Don't cry for David — Archuleta 'feeling great' about being 'Idol' runner-up
The "American Idol" runner-up isn't crying over finishing second to David Cook, and he doesn't want any of his fans crying, either.
"I just want them to know that I'm feeling great about it," Archuleta said in a conference call with TV critics a day-and-a-half after the "Idol" results were announced. "The fact that Cook won — I think he deserved it so much.... He's such a great guy, too."
And it was still a David and David mutual admiration society. Cook repeated that had expected Archuleta would win.
"My hat's off to Archie," he said. "He handled himself with a lot of grace. And, more importantly, he's just an amazing — an amazing — human being. And so I was just honored to share the stage with him."
The always-humble Archuleta is still struggling with the whole concept of having fans. He's taken aback by the thought that some of those fans burst into tears when he didn't win.
"I don't think it really has hit me that there are fans out there for me," he said. "It's just such a weird thought to think. I do think of it more as people who have appreciated what I've done."
"I think now it's time to really focus on making an album and writing songs and all of that," Archuleta said. "I just feel like being 17, I'm not really mature enough to understand those feelings yet."
He said he's "watched so many of my friends" suffer through dating break-ups and say, "Oh, I can't live without them."
"It's like — you're 17! What are you talking about?" Archuleta said. "It just bugs me. All the drama. I so don't want to deal with the drama right now. I just want to be able to focus on music."
His immediate plans are fixed. Archuleta is still under contract with "American Idol" through the end of the upcoming summer tour. (It runs July 1-Sept. 13, including two already sold-out dates at the E Center on July 14 and 15.) He's thinking of possibly playing the piano on the tour, but neither that nor what songs he'll sing have been determined yet.
After the tour, Archuleta is a free agent. And he's already talking to various record companies about producing an album.
"Not winning the competition won't limit me from trying to create an album and write stuff," Archuleta said. "I think this has just been such a great opportunity to open all those doors that weren't open and available before this all happened.
"To make it to the top two — I don't think there's any reason to be disappointed with that," he added with a laugh.
As to what sound we might expect from a David Archuleta CD, "I'd love to do the pop thing, just because I'm still a teenager," he said. "On the show, I was getting a little mature with my songs, even though I love to do that stuff. I still want to be able to relate to kids my age. I like the pop music, but I still want to have meaning in my music."
Recent comments
Oops. That should read "have dealt WITH your challenges"...
Bookaholic | June 9, 2008 at 1:41 a.m.
David, I want to thank you for all the joy you've brought me....
Bookaholic | June 9, 2008 at 1:39 a.m.
I forgot to mention earlier, that your parents should
feel very...
Samuel | May 26, 2008 at 3:41 p.m.
