David Archuleta - Season 7

[Blues Songstres]

I'm sure he was allowed to be there because they felt it would be to David's advantage to have him there. There has probably been a slow burn up to this point and the lyric change episode was the straw that broke the camel's back. I feel for David AND the other contestants who have been subjected to David's dad. As if the pressure wasn't already enough!

[Google]

 

[JLuvs]

Originally Posted by mom3

I wondered the same thing...the only answer I could come up with is maybe an exception has to be made for contestants who are still minors. Who knows...?

All of the minors have a guardian with them at all times. Back in season 3 at a dress rehearsal I sat with John Stevens mother and she was a real treat to hang out with.

[AsIs]

I just feel sorry for the kid, he always looks like he is ready to pass out or cry when he is in front of the judges. Like a puppy that has been beaten too many times. And I don't think it is the judges causing that reaction. It is more of a fear of what happens when the camera is no longer on.

Abuse comes in many forms, not all of them are physical.

[Driew_La_27]

You know I think TMZ.com is just trying to come up with some drama because they can't get any dirt on David A so they take the OBVIOUS route of making Jeff look like a stage dad because that's the cliche with a minor in the spotlight.

TMZ even tried to get Jason to tell TMZ that he was a stage dad but all Jason confirmed was that TMZ is completely full of it.

[Driew_La_27]

Just to further explain myself. Do I believe Jeff was banned from backstage? Sort of but NOT because he's a stage dad. I believe he was only possibly banned because of changing the lyrics which is NOT the same as being a stage dad. That's just him thinking it'd be best to change that lyric for David to interact with the girls in the audience more. I don't think Jeff Archuleta thought it'd be as big a deal in terms of costing AI money. I think he thought that AI was just saying no because they didn't want to spend the extra time to get permission but I don't think he thought it'd cost AI so much.

This is NOT the same as a stage dad--this is just him helping his son succeed in this competition.

[Tickety]

Originally Posted by AsIs

I don't understand why he wasn't banned in the first place. Why is anyone other than the Idol Machine involved with rehersals? Bet that is a rule next season.

And it is sad that they only banned him because he cost them money. He should have been banned way earlier than this. There is no way to judge David based on *his* performance and ability.

I agree.

I think it was unfair to the other contestants, too. David basically had someone arranging the song for him, telling him how to sing each section, how long to hold the note, etc. The other contestants had to work over their song by themselves and with the band and vocal coach - that's it. David's dad was like outside help, perfecting a song and handing it over to his son, saying, "Here, sing it this way, and you'll do well."

I do realize the disadvantage David A. got from his Dad being around (the extra pressure, blah blah) but when it comes down to it, what the judges critique is what the contestants perform, not how they got there or who arranged the song for them. And David A. had every song handed to him on a silver platter - timed, arranged and coiffed to perfection - to the extent that he even sang lyrics without express permission from the producers. None of the other contestants had such liberties. I can only imagine the work David Cook has to put into each song himself before he performs it.

[Driew_La_27]

I think you'd be surprised how much David does his own arrangements of the songs. Sure he asks his dad for help, but I don't see how that's a disadvantage. The other contestants have as much help from friends/family members.

[Tickety]

Originally Posted by Driew_La_27

I think you'd be surprised how much David does his own arrangements of the songs. Sure he asks his dad for help, but I don't see how that's a disadvantage. The other contestants have as much help from friends/family members.

Where did you learn that

1) David A. puts a lot into arranging his own songs? Reading this story earlier posted, I find that hard to believe (especially the bolded parts);

2) the other contestants are having as much help as David A. from their family members? If they were, I'm sure the press would've gotten wind of it by now, and I haven't heard any such story.

Originally Posted by Broadway

this article:

There's been a lot of speculation over whether 17-year-old David Archuleta's father Jeff is an overinvolved stage dad. This Thursday morning, Papa isn't doing much to dispel the rumors as his son rehearses the Neil Diamond anthem ''America.'' ''There's too many 'Todays,''' he tells associate musical director Michael Orland of the climactic, repeated lyric, while pacing around the room. The comments continue throughout the rehearsal: ''Neil Diamond's voice is a fifth lower than his'' and ''The edit to do is 8 to 10 seconds before 'My country 'tis of thee''' and ''The beginning needs to have a U2 vibe.'' He also occasionally compliments his son, who stands silently by the mic nervously pivoting one foot on its heel. ''My dad is like my translator,'' Archuleta later says. ''I have issues explaining what I want.''

