Kevin (idolfreakXD) created this beautiful graphic and presented it to David and Jeff Archuleta in Tampa. They loved it, of course! Thanks for sharing this with us, Kevin. It really got to me…
I was driving home from work a few days ago and listening to “Crush” over and over and over in that obsessive-compulsive manner of mine that is only endearing to those who love me. It suddenly occurred to me that since the commencement of “Crush” I had forsaken David Archuleta’s American Idol performances. At the next red light (okay, it wasn’t a red light; I was driving down the road at 60 miles per hour) I spun my finger around my iPod until I hit the “Archie AI” playlist, cranked up the volume, and started with his original audition of “Heaven,” working my way forward to the Finale. By the time I hit “Love Me Tender” (my favorite AI performance of his, by the way: the yearning, the ache in his voice…the intuitive nature of his phrasing that that still makes me catch my breath in anticipation…the way he stares into the camera and peels back the layers of each one of us until our adolescent souls are laid bare…); by the time I reached that song I was a hot mess. I called Becky and blubbered something incoherent, and she did a valiant job talking me off the ledge.
You see, Archies are ledge-walkers: we care so deeply–we are so invested in this young man–that we frequently fly the freak flag and engage in tasks like compulsive voting on obscure polls and obsessive tracking of radio airplay of “Crush” in the Alaskan wilderness. I have always prided myself on not being a ledge-walker: “trust the Archuleta–believe in him–don’t take his success upon yourself” I say over and over. “He will be a superstar on his own merits.” But I’m the worst offender of all, and for the worst of all possible reasons.
I’m selfish. I’m on the ledge NOT because I doubt that David Archuleta will succeed, and it’s NOT because the tour is ending soon and I’m afraid that you will all go away. I will always have something to write about when it comes to David. I could write a daily blog about David every day for the rest of my life. Those are not the concerns that are sending me to my precarious perch on this ledge. Watch out…here it comes…I’m inching to the edge here…
I have concluded that I am ambivalent about David’s soon-to-be status as a superstar because we will lose him. David Archuleta is going to be wildly, unimaginably famous–not just for a few years and not just for a fickle teenage fanbase: we are witnessing the inception of a life-long storied career. He’s going to be a musical legend rubbing shoulders with Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney and Elvis (now that would be a party). He’s going to win Grammys. Everyone will love him. He will have millions and millions of fans.
And therein lies my wistfulness. He will no longer belong to us, the rabid fanbase who each bought 32 copies of “Crush” on iTunes and talked about David Archuleta to whomever would listen. The fans who spent hours on fansites writing and fangirling and trying to describe the incandescent eyes and the voice that restores and exalts and inspires. The fans who voted on five different phones and dialidol for five months straight. The fans who have watched every single performance of every single concert on YouTube and find something blissful and unprecendented in each one. He won’t be ours anymore…he won’t be accessible by the buses, will he? He won’t be able to jog out and sign autographs and give hi-fives, will he? Will we be able to get backstage passes and talk to him and laugh with him and watch him juggle Sharpies and hug him? See? I’m about to jump.
With David’s impending success there is a sense of exhilaration and anticipation tempered with…well, with a sense of loss. That’s selfish, I know. Can you all talk me down? Or are you feeling the same way? And now that I’ve written all of this, I realize that what his family and friends must be feeling is a version of this, magnified a thousandfold.
–Jenny
Tags: American Idol, Crush, David Archuleta, fansofdavid
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I agree!!!! aww!!!! I’m just happy that David will have a great career and make a difference in this world!!! He is already making me do good things! I donated $50!!! Archie’s Angels CRUSH KIDS’ CANCER team at Stand Up To Cancer
Oh David!!! You are making me a good person, geez!
Okay Jenny you have me in tears. I’ve just sent my youngest to college and we are now empty-nesters which is sad for me. And now you have made me realize that I will soon lose David, too, in a way. What you have written is so true, but I guess I had never really thought deeply about it. I always thought I would come here and read stories and watch videos from FOD groupies. I have dreaded the end of the tour because I know much of it will stop. But you’re right. David will become known and loved by so many more people in the world that he won’t be so much “our” David. I will relish the fact that I did meet and talk to David and heard him perform live. I’ll always have that. And hopefully I will continue to have all you wonderful FOD buddies to talk with. Sniff, sniff.
Jenny, this brought me to tears. I’ve been thinking about this for such a long time, and I feel exactly the same way. I’m sure it’s a common feeling, but I can’t help but realize that all that you have said will someday come true. He will be so famous that he won’t be able to devote so much to all of his fans as he is now.
I don’t know what else to write anymore. But Jenny, don’t worry about it. David is growing more mature as a person and a performer, but we can’t do much about it. This feeling is very upsetting, knowing that one day he won’t be “ours” anymore, as you put it. I definitely agree.
Awww Jen, I feel your pain. I’ve been feeling melancholy about the tour winding down because we won’t have Daily David reports that we’ve all become so used to. I’ll miss the pictures and videos and all the stories about him. I want him to be successful more than anything, I know we all do and it’s not that I think he’s going to change, I truly believe he’s extremely well grounded and will always remain true to his values, I just think that our opportunities to interact with him are going to be greatly reduced. I hope he blogs us a ton. It would be one way of keeping us all in the loop. Man, this is really making me blue!
WOW Jenny. I love how you said this as i have felt the same way since the beginning of the tour. I have a feeling he will always hold this year in a special lite and all the fans that are part of this year. We are, his Angels.
Oh, Jenny! Take my hand and we will inch along together. You have written every thought of mine into words. Hold tight, my friend, we are ready to take the plunge. (oops I almost wrote plunger LOL)
Easy for YOU to say, Susan: you got to kiss his neck!
Ok Jenny…I am right next to you on that ledge ..but I am going to go all Zen here and say…we have to let this magical bird fly…we can’t keep him 17 forever…I felt so down after the AI final..and then I discovered the site that will not be named
…and found Jenny and Becky and all the wonderful people that park here day after day…the journey will change…David will grow in wonderous ways…but we haven’t really lost a thing….here’s to the Future!
I have been feeling exactly that same way for quite some time now but I just couldn’t put my finger on it nor put it into words…. There won’t be any more chances to talk to David and tell him face to face what he means to us. I am of course SO HAPPY for him for all of the recognition he has been getting and for the amazing success of Crush but at the same time I am sad too… I am so because you are right, he won’t be just ours anymore…
Jenny – You wrote this from the heart, and by doing so, you reached ours. I’ve also thought the same thoughts about losing “our boy.” But then I remember, this is his dream. And it has been for a very long time. When I think of how happy he must be, and how much he truly cares and appreciates his fans…..then I’m OK. He won’t forget us. I want to believe that his original “fanatic fans” – the ones who waited for hours for those buses and screamed like fools when they finally pulled in, the ones who proudly wore their Archie shirts, voted on every poll going, bought numerous copies of Crush, and discussed (and debated) just how good he looks in every single picture – THESE fanatic fans will always have a special place in his heart. We aren’t losing David, we are sending him off on an exciting journey to a wonderfully successful career. Just as his family shared David with us, it is now time for us to share David with the rest of the world.
And Jenny – don’t worry…we aren’t going anywhere! I, for one, love it here!!
Jenny – You just wrote what I have been feeling! I am so depressed just thinking about not seeing David’s beautiful face on a daily basis…that beautiful smile, those beautiful eyes!! I will be so lost!! I am thrilled for him and his success, but I can’t help but be sad that he won’t be as available to us as he has been. I am on that ledge with you…and I feel like I am going over…..
Jenny, you’re going to have to make a lot more room on that ledge, lol! I started feeling the same way as soon as the single aired on Z100 — thrilled for David tinged with sadness that he doesn’t need us anymore.
He’ll fly higher than any of us can imagine and keep surprising us. Remembering that — and playing his songs nonstop — does help!
Jenny
I truly hope that he’s SUPERSTAR-STATUS does not change the way he is (of course he is going to grow & be more mature), but he will always be David. I want to be able to know about him on a daily basis… like we do know! If not, I’m going to miss him sooo much!
OK, as Jenny will attest to, during the AI season, I was the ultimate ledge walker. I think we caused AIM and Yahoo Messenger to implode many a night as she and Gail “talked me off the ledge.” I would obsess over EVERY detail of the show, SURE that impending doom (i.e., David not being on my TV screen two nights a week anymore) was coming. And Jenny would chant, “Trust the Archuleta…”
So here the tables are turned…and what I have to say to everyone who loves him like a son/brother/nephew/boyfriend/very young husband is this: THIS moment, this precipice upon which David stands is what we FOUGHT for for months on end. We wanted the WORLD to see this young man the way we saw him. We knew he was destined to be greater than most of us because of who he is in his soul. The world knew that his voice was beyond compare. They could hear it every week. The world knew he was a sweet kid who was loved by his castmates. But WE knew that he had many gifts to give, and we were going to do anything and everything to get him in front of the world.
So here he is, Archies…ready to take flight. And it’s SO TERRIBLY hard. The emotions he stirs up in all of the different fragments of his fanbase are deep (longing and love in the younger fans, protection and mothering in the older fans, awe and unabashed love in all of us) so letting go makes us all a little queasy. We NEED to talk to him and SEE him because he does something to all of us that we can’t fully explain. BUT…he’s got to go and share that with everyone else. This sounds insane to those who don’t “get” him yet. But I think everyone here knows what I am talking about.
So, yes, it’s going to be tough to get that hug and autograph after this. And he’s going to become VERY big…but let’s remember this…TRUST THE ARCHULETA. Of all of the young (and not so young) artists around today, NOT ONE of them will ever be as humble, grateful, kind, and empathetic as David Archuleta. He will not forget us as he embarks on the next step of his life…he will bring us along with him.
HUGS Archies…
YAY KEVIN! KEVIN is amaaaazing at those graphic design stuffs. lol
yay kevin
Thanks for expressing all of our thoughts, Jenny. I’m a lurker in the chat box and on jtv and have only left a few comments, but I’ve had a wonderful time “getting to know” all of you through your chatting and concert experiences, etc. When a picture link pops up, I click on it. When a voting link pops up, I’m there too. I have laughed – and yes, cried – with you. Although David will ‘belong’ to the world soon, I have the feeling he will do all he can to keep in touch with his fans. We are important to him – he has expressed that time and time again and we feel that love and appreciate from him. Perhaps he will have less restraints then he does with Idol. Of course he will have security with him – he’ll need it! – but the high-fives will no doubt continue. I’m so grateful for Richard and the entire FOD crew for all your efforts in keeping me informed. When the tour is over I will still check FOD each morning (and several times throughout the day!) for the latest updates. Wow – this sounds like a farewell – didn’t mean it to! Anyway, thanks for your beautiful post – I look forward to MANY more!!
David dropped to #15 at Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100 (28/08/2008)
71 1 T.I. WHATEVER YOU LIKE
1 2 RIHANNA DISTURBIA
3 3 CHRIS BROWN FOREVER
4 4 KATY PERRY I KISSED A GIRL
7 5 KARDINAL OFFISHALL DANGEROUS
6 6 M.I.A. PAPER PLANES (HOMELAND SECURIT
5 7 COLDPLAY VIVA LA VIDA
9 8 NE-YO CLOSER
– 9 PINK SO WHAT
8 10 RIHANNA TAKE A BOW
15 11 PUSSYCAT DOLLS WHEN I GROW UP
13 12 YOUNG JEEZY PUT ON
12 13 LIL WAYNE LOLLIPOP
14 14 JESSE MCCARTNEY LEAVIN’
2 15 DAVID ARCHULETA CRUSH
17 16 BANNER*DAVID VGET LIKE ME
21 17 JORDIN SPARKS ONE STEP AT A TIME
19 18 LIL WAYNE GOT MONEY
65 19 HIT MASTERS ALL SUMMER LONG
18 20 LEWIS*LEONA BLEEDING LOVE
I think it’s a good ranking!
VOTE at… he is loosing!
fangap.com
Much love, Vanessa
Jenny, i felt you from a heart to heart. I am out of words but I do best giving (((hug))) and that one is 4 u. I love change (one we witnessed was the FB to FOD) and I am here for a long journey with David and the rest of the Angels. I take it one day at a time, we never know what the future holds, but live and seize each moment (words i always post at David’s myspace). IMO, what matter most is David’s passion will always be loved. All I can do best is pray for David for his strenght and passion and for the Angels that no matter what happens, We are all here for his passion.
Definitely, David will mature and we will witness many changes, but the path I am traveling with him is the living words of “Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love.”-1Cor13:13
group (((((hug<3))))) O’-)
Well said Becky. My husband is wondering why am at the computer blubbering like an idiot. Hug back.
HOMEWORK
Aug 27 2008 8:18 PM
ARCHIES!!!!!!!!! Lets make these activities part of the daily routine.. COZ WE LOVE HIM!!!
LETS MAKE SURE DAVID DOESN’T HAVE A BIG DROP FROM #2 n lets not wait till the end of the week to get excited about the charts… WE CAN DO THIS ARCHIES!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL ARCHIES including those OUTSIDE THE US;
find out which stations carry AT40 is on in ur area or country – http://www.at40. com/affiliate/affiliate.html?CountryID=1
stream stream stream! http://music.aol. com/artist/david-archuleta/811577
request!!!! http://radio.disney.go. com/speak/request.html (not sure abt this one, but keep requesting unless they specifically say we cant)
vote vote vote!!!! http://www.xmradio. com/programming/20on20_vote.jsp (u can vote every 5 minutes! ALSO.. don’t forget ur local countdowns)
POLLS!
NEW POLL THAT NEEDS ATTACKING http://fangap. com/
biggest star 2008 (no log in, clear history n u can vote again n again -http://www.popstaronline. com/
love him or over him – http://www.face book. com/pages/J-14-Magazine/6338692612
US ARCHIES only!!!!!!!!
REQUEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ryan’s – http://www.at40. com/request_song.html
REQUEST CRUSH!! Try to get as much AIRPLAY as possible. Search for stations here. Select stations that play suitable genres.
http://www.ontheradio. net/Stations.aspx
http://www.radio-locator. com/cgi-bin/page?page=states
KEEP BUYING AND GIFTING CRUSH!!! Gift straight out or PRINT GIFT CERTIFICATES to pass on. Pass on to friends, co-workers, family, neighbours etc that SHOULD hear Crush! PASS AROUND AT LABOR DAY PARADES!
POLLS!
best smile – http://www.teen choice awards. com/
Wow Jenny, I too feel what you have written and as the tour winds down, the sense of loss fills me with sadness no doubt but on the other hand, also gets me excited with anticipation for the next phase of his career. David will have that superstar career for sure but something tells me the fundamental parts of his nature- humble, shy, endearing, generous, empathetic – will always be there. You can plant him in Hollywood but you won’t take the Murray boy out of him.
Somehow, someway we will travel together , he and us, on this journey. It may not be in close contact but through his music and the examples that he sets, we’ll always have a part of him in our hearts and minds. As he said in the Disney interview we are as much a part of this as he is.
Thank you JENNY! Anything for DAVID!
