Difference between revisions of "David Archuleta"
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− | [[Image:David-James-Archuleta- | + | [[Image:David-James-Archuleta-Then-Now-2022.jpg|500px|thumb|<center><span style="color:#0000FF">David James Archuleta - From Star Search to American Idol</span></center>|right]] |
− | '''David James Archuleta''' is a pop-singer made famous by ''American Idol''. He is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was born on 28 December 1990, to Jeff Archuleta and Lupe Marie Mayorga in North Miami, Florida. He was a student at Murray High School in Salt Lake County, Utah when he competed and won second place in the ''American Idol'' competition, season 7, at the age of 16. He is a member of [ | + | '''David James Archuleta''' is a pop-singer made famous by ''American Idol''. He is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was born on 28 December 1990, to Jeff Archuleta and Lupe Marie Mayorga in North Miami, Florida. He was a student at Murray High School in Salt Lake County, Utah, when he competed and won second place in the ''American Idol'' competition, season 7, at the age of 16. He is a member of [http://comeuntochrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]. His clear and beautiful singing voice, plus his emotional connection with the audience, coupled with his refreshing modesty and innocence, has won him fans nationwide. |
Both of David's parents are musicians. His father is a jazz musician, and his mother, who is from Honduras, is a singer. Because of his mother's Latino heritage, David grew up listening to Latino music, as well as jazz music from his father's collection. [http://davidarchuleta.com/home/bio/ He explains], "Music was always a part of my life growing up. My mother was also big on dancing and would teach my older sister and me to dance to traditional music. I can’t think about celebrating my family without thinking about celebrating music." | Both of David's parents are musicians. His father is a jazz musician, and his mother, who is from Honduras, is a singer. Because of his mother's Latino heritage, David grew up listening to Latino music, as well as jazz music from his father's collection. [http://davidarchuleta.com/home/bio/ He explains], "Music was always a part of my life growing up. My mother was also big on dancing and would teach my older sister and me to dance to traditional music. I can’t think about celebrating my family without thinking about celebrating music." | ||
− | ==Performing History== | + | ==Early Performing History== |
When David was six years old, his parents moved his family to Sandy, Utah, and encouraged him to compete in talent competitions. At only ten years old, he participated in the Utah Talent Competition, receiving a standing ovation from the audience, and winning the children's division. In 2003, at the age of twelve, he won the Star Search 2 Junior Vocal Champion award. You can watch one of his performances from the competition [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdqSMKyofE0 here]. He also made appearances on The ''Jenny Jones Show'', CBS' ''The Early Show'', and met the finalists from ''American Idol'''s first season, for whom he performed a spontaneous a-cappella rendition of [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg6a1MQ9JNY "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"] from Dreamgirls. In 2007, at sixteen years old, he entered the ''American Idol'' tryouts in San Diego, California, at Qualcomm Stadium (30-31 July 2007), and became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of ''American Idol''. In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes. | When David was six years old, his parents moved his family to Sandy, Utah, and encouraged him to compete in talent competitions. At only ten years old, he participated in the Utah Talent Competition, receiving a standing ovation from the audience, and winning the children's division. In 2003, at the age of twelve, he won the Star Search 2 Junior Vocal Champion award. You can watch one of his performances from the competition [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdqSMKyofE0 here]. He also made appearances on The ''Jenny Jones Show'', CBS' ''The Early Show'', and met the finalists from ''American Idol'''s first season, for whom he performed a spontaneous a-cappella rendition of [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg6a1MQ9JNY "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"] from Dreamgirls. In 2007, at sixteen years old, he entered the ''American Idol'' tryouts in San Diego, California, at Qualcomm Stadium (30-31 July 2007), and became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of ''American Idol''. In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes. | ||
− | He has had professional training on and off, and at one point suffered from partial vocal chord paralysis but avoided surgery. He also plays the piano and sometimes accompanies his own vocals | + | He has had professional training on and off, and at one point suffered from partial vocal chord paralysis but avoided surgery. He also plays the piano and sometimes accompanies his own vocals. |
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==The American Idol Competition== | ==The American Idol Competition== | ||
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During 2010, David worked with a team of writers in Nashville in preparation for a new album. He continued to tour and release hit songs. He performed with Celtic Woman on their PBS Christmas special. And he continued to release albums, including ''The Other Side of Down'' (2010), ''Begin'' (2012), and ''No Matter How Far'' (2013). His album ''Forevermore'' was released exclusively in the Philippines in March 2012 where it was soon certified gold. He also made his acting debut on the Nickelodeon show iCarly and appeared in Season 3 of the Disney Channel show ''Hannah Montana,'' on which he sang [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9_3OS7pd_0 “I Wanna Know You,”] in a duet with Miley Cyrus. | During 2010, David worked with a team of writers in Nashville in preparation for a new album. He continued to tour and release hit songs. He performed with Celtic Woman on their PBS Christmas special. And he continued to release albums, including ''The Other Side of Down'' (2010), ''Begin'' (2012), and ''No Matter How Far'' (2013). His album ''Forevermore'' was released exclusively in the Philippines in March 2012 where it was soon certified gold. He also made his acting debut on the Nickelodeon show iCarly and appeared in Season 3 of the Disney Channel show ''Hannah Montana,'' on which he sang [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9_3OS7pd_0 “I Wanna Know You,”] in a duet with Miley Cyrus. | ||
