Up until yesterday, if I heard the term “Archies”, it would have brought back fond recollections of my childhood. I loved the Archies. Especially the paperback comic book collections. And yes, I do have the song “Sugar, Sugar” on my iPod. Archie, his friend Jughead, that jerk Reggie, and the two hot girls, Veronica and Betty.
Yes, the Archies were a simple pleasure from my long ago past.
Or so I thought.
Yesterday I put up a gentle post about David Archuleta being seen singing in the MTC choir at General Conference. (Here) No big deal, right? The post was OK, full of my usual wit and wisdom. I posted it, and thought that it might get a few hits. I kind of miscalculated that.
By the end of the day, my Archuleta post skyrocketed resulting in my 3rd busiest traffic day ever, and launched itself into my top 6 all-time posts. It is already off to such a fast start, that today will probably go even higher. The post also had the most comments ever (100+). And some of the longest.
Why? The “Archies”. It turns out that the true fans of David Archuleta call themselves “The Archies”. They are everywhere, they are very devout, and some are very loquacious. And many will need to look up “loquacious”.
It turns out that my post got mentioned on two of the most popular Archuleta fan sites, and the Archies flocked to read what I had to say. After it got posted, there was some discussion about the post on their boards. This is my favorite:
I totally understand why Candy is “SMH” (Shaking her head). I mean, what kind of girl would comment on the blog of an anonymous middle-aged man? She makes a valid point. However, I did respond and we had a lovely exchange. There were several comments on the blogs expressing their appreciation for my post. That was nice, but a little weird.
In order to capitalize on acknowledge the new readers that have come to my blog because of yesterday’s post, I will make a few observations.
• Archies are well-organized and devout. They are legion.
• They are everywhere. It turns out that one of the most prolific commenters yesterday was from Australia.
• Several of the comments were made by people not of the LDS faith, that had been touched by David’s music. That is very cool. I hope they try and learn more about the faith that would motivate him to walk away from his career for two years.
• A couple of wonderful people posted their personal stories about how David’s music led them to the gospel, and eventually church membership. I admire your willingness to share these personal stories. They are amazing.
• I am somewhat disappointed that my Archuleta post will be one of my all-time most visited posts. I think I have stuff that is much more important and/or funnier.
• I was talking with my EC last night, and it occurred to me that I have never been a big enough fan of ANYTHING or ANYONE in my life that I would dedicate my time to following a fan blog. Yeah, I loved Michael Jordan at the time, and there are some bands that I will buy music from without even hearing it, but nothing even remotely close to this.
• Many people are drawn to David’s music because of how it makes them feel inside. I understand that part. I know that music can be a spiritual experience. (Old post discussing it
here)
• Some of the more fanatic “Archies” are so deluded that they think they can speak for David. They say things like “I know David would not like us saying..” “I know David would really like…” Others become his personal watchdog: “I’m surprised you would share personal details about what he brings on his tour bus, etc. online.” (A case of Book of Mormons was what was on the bus.) Really? Newsflash: You don’t need to protect David – he’ll be fine. You don’t own him. You do, however, need to get a life.
• When you choose a life of celebrity, you voluntarily give up part of your privacy. That’s just how it is. You don’t have to agree, or like it, but that doesn’t make rabid fans his personal security team.
• Some commenters, like MomJulee know David personally, so their comments mean much more than those who think they know David. Or imagine they know him.
• Anyone can be proud of David, and can supportive of him serving a mission without buying his music. So stop asking.
• To my knowledge, as of yet, there have been no sightings of David walking on water. So please remember, he is mortal. This weekend might be a good time to look at who we worship, and how much time and energy we put into it.
So, to my new “Archie” friends, it has been nice to meet you.
To the ones I just alienated, sorry ’bout that!