Don’t worry Jenny, I think all of the fans feel the same way to some extent. I have thought many times if his superstar status might change him, and the fact that will we be one, in a soon to be, a bajillion fans to be able to interact and meet with David like some have during the tour. I’m sure David won’t change though (of course he’s going to change in height, maturity, etc.) because he’s so grounded and he’s got his family to help him stay that way. Although I still feel bad that I didn’t get to talk to David and his dad longer, and who knows when I’ll be able to meet them again (unfortunately, probably never again
) I bet a lot of us who has met up with the Archuletas feel the same way. I’m sure he has changed all of us for the better in some way, and that’s the wonderful power of David. We, as fans, must be supportive, and you know how much David loves his fans. David will ALWAYS be David, so don’t worry because the Idol we all look up to will always be the same in our hearts no matter what. We’ve all become one big giant family, and with David at the center, he’ll never leave us. Remember, family never gets left behind. 
P.S. Thank you, Jenny, for posting my graphic up
Please pass the tissues….. Jenny you are not alone, as the others above me also conclude. I just realized today that tour will be ending in only two short weeks. David, like you said will be on the road to “SUPERSTARDOM”. I know he deserves all of this, and yes I am being selfish too. I feel I will be lost without all the concert videos, all the talks about his t-shirts / shoes, the amazing fan stories and pictures, hearing his “aah Thanks” and soft giggly laugh, and no more seeing him joke around with Cook onstage – I could go on. I feel a sense of loss as I am sure his real family does. We have nurtured him along these past 8 months. watching him grow into this music genius. But this is his dream and it is coming true. All we can do is stand back and continue to support him the best way we know how. I hope that by staying a close e-family we can achieve that for David. I don’t think he will forget his “True Fans”!
Jenny -Please don’t ever stop writing or sharing stories about DAvid with all of us, I look forward to reading them everyday!
I know exactly what you mean. But whenever that feeling comes over me, I quickly swat it away. I feel TERRIBLE thinking that way ’cause I feel so selfish, so that emotion only lingers for a few seconds at a time before being told quite rudely that it has no place in my thoughts and it doesn’t exist, because I don’t want it to. ^_^ I want my entire being to be there with David as he climbs up higher and higher in the impending success ladder. ^_^
Jenny don’t jump!!! Here is why… (sorry for the long post LOL!!!)
Seven years ago I became a huge fan of a very popular Spanish singing competition called Operacion Triunfo. That show was one of the best things that have ever happened in my life because it brought my family and friends closer and gave me the opportunity to meet other fans that are now some of my closest friends.
In that competition I spotted one singer while flipping the channels. He grabbed my attention like no other singer before in my life and with only one note I became a fan. Later I found out that he was also very shy, humble and thankful to his fans so that seal the deal for me… He became my favorite singer ever. (Back then at 20 years old, I had never been a fan of any singer) I loved his voice, his passion and how he made every song his own. (Btw everyone knew he was the real gem of the show) That singer came second (Déjà vu anyone!!! LOL!!!) in the competition to a Cinderella story winner, but he outsold and outshone the winner and in a few short years became one of the most successful and respected Latin singers in the world. I had the blessing to meet and share unforgettable moments with that singer when he visited my country for promotions and concerts and that only made me prouder to be his fan.
I’m telling this story because never in my life I thought I will feel the same I did seven years ago while watching another singer. (Its difficult to accept thi, but I think this time is even stronger and deeper) The curious thing is that another David did that to me. When Archie sang WOTWTC on his audition he caught my attention but with Heaven he made me a fan for life. I loved his pure voice, his passion and the feeling that nothing was fake with him. I knew right there that he was the real deal. I thought to myself win or loose this kid is going to be a Huge Star. (I have a good six sense for spotting new talents, believe me!!!)
David is only 17, but he is so matured beyond his years. He knows who he is as a person and as an artist and he has always stayed true to himself. I cannot wait to see David grow as an artist and share his talent with the whole world. Like you said Jenny… He is destined (and I’m not saying this likely) to be a Legend. I know that would mean that he will no longer be just our Archie the AI runner up, but David Archuleta the World Idol. But you know… I’m OK with that because 7 years have passed since I met my other David and to this day he has remained humble and more importantly he remembers those who supported him since the beginning. I know in my heart that with Archie it will be the same… people like him don’t change… He knows the people that have been there since the start and he will always cherish us and thank us for having his back.
Jenny I know you feel a loss, but just think about all the songs and concerts and appearences David will make in his path to becoming the Music Legend he is destined to be… I cannot wait to follow his journey and enjoy the ride!!!
Jenny, play the Disney interview. Let David talk you down. He gives us more credit than any artist ever gave fans. He relates more directly to us than any artist ever related to fans. We will be like first love to him. We were there when times were tough. We will always be there and he will be there, too.
Your last paragraph especially is EXACTLY spot on! I even feel strange reading all the news about AI’s next season. I want to watch but it feels so empty without David on it.
Jenny!!! *sniff* Maybe that’s what’s been wrong with me since my last show in Tampa. I think the realization that he is going to become HUGE, and I may not get a chance to meet with him again like I have twice this tour. Because of that, I regret not being more open and talkative around him. I had two chances and failed both times. I don’t think I ever even told him my name. This is just the beginning for him. The end of this tour/beginning of his career is definitely bitter-sweet. On one hand, we’re so proud of everything he has accomplished and will accomplish and proud that we were there from the start and helped him get to where he is, but on the other hand, we’re sad to be “losing” him to the rest of the world. This all makes me feel even more blessed that I was one of the chosen ones to “get” him from the start. I hoped and prayed that he would have huge success, but I never could have imagined just how huge!!!
Kleenex anyone???
Aw, Jenny. As soon as the first review of the Idols Live tour was written, I began to feel the loss of David. But then I felt the pride. But then the loss again. But then the joy! But then the loss again. And when I heard Crush, the overwhelming desire to say “I told you so” to anyone who doubted him. And now I’m not on a ledge so much as a roller-coaster with so many ups and downs I can’t think straight.
I need to quote what you said above, because I swear I said the exact same thing to my husband around week 8 of Idol “David is going to be a musical legend rubbing shoulders with Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney and Elvis (I think I put Elton John in hear somewhere) He’s going to win Grammys. (and I added “he’s going to change the world with his amazing voice and his enormous heart.”)
While I am sad to say goodbye to the AI/19E David Archuleta, I am just as excited to bear witness to the David Archuleta of 2015! Just Imagine!!!!
Jenny, how open and sincere your story is! I admire you for that because I don’t know if I’ll be brave enough like you to write about it. I feel the same way as you do. But I console myself by (1) telling myself that he really appreciates what all his fans have done for him (remember the RadioDisney interview? He talked about it so eloquently, too!) and (2) and that it’s like raising our own children who we have to let go and be … And down the road, we can watch him on the sidelines as a superstar and know deep in our hearts that we played a big role in his success when he was just starting out. I’m sure he’ll always (and I mean always) make us proud!
On a lighter note, I love his version of “Love Me Tender” as much as you do. When I play that song over and over and over and over, I truly believe that he’s yearning for all of our love and affection. He should be rest assured that he has ours forever.
super big hugs! oh my gosh, i can’t stop crying cause it’s like i’m reading something i could have written myself. i want all the best things in the world for david, but my heart feels a little lonely knowing that i might never get to spend time with him again. wahhhhhh…..
This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about for months! One of the most wonderful things about David is how he is SO accessable to all of us right now. He isn’t all “hollywood” and in a different world from the rest of us. He is down-to-earth, and just another guy. While I know his personality will stay the same, I do definitely dread the time when we won’t be able to feel so connected with him and close to him anymore.
That’s what makes me SO depressed that I wasn’t able to make it to a concert. Probably my only chance to talk to him, get his autograph, take a picture, hug him ect…probably my only chance is gone. It was never there, actually. It’s really sad, because no other person has affected me like David has, and I probably will never get to have the same awesome experiences that so many others have had to tell him that and meet him and his dad.
Ugh, this is too depressing, I have to stop. At least we’ll always have his voice, and hilariously adorable interviews.
Jenny, I know what you are feeling to some extent. I first felt a sense of devastation when AI was over and I knew David was destined for superstardom. I knew that chapter in his life was over, but wait… I was loving him just as he was and every performance he gave. I was waiting for every Tuesday night as if it was the only good day in the week.
I didn’t get to the concert this time around but I’ve watched every video posted and read practically every story. David is growing as an artist and as a person and that is a good thing! I know he wants us to come along for the ride with him. He will not forget his fans. There will be many concerts and events in the future. His fan base will grow. Judging from what I have seen and read, I am fairly certain that regardless of what happens, David will always be David. He will be there for us as we will be there for him.
Jenny, Okay, this is the first time I’ve ever cried at my computer. I just wrote an e-mail to a fansofdavid.com friend from Southeastern Virginia (thanks Becky) expressing my frustration over not hearing David yet on local radio when he can apparently be #1 in Malaysia for three weeks someone said. I am not an overly emotional person, but David brings out the best in me! Jenny, David will always be ours! He is such an incredibly unique individual that I don’t think we can make assumptions about things drastically changing for all of us. His musical gift AND the person David is to all of us is a special bond that has drawn us together. I don’t think David’s character of innate humilityand goodness will ever leave him as he progresses in his career. The special aura of David that we all love so much will keep up close to him, watching his successes and being happy for him as we are along for the journey.
Wow Jenny , You sure wrote what a lot of us are feeling but I agree with Becky. We all knew from that first audition that this young man was destined for greatness even if alot of others did not “get him” . We all voted our fingers off each week, now we are all dialing our fingers off to request “crush” and buying it on itunes and very shorlly David is going to fly higher than any of us could probably ever imagine. This is a great thing. I believe this truly is David’s mission to bring people together from not only the U.S but all over the world. He has already brought all of us together and now he will do what he has done for us for millions of others through his gift of music, Humility ,and decency. It’s truly amazing what this 17 year old young man has accomplished in such a short time.Yes we will not have the same access to him that we now have but David will never forget this group of fanatical fans who were there with him from day one and will remain with him and “have his back” always. I hope that we have made an impact on his life half as much as he has made on all of us. So yes we must now let him go, just as his real family has had to do already and it is going to be tough to think he is not “ours ” anymore but he will always be ours in our hearts . I know all of us can not wait to see him soar and we will be beaming from ear to ear saying “that’s our boy up there!” This is one great group of people and I am so proud to be apart of it and so proud to be a David Archuleta fan.
Wow David “look what you made us do!”
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Jenny u already had me in tears with your post! but when i read your comment here, becky, i was bawling!!!
both of you have put to words what we were all thinking!
corny, but sorta like a little bird leaving its nest…
gosh david has made me feel things i never thought was possible! my heart has a greater capacity now
and things i wudve never had imagined to feel through just his voice! i still struggle to describe what it is about his voice and how it makes me feel, but i know that all of u know exactly what im talking about…its so nice to have an efamily to share all this with…we’re the only ones who really get each other..
try telling all of this to other close ones in the real world and we’ll be branded insane!they just dont get it..yet!
we have to be selfless enough to share david with the rest of the world…after all, this is what he’s always wanted…and it makes him happy…so if it makes him happy, it makes us happy…we just want the best for him, and for him to follow his dreams…which is exactly what he’s doing now!
but just because we have to share him with so many others, doesnt necessarily mean that we’re gonna lose him completely..we’ll still have lots of songs n vids n interviews n articles n pics etc…we just may not be so elite anymore..but thats the best thing for him anyways..
wow, now i know how our parents mustve felt when we left them!
LUV ALL OF U DEARLY!! thanks archies, just for being archies and sharing this experience with me:)
xxxxx
Yes Jenny, I started inching out on the ledge the first week of the tour because I sensed how we would feel when it wound down. It had all become so endearingly familiar and to watch him change and mature at such a rapid pace was breathtaking. He brings such JOY.. the concerts I saw, the Z100 interview and the single debut, the Disney interview etc etc all made me see that he is on his way and we were all an integral part of the process. He told us so. I believe him. What helps me move on are his own words ” I am SO ready to do this…” and yes he is and so we must be too. His family has let him fly. It’s with love that we support him and do our best to try to change with him. He will always be singing and speaking to us and we must answer as we always have… with unconditional love.
Oh crap that really made me cry. I have been on the ledge all day what the heck is it that has us so tied up on this guy. Dang tears in my ears again. Typing on the laptop while lying down and reading that strong of ledge emotion is bound to get the ears filled with tears. He won’t be in his home, how does that effect his siblings and parents. Oh I identify well with the pain. And yes his voice not only reached to aching emotions in the song but he has his hands gripping each of out hearts and could easily yank them out and toss them on the floor, and all we could say is thank you for helping me remember I have a heart.
Oh Archie what have you done to all of us
Jenny, thank you for such a beautiful write-up. I asked if FOB will still be here after the tour in one of my comments – I really,really hope so.
Although I live across that wide Pacific Ocean, I have followed David’s career and growth – often voting many times in polls and if meant for US residents only, my sisters voted for me.
I am an older fan – and David has become a second child to me ( I lost my only child to cancer). I listen to his songs daily and never forget to include him in my prayers.
” We see a beautiful butterfly….And we are so lucky to see the long, difficult process it underwent and now it is ready to fly with lovely wings..
Therefore, I hope it won’t be too hard when we find our world dark and dreary without David. We hold on to the hope of change and growth. There is a bigger, brighter world waiting ..”
God loves you dear David. We all do!
Jenny, I have been thinking this for a while. So you are not alone on the ledge. A lot of us have melancholy of late, not fully understood, just a feeling of sadness. And you have explained so well why we have that feeling. I believe David will never forget us, this crazy group of fans who love him so much, who have done so much for him, and to whom he has given so much. I am one of the bazillions of fans who have been fortunate enough to get to a few concerts and actually meet and talk to him a little. I feel so blessed. We will lose some of the recent access we have had, but I have to believe there is much more to come, different, but he will still be there. Like others I have seen write here, I will be there for him too. For ever.
Jenny – Thank you for your poetic words that so beauifully expressed what you are thinking and feeling. And thank you to others for comments that have scraped me off the floor a little. My day is filled with David – watching, listening, thinking, feeling. I have to ask but am frankly scared – are you saying that this FOD website will no longer exist after the tour or release of his record?? or ??? Are you saying it will stop and not go on for years to follow him as much as possible?? Jenny or someone, please let me know. I feel depressed enough but I need to know. Thank you to those with words of wisdom and support – I even wrote some things down in my David book that helps me keep track of what I need to do everyday to support him. You are wonderful people. Thanks you.
One small addition: I want to thank ALL of you for the devotion, the humor, the stories, the fraternity and most of all for the opportunity to follow this path with David. What an amazing, caring group of people. I for one will be right here as long as the opportunity to be FOD exists. My heartfelt thanks…
I was just thinking about those notes we were writing to give David the other day. (Not sure what happened with that.) How about including this. I mean he will know for sure how deep the love runs.
Aww Jenny. You just wrote everyting I’ve been feeling for all of this week with the realization that the tour is almost over. I wasn’t able to go to see David in person (dang it!) so I’ve been soaking up every detail of everyone’s report on their experience seeing/meeting him. I love Fanblast and Fans of David. I can relate to everything you’ve written and look forward to reading your future blogs.
It was especially poignant to me how you related our feeling to what his family and friends must be feeling. I think about Lupe often and know what she must be going thru as a mother having to share such a precious son with the world.
“With David’s impending success there is a sense of exhilaration and anticipation tempered (and pride) with…well, with a sense of loss” as your words so elegantly put it.