− | ==Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance== | + | ==Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance== |
− | + | [[Image:David-Archuleta-Chords-of-Strength.jpg|300px|thumb|<span style="color:#0000FF">David Archuleta Chords of Strength - Book]] | |
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− | + | During his time in Nashville, David also wrote a memoir titled ''Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance'' which landed in bookstores on 1 June 2010. He generally shies away from discussing his religious convictions, however, in his memoir, he delves into the subject of his faith. [He commented], "I decided if people want to know who I am, they need to know this about me, this part of my life and how important it is to me and how it has affected my decisions, how I view things, and why I am who I am. "I feel like God’s the reason why I’m here, and the way that I’ve tried to do what I feel is right is the reason why I’m here. | |
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==Singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir== | ==Singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir== | ||
− | + | A hightlight of David's career was his guest appearance for the world-renowned [[Mormon Tabernacle Choir]] and [[Orchestra at Temple Square]] in 2010 for their annual Christmas concert. [https://www.latinlife.com/video/825/the-hottest-song-on-the-internet-is-by-this-honduran-david-archuleta-my-little-prayer-lighttheworld He has commented], "I grew up with such a great respect for the Choir, and never imagined I’d be up there with them one day. Just getting to be up on that stage with the Choir is one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt in my life." He also appeared as guest artist on The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s holiday album, ''Glad Christmas Tidings.'' | |
The concerts were presented on Thursday, 16 December 2010, (dress rehearsal), and Friday and Saturday, 17-18 December 2010. On Sunday, 19 December 2010, the Choir’s weekly [[Music and the Spoken Word]] broadcast also featured David with a mini-concert immediately following. All the concerts were held in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The concerts for Friday and Saturday were sold out by the end of November, but there was a stand-by line of hopefuls waiting in the cold winter night. Actor Michael York narrated the concerts. | The concerts were presented on Thursday, 16 December 2010, (dress rehearsal), and Friday and Saturday, 17-18 December 2010. On Sunday, 19 December 2010, the Choir’s weekly [[Music and the Spoken Word]] broadcast also featured David with a mini-concert immediately following. All the concerts were held in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The concerts for Friday and Saturday were sold out by the end of November, but there was a stand-by line of hopefuls waiting in the cold winter night. Actor Michael York narrated the concerts. | ||
− | < | + | <embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgqmyimVlfU&rel=0</embedvideo> |
==David Archuleta's Personal Milestones== | ==David Archuleta's Personal Milestones== | ||
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David earned Eagle Scout rank with the Boy Scouts of America just as he was turning 18. It was tough to sandwich in final merit badges and a service project with his performing commitments. A short time later, David participated in higher covenants in the [[Jordan River Utah Temple]]. You can read about these events [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705395028/David-Archuleta-the-Eagle-the-temple-and-the-music.html?pg=1 here.] | David earned Eagle Scout rank with the Boy Scouts of America just as he was turning 18. It was tough to sandwich in final merit badges and a service project with his performing commitments. A short time later, David participated in higher covenants in the [[Jordan River Utah Temple]]. You can read about these events [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705395028/David-Archuleta-the-Eagle-the-temple-and-the-music.html?pg=1 here.] | ||
− | David Archuleta has always been a spiritual person and very active in the Church of Jesus Christ. In late 2011, while performing near home, he announced that he would take two years' hiatus from his career to serve a full-time two-year [[Mission|mission]] for | + | David Archuleta has always been a spiritual person and very active in the Church of Jesus Christ. In late 2011, while performing near home, he announced that he would take two years' hiatus from his career to serve a full-time two-year [[Mission|mission]] for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. |
− | < | + | <embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKRmw0fEM44&rel=0</embedvideo> |
− | < | + | <embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N5b7LFX5JI&rel=0</embedvideo> |
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David was in the [[Missionary Training Center]] in Provo, Utah when the 182nd Annual [[General Conference]] of the Church was held in April of 2012. When an MTC missionary choir performed at one of the sessions, David was part of that choir. | David was in the [[Missionary Training Center]] in Provo, Utah when the 182nd Annual [[General Conference]] of the Church was held in April of 2012. When an MTC missionary choir performed at one of the sessions, David was part of that choir. | ||
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− | < | + | <embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hMh6YYjPEU&rel=0</embedvideo> |
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− | + | <embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0WArpxP0us&rel=0</embedvideo> | |
