David Archuleta first made a name for himself in 2008 thanks to a second place finish on American Idol at just 16 years old. He stood out thanks to his flawless vocals, down-to-earth personality, and what can only be described as an adorable baby face. Since his appearance on American Idol put him on a national stage, “Archie,” as he’s known to many fans, has released a succession of solo albums, including 2017’s Postcards in the Sky, and published a bestselling memoir. David continues to perform and collaborate, and did I mention that he’ll be at the upcoming BYU Spectacular? Get your tickets HERE.
While you’re waiting to see him live, check out the top five songs that will be sure to bring a smile to your face.
This is the song you blast on your way to a job interview or a triathlon. It’s hopeful and upbeat, pretty much everything that David embodies. A bittersweet feature of the song is a few final bars sung by his friend, Annie Schmidt, who had been helping David with his recording. Annie, the daughter of well-known pianist Jon Schmidt of the Piano Guys, passed away after a hiking accident in 2016, and so David included her vocals as a tribute to her.
Sometimes covers crash and burn, but Archuleta’s version of the Ed Sheeran hit absolutely soars. He and Nathan Pacheco (giving Andrea Bocelli a run for his money) put a classical spin on the scruffier original. It’s absolutely beautiful, and very much a track you can put on repeat.
Featured on his latest album, David co-wrote the song, and it’s a lovely, understated showcase for Archuleta as a more mature artist. He holds his own, both with the minimalist video and the pared-down accompaniment. This is David Archuleta the man, so if you only remember the boy wonder, check this one out, and then put it on your slow jam playlist.
If you have two ears and a heart, then I promise that this song will give you goosebumps. It’s got a sweet and catchy Christian pop sensibility, which makes sense since “Glorious” is part of the soundtrack of the Meet the Mormons documentary. And oh hey, there’s a version from a BYU Spectacular a few years back. The official video, with the combination of Archuleta’s vocals and the clips of so many amazing people and places, might just bring a tear to your eye. I’m not crying…you’re crying.
You’ll smile because Crush was Archuleta’s first single after finishing second place on American Idol. It was 2008, and a baby-faced, angel-voiced, aw-shucks kid from Utah had just made good with his showing on the show. Simon Cowell’s shriveled cynical heart couldn’t resist Archie and neither can any of us.
To be totally honest, this is not a song, but David Archuleta is not just a singer. Sometimes you’ll just like to watch Archie being Archie. But don’t take my word for it. Check out Archuleta checking in with the online world after returning from his LDS mission. Or for peak adorable, watch a very young David Archuleta wish his sister a happy birthday. It’s awesome. You’ll understand why everyone loves this guy.
Don’s miss David Archuleta at this year’s BYU Spectacular as part of Homecoming at BYU. Get your tickets HERE!
