Deseret News | Placement is biggest key to success on TV's 'Idol'

Reader comments
Carmen Rasmusen: Placement is biggest key to success on TV's 'Idol'

KE | 5:06 a.m. April 4, 2008

David really believes (as he said on a Fox Interview) that "anything can happen". He doesn't feel secure, is just singing his heart out and hoping for the best.

David's led in the voting every single week but one--last week when he sang "You're the Voice". David Cook led that week.

His song this week was "Smokey Mountain Memories" and it was beautifully, soulfully delivered. I think it was his best effort so far.

Dolly Parton wrote all the songs for country week this week, and her highest praise went to David. She said quite seriously, "I really believe he has the voice to really become a great, great singer." That's pretty impressive coming from a legend who has sold over 100 million records, had 25 number 1 hits. Wow!

America agreed with me that David excelled. This week, he received 11.2 million votes, next highest was Michael Johns who got 6.8 million votes, then David Cook with 6.6 million. Syesha and Brooke had 5+ million votes. A mixed bag for the rest of the contestants.

So, despite all his worries, David does have a LOT of support out here. I am convinced he'll win it all yet! Hurray!! :o)

LOH | 7:58 a.m. April 4, 2008

I am interested in how KE knew the vote totals...How can we find out the vote totals??

Simon says... | 8:22 a.m. April 4, 2008

This is such a jke competition...
Simon owns the rights to these people. He is looking at it from marketing 101 period.
He wants to make lots of money... he doens't care who is best or not.. Just who is the lastest flavor.

Look at that girl from last year that won... in 3 or 4 years, with lots of practice and voice training she'll be really good.

right now she is the latest bubble gum for the teenie boppers... et. money, money money for Simon

Comments continue below

Brett | 9:47 a.m. April 4, 2008

Hi Carmen...nice job on this article. My wife and daughter and I were with Jeff Archuleta on Tues and Weds shows. What a blast! We went to dinner Weds evening with David and Jeff and it's true...(I've always known this for years)David doesn't even think of winning this thing...he just wants to sing well and not dissappoint people (we won't call them fans for David's sake). We've been around him for years and as you have already mentioned...He truly is what we should want for an "American Idol"!!! Thanks for the article!

Alicia | 10:47 a.m. April 4, 2008

I have enjoyed reading your articles Carmen. I don't know if you read these comments or not but I am a big fan of yours and know you have a bright future ahead of you. Thanks for sharing your many talents with us.

Kathy Hagan | 11:00 a.m. April 4, 2008

Great article! Interesting to hear about "placement" from an insider's perspective. I wonder if that is why David had to try to break into that line at the end of the Dolly-week results show. Maybe he wasn't supposed to just go to the end, as I would've thought he'd have done.

So David is uncomfortable with the idea of fans?

Then I'll sign off as one of his current phone dialers and future CD-buyers and concert-attendees!!

TCO | 11:10 a.m. April 4, 2008

KE is getting those numbers from a website called dialidol. They measure the number of busy signals for each contestant. But the "11.2" is a "score" not the number of votes, which dialidol can't possibly know. The scores and rankings are estimates and aren't necessarily accurate--otherwise Jason would've been in the bottom 3, not Brooke, according to dialidol's scores.

A Lotta Mo | 12:13 p.m. April 4, 2008

Rumor has it that Carmen is singing the national anthem at the Jazz/Spurs game tonight. I heard her sing it at a Utah Blaze game once and was blown away. That girls got pipes. Wish I could be there.

Huh? | 1:36 p.m. April 4, 2008

Carmen does write a good article but her singing stinks!

DavidArocks | 2:05 p.m. April 4, 2008

Good reading. For me David A is the best singer on that show.I'm so inlove with his voice. I hope he wins because he really deserves to win..Go DavidA!!!

To Huh? | 4:00 p.m. April 4, 2008

You obviously haven't heard her lately. Ya, she was a little nervous on the show, but she's really matured and is really, really good now. Go watch her music video "Nothin Like the Summer" on youtube and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Jbohio | 5:27 p.m. April 4, 2008

Nice Article. Interesting to hear that bout David A. Its almost like the kid is too good to be true. Could it be that a kid with his talent is really that humble and unassuming? I think so, how refreshing. I wonder though if someone does not prepare him for whats about to happen to him whether he will be able to handle it. I mean this is a competetion and right now he looks in really good position to win it. Let's hope reality doesnt set in and scare the heck out of him

Karl | 5:55 p.m. April 4, 2008

Just curious as to why almost every story written about this seasons idols, the writers always have to make mention of the 2 people who are mormons, as if it is so unusual to be mormon. Maybe they should start refering to ALL contestants religion or belief. Who is Catholic, who is Protestant, who is Methodist, who is Baptist, etc... just think it is strange that everyone is so obsessed that Brook and David A are Mormon.