[mom3]

Ditto what Tickety said.

[Driew_La_27]

Okay first off that article does not make him a stage dad. He's involved in the process. That article makes it sound like he's obsessing over it. Like all he's doing is CONSTANTLY saying that and that. It was more like David singing a part and at the end he says "There's too many 'Todays." Anyone that cares about this competition would be concerned about repeating something so much. Jeff realizes that this is David's big chance to make it big in the world. ANY father that truly cares about his child would want to make sure he succeeds. He has a background in music so he knows what is right and what isn't. In a what...hour to 2 hour rehearsal he has 4 comments on how to improve the song. I don't see the big deal.

''My dad is like my translator,'' Archuleta later says. ''I have issues explaining what I want.'' I also don't see the big deal in this. A translator is someone with knowledge in the "language". They have only so much time to rehearse with the band and such. So they need to be precise on what to change. David's 17 years old and doesn't know all of the music lingo to get his thought across to the band in a timely manner. Jeff is his dad and has obviously been with david for awhile now so Jeff knows what David is trying to say. David has enough of a singing voice that there's no reason for his Dad to be a stage dad. On top of that David has to attend school for 3 or 4 hours a day. That time could be spent memorizing lyrics or rehearsing with yourself. The other contestants have that extra time--David does not. So the little rehearsal time they have they have to be quick and concise with what needs to be changed. So David probably tells Jeff his concerns with the song and Jeff then relays that to the band/musical director.

2) the other contestants are having as much help as David A. from their family members? If they were, I'm sure the press would've gotten wind of it by now, and I haven't heard any such story.

First off the press could care less about adults getting help from family members. ALL contestants are able to call/have visits from friends. Heck Jason Castro had friends over last weekend. It's not like Survivor or Big Brother where they have ZERO contact with the out side world.

David has to have a guardian because he's underage. His father happens to have a musical background so he's helping out David. IF David's Dad was a stage dad you would see a different reaction on David's face when he is told of these rumors about his dad being a stage dad. Every time he adorns his father with praise saying he's been extremely helpful. REAL stage dads have children that get a grimace on their face when their father is brought up in conversation.

I can say this with confidence that Jeff Archuleta is just a father that is passionate about his son succeeding. That does not mean he's a stage dad. Stage dad's care more about themselves so that they can say "Ya my son is so and so".

The fact that Jeff is so involved in the process makes him an easy target for crappy journalism like TMZ to pounce on. They have NO juicy stories for AI this year so they decide to take bits and pieces of Jeff and craft out this persona for Jeff. This latest rumor is a PERFECT example. He gets banned from backstage because he wanted to change the lyrics. TMZ decides to take that story and mold it into the stage dad from hell gets banned. When in reality he was banned ONLY because he changed the lyrics. Hell we don't even know if that is true. AI hasn't said confirmed it.

The fact that AI put this performance on itunes tends me to believe that it's not true. Because if it was true why would AI put it up there despite it not being legal and costing AI even more money? It just doesn't add up. Oh ya, the little thing about Jeff still being allowed into the studio for the live performance is another sign that it's probably false. Why would TMZ say this? Because AI will show Jeff in the audience on Tuesday cheering his son on because he wasn't really banned and then everyone would be like "OMG TMZ said he was banned what????" TMZ is just covering their backs by saying "AI will allow him to be in the audience". If Jeff was being banned for being a stage dad he'd be banned from even stepping foot in the studio. Which isn't the case.

Oh ya did I mention it was TMZ? Ya it's TMZ...enough said. I don't care if the Associated Press picked it up--they're just as bad. Until AI confirms it then it will be "Just consider the source". TMZ is to America as the Daily Star is to England--garbage.