Forevermore?

Now with everyone anticipating the collection of their physical copies of the Forevermore album this Tuesday, it’s time, once again, for critiques.

Honestly speaking, I was dumbfounded when David announced he was releasing an OPM album. I thought: “What in the world does OPM stand for?” Did any of you feel the same way?

First off, the cover of the album is rather distinct. Although it didn’t quite connect with the title ‘Forevermore’, it portrayed a more kid-like David, like the 17 year-old who won our hearts back in 2008 on American Idol. David seemed to have captured the very essence of the phrase ‘forever more'; smiling with the most subtle hint of happiness, as if to tease us and at the same time, reassure us that he will be here forever more. However, one question still looms in my head: What in the world is he smiling so serenely at? Curiosity has definitely gotten the best of me. Let’s take a guess in the comments!

 The title track caught my attention instantly. Although it was originally intended to be a love song, it was incredibly hard to dismiss David’s powerful vocals. After the first hearing, the song literally left me in tears. I was so moved by the way David sung it, especially in the beginning of the chorus “You were just a dream that I once knew…”. And to top it off, the music video was done professionally. Instead of creating a storyline to follow by, the video was very clear-cut. Although it may seem a little boring to non-fans, it pretty much sums up most of David’s quality traits.The video portrayed the David that follows by nobody else’s rules except his own, the one who dares to be different.

A little piece of trivial: Did anyone notice the hint of happiness that made David smile the slightest bit at 0:44?

 

Another song that stood out from the album was ‘Maybe’. Most of the fans I’ve managed to survey came up with this particular song as their favourite of the album. I can definitely see why. I was completely covered in goosebumps when the song first played and they still do come and go every time the song is replayed. Along with the soft tenderness of David’s voice, one can sense the frustration of unrecipocrated love and the lingering hope that she will one day turn around. ‘Maybe’ is definitely a hit in the making. It’s hard to imagine how top producers could pass up such a beautiful work of art.

Although with that said, this OPM album was not able to satisfy my urge for spiritually filled songs. Unlike previous songs where I was able to feel David’s presence in every lyric, this album failed to convey messages that were undeniably David. And yes, perhaps it was due to the fact that these songs were not written by David. But I must add, I really do miss the songs that showcased David’s range of vocals while incorporating his message to the listeners at the same time. Perhaps the next US album that is yet to be released will be much more pleasing in terms of song meaning.

Of course, these are just my views on the album. I’d love to hear your take on it. After all, no one knows David better than his fans.

Was ‘Forevermore’ a success or a total flop? Do you feel the album has showcased David’s vocals in the best way possible or did it, instead, just come off as another album filled with empty meaning? Which songs made you ponder and which left you with discontent, if any?

- Tracy

AAM Get Together!!!

Hi Guys!!

Just a heads up to say that AAM will be having a gathering!! 

The details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday 1st of May (Labour Day)

Venue: Dome, KLCC

Time: 12.30

Those of you that haven’t collected your Forevermore albums please try and make it as we will be bringing the albums and giving it out then   :-)

But whether you’ve ordered or have the album or not, please do come and join us at this gathering! We’d love to have you!!

Hope to see you guys there!! :-)

My kind of perfect – Side B

This is side B of an imaginary album by David Archuleta of which I have been appointed the producer (yeah right! :-) ).

There are literally dozens of songs that David has sung in public through the last few years and it’s quite impossible to include them all in one album so I have chosen these songs because they are the ones that feel the most personal and highlight events that mean the most to David in my opinion.

WHEN YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME: During David’s AI days he was often described (and not too kindly) as a Josh Groban-esque type of singer – good for ballads and not too much else. Well David decided to give his critics what they wanted and boy what a magnificent job he did! Especially on opening night of the AI tour in Arizona. For those of you who wish to go down memory lane and get a taste of that virtuoso performance here’s the link: http://youtu.be/uSJfU9yk1bw

STOMPING THE ROSES: This is one of my favourite David songs in which he sounds off on the various aspects in his life that he’s not too happy about.  A surprising song from David based on his non-confrontational character.

WHO I AM: Based on the recent events in his life I feel this song is perhaps David’s way of hinting about his future trajectory; sort of testing the waters and deciding on the next steps – a song about self – discovery.

FALLING: This is perhaps David’s most mature song framed with dark themes of hopelessness and desperation. I think David is not necessarily talking about himself here but a close friend who is going through a troubled period  and willing to lay bare the emotional wounds and traumas in his/her life.