David needs help at Fangap.com–”Who has the most Fanatic Fans” and the Jonas Bros. are ahead.
Jenny, You should go to Hey Nielsen and post a shortened version for a comment.
Ok, I’m crying too. We have been on such a magical journey with David, a once in a life time ride. I am sure that David will not forget us. Above all else, David is such a giving person. You can’t say that about many artists today. David feels such joy to give his gift to us. he is so down to earth and appreciates what we, his grassroots fans have done for him. He is a dream come true, a great joy that has been delivered to all of us. I’m 51 and I can say I have never felt this way about any artist. I will love watching David rise to glory! We can feel like we are the group that discovered him. Dang it, David won’t forget us! He is David, the loving wonderful soul who will continue to reach out to us. I just know that David will always have a loving warm feeling about his first fans. He feels our love and we do his. You go David! We will forever be with you!!
Letting go. We who have children felt the same way as they went off into the world and made us proud. David will grow in his music and we will be along for the ride –in spirit. We will not forget nor be forgotten. His success will keep him close to us in so many ways. Media, recordings, movies(?) and so on.
When I was 13 (way back in the 60’s /giggle), I fell in love with the Beatles. Think of how much they changed and grew in their talent and music ability.
Here I am again to watch the beginning of a new career. David will be very famous, but he will not forget how he got there. Relax and enjoy the ride. He is going to make us proud.
Kara
Jenny, On a side note to what I wrote earlier, I hope that as David is only beginning his musical journey at the conclusion of the AI tour, I am hoping that fansofdavid.com is there for all of us along the way.
Jenny your post was amazing and that is exactly why I spent money I do not have to fly to Dallas this week. I have had a feeling for a long time that he was going to get so BIG that I would never have another opportunity to meet this great young man. But, I have to agree with Becky this is what we have been fighting so hard to get for him. I think we will see a lot of David as his label promotes Crush. So instead of looking at this as the end I feel it the beginning to a great future for David as well as for us. I am so proud to be his fan and I love all of you that comment on this site. I will never be able to express in words the way some of you do, but that does not mean I do not have the same feelings. You all make me feel like I am not so crazy after all. Thanks FOD for all the great news you provide for us each day!
Dang it Jenny, what are you doing to me?! Yesterday I had Archuleta hangover so bad and I was just getting over it, now this LOL!
I look at it this way; the world both needs and deserves David Archuleta. I am willing to let him go so the world can be a better place through his stunning character and personality, not to mention The Voice. Years from now when David is the worlds Super Star I’ll be able to say I was on the ground floor of this ride, and I’ll be filled with pride and joy that David is changing so many lives. When I read of the people who are going through trials and tribulations, and yes even those who are experiencing heartache and I read how David soothes their souls I feel he is truly blessed to be able to do that. It will only be on a grander scale as time goes on.
I do have one regret though. I was waiting for David at the Sunrise FL concert when I was told he would not be coming out because it was late and he had to go directly to the bus, so I left. The next day I read that he indeed did come out to see the fans. Haven’t I learned enough about David that I should have known he would not disappoint us? Now I feel that I missed my one and only opportunity to thank him in person.
During the season, I worried about David- and the pressure on a 17 year old. As time has gone by, I am so convinced he is ready to start living his dream. Those of you who have created this website and supported him in so many ways, should feel so proud of helping him achieve those dreams. Helping him, will enable many more lives to be touched in ways you may never know. Feel proud of all you have done to
I had to leave for a while…and I just got a chance to read the latest postings on this topic…amazing how we all felt what Jenny and Becky so eloquently wrote…so many of you wrote such touching messages…David has lighten our hearts every day…I read that his mother commented to a fan…”Keep loving David, ok”….well we will…and if she can share her beautiful son…we have to try.
bring such joy and happiness to our world, which can certainly use it.
Jenny: this is exactly how I have felt for a long time now. It is the reason why I knew I had to attend the concert and meet David now. I had this NEED to meet him for some reason that I can’t explain. I don’t think that it will be that he will not want to meet with his fans, but it may be next to impossible in the near future. He is going to be a megastar, a legend in the music business.
I feel blessed that I got to meet him, even if for a brief moment.
I am glad to see I am not the only one feeling like this. We feel we know him so well from following his journey for the last 8 months and reading everything about him, watching every interview, reading every fan story and watching every youtube video posted.
I wish David the very best in the next part of his journey after Idol. I feel so much better knowing he has the support of a close, loving family. He will stay well grounded in a business that is at times very unforgiving and as David says “sometimes cruel”.
And I know for sure, he will have the love and support of his true fans forever.
Pk Jenny, I have not ready any other comments ahead of mine yet because I wanted to share my fresh feelings right after your “Ledge-Walker” notes. I have to admit I have had the exact same thoughts as yours…somewhere around Toronto, I think. It happened after I watched the next day youtubes of his performances and then as I watched him trying to jump out of the window to “be with his fans, to be with us” it hit me gently that he wanted to be with “us” (I wasn’t there, mind you, in person, only in spirit). I also thought and still remind myself daily that David has said all along that he is on this journey with his fans, that the songs he even picks are for his listening, unwavering fans (yes, you and me), and then when I met his family who seemed so unaffected by his fame, and how he has remained the same each and every day, even though he is growing up, he remains devoted to us as we are to him. He even defended us recently when he said we are just “overly protective” of him. He understands that we have invested alot in him, and he reminds us each and every night that he dedicates his song to us and that he loves us. I also belong to his church, and know that being a member of this church you don’t go very far. By that I mean, you don’t leave the faith, the roots of family, the love of close friends who believe the same as you. You stay close to those things which build you up. As a member of this church, David has said one of his biggest priorities is to share that love wherever he goes. I really think he will want to keep that up close relationship with so many of his fans by doing things other artists today don’t do…like having what we call in our church “fireside” like gatherings. Now, I know David would attract thousands at a time, but I do think he can still get away with these type of things once the limelight calms down and he can even have more intimate concerts for that matter. I do see other musicians have meet and greets. And I think if anyone can pull off the more personal type of settings it will be David. He’s just that way. Do you remember while he was in Utah for that homecoming? What were the two things he made time for? He went to a troubled youth home in Utah and sang and “talked” at a youth fireside. He was fresh hot still from Idol and he pulled it off and very personal setting mind you. And then he planned that concert that was to be a qeustion and answer thank you concert and only charging $1 to enter and then proceeds going to charity. What does that tell you about him..? I know what he is about. I know that he has a special understanding of why he is here, and what his purpose is, as well as all of us.
He will never leave his fans. He will always be forever grateful to so many. Granted, he loves music and will always write and sing to his souls desire and yet will know that they will have to relate to us and our lives as well. So I am feeling really sad to have him leave a chapter of his life, but actually releaved in many ways, because he will finally be “free”er to be doing things more his way which will be maybe even more personal as far as music goes.
And also…he has some very close friends who will always keep us in the know about David because they are dedicated to keeping us close to him. I think many will enjoy David for his music, but those of us who started with him, who truly love him for all he is , will be in the know for a long time and he will remain close to us…
PASS THE KLEENEX PLEASE!!! Jenny! I am sick, just got back from Jamaica and you have me in tears!! I am so…missing David! Gah! DAvid, if you are reading this I am ok, and I am praying for you!!
JENNY AND BECKY: Sorry, I can’t bear to read everyone elses’ posts at this moment as I am sobbing uncontrolably right now. You have stated every emotion that we have all been feeling. I don’t want the tour to end because I want to always be able to turn on my computer and see the new videos. I want this time with David to last forever, but yes, he has worked sooo hard to realize his dream. AND we have worked just as hard to help him. We have to let him go, just like mothers who reluctantly watch their children leave home. His family has already experienced this and look the grace at which they have done so. I trust David that he will always the Fanatic Fans who had his back from the the very beginning. We are a family now and I hope that we will always be here to celebrate David’s years of success.
Jenny, we’ve never met…but I have so enjoyed your thoughts expressed here and at FB. I hope FOD never goes away…I don’t know where else I’ll get my DA fix if it does.
Thanks for putting into words what so many of us our feeling (wow, heavy sigh). By the way, is there room on the ledge for me?
As I always do, we should turn to David when we need some wisdom.. David recently said that we, his oh so loved fans, are as much of his career as he is. In every step David has thought of us and that will never change.
I hope that helped,
Love to the Arch Angels!
Jenny, I feel your pain – however, this is just the BEGINNING for David and for us!! It made me sick when AI was over because I couldn’t see/hear David each week. But then there was the tour, and Fansites and the love keeps growing and growing. I cannot wait to see what happens next!! Cheer up Jenny – Feel the love!
I love you all more than I can say! FOD will be here as long as David’s career. We are long-term. In it for the long haul. You all are making me feel better and worse at the same time.
Jenny/Becky: I can hardly type I’m crying so hard! Every word, every thought you wrote is what I am feeling right now..how beautifully written but so painfully true. I’ve been counting the number of shows remaining on the tour and getting sadder each day as they dwindle…and for the very reason that you each gave. Hard as it seems, we will have to let go of him, at least as we know him now. He has big plans and we have done our part in every way that we could to give him a proper send off to the new life that awaits him…that ever so brilliant music career he has dreamed of since he was a little boy. Hopefully, we will all be mindful of what David has said himself, we were there for him…we “had his back” and we are so fortunate to have been here now to share his beginning and follow him to greater heights!
We Love you, David. God Speed Always!
JENNY: We are all on the ledge with you. We will ride this roller coaster together! David loves us you know. He is as dedicated to us as we are to him!
Thanks Jenny, for coming back and saying that. We’ll stick together. Isn’t this what a journey is all about? Ups and downs and faith. Rock on.
Thanks for posting back Jenny. It’s Fear vs. Faith literally. Like I said before, we’re all like one big family, with our ups, and downs, but no one EVER gets left behind!
Jenny,
Thank you so much for putting into words what a lot of us have been feeling for quite a while. As I read your words (through tears), my heart was breaking and soaring at the same time. I agree with everything you said….except for one thing. I think you are underestimating the ‘power of the Archuleta’ haha. David loves his fans as much, if not more, than we love him. If anyone can find a way to stay close and accessible to his fans, it’s David. I think he will amaze us all by doing this, and in ways that we never thought possible. The love that he emits is unending…he is almost super-natural in this regard. It’s a two-way street…he needs us as much as we need him. He WILL find a way!
Jenny,
Oh boy, you said it! Yes, he will belong to the entire world soon and I can’t stand it. What will we do when he gets used to all the adoration, when he gets “polished”, when he has handlers rushing him past the fans and into the waiting limos? Dang it! At least we had this little window before all of that. I’m glad I got to meet him, even if I was so darn starstruck I couldn’t think straight. Note to all future fans: WE WERE HERE FIRST!!! We love ya, David.
Jenny, you made me cry:( I really don’t want to face it right now. Let’s just enjoy the ride!
Thanks, Becky, you’re right, David will definitely bring us along with him. And I just heard Crush on CHUM-FM in Toronto for the first time, WOOHOOO!!, hitting #6 in the Top 10 most requested songs of the day. (Why does it sound even better on the radio?)
Marc, I feel your pain — same thing happened to me in T.O. and I felt compelled to go to another show (in N.H.) to thank him in person, so if you’re able to, go for it!
Oh Jenny did you have to remind us!! I was hoping to avoid the truth until oh about September 13th. I guess it would be a little too much to ask for a weekly blog, maybe just a word or better yet a single note. This is going to be tough!!!
Oh Jenny and Becky, your posts are absolutely on the mark in terms of how I am feeling right now and ever since I saw David in concert. You truly touched the nerve, because I’m all teary. I can’t get to any more concerts, so I’ve felt very melancholy about the tour coming to an end, even though I know there are great things in store for David. This site has been wonderful ‘therapy’ for the ODD – remember how we were all coping with the thought of not seeing David twice a week after AI ended? I can’t imagine going anywhere besides FOD after the tour ends, The tour ending is another step on David’s journey and we’re gonna have to get through this! You guys are going to have to keep us posted on what’s going on in David’s career and life, just as you always do. We need you! We will always be true fans of David, the ones who “got him” right from the very beginning. There is a special place in David’s heart for us, just listen to that amazing Disney interview. You know, when I saw all the BillBoard info that came out today, I thought, “Well, he’s on his way.” He’s halfway to platinum already with Crush, and it’s not even being fully promoted. So we’re all feeling like mother birds, watching our baby fly from the nest. And look at how happy he is! He’s ready! Gosh, I love being an ArchAngel!!
Jenny, you’ve expressed a lot of what I’ve thought lately. We’ve been so affected by David and his journey. Coming to the web site looking for the next update multiple times a day has become a habit. As much as it seems to be coming to an end for us, I think about David and how his whirlwind year is coming to an end for him. For his young years, I can’t imagine he would ever have another year like the one he just had ever again. He’s had to work so hard to make it all happen, harder than any of us can even imagine. Rest assured, he’ll know great success but at a different pace, that’s all. Privately, I can’t wait for the tour (even though I didn’t get to see it) to be over, I’m hoping David can take a breath and get a lot of rest with his family. He’s hardly had a break at all lately.
I give a heavy “sigh” and many tears after reading Jenny and Becky’s thoughts and then everyones comments. David has the most loving, caring fans in the world.
And then I think how David says he wasn’t sure he would have fans after Idol was over.
I hope David does get a copy of all the posts here tonight. This is a very special relationship between him and his fans. I have not cried this many tears in a long time.
We love this young man, like he was our own.
His destiny has been seen by us here from the very begining of Idol and we are on the long journey with him.
When I get sad, I just put on some David music and the world is bright and cheery once again. I think I’ll go and do that now.
Aww Jenny and Becky, you got me all teary-eyed and took the words right out of my mouth. I have been thinking about exactly the same thing for some time now. All I can say is that it will be hard to “lose” our dear archie to the world, but I think that this will only make us stronger for the next stepping stone in this wonderful journey. Also, all this that’s happening just makes me appreciate seeing him in person, that much more. I never got to speak to him, but just seeing him perform on that stage was enough for me.
{{Hugs}}
OMGosh Jenny! I have been on and off the ledge repeatedly for the past couple of weeks, and I haven’t even been to the concert yet.. (Tuseday Sept. 2 woo-hoo!)..Anyway, I was pretty much in the same archu-boat as you until I saw the news of the upcoming Ford Day concert thingy with DA and Cook and something dawned on me. Although I/we feel or think that we’re neary some type of ending, it’s really our choice on how to view it. I think it’s more of a growing up stage in our fansofDavid life-line. Kinda like moving from high school to college. The opportunities and accessiblilty that we have had during this, the early phase of the DA phenominon, maybe won’t be handed to us, but if you/we make the effort to find them, you will. Maybe I’m not making sense, but I think ya’ll get it. Can’t wait til tuesday..Stocking up on kleenex. (Anybody) Do you think it would be rude to only bring a little gift for DA and not the others? Just wonderin…….
Yep, you said it Jenny. I have been feeling this too, like he’s slipping away, but he is actually fulfilling his well deserved dream, and over the years we will faithfully watch and remember when!
Jenny, I know exactly how you feel.