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Hi – Fun reading your blog. I am a fan of @davidarchie and I guess not alone – his twitter followers increase by about 700/2000 per day and have for 4 years and he will hit one million followers in about a month. Didn’t know the fans were called Archies. The reason most follow him is for the way his voice makes a connection to the song and the listener and having seen him on stage last year in the SF Bay Area, he had 100% control of the crowd – the guy has charisma and what a voice. Here is a video of what he is like in doing an encore of Gnarls Barkleys song “Crazy” in concert after singing 16 songs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZCpmvMHa_g
Archies……huh. Who knew? I know can feel a little smarter thanks to you.
And BTW – you’re post on Archuleta was a good one.
Thanks. And, actually, you can feel a LOT smarter because of me. It’s ok to admit it.
Will David be baptizing dead people as part of his mission? Does he have a quota he must fulfill each month to remain in good standing?
Missionaries usually don’t work on proxy ordinances while serving missions. And no, there is no quota.
Hooray for the shout-out to Shanny in Australia…….I know she sometimes feels like the lone David fan in Australia, although we know that is not true! 😀
Funny comment about Legion…….that was one of the top 3 picks for naming our son! 😀 We decided against it as I’m sure you can understand why.
I started laughing at the Archie comic before I saw your blog. Used to have those lying around the house when I was little (well, my brother did)…..seriously dating myself.
Glad you like the conversion or bringing people back to church stories. Since this is your blog I won’t share my entire story but sometimes I can’t believe it all happened. The story overwhelms me.
Like your “David doesn’t walk on water” comment. In an interview he once reminded people that he’s not perfect. Also, meeting him a half a dozen times (or even more) doesn’t make us experts on what he wants, desires, would think or would say. He is a very humble young man and his love for his Father in Heaven is very apparent in the things he says and does. Actions from a person speak louder than words can ever do. His actions to us devout Archie fans speak volumes. However, we still shouldn’t speak for David when we just don’t know.
I’d like to echo your comment about non LDS members, hoping that would learn about faith that would motivate David to walk away from his career for two years. I have sent two Books of Mormon to people so far and one will be sent soon (two with David’s testimony) and I have to buy yet another and add my testimony, and a couple other people I’ve been talking to privately about the church. All stemmed from a very spiritual man touching and changing my heart with Be Still My Soul.
Final thing about your blogs mentioning David; Keep ’em coming. We have to wait for him for two years. We need stuff to help the time go by faster. HA!!!!
It was nice to meet you too, MMM! haha I’m not a girl anymore but I do like being an Archie. =) He seems to be a great guy and I’m totally addicted to his voice. Ah, I do have a life and I’m from Brazil (yes, we are everywhere! haha! 😉
xoxo
This is funny.
And informative.
Until now I thought the only Archuleta fans were girls from Utah.
There are fan websites? Yikes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzJ51rI60oc
Rach and MMM, not that I would expect you to watch this entire 22:00 video, but just a few minutes of viewing would give you a glimpse of where and how old David’s fans are. I bet you will both be surprised. This video was made by fans from throughout the world to let David know that we will be waiting for him when he completes his mission in 2014. Enjoy!
cvarchfan…thank you 🙂
Hi MMM, It’s one of your new Archie friends, cvarchfan! Thanks for including me in your blog. I do need to tell you that I am no longer a “girl”, in fact, more than likely I am older than you! You made very valid points and you are not the first to suggest I get a life! Most Archies hear this from spouses, children, & grandchildren all the time, but since I live alone, I get to follow David to my hearts content! One point I’d like to make is that David is probably the last person on earth to think he himself walks on water. He is one of the most humble human beings I have ever met. Even he was surprised at the length that his fans go to! That is part of the draw to David. I have no posters in my house and I don’t wear tee shirts with his picture, but shhhhh… I don’t want to be kicked out as an Archie! David has exposed many of us to the beliefs of his religion, and I hope by our comments here today and yesterday, you have been exposed to the character and music of David. It’s been fun! I promise to continue reading your blog, just because you seem to be a funny guy who makes educated comments!
cvarchfan: Soooo glad to hear that you have a life! Maybe you could get just one t-shirt just in case another Archie shows up at you door.