Carol | 5:55 p.m. April 4, 2008

I wouldn't worry too much about David Archuleta being able to handle the fame and media. We all know he wond Star Search at 12 years of age. If you google any videos of David, you will see video's of him performing in front of large crowds, whether it be a wedding, high school, church, and I even saw one where he sang with a symphony orchestra. I think David is just fine with the fame that will most definatly come his way. Love this kid!

Replytokarl | 6:50 p.m. April 4, 2008

That is soo funny you mentioned that, because I was telling my mom that exact same thing just this morning..I don't get it..LDS(mormons)are normal people just like everyone else...If only people knew the truth about this religion they wouldn't make such a big deal about it.

active lds and love it | 5:49 a.m. April 5, 2008

people make a big deal about Mormon celebs because they are different. when brook opened her mouth and talked to simon in the auditions it was very obvious she was Mormon. Its not an act, Mormons who live their religion are "squeaky clean". We are a peculiar people ie: Donny Osmond, Dale Murphy, Danny Ainge, Gladys knight, and there are many more examples. I am proud of both these kids, they set a great example in modesty and talent, I hope they both go far

Steve | 7:27 a.m. April 5, 2008

Guys, I know that people who run into these articles are Googling them, so they may not realize that this newspaper site is actually a newspaper for members of the LDS (AKA "Mormon") Church. [The Deseret Morning News is owned by a holding company that is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (widely known as the Mormon or LDS Church).] It's not that Mormons think they're "better than every one else", or any such nonsense, it's that we're just interested in what's going on with some other members of our faith. This would be the same if it were a Catholic newspaper reporting on Catholic contestants, etc. Please don't get the wrong idea.

jane | 9:32 a.m. April 5, 2008

David Archuleta is not only popular there in US but also all over Asia...esp here in the Philippines...Hope & pray that he'll be the next American Idol.:)

rcb | 10:25 a.m. April 5, 2008

Can someone PAH-lease tell me why David Archuletta's Dad always wears the ridiculous looking baseball cap?
Does he think "mmmm...I'm going on national television in front of 30 million people...why don't I wear my same old blue cap every week! WOW! what an awesome idea, i look so good in it! I look so cool and hip when i wear the faded blue cap!"

Someone tell him looks ridiculous and like he's watching his sons t-ball game, when he should look like he's on the most popular show on television.

zap | 11:46 a.m. April 5, 2008

that was a great article!
after the kind of exposure David A has had, i still cant imagine why he's so shy and flustered on hearing the crowd's reaction after his performances, like its sumthing he'd never expect, like he isn't deserving of it. why hasn't he gotten used to this adulation even after winning star search? would love to see a tiny bit of confidence in him, but maybe well that's just his personality...but in all honesty, its getting weary

Steve - David, enough ballads | 1:09 p.m. April 9, 2008

David needs to stop doing ballads/slow songs every week. People will begin to wonder if he's a one trick pony (thinking he must not be able to do up-tempo/high energy songs). He should be thankfull he has all the young girls voting for him like crazy, without that he'd be suffering the same fate as Amanda did (due to her only doing rock songs/very up-tempo every week).

I'd like to see David come in second place, yes you read right. Why 2nd place? Because then he would have control over how HE wants to do his debut CD and not have "Idol" producers telling him how to do his CD and be obligated to do things for them for a year like all "Idol" winners. Many who didn't win, but instead finished in the top 4 or 5 have faired better than most of the winners so far.

David Cook is who should win this season. And Carly Smithson is who I'd most likely buy a CD from... hopefully she makes it to the top 4.

Anyhow, David Archuleta... stop the doing the ballads every week and find an up-tempo or 2 that you can pull off well.

