The Spanish language, together with Italian and French, is categorized by linguists as a ‘Romance’ language with it’s origin in vernacular Latin – the spoken language of common folk in ancient Rome. However it has evolved through the millennia into it’s modern day version with it’s attendant qualities of love, romance and pageantry. I wish I was fluent in Spanish for I’m sure it would have enabled me to better describe the feelings and emotions that I felt upon listening to David sing ‘Contigo En La Distancia’. The English language in this instance has a woefully inadequate repository of terms to describe the moment.
Although I didn’t understand a single word, there was no denying the raw, yearning quality of the song that was so soulfully conveyed by David. I’ve racked my brain to come up with English words to adequately pay tribute to the performance but I’m failing miserably. The best way that I can do justice to it is to call it pure, pristine David Archuleta. Unprocessed. Unfiltered. Undiluted. Backed by a simple acoustic guitar, the performance is vocal poetry in it’s most rapturous, magnificent form. Tastefully controlled, masterfully understated and yet so powerfully evocative, David laid bare the tender, heated passion of the song’s underlying message of love and romance so clearly, even if you didn’t understand the words. He was relaxed and fully in control in his delivery of the song’s emotions. It was an aural and visual display of stunning musicality…..it’s just….wow.
His stage persona is also another quality that has seen a remarkable transformation from the shy, awkward boy in American Idol to this towering, self assured and commanding performer as seen in ‘Contigo En La Distancia’. It’s really amazing to witness the 180 degree turn around from his usual off-stage rambly, spacey character into such a matured, confident performer once he hits the stage. The difference is almost jarring and it’s like watching two entirely different person. His ALMA performance really displays the central essence that is sorely missing in large parts of his pop album. The album has it’s moments for sure but taken in it’s entirety, it pales in comparison to this David that I see on the stage. This is the David that has yet to be fully captured by the producers and sound engineers in the recording studio.
Then again maybe they never will. For “how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
Special young man indeed.
- John
WoW! I just happened upon your utube video and then clicked on the link and I am glad I did. This review is stunning! I really can’t add anything to it for it speaks for a lot of us David fans I think. I agree totally with everything you’ve said and couldn’t have worded it better!! I am so happy to have found this review. This should be posted on every David Archuleta fansite!! May I?
Hey Patty-Ann
My first comment yay!
Sure thing Patty. Anything I do in the name of David Archuleta is definitely for sharing.
Thanks for dropping by
John-Great recap. You are right, there aren’t adequate words to describe that performance, although you come close. David is an egnima in all senses of the words, his on and off stage personas, show the vast complexity of what we love about David.
I stumbled across your link on another site and am so glad I did, your recap is superbly written. I hope to stop by from time to time, Keep writing!
P.S. “Then again maybe they never will. For “how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
That my friend says it all!
The fan art, the video, and the article … just gorgeous.
I couldn’t have said it better.
Then again maybe they never will. For “how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
^ Exactly. Just my opinion, but I don’t know if he will ever sign like this in a studio. He needs to sing “to people” to get this kind of heart into his performance. He needs to know there’s someone out there to convey his message to.
I read a comment somewhere that said, “when David sings, he rips his heart wide open and drags you in there with him.” In a studio, there’s no one there to bring in.
Sharon, Candy
Thanks for dropping by and your kind words.
That special magic that David amply displayed at the ALMAs will take a producer of exceptional skills and insights into the personality of David in order for it to be captured on disc.
But there’s one studio recording that David has done in the past while on AI that has come pretty close and that’s the studio version of “Think Of Me” during Andrew Lloyd Webber week. That week Sir Andrew was gobsmacked with the way he sang the song which was originally written for a soprano but under David’s tender tenor voice, the song was given a whole new spin.
Listen to the studio version. I think it was David’s best work in the studio during AI:
Love your review of David’s stunning performance. I also agree that David is totally a different person when he sings. It’s like he puts himself in a total different place. He escapes from this shy kid to this electrifying amazing man. I love both Davids!! He is the most down to earth caring young man I have ever seen. Thanks for your post.
John,
Thanks for sharing.
Your comments are spot-on regarding David and how he has progressed to this level. I have watched and listened to this young man since his Star Search days. What a ride! I can honestly say, I love everything about him. His VOICE, his endearing personality, and WOW what a looker!
“The album has it’s moments for sure but taken in it’s entirety, it pales in comparison to this David that I see on the stage. This is the David that has yet to be fully captured by the producers and sound engineers in the recording studio.”
Great recap John. I learned of your site from another fansite. One can never get too much David. I have a question about the difference in David recorded and David live. He mentioned in one of this blogs about singing difference on stage and singing for recording and needed to (I can’t remember the exact wording) get use to singing for recording again. Does anyone know what that means. I know there seems to be no oohhs, ahhhhs and hmmms on the records, why not?