But maybe we should look at it like this…
you see, for the entire period of a tree’s life, a year-by-year ring pattern is formed within the tree’s trunk that reflects the conditions in which the tree grew. Each ring tells the story of every season the tree has lived… the tree-rings tell about each year’s growth, about climatic changes and nourishment, about droughts as well as rainy days. The ring closest to the tree trunk’s very core is the oldest ring – the first ring formed, with new rings getting added around the first one with each season that passes…
Jenny, I believe, that no matter how tall and big David will grow, we will always be that innermost ring closest to his core. We are the ring that tells the story about how it all began, when, where and how the sapling David started to grow… and no one can ever take that away from us – or from David. I believe he will always remember that – remember us, too. There will never be a day that he won’t think of us, after all, right?
Love,
~Annie
thank u so much for writing this, u brought me to tears and thats something not so easy to do……altought i feel he is going away i can not be more excited for seeing his success. he will be a LEGEND and we will be the ones the could see him rise above
Aw, Jenny and Becky, you had me nodding (and sniffling) through your wonderful posts. Thank your for baring your hearts. (David attracts the best people as fans.)
I’m feeling a mite odd — I’m a Kansan who has yet to see David in concert, and I have tickets to the Kansas City and Tulsa shows. So I’m still anticipating those first experiences — I’ve never been to an Idol concert — while also recognizing the imminent ‘end’ of what we know.
I agree with Becky, however, that this is what we wanted for David all along. We want him to step up on a stage that is much larger than Idol.
One other thought that came to mind is that we SHOULD keep trusting David. The kid has an enormous heart and he is watchful. He knows we were there from the beginning, and I’d be willing to bet 100 copies of his first CD that he’ll keep finding ways to recognize this first, loyal group. And we’ll all still be around, trading those stories.
Wait and see. The love and loyalty of his fanbase will be a part of David’s legend.
#76 JesseQ-I will be at the Sept. 2 concert too.
And Jenny I couldn’t agree with you more. I have been thinking about these same things for several weeks now and wondering how it will be without getting daily updates of David. He is about to embark on the second part of the greatest journey of his young life and he is going to be huge all over the world. I have never in all my life been drawn to someone like I have David. From the moment I seen him on AI I knew he was something very special. As sad as it will be to see him fly away to bigger things, I am so grateful for what he has done to change me as a person and look forward to watching his journey unfold and keep the memories with me forever.
Thanks for your honesty Jenny. I also cried reading your thoughts and feelings because I feel the same way.
I talk, breath, see, feel, live David Archuleta since January 22nd, 2008. He has been a blessing for me, in so many ways. I have thought about what you wrote since the tour started. I saw him in Sunrise, FL and then I drove to Tampa to see him there. I felt so bad when I left the venue in Tampa because I was thinking that maybe that will be the last time I was going to see David. I am from Venezuela and I’m going back to my country in a few months. I don’t know if David will go to my country when he does his world tour (I talked about that with David and Jeff when I met them in Sunrise) or if I’m going to be able to come back here and see David in concert. I’m scared that David is going to be untouchable when he becomes the music legend he is destined to be. I cried on my back to Miami. I felt empty, sad and depressed the whole weekend.
But I don’t know why, now I feel great. I feel that David is closer to me. I feel David is next to me. I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel peace inside. David makes me feel that. And I know that when the tour is over; I know that while I keep on watching David become the music legend he is going to be, he will be always with me! I guess I’m not explaining myself well. Sorry! I just wanted to share my feelings with you, the people that love and admire David as much as I do, but probably I’m not expressing myself clearly.
I wish David the best of luck. I pray to God that David gets everything he wants in life, I pray that David will always and forever be happy. David deserves everything good and beautiful in life because David is goodness, kindness, hope, peace, joy. He is a blessing, he is a miracle. I will be there, next to him in one way or the other, supporting him, admiring him, respecting him, loving him for being such an amazing talented person and for being one of the most beautiful creatures God has placed on this planet.
need help. Please vote for Archie here.
http://fangap.com/home/tabid/363/Default.aspx
thank you.
Aww….you made me cry
((((((((((Angels HUGS)))))))))))))
Jenny, are you sure you are not my long lost American twin separated at birth??? My sentiments exactly. It will be difficult to “share” David with his newfound fans after the world discovers our little secret…what an amazing singer and person he is. But down deep, this is also what we work so hard for. Why would we vote, buy multiple copies, write opinions, fly to 4 shows, if we did want David to have his huge success? We know that, ultimately, it means we lose him as the accessible Archie he is today. So, we end up being schizophrenic, don’t we? In the final analysis, I’m for sharing this young man. I am confident he will not change his humble nature, and, as the Disney interview keenly revealed, his devotion to those initial fans who helped to get him on his way. I’m feeling pretty steady on this ledge right now.
There is kind of a wistful look in Lupe’s eyes. When she says she hopes we keep on loving him, those are words of a woman who doesn’t want to see her child lifted up and then dropped into free fall. She needs to read these things so she knows we know and are there for her as well.
#80 KathyH…well said.
Jenny,
That is exactly the reson that I went to see David at the Albany, NY concert 3 hours away from my little home town.
I said to my daughter, this kid is going to be soo big and famous that I will never get to see him in person again. He will be in much bigger places than Albany NY.
He absolutely reminds me of Elvis. He has that raw talent, persona, ability to mesmorize people (me specifically) & he has much more that I can’t even describe.
Oh, dang Jenny! I am sitting here trying to type but can hardly see what I am typing. Dang it! THIS HURTS LIKE HECK!! Do you how long I’ve been feeling exactly the same way? I always thought about it but never really told anyone or even thought anyone would feel the same way. Untill tonight these feelings have been bottled up inside and they just gushed out after reading your post. What am I going to do Jenny? What are we going to do? Jenny he moving on to bigger and better things. That’s not right, that’s not fair. LORD WHY DOES THIS HURTS SO MUCH? I know I am being very selfish, but he is like our own son. We have been watching him grow every day. Every parent is selfish and protective when it comes to their children. This is why I felt the urgency to go to at least one concert. It was not enough, it just made it worse. After I saw him in Tampa I left happy and very sad at the same time. He left me very hungry!! I wanted more a lot more of David Archuleta. Unfortunately, somehow I knew that it would probably be the last time I saw him again. I TRULY HOPE NOT! I wonder what he thinks about us feeling this way. He would probably say something like… “It’s a little weird” That’s our David. I am going to stop now that my eyes look like I’ve been boxing for a couple of rounds. Jenny THANK YOU so much for those beautiful words. I could not have said it any better. God Bless David his family and God Bless us all!!
Jenny, I’m not there… yet. Since the beginning of AI, I always admired young David with his big voice. This is the first season we, as a famliy, watched AI and stuck with it ’til the end. Because of other priorities, I didn’t catch all auditions or Hollywood performances. I missed David’s (at first). Brooke was, and still is somewhat, my gal from the beginning. I did see her audition and Hollywood songs and fell in love with her sweetness and style. She was the idol for me. “Let it Be” was her pinnacle for me (and many), thus I sadly breezed over David’s “Imagine”.
That’s until I heard David Archuleta sing “Angels”. I’ve heard, “he had me at Heaven”. Well, David had me at “Angels”. I can’t remember how many times I replayed it, hanging on every word, note, glance. I had never seen or heard anything like it. I swear I could see his soul (even through the tv screen). I wondered, why hadn’t I given him more thought before? I had to go back and rewatch previous performances and the ones I missed. The magic was there, I just hadn’t seen it. My admiration for 17 yr. old David grew deeper with each performance/results as his character shone through. A favorite was when Ryan asked him to choose which group was the bottom 3, and David didn’t hesitate to sit down in ‘protest’ to not choose. By the time it was down to David and David, we were a house divided. I had an important meeting that night and so everyone else watched and taped it for me. As I pulled up the driveway and saw my 8 yr. old daughter jumping up and down I knew what had transpired. I also knew I would have to go in and console my 6 yr. old son since we were both rooting for the same David. I told him things happen for a reason and that the outcome doesn’t change great David A. is. Now I’m one of those who never took part in the AI chat rooms/forums and had never been to an AI concert before. So like many, I’m sure, David and the others faded away as the school year wound down.
Enter web surfing in the beginning of July. I must have been on you tube and stumbled upon the first AI performances. I was blown away again! It’s like David had been transformed from this sweet, talented kid from AI to a mature performer in a 17 year olds body singing in front of thousands! Since then I’ve realized that David’s portrayal on AI may have affected this. As the summer went on, I couldn’t get enough of David’s performances, meet and greets, montages, pictures, stories etc. Where did he come from? Heaven, I assumed.
I’ve never been wrapped up in any other celebrity before. Why now? He’s a phenomenon that’s undescribable.
Now I haven’t met David or gone to the concert yet, but that will hopefully change by this weekend. That’s why I say I’m not on the edge…yet. I have been anticpating ‘the voice’ live, hearing “Angels”, seeing the smile, hearing the laugh, and experiencing the soul touching. This anticipation has been building slowly throughout the summer, but has been in full swing this week as the concert nears. I’m a little worried too that when the concerts are done, what will it feel like for us and for David? He has always been there for his fans and we for him. We would climb the highest mountain to shout out his talents to the world. Likewise, David would and has on many occasions expressed his unending gratitude to his fans. This gives me hope. Hope that the connection will still be there in some form. We need David as he needs us. Seeing now what he puts into each song, each conversation, I can’t imagine that changing. Sure there will be many more fans, but David will still be David. I think the only way the rise to stardom would feel right to him is if he maintains that connection to his family, friends and fans. This gives me hope, and that’s what I’m holding onto.
ps SO SORRY this is long! I had to get it all out and tell those who would hopefully understand.
THANK YOU to FOD for being a place where we can openly express what David means to us!
pps Jenny/Kevin, that graphic would make an awesome poster!! What d’you think?!
Dear Jenny,
Because you have loved, you must embrace the ledge that you are now standing on! Stand proudly on your ledge, with your tears streaming, and your knees trembling. Look out through blurred, sad eyes into the bright rays of sunlight blazed by the path of the hopes and dreams of an amazing soul. Feel the gentle comforting breeze of his spirit, and know that although his presence may now be less tangible, it is nevertheless strong and present! And out on that ledge, turn side to side and see us all on the ledge with you, reaching out to hold the hands of new found friends.
The very blessed souls in life never travel forward without forgetting where they have been, and whose lives they’ve melded with along the way.
Although our proximity to David will most likely change, the bonds that have already been created, will remain and be strengthened as long as we “will” them to be.
For David, who I have not yet met, but pray that if it is God’s will I’ll be privileged to do so, I will continue to cheer for him, cry for him, support him and love him. “If the closest I can be, means living parallel to you, then parallel to you is where I’ll live to be.”
I appreciate all of you FOD so much. I wish I knew how to create videos as so many of you do so well. Because I cannot make my own video, I challenge someone to make a video of this to celebrate the growth of David (our David) and his release into the next adventure of his life. Close your eyes and listen to this, one of my favorite songs : Find Your Wings: sung by Mark Harris. Remember David, we’re always here and “we’ve always got your back.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4NS7gChzvk&feature=related
suttygal #92, your words are so much more eloquant than mine! Were you an English major?
All I can say is enjoy now because you may never know when or if this time will come again. Enjoy now. Live it and breathe it. If you have been to one of David’s concerts feel lucky because many of us haven’t and won’t have the privilege of doing so. Time may escape us but memories last forever. Enjoy it while it lasts and be happy that David is living his dream.
I have to comment on Annie’s # 78 beautiful message about the inner most core of a tree..I thought Jenny and Becky had squeeezed every tear possible out of me today! But your metaphor was just beautiful.
#92 OK, now I’m in absolute tears after that video. David should hear that song.
To Jenny and Becky and all my dear friends!
I just wrote my heart out here and a lighting storm knocked out our electricity momentarily and I lost all of my message!!! I was just ready to hit SUBMIT!!!! Bummer— I will try to recoup my thoughts and go again. If I do not get this out, I will not be able to sleep!!!!
I am in so much agreement will all of you!!! All the various thoughts, good and bad are all jiggling around in my head trying to find a logical place to rest!
I have been going through the same thought processes in my head as all of you.
However, I have been thinking more about David at this point. I have been worrying about how he is going to feel when he says Goodbye to all of his idol friends. He has been with these people for over a year now, and I am sure that he has some very strong and loving attachments to all of them. He will miss those friends, as he probably is missing his Murray friends too. Who will David’s peer group become? Will his associations become with songwriters, producers etc, that are twice his age or more!!! I can not see him “hanging out” with the “characters” that Hollywood parades before us on a daily basis!!!!
As a mother, I am more concerned with David’s adjustment at the moment. I am sure he will be just fine, but I hope that he is able to spend some time with his old friends and much more time with all of his family!!! I feel so for his mom Lupe and the abrupt adjustment that she has had to make this past year! It cannot have been easy for his brothers and sisters. His Dad has also had a tough adjustment.
My adjustment is a different story. I just know that I will be crying my eyes out if I am not able to come here, jump start my day with “all things David”! If I cannot talk with my friends here, watch videos, hear stories about David on a daily basis, my life will be very different. All of you here have become real friends to me because we all share “the love of David…all things David”!!!! He is the most phenomenal young man on our planet, in my opinion, and all of us here understand that. People outside of this or other David websites cannot possibly understand what we have witnessed on our 8 month journey with David. He has changed all of us in some way, and I just know it is for the better!!!!
One thing that I most enjoy about visiting here is this:
I feel there is no prejudice. No one knows if a person is rich or poor, intelligent, or not so intelligent, college grad or factory worker, fat or skinny, tall or short, black or white, most often nationalities or religions are not discussed. We do not know those personal things about people here that may have caused us some pause if we were to meet under different circumstances. We had no preconceived notions about what each of us was like. We are getting to know each other not based on any prejudice that we may have. Isn’t that just beautiful!!!! This website is all about spreading the love of David, and none of those other attributes of people make a difference in achieving our end! This is all about “humanity” at its best, and has been made possible by the love of our David. He has made us all better people, and he will continue to do this always with us behind him. I will always be his fan and I know everyone here feels the same way.
Let’s dry our tears and think of all the positive that has developed in our love for David. We now can journey with him and make many more positive memories with David. This is not the end, but a beginning, and I am excited that we are hooked to David’s train and are ready for a very exciting ride!!!!! Smile like David ! Maybe we can start this new beginning by helping David through his next transition with the support and love that only his friends, fans and family know how to give!!!
Blessings to David and all of my friends here as we begin our next journey together!!!! MLD (*more like David)!
Good night all, maybe I can sleep better now that I have shared some thoughts! Sweet Dreams!!!
I thought I was the only one feeling this way. I have been feeling excited for David but sad because he will get so famous soon that he won’t need his angels anymore. I thought I was nuts for feeling this way and didn’t want to admit it to anyone. Thanks for posting this and making me feel somewhat normal again. We have done as much as we can do. Now it is time to let him fly on his own, it’s so sad.
#98- AJ,
I don’t know of one single person on this earth who doesn’t need their angels! -And no matter who you are, or where you are, your angels are always there with you!
Jenny…I loved everything you wrote. I feel the same way…I hate for the tour to end…it has been such a bright spot in my life this summer..the choppy cellcasts..all the autograph signing vids, this new website..I love all of it. It is so wonderful to be here at the beginning of what will be a great career. My 87 y.o. mother…loves David and told me..’a singer like David Archuleta only comes along once in a generation’ I absolutely believe that…and I can’t wait to see it happen.
