American Idol runner up, David Archuleta, chats about Idol, the tour, and winner David Cook.
In person American Idol runner-up David Archuleta comes across as an average seventeen year old. Dressed in jeans and red t-shirt, Archuleta would have easily blended in with the swarm of fans cheering for him outside the Tacoma Dome.…
Article comments
26 - lynn
Thank you for a great interview. I love David Archuleta. I love his voice and music. He is a very humble guy and at his age he is a good role model.I was sad when he didnt win the title but, I'm sure he will be a great and successful singer since music is his love. I agree that the show was manipulated. Ryan Seacrest on interview by Larry King, he was repeatedly asked whom he thinks will win, but he didnt give his choice of a winner, instead he kept saying over and over, that there will be a "shocker". And I was really shocked that night. Anyway, David accepted his defeat with such grace and class, and I admire him more. I will support him on his entire music career.
27 - Katheryn
David Archuleta is a breath of fresh air in the music industry. Not only is he a uniquely gifted artist, he's such a humble and gracious young man who is without artifice. I'm blown away by his talent, especially when you consider that he is seventeen and sings with only one functioning vocal chord! With the success of his freshman single "Crush," David is well on his way to establishing a long and successful career. Unlike other teen stars, David appeals to a broad range of listeners, and he is already establishing himself a huge international following. Many fans, including myself, will be supporting him every step of the way as he experiments to discover the music that best reflects his style and personality.
28 - goboywonder
David is so caring and thoughtful, so precious. He is so NOT full of himself, how can anyone not love him. Thanx for the article.
29 - luke
David Archuleta was too good, too early, and that doesn't make for good tv. What the show wants for ratings is a close race, so they did everything they could to get that.
Sherry, the producers don't approve the songs but they can expedite the process or not. He tried to get six songs approved and yes there was criticism that he didn't do a new song. I didn't say by who. The song Nigel picked was obviously a calculated choice to go along with the criticisms of David. When David wanted to do an upbeat arrangement and play the piano he was told no. This was also the first year they didn't have to go head to head on the same song. I could go on. Yes, there were manipulations going on.
David Cook didn't just come out of nowhere, he got help. I like the guy, he is talented and I will buy and listen to his music. For me though, David Archuleta is far and away the most talented singer ever on AI. Like I said before, one in a million!
As far as who america liked, until the voting system is changed to a limited no. of votes per number, we really don't know who the most people voted for, only who got the most votes.
30 - Lynnette
Luke - I know what you are saying about producers helping with songs or not, but no one really knows the whole story. I'm not sure there is the massive maniupulation that people claim. Maybe some unfairness, but I get tired of conspiracy theories.
It's just really hard to say about any of it. I find it weird that Archuleta says he has respenct for Cook and says he is a great guy, then Archuleta's own fans say basically that the only reason Cook won was that the show is rigged. It's disrectful to Cook.
Personally I was not surprised at all that Cook won, and I think Cook is the most responsible for his own success. It was a very evenly matched finale.
31 - Cathy
What a terrific young man David Archuleta is!
So kind and gracious he is to end the interview by telling the interviewer how terrific the other idols are on the show and how much she'll enjoy THEM.
He deserves every good thing coming his way!
Thanks for one of the best interviews so far with this extraordinary, talented young singer!
32 - Kathleen
I find it interesting that David Archuleta and David Cook respect and admire each other and yet the fans are the opposite. Let's behave as those two winners have and quit bickering about the whys and whynots of the outcome of AI. They are both to be admired, in my opinion.
33 - jean
I loved this Interview. He is really beautiful inside and out. I hope he is around for along time. His voice is like the Angel he sings about.
34 - mom4DavidA
Hey! Great questions! ... Very interesting article ... which it was on video!
Everyone will have their opinions on what happened on the show ... that's fine, as long as people don't berate other contestants and just support their fave ... David A and his family received and still do get a lot of unwarranted and negative press. They don't deserve that when all David has tried to do is live his dream. I love David Archuleta and to me he is and always will be the one TRUE American and World idol in EVERY sense of the word. His humility doesn't allow him to see that in himself ... but the rest of your fans do David! We will be there for you every step of the way!
Thanks again for this wonderful article! And I loved reading such wonderful comments ... especially when a lot of other articles berated him and lured in hateful comments which were totally uncalled for ... made me wonder what this world was coming to. But David Archuleta rises above that and will always come out on top no matter what!!
35 - piseth
oh i really miss you so much leta.