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− | + | As a [[Missionary|missionary]] for [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], David performed at the Santiago Chile Temple Christmas Concert in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he performed “O Holy Night,” “Mary, Did You Know,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Los Pastores a Belen,” each in Spanish. The performance was broadcast live on LDS.org. Video clips are also available on Youtube. A pre-recorded album titled ''Begin'' was released in August 2012. He also delighted his fans with an album release in March 2013 titled ''No Matter How Far'' which was also recorded before he began his service as a full-time missionary. | |
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==Updates== | ==Updates== | ||
− | After David returned home from his mission, there was a [[General Conference]] for the Church held in April 2014. KSL aired a special on David's missionary service called "David Archuleta: Called to Serve." The program has since been recorded on DVD and can be purchased from ''Deseret | + | After David returned home from his mission, there was a [[General Conference]] for the Church held in April 2014. KSL aired a special on David's missionary service called "David Archuleta: Called to Serve." The program has since been recorded on DVD and can be purchased from ''Deseret Book'' and other local Latter-day Saint bookstores. You can also watch the video on YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9sETR9Nup4 Part 1], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_kGrzQsCDA Part 2], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ4HM5n9mIk Part 3], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8j6eWD_nzQ Part 4]. |
− | David Archuleta was featured in the first Face-to-Face Live Facebook Youth Event on 24 June 2014, moderated by Bonnie L. Oscarson, [[Young Women General Presidency|Young Women General President]], and David L. Beck, [[Young Men]] General President. David was asked a variety of questions by the moderators as well as youth from around the world. The event included two separate one-hour events, one in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGwNTwdj08o English] and one in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpsTNCU0p9A Spanish], where he sang four songs in English and three songs in Spanish. | + | David Archuleta was featured in the first Face-to-Face Live Facebook Youth Event on 24 June 2014, moderated by [[Bonnie Lee Green Oscarson|Bonnie L. Oscarson]], [[Young Women General Presidency|Young Women General President]], and [[David L. Beck]], [[Young Men]] General President. David was asked a variety of questions by the moderators as well as youth from around the world. The event included two separate one-hour events, one in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGwNTwdj08o English] and one in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpsTNCU0p9A Spanish], where he sang four songs in English and three songs in Spanish. |
− | David, along with [[The Piano Guys]], Peter Hollens, and the | + | David, along with [[The Piano Guys]], Peter Hollens, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed “Angels from the Realms of Glory” as part of the December 2014 video created along with the effort to claim the Guinness Book of World Records’ title for largest live Nativity, which was achieved with over one thousand participants. The final video premiered on The Piano Guys’ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg YouTube channel] and to date has garnered more than 15 million views. |
David released his four-track EP "Orion" on 19 May 2017. The EP is the first in a series of EPs that he hopes to release. He released the lead single from the EP, a song called "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_CSviGy74s Numb]," in November 2016 via Billboard, and on Friday, 21 April 2017, he released a second song from the EP called "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bppv5wy4mY Up All Night]." On 25 August 2017, David released his second four-track EP "Leo." On 14 October 2017, David released a lyric video for his song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYhDFiTvqU Invincible], and on Friday, 20 October 2017, he released his new 16-track album titled "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuIk-CCr618 Postcards in the Sky]" which contains the 8 songs from "Orion" and "Leo" and eight new bonus tracks. | David released his four-track EP "Orion" on 19 May 2017. The EP is the first in a series of EPs that he hopes to release. He released the lead single from the EP, a song called "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_CSviGy74s Numb]," in November 2016 via Billboard, and on Friday, 21 April 2017, he released a second song from the EP called "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bppv5wy4mY Up All Night]." On 25 August 2017, David released his second four-track EP "Leo." On 14 October 2017, David released a lyric video for his song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVYhDFiTvqU Invincible], and on Friday, 20 October 2017, he released his new 16-track album titled "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuIk-CCr618 Postcards in the Sky]" which contains the 8 songs from "Orion" and "Leo" and eight new bonus tracks. | ||
− | [[Image:DavidArchuletaNewMusic.jpg| | + | [[Image:DavidArchuletaNewMusic.jpg|300px|thumb|left|<center><span style="color:#0000FF">[http://davidarchuleta.com/home/ David Archuleta] - New Music</span></center>]] |
David's EP "Orion" is a mix of self-reflection and pop melody inspired by life lessons learned while he was serving a two-year [[Mission|mission]] for [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in Chile. The song "Numb" was co-written by David, Trent Dabbs, and producer Jamie Kenney. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7565541/american-idol-david-archuleta-numb-lyric-video David told Billboard], "People do really want to connect with what's coming from someone's heart, from their soul, and what they're going through. I feel like this was a song that was that for me." | David's EP "Orion" is a mix of self-reflection and pop melody inspired by life lessons learned while he was serving a two-year [[Mission|mission]] for [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in Chile. The song "Numb" was co-written by David, Trent Dabbs, and producer Jamie Kenney. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7565541/american-idol-david-archuleta-numb-lyric-video David told Billboard], "People do really want to connect with what's coming from someone's heart, from their soul, and what they're going through. I feel like this was a song that was that for me." | ||
