdown. Perhaps it will occur after I have listened to the two final tracks – have I saved the best for last?  Certainly David’s previous O Holy Night renditions have brought me to tears and Ave Maria, well this one is just my most favorite. I will listen — later.  For now, I will bask in the wonderful calm that has settled upon me.

October 15, 2009, a.m.

Sunshine called the CD a “tapestry.” I concur, the weaving together of many threads to make a whole, with a commonality connecting them. Each song having varying threads of David’s unique vocal nuance, inflection, dynamics , accent and phrasing, tied together by his emotional reverence.

October 16, 2009, p.m.

O Holy Night, sung – this time – with the more traditional orchestration, is yet another version that will take over my senses and carry me away to a very special place upon each listening.

October 17, 2009

I have just listened to Ave Maria for the first time. Not understanding the words made me pay closer attention to and be more attuned to the pure emotion in David’s voice.  The tears stream down my face in honour.

P.S. Gorgeous Pat-a-Pan video from vidwhiz Angelica!


Posted in Diary of an Archuholic, Fan experience | Tagged , , | 56 Comments

Diary of an Archuholic, Part 1

Posted on 10/16/2009 by refnaf
This is how I imagine david looked while recording

This is how I imagine David looked while recording.

Oct. 13, 2009

Dear Diary,

Overslept, only because I stayed up till 1:20 a.m. waiting for David Archuleta’s Christmas From the Heart to download from Canadian iTunes. I knew that the only way I’d get to sleep was to have the melodies of Christmas  playing in my dreams. My heart was actually racing …  silly to anyone who is not on this road less traveled, the road of the Archuholic (yes, his voice is better than a drug).

I  also did my research last night to see when and where I could get  CFTH at the earliest possible time. HMV had it listed, so by 11:00 a.m. I was there, wandering around, looking through a store with nary a Christmas CD in sight …  gah, I had to ask for it.

Me: “Where would I find a new release?”

David needs to autograph my cd with this..

David needs to autograph my CD with this.

Dude: “What genre?”

Me: “Christmas.”

Dude: “Oh, Bob Dylan’s newest?”

Me: “Uhh, well, no … David Archuleta.”

Dude: “Oh, we were supposed to get five copies but they’re not here yet.”

Me: “Five copies!?! Five?? I kinda need about 10 copies.”

Dude: “We’ll get more closer to Christmas … it’s only October.”

Yes, it is only October, but I want David’s Christmas CD now! So I begin the trek across town to the dreaded store I never shop at (except for David music it seems) — Wal-Mart.

Beelined straight to the entertainment section, and there I see Mr. Elderly Stockboy with my CD in his hands. Eureka! I did not hesitate to take six copies, and politely asked if this is all they had. He replied that they would get more if stock is depleted, I smiled and told him, that yes it is depleted, but I’ll leave a few and come back later (could not bare to leave the shelf empty.)

No memories of the drive home….

David was born to do this…to sing from his heart and soul, and all I need to do today … is listen,  and I know of so many hearts listening right along with me….

Posted in Diary of an Archuholic | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

Up Close and Personal: Christmas From The Heart

Posted on 10/14/2009 by Kizzi
Touched by The Finger of The Divine

Touched by The Divine, Sistine Chapel, ~ The Creation of Adam ~ Michelangelo

Regardless of when we first heard David sing, the reality is it was pure and simple, wonderful and blessed fate that crisscrossed our lives with David’s artistry.  And, now with this album, there will be myriad people hearing David for the first time.

David, with Christmas From The Heart, yet again, shows us another luminous facet of his talent, his heart and his soul.

These are my personal impressions and opinions.

Inspiration, faith, love, humility, gentleness, joy, mystery, and, yes, these performances are from the deepest recesses of his heart.  In these songs, we feel David’s heart, he invites us to visit with his soul as he sings, and we see through his pure eyes, enveloped in his glorious love, the Infinite, the Universal One.

Accomplished and Ambitious?  You betcha!   Songs in English, Latin, Spanish and French, no less.  Fearless in depth and breadth of choices.  Orchestras, choirs, slow rhythms, fast tempos and in-between. At the core of every song, arising with rich, gorgeous clarity and crisp, sharp definition out of the surrounding music, the instrument that we have spent the last 22 months marveling about, David’s Voice.

Every song speaks volumes to me.  My top songs (and they change priority every time I listen):

What Child Is This – Pure genius.  Genuine, flowing from the center of David’s heart and faith.  “This, this, is Christ the King…Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.” Vulnerable.  Authentic.  Tender.  STUNNING. And then there are the vocals, the voice, the talent — but those are secondary to the purity and beauty of the message David delivers.