I’m glad you found my blog and are enjoying it!
Soooooo . . . if *I* aspire to be an ‘Archie’ I have to have a t shirt made that has WWDD on it? You know, to inspire me and keep me on the right track? I dunno . . . I am just not crazy about how I look in t shirts . . . Maybe I just don’t have what it takes . . .
Though I DO think that David would be seriously disappointed that YOU have not jumped on board the Archuleta band wagon . . . I can FEEL his disappointment DEEP down in my bones . . .
So . . . hey . . . Maybe I DO have what it takes, after all . . . t shirt or no t shirt . . .
(And HONESTLY, folks, I mean NO sacrilege . . . um . . . I mean disrespect to what seems to be a very nice, talented young man . . . Do NOT flood me with hate mail or leave burning bags of doggy droppings on my porch . . .I KNOW that David would be SO disappointed in you if you did . . . Just keep that in mind, please . . .)
=o)
I am laughing at the “Legion” comment you made. I bet a lot of the Archies will not get that one.
😉
And many of us will, and also have the sense of humor to not be offended by the reference, since it wasn’t meant literally, I’m sure. And besides, I don’t want to be cast out.
My first encounter with “Archies” (and I didn’t know they had a name until now) was when I clicked on the profile of a woman who commented on my blog a year or so ago. She had two blogs, one in which she documented the life of a middle-aged-mormon mom (Hey, maybe she’s your EC?) and another in which she devoted post after post to her infatuation with David. She took each chapter of his biography and brought out different sections and what we could all learn from his inspiring life. I was seriously flabberghasted. The kid’s 19, for heaven’s sake, and while I think we can learn a lot from many people’s lives, his biography is NOT on par with the scriptures.
But here I go, perhaps even alienating your EC? So sorry about that.
Oh, c’mon. You already know my EC is smarter than that – she married me!
And that’s your proof of intelligence? SMH
Now you’re just being difficult.
Haha – I agree about getting a life. We have a few famous friends because my husband once did the Hollywood thing and has a few claims to fame himself, but I know that it is weird to them, sometimes, when people act so intimidated or fawn too much.
Hmm.. so if I start a blog, I know what will get the traffic. Mention David Archuleta.
Well, you should meet a Grobanite (no, it’s not a tribe of people from ancient America, they are rabid Josh Groban fans)! I love Josh’s music, but…seriously? I think that a lot of famous people have their over-the-top groupies; David is just one of many (and luckily, as you even pointed out, he’s a good role model).
I wanna know, where are my groupies, huh?! Sheesh. 😉
And it’s not like THIS post is calculated to draw even more Archie traffic your way, is it? 🙂
I had something of the same phenomenon when I previewed a Home Makeover show for the family of Jonah Gomez and mentioned that Jonah had sung with David Archuleta at one event. It was the most casual of references, yet the visitor count and the tenor of the comments was like nothing I had ever seen, or have seen since.
David Archuleta seems like a great young man — my best to him, and his fans, and anyone who blogs about him!
😉
Now, who is this kid everyone is talking about?( : Seriously, though, I’ve never heard him sing/speak. Since I’ve read all your posts though, I must be some sort of MMMonite. Hmmmm….
Me too Holly. Now I have to go out and get one of his CD’s and “judge” (sorry MMM) for myself how great he is.
I actually watched the season of American Idol that he was on (I have only ever followed two seasons – the David Arculeta season, and that season only because I was living with my in-laws who are die-hard Idol fans – and the season with Kris Allen, because I went to high school with him) but I did not become a “fan” – I am not a “fan” of anything, really. But I do enjoy his music, and I have enjoyed hearing about him every now and then.
You do realize that you just said his name again, right? Prepare for round two, my friend!
ha ha ha
Haha! I guess I’m a mild “Archie”, although I’ve never heard that term, so I can’t be too much of one, I guess. I know David would appreciate your thoughts, and would enjoy eating buffalo wings with you sometime. 😉