American Idol Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta came, sang and conquered the hearts of his fans with ease, writes SUBHADRA DEVAN DAVID Archuleta, at a mere 173cm (the same height as kungfu exponent Donnie Yen), is a powerhouse when it comes to music.
At his first full concert here last Tuesday, the American Idol Season 7 runner-up delivered song after song, to the screams of girls.
The venue, Stadium Negara, was three-quarters filled and it was obvious that the tweens, teens and everyone else seemed happy just to hear Archuleta sing “live”.
Despite the deafening screams and a sound system that left a boom in my ears, there was a convivial family-like atmosphere at the stadium.
In slacks and wearing a shirt over a T-shirt, the 20-year-old from Utah bounced around the stage without the need of a backup dance group, singing his heart out for his fans.
He sat down at the keyboard a few times, including for the ballad, A Thousand Miles, giving the Vanessa Carlton hit an R&B twist.
He also performed another keyboard solo, this time for Crazy (a hit for hip-hop artiste Gnarls Barkley), turning it into a ballad.
He told the crowd that he did Crazy for Idol 7’s Hollywood Week. I remember he was 16 then, but four years later, his performance “live” is even more moving.
Archuleta also gave a rendition of a few new songs found on the repackaged 2011 The Other Side Of Down: Asia Tour Edition.
This tour is in part to promote the album and, of course, a response to his fans who called for a concert on Facebook. That’s girl power on the Internet!
The new songs he sang included the pop Stomping The Roses and pop-ballad Everything & More.
Dripping with sweat three-quarters into the 90-minute show, he took a break before returning to the stage for his encore songs which included the Bryan Adams’ hit, Heaven.
Archuleta’s Kuala Lumpur concert was the last on his Asian Tour showcase. He had performed in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam before he arrived here on Monday.
Before the concert, presented by his distribution label Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia, Archuleta also met fans who were winners of various contests.
He sang 17 songs. My favourites included the 1970s Elevator (despite the use of auto-tune) and Zero Gravity (for its pop-rock beat). Of course, there’s also his irresistible bouncing on stage.
The 1980s Tears For Fears hit Everybody Wants To Rule The World was a blast from my past! I enjoyed Archuleta’s impassioned rendition but I think the icing on the cake was the final encore, Crush. The band also had a good time, at times sounding like a metal group.
Yes, as Archuleta sang in another hit, Touch My Hand, “I can’t let the music stop, can’t let this feeling end”. We all felt it that Tuesday night, leaving the stadium — demurely — with smiles pasted on our faces.
His other side
AT the Monday Press conference, silky tenor David Archuleta whetted fans’ appetite for his concert when he sang a few bars of Stevie Wonder’s Lately.
It was in response to a query on who he’d like to collaborate with. His reply was: “Right now, at this moment, Stevie Wonder. It’s just him at the keyboard, and that’s just cool.”
He also thought Malaysian girls “are really cool”, adding that he remembered the large crowd of fans at his mini-concert in Sunway Lagoon back in 2009.
With oblique references to his own hit singles, Archuleta replied to queries about crushes with “I don’t have a crush lately” and that “I’m waiting for my kind of perfect”.
He also announced the Asian Tour Edition of The Other Side Of Down, which will have five new singles and karaoke versions of the original music videos of Crush, Touch My Hand and Something ‘Bout Love, among other songs.
Revealing another side to his character, Archuleta said he had visited leprosy camps in Chennai, as part of Rising Star Outreach, early this year. He told Life & Times: “It was a very humbling experience. It just makes you appreciate things more and gives you a different perspective.
David Archuleta wows Malaysian fans - again!More pics HERE!
Malaysian music fans were in for a treat lately with a string of concerts in these past few days. From Incubus coming here for the third time to various acts like Neon Trees, 30 Seconds to Mars and Beast for MTV World Stage 2011; we were once again treated to yet another concert!
American Idol season 7 runner up, David Archuleta is back in Malaysia for his maiden concert, having performed in a showcase here back in April 2009. This time, he came to our shores for the final leg of his The Other Side of Down Asian Tour 2011.
About 3,000 fans headed to Stadium Negara on 26 July, comprising mostly of screaming teenage girls and their obliging parents. Some have even arrived in the stadium as early as 5 pm!
David appeared at about 9 pm and entertained the crowd with his hits such asSomething ‘Bout Love, Touch My Hand,Elevator , and A Little Too Not Over You. Not alienating his older fans, he also performed covers such as Tears For Fears’Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Vanessa Carlton’s A Thousand Miles, and Ben E King’s Stand By Me.
He has clearly matured as a performer and singer, appearing more confident onstage and constantly interacting with his adoring fans. However, none of his youthfulness was spared as he jumped all over the stage – he surely has lots of energy! “Little” David, now 21 years old, also thanked his fans who have been supporting him since his stint on American Idol back in 2008.
David disappeared after performing Zero Gravity, and of course, came back out for an encore. If in his previous concerts in Jakarta, Manila, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, he only performed two songs for his encore… inKuala Lumpur David surprised fans with three songs instead!
Taking on the keyboard, David performed Bryan Adams’ Heaven and Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy. According to him, that was the first time he performed that song! His acoustic rendition of Crazy is surely worth a praise.
The concert ended with his first ever single, Crush.
David Archuleta’s Live in Kuala Lumpur concert was organized by Sony Music Entertainment Malaysia.
David Archuleta Talks New Music And Getting Starstruck
Not everything we talked about with David Archuleta made it into the 17-31 July issue of Galaxie magazine. So as a bonus for you Archie fans, here's the rest of the interview session...
Will you continue to write uplifting music or will it be something different for the new material?
I think it can be motivating by being able to relate to people. And it be as real as it can. Be as true to me as it can. That’s just another thing that I’m looking forward to. Being able to have the music not just with the words I’m saying but the way it sounds. Music says so much. Classical music doesn’t have any words but it still says so much. I’m hoping to be able to really take time to define my sound, my music.
What’s the inspiration behind your new music?
The inspiration, I guess the best way to describe it is what’s on my mind. What’s going on in my head, it’s hard for me to explain sometimes and I feel like for the first time, I am kinda able to bring it out. I guess that’s the way I would describe the direction I’m going in right now.
You’ll be 21 this year. Any big plans?
No, not really [laughs]. I always like to go out and eat and spend time with my family and friends. Nothing too crazy. I like to keep it pretty low-key.
With so much going on right now, do you still have plans to go back to school?Yeah, I don’t think that there’s ever a time when it is too late to go back to school. I would love to take music classes. I love the heart of music and the emotion but I never really got to understand the musical theory and the more technical side of music. That’s something I’d love to learn more about. Performing and putting out music is my No. 1 priority right now so that’s what I’m focusing most on. I’m a very spontaneous person unfortunately. A lot of times that can be a bad thing but I try to be sensitive to whatever I feel and whatever changes in what I feel I should do. And keeping in tune with whatever your instincts kind of say.
Have there been any celebs that have left you starstruck?
I was starstruck by Ringo Starr. I was so starstruck that I couldn’t even go up to him. I was pretty starstruck with Bono too.