Michelangelo's Pietà 1499 ~ Saint Peter's Basilica ~ Rome

Ave Maria – To hear David sing this prayer is a rare and unexpected gift.  His approach is quite simply to convey adoration one note at a time.  The reverence he infuses into each syllable is deeply poignant and intimate.  Each word finds us, like sonar, and detects and communicates with resounding pings, with our heart and soul. The Infinite.  God.  Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God. Life. Love.  To be among Angels.  His vocalization of  “Amen” is a tsunami of faith.  His live performances  of Ava Maria will shake the stars from the sky, make angels faint and demons weep.

O Holy Night – Soaring into the heavens and beyond.  Massive love. The Universal One. That last verse: “Noel, Noel…O night, O night divine.  Noel, Noel, O night, O night divine” Sacred. Of the Divine.

And, then, there is Pat-A-Pan. Mysterious. Edgy.  A march.  “Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan.”  David’s voice giving us the sound of the drum, pat-a-pan, and the fife (small flute), tu-re-lu-re-lu, that the shepherds played to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I suspect reams will be written about this song, especially the last sixty seconds.

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel flashes through my mind when I hear David’s magnificent vocals and melodic interpretations with this collection of songs.  One should be prepared for complete rapture if one but allows it to happen.  From agnostic to devout, no matter our personal beliefs, it is a conduit for us, if we so chose, to touch the finger of The Divine.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, SnowAngelz!

________________________________________

Addendum:  Just wanted to say that although a person of faith I am not affiliated with a specific religious belief system. I was raised in an extended multi-cultural, multi-religious family.  After years of attending services at various places of worship, I ended up with a deep appreciation of the world of faith and religion.

Also, I am a lifelong student of the European Renaissance and admirer of the artistry of Michelangelo (di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni) and thus the choice of art.

Finally, I did post an excerpt of this on Amazon as  a review after I downloaded the MP3.

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas From the Heart

Posted on 10/13/2009 by TOfan
Cover concept by frogcooke

Cover concept by frogcooke

I may be struck by lightning for saying this, but Christmas carols are my favourite part of the holiday.

Maybe it’s because I became a Christmas-carol junkie at such a young age – learning all 6,432 verses of “Good King Wenceslas” by the time I was five. And after singing these songs in countless choirs, concerts, masses, and every Christmas Eve (whether my family likes it or not), these hymns now live and breathe deep within my memory … within me.

So the thought of two of my musical loves coming together for David Archuleta’s Christmas from the Heart CD filled me with trepidation. How could my expectations ever be met? How could I not be disappointed?

david_archuleta_thumbBut as he always does, David takes my expectations, sees them, raises the stakes, then shows his cards and beats all odds. Every time. When will I ever learn? I was blown away by so much on this album (and noted only one misstep *cough*Charice*cough*), but here are a few of my favourite things:

O Holy Night
It is a tribute to this arrangement and the orchestration that my tears began to well even before David started to sing. The visceral thrill of hearing — no feeling — real strings, real woodwinds, real percussion — made my knees weak.

We’ve heard David sing OHN before but never like this. At first I thought he slowed things down from his Tree Lighting Ceremony version but, comparing the two, I realize he slowed only his delivery to add emphasis to each line, each word — all the while maintaining the same tempo … incredible. It has the effect of bringing a profound depth of meaning to each phrase. With its tender tone and phrasing, David’s voice carries the essence of this most holy night to my very marrow.

And you’d have to be seriously dehydrated not to tear up at the delicate reverence of “His gospel is peace,” “Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth” or the sublime high note of “Noëëëëël!”

Credit: Snarky Archies

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree ... (Credit: Snarky Archies)

What Child is This?
Oh my. Where do I begin? For me, the purity and youthful innocence of David’s voice paired with the honesty and truth he brings to every note here are both heartbreaking and breathtaking.

He makes the scene feel so real, I can practically smell the straw in the manger. It feels as though David is shepherding us into the stable with him where we stand gazing at the infant in awe and wonder. He sings simply and softly as a whisper — careful not to wake the blessed babe.

By the time he asks “Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and mule are feeding?” my heart grows heavy with his at the poignancy of the lowly surroundings. Then the full impact of what child this is finally hits at the crescendo, and I weep with joy at “This, This is Christ the King.”

O Come All Ye Faithful
Love this arrangement. A perfect marriage of contemporary David flourishes and traditional majesty. It should always be sung this way.

Riu Riu Chiu
This song is already haunting my dreams. It dates back to the Renaissance and has a peculiar (in a good way) cadence … the trance-like quality of a Gregorian chant fused with a soulful Latin rhythm. Absolutely addictive. (Pat-a-Pan also has constant-replay potential and I can’t wait for the inevitable dance/club mixes to surface.)