I AM NOT A ROBOT: This is by Marina and the Diamonds and was chosen by David as his song of the week back in April 2010 during that infamous incident at a night club where he went to support Charice who was performing. Twitterverse went into hyperdrive the minute he was spotted at the club. Subsequent attempts by David to explain why he was there led to a firestorm of condemnation by the LGBT community and it was telling  that David immediately featured this song in his video blog.

SOMEBODY OUT THERE: It’s especially magical and poignant when a song is centered around David’s voice with it’s clear, crisp and soulful tones; it reverberates and rings with a stark honesty that’s quite unlike any of his other songs that I’ve come across. And this is none more evident than in  “Somebody Out There” where the promise of hope, comfort and  salvation is so masterfully conveyed by David.

DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME: I feel that this was David’s **ss off song on AI7. It was his last moments on the show and he wanted to vent his frustrations and irritation and sign off in a big way. Summoning all the emotions he was feeling he gave a heated delivery that was stunning.

BONUS TRACKS

I would also include a cover for David in the album which would test his interpretive abilities and resonate with his personal character and beliefs.

DAUGHTERS: Won the Song of the Year Grammy for John Mayer in 2005. This song is a plea of sorts to fathers to treat their daughters well as the writer feels that the father/daughter dynamic would bear consequences on their daughters’  future relationships with men.

So that’s it my choice of songs as a producer on David’s ‘upcoming’ album. A concept album of David standards and covers that tries to showcase the more significant milestones in David’s journey so far in the music industry.

What would be your choices if given the chance to produce David’s next album?

My kind of perfect -Side A

April 20, 2012 by johnchang | Edit

I guess I’ve been rather hard on David lately and , in my defense, I can only say that it’s because I expect a lot from him. My expectations are lofty because time and again he has demonstrated a wonderful musical sensitivity and appreciation of the  various nuances of a piece of music to truly make it an Archuleta classic. Partnered with that glorious tenor voice that has the ability to dig deep into your soul and soar to the heavens he has all the vocal and artistic arsenal to leave a legacy of musical works that he can be proud of. The trick is to connect with his real, intimate self and express that musically. There have been many occasions in the past when David has given us a glimpse of his inner, more private thoughts through the songs he has written and covered. These songs, I feel, come from an honest place  and has connected with him in a more spiritual way thus giving us greater insights into the artist and that’s why I like them so much.

I am attempting here to be a record executive of sorts and ‘produce‘ an album of songs that is based on music that David has been associated with and that I feel would make a great record for him. I am going to imagine that I have been given the task of choosing songs for his next album and to come up with a track list. I am going to name the album ‘My Kind of Perfect’.

SIDE A:

To introduce the album I would use a song to showcase the more footloose and fancy free side of him. This song brings out the impish and sassy David: SHOP AROUND. When he sang this during the earlier rounds on AI7, grooving and moving to the brassiness of the song together with that glorious note at the end he was as Randy said “Ready to go!”

HEAVEN: The song that introduced me to David and one of my favourite Bryan Adams song. He sang it with such silky maturity and aplomb it is a wonder to think that he was only 16 at the time. A fine example of how he makes a song so much a part of him that we forget sometimes its a cover.

CRUSH: This song, being his first ever official single, is a firm sentimental favourite of everyone’s and so deserves to be on the album.

WORKS FOR ME: I remember during AI7 there were all the news about him being pulled in different directions by fans, producers and his own inner circle and this song is an attempt by David to declare that he did it his way and as far as he was concerned things turned out all right in the end.

MY KIND OF PERFECT: The title track is David’s answer to all those endless questions about his personal relationships or rather the lack of it. The most poignant part of the song is the bridge where his voice straining with longing and wonder, he asks “why haven’t I met you?”

FALLING STARS: I think this song is a perfect homage to his parents’ marriage and eventual breakup. It’s moving, respectful and it focuses more on the love between  2 people rather than the separation but leaves no doubt about the pain of the eventual sad parting. A lovely song.

THINK OF ME: I guess there’s no need to expound further on why I think this song ought to be included in the album

CONTIGO EN LA DISTANCIA: His creme de la creme at the ALMA awards. The romance and enchantment of this Spanish song was left in no doubt when he gave a searing rendition at the awards show. The ability of the singer to evoke emotion and feelings with nothing more than his voice and accompanied by a guitar was a supreme display of artistic talent.

Well these would be my selection for Side A of the album. I will continue with Side B at a later date.

Off to Chile!

It is now official. David has just landed in Santiago Chile yesterday. It’s been such a ride for him since he entered the MTC(Mission Training Centre). As Kari tweeted: “David has started his next adventure on this 2 year journey.”