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David teamed up with Kenney for the follow-up single "Up All Night" which was co-written with Isabeau Miller and Shaun Balin. David will support the arrival of "Orion" with a tour of the west coast and southwestern markets. His concert tour kicks off with his appearance at the State Theatre in Red Bluff, California on 1 June 2017. | David teamed up with Kenney for the follow-up single "Up All Night" which was co-written with Isabeau Miller and Shaun Balin. David will support the arrival of "Orion" with a tour of the west coast and southwestern markets. His concert tour kicks off with his appearance at the State Theatre in Red Bluff, California on 1 June 2017. | ||
− | David | + | David returned to the Philippines and performed a one night concert at the Kia Theater in Quezon City on 20 October 2017, the same day that his new album "Postcards in the Sky" was released. While there, he was interviewed by several news sources including [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhnMicN9AF0 CNN Philippines] and talked about the release of his new album and reflected upon his two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. He stated that deciding to serve a mission is one of the best decisions that he has made thus far. He also was a guest on the [https://www.wish1075.com/ Wish 107.5 Bus] and performed his song "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRt_zv9L7Y Up All Night]." |
David also [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbMR1o-C2Ec announced that he will be performing a concert in Lima, Peru] on 1 December 2017. | David also [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbMR1o-C2Ec announced that he will be performing a concert in Lima, Peru] on 1 December 2017. | ||
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: “It’s harder to be who you are in a world that is not like you but that is what God asked us to do,” he said. “Be one to be vulnerable and take a few hits, some punches and keep going forward because they will continue to see your good works and see your light.”[https://universe.byu.edu/2018/11/02/david-archuleta-draws-from-faith-to-find-singing-success/] | : “It’s harder to be who you are in a world that is not like you but that is what God asked us to do,” he said. “Be one to be vulnerable and take a few hits, some punches and keep going forward because they will continue to see your good works and see your light.”[https://universe.byu.edu/2018/11/02/david-archuleta-draws-from-faith-to-find-singing-success/] | ||
+ | [[Image:David_Archuleta_OM.png|200px|thumb|<center><span style="color:#0000FF">Photo by Cyrus Panganiban/MegaMan</span></center>|right]] | ||
In an interview with MegaMan (2018), David talked about what keeps him centered and focused: | In an interview with MegaMan (2018), David talked about what keeps him centered and focused: | ||
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: "Even if I have a few minutes, I’ll say a prayer, give thanks and just say, ‘God, what do you need me to see today? What do I need to learn about myself today?’ It’s easy to put yourself down, but through prayer, it can easily helps you look at yourself in a positive way."[https://megaman.onemega.com/the-good-guy-david-archuleta-nice-all-sorts-cool/] | : "Even if I have a few minutes, I’ll say a prayer, give thanks and just say, ‘God, what do you need me to see today? What do I need to learn about myself today?’ It’s easy to put yourself down, but through prayer, it can easily helps you look at yourself in a positive way."[https://megaman.onemega.com/the-good-guy-david-archuleta-nice-all-sorts-cool/] | ||
− | + | In the summer of 2022, David took on the title role of Joseph in Tuacahn's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Southern Utah. Set Designer Adam Koch said, “It’s a story of the upward mobility of Joseph, and David Archuleta is the perfect embodiment of that from American Idol and his other successes.”[https://www.ldsliving.com/sponsored-leaning-into-the-challenge-david-archuleta-tackles-the-title-role-in-joseph-at-tuacahn/s/10738] | |
− | + | ==David Archuleta Opens Up about His Sexuality== | |
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− | + | In June 2021, [https://www.ksl.com/article/50185204/utah-musician-david-archuleta-says-he-is-part-of-lgbtq-community David James Archuleta announced on social media that he is part of the LGBTQIA+ community]. "''I've been open to myself and my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality''," he posted on Twitter. "''I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual. Then I also have learned I don't have too much sexual desires and urges as most people which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage. Which people call asexual when they don't experience sexual urges''." | |
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− | + | David also shared how he has found peace with his identity and his faith as a member of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. In his tweet, he said: | |
− | + | : I've tried for almost 20 years to try and change myself until I realized God made me how I am for a purpose. Instead of hating what I have considered wrong, I need to see why God loved me for who I am and that it's not just sexuality. | |
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− | + | David also asked people of faith to be more compassionate to those in the LGBTQIA+ community who are working to balance faith and their sexuality. [https://www.ksl.com/article/50185204/utah-musician-david-archuleta-says-he-is-part-of-lgbtq-community He said]: | |
− | + | : I don't think it should come down to feeling you have to accept one or the other. For me to find peace the reality has been to accept both are real things I experience and make who I am. I've yet to figure out what that means but I appreciate you listening to this personal matter. | |
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− | + | In an August 2021 interview with [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/david-archuleta-reflects-on-coming-out-at-age-30-i-wish-when-i-was-a-little-kid-that-there-was-someone-talking-about-this-191536530.html ''Yahoo! Entertainment''], David commented: | |
