陽光大衛私房粉絲網

商業報紙寫的報導果然切入角度不太一樣，演唱會收入會打破菲律賓的紀錄嗎，讓我們拭目以待。

businessmirror

“I’d like to try your most famous delicacy. How do you call that? Balut?” said the 26-year-old Cook, when asked by a reporter from a local daily in a press con held Thursday night what Filipino food he’d like to taste, to which Archuleta agreed. Balut is loosely defined in English as aborted duck’s egg.

It is no wonder why they are somehow familiar in things related to Filipinos. Both competed with a Filipino-American AI finalist in the person of Ramielle Malubay, who was in the Philippines in December last year to guest in a two-night show topbilled by Ogie Alcasid, winners of the very first Pinoy Idol and to visit her relatives in Quezon Province.  Malubay is also fond of balut.

“Whenever she’s talking on the phone, I’d hear her speak in a language we can’t understand but she always had this great big smile,” said Cook. In fact, he learned to speak a word in Filipino and remembered it well. “Sah-lah-mat (Thank you), did I get it right?” he asked the ever-patronizing members of the local entertainment press, composed of blushing gay male broadsheet and tabloid editors, columnists and writers.

“I remember dried mango. She’d bring dried mango and I love it,” said Archuleta, who was also intrigued, through Malubay, about Regine Velasquez. He mentioned in several earlier interviews that he wanted to meet Velasquez but as of press time, there was no confirmation if they did.

A lady writer, in an attempt to fish out information about the two Davids’ love life, asked what keeps on inspiring them the most. Cook mentioned how his family and friends have become important to him, now that he’s famous and getting richer. “I don’t know a single person who inspires me as a singer and a performer. I think it’s everything around me,” he added.

The 18-year-old Archuleta seconded the motion, mentioning how his family and friends shaped the musician in him. Like Cook, he has a self-titled album he’s also promoting in this tour. In an earlier local TV guesting, he cited how diverse his musical influences have become, starting from Nat King Cole, Kansas, Michael Jackson, the musical Les Miserables when he was a child up to Jason Miraz nowadays.

Archuleta has tried acting and has had cameo appearances in Nickelodeon’s “Carly” in an episode titled “Rock the Vote” as well as in “Hannah Montana”, doing a duet with Miley Cyrus. 

Cook’s influences have been as diverse as classic R&B to rock. In AI, he can do mean versions of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” The Who’s “Baba O’ Reilly” to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Prior to joining AI, he was already an accomplished singer-composer with an album titled Analog Heart. After his victory on AI, he’s been touring the US to promote his self-titled second album.

As for the song that defines each of them and the lives they lead, Cook thought of “Life on the fast lane” by the Eagles while Archuleta chose “These Words,” by Natasha Bedingfield. They didn’t mention if they are going to sing these but fans are expecting their winning songs like Elton John’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” for Archuleta and Regie Hamm’s “Time of My Life” for Cook.

The two arrived in Manila on Tuesday, May 12, in separate flights. They’ve been busy making the rounds of TV shows and malls to promote their first concert in the Philippines.

“We’re glad of the reception they are receiving now. At first, we thought the concert is like a secret,” said actor Jomari Yllana, who is co-owner of the firm behind the concert, Fearless Productions. To the surprise of many, Yllana personally called members of the press to invite them in the supposedly strict and intimate news conference.

The well-attended press con in a five-star hotel in Mandaluyong City was supposed to be held in a smaller function room but it was transferred to a bigger ballroom only a few hours before the said event so as to accommodate more requests for coverage.

Security wasn’t that tight because some loyal female fans who’ve followed the two Davids in their earlier mall tours were able to sneak in at the said venue. Then again, they didn’t do anything that would cause a commotion --- for one, they didn’t even line up at the buffet table --- as they behaved well and orderly, which could predict how the upcoming concert will take place.

As of press time, many are crossing their fingers if the two Davids can equal, if not surpass, the Goliath-like audience turnout --- around 100,000 --- of the Eraserheads Live! Reunion Concert in March 7 this year, which was held in a bigger venue called Open Grounds, the car-park-by-day concrete area located on the northern part of MOA, facing the Promenade Hall.

The Concert Ground is another open-air car-park-by-day venue on the southern end of MOA, right beside SMEX convention halls. It is where American rock band Journey, featuring Filipino singer Arnel Pineda, had a show held on March 14 also this year, gathering an estimated 50,000-strong crowd.  

Then again, like the heroic Biblical character also named David, the production outfit is called Fearless.