Becky..you are so right when you say that this is what we all hoped for and voted for, obsessed over, and wanted the whole world to see. That’s all happening and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving, kind person.
It does make me sad that this beginning is almost over… but I can’t help but think that he best is yet to come.
Thanks to both of you for being so devoted to making this website a success…it can’t be easy..but it is great and I love it.
….but geez…had to make me cry!!
Thank you so much for this. I have felt the same way!!
Dear Angles,
I am not in the US and it worries me more as we only depend on these web sites..
I feel the same way as you guys do..
I just want you guys to know that me and my loving husband are going through a very tough time in life right now. Every single minute I am in tears thinking of how hard he works to make a living..
Even with all that pain David made me smile at least once a day. I am so proud of him. I watched him grow as a star and extremely happy to see his success. I don’t think I have ever being so happy for someone else’s success.. He just brings joy to me.. I wish him every success from the bottom of my heart.. I pray to GOD to keep him steady and safe.
I hope and pray that Jenny and Becky would get all the strength by the grace of god to keep us (David’s international fans) updated with Archie news even after the show ends. Thanks
Your words are certainly thought provoking and I have had these thoughts too. I remember when everyone thought they would die after AI ended too. Things will change because it’s inevitable but the truth is that in order to keep Archie we have to let him go. Sure Archie is adorable and sweet and a million other wonderful things but what drew us and continues to keep us close to him is his voice, his music. Only success will ensure a long lasting supply of new music, videos, appearances etc. from David. The only way we would lose him is if he’s not successful. If his songs don’t get played, if his albums don’t sell then David could fade into obscurity and truly disappear from our lives. We may get less in terms of daily updates, we even go weeks (gasp) with no idea of David’s whereabouts but he will always come back to us. Look forward to new singles, albums and videos coming out. Dream about the day when you don’t have to see David at Ford Day or as one of ten AI finalsts but as the headliner of his very own concert. Think of the satisfaction you’ll feel when David walks up to accept that first grammy (presented by Cook…haha) and the pride of knowing that you were there at the very beginning. Arch Angels will always have that special bond because as the rest of the world is just discovering David we knew how special he was all along. I wouldn’t worry too much about losing him because I don’t think he will ever let US go.
Suttygal…that video and your post was absolutely amazing…I am in a puddle of tears at my computer!!!!! David’s parents should listen to that video!!!! Roots and Wings….the essence of Parenting!!!!!!
Jenny… thank you for expressing what I’ve been feeling the past several day but couldn’t put it into words, especially the last line about David’s family and friends! Believe me, it helps tremendously, to know there are so many of you who feel the same, that I am not alone…
GMAX4… thanks for your wonderful ‘think positive’ post… I know that’s what David would want!
Lynn…Your thoughts and expressions of feelings were beautifully written. Thank you for sharing all that you know about David. It is the David that we have come to know and love also!!!!! However he came to be the wonderful person that he is, we need more of it!!!! “We want what he has”! If we follow the brilliance in his heart, we will all be enlightened and our lives enhanced!!!!
Jenny & Becky-
Thanks for giving us somewhere to sort through the magic of David. My husband doesn’t “get” him yet, so it’s nice to have a wonderful group of friends to help me figure out what he’s done for me. I told my husband yesterday that one thing I’ve found is that my “David fix,” as I call it when I come to your website, helps to lift me up. All my troubles seem to disappear when I hear his voice or his laugh or read the stories of feelings he has provoked. The goodness he inspires is good for all of us! Thanks for helping us hook up with other fans and being there for us, several times a day! You have been able to verbalize what I just couldn’t. He does feel like my own son in the way that I love him unconditionally and have to let him fly….
If Lupe and Jeff read this, I do hope that they feel our love and affection for them (and David’s siblings) and appreciation for their ability to share David with the world! We aren’t just David’s fans, but fans of the entire Archuleta family for David’s success…
That was beautiful Jenny:) Sutty girl it’s funny about your comment because as I was reading each comment. An image of each commenter on a ledge holding hands materialized in my mind:) I love David and through David a whole new world has been opened up to me. I have also gained a family here. I will never forget the times many of us shared here and in the chat room:) All because of David!!!!! Thank you all for the time of my life:) and Thanx David for my wonderful new friends and family:)
#108-Amy Yes, I am in such agreement with your comments. I am fans of the entire Archuleta family. They have been such “troopers” throughout all of their adjustments. What a wonderful family!
Can we adopt them in our hearts too???
Okay, I finally got to use the computer, was all excited to check out FOD and what, you’re all in here Crying!!! Now. “look at what you made me do!” I’m streaming tears here, gosh dang it!
I miss David everyday when I go to work, (sometimes I take a peek at work, Yikes) and try to get everything done so I can hear his beautiful voice on Rickey’s live cellcast, then go to fanblast and FOD and check out utube videos! We will always have “our David” it’s just going to be a little harder now, We have to share him. We have to let him unfold his wings! I know its hard right now, but I promise it is gonna get better and we will be able to attend “HIS” concert, and only hear him!!! And we all know David, he loves his fans and I know he’ll never forget his AI fans. We will have opportunities to meet him once again. We can send him letters and postcards. It doesn’t have to stop. He remembers everything!! So come on ladies cheer up. We can always comfort each other okay?
Stop all your crying please!! ok, I gotta go blow my nose!
Love u all
…I wish him the best. Yeah, I agree. I think all his fans are a bit selfish to some degree, lol. That’s OUR David! LOL! But I’m sure we’ll get over it. He deserves the best. And for him to become an international mega super star will make me so happy. As I’m sure it will make him.
Cheer up all…I was going to bed an hour ago but haven’t made it yet!!! My eyes are getting droopy so will sign off for the night!!!! Sweet Dreams all!!
#97 Min – I had just put myself back together and ready to go to bed, but I had to check FOD one more time. Just read your comment and here I go again. When is it going to stop.
I too thought about David and how he is going to feel once the Tour is over. Like you said, I hope he can still hang out with his old friends and be a 17 year old teen and get some needed rest. The AI show was a learning experience as well as an exhausting one for David. I don’t think your average 17 year old would have endured what David went through with grace an dignity. And now the Tour is exhausting in itself, plus interviews, apperances, more interview and not to mention the recording of his album. I would have been in the hospital by now. So yes, it’s going to take a lot of love and support from family, freinds and his adoring fans to help him through his next step. We will all be here. How can we not be here for David?
Thank you Jenny and Becky for your lovely words that so elegantly capture what we have all been experiencing lately but could not quite put all together into one cohesive thought – one of impending loss.
David was really never “ours” in the first place — we had the honor to have been allowed to “borrow” him from his wonderful family these last few months.
It will soon be time for us to now “pay it forward” and share him with the rest of the world and hope that many other lives will be touched by his gentle soul – just as we have been blessed and will continue to be.
Trust the Archuleta – I can’t wait to watch him “fly”.
Yes, Jenny, I completely and utterly agree with your post. I’ve been feeling that same feeling for a long time now, though I couldn’t exactly explain it. And then I read your post and find myself nodding sadly along to it, because I feel entirely the same way as you.
Sigh. If only there were David Dolls…
(I think they’d be kinda creepy, but I’d secretly buy 20 of them anyway.)
If you are missing David there is a new youtube vid from Bossier City with the PDSTM on there. Cook continues to surprise David at the end and David continues to react in unpredictable and adorable ways…..
Yes, it would be an amazing poster.
Archus, please don’t forget to visit David’s my space -
http://www.myspace.com/davidarchuleta
one click or visit equals 5 PROFILE VIEWS
If each one of us clicks 20 times a day ( you don’t have to stay any longer than 1 minute)
20 times X 5 = 100 VIEWS X 500 FANS VISITING = 50,000 a day X 30 DAYS = 1,500,000 IN ONE MONTH. IN 3 MONTHS = WE’LL HAVE 4,500,000 PROFILE VIEWS. Archie will have as much as the other popular IDOLs.
We can do it. Come guys, lets do it.
Jenny-
I had to second your thoughts about “Love Me Tender” — watching him sing that is, well, whoa (imagine David saying that!) …..
Jenny, I feel EXACTLY the same way. The night I went to Tampa, I stood there watching David talk to fans backstage and I felt choked up because I knew that someday, probably soon, this was all going to come to an end. No more would I be able to stand there and watch him like this. He’s going to be a huge success. I’m selfish, I admit it. At the same time, I feel so incredibly proud of him, so excited to see his dreams coming true. But its hard..
Jenny , you made a grown man to cry like a baby while his son was watching him.
I have to say that I couldn’t finish reading the whole think , I don’t know maybe I’m selfish but I refuse to believe that we’re losing him, David will always be the same David for us and I think he know that more than anybody else.
Sweet dream everybody: )
Jenny, I admire your honesty to put into words how you feel and share with us. I’ve never met him in person -wish i can someday- well…but I am grateful b/c I feel that he is a gift and blessing God has given me/us without me asking for it.
At the Disney interview, he said that song writing is like opening a personal journal to public… As he sings to express and communicate his heart with us we will continue to get to know him– and for this I am excited and grateful. I wish him nothing but happiness and fulfillment to all his dreams.
#18 Rika, your words were such encouragement and reminder to me…thank you.
I am sitting here at work as a nurse on the midnight shift with tears flowing and trying my best to hide them!! You see, nobody close to me “gets David”!! I have to come here to feel normal!!! All the feelings I have are always so eloquently expressed at FOD!! Jenny and Becky, you both are so great at saying exactly how I am feeling towards David!!! I want everyone to “get” him as I think the world would be absolute utopia if everyone could feel what we feel from David!!! And yet, I want to some how be able to stay intimately connected to David-how can anyone feel as strongly toward him as I do!! But I know many others feel that strong connection as evidenced by all of the awesome heartfelt stories on this website!!! We have to realize the more people who truly understand David like we do, the better this world will be!!!! David is going to change this world and we can all say we knew it from the beginning!!! Keep the faith and know David is being guided by Him and that is why he will continue to be the David we know and love!!!!!! Thanks to all of you here for keeping this real for me!!!!!!
Jenny and Becky,
This is only the second time I have commented on any of the articles or stories during this whole David experience, but I have been an obsessed fan since day one of seeing and hearing David on AI. I want to thank both of you for spending so much time in order to keep all of us updated on everything about David and for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. It takes me 2 hours a day just to read everything, watch the videos and vote on all the polls and stuff. I can’t imagine all the time both of you spend in sorting through everything and posting it all. So, thank you once again!
I appreciate your words here so much as you describe your feeling of loss as the tour comes to an end. These same feelings hit me the other day and I almost felt a panic. What videos will I watch? Who will let me know where David is and what he is doing? I will tell you about when this hit me. It was last week, the week before school started here in Utah. We had a meeting for all the faculty and staff of the elementary school where I work. I hadn’t seen my co-workers all summer, but last May they all knew how obsessed I was with David. I attended the Homecoming Event at Murray High (I live about 40 miles north of Murray) and put up pictures of David in my classroom at school with a little poster that said “VOTE FOR ME” and I reminded everyone at my school that it was “Tuesday – David Night” – so don’t forget to vote. By the time the finale was here, I had promises from almost all of the teachers that they would vote and I had them report to me the next day how many times they voted. After the finale, several of them called me at home to see if I was OK and to tell me they were sorry. So, anyway, I went to this meeting last week to start the new school year and I wore my DAVID ACHULETA blue shirt that I bought at the SLC Concert. I have been keeping it nice, just hanging there in my closet so that I could look at his cute face everytime I walked in my closet. So, I wore my shirt to this meeting and called it my “happy shirt” because I wasn’t really very happy to be going back to school already, but I knew if I was wearing my David shirt, it would make me happy. I told them about my shirt and that I bought it at the concert. They all wanted to hear about the concert. They even wanted to hear his single (which of course I played for them during our break) and then someone asked me what he was going to do after the tour! What? What is David doing after the tour? Then it hit me – What am I going to do after the tour? I began to realize that day that there would be no more videos or fan stories or any of the things I long to look at and read every night.
I know that this is what we have hoped for for David. I know that he was born to do this – and I really mean that. But, it is hard to think of not having that close look into his life on a daily basis. I am so, so happy for David. I love his voice and his great talent. My family got me an ipod for Mother’s Day last May so that I could listen to his songs all day (and they didn’t have to hear it constantly) and guess what? David Archuleta is the ONLY artist on my ipod (except for a few group numbers). He is the only one I have a desire to listen to.
I am so grateful for all of those who have worked hard to make this website fun and informative and for sharing their thoughts and feelings. I know David will be such a great Super Star, it will be fun to watch it all unfold. Best of luck, David and may you continue to be blessed in all that you do.
Thanks to all of you,
Laurie
Jenny, Becky and all you wonderful FOD’s – I couldn’t have expressed those feelings better. In my heart, I believe that David will always be with us, as we will with him. Things happen for a reason as David would say. He was placed into our hearts spiritually through his music and we all found each other through this site to share our joyous gift. As fans, we strived to get David to where he should be …. stardom. He will never forget that.
wow Jenny. I never really thought abt that before..guess i was too immersed with everything thats been going on with david lately that i forget to look ahead to see how much different things are gonna be.But i rmbr having that same kind of feeling when AI was ending.How I wouldnt be able to see david on that tv screen of mine again..how i wouldnt have something to look fwd to every wednesday..and now that I think abt this,after the tours end..after david is a mega superstar with millions of fans..how will things be like?It definitely wouldnt be the same but like many have pointed out,he’s living his dream and despite that feeling of ‘losing’ him and having the tendency of being selfish..i do wanna see him succeed because thats what we’ve all been hoping(or knew) for since day one.Its just so confusing,this mix of emotions but I know david would nvr forget us..and i would be so proud to see him out there living his dream. As david puts it, “they’re as much a part of it as i am”. aw shucks.i better stop.with the piano version of Crush playing on my itunes isnt helping either lol. sorry for rambling so long..im kinda bad at expressing how i feel and u did a great job jenny.And i just wanna say,jenny and fellow FOD-ers,im glad we are all a part of this journey together. glad indeed.
*groupie hug*
and i forgot to add..eventhough i have never seen david in person,i hope that someday my dream of being able to see or at least hear him sing live will come true.even when he is a superstar.oh just the thought of being able to wait by the busses,going to after parties,talking to him and just telling him thank you.yes,i hope i have that opportunity one day.but for now,i’ll just enjoy the ride and smile as i watch him sing his heart out each day.
Jenny, I guess you really touched on something here because I burst into tears about halfway through your post and am still crying. I guess that’s why I feel compelled to fly across the country to see him again..who knows if he will still be as accessible during his next tour. I think that David will always hold a special place in his heart for those of us who’ve been with him since the beginning, the ones who “have his back” as he put it, but we might have to let go for a bit and watch him fly…..or soar as the case may be, before he returns to us.
gosh, jenny! you should have put a warning before your post to NOT READ this while AT WORK. :’( ive made the mistake of reading this and now i have to do my best to not start bawling.
i cant write anymore or ill totally lose it and cry like a baby.but i do know where youre coming from coz i feel the exact same way.