While we await his return in 2 years, here are some pictures taken of David right before he left. Pictures courtesy of David’s Aunt Martha.

David with his buddy, Richard Parkinson.

One last hug from mom.

The Wilford Woodruff building is the administration check in the building at MTC.

David’s farewell speech.

David singing with the MTC choir in the Saturday Session of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints General Conference!

What a comforting sight to see David off on his mission with the same radiance he always had. (No reason for us to shed tears now) At least we can all heave a sigh of relief to know that he is in good hands and will return strong, proud and newly transformed as Elder Archuleta.

See you again in 2 years, David!

- Tracy

My mum and David Archuleta

- This article below – I wrote during the wee hours of the morning, just a few days before the passing of my beloved Mum several weeks ago.   The contents were meant to tickle and to bring a smile to our faces.   But, with the advent of her demise, I was unsure if it was fitting to have it posted so soon after her death.   After much thought, I decided to go ahead and have it posted now.

Because I feel the need to rejoice with pride, to have had a mother such as she:  one who had opinions, one who had inspired me to never be afraid to speak up and let my thoughts be known.   She spoke HER truth – it mattered little to her if the world did not share her opinions.   I shall always treasure that lesson.

 This article is dedicated to my dear Mum with my gratitude and admiration for the honest and fearless woman she was.

My thoughts are a little maudlin tonight. I am comfortably ensconced in my giant armchair, propped up by a heap of soft tender cushions…a boring book lying unread on my lap…my scattered thoughts intermittently drifting in and out of reminiscences of my life…my Mum…my kids…a couple of friends…and David’s transition.
My Mum has fallen asleep on the bed beside me…I’ve been taking care of her during the past months.   While I gaze with tenderness upon her aged and wrinkled face, I am writing this.
She is almost a century old and has been bed-ridden for a number of years.   But that does not prevent her from continuing to be the blazing ball of fire she has always been.   Though often fretful and suffering from sudden lapses of memory now, she still possesses a fiery energy enough to maintain her domineering role as the matriarch of the family.   She is still as sharp and piercing as a needle during her “good” days and has still the ability to outdo me in an argument.   But of course I often give in to her out of respect and to keep the old dame happy.
 
So what has my Mum got to do with our David?
Is she a drooling fangirl?   No.   Listening to music has never been one of her habits.   She is more of a cooking-good-Hakka-food-you-guys-come-and-eat-and let-me-fill-your-plate-more-than-you-can-eat sort of person.
If she had not blatantly expressed her wondrously distorted opinion about David with reference to me, she would not be inspiring this story tonight – a story which I secretly find hilarious.   However, one must take it with a loadful of humour.   And humour is something we have to resort to when news of David is scarce.
I know for sure that my Mum would be happily smug to know that she is getting instant internet fame and is the centre of our attention.   But, if she reads this post, I would not put it beyond her to make a stern retort:   “You people have nothing else better to do izzit!”   But I’m also certain that, deep inside her, she would be glowing with self-pride for being the star in this story.
So let’s have a little harmless amusement at my dear Mum’s expense…..as well as mine.

 I went to see her one day to tell her that I was going away for a few days to Manila to attend a concert.
As she is very much short of hearing, our conversation was carried out rather loudly, which made the exchange rather theatrical.
Mum:  A concert?….Going all that way to a concert?   David Ar-chu-la?   YOUR David Ar-chu-la?
(My eardrums sort of rattled…..)
Me:  Yes Mum…..MY David Archula.
(I wish!)
Mum:  Hm…he is a good singer…
((Ah..she has good taste…it sort of runs in the family…)
Me:  He is, isn’t he, Mum!
(Excited for some David-conversation)
Mum:  Not bad.   But Perry Como was better.
Me:  Who?
Mum:  You wouldn’t know…you’re too caught up with this David Ar-chu-la!
Me:  Because he is the best!
Mum:  (sizing me up)….you think he is cute don’t you?   You think I don’t know.
(Yes Mummy sweetie, you know everything….)
Me:  Yes I suppose I think he is cute…
(Honesty is the best policy….especially when you have a Mum as sharp as mine)
Mum:  But I’m telling you…..he is too young for you!
(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Me:  (??????????)
(Spilled some coffee on my toes)
Mum:  Too young for you to go scampering (yes she used that word) and running after him halfway round the world all the way so far fly away to another country just to see him open his mouth and jump on the stage and sing a few songs!
(Wait till I tell her that I plan to go to the US one day)
Me:  Not running after him la Mum!
(OH MOTHER !!!)
Mum:  I am telling you ….you should settle down…have some children….settle down….behave yourself……
(I am misbehaving?…..when?…..)
Me:  But I already have 2 daughters Mum.   Don’t you remember?
(it’s the sudden loss of memory again)
Mum:  You have 2 daughters?   I didn’t know that?
(Hey Mum, you just saw them yesterday!)
Mum;  (paused to think) ..Then you must give your David Ar-chu-la to your daughters.   You are too old for him!   He doesn’t want you!…….I’m telling you……..(her favourite line)
Me:  He is not mine to give, Mum.   I don’t own him.   I just like his singing.
(Of course I didn’t want to tell her that I like staring at him too….why remind her of my “sinful misbehaviour?)
Mum:  Hhmmmph…..I don’t believe you.   You are lying……I can see it in your eyes……I’m telling you……mutter….mutter……mutter…

