David Archuleta - You're the Voice

I am moved to write once more about 17-year old American Idol finalist David Archuleta. This week the remaining top ten contestants each described when and where they were born, shared a bit about their childhood, and sang a song from their birth year. David Archuleta sang a Johnny Farnham song called You're the Voice.

Johnny Farnham? You're the Voice? Whaaa?

The judges reflected their bafflement at David's song choice. Only Simon Cowell seemed to remotely recognize the song, or really know of Australian singer Johnny Farnham. Obviously "You're the Voice" isn't familiar to mainstream America, and this lack of immediate connection was a detraction from David's American Idol performance. Even Paula Abdul, the queen of positive spin, teasingly questioned David, "You couldn't have chosen an American composer?" Further disappointing for David's American Idol chances was Simon's characterization of this upbeat, spirit-raising performance as reminiscent of a "theme park performance, one of those ghastly songs you sing when you've got animated creatures with you and everyone joins in together." Unfortunately, Simon had a point. Up With People comes to mind.

However, I believe Simon is dead wrong in his assessment that the song is "not you at all" and his further speculation that someone else must have chosen it. While Simon may be maddeningly discerning and painfully accurate with regard to vocal talent and performance abilities, sadly, he doesn't have a clue about what makes someone like David Archuleta tick. About soulful intentions and living a bigger purpose.

David's bigger purpose, which he can't seem to help staying true to, is to use his gifts to make a difference in the world. David lives from the heart and sings from the soul. He is all about the message. Unlike Simon, I believe David Archuleta must have chosen the song himself. Listen to the lyrics! This is a song of vision and empowerment, encouraging every single individual to recognize and own the power of his or her unique voice and to use that power to stand up and make it count:

You're the voice try to understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh-o-o-o, whoa-o-o-o
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear
Oh-o-o-o, whoa-o-o-o

This time, we know we all can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing, we can make it better
ooooh, We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?...

Quite simply, David - purely, genuinely, radiantly, innocently - with every cell in his body and every ounce of his being, wants us all to join together to change the world. And he believes we can.

Okay, so the song may have been sketchy as an American Idol finalist choice. But there is no mistaking, again and always, the purity and power of David's voice, and the purity and power of David's spirit. To my ears, David Archuleta's voice is in a league of its own. I can't wait to buy his first album, and I hope he makes it exclusively focused on these songs of vision and empowerment that so move him and really do affect the reality we're collectively creating.

David Archuleta. "You're the Voice." What a perfect song choice, really.