Song of the Week – Touch My Hand – David Archuleta

By On 03/31/2012 · 40 Comments · In American Idol, David Archuleta, Song of the Week

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Song – “Touch My Hand”
Artist – David Archuleta
Album – David Archuleta
Season – 7th
Place – 2nd

This week I was trying to decide between a few different songs, and then earlier in the week, I saw MJ’s post about David leaving on his LDS mission. I figured since we might not hear from Archie for two years, I could pick a David song for this week.

For all of you who will miss David while he’s gone, don’t worry. I actually live in Utah as well, and I’m around the same age as David. I’m used to all of my friends leaving on their Mormon missions. It’ll surprise everyone how fast time flies, and I doubt David has any plan on leaving the entertainment industry upon his return.

As far as David and Idol go, let me say this: Season 7 was hands down, my favorite season. It was filled with all my favorite Idols, and they’re still the ones I follow the closest today. Now, because I’m from Utah, of course I was cheering on our hometown kid, Archie, the whole season. This led to my utter disdain for David Cook. Haha. No worries though, eventually I grew out of the hatred, and am a HUGE Cook fan now as well.

Anyway, David ended his season as the runner-up, but he still got a sweet contract with Jive. They released “Crush,” and it seemed like David was on the road to become the next big tween pop star (think Bieber). It shot up to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, (I was SO HAPPY THAT DAY!) and the album had solid sales numbers.

Now let’s discuss “Touch My Hand.” I remember thinking after “Crush” had really hit its peak, “The whole key to David continuing his success is not to be a one-hit wonder.” I had listened to the CD time and time again, and just KNEW “Touch My Hand” would be the next single. It was my favorite track on the album by a mile, and all my friends (non-idol viewers) would specifically single the song out as their favorite. Is it filled with corny lyrics? Sure. Is the title ridiculous? Sure. But has that stopped any other pop star these days from dominating the charts?!

“Touch My Hand” is a perfect pop tune, and I think would have done really well on radio at the time. Especially with the roll David was on. Just as I predicted, word on the street was that Jive had chosen the song as the next single. I was so glad with the direction they were moving. But my excitement was met quickly with disappointment. At the last minute, the single was switched, and “A Little Too Not Over You” was sent to radio instead.

It was from that moment on, I knew David was in trouble. And I was right. “A Little Too Not Over You” never picked up steam and was a flop. Afterwards, they half-heartedly attempted to release “Touch My Hand” as a third single, but it never got any radio ads or push from the label. The only thing that resulted was a horrendous performance of the song on Idol during Season 8.

So after his debut, Archie wasted his time with Christmas CD’s and a sophomore album that was a huge disappointment. At that point, I don’t think the label or Archie believed in the material. Nothing resulted out of that album or any of the “singles” that were released.

So now we have David where he is in his career today. As I’m a HUGE fan of David, it’s not my intention to bash all the moves in his career, but I think it was the decision to switch the single at the last minute that really hindered David. If he could’ve had just a few more successful songs, he might’ve retained more respect and hung in the industry a little longer (think Jordin Sparks).

Regardless, I think Archie has come to terms with the direction his career and life have taken. It’s my opinion that after experiencing the lackluster sales of pretty much anything after his debut album, David really matured. It made him grow up a little and realize how important other things (like his faith) were to him. So if nothing else, at least Archie’s got a good head on him. And this song is still great to jam out to in the car any day of the week.

Please Tweet me and/or follow me for suggestions on song of the week. Thanks!

 

 

 
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  • callmecrazy

    Ahhhh, sweet memories of Archie’s first CD….o/  I remember ordering it and waiting oh so patiently to get it…and screamed oh so loud when I did.  One of the best days ever…o/

  • sue

     Yep, David seemed really nervous when he did TMH on idol, but no one is perfect and David usually is pretty perfect. lols 

    Nice write up Nick. Love all of David’s albums but my favorite right now is TOSOD. So many great tracks on that cd, really wish it was promoted better but hey it’s doing great in Asia. Of course I have the Asian Tour Edition too. Whatever song David sings, he always puts his all into it. Ever since David left for his mission, can’t stop listening to “Who I Am”. Also love “MKOP”, “TOSOD”, “Wait” and “Good Place”.  Oh heck it’s all good and it just feels like David more, since he got more input into it.

    Love love TMH too, great workout song. Also love “You Can”, “Waiting For Yesterday”, “My Hands” and “Somebody Out There”.  lols Can go on for days. Definitely agree that “ALTNOY” was the wrong 2nd single. It’s a great song and the video is fabulous but for radio it wasn’t the right song at
    the time. I was actually leaning toward “Barriers” as a 2nd single but oh well that is ancient history. David still had his tours and his own success especially in Asia. The X-Mas album was fabulous too, so many great tracks on that too.

