'Idol' Banter: Imagine all the prodigies ...

Who is David Archuleta, really? Aside from the next American Idol, that is.  In this second round of Boys' Night, the dewy teen pulled out so far ahead of the competition that we might as well all go to the gym Tuesday evenings for the next few weeks.

Risking "Imagine," a song forever wedded to the Liverpudlian nasality of a certain martyred Beatle, Archuleta defined what "Idol" means by "making it your own." Without denting his aura of innocence, he switched up the melody, inflecting it with soulful touches that had Paula's upper lip visibly moist. She called him a superstar, Randy said it was one of the best "Idol" vocals ever, and Simon called him "the one to beat." True to form, the Chosen One feigned mild astonishment, like a child gazing in wonder upon his birthday cake.

But don't let this 17-year-old "Star Search" veteran fool you, America. Archuleta's blessed, no doubt, displaying an effortless musicality that nearly recalls the grace of the young Michael Jackson. But his "Imagine" was all worked out. And, by the way, borrowed.

Unlike Blake Lewis, who gave the song an effectively straight reading last season, Archuleta's young enough to not be weighed down by Lennon's legacy. (Also, as a Mormon, he's unlikely to espouse the song's agnostic ideal -- that's the real reason he didn't sing its early verses, with the line about "no religion, too.") But he'd have to be Mozart to have come up with that artful arrangement. It takes experience to so subtly rethink a song embedded in our shared consciousness.

The person with that experience was Eva Cassidy. The Washington, D.C.-based Cassidy was a deeply intelligent singer with a wide-ranging repertoire who gained only local fame before dying of melanoma in 1996, at age 33.  Her recordings, and her tragic story, led to a wave of Eva-mania in the late 1990s, but it didn't last. Few people remember her now -- except singers, who treasure the subtlety of her arrangements and her pristine voice.

Cassidy recorded "Imagine" in the style Archuleta basically copped; you can hear the original here. And he didn't just happen upon this version lying on the stereo in the "Idol" dorms. This video clip shows Archie waxing wise on the song at age 13, on the morning show "Good Things Utah." Notice, he hits those same high notes. Cassidy's recording had been available for around two years.

It's no sin to borrow another's arrangement -- Chris Daughtry pilfered Live's version of "I Walk the Line" in Season 5, and Carrie Underwood got her Faith Hill on for "Piece of My Heart" in Season 4.  Daughtry's was the more egregious move, since he got called all kinds of original for it and initially didn't speak up. And did he pay? Au contraire. Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk cast his unofficial vote for Daughtry, and the band even performed with him on the season finale. I guess ripping off a washed-up post-grunge band is a bold move in "Idol" terms.

But not as bold as imitating a long-deceased jazz-pop songbird.

The flaw in Archuleta's artistry is his complete lack of affect beyond bashful awe at everyone's enthusiasm. Chalk it up to youth, except this isn't how a real kid acts. Prematurely booted Josiah Leming acted like a real kid: he cried, got angry, traded overconfidence for desperation. Archie is a creature of the stage -- an interpreter of his own life -- and that makes him just a little hard to trust, or love.

When he's singing, though, he's golden, no matter whom he imitates. So maybe this is a singing competition after all.

-- Ann Powers

(Photo courtesy of Fox)

Comments

[Wow]

Ann,
I notice you don't have a link to your email on here, don't want your inbox flooded with criticism perhaps?
Its American Idol sweetheart, get a grip. I know you are trying to do your job, but criticizing a 17 year old on a cover show for covering an artist who isn't as famous as maybe you wish she was?? Are you serious? And his version is not exactly the same as hers, worse yet, the song has been covered countless times. So who really cares??
You are the worst kind of journalist.