Hi Jenny, Becky and FOD Family,
I read the thread topic as soon as it came out yet for the first time – I was lost for words. I feel as if I don’t even want to peer too closely at my feelings and love for David. Such, beautiful and expressive posts by everyone echoes EXACTLY what I feel. From “Heaven” onwards, but most especially after Imagine, I had a gut feeling this explosion was inevitable. How could it be anything less? I just want David to know that I love him and whatever makes him happy – musical choices, relationships, interaction with fans, being around his family, fulfillment of personal goals – makes me happy as well
As he grows and take flight I can only pray that God will continue to uphold and bless his vocal instrument, keep him grounded and real even as his stature as an artist grows. I also pray for David to be physically healthy with the demands of the tour and upcoming promotional events for “Crush”, the launch of his album, and World Tours (you know its only going to be a matter of time). Watching him struggling to keep it together at the Dallas and Houston concerts gave me pause because of his sensitive vocal cords.
I hope that someone can possibly choose the song Suttygal suggested and create a fanlove video for David along with our messages of love. Thank You Everyone! I feel we are like family and hope we can all stay together for as long as possible here on Fans Of David. Jenny may I be so bold as to suggest a change to Friends of David as we have become more than mere “fans”. Love You Guys!!
Jenny and Becky – between your eloquent description of this “loss” and then the very powerful reasons for letting it happen, and being greatful for it, you have made my morning. I have been thinking this ever so slightly (trying not to, really) but your words have such truth. Especially, that this is what we fought for. He will do it. He will become a massive star and we can just remember that we were lucky enough to be a part of it happen. We won’t lose him. And to the extent that we do, we will be proud. I wish his family all the best as they prepare to share him with the world. Thank you, Jenny and Becky, for giving us a place to feel this.
Jenny: I just read your post (for the third time) and realized that you have finally answered the nagging question that I’ve asked myself ever since I first saw David during auditions. You know that I always say..”he had me at Heaven”…and I’ve been able to rationalize that emotion to a degree. However, I’ve never fully understood why I feel like I do about David since I’m one of his “older” fans..now, thanks to your words, I know and what a revelation! One line in your post says it all for me..”he stares into the camera and peels back the layers of each one of us until our adolescent souls are laid bare”. Indeed. Jenny, thank you for revealing to me the answer that I’ve been seeking for almost a year. I will be forever grateful to you for putting my mind at rest finally.
“Be careful what you wish for….because you just..might ….get it.” This ledge is getting mighty crowded…
Like many of you, I write this through a veil of tears, at once overjoyed that David is finally living his dream and utterly heartbroken at the price we will pay to make it so. Knowing with every aching, painful step towards the edge, that indeed, our wish has been granted.
Our fervent, collective wish that David would rise above the confines of American Idol, above all of the doubters, haters and those who just don’t “get him”, to soar higher than we could ever have imagined. It has been a wild ride to be sure, filled with intense moments of panic – Did I vote enough? Download enough? Gift enough? Request enough? Stream enough? Where is Crush on iTunes? Where is Crush on the Billboards? Who is the lead in the video? Is it Hagood? Is it Abbey? Have we done enough to support David today? Have we? HAVE WE???
And then we all meet here, at Fans of David, and we share photos, videos & concert stories and chat endlessly about our ODD and how none of us really wants to find a cure. Every interview and blog is a treasure, we hang on every word, every smile, every laugh and every stunning photo that takes our breath away. We have become forever intertwined in this vast tapestry of emotions that is the signature of David’s first, true fans. We will always be connected one to another – you to me, me to you, all of us to each other, all of us to David, and he to us.
So as these final concerts of the tour draw us ever closer to that inevitable moment when this chapter of the journey ends and a new chapter is yet to be written, let us revel in today, in this moment, this bright, shining moment in time as we watch David achieve everything he has ever dreamed of and more.
On this ledge, we will link arms, catch a breath and prepare ourselves for what is to come, knowing with crystal clear certainty that we are all in this together for the long haul……You jump – I jump – We all jump together.
OMG! I’ve been “flying the freak flag” for a LONG time now! LOL I love your honesty and I feel your pain. I haven’t been sad yet about the tour ending because I’m confident that there will still be a lot going on with David. He’ll be promoting Crush, the video is coming out (THUD), the CD being released (THUD), TV appearances, I don’t think we’ll be bored! It has been a wild ride for sure. I’ve never been this invested in a person’s career/life before, but watching Idol from the beginning will do that to you. I felt it at his audition, and knew he was something special. Oh, that smile and that voice seemed to fall right out of heaven. It is hard for me to go back and watch the performances because they remind me of how stressed I was on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the finale reminds me of my pain in knowing the show was over. I’m trying to rejoice in it instead. It was a glorious journey. Meeting David was such an experience for me. It was so surreal. Talk about star-struck. But a strange sense of calm came over me as he approached me. I’m not depressed about the tour ending, but check back with me in a few weeks……..
Yea I just told someone yesterday just about the same thing! I just hope I’ll be able to see 1 concert one day–I pray there is music in heaven!!!!!
Jenny, you said it EXACTLY right. I’ve been thinking of this, most especially in the past couple of weeks. After what seems like eons of waiting, David will be coming to Grand Rapids, MI on September 3 and the anticipation of that concert has consumed both myself and my daughter’s every day thoughts. Oh, we know that David will have unmeasured success – but I have this gut feeling that once we walk out of that concert arena, we’ll be feeling a sense of loss and grief that’s hard to explain. I can only describe it as the exact feeling we had when David was named American Idol’s runner-up… what an honor to be runner up, yes, but we felt this mourning that was palpable – we could FEEL it, and from that moment on, we missed David. Every time he was cunducting an interview, or singing on TV, we felt our world lighten up. He just brings that out in every person who adores him.
Once the AI tour is over and all of the idols go their separate ways, we’re sure to be left behind a little bit. My guess, though, is that David – who adores US and much as we love HIM – will continue to keep in touch with us. I pray with all my heart that David will still find a few minutes in his busy schedule to keep us up to date on his video blogs, and in his written words.
Until then, our dream comes true on September 3, where we can witness David personally, and I know that our lives will be changed – AGAIN. David has done something so extraordinary – he’s brought joy and happiness and a certain spirituality back to humankind, and he’s brought people together – families, long lost friends, and even strangers. Heck, became friends with someone due to David and I will forever be thankful to him for that. We hope to meet in Grand Rapids and I can’t wait to give her a big hug – thanks to David!
Our journey with David will be one of a million steps. I pray that Heavenly Father will always be there to keep His arms around David, and guide him each step of the way.
Our deep affection for David is boundless.
WOW!! Jenny and my other friends on FOD…I have never cried when reading the posts or watching videos…but now *tears streaming down my face*. I know and feel what all of you are right now. I want so badly for others (such as my family) to realize and feel how I do about David. They still do not understand why I stay on the computer all the time and still make comments to me about me liking David. It’s like I have to hide it all the time. I tell them sometimes, “you just wait and see what happens with David”. I do not know if he will be as big a star as I want him to be or if the haters will ever “get” him as we all do, but one thing is for sure…I will never foget David or my FOD friends. GOSHHH!! This is tough!!! I have wanted to months for people to see what I see in him and I don’t know if they ever will, but if they don’t, that’s ok with me. I know he is special and will never stop supporting him. If he never gets as famous as he is now…then I will not forget how he has changed my life and will always love this guy. I want him to be a mega superstar and show others how great he is. I am so tired of living in the closet about him and defending him to my family and on the internet. I don’t know what it is that draws me to him, there are so many things I could say, but still would not be enough. I want him to succeed at everything he tries. I am looking forward to the day he does win a grammy and I can say to everyone around me…”I told you so…wish you could have been on this ride with me”. If David never sang another song, he has made an impression on me that will last my lifetime. Thanks to all my FOD friends for being here with me on this journey.
thank you everyone for your post. i have this HUGE lump in my throat and i felt that my heart took the plunge =). i feel your pain jenny. but my take on this is that i’d really want david to be huge, a superstar.. so huge that he’ll be so in demand and have a world tour.. that’s the only way i can see him in person. i think that’s the only way his international fans can personally thank him.
One other thing…I want David to be a huge superstar…cause I know he will truly be a star that gives back. He will help others with his fame and fortune. He is one that honestly cares about people and could and would do so much to help those in need. Can you not see him on Idol Gives Back and really mean it???
Awwww Jen——-I know, it’s such an unsettling feeling, isn’t it? The inevitable is happening. I feel for ya Jen. What I’m trying to do is change my thought patterns—–not so easy!
This is what we ALL wanted for David! From the beginning, I just knew David would be, and had to be, successful in his singing career! Just remember, David will NEVER forget this CORE group of fans from the beginning though——trust me. He knows! Remember how we were depressed when AI was over and we wouldn’t be seeing David on TV? Look how exciting this tour has been (even though I didn’t get to meet him!)! Look how he keeps in touch with us!
Plus, there are more exciting events ahead Jen! Remember too, we were all part of this INITIAL TAKE-OFF! How exciting is that? Although we have to share him with the “rest of the world now,” David will NEVER forget this intial take-off. We mean as much to David as he means to us. He even said so when he sang “With You.”
Hang in there Jen——you will get through this! We got your back!
With love and sincerity,
Carol
OMGosh, Jenny, Becky and Angels beautifull words spoken here today. The reality of his superstardom has been on our minds for a while now. However, I believe….in the Archuleta…In a way David feels like a virtual family member to me. In our family, we nurture each other and watch them grow and develop, and let them leave the nest and forefill their dreams. Haven’t we been nurturing him in a way….
I believe he was born with this special gift and he is on his mission to inspire and change the world an Angel at a time. And we as his sidekick Angels must let him do what he needs to do to achieve his dreams and aspirations, because we love him. I know it is sad to think that he will be so famous that we will no longer have this opportunity to be up close and personal for a short period of time. However, we must continue to love and support him no matter where his journey takes him. I for one will continue to watch his journey unfold…
Palm to Heart <3
KEVIN, NICE GRAPIC TRIBUTE OF DAVID!!! THAT HAD TO OF TAKEN ALOT OF TIME TO DO, ALL THOSE PIC’S OF DAVID, ONE AFTER THE OTHER….
Wow, thank you all, such great sentiments expressing feelings that I could never find the words to articulate. You’ve left this grown man teary eyed. We can take solace in knowing that his journey has only just begun, and we can expect more beautiful music, and more of the great human character that is David Archuleta. It is beyond comprehension that someone only 17 could have such a profound effect on us. Paula said it best when she said “I forget all about how old you are, I just see this confident, older soul, who knows what’s best for him”. David’s deep and heart felt faith and great parents have made him who he is, and this is part of what we feel. And I find that same terrific aura emanating from the great fan base we see on this website. Archuleta fans are also the nicest people in the world, and I’m a fan of you too. Enjoy your day.
Your feelings and words are “spot on”!!!!!
I, too, have been thinking a lot about how things will change as David moves into a new phase of his career. It’s a bitter sweet feeling.
I hope nothing but the best for David and hope we’ll be able to continue on this journey with him. Why am I tearing up???? “Dang it”!!!!!
suttygal/post 92. The song Find your Wings by Mark Harris is a perfect song that can be dedicated to David. I hope someone creates a montage of David using this song. I closed my eyes when I listened to it and thought of David. I tugged at my heartstrings.
Kevin, that is soooooooooooooo great. I love it. I love the light behind his name and how it seems to shine down on each of the pictures of David. Wouldn’t it be great to have an album with all of those together and with that as the cover!
#103/dabeliever:
..”because I don’t think he will ever let US go”.. what a beautiful thought!
Jenny…and fans…you have expressed exactly what I’ve been thinking for a while now. I’m a college mom so I know that feeling of happiness for your kids success but the sadness of letting go to the next stage…and I’ve thought alot about David’s family during all this. Like so many of you I recognized David’s talent and destiny to superstardom from the first time I watched him sing so it was such a joy to follow his journey and you have made it so fun too! The sweet humble way he truly appreciates his fans…and values each one…is endearing and inspiring and I don’t think he’ll forget us! In fact there will be more exciting stuff to follow…his own concerts, the songs he’s writing, and lots more. But I’m crying, too because it is bittersweet. We’ll still be here sending love his way and buying his music and going to his concerts. It is just the beginning…and I trust David to keep being himself through it all…a gifted guy with a big heart and all the right values.
I’ve been on vacation all summer so I could check out fan blast and fans of david and actually spent hours here everyday…now I’m back to work teaching where I can share David with all the kids! Thanks for speaking for all of us. Kevin’s graphic is beautiful! You should sell them!
#78/Annie:….”there will never be a day when he won’t think of us”…
Oh my gosh…I’m at work, so I can’t let myself cry…again!
1) Vote for best picture
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19620807/
2) Vote for CRUSH
http://music.nokia.com.sg
Thanks TEAM DAVID!
LOVE u ALL!
Another one, sorry, I keep finding them!
http://www.fresh1027.com/Should-We-Play-David-Archuleta—Crush-/2829653
Good Morning Friends!!!! I woke up this morning like I have every morning for the past whatever months…thinking of David!!!! I was such a mess when I went to bed last night after listening to everyone’s pain and facing my own. I would like to have the time to address each and every one of you individually.
You all bring such love and happiness to everyone here, and especially to our beloved David!!!!
Dreamer #124—There are many of us here that feel that we have to hide our love and undying devotion for David. My husband loves David and his music, but my two grown children believe I am a “freak” of nature obsessing over a 17 year old young man. I, too, have to hide my excitement around them, when all I want to do is give a SHOUT OUT to them to “get on the train”!!! David = GOODNESS!!!! What a wonderful world we would live in if more people tried to be MLD(more like David)! His heart and spirit are like a magnet that draws us to him. Everything about him oozes love.
When I went to Utah, my family out there thought I was a little wacky!!! My mother is a David fan, but not an obsessive one like myself. It was hard to suppress my elation in front of others!!!! I do understand everything you are saying about our special home here. We all get it, and can express it without any inhibitions whatsoever!!!!!
I have found friendships here that are without any kind of pretense. We wear our hearts on our sleeves for all to see. We are loving and not hurtful, and only attempt to keep it all REAL.
I love David, like the love a mother has for a son, and couldn’t be more proud of all that he is, and all that he has accomplished. Why should we be ashamed, when we are only trying to give the Goodness that David shows to others back to him!!!! He does it without even trying…just by being himself. There is not a more beautiful thing. He has brought all of us together, to share love and kindness without saying a word, just by his example!!! For that, I will be forever grateful!!!! If that wasn’t enough, he has this magnificent voice that puts us at attention and lulls me into a trance-like state each time that I hear him sing or talk!!!! Of course we cannot forget the gorgeous body that has been further illuminated by the radiance from within!!!!
David…Do not ever forget how much we all love you and pray for you each day of our lives. You do not belong to us, but we feel for you as we do members of our own family. I read this quote the other day, and it is clearly how I think most of us feel here. “FAMILY ISN’T ABOUT WHOSE BLOOD YOU HAVE, ITS ABOUT WHO YOU CARE ABOUT.—-trey parker and matt stone.
Our love and concern for you is unconditional! We will always be here for you through it all!!! You are the engine, and we are the cars, just tagging along the the wonderful ride!!! We are ready for our next destination following you to STARDOM!!!!! Love to you always!