36 - luke
Lynette, As Dogzman said, it is a reality show and ratings are what matter. AI wanted a close race and things were done to help make that happen. Some were not very nice. I don't wish to go into all that and want to just get past it and just enjoy and support David Archuleta. I have never disrespected David Cook because I truly believe he is a nice guy and talented and deserves to be a success and to that end I will, as I said, listen to and buy his music. I think he has been great to Archie and has acted honorably. That said, I must still say that I am very disillusioned with American idol and the producers. You have to be naive not to believe that there were not manipulations going on. That is where my disrespect is aimed at and no where else. On the positive side, they brought David Archuleta to us and we would not be listening to him today if not for the show. And really in the end, that is all that matters. His voice and the emotion he is able to communicate through his music is incredible. As far as I am concerned, finding him is a gift and I am a fan for life. I would still like to know what songs he wanted to sing. When I read "Add your comment, and speak your mind" I thought I could. Peace everyone.
37 - fay
i used to work in a PR agency and i wouldnt blame cook if he gets all the attentions from the media. that's how it works. AI will definitely pay more to get cook out in the media. that's why i dont read the stuff they wrote about cook, it's all made up already. i like archuleta better. working his way up thru his real talent and charming. i'll definitely buy his songs and considering myself an arch angels. i like it. at least somehow i become an angel for someone like david archuleta. i can really connect to him and i know in my heart he's a true blue great guy.
38 - Buck
I have noticed that every single season of Idol, there are people who insist that their favorite did not win because it wasn't a fair fight. Archuleta was clearly a fan favorite as well as a judge's darling. He was never in any trouble and took the runner-up prize - ask Clay Aiken if that is merely a consolation prize. It isn't, and now Archuleta is in a position to achieve great success.
All that said, I do believe that the producers of the show will do what they can to promote whoever is getting the most votes. Throughout the season, that was the Davids. Archuleta very arguably peaked earlier in the season than Cook, and while he had his fanbase firmly established his momentum cooled in the second half. Roughly the opposite happened for Cook.
Unless I hear it directly from a high-ranking producer, I view speculations equally - whether you think Cook was favored in ways that tipped the balance, or whether you don't. We, the viewers/fans, don't know what songs were not clearly for Archuleta (or any of them) - and even if they would've been good choices. This season, the result easily could have gone either way - and no one could've asked for two better sports.
39 - Bree
You will only believe that there was favoritism or manipulating going on if a high ranking producer tells you directly? Get real! Why on earth would they ever admit that? That made me laugh. I believe what I see.
40 - alright already
How about them taking away the airosmith song from DA and giving it to Cook. How about the lousy, boring song they gave to archie as producers choice and not letting him change it up? How about Simon going on Leno and Ellen and saying he wanted Cook to win the week before finals. How about Nigel saying he wanted Cook to win. I know if your a Cook fan you don't want to see it and yes maybe either one could have won anyway and yes they were both good sports. Good luck to both of them.
41 - luke
Sherry, I originally read your article through following a fan alert. I clicked on your name when you answered me, and have since read all your other articles.(At least all that I could find) I liked them and think you are a really talented interviewer. I now know who your personal favorites were and I appreciate you even more for your great interview with David Archuleta. You were very nice and I thank you for that. I know we all have strong personal opinions as we felt we had a lot invested in these guys after voting all season and coming to care about them and what happens to them. Chris Daughtry's cd is the only contestant's cd I have purchased and I still like him. This is the first season I would ever consider buying more than one persons cd, and this year I could really buy several of theirs. I like your favorites. I don't know why, but David Archuleta just moves me and makes me feel the music like no one else. I got the chills like others have said on a couple of songs. I think he is a phenomenon and a true talent and I will support him for life, but he is surely not the only person I will listen to. Good luck to the season 7 guys, they were the best season ever for me. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I gained some respect for you. Thanks
42 - Sherry
Luke - thanks so much for your comment (and for reading my other articles! Also thanks to everyone who has a left a comment about liking the interview.
By the same token - I gained a lot of respect of Archuleta when I sat down an talked with him. He is very nice and did not have one bad word to say about Idol - just for the record he did not sound bitter about the six songs, he was just telling the way it was.
Of course I never disliked Archuleta, I'm just not that into his style of music. I recognize that he is a very good singer. Truth be told I wanted Michael Johns to win. He has the closest style to my own taste, and I thought he was really good. I was actually pretty harsh on Cook at the beginning of the season. He won me over with his hard work, and I thought he greatly improved as a performer.
43 - Buck
Bree - glad to see I provided you with some amusement. My point was not that any Idol producers would admit to anything. My point was that your speculation isn't any more or less accurate than my speculation - or anyone's. Some people - just regular viewers of the show - are stating these things as if they are fact.
44 - Star
You are a true gift and a successful star. I hope that God protects you and will bring every dream that you wish for come true. Please don't change and stay the same, this way you'll always be deep in many hearts. I hope you'll never get ill, you'll never get hurt all your life. May God succeed you, may God guard you every step of the way. Please let those who love you keep hearing you, protect your voice, don't hide it from us. Look after yourself to stay safe forever and let us see your face through your voice's embrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!