Ave Maria
I’m too overwhelmed by David’s Ave Maria to say anything coherent. Let me just say this: If you’ve lost your faith and don’t want it back again, best skip this one.

Silent Night
This is a perfect jewel of a track. Again, it begins softly, tenderly, as if David is one of the shepherds watching the baby Jesus sleep. Then, his voice swells as if he’s stepped outside the stable and is free to sing out the miraculous news to the world — to the moon and the stars and the sky.

This isn’t the record of a singer concerned with fame or fortune or making his voice sound pretty – it’s the record of a master storyteller, an artist who wants to connect with every listener – regardless of their beliefs or lack thereof – so that every last one can feel the joy – the pure love – that lies at the heart of Christmas.

Thank you for this most precious gift, David.

Posted in Music review | Tagged , , , , , , | 57 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on 10/10/2009 by TOfan
Credit: The über-talented jenleighbarry.

Credit: The über-talented jenleighbarry.

Monday, Oct. 12th, is Canadian Thanksgiving. So, when it was announced that Oct. 13th was the official release date for David Archuleta’s Christmas From the Heart CD, the timing seemed too good to be true.

I was thankful when the first CD was released, don’t get me wrong. But there’s something about David singing Christmas songs that just seems so … perfect.

The thought of seeing all those shiny new CFTH CDs on the record-store rack on Tuesday, makes my heart sing. And the prospect of blasting the whole thing for the first time until the speakers shake … well, I get a little shaky thinking about that, too.

This holiday weekend, I’m also most grateful for the wonderful people I’ve met, new places I’ve been and experiences I’ve shared with fellow fans of David. It’s one cool, crazy group and I love being part of it.

MapleLeavesThank you, David

Here at SnowAngelz, we thought what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to express our gratitude to @DavidArchie for his music, his Voice, his very David-ness.

TwoFlagsYou are all welcome to include your own messages in the comments (either here or on the “Thank You, David” page (see new Tab up top) and the SnowAngelz team will collect everyone’s thank yous throughout October and deliver them to David at the Manchester, NH, show on the 29th.

And thank you to all of you! Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

SnowAngelz thank yous

David, thank you for being the person you are and sharing your amazing talent with anyone who will stop to listen.  You reach out to and connect with people in such positive ways – aside from your singing, your blogs/vblogs/tweets– and impact them to change the way they think and act.  Perhaps hard for you to understand, but embraced by those you touch.   My wish for you is that you continue to be happy in whatever you choose to do.
Brenda/Awestruck

Being thankful for David is something I am inspired to be every day. David, thank you for your tweets, which keep me amazed at your positive outlook, David, thank you for your vlogs, that make me smile and giggle EVERY TIME I watch.. David, thank you for your heart, which you bare in all your interactions with your fans.  David, thank you for the grace you display in all your dealings with the media. David, thank you for the gift of your VOICE, which soothes, calms, inspires and connects me to the Eternal…and leads me to be thankful for all of  life.
Nancy/refnaf

Thank you, David, for sharing your musical gifts with us. Your voice and your songs bring joy into my life every single day. They take me to a place of pure love and light and lift my soul. Thank you also for your amazing live shows … they are thrilling and exciting and insane amounts of fun. But thank you most of all for always being truly you.
Peace and love to you and your family,
Deb, Toronto

Dear David, Since it is Thanksgiving here in Canada, I am going over in my mind the many things and people I have to be thankful for. As I review this year (the past 2 actually), I realize that some of the brightest highlights took place in venues, both large and small, where I had the pleasure of hearing your amazing voice, and feeling the warmth and kindness of spirit you exude. For this David, I am so thankful.  I have met some of the kindest and warmest people over this past two years, through the love of your music and spirit, people I hope to call friends for an eternity. The power of your immense talent coupled with your warm, sincere, humble, happy, and generous personality, is changing the lives of many, and is something I know we are all thankful for in a big way!!
May God bless you and keep you safe always,
With Affection,
Deanna (conditioner)

