David Archuleta
Rialto Theatre
Tucson, AZ
December 22, 2022
by Mary Andrews
David Archuleta has performed Christmas shows since he was runner up on American Idol in 2008. This was his first visit to the Old Pueblo and his fans were ecstatic. The performer has been singing in front of crowds since he was 10 years old and his performance in Tucson displayed a superb, veteran entertainer. The stage was set like a living room with all the Christmas decorations found this time of year along with a large chair ‘fit for a king.’ The singer was dressed in a red plaid ensemble that appeared to be pajamas.
Archuleta has released two Christmas albums over the years, Christmas from the Heart and Winter in the Air. The golden voiced singer opened the show with the Christmas classics “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “White Christmas.” Early in the set, it was very apparent that he spoke fluent Spanish as he conversed with fans in the crowd. He mentioned he was half Honduran.
Archuleta noticed a couple of super fans whom were probably the most demonstrative fans ever, Selina and Sara. One gave the other fan the ticket to the show as a Christmas present. He exclaimed “Tucson, you are full of surprises.” Archulete spoke of how Selena was a huge influence when he was growing up as he introduced “Como la flor.” The audience sang the song with him. There was, also, an extemporaneous verse of “Old Town Road”sung with the crowd during the chat.
He mused, “When I was getting ready for this Christmas tour, It was hard for me to (do this tour) because there is a lot that has happened to me this year. Sometimes when you go through a lot of changes you don’t know how to see yourself anymore. When what seems like solid and sure in your life, it’s just pulled from under your feet. You don’t know where you stand. You feel a little lost. It was hard for me to come into this tour because I’ve always loved doing Christmas tours. I don’t feel like that, as I once did. So it’s kind of hard to come in and sing these songs. Am I going to be able to convey these songs in a sincere way when I am not in the same space of mind. “
During the introduction to a song he did with Lindsey Stirling, Archuleta mentioned, “It’s been a challenging year this year. One of the things that happened was in the Spring, February, March, I was supposed to be in the Spring tour and I damaged my vocal cords. I had hemorrhaged vocal cord nodules. It was bleeding. I had to get surgery. I couldn’t sing or talk for three months. . . .It was bad for me. I had to use an app to get by. I had to have voice therapy after the three months to start talking and singing. During that time, Lindsey Stirling contacted me. She said,’I’m doing a Christmas album this year and I have a song that was meant for your voice.’ The song is Magic.”
It was a night of Archuleta sharing his experience of self-acceptance. However, the enthusiastic cheering and applause during show proved that the show was a huge success. Luckily, the surgery and the voice rest earlier in the year was a success. Archuleta left the stage, but he returned quickly as the crowd’s standing ovation beckoned him back for more.
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