− | + | : You know what? I wish when I was a little kid that there was someone talking about this. Because I didn't understand what I was going through. I thought there was something wrong with me and I didn't know how to put it into words. I was 8, 9 years old, and confused, because I didn't know what it meant to have a sexuality that wasn't just heterosexual. | |
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− | + | He continued: | |
− | + | : My first feelings of attraction were towards girls, but then guys started after, and that's when I was really confused. I'm like, 'Why do I feel this regardless of the gender?' I was really uncomfortable because I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know what that was. | |
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− | + | Later in the interview, David was asked, "Have you started dating guys, or at least considered dipping your toe in the dating pool and thinking, 'OK, maybe I'm ready to give this a try'? He responded: | |
− | + | : I feel like if I want to be honest with myself and understand my feelings, I have to be open to that. I definitely have my boundaries still, and I like to be careful still, but I have to be willing to get to know guys. . . . It’s been great so far. I feel like God has given me people that I needed to walk this journey with. It's been really wonderful so far. | |
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− | + | David is currently "getting to know guys" and is using his platform to be an advocate. On what he hopes people learn from his experience coming out privately and publicly over the course of a decade, he stresses, above all else, that no one is alone. | |
− | + | In a November 2021 ''Deseret News'' article titled [https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/11/30/22712703/david-archuleta-same-sex-attraction-lgbtq-faith-mormon-lds-journey-singer 'What David Archuleta wants you to understand about his faith journey'], David said that he hopes others like him will know they don't have to suffer in silence or leave the Church. He said, "There needs to be a way of knowing you can come as you are, live life as best as you can and still follow God, even if there aren't clear answers right now." | |
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− | + | In a November 2022 ''People'' magazine article, Archuleta expressed that his relationship with the Church is "very complicated" and that he is taking "a break from religion."[https://people.com/music/david-archuleta-steps-back-from-mormon-church-after-coming-out-as-queer/] | |
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− | + | <embedvideo service="youtube" urlargs="rel=0" dimensions="400x225" alignment="inline">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooh6otPKmzE&rel=0</embedvideo> | |
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==Internal Links== | ==Internal Links== | ||
*[[Mormon Beliefs|What Mormons believe]] | *[[Mormon Beliefs|What Mormons believe]] | ||
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==David Archuleta Music Videos== | ==David Archuleta Music Videos== | ||
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{{David Archuleta Discography}} | {{David Archuleta Discography}} | ||
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[[it:David Archuleta]] | [[it:David Archuleta]] |
Latest revision as of 17:23, 10 November 2022
David James Archuleta is a pop-singer made famous by American Idol. He is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He was born on 28 December 1990, to Jeff Archuleta and Lupe Marie Mayorga in North Miami, Florida. He was a student at Murray High School in Salt Lake County, Utah, when he competed and won second place in the American Idol competition, season 7, at the age of 16. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His clear and beautiful singing voice, plus his emotional connection with the audience, coupled with his refreshing modesty and innocence, has won him fans nationwide.
Both of David's parents are musicians. His father is a jazz musician, and his mother, who is from Honduras, is a singer. Because of his mother's Latino heritage, David grew up listening to Latino music, as well as jazz music from his father's collection. He explains, "Music was always a part of my life growing up. My mother was also big on dancing and would teach my older sister and me to dance to traditional music. I can’t think about celebrating my family without thinking about celebrating music."
Contents
- 1 Early Performing History
- 2 The American Idol Competition
- 3 David Signs A Record Deal
- 4 Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance
- 5 Singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- 6 David Archuleta's Personal Milestones
- 7 Updates
- 8 David Archuleta Opens Up about His Sexuality
- 9 Internal Links
- 10 David Archuleta Music Videos
Early Performing History
When David was six years old, his parents moved his family to Sandy, Utah, and encouraged him to compete in talent competitions. At only ten years old, he participated in the Utah Talent Competition, receiving a standing ovation from the audience, and winning the children's division. In 2003, at the age of twelve, he won the Star Search 2 Junior Vocal Champion award. You can watch one of his performances from the competition here. He also made appearances on The Jenny Jones Show, CBS' The Early Show, and met the finalists from American Idol's first season, for whom he performed a spontaneous a-cappella rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls. In 2007, at sixteen years old, he entered the American Idol tryouts in San Diego, California, at Qualcomm Stadium (30-31 July 2007), and became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol. In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.
He has had professional training on and off, and at one point suffered from partial vocal chord paralysis but avoided surgery. He also plays the piano and sometimes accompanies his own vocals.
The American Idol Competition
Before American Idol, David auditioned for Star Search. David was in several episodes and won the Junior category. When he was invited back the next year, his parents were concerned that he may have a medical condition that affected his voice. An ENT doctor diagnosed him with vocal paralysis, giving him the options of having surgery or vocal therapy. After intense vocal therapy, and a couple years of frustration and patience, their efforts worked. He could sing again.
