David Archuleta: Something ‘Bout Love
Second-place finalist from American Idol comes in first place with sweet love gem, favorable video
Our little guy from American Idol is growing up. David Archuleta, who wowed audiences in Season Seven, is soon to be twenty and he’s quickly approaching the threshold where the maturity of his content is subject to change. “Something ‘Bout Love” is a slight step up in his ascension and puts him in straight in the midst with comfortable competitors like Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, even if its quite obvious that Archuleta’s voice exceeds the substance found in sugary pop. It takes the savor of “What the World Needs Now Is Love” and whips it into a celebratory upbeat pop song; dazzled with a melodic “whoa oh oh oh” phrase and Archuleta’s convincing vocals. It’s also wryly truthful in disecting out love breaks us and makes us time and time again. When you’re done with love, it tends to come back stronger than ever (“There’s something ’bout love that breaks your heart/whoa oh oh oh/it sets you free/There’s something ’bout love that tears you up/Whoa oh oh oh/you still believe”).
The concept video for “Something” is a beautiful display of ageless love; topped with a variety of examples happy with their partners. There’s the college jock, the skateboard couple, the granny being helped by a younger pedestrian, even the nerd who walks into his own epiphany of love. Archeletta, who mostly plays a by-stander to the scenes and is seen walking around a outdoor party, gets a text message towards the end. Judging from his reaction, Archuleta seems to be getting his own taste of love. It’s the appropriate song/video for the Idol alum and is sure to continue where 2008’s “Crush” left off.
J MATTHEW COBB