I have heard it said by both fans and friends alike, that David Archuleta is the “real” deal. In the dictionary the word real is defined as: true; authentic and genuine; not pretend; sincere.

Recently I observed David showing his true, authentic and genuine self. He did not pretend and he was so sincere. It was a simple video taken by a fan during one of David’s concerts last week in St. Louis, MO. At the time, he had been battling allergies and was not feeling his best. There were some reports that he had lost his voice a few times during the day and was on vocal rest. This video and a recent blog from David confirmed that. However David as usual, would go on to perform wonderfully regardless of how he was feeling. In that blog of his, as Judith mentioned in her article from August 13, “Upside Down”. David wrote:

“This last week has been pretty interesting since I’ve had the little challenge of trying to perform even though I was struggling with losing my voice. It’s actually been a pretty good learning experience though! I struggled quite a bit the last 3 shows, but what’s interesting is that I loved all 3!

David, we loved them too! You sang beautifully as usual and you enchanted and entertained the audience with your charisma. You may have not been feeling your best but your sure did a wonderful job of giving your best! ;)

Now about that video I was referring to earlier. In it, David was going to sing a song on the piano when all of a sudden he stops. He seems visibly sick. While he is talking with the audience, he does sound a bit congested and raspy. As he continues to chat with the crowd, he does something that I found not only amusing, but also very charming as well. David gets up from the piano and quickly excuses himself from the stage. It was not only what he said when he did this, but also the way he behaved that I found so endearing. He talks with the fans as if they are old friends. He treats them like he would any one else he knows well. He seems to feel comfortable enough with them, that he can excuse himself while he is in the middle of a performance and promise that he will be right back! I find the way he interacts with people to be so delightful. Fame has not gone to his head. On the contrary, he is so normal and down to earth, that he can behave with us the same way he would if he were at home performing in front of family and friends. He keeps it real! Of course David was back in front of his audience in no time flat. He quickly composed himself, then flashed that enormous grin of his. He acted as if it was no big deal, because of course the show must go on!

David’s performance that evening was amazing and he did not disappoint! It got me thinking about other stars. How many would have canceled their show because they did not feel they could pull it off? Would they have given their audience such a sweet and true explanation? I wonder, because David is so different from other stars. He is so real. He tells the audience like it is. He does his very best to perform even when he is not feeling one hundred percent. He tries to do what he is comfortable with, while also making sure to put on a good performance for the fans.

David Archuleta has such a natural ability to make his fans feel at ease. He is a true professional in every way, when he sings. He is a star, but when he talks to his fans he is “just David”. He is sweet and genuinely caring. Polite, honest and engaging. He is a talented and wonderful performer. Yes, I do think David Archuleta is the “real” deal, and it is such a pleasure to experience.

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