My Mum lets out a sneeze in her sleep and jolts me from my thoughts.   I pull her blanket closer to her ailing body and gently stroke her face.
Dear, restless Mum, I know her well – she was reluctant to see me leave and go off on my own somewhere without taking her.
It has been a tender, nostalgic few hours with my Mum lying beside me, looking every inch the delightfully fearless woman that she has always been.
I give my soft, comforting cushions a warm 2-armed hug.
Life, sometimes, feels really good.
 
Do you guys have any real-life stories to share too?

- Trace

Silly Season

By John Chang

Traditionally the silly season is described as a lull period between events of more significance when life seems to be in a vacuum. It is a time when we take a deep breath of recovery after the exertions of the previous term before the chaos and calamity of the next cycle. It is a time where we seek out the silly and the inane simply for the sake of whiling away time until the next wave of more momentous occasions come crashing down on us.

In the meantime we revel in saccharine sweet and light weight candy floss, delighting in the indulgence of frivolity and superficiality.

That time seems to be upon us again with the advent of the next wave of ‘boy bands’ –  that seemingly innocuous invention of music moguls who are hell bent on dealing fans with large doses of vapid, wan and pallid servings of what they call ‘talent’.

The latest candy floss:One Direction

The hey-days of the boy-bands were the 80s-90s where you could pull one out of a hat as easily as you could say “ABC”. Get 4-5 reasonably good looking dudes, have them or at least 1 of them warble a bit, teach them some slick dance moves and voila you have a boy band ready for the market. Behind them of course you have a whole production team (or I would rather term it as assembly lines) of stylists, songwriters, producers, publicists, promoters, agents, managers and other assortment of assistants to mould and package the latest musical product. Thankfully as with all perishables these mass marketed consumer goods had their shelf lives and I heaved a sigh of relief when the blessed end eventually came. At long last we could get back to some modicum of good sense and taste and leave the musical landscapes to more discerning adults.

Alas that honeymoon didn’t last and now we are faced with possibly another decade of shallowness and huge dollops of caramel (which I can’t stand). The latest incarnation of the aforementioned dreaded brigade comes in the form of ‘One Direction’. A manufactured ‘band’ straight out of Simon Cowell’s Syco Productions (somehow I can’t help but think that the name is so appropriate for such shenanigans).

Simon Cowell as you all should know is the cranky Brit who reigned over all at American Idol cutting down contestants and Idol wannabes with his withering remarks. David was no stranger to such treatment and got his fair share. Simon railed against any whom he thought was contrived and artificial which, in the face of his latest delivery of ‘talent’, makes him the biggest hypocrite.

But I suppose being a promoter and hound dog more than a serious musician he has the acumen to sniff out the money makers which is good news for the music business. I think he has the fingers on the real pulse of the music world; who are the buyers of such shallow fare?  None other than teenage females who with surging hormones will gladly part with their money for CDs, magazines, concert tickets and other merchandise of their favourite boy bands. Parents beware for your teenage daughter is about to lose her senses, buckets of tears, chunks of hair and other assortment of undergarments as she swears her undying love for Niall, Zane, Liam and Harry.

But is your average teenage female really such a shallow and silly creature? Does she not have a discerning bone in her body? Does she not have any inkling of the difference between a gourmet meal and the value package at McDonalds? What are they teaching these girls at school?

Whatever it is we must gird our loins and grit our teeth for another invasion of the senses that may last a good long while. The music business is hungry for success and like a junkie shaking and shivering with the need for a quick fix,  it’s cravings will be amply satisfied by  ‘drug’ barons like Simon Cowell who are only too pleased to supply the infusions. You can expect a plethora of manufactured groups to come crawling out of the woodwork for the foreseeable future.

Maybe David should start a boy band of his own when he returns in 2 years time? God help us all!