No New Albums From David Archuleta For Two Years...

[cinepro]

I'd argued before for all the reasons he shouldn't/wouldn't serve a mission.

Looks like I was wrong:

David Archuleta Suspends Music Career for Mormon Mission

David Archuleta is a man on a mission. Or at least he will be soon. And that could make for some disappointing news for his fans.

The "American Idol" favorite announced during his concert on his home turf of Utah Sunday night that he's putting his music career on the back burner -- so that he can serve the Mormon Church on a full-time mission.

"While I'm home in front of you guys tonight I would like to make a special announcement that I've chosen to serve a full-time mission," Archuleta told the crowd at his Salt Lake City show during an emotional announcement that found the singer breaking down in tears.

Edited December 20, 2011 by cinepro

[altersteve]

This is awesome. Good on him!

[Sky]

His decision to serve a mission is likely to bring upon himself a fair share of jeers and mockery. But I know he will handle it well. What becomes of his musical career remains to be seen. Kudos to him for serving the Lord. I wish him the best.

[Freedom]

I was getting worried.

[Duncan]

the question is where he will go, he should go somewhere that American idol isn't popular or at least few if any have heard of him -like Canada perhaps!

[mfbukowski]

I don't think he will have a problem wherever he goes.

He has been known to show up randomly in wards in the LA area for sunday meetings and is a very down-to-earth, nice kid. The Young Women go crazy, but other than that, once they get over it, it's pretty much business as usual.

But we tend to be cool about celebs around here, so I could be wrong.

He was sitting in the back row one time and I was trying to figure out who he was- I thought he was an investigator I had met because he looked familiar but I didn't know his name- but right after the meeting it became clear that all the young women were buzzing around like crazy. I'm not exactly a super fan of Idol obviously!!

But they were cool, at least as cool as a teenage girl could be under the circumstances.

Edited December 20, 2011 by mfbukowski

[mfbukowski]

I'd argued before for all the reasons he shouldn't/wouldn't serve a mission.

I guess he didn't like your advice.

[katherine the great]

Well that's exciting! Good for him!

[Kenngo1969]

Oh, well ... Those who were alive and aware at the time survived a couple years when Elvis was in the military. We can do the same when Archie ... Um, I mean, Elder Archie ... goes on a mission!

[Kenngo1969]

I'd argued before for all the reasons he shouldn't/wouldn't serve a mission.

Looks like I was wrong:

David Archuleta Suspends Music Career for Mormon Mission

Does this mean that The Force wasn't with you when you made those arguments, Brother/Master Yoda?

[cinepro]

Does this mean that The Force wasn't with you when you made those arguments, Brother/Master Yoda?

Here's what I said. Judge for yourself...

Let's see...he can either tour the world, and do his best to "promote" the Church in interviews, firesides and through his public example, or serve a conventional mission.

I would imagine that his firesides attract a lot of non-member friends of teenage girls, so he would get to speak to attentive non-members who especially want to hear his message.

Or, he could go and serve two years and engage in the least effective missionary cold-calling practices known to mankind: talking to people on the street and knocking on doors.

And even then, it would be hard to direct a conversation towards the gospel with anyone who recognized him ("Yes, I'm that guy...Thank you, thank you very much. Yes, American Idol was a great experience. Very stressful. Simon was actually nice in person. No, I don't talk to him every day. Paula is very sweet. Randy is like a second father to me. No, I haven't been watching the current season, as a missionary I can't watch TV. I'm glad you enjoyed the album. No, I didn't mind losing to David Cook; he's a great guy. Very talented, and it was great to get to perform with him. Thanks. So...I'm on a mission for my Church, and would like to share a brief message...No? Ok. Thanks.")

Repeat that x100 each day, and that's what his mission would be like.

And imagine his poor companions having to listen to the same conversation over and over. Ugh!

[Scott Lloyd]

I'd argued before for all the reasons he shouldn't/wouldn't serve a mission.

Looks like I was wrong:

David Archuleta Suspends Music Career for Mormon Mission

My admiration for Brother Archuleta, already high, has now been increased.

It takes a real spirit of consecration for someone in his position to effectively forsake such fame, wealth and adulation with no guarantee or even likelihood that he will ever regain it in the future. As someone commented during the table conversation at a dinner I attended last evening, some of our college athletes who are LDS could well take a lesson from David's example.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

Oh, well ... Those who were alive and aware at the time survived a couple years when Elvis was in the military. We can do the same when Archie ... Um, I mean, Elder Archie ... goes on a mission!

Some who are nearly that old may recall the case of Gary Lewis and the Playboys, a rock and roll group who were immensely successful during the heady days of Beatlemania in mid '60s. Gary, who is the son of comedian Jerry Lewis, was drafted into the army and thereafter never regained his former success and popularity, though he still performs and tours occasionally today.

I've been observing popular culture most of my life, long enough to know how fickle public tastes are and how quickly an artist can be discarded, especially when he/she isn't recording/performing continuously.

This is a real sacrifice for Brother Archuleta, and as I said in a prior post, I applaud his spirit of consecration, commitment and true conversion.

Edited December 21, 2011 by Scott Lloyd