I’ve never posted here, but was led to this site by “noting David”. I am glad I visited. I shall be back! Jenny and Becky, you 2 are so much like me, I might’ve wrote the article myself! I want to join you all on “the Ledge”.(feel like I’ve already been living there)! We will join arms together and watch our David grow and become a man. I am not concerned about his personality changing. His basic core is instilled by family and fans.He knows us, and he will never forget us. I used to teach my subordinate managers to” never forget where they came from”. My guess is…David “gets” that! Thanks for being here.
Thanks Jenny for once again putting into words what so many of us feel! After reading your post & all the comments, I too am in tears. We are so invested in David, having pulled for him all thru AI, that the uncertainty of our future with him is on our minds. I remember also feeling this after AI, but then we had all the interviews and concert vids/pics/stories to enjoy. Again after my concert I felt a bit sad that it was all over. BUT…there’s always a new & exciting phase just around the corner. I too have wondered what it will be like for David when he no longer has his AI friends to be with…I so enjoy seeing his interactions with Cook & hearing about his fun with Jason & others. Maybe he’ll get to spend a bit more time with his family & friends from home in between becoming a SUPERSTAR. David has shown himself to be as devoted & caring to his fans as we all are to him. I don’t think he will ever forget his first crazy, fanatic fans who were with him from the start & would do ANYTHING for him. I hope he continues to stay in touch with us thru his blogs & I think he will. I don’t know if we’ll have the opportunities to talk with & HUG
him like we did on this tour, but I hope he stays as accessible to his fans as he can. I just can’t wait for CDs(all of them!) & the David Archuleta Tour for all the world to see & appreciate this amazingly talented young man as we have.
Love you, David and I always will!!!
David is destinated to be super-star, and I get ready from the very first beginning. Yes, we might not be this “closed” with David, and we might be feeling lonely… but I believe, if David is still the David we knew, he will always make you knew how he feels. I DO believe.
And I also believe. David knows, he always knows, how much you love him. That’s the reason why he works so hard, because he want we could be proud of him.
Yet. We would feel uncomfortable when changes are there, and uncontrolable. Take some time to think how David feels, he is alone facing all the challenges, he needs our supports.
Hi, I am wondering if I could have permission from Kevin to use his picture on a tshirt? I won’t take credit for it. If the creator wants to put his name on it that is fine. I just love it so much. Please email me and let me know: velcrogirl10@aol.com
A quote from Pooh to his friends:
“When friends are near, “bothers” disappear.”
Jenny and Becky and everyone here: I hope that by the sharing of our feelings we have lessened the pain and apprehension of what is to come. I know that for myself, the apprehension of my children leaving the nest and going off to college was far worse than the reality itself. I hope that turns out to be the case for all of us here as David “takes flight!” Have a great daY!
#92/suttygal: I just listened to the “Find Your Wings” video…so touching and so appropriate in expressing our feelings about David! For those who haven’t listened yet, please do, but have your box of kleenex ready!
…..GO DAVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well… I dont think there is much else to say that hasnt been said.. lol
I’ll just offer up a sniffle and hug to everyone.
archangel48- I am so glad you have discovered this site. It is wonderful! I, myself have been on here for months..well it was previously called a different site and a lot of the fans moved to this new site. It is good to see another fan of David here. So welcome to our family!
Oh….. Marylee.. I just watched that video from suttygal.. pass me some tissues please…
Someone needs to make a david video with that song….*sniff*
I’m glad to see you discuss this topic, although from a somewhat different perspective than I’ve been considering it. David is the second person of whom I’ve been a fan. The first, a few years ago, was a teenage athlete who had just won a national championship. When the fan sites and blogs arose, at first the dynamics were much like those here and on other David sites. But gradually the fighting for “personal access” to that teenager began as he became more widely known and had more fans. The “first” fans began doing their best to maintain their own connection to him at the expense of others and also strictly censored the contents of posts so as to try to keep the image of their “boy” as they wanted. It was if they wanted to own him and keep him a teenager even as he entered his mid-twenties. The resulting conflict tore apart at least two fan sites and drove away fans.
My experience from two years observing those sites prompts me to implore those of you running this and other such fansites “for David” to realize that David WILL change and grow and, at least some extent, move away as he matures. I’m glad that at least someone realizes the inevitability of this. He will be best served by his fans if his maturation is celebrated rather than mourned as “their” loss of David”.
#163—I do agree…we do need to celebrate his maturation. We will not loose David. He will just grow and enrich our lives each step of the way!!! There are always “growing pains.”! Our love is unconditional always and forever.
Jenny,
Driving home to Louisville the day after I saw David in concert in Lexington, as I was listening to my David cd, I started crying and felt this overwhelming sadness wave over me. I had to pull over to compose myself. I had just had the same realization that you described. I think there are many Archies & ArchAngels out there who maybe felt the same sadness after seeing David in concert but didn’t know why. Our David will be moving on. He will continue living his dream and there is no one more deserving. I am so very happy for David. I do hope that when that time comes when David can no longer be accessible to his fans, that he does not ever feel guilty about it, that he knows no matter what we Archies & ArchAngels will always “have his back” and our love.
Okay, please move over and make room for me. I so relate to your sentiments and just had to go watch Love Me Tender again. You expressed the experience of watching it so well. David can gaze down the soul of my heart like no other. So, while I finished watching David sitting front and center of the stage I was thinking, “I want the front and center seat at his first concert after his album comes out.” (Don’t we all.) But until that time, I have evey confidence in the two of you to keep us connected to David as we make this journey together. And I believe it when David says, “its all about connecting with them.” He is so special, and he will find a way to do just that.
Thanks Jenny and Becky in advance for everything you do. You have a lot of fans yourselves. That be us. HaHa.
P.S. At the end of Love Me Tender, Ryan Seacrest says, “Good job crusher.” A foretelling perhaps?
#162/frogcooke: Isn’t that just one of the most beautiful videos (and songs) you’ve ever seen/heard?! I’m still crying just thinking about it again. I hope that some creative person is working on that tribute video as we speak!
Okay, Jenny, so this is exactly how I felt yesterday, when I e-mailed you to ask your readers if there would be life after David. Oh, how you hit the nail on the head! I will repeat here, that I have felt sadder about David moving on, than I did when my daughter got married in December and I knew she was moving to another city. The feelings have been so much deeper for losing David. I appreciate so much, you sharing your thoughts so beautifully with us, because it gives words to feelings I, myself, cannot express. I know David’s career has only just begun, and we are all so blessed to be the ones alive seeing it. He is a singer who is to be experienced, not just one to be listened to. And he is giving us the time of our lives. Look at how much he has matured since trying out for idol. When we thought he could not get any better, he has proved us wrong time and time again. The joy of watching a shooting star is phenomenal, awesome and breathtaking. There is no guessing as to where David is going to end up, but, you better believe, I’m going to be the one watching the sky for his landing.
Hello Jenny,
I first want to thank you for all the work you do to bring us insights into the life of David. I don’t often post here, mainly because of the busyness of life and keeping up with things over at CDC. Please know that I do frequent this site and your articles, and value them very much.
Your recent article, along with the one I just posted on CDC, share in many ways a common sentiment. I long for the childhood innocence that David has brought to us through his life and music, and you long for the innocence of David that’s been readily accessible to you and his fans. We need and want that innocence.
This summer my family vacationed in Texas, and I toured the JFK museum in Dallas for the first time. I haven’t digressed from the topic, so bear with me. The museum is on the sixth floor of the Book Depository, the very spot where the fatal shots were fired. It was an incredible multi-media journey through the life of JFK, and a very moving one at that. There were many things that stuck out to me, but one seems relevant to the subject at hand. I remember hearing how JFK’s Secret Service men hated watching over him. It wasn’t uncommon for President Kennedy to just take off into the crowd to connect with the people. The Secret Service men, whose job it is to protect the president, were frequently in a state of panic, unsure if they could protect a man who needed to connect with the people. I stood in Dealey Plaza on the curb next to where JFK was killed, and it was then that I realized how close the public had been to his motorcade. I don’t think President Kennedy would have had it any other way.
My point in this story is that the presidency didn’t change that salient fact that JFK needed to connect with the people, even when contrary to his own personal safety. I’ve got this hunch that we’ll see the same from David. I’ll agree with you that the ease of access like in the meet and greet sessions after AI will diminish as his fame grows. Although, I think the young man who’s laid bare his soul for all of us to connect with will continue connecting with his fans regardless of his popularity. I have a sense of loss as you do, but I keep reminding myself that David has been like no other, and that regardless of his popularity, I think his desire to connect with his fans will remain and play itself out in unique and creative ways in the years to come.
United by our connection to David.
Take Care,
Gallie
http://www.countingdavidscharacter.com
For all of us on the ledge holding hands, let’s turn around b/c the ledge is just the first step in the climb for us as Fans of David. He is ahead of us but always within reach via his music and his connection to our hearts. We got comfortable on this ledge but with all growth we will remember the sweet parts and embrace what is ahead whole heartedly. Just imagine have 10 new songs by David on CD. 10 songs 3-4+ mins long. The wait is exquisite torture.
It’s so good to know I am not out on the ledge alone! LOL You always seem to articulate in words what I’m thinking or feeling. Jenny and Becky….You guys are amazing! I so hope I can meet you and Becky one day (and all of you for that matter
as I’m certain we would all get along just fine in our ODD state of mind! If David ever gets to come home to Murray we need to have one huge reunion in Utah were all the Fans of David can come and listen to him sing. Now wouldn’t that be a riot and a reunion of all reunions?
I was able to talk with Brett, Cody (Lucid), and David’s siblings Claudia and Daniel at a church activity last night. Being around them reminded me of all the wonderful things that are happening around the world because of our David Archuleta. I love that boy and I’m so proud to be a fan of his!
#125 (Laurie) I’m always so happy to see another Utah Archie & FOD fan…email me at angiebcooper@hotmail.com so you can meet other diehard Utah fans…and we’ll all “fly the freak flag” together. LOL
Jenny, I just read your heartfelt comments about our David as I sit at my office desk. DANG IT, I now have a big lump in my throat and tears are welling up in my eyes. I hope my co-workers don’t ask me what is wrong (haha). As the AI 2008 tour draws to a close, I have for weeks now tried to push these exact same thoughts out of my mind. How many of us voted for David on AI week after week until our fingers hurt? We anxiously awaited his first single. Our hearts were filled with pride when we watched the video of him listening to CRUSH for the first time on the radio at the Z100 studios. We did all we could to make sure CRUSH debuted #1 on the iTunes and Billboard Charts. Now we are counting the days until the release of his first music video and CD.
How are we, David’s most “fanatic” fans, going to adjust to not seeing the concert footage, fan photos and videos from the autograph sessions and backstage meet and greets on an everyday basis? I can’t imagine not being able to see those stunning photos of David flashing his beautiful smile or hearing his wonderful laugh in a new fan video posted on the FOD site.
The only consolation I can find is that I know David is living his life’s dream. I have heard him say many times how much he loves and appreciates his fans. I was fortunate enough to witness his affection for his fans at an autograph session before the AI concert in Philadelphia. He was amazing in the way he interacted with his fans. He truly cares about us and this makes us love him even more. We have been with David from the beginning and we will be there with him every step of the way on this most wonderful journey that he now embarks on. As his star rises, thousands more will come to know what we, his most devoted fans, have known from the start – that David Archuleta is one in a million.
David, we love you and we’ll always have your back!!!!!
Love to all the FOD family.
Jenny, I have been a major lurker here and at the first site since the end of AI when I was left wondering where I was going to get my daily David fix. (THANK GOODNESS for you, Becky, Richard, and all!!!) I too have loved David since forever, it seems, as a son, a nephew, an artist, an adorable human being, a superstar-in-the-making.
It has been such a joy watching him develop as a singer and as a performer, watching him grow over the course of the program and the subsequent tour. It has been my pleasure defending him and his family against foolish articles, reviews, blogs, comments, and silly or thoughtless humans; googling, msn-ing, and yahoo-ing his name countless times a day; buying and gifting Crush to everyone I knew; voting in every way possible; requesting and streaming Crush; pouring over the charts; saying lots of prayers that the Lord would bless this precious young man and his family. Many of these things, we all did because we saw David’s potential instantly; we appreciated his incomparable talent long before much of the world. And that is something no one can take away from us.
I do not believe that superstardom will change David in any way. The core of who he is seems rooted in something greater than himself, so he will never be the center or focus of his own life. Because of this, David will constantly be surprised by his conquests. Even more, he will always remember those of us (YOU ALL) who made unthinkable miracles occur for him at the beginning of this remarkable journey!
Thank you, Jenny, Becky, Richard, and all for allowing us to be a part of this!!! I am forever a fan of David and of all of you!!!!
This is my first time posting on this website, I’ve read it before but never posted. It’s great to run into the same David-lovers on various websites, we make up our own little community of David fans (well, not a LITTLE community, a huge, WORLD WIDE community). It’s amazing how much emotional time, commitment and energy all of us have invested in David Archuleta since January. Can anyone out there honestly say that their lives are the same as they were 9 months ago? I doubt it–and all because of David Archuleta! I never bothered with Idol until this season (never will again, either), I got on websites I didn’t even know existed, made a lot of friends, was introduced to a lot of new music, I was even able to drive through Murray on my vacation and check out David’s neighborhood (I can’t believe I did that!). I’d live there in a second, what a nice town! Anyway, all that has happened to David, all that is now happening and all that will happen (hopefully)–isn’t that what we expected all along? We have been able to follow his star from Day One and will continue to do so. If my predictions are correct, I believe he is on his way to superstardom & longevity, just like Elvis and Sinatra. I don’t see how it can be otherwise. How exciting to travel every step of the way with him! I just knew while watching AI that even if David didn’t win, he would still be a star because of his enormous talent, good looks, youth and personal appeal. I believe AI knew it too, that’s why they didn’t let him win–he could afford to lose! And it’s better this way. I know we have to share him with the world but the world is ready and waiting for him–it always was but no one knew it! I just hope I live long enough to see David reach the heights he deserves.
We are running a Radio Requesting Campaign for David Archuleta’s single Crush. The intent of this campaign is to rally forces amongst David’s fans by location to request his single Crush on local radio stations. David’s single is not officially released to radio until September 2, but many radio stations are already playing it in heavy rotation. Other radio markets on the other hand are slow to add it to their play list, or don’t realize that there are people who are dying to hear it on their local radio stations.
If we band together by locality, we can be more effective in reaching out to our local radio stations. We can set schedules for requesting, and we can share in any information we find out regarding requesting to specific radio stations, including when your local countdowns are and which DJ’s are more inclined to play Crush, and which radio stations need more attention. Working together, we will feel more motivated to request Crush until it is played, and even after it is added to the playlist.
If you would like to partipate in this campaign, please provide us your name and your location (state and the nearest large city to you) and then we will match up all the respondents to this campaign by locality. You can either email the group your information, or if you’d rather keep it private, you can email your information to teamarchie@hotmail.com.
Thanks!!!
Hey Jenny! I’m with you. I quit commenting – into withdrawal. I am so proud of David and want him to be so successful. He’s on his way and deservedly. But I am also wistful because I loved him “when” – before the world got to know him. No matter what – I will always love and support him but I’m sad, too!