[Griffis]

I love David Archuletta and adore Eva Cassidy. My only complaint with your article I will express in the form of a question: Where was this article when any and every "creative and original" AI version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was stolen from Eva? That arrangement has saved many Idol final 4 or 5 members and surged them into the final two. At least David has his parents shoving great music down his throat at any early age to blame. He has apparently been singing since birth and, in my opinion, may be the closest to "worthy" of singing an Eva Cassidy arrangement as he is the most similar in character and pure vocal prow"n"ess, as Randy would say.

[Tim]

Calm down, Ann.

[Matt]

Wait a second, if you're suggesting he didn't sing the "no religion" line because of his personal religious beliefs, why did he sing this line on the morning show when he was 13? Doesn't this pose a major flaw in your argument? What if, and this sounds crazy, he really is just a sweet kid who thought the final verse was the most meaningful? Imagine that.

[Hector Warden]

I can see you are taking a lot of heat for this article. If your sole purpose for writing this article was to get attention, then it worked. Too bad the attention is not very pleasing, but I'm guessing you probably knew that would happen. Have you ever met him or even spoken with him? From the interviews I've seen, he seems to genuinely be a good kind hearted kid. Give the kid a break! There are enough inequities in this world. Don't let your cynism ruin something that is pure. Let his music speak for itself.

[matt]

You are an idiot, lady...

[Rocky1007]

Lighten up, ANN. It's a kid doing a nice version of a great song. What kind of person tears down anyone, not just a singer, for doing something they enjoy? Maybe someone who tried and failed at singing, possbily? I mean, the song's basically about a more positive world, and all you can do it provide negativity. Find something else to write about

[Karen]

I LOVE David Archuleta! I've been captivated ever since I watched him sing on YouTube. If you hate Christmas songs, listen to him sing them and he'll change your mind forever. Even Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and atheists were saying they'd buy his Christmas CD if he put one out.

His old school and church stuff, the David Archuleta Interview Part 1 and Part 2, and especially the MTV three part video clips on him, show he is the real deal, not manufactured like you're claiming. Teachers say he's painfully shy, his pianist says he's an even better person than he is an incredible singer.

Quit trying to destroy goodness when we find it in this hateful old world. Imagine a decent, talented, cute young guy!

David is the real deal! He will be a Superstar, and I will do my part by buying everything he puts out. He's interested me in music again, after a very long, dry spell. Love this kid!

[debra]

Good Grief !! Give it a rest. Have a drink. Take a pill. Go see a shrink. How jaded can you get. You got problems if all you can write about is that. What a stretch of the imagination. I'm transfixed everytime he sings. Could care less what religion he is or who wrote or arranged whatever song he sings....just as long as he sings. That is the point is it not?

[Allain Jules]

Yes,

He's not the new Obama !

Go Obama go !

[Leah]

David Archuleta has frequently cited Eva Cassidy as someone he learned from and admires. He is credited by Eva's sister as having shed light on Eva and in fact has helped sell her music by citing her as one of his people who has influenced him. He has sang the entire song on several occasions as verified by You tube.
why the negative view on something you do not know the whole story on.. Eva's family and many of her fans have great admiration for what David Archuleta has done to nor her memory.
One of his fan sites Fansof david have interviewed Eva's sister and has a fan chat with her.
David was too young to know her but still claims she is someone he would very much would have loved to meet. He is honoring both Eva and John Lennon with singing Imagine. John Lennon's wife has also complimented David on singing Imagine so beautifully. He sang his favorited verse only because of time restraints on American Idol. He sang the full song to benifit a charity as recently as December 2008. Many do see David as a musical prodigy and someone with a geneorus spirit.

[Violet]

Eva is David Archuleta's own musical idol as he has mentioned several times on TV including on The View. Eva's sister has guested on chat sessions on Archuleta fan sites. She appreciates David's singing and how David has gotten more people interested in Eva's music. David's version is similar to Eva's but it has a lot of himself too, and his delivery is different.

Re Idols covering covers, they do it all the time. They just have to make their own in some way and Archuleta certainly did that. David Cook covered covers too. Just look for the Dark horse David Cook article on MTV.