David Archuleta - Season 7

[bee stung lips]

Originally Posted by Veruka

On the right night with the right song, I'd agree that Syesha has the it factor far more than David. However, on the other nights, not so much. Let's not forget that prior to the ALW week, Syesha was in danger of going home because she had a nice voice but was so painfully boring.

Well I certainly can't remember Archeleta setting the house in fire with his performances anytime in recent memories. Does he sing well - yes. But aside from that not much else. Heck, for the first number of weeks of the season he was still singing with his eyes closed, not making any attempt at all to connect with the audience. It wasn't until Andrew Lloyd Webber or Paula told me to sing with his eyes open that he began to do so. I just don't view this kid as being ready for prime time. Would his albums sell? Probably, yes. I suspect twelve year old girls will snatch them up regardless. But terms of being ready to carry on a solid music career, I don't see David being ready for that yet.

The difference between Syesha and David A is personality - it just so happens that Syesha has one. She showed that she has a bubbly, outgoing and engaging personality. David A not so much. And while talent goes a long way in the music business, I'd say having a personality goes hand in hand with that.

[Google]

 

[Veruka]

Originally Posted by bee stung lips

Well I certainly can't remember Archeleta setting the house in fire with his performances anytime in recent memories. Does he sing well - yes. But aside from that not much else. Heck, for the first number of weeks of the season he was still singing with his eyes closed, not making any attempt at all to connect with the audience. It wasn't until Andrew Lloyd Webber or Paula told me to sing with his eyes open that he began to do so. I just don't view this kid as being ready for prime time. Would his albums sell? Probably, yes. I suspect twelve year old girls will snatch them up regardless. But terms of being ready to carry on a solid music career, I don't see David being ready for that yet.

The difference between Syesha and David A is personality - it just so happens that Syesha has one. She showed that she has a bubbly, outgoing and engaging personality. David A not so much. And while talent goes a long way in the music business, I'd say having a personality goes hand in hand with that.

I pretty much agree with everything you've said. When I acknowledge Syesha's weaknesses, I'm not saying "David A is better". There is not a direct correlation between the two.

I would agree that in the past several weeks, we saw a fun, bubbly Syesha. But that is NOT the Syesha we saw prior to ALW week. I also don't think we saw it as much this week has we had it the couple of weeks prior. Simon was right -- Syesha's shining and definitive moment was the Sam Cooke song, and Paula welcoming her to her dream. Syesha's good weeks alone don't determine her it factor.

David A, for as boring as he is to me, has something intriguing that makes people take note of him. Some of it is the "little boy" quality in him. Some of it is the controversy over his dad. He is not a wonderfully personable and charasmatic performer, but he HAS stuck out among all the contestants from Hollywood forward to some degree. That alone indicates some level of it factor. It is not an it factor that attracts you and me. But it's something that can't be flat out dismissed either.

[bee stung lips]

Originally Posted by Veruka

I pretty much agree with everything you've said. When I acknowledge Syesha's weaknesses, I'm not saying "David A is better". There is not a direct correlation between the two.

I would agree that in the past several weeks, we saw a fun, bubbly Syesha. But that is NOT the Syesha we saw prior to ALW week. I also don't think we saw it as much this week has we had it the couple of weeks prior. Simon was right -- Syesha's shining and definitive moment was the Sam Cooke song, and Paula welcoming her to her dream. Syesha's good weeks alone don't determine her it factor.

David A, for as boring as he is to me, has something intriguing that makes people take note of him. Some of it is the "little boy" quality in him. Some of it is the controversy over his dad. He is not a wonderfully personable and charasmatic performer, but he HAS stuck out among all the contestants from Hollywood forward to some degree. That alone indicates some level of it factor. It is not an it factor that attracts you and me. But it's something that can't be flat out dismissed either.

I agree that he has something, but just not that certain something, imo. Something is missing. Personally, I found that he had more of that "WOW" factor when I first saw him on Star Search about five years ago. I remember being blown away by his voice and being able to perform with such confidence for being at such a tender young age. He seems to have lost some of that confidence now for whatever reason. Not sure what would have happened to him. The awkward gawkiness of being a teenager I guess.

[Veruka]

Originally Posted by bee stung lips

I agree that he has something, but just not that certain something, imo. Something is missing. Personally, I found that he had more of that "WOW" factor when I first saw him on Star Search about five years ago. I remember being blown away by his voice and being able to perform with such confidence for being at such a tender young age. He seems to have lost some of that confidence now for whatever reason. Not sure what would have happened to him. The awkward gawkiness of being a teenager I guess.