AI | 4:46 p.m. April 9, 2008

Ya know, I had never seen a picture of Carmen before today... but I tell ya what... She is an extremely cute girl! You have a new fan! I just wanted to post that somewhere! :)

Bookaholic | 4:21 a.m. April 10, 2008

Steve, I beg to differ with you on David's supporters being mainly young girls. The demographic of his fans is far more diverse than you suggest.

Here is a recent poll that studied the people who support David: They are 70% female, 30% male. Fans sorted out this wayï¿½female: 29% were 17 and under, 16% were 18-30, 25% were 30+; males: 1% were 17 and under, 11% were 18-30, 17% were 30+.

To clarify, only 30% of David's fans are under the age of 17 and are mainly girls; 27% of his fans are 18-30, 42% of his fans are over 30. More are women than men, but there a significant number of guys who like David.

I'm an older lady who really loves David. I heard a couple of Mormon kids were going to be on Idol so watched for the first time. I YouTubed David coz I read he'd had 300,000 hits on his videos there.

I was FLOORED when I heard David's soaring, passionate vocals! I decided that if there was BEAUTY like THAT out there, I was foolish not to listen. I'm now listening to popular music again after MORE THAN 20+ years and LOVING it!

Anonymous | 7:35 a.m. April 10, 2008

Steve, I completely disagree with you that David needs to stop doing ballads. First off, he has a done few up tempo songs, "We Can Work It Out" and "Shop Around". Who says he has to be 50/50? If his strong point is ballads and that is going to probably be the majority of songs on his cd's, then why not do them? I mean the idea here is to win, right? At this point in the compitition everyone is looking to do songs that are their strongpoint, if not, they will probably go home. And for those who think David only has the tween group of fans, think again. For example, I am 48 y/o musician who appreciates David's talent and his humility and he is the only one I vote for.

Teresa | 7:38 a.m. April 10, 2008

Steve---"Shop Around" was not a ballad and either was "You're the Voice". Shop Around was excellent in his live performance and You're the Voice studio version (if released right now) would be a #1 hit.
(Listen to it on YouTube) David can do upbeat/energy songs as well as his slow ballads--some even better. David is picking songs on idol that he connects with---that is what we want to see. I know idol viewers and the judges like tempos switched up a bit with contestants, but the show's not over yet! I don't even think we've touched the surface with David---his music and talent is still growing as we speak.

And by the way I am one of his older fans and I vote for him like 500 times---nice to be referred to as "a younger girl voting for him like crazy".

Mike | 10:14 a.m. April 10, 2008

Im a 50 y/o man with a 20 y/o son who was an elite singer in his chorus in high school and continues to sing in college and i did feel a connection to David in the beginning because of this I think. However, his talent is what has made me a fan. I have downloaded the studio versions of his songs and my family enjoys watching him sing as much or more than any other season of Idol and we have seen them all.

I have no doubt in my mind that he is as sincere and humble as he acts on stage and in his interviews. I look forward to the day when he releases his first CD and can tell you I will most certainly buy each and everyone he releases.

As for the debate about his song choices, I don't care what he sings, but I did thoroughly enjoy him singing 'Shop Around' and his banter with Ryan afterwards lol. He definitely enjoyed himself that night and I would imagine he would like to do the same... if only they would stop these ridiculous 'theme nights' they keep doing.

SUBZERO | 8:24 a.m. May 15, 2008

I agree with what was written on April 10th about David Archulettaï¿½s fan base being much more diverse than most people expect. It is very likely that most of his votes come from the ï¿½Baby Boomerï¿½ and older age groups simply because they have the wisdom and experience to recognize pure talent, genuine integrity, and future potential.
Anyone posting crude online comments that ridicule David Aï¿½s ï¿½squeaky cleanï¿½ image, his religion, his family, his looks, etc., is only doing so out of jealousy and self-loathing. These are the kind of cowardly people who promote cyber-bullying and encourage contention whenever possible, hoping it will make them feel powerful and superior to others. The problem is, that feeling doesnï¿½t last very long because as soon as the person is offline and has to deal with reality, his/her feelings of wretchedness and worthlessness are extremely uncomfortable. Rather than finding constructive ways to improve their own situation, the person feels compelled to express this rage by going back online in order to anonymously lash out at others. These people need to realize that there are better choices and options available to help them break out of this destructive cycle.

Karen | 3:28 a.m. May 28, 2008

You are so right subzero! Very well said! =)

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