David, it’s Thanksgiving time in Canada. I’ll be giving plenty of thanks this weekend for my blessings.  But I’d like to extend a warm Canadian thank-you to YOU.  How do I do this adequately?  How about the Top 10 “MERCI BEAUCOUP‘s from a Canadian fan?  Here goes, David – thanks for:
#10: Two CD’s and a fanbundle within one year…how lucky are we!
#9:  Being inclusive of all your fans…big, small, young, old(ish), domestic and international…you appreciate us all
#8:  Including Pat-a-Pan and speaking in French (très magnifique) on your Christmas CD
#7:  Loving Cheesecake Factory gift certificates (and SU2C donations haha)
#6:  “Bubbly” Re-invented, an indescribable “Angels” in Pittsburgh, and “Desperate” deconstructed in Rockford.  Merveilleux!
#5:  Signing back a painting from a Canadian artist for auction before stuffing it back into a FEDEX box (an EXTRA MERCI for that!)
#4:  Blogs, vlogs, VIPs and @DavidArchie tweets
#3:  Your tour stop in Canada (wait, is that planned yet?…well, it should be!)
#2:  Staying true to yourself and your values. And trusting your gut.
AND THE #1 thanks is for:  Sharing the extraordinary gift of your artistry and musical interpretation with all of us.  And for taking us along on this musical journey with you. We are all better people because of it.  From the bottom of our Canuck hearts, merci.
Pastel

Dear David –  You make me laugh. You make me sing. You make me dance. Wow.  Thank you.
Val (sunshine) 

                                                                                                                                                             

 


 

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Team Archie CFTH gifting campaign

Posted on 10/09/2009 by TOfan
You, too, can be Santa!

Ho! Ho! Yo! You, too, can be Santa!

When David Archuleta’s first CD was released, the U.S. WalMart versions featured a bonus track — Works for Me.

Unfortunately for Canadians, WalMart stores in this country didn’t carry the bonus-track version. So fans on this side of the border either had to travel to the States, rely on American friends or do what I did — contact Team Archie.

They couldn’t have been more amazing. Although they didn’t require it, I made a donation to Team Archie to cover the CD they sent to me. But then I was so touched to find out that volunteers made special trips to WalMarts in the U.S. to buy the records then mail them out to “giftees” that I donated again … and again.

They do wonderful work to share David’s music legally and internationally, but their requests for CFTH are way ahead of donations right now.

Here’s a message from Team Archie:

“We are running a Gifting Campaign for David Archuleta’s music. A lot of his fans either do not possess a credit card, or have other financial limitations, or limitations based on location (many international countries do not sell his album or have itunes stores) and may end up acquiring his music for free rather than purchase them. We would much prefer that all of David’s fans receive his music legally so that he will benefit from royalties as well as sales figures. Free downloads do not count towards his commercial success, and we all want him to do well, right?!”

If you’d like to participate in this campaign, here are the links you need:

Donate album

Donate money

To be gifted the album

More gifting info

Four more days!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 74 Comments

To snippet or not to snippet, that is the question?

Posted on 10/08/2009 by TOfan

Hypnotized and mesmerized from listening to song fragments on repeat, Canadians are frantic to get to the mall as fast as they can to get Christmas from the Heart on Oct. 13!

Why couldn't we get a Mazda like everyone else?

Why couldn't we get a Mazda like everyone else?

If you’re buying in bulk for Christmas gifting, check out the latest prices:

1) Amazon.ca — now $11.99! — pre-order here.

2) Chapters.Indigo.ca — $17.99 — pre-order here.

3) BestBuy.ca — $18.99 — pre-order here.

"Step away from the snippets!"

"Step away from the snippets!"

Here’s a selection of the reviews on Amazon.ca:

The perfect Christmas gift … for yourself! (Claire, Toronto)
The gorgeous tone and silky timbre of Archuleta’s stunning voice, combined with his brilliant interpretation of these carols, is sure to make Christmas From the Heart a holiday classic for years to come. I’ve been fortunate to hear Archuleta sing O Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, and other carols, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything so beautiful, or felt the emotion of these songs so deeply. A must have for Christmas, or all year! 5/5 stars

Christmas From the Heart … simply beautiful! (AngelforDA, Vancouver, B.C.)
I am really looking forward to hearing David’s Christmas album all the way through. I have listened to snippets of the songs and they are just lovely. Just gives me a taste to want more. I know David’s amazing vocal skills and the heart and soul he puts into his music will make this album a very special one at the top of my list! 5/5 stars

Can’t wait
Can’t wait for this cd to come out, if you never heard david singing, you have to get his cd, this one and first pop one, great vocals. 5/5 stars

From David’s Heart to Yours, So Beautiful! (Virginia, Windsor, Ont.)
I rarely buy Christmas albums (last one was “Noel” by Josh Groban, 2007), but as a Huge Fan of David Archuleta’s, I can say that “Christmas From The Heart”, is an absolute ‘Must Have’, cause David’s stunning, soaring vocals, will touch your Heart & soothe your very Soul, while making your holidays (& all year) extra special! 5/5 stars

If you’ve pre-ordered through Amazon.ca, you can post your review here. Have fun!

Have you caved to the siren call of the snippets, or are you displaying freakish self-control (like moi)?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 38 Comments