David Archuleta Is Writing a Memoir: “Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance”

Saturday, October 31, 2009, 04:42 PM | David Archuleta
Tags: David Archuleta, Memoir

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The book will be available on May 4, 2010. Pre-order your copy now!

Pre-order: Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance

I forgot that David Archuleta survived “vocal paralysis” and thus the title of the book.

28 Comments for David Archuleta Is Writing a Memoir: “Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance”

1

Uh.

Klope62 on October 31, 2009 at 5:18 pm
2

Sounds like a lifetime movie. The title i mean. But..yay?

Loonyluna00 on October 31, 2009 at 5:20 pm
3

Technically, David still has vocal paralysis. One side is under-developed and the other has to work overtime to allow David to even speak. Both chords don’t meet up, thus the reason David has an airy/breathy voice. Its also the reason for his unique sounding singing voice.

According to Dean, David speaking too much causes his voice to wear out faster. Doctors don’t understand how David is able to sing. David has always said his singing is a gift from above.

pouncer84 on October 31, 2009 at 5:33 pm
4

Wow his family will push him to do anything to make a buck. Memoir … LOL. He’s just a kid and a very uninteresting one at that. Who would possibly be interested in reading a book about his life. Maybe he should spend his time working on his GED instead. That would definitely yield a bigger payoff, and the payoff would be for himself.

Allisan on October 31, 2009 at 6:15 pm
5

i find it funny that some people find him uninteresting yet clearly follows every thing he does…

ohyeah on October 31, 2009 at 6:36 pm
6

I would actually read that and BUY it. I have always felt badly for the kid. Pushed so hard from a young boy not to mention them making/allowing him to be a belter at entirely too young an age. Then his personal challenges with his chords and being a kid on the show, and a sweet naive one at that. I don’t have other books like that but will buy it. It seems his entire life is singing and he’s such a hard worker from my casual observation. I only notice when it’s in front of me. I wish him the best. Same for Jordin who also has vocal damage like others. Such impatience to get to the finish line before their bodies and vocal skills are properly developed. Then again Marilyn Horne’s father allowed her to sing AND in a challenging way from 5 years old. She’s lucky to have any voice at all now.

hur'chagood on October 31, 2009 at 6:44 pm
7

David Archuleta is one of the most unique and talented people to grace this earth. His giving extends around the world and back. I feel so blessed to be on this earth with him. His music and smile get me through each challenge I face daily. He is so adorable and tries so hard at everything he does. He embraces his fans and makes us feel loved and appreciated with his text and voicemails that mean so much. May God Bless You Always, David.

acdja on October 31, 2009 at 8:46 pm
8

Season 7 ended sixteen months ago. Your bitterness is not only hilarious, but also pathetic. Here’s hoping that David will one day become overweight and wear too much make up. I bet that would make him interesting.

PA on October 31, 2009 at 9:10 pm
9

As for payoffs, he’s one of the highest earning Idol contestants and one of the very few ones who actually have a career. So, worry not, my friends.

PA on October 31, 2009 at 9:12 pm
10

Also, this project has nothing to do with his parents. The publisher is Penguin, and these projects are initiated by the publisher. The book will be part of a series about well-known Hispanic persons. Unfortunately, now you have to come up with something else that’s wrong with him. I’m sure you can think of something.

PA on October 31, 2009 at 9:53 pm
11

I think David has a lot of depth for one so young.

Elena on October 31, 2009 at 11:49 pm
12

Allisan, first of all he is not a kid he is turning 19 next month. And his family doesn’t push him to do anything the whole ’stage dad’ thing has been over for months. Get over it! And btw I bet a lot of people will be interested in this book!

Brandy on November 1, 2009 at 12:51 am
13

Why do people think David is a puppet. He never was and never will be. David has a spine of steel and can think/make decisions all on his own. You think because he’s young/shy, he’s being forced to sing. He has wanted this all his life and his family has only ever supported him.

If you actually believe the stories about the “stage dad” thing then I feel sorry for you. If AI had actually not wanted David to add the “beautiful girls” song, AI would have stopped the band from playing it. They stopped him from making changes to “Longer”. AI milked that situation for all its worth and loved the resulting publicity it created. Ken/Nigel took a week to say something and then didn’t even come to David’s defense. They just said some random crap that didn’t mean anything.

What I find ironic is that David was the only minor, yet the media attacked him and his family and AI allowed it to happen. The contestants/family couldn’t even fight back because they had a gag order from AI.

About the GED.
1. What makes you think he hasn’t graduated?
2. David never wanted to take the easy way and go for the GED. He was taking online classes after AI & during the AI tour, which is way harder than taking the GED.
3. David had only ever talked about the classes last year that I can recall.
4. David completed his Eagle Scout merit badge earlier this year so he could’ve graduated and not said anything.

Anyway, I believe in David and his team and support him no matter what he does.

The Arch-Angel family motto is…
TRUST THE ARCHULETA

pouncer84 on November 1, 2009 at 2:30 am
14

Below is a playlist on youtube of David speaking at the Women’s Conference in SLC. He is such a wise and inspirational young man who is speaking from his heart. He has so many wonderful messages to share … meassages of charity, faith, integrity, will-power, determination and so much more. I know the audience truly appreciated him that day as well as all his adoring fans watching these vids on the web.

If only others can hear and feel those heartfelt messages with an open mind and heart.

But when people actually delight in saying mean things about David, who is such a beautiful person both inside and out, and who would never want to hurt anyone … not even those who are hurtful to him … I think about how immature those people are and how David is so much more mature and wiser than most who are much older than him. He is definitely without a doubt the better person … but he would never ever even hint that and would be mortified to even hear it.

