David Archuleta Being Excluded from American Idol Phenomenon

At just seventeen years old, David Archuleta was named runner-up to David Cook during American Idol’s seventh season finale. Not long after the show ended, literally that night in his dressing room, David got signed. Soon after, he released the hit song “Crush”, and three albums, numerous tours and even a book later, David’s still going strong. Which begs the question, where is his recognition?

It’s been three years since David, or known then as Archie, competed on American Idol, being the front-runner every week. Especially after his total of three beautiful renditions of “Imagine” on the Idol stage, you’d think American Idol would praise David on his success, and the success he brought to the show. And yet, nothing. Though this year tops it all.

A few major incidents state my case here. One being, the American Idol Tenth Anniversary: The Hits compilation album. With numerous hits from past Idols, you’d think David’s “Crush” would be a shoe-in for this CD. But instead, what should’ve been placed right between David Cook’s “Light On” and Kris Allen’s “Live Like We’re Dying”, “Crush” seems to have been completely skipped over. “Crush” became #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 166,000 copies in it’s first week. I’m pretty sure that would be considered a “hit”.

Another example of Idol’s disregard towards Archuleta is this year’s American Idol intro. For all the past seasons, the only Idols featured in the intro were the winners. With all of season ten’s changes, their intro changed the rules as well, adding Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert to the beginning along with the past nine winners. Now sure Jennifer, Chris and Adam have gotten big since they were on the show, but they’re leaving out probably the most famous runner-up the show has had.

It’s actually quite shameful of them to expel David Archuleta the way they have. As much as every former Idol wants to be cut off from the show once it ends, being completely excluded the way David has is just moronic on Idol’s part, and even insinuates that Idol thinks more highly of Lambert Daughtry then of David. With all the success David has achieved, he definitely deserves more acknowledgment from the people who spotlighted him in the first place.

Though David has grown past being the “kid from American Idol” and is now just David Archuleta, he still deserves a little realization of his accomplishments from his time on American Idol, for it was what got him to where he is in the first place.

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