Remember to vote on TCA! If he looses this one people will wonder what happened to all those fanatic fans lol!!
Jenny, thank you for sharing your feelings so honestly. We are all feeling the loss, even before the tour is over. I went to see David in Georgia. The concert was amazing, but I didn’t get to meet him. We all know by now what happened in Georgia with LKL. But, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about a lost opportunity. I wanted to meet him so bad. So yesterday, I ordered tickets to the Tulsa concert. Yes, I live in GA, but I’m driving to Tulsa to see him. I just kept thinking that if I didn’t there wouldn’t be another opportunity. This was it so I better embrace it and take a chance. It’s crazy. Before I discovered David and it changed my life, I would have NEVER done anything like this. I would have come up with 100 reasons why it didn’t make sense. I still realize that it doesn’t make sense, but I can’t help it. None of that matters now.
As far as David forgetting his fans is concerned, that will never happen. David is too much of a sincere and good person to ever let that happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did special things just for his fans. Remember the concert that almost happened in Utah before the Idol tour? I think he really means it when he says he loves and appreciates us so much.
Jenny, I feel your pain. The same thoughts have occurred to me. Will I ever get a chance to be up close to David ever again. I fear not.
That is why I went to stalk the buses on Mon. in Dallas. I thought this could be my one and only chance and I’m going for it.
David was adorable but was not feeling well and yet still stayed out in the blazing Dallas sun for over an hour signing and talking with fans as if that’s all he had to do.
It was an experience I will not soon forget, but it makes me want more time with him.
There would probably never be enough.
Dear Jenny
I do not know if you will read down this far. If you do, know that I honor you, your integrity and your love.
There is a balance that is mentioned in some philosophies. This is the balance between grief and value. It seems we grieve most for the loss of things we value most. So in a way, grief is a way we acknowledge the value we have for someone or something.
I do not doubt that you value David James Archuleta.
Thank you for sharing your feelings with me. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and joy with me. I look forward to ALL you share.
And whatever new times come, I believe that even with the changes, there will be much, much still undiscovered joy.
Please know that I share in your joy past and future.
Jenny
I honestly believe our David will never “forget” his wonderful fans. Let me tell you about these fans, I have always been a lurker, but several years back I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that prevents me from being in large crowds (such as concerts). One visit the hospital for a Biopsy in February, I watched a show called American Idol. A singer named David Archuleta changed my life from that day on. I could not wait for the next week to hear his voice. I started reading everthing I could online about David and decided to post on one of the fan sites. I have been hooked every since then. You, and all of David’s fans lifted my spirits just by telling all of your stories of concerts, your videos of concerts and pictures of David. I truly felt like David and his fans (namely you guys) had increased my spirit and had given me something which was missing in my life. It will be very hard not to see David everyday after the tour, but letting him spread his wings and live his dream is the biggest honor we could bestow upon one of the most talented and gifted performers of our lifetimes. I love all of you for making my life a better place to be and I thank the Lord above for sending us David.
Jenny, love your post! It says everything that we are all thinking. Even rascal has been discussing your post! Read his blog entry here: http://www.notingDavid.org
Aww Jenny, I’m crying right now.
I’ve never actually thought about what you just said. I’d always just assumed that us Archies, the tight-nit online groups, would always be there to fangirl and talk about and love David. I celebrated every time a new fan was converted, avidly followed the progress of his first single, hearing it’s play count increase on my local radio station. I rejoiced as David’s name became gradually more widely known, as more and more critics became won over…as he became more famous.
You’re right in that we may be starting to lose him, in the sense that he no longer belongs just to the avid fans who always believed in him even when everyone was saying he could never become a popular, mainstream artist.
But I believe David will always remember us as the people who got him there. You can hear it in the the many interviews and fan videos. He really and truly understands it, and cares about us. As many people have said, David will gradually become a World Idol, but he’ll always remain the same grounded David we know of, and he’ll never forget where he came from, as a new artist struggling to get away from a corrupt TV show, through the efforts of a group of adoring fans.
Home from work finally reading all the new posts…have to say that it’s really sad for the others on the AI tour who don’t have a contract or a sure thing in the music world. They have been so great to David and he to them. What a role model he’s been. I wish all of them the best and I really hope David gets some time to rest and be 17…but keep the music coming:) I think like so many of you that David will always be there for his fans. We might not have daily news for a while but that will be a good thing for him..a long deserved rest and time with family and friends. It won’t be long till lots of stuff is happening. I think he’ll get a grammy right away…best new artist. Love you guys!
Like your post Lulu…well said.
Yep, I feel the same way. And I can’t imagine what his friends and family must be enduring. Though which other star can David be compared to? We seem to think that’s how he’ll be when he reaches stardom -like he already hasn’t- because that’s how most other artists are. I don’t think David is comparable to any of them, not one. I trust him.
Sorry, just an afterthought. In a way, I don’t feel like we are giving David to the world, but rather, sharing David to the world. Sharing and giving are two very different things. When we share something, our claim to that something is reduced. But we are still a part of it. We will always be a part of David.
P/S: I wasn’t insinuating that David is ours to claim but was mentioning it as a metaphor. He doesn’t belong to us. We belong to him.
Jenny and others fans: I have never posted here, but linked from notingdavid.org where your post was quoted and much talked about. I have to say your words have left me very melancholic. I have mixed feelings, excited to see him climbed the mountain that is only his, anxious to see him succeed and ohmygosh the rest of the world. At the same time, I will miss him, I worry about his health, about the nasty comments, about his family and friends who must miss him much more. But I trust the Archuleta, I trust him, his gift, his strong faith, his persona; and like ‘his other moms’ I know he will do just great. I feel part of this great fan family and we all know this is just the beginning.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, it is a beatiful fan made video of David’s journey on AI. Very touching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9JrSPckeB4&feature=related
Jenny, I am feeling the same way. Me, a grown man. What is it?
Ok, I think I am composed enough to make a sensible comment. Jenny, nearly all of the comments here have expressed the same feelings you described in your blog, myself included. It’s a natural sense of impending loss of something very special to all of us. Davids gain is not our loss. His gain is being able to spend the time he needs to work on his albumn. He is eager to show us what he can really do. He wants so much to WOW us with his music and make us proud. Music is his love and he wants us to share that love with us.
I didn’t say oh, but he already has. I don’t think David knows he has already WOW’d us and made us proud.
David has much more in store for us and I am so excited for it. David will always remember us, the fans that gave him the kick-start on this ride.
Our gain is to watch as David grows and enjoy what he gives us. I wish there was a magical way to assure him that we will always be here, and that he could never disappoint us, and our love for him is unconditional. He will always be our David.
OK everybody group hug!!! If these posts continue til tuesday, I won’t have any tears to muster up when I actually get to meet him…Tuesday…Did I say that already? Can’t freakin’ wait!
Hi, Jenny, this article moved me to tears. I cannot say that I can ever fully understand the way you are feeling, but you guys have been doing a great job “bridging the gap” between David and us fans who for some reason can’t go to the AI concerts and meet him face to face by providing us the latest news about him on the dot. More power!
What you said is very much true..but we have to worry now that he is famous..his saftey should come first.. but it would be nice if he would continue to do meet and greets at his future concerts or even sign autographs by his bus… but it is to early to say anything… we just have to wait and see…. but we all feel your pain
Oh this is just exactly what I have been dreading for about 2 or 3 weeks. When this part of David’s career comes to an end I will just die! I will feel like a part of me is missing for…gosh…I don’t know how long it will be for me to get over “losing David”. Of course I will still try and search for everythingDavid But! will that be enough?
Thank you Jenny! I loved your piece but I sure do hate the fact that it is so true!
Caro
don’t worry guys he will still be the same sweet gracious kid he always was a lot of celebrities do meet fans maybe only for 2o minutes before a concert but still they can make the choice if his limo is being mod David will undoubtedly come out for a few minutes I get why you are sad but someone as great as David isn’t going to change no matter what. he will always appreciate the fans support and will always have our backs the way we always have had his.
Even if David has more fans I have a feeling that David will stilll dedicate a lot of time to all of his fans. We will never lose him and everyone will love him but david is still ours first of all.
I comfort myself with the fact that David’s talent will be a wonderful and positive influence on WORLD outside ourselves. IMAGINE what the world will be with such a force! I know David wants to touch people with his music (and we know he DOES) so I’m looking forward to the day when that dream is what David is living and what we will all be writing about.
We have our first chance with SU2C. Let’s show David what a force for GOOD he really is.
Ok, so I’m posting a few days after this was written – how I missed it is beyond me. Anyway, Jenny and Becky, you gave me chills and almost brought me to tears! My daughter and I keep talking about “losing” David also and it’s sad and exciting all at the same time! It’s been such a blessing to watch him grow so much as an artist and I’m so thankful that he chose to take us all on this journey with him. I think we’ll all have somewhat of an empty pit in our stomachs after 9/13, but I’m so very happy for him because he will be living his dream and reaching so many more people! I take comfort in the fact that he will always stay David and won’t change to conform to what is out there in the music industry these days. I’m so very proud of him and even more proud to be a fan!
OMG..this is so true.. I have thought about it before, but have never thought of putting it into words…*tear down the cheek*
Oh Jenny, you hit it right on the nail. I have also felt the same way. Will he grab plungers and make silly faces at the camera for us?Will he do those personal shout-outs that we do all watch over and over. In my heart I want to believe yes. Knowing the kind of person David is I truly believe that he will always remember where he came from and that he will always have a special place in his heart for his most loyal fanatic fans. There is that tiny voice in the back of my mind that says it won’t happend, but my heart says different. Anyway, that is how I am able to sleep at night. Thank you Jenny for your bravery and honesty. Yes, we are all on that ledge, but remember we do still all have each other for support, we will hold on tight to each other.
First – Susan got to kiss his neck??? Wow.
Jenny – I know how you feel. And many others have been expressing similar feelings. It will be hard. And BTW – I never got a hug and some Angels never even got to see David in person. I still want that hug some day.
But I don’t think any fans will ever be as close to each other as those who have followed David’s journey to where he is now. And at least in our hearts, we will be closest to David as he continues on his journey.
I have had the same thoughts…thank you for expressing them so eloquently!
I can so relate to the mixed feelings about David’s impending superstardom since I have a son the same age who will be leaving the nest soon. I am proud to know that I have helped him reach his full potential but at the same time wish I could hold him close to me just a little while longer. But real love is not possessive is it? So fly sky high, dear David, but please don’t forget your peeps back home, ha, ha!
One more thing…I love that video…I keep playing it over and over…gahhhh he’s too dang cute! Ahhh, David, please can you scale back the adorableness, my ODD can’t take it! Just kidding of course! Oh well, if I die from a overdose of archuletaness at least I will die with a smile on my face!
OMG, Jenny, I don’t know you, I’m new here in this site but let me tell you, you had me crying SO BAD after reading your post. It just occured to me that what you’ve said is true. He’s on the road to superstardom and we will have a harder time seeing or communicating with him in ways that we fortunately can still do right now. gah! now I’m sad but happy at the same time that David’s dream is finally coming true, and that’s the most important for us.
It is true – David has the talent as well as the spirit to go much, much further than any Idol previous. The feeling of losing someone you share a closeness to, even in these types of situations, is painful. I had the same feelings when a band I had been fairly close with became suddenly famous – literally over night they went from obscurity to stardom. I can’t see them or talk to them as frequently or for as long a period of time as I once could. But now they are “famous” and people love them as much as I do… It’s a bittersweet feeling to know that the person you care for and appreciate is being recognized by others. You want him to yourself, but you want success for him as well. It is a natural feeling and you’re mighty brave for putting all of these emotions on the table.
It may become more difficult for David to meet fans, but his nature seems to suggest to me that he will continue to try to reach out to his fans for as long as he possibly can.
Hey I’m new to this site! You’re post meant alot to be though so I thought I would comment! I was almost in tears after reading it. I’ve had the exact same thoughts and it’s been something on my mind a lot lately. Mainly because I never got a chance to meet David. Sure I got his autograph when I waited at the buses but he had about 5 minutes to talk with the fans because they were making him do press. I felt bad for him because he kept apologizing to everyone. Typical David! haha but I never got the chance to talk to him or anything. Now I’m worried that I’ll never get that chance again. Which makes me sad. I feel really selfish saying that because a lot of people have never met him but to be so close to talking to him and everything is hard for me. I would do anything to go to another concert! It’s hard to believe his road to stardom has only just begun. I know he’ll never forget about all the original Arch Angels out there like us!
MY LIFE HAS BEEN FULL SINCE I FIRST SAW DAVID ON AMERICAN IDOL.I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMPUTER HOURS EVERYDAY JUST TO READ AND LISTEN TO ANYTHING ABOUT DAVID. MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT WAS TICKETS TO THE IDOL TOUR IN ALBANY. THE SHOW WAS WONDERFUL I AM SORRY I NEVER DID GET TO MEET HIM. I KEEP TELLING MY FRIENDS HE WILL BE A SUPERSTAR AND I FEEL THEY WILL SEE IT HAPPEN VERY SOON. HE WON’T BE OURS ANYMORE BUT IN OUR HEARTS HE ALWAYS WILL BE. AND I KNOW DAVID WILL NEVER FORGET HIS ANGELS . LOVE PAT
Awww. Jenny, I’m about to cry. I feel exactly the same way. Time will come that the person we all love & care for the most starts to become “popular” and then one day, there will be a lot of people that’ll try to take him away from us. Yes, its a bittersweet feeling. Its like you want him to be “popular”, a superstar & you want him to fulfill his dreams but at the same time you feel sad about stuffs that’ll happen. David is already starting in becoming a superstar. and I’m a bit afraid too that one day, he wont be able to talk to his fans, give them warm hugs, take a picture w/ them & do funny random things. He is going to be bussier after the AI tour. & there will be more new fans that’ll adore our David. We can’t stop these things from coming through. But whatever happens, we will not leave David. I just hope that they wont be throwing stupid rumours about David. I hate bad false rumours. Someday, a lot of people will try to bring David down. & of course, we dont want that to happen. We will stand by our David no matter what. I know that our David will still try to reach out to all of his fans, we know that he is such a good man. He will never forget his Archie Angels.ü
xxx
omgggggggggggggggg…why didn’t I see this before… I don’t know if I could read what you write anymore Jenny because it cuts straight to my heart…just like David does… THANK you though for writing this because I thought I was the only ledge walker!!
Some of us have never gotten to meet him in any way!
But I was there, in AC and W-B, to hear the lovely “Angels” and the assertive “Apologize”; very close to each side-ramp to see his reach-outs to the fans for the glorious “SBM”; and finally to wave good-bye after the poignant “WYSYLM”.
Other performers were highly enjoyable, no question; but David’s voice is transcendent.
I feel the same exact way Jenny. I am sad that the tour will be over tomorrow since we will no longer get daily updates about his incredible sweetness to us fans and the unbelievable performances he gives each night. I’ve been in a constant worry that I will never be able to see him upclose ever again. Yes there will be his solo tour but will us fans be able to laugh with him, take a million candid shots, and merely talk to him as any other person? Neitherless I feel incredibly blessed to have met him briefly in person several times.
It took 7 years to find someone so sincere and genuine and I find myself thinking if I should even bother tuning into season 8. David has touched my heart in so many ways and for that I truly thank him.