David quit his job (which he was looking forward to) working at a local amphitheater in Murray, Utah, to audition for American Idol. Jeff, David's father, took him to San Diego to audition. He won over fans and the judges with his humility, musicality, and vocal talent. He lost the title to David Cook but enjoyed an extremely successful first year of his professional career as a popular singer.
David impressed the American Idol judges from his first audition (among 100,000 who tried out), and it wasn't long before the judges were predicting that he'd have a place in the finals or go on to win. David's young age and small stature were constantly commented upon, but his singing ability brought the audience to their feet and the judges to tears. At the end, the American Idol competition, seventh season, came down to two Davids - David Archuleta ("Archie") and David Cook ("Cookie), a 25-year-old rocker with sincerity and kindness to match his musical polish. The finale, staged on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, 20 and 21 May 2008, was the largest and flashiest in American Idol history, with cheering fans filling the spacious and glitzy Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California, and guest artists from the top names in the business performing with the top twelve competitors. The final vote tallied at 97.5 million, and David Cook took the title, winning by about 12 million votes.
David Archuleta began receiving offers to launch his professional career the second the curtain fell on the competition. His gorgeous, silvery voice and youthful innocence have won the hearts of Americans and many fans around the world.
David Signs A Record Deal
David signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records. He released a self-titled debut album, David Archuleta in 2008. The album was a success and went Gold only three months after he released his first single, "Crush."
Simon Fuller, the creator of American Idol and the 19 Entertainment Label Group founder, helped David get three songs into the Hot 100 in early June 2008: his cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” at number 36, his rendition of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and his song from the finale, “In This Moment.”
David enjoyed an extremely successful first year of his professional career as a popular singer. Three of David’s songs hit the Billboard Hot 100. His single “Crush” was number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video for “Crush” was as clean as a video can get, depicting clean-cut teens at a cabin, playing parlor games. Still, it was voted the #1 music video on a popular TV show.
By 2009 David wasn’t spending much time in his hometown of Murray, Utah. He filmed a Thanksgiving special in November 2009 and toured or worked in Los Angeles. He had to work with the demands of fame as well as the demands of a busy career that required him to constantly push himself. During the 2009 holidays, he released a Christmas album titled Christmas from the Heart.
During 2010, David worked with a team of writers in Nashville in preparation for a new album. He continued to tour and release hit songs. He performed with Celtic Woman on their PBS Christmas special. And he continued to release albums, including The Other Side of Down (2010), Begin (2012), and No Matter How Far (2013). His album Forevermore was released exclusively in the Philippines in March 2012 where it was soon certified gold. He also made his acting debut on the Nickelodeon show iCarly and appeared in Season 3 of the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, on which he sang “I Wanna Know You,” in a duet with Miley Cyrus.
Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance
During his time in Nashville, David also wrote a memoir titled Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance which landed in bookstores on 1 June 2010. He generally shies away from discussing his religious convictions, however, in his memoir, he delves into the subject of his faith. [He commented], "I decided if people want to know who I am, they need to know this about me, this part of my life and how important it is to me and how it has affected my decisions, how I view things, and why I am who I am. "I feel like God’s the reason why I’m here, and the way that I’ve tried to do what I feel is right is the reason why I’m here.
Singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
A hightlight of David's career was his guest appearance for the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in 2010 for their annual Christmas concert. He has commented, "I grew up with such a great respect for the Choir, and never imagined I’d be up there with them one day. Just getting to be up on that stage with the Choir is one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt in my life." He also appeared as guest artist on The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s holiday album, Glad Christmas Tidings.
The concerts were presented on Thursday, 16 December 2010, (dress rehearsal), and Friday and Saturday, 17-18 December 2010. On Sunday, 19 December 2010, the Choir’s weekly Music and the Spoken Word broadcast also featured David with a mini-concert immediately following. All the concerts were held in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The concerts for Friday and Saturday were sold out by the end of November, but there was a stand-by line of hopefuls waiting in the cold winter night. Actor Michael York narrated the concerts.
David Archuleta's Personal Milestones
David earned Eagle Scout rank with the Boy Scouts of America just as he was turning 18. It was tough to sandwich in final merit badges and a service project with his performing commitments. A short time later, David participated in higher covenants in the Jordan River Utah Temple. You can read about these events here.
David Archuleta has always been a spiritual person and very active in the Church of Jesus Christ. In late 2011, while performing near home, he announced that he would take two years' hiatus from his career to serve a full-time two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
David was in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah when the 182nd Annual General Conference of the Church was held in April of 2012. When an MTC missionary choir performed at one of the sessions, David was part of that choir.
Taking a two-year break from his music career, He served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Santiago, Chile. On his personal blog, he describes his mission as a turning point in his life, saying, "As I was in the wave after American Idol, touring, making appearances, the only focus was trying to make everybody else happy and in the process, I lost myself. I’m so grateful for the mission because I found myself again, and not only that, I discovered so many new things."