After listening to this wonderful and amazing speech, knowing full well that according to him speaking is not his strong suit (yet I thought his heartfelt delivery was so very powerful and I admire his gutsiness cause I know I couldn’t do it), I have no doubt his words on paper would go much farther and be even more amazing because he would have a chance to express himself, shall we say … in a more comfortable way.

Bravo David for living your dreams … not only in song, but in speech and on paper. I would venture to say no one here has been able to do any one of those things in their lifetime. But it’s never too late, as David encourages us all to go for it.

When you’re at the playlist, click on “Play All the Videos”…. enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=EF0859B93CF50E6D

MomWithODD on November 1, 2009 at 5:01 am
15

I definitely will buy David’s book about his life experiences. He has had to overcome so much and yet continues to be so grounded and mature in his new environment! For this I respect him so much! He continues to put up with so much critcism and hate and he amazes me that he’s never said a single negative word about anyone! Wow, we can all stand to learn something from him! I know I can! Good luck David!

lct on November 1, 2009 at 6:41 am
16

I will be buying this book for sure. David Archuleta is a gifted artist in many ways. He has made my life better over the past year & a half.

burkey on November 1, 2009 at 7:26 am
17

Yes, the producers heard the added “Beautiful Girls” lyrics several times in the rehearsals. If they had wanted to prevent him from using these lyrics, they could have done so easily.

The “controversy” was created to generate publicity, which shows exactly how much class American Idol has. (Jeff Archuleta does have issues, though, but this isn’t one of them.)

If you watch an interview with David, it’s relatively easy to see that he’s happy with his life. All the bitterness here stems from people projecting their own unhappiness onto him, and there seems to be a lot of that.

PA on November 1, 2009 at 10:13 am
18

A 19 year old writes memoir? Sounds like cashing in, just like Aiken’s book. At least he was a bit older but still a lying, manipulative jerk.

druzilla on November 1, 2009 at 11:48 am
19

Bah! The negativity in this thread needs to get out. It’s a good thing David even has this opportunity to write a book. I’m sure he’s thrilled. You don’t have to like it but i’m sure his fans will.

Bring on his christmas tour Westbury woooot.

Loonyluna00 on November 1, 2009 at 11:53 am
20

Is he writing it by himself or cowriting it? Even david himsilf said he wasn’t good with words.

Lia on November 1, 2009 at 4:20 pm
21

I can’t wait to get the book! David’s fans will love it! & thats all that matters ♥

SarahLovesArchie on November 1, 2009 at 4:46 pm
22

Yes, the publisher is trying to make a profit. That’s the whole point of running a business. Every single artist on the face of the earth, even the cool ones, are trying to make a profit.

PA on November 1, 2009 at 5:09 pm
23

Cool that David has this opportunity to write a book. I don’t think anyone would turn down this opportunity when offered.

David has a very unique writing style and it would be fun to read. More importantly, it gives him an opportunities to tell his own perspectives after so much speculations around him during and after Idol. David, as other teen stars, is a very controversial and interesting subject; and in most cases, talented teens are underestimated by normal adults as they have very special life journey. It’s always fresh to learn their perspectives and view their lives from their own eyes.

LetItBe on November 1, 2009 at 8:43 pm
24

Actually he did not initiate the contact. He was approached by the publisher and consented. The publisher even offered to provide a ghostwriter but David decided to write the book himself. This kid is an achiever–very intelligent and very hard-working and very talented. And he does have an interesting story to tell. How many others have appeared on AI–and succeeded in the business afterwards? That alone is an intriguing tale…

praepos on November 2, 2009 at 9:15 pm
25

personally, i think that david is too young at the present to be writing a memoir, even with the struggles he has faced. however, PA has helpfully offered some significant information that has me understanding why he is. if this is part of a series about well-known hispanics – why not? david is an internationally recognised singer/artist, he’s toured all over the world, his songs shot to the top of the charts – and this all happened in a year. his is quite a miraculous story. i know american idol allows aspiring musicians to practically waltz into the industry, but few idol offspring can stay afloat when left alone. david did seriously well, and i think he deserves some recognition for taking it all on. a book certainly does that… in a rather ostentatious way, but it does that nonetheless. and of course, the arch angels will make sure it does well in the shops.

jessica hong on November 2, 2009 at 11:34 pm
26

It’s never too early to write about one’s own experiences … why wait till he’s 40 when the memories of AI are fresh in his mind now!…since, as we all know from his speech, he didn’t write in his journal during AI (which he regrets) … so yes, this is great that he wants to be able to share his experiences on AI … I can’t wait!! … just like I can’t wait for the Christmas tour and the 3rd album already!! hehehe!!

MomWithODD on November 3, 2009 at 3:57 am
27

… oh, and then later down the road, he can write another book about more experiences … can’t wait for that book either! hehehe!!

MomWithODD on November 3, 2009 at 4:00 am
28

David wanted to write this. And he already had a lot of material. He blogged on his original site from maybe age 10 to not long before Idol. And he kept a daily journal for all of 2009 – it was his New Years resolution. In his speech at the Women’s Conference he talked about the nice scrapbooks fans have given him with articles and photos but he realized that when he has kids he’d like them to be able to read about his own perspective – what he wanted, how he was feeling, what his hopes are. He said he wished he had kept a journal in 2008. I’m thinking he could at least use Dean’s electronic book to refresh his memory about what was going on each week during Idol.

violet4ever on November 11, 2009 at 1:03 am