    Can’t wait to get his “Forevermore” album in the mail. There are some killer songs on that album too. He really is vocally gifted.  Still my favorite idol of all time after 11 seasons.
     

  • Anonymous

    Sue, I too thought that Barriers should have been the second single. 

  • Anonymous

    Love Touch My Hand for a concert song especially!!  One song from the first album that I like to Jam to, is Let Me Go.  It was on the Deluxe Album.  Makes you feel like you want to dance.  Loved second album too.  Problem JIVe and lack of promotion.  Love Christmas Album.  Love Glad Christmas Tidings. Love the Asian Edition. Love Forevermore Album.  Enjoy Zero Gravity for a Concert Song. 
    I think once David completes his Mission he’ll be able to focus on his Career.
    He’s extremely popular in Asia.  He will have spent two years in a Latin Culture and will be doing a Spanish Album.  The World is Wide open.
    David has completed more songs and more projects than anyone in his season.
    He definition of Success is different than many.
    Nice to Pay tribute.  Probably better versions of Touch My Hand out there with lots of audience participation. 

  • Anonymous

    So after reading this post, I went and opened up Spotify and listened to both of David’s albums on shuffle and repeat. Love him. His music makes me happy.

    Wow, I own both of Archie’s albums (not the Christmas one though) and I hated him while he was on the show!

  • Anonymous

    I agree with Kitwana.  I don’t think it would have mattered which song was his second single, without strong support from his record label. 

    I love, love, love this song!  It should have been his second single just because it’s an upbeat, feel good song that shows off the exuberance of David Archuleta. 

    I don’t think there was anything wrong with “A Little Too Not Over You”, but it was a good time to release “Touch My Hand”.  It’s a catchy song with a great beat that is great to listen to in your car. 

    I have been greatly disappointed over the difficulties David has experienced in the music business. His voice is simply amazing.  He is enormously gifted and when you see what passes for music these days, it’s just incomprehensible that he hasn’t done as well as he should have with his albums. 

    He has given me inspiration and joy and it is my sincere hope that he will able to continue with his music career when his Mormon mission is over.

  • Anonymous

     Watched for one glimpse of one so special. Thanks

  • Anonymous

    I always thought they made a mistake leaving “Zero Gravity” off the 1st album and it would have been an amazing followup to “Crush”, but then that is one of my all time concert performance songs from him. Such fun and lots of jumping and he just performs the heck out of it. ha ha

  • Anonymous

    I liked A Little Too Not Over You. I also thought the second album, The Other Side of Down, was better than the first pop album.

    I remember at the time being frustrated that the label took too long to issue the second single. Crush was a summer release; the second single was available for adds on Dec 9.

  • Anonymous

     I do agree with your point that David’s first album should have produced
    more hit singles as that is when David had the intense interest from
    those young fans. Good point. I wanted David to be a mainstream artist too. I prefer the pop-star Archie over the mature religious Archie too. I actually still do. I still think TOSOD should have had a hit or a more popular single with “Something Bout Love”. It was not pushed enough by the label and even the artist, David IMO.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/WP5CYP5LDPSIFMSXZ72OU3365I Alain

    This is one of my favorite songs from his new album released in the Philippines. Check it out, David is amazing as ever. And if you wanna show him some love, please buy his album Forevermore or buy his songs individually.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyrZE7o9Zpg&feature=iv&src_vid=_3_spXk3At0&annotation_id=annotation_649353 

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/WP5CYP5LDPSIFMSXZ72OU3365I Alain

    By the way, let me share the link to David’s official website where you could learn more about his new album Forevermore released in the Philippines. This was also shared by MJ a couple of days ago. The songs are on Youtube if you want to listen to them but I really suggest that you buy them to show your love and support to David. You can get digital copies by downloading the songs in the link provided in the website below.

    http://davidarchuleta.com/home/?p=4048 

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3_spXk3At0 

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/WP5CYP5LDPSIFMSXZ72OU3365I Alain
  • V Jemmy

    Nick, didn’t get a chance to say this last week, but I’m glad that you’re back doing this column.  I missed it the last few months.

    Not a fan of this song though.  While it does make me believe that David can actually sing and I am a big fan of cheesy songs in general (Meatloaf anyone?), I finally had to turn this one off after a few minutes.  It’s just… not good and not in a so bad it’s good kind of way.

    Looking forward to next week!

  • Anonymous

    I love this Touch My Hand video as it really does depict the love and devotion those tweens/teens had for David at that time. I think they still have that love for David as do his older fans. The younger fans might move on to other artists but they do not forget. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for David’s music career when he does return.

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