As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, David performed at the Santiago Chile Temple Christmas Concert in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he performed “O Holy Night,” “Mary, Did You Know,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Los Pastores a Belen,” each in Spanish. The performance was broadcast live on LDS.org. Video clips are also available on Youtube. A pre-recorded album titled Begin was released in August 2012. He also delighted his fans with an album release in March 2013 titled No Matter How Far which was also recorded before he began his service as a full-time missionary.
Updates
After David returned home from his mission, there was a General Conference for the Church held in April 2014. KSL aired a special on David's missionary service called "David Archuleta: Called to Serve." The program has since been recorded on DVD and can be purchased from Deseret Book and other local Latter-day Saint bookstores. You can also watch the video on YouTube: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
David Archuleta was featured in the first Face-to-Face Live Facebook Youth Event on 24 June 2014, moderated by Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women General President, and David L. Beck, Young Men General President. David was asked a variety of questions by the moderators as well as youth from around the world. The event included two separate one-hour events, one in English and one in Spanish, where he sang four songs in English and three songs in Spanish.
David, along with The Piano Guys, Peter Hollens, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed “Angels from the Realms of Glory” as part of the December 2014 video created along with the effort to claim the Guinness Book of World Records’ title for largest live Nativity, which was achieved with over one thousand participants. The final video premiered on The Piano Guys’ YouTube channel and to date has garnered more than 15 million views.
David released his four-track EP "Orion" on 19 May 2017. The EP is the first in a series of EPs that he hopes to release. He released the lead single from the EP, a song called "Numb," in November 2016 via Billboard, and on Friday, 21 April 2017, he released a second song from the EP called "Up All Night." On 25 August 2017, David released his second four-track EP "Leo." On 14 October 2017, David released a lyric video for his song Invincible, and on Friday, 20 October 2017, he released his new 16-track album titled "Postcards in the Sky" which contains the 8 songs from "Orion" and "Leo" and eight new bonus tracks.
David's EP "Orion" is a mix of self-reflection and pop melody inspired by life lessons learned while he was serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. The song "Numb" was co-written by David, Trent Dabbs, and producer Jamie Kenney. David told Billboard, "People do really want to connect with what's coming from someone's heart, from their soul, and what they're going through. I feel like this was a song that was that for me."
David teamed up with Kenney for the follow-up single "Up All Night" which was co-written with Isabeau Miller and Shaun Balin. David will support the arrival of "Orion" with a tour of the west coast and southwestern markets. His concert tour kicks off with his appearance at the State Theatre in Red Bluff, California on 1 June 2017.
David returned to the Philippines and performed a one night concert at the Kia Theater in Quezon City on 20 October 2017, the same day that his new album "Postcards in the Sky" was released. While there, he was interviewed by several news sources including CNN Philippines and talked about the release of his new album and reflected upon his two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile. He stated that deciding to serve a mission is one of the best decisions that he has made thus far. He also was a guest on the Wish 107.5 Bus and performed his song "Up All Night."
David also announced that he will be performing a concert in Lima, Peru on 1 December 2017.
In an interview with The Daily Universe (Brigham Young University, 2018), David said:
- “It’s harder to be who you are in a world that is not like you but that is what God asked us to do,” he said. “Be one to be vulnerable and take a few hits, some punches and keep going forward because they will continue to see your good works and see your light.”[1]
In an interview with MegaMan (2018), David talked about what keeps him centered and focused:
- "Something very important to me is personal time. I make sure I have time every day to pray, to meditate. Whether you’re religious or not, spirituality is important. There’s a spiritual nature to us that is more than our bodies, and you have to connect to that. If you try to keep yourself busy all the time, you never hear your spirit, what it is trying to tell you and what you need. Something inside of us knows what we need, and if we ignore it, we start feeling depressed. And it’s very easy to get anxiety by listening to all the other voices and comparing ourselves thinking: ‘I’m never going to be good enough’ or ‘How do I keep up?’ Sometimes you need to take a step back or take a social media fast. I get caught up, too. A few days, a week, or even a month and it was like, ‘There I am. I can hear myself again.’"
- "Even if I have a few minutes, I’ll say a prayer, give thanks and just say, ‘God, what do you need me to see today? What do I need to learn about myself today?’ It’s easy to put yourself down, but through prayer, it can easily helps you look at yourself in a positive way."[2]
In the summer of 2022, David took on the title role of Joseph in Tuacahn's production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Southern Utah. Set Designer Adam Koch said, “It’s a story of the upward mobility of Joseph, and David Archuleta is the perfect embodiment of that from American Idol and his other successes.”[3]
David Archuleta Opens Up about His Sexuality
In June 2021, David James Archuleta announced on social media that he is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. "I've been open to myself and my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality," he posted on Twitter. "I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual. Then I also have learned I don't have too much sexual desires and urges as most people which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage. Which people call asexual when they don't experience sexual urges."
David also shared how he has found peace with his identity and his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his tweet, he said:
- I've tried for almost 20 years to try and change myself until I realized God made me how I am for a purpose. Instead of hating what I have considered wrong, I need to see why God loved me for who I am and that it's not just sexuality.