Nice recap John, I have to totally agree with you
I have been totally gobsmacked by his performance as well. David gave a jaw dropping, brilliant performance and gained a whole lot of new fans that night “-)
Then again maybe they never will. For “how do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
Great article….this brought tears…
Thanks so much for an eloquent write up of how difficult it is to review David’s performance! haha! Those of us who have been following David’s career from the beginning, know full well he’s capable of this type of performance, but we are still amazed when he does it! He just keeps upping his game somehow. We are always left with our jaws on the floor going “What was that? What did he just make me feel?” man! It’s crazy. You can get a beautiful studio version of anything out of David, but you cannot capture the connection that he feels with his audience with a studio recording. This is why David is so amazing in a live concert. He wants to touch each and every person in the room, and does. Thanks again for your kind words on David’s behalf. He is remarkable.
thanks great review, i can’t wait for David’s christmas album to come out, i think we will get more of these kind of glimpses on that! possibly more soulful/acoustic…. idk we will see.
I love reading someone who is expressing exactly how I feel when I hear this beautiful voice. What an incredible experience and how lucky we are to have found this wonderful young man. Thank you for your review. Excellent!
You expressed my feelings for David Archuleta’s performance on the ALMA Awards. Even though I don’t speak or understand a word in Spanish…I was totally moved by his performance. As a matter of fact, I had the awesome opportunity to meet David this past summer while he was tour…and I had like 30 seconds to actually say something to him…and what I told him was that even his non-Spanish fans love when he sings (or speaks) in Spanish…I think it is amazing. I am a huge fan of David’s and just think he is an amazing singer/songwriter was so deserving of his award. Thanks for your write up on David’s performance.
This was written just beautifully!! I agree with everything you said. There really are no adequate words to describe the wonderment of David!! He is definitely in a league of his own.
Thank you for a wonderful review of David’s performance on the ALMA awards. I agree that David does need a producer that understands him and will not try to undermind his voice with engineering. David had very liitle control over what was put on his debut CD, but even these circumstances could not hide the remarkable talent that came soaring through. I am eagerly waiting to see what this talented artist will bring to his next CD. I know I will be buying it.
Amazing review. Your P.S. at the end really does say it all. I watched ‘The Sound Of Music’ a few weeks ago and when I listened to that song(How do You Solve A Problem…) I thought of David the whole way through. He may not be like what’s on today’s Top 40, but that’s what makes him so wonderful and special. You can’t touch or hold the kind of magic he has, hence why the ‘moonbeam’ line fits him so perfectly.
I was completely floored by his performance of ‘Contigo’. I have both audio and video on my mp3 player and I still tremble inside listening to it. I was also very touched by the intro they gave him. I hope, if he doesn’t know already, that someday he’ll know just how special he is
thats such a great review, john! all of us david fans really understand what your saying. the way david performs is really amazing and the way he connects with every song is incredible. i also love the studio version of think of me! you may know this already, but he’s coming out with a christmas album on october 13, featuring a song in spanish! he’s also planning on going on a winter solo tour, so be sure to check out the shows and maybe you can get to one! hearing him live in person is really the best experience.
John,
I know there will be many more performance like this in his future. (not to mention awards) Thanks again for your lovely review. jana
Thank you for this. You so eloquently described what we all felt. I hope David’s next CD has not only a Spanish tune or two…but some rich ballads! It is his forte. David has been given a gift and is using it wisely
I also think that it was very brave of David to pick this song to sing at the ALMAs. It’s a much loved classic in the Latin community covered by no less than Luis Miguel and Christina Aguilera, so the there was bound to be comparisons. And to top it off, he sang an acoustic version!
In my opinion acoustic versions are devilishly difficult to pull off. It strips your voice bare. Any and all flaws are magnified tenfold because essentially ones voice is the main musical instrument. Your voice is the rhythm and beat of the song. You’d better be pretty sure of your abilities and your material before you attempt to perform it on stage and in front of such a discerning audience.
But David succeeded in spades! He left a lot of jaws dropping on that evening. I still marvel over that performance every time I listen to it.
You have beautiful words. Thank you so much. I wish many can read your review of David, it will somehow appease them knowing that what went with David’s performance at the Alma can still be worded. It’s crazy scary when you cannot explain to your self why you can’t stop watching this video and counting and still get excited every time.
Love David Archuleta, his artistry, his humaninity!
[...] SOURCE Posted by porkchop17 Filed in Uncategorized Tags: ALMA Awards, Contigo en la Distancia, David Archuleta Leave a Comment » [...]