In many respects, I'd put him in the same category of Haley Joel Osment or Dakota Fanning. Both of them, despite being incredibly talented, give me a bit of the creeps because they seem way too adult like for their miniature bodies. (well, Osment is older now, but I'm talking about when he was a kid). I get the same vibe with David A. When you push a kid that hard to perform and do well in an adult's world, some of the "kid" will be knocked out. In all three cases, I'd say they have some it factor which is nullified by the creepy factor.

[mbcrowder]

Don't delete this post ... I know it refers to a taboo subject, but I believe I have a good point to make here.

VFTW exists to find the worst (in their opinion) or most abrasive contestant, and persuade people to vote for them. Everyone (self included) who really cares about this show thinks that their motives are abysmal and generally derides the very idea that such a thing exists.

My point ... it seems to me that this time around, the sole motivation (at least until at least the last 3-4 weeks) of 2 1/2 (Simon being the half) of the judges every week was to pump up a particular contestant for whatever selfish motives they may have, and get us to vote for them. That certain contestant - David Archuleta. Yet for some reason, the derision that accompanies that other site is not expressed or even felt for the judges --- yet their result is the same ... an undeserving contestant has made it FAR farther than he should have. I'm convinced that if this competition was less meddled-with by the horribly biased or blinded judges (especially Randy in this case), and we simply were allowed to listen to what the contestants can do each week, little David would have been gone WEEKS ago.

So many contestants were quite simply better. Some that weren't early (Syesha) grew into her own and became better. Brooke was better until her gaffe. Jason was better until it got overwhelming for him. Carly and Michael were better period. Kristy Lee was even better half the time.

We aren't posting in this thread still if not for the extremely one-sided pimping from show one.

[TopCatDC]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I'm convinced that if this competition was less meddled-with by the horribly biased or blinded judges (especially Randy in this case), and we simply were allowed to listen to what the contestants can do each week, little David would have been gone WEEKS ago.

Well, eliminating the judges is an idea – but personally I find the judges’ comments, interactions, and gaffes to be one of the most entertaining aspects of the broadcast. And the judges are paid to voice their opinions. That is their only function, since they have zero say in who stays and who goes, unlike many other shows like SYTYCD or Project Runway. Judges on those shows have real power. The three AI stooges just provide color commentary. If you want to get mad at someone, it’s going to have to be the voters. They’re the ones that keep the contestants up there. Remember, the two Davids were never in the bottom group throughout the show.

[gabriel]

Originally Posted by TopCatDC

If you want to get mad at someone, it’s going to have to be the voters. They’re the ones that keep the contestants up there. Remember, the two Davids were never in the bottom group throughout the show.

Well said. Let's not forget the group(s) that probably did the most extensive voting for these two, especially Archuleta. (I guess the 12-16 year old girls who were texting those votes like crazy)

[oxymoron]

I'm located in the prime age group for Archuleta fans, yet I am definitely not a fan of his. I'm fourteen, and I find his singing dull and generic, but most of my peers don't think so think he's the best thing to ever grace this planet. While I do agree that most people who vote for David Archuleta are between the ages of 12 and 17 and are into the cutesy boy types (See: Jonas Brothers), I disagree about the devoted voting thing. It may be a regional or social thing, but nobody I know votes for two hours straight for their favorite contestant. Maybe they would contribute 20 votes max, but two hours of voting requires quite a lot of perseverance and obviously time. Most teenagers just don't have the time or patience to keep on voting for their favorite contestant, nonstop, no matter how much they may like them. I would say that David Archuleta has the many, many fans, but I would assume that most of them do not vote for the entire two hours given.

[TopCatDC]

Originally Posted by Uncle David

An attempt to specifically ascribe motive to a group to which you do not belong is a fool's errand. Although it was an admirable attempt, I can tell you that you were off the mark as far as this David A fan is concerned.

Hey! You're an Archie fan? I'm an Archie fan. You get into the words? Me too! (Big Sondheim fan here.) Bless The Broken Road? Voted for it - Grammy winner song of the year in 2005!

David A's musicianship? Performing? Recording?
Check, check, check.

And don't get me started on the smell of liver and spinach wafting through the house. Wait...you must be my e-Harmony soul mate.

So, soul mate, why do you think Archie Jr's negatives are so high when we think his singing is a little bit of heaven. Some people wanting more than just pure music was my theory. Any ideas?

[TopCatDC]

Originally Posted by oxymoron

I'm located in the prime age group for Archuleta fans, yet I am definitely not a fan of his. ... nobody I know votes for two hours straight for their favorite contestant. Maybe they would contribute 20 votes max...

Interesting perspective. Thanks chiming in. I've often wondered what the results would be like if each person could only vote once. I recall on Make Me a Supermodel you were limited to 10 votes per phone number. Then it really would be based on the number of fans.