David also asked people of faith to be more compassionate to those in the LGBTQIA+ community who are working to balance faith and their sexuality. He said:
- I don't think it should come down to feeling you have to accept one or the other. For me to find peace the reality has been to accept both are real things I experience and make who I am. I've yet to figure out what that means but I appreciate you listening to this personal matter.
In an August 2021 interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, David commented:
- You know what? I wish when I was a little kid that there was someone talking about this. Because I didn't understand what I was going through. I thought there was something wrong with me and I didn't know how to put it into words. I was 8, 9 years old, and confused, because I didn't know what it meant to have a sexuality that wasn't just heterosexual.
He continued:
- My first feelings of attraction were towards girls, but then guys started after, and that's when I was really confused. I'm like, 'Why do I feel this regardless of the gender?' I was really uncomfortable because I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know what that was.
Later in the interview, David was asked, "Have you started dating guys, or at least considered dipping your toe in the dating pool and thinking, 'OK, maybe I'm ready to give this a try'? He responded:
- I feel like if I want to be honest with myself and understand my feelings, I have to be open to that. I definitely have my boundaries still, and I like to be careful still, but I have to be willing to get to know guys. . . . It’s been great so far. I feel like God has given me people that I needed to walk this journey with. It's been really wonderful so far.
David is currently "getting to know guys" and is using his platform to be an advocate. On what he hopes people learn from his experience coming out privately and publicly over the course of a decade, he stresses, above all else, that no one is alone.
In a November 2021 Deseret News article titled 'What David Archuleta wants you to understand about his faith journey', David said that he hopes others like him will know they don't have to suffer in silence or leave the Church. He said, "There needs to be a way of knowing you can come as you are, live life as best as you can and still follow God, even if there aren't clear answers right now."
In a November 2022 People magazine article, Archuleta expressed that his relationship with the Church is "very complicated" and that he is taking "a break from religion."[4]
Internal Links
David Archuleta Music Videos
David Archuleta Music Videos and Discography |
“David Archuleta” (2008) – 11 November 2008 | “Somebody Out There” (2009) – 13 March 2009 – Single | “Works for Me” (2009) – 13 March 2009 – Single | “AOL Sessions 2008” (2009) – 24 April 2009 – EP | “David Archuleta Fan Pack” (2009) 9 June 2009 – EP | “Christmas From the Heart” (2009) – 13 October 2009 | “Somos El Mundo 25 Por Haiti” (2010) – 2 March 2010 | “Something ‘Bout Love” (2010) 20 July 2010 – Single | “The Other Side of Down” (2010) – 5 October 2010 | “The Other Side of Down – Asian Tour Edition” (2011 | “Glad Christmas Tidings: Live in Concert” (2011) – 6 September 2011| “Forevermore” (2012 | Philippines) – 26 March 2012 | “BEGIN.” (2012) – 7 August 2012 | “Forevermore Expanded Edition” (2012 | Philippines) – November 2012 | “No Matter How Far” (2013) – 26 March 2013 | “Don’t Run Away” (2013) – Single | "My Little Prayer" (2016) – Single | “Numb” (2017) - Single | “Up All Night” (2017) Single (Audio) | "Up All Night" (2017) Single (Video) | "Orion" EP (2017) - 19 May 2017 | "Leo" EP (2017) - 25 August 2017 | "Invincible" (2017) Single (Audio) | "Postcards in the Sky" (2017) - 20 October 2017 | "Seasons" (2017) Single (Video) | "Winter in the Air" (2018) - 2 November 2018 | "Navidad" (2018) - 2 November 2018 | "Christmas Every Day" (2018) Single (Video) | "Winter in the Air" (2018) Single (Video) | "Postcards in the Sky" (2019) Single (Video) | "Paralyzed" (2019) Single (Video) | "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" (2019) Single (Video) |"Winter in the Air (Deluxe)" (2019) - 14 November 2019 | "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)" (2019) Single (Video) | "Mi Pequeña Oración (My Little Prayer)" (2019) Single (Video) | "OK, All Right" (2020) Single (Video) | "Just Breathe (Official Tribute Video" (2020) Single (Video) | "Therapy Sessions" (2020) - 20 May 2020 | "Switch" (2020) Single (Video) | "From A Distance (David Archuleta with Rexburg Children's Choir)" (2020) Single (Video) | "My Heart Beats For You (Paul Cardall, David Aechuleta)" (2020) Single (Video) | "What A Wonderful Way To End A Crazy Year (Official Music Video)" (2020) Single (Video) | "What A Beautiful Name (BYU Vocal Point ft. David Archuleta)" (2021) Single (Video) | "I Know He Lives" (2021) Single (Video) | "Be That For You (visualizer)" (2021) Single (Video) | "Losin' Sleep" (2021) Single (Video) | "Movin'" (2021) Single (Video) | "Beast" (2021) Single (Video) | "My Little Prayer ~ David Archuleta & Lyceum Philharmonic (NEW Orchestra Version)" (2022) Single (Video) |