Chords Of Strength Part 5

I remember that when I was eleven, the 2002 Winter Olympics came to our hometown of Salt Lake City. One night, we had the TV on, but we weren't really watching the figure skating program. It was the night Mich.e.l.le Kwan did her last performance. The most beautiful song came on and we all stopped what we were doing so we could watch and listen to the way the beautiful skating matched the soothing and pure voice we all heard. The music was Eva Ca.s.sidy singing "Fields of Gold," which originally sounded much different when it was performed by Sting. When I heard Eva Ca.s.sidy sing, I felt like I was listening to the most beautiful music I had ever heard. It was just a guitar and her voice, no other instruments, and there was no need for anything else. It would have gotten in the way. I remember that my dad and I both were completely blown away at the level of sensitivity, dynamics, tone and just overall beauty that came through the TV when we heard that amazing music.

After that experience, of course we ran out and bought all the Eva Ca.s.sidy CDs we could find and listened to her music. At that point I realized she was someone special and that I wanted to learn to sing like she did. I wanted to be able to feel the range of emotion she demonstrated in each song she sang. We also found several familiar songs that she performed unlike the other versions we were familiar with. One of those was "Over the Rainbow," which we also heard on season two of American Idol American Idol when Kimberly Locke performed it. But the song that most touched me and made me want to sing like Eva was her rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine." It was so beautiful and simple. Her phrasing and nuances were perfect. The note choices and melodic changes were inspired and intuitive. when Kimberly Locke performed it. But the song that most touched me and made me want to sing like Eva was her rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine." It was so beautiful and simple. Her phrasing and nuances were perfect. The note choices and melodic changes were inspired and intuitive.

A couple of years later I decided to learn her version and perform it on a few occasions including a live performance on TV on ABC 4's Good Things Utah, Good Things Utah, after I was asked to perform on the show having been on after I was asked to perform on the show having been on Star Search Star Search. Of all the performers I have listened to, Eva Ca.s.sidy best represented the style and level of artistry that I would most aspire to. She had the whole package: She had tone, pitch, range, dynamics, and control, and she could sing any type of style from blues to folk to pop. You could totally feel her spirit when she sang and I hope someday to learn how to sing with as much expression and mastery as she did.

Here's another story: When I was younger, our family used to perform in hospitals and retirement homes. With our costumes and sheet music in hand, we would rip right through the dark frost of December with the warmth and cheerfulness of our little homegrown variety show. Some of our audience members were old, some were sick, and many were both-but all of their eyes would sparkle like shiny new Christmas ornaments each time one of us would get up to sing. My little sister, Jazzy, would put on a curly red wig and belt out "Tomorrow" from the popular show Annie Annie. One of the numbers I'd sing was from the movie Yentl Yentl, a song called "A Piece of Sky," which had always been an Archuleta family staple given my grandma Claudia's admiration for Barbra Streisand. Though I didn't necessarily know what I was singing about, I knew exactly how that song made me feel-a raw sentiment that I saw reflected in the eyes of an elderly woman whose tears of appreciation slowly trickled down into her lap. She was in a wheelchair, she could barely talk, but here she was very touched by the song, perhaps transported to a happier time in her life when all was well. She later told us that the song instantly rekindled lost memories of her late husband, and gave her an unexpected feeling of happiness that day. Even though we were generations apart in age, it was interesting to see how a song could bridge that gap and allow me to relate to her through the medium of a song. I could feel the melody soothe so many of this poor woman's pains, and I could see the lyrics fill her heart with peace. Here was that gift again, this time coming from me to her-and in that moment I realized that performing for me would be much more than just being a good singer, and everything to do with being a good person.

Nothing feels better than knowing that by singing I can make others feel better The bottom line is that while you're performing it's hard to hide who you really are. It's all about the interpretation of the song, not just the song itself. Some songs have been performed many times over by many different artists, but some were memorable and others were not. It's all about the connection between the performer, the song, the message and the audience. People are all so different; we come from all walks of life, in all shapes, colors and sizes. The one thing we all have in common is our ability to feel and emote. When we hear a song, we feel the emotions of that song as it relates to our own personal experience, which I guess is why I see music as a great vehicle for compa.s.sion. If we can momentarily feel what others feel, we move farther and farther away from selfishness into a state of empathy and compa.s.sion. The bottom line is that music is healing, so I'm honored to be in any way part of that process.

Interpretation is the key component of being a successful singer. It requires that you capture the emotional language of a song, and then express it your own way for someone else. It is essentially being able to understand and relate to someone else's emotions, even if you yourself have never felt those emotions before. It's the reason why, when I was twelve years old on Star Search Star Search singing Alicia Keys' "Fallin'," I didn't have a clue in the world as to what I was singing about. (How could I? I was only a kid.) I was trying to get into the energy of that song, the soulfulness of the song, in a way that I hoped people could feel deeply. Because I've been singing from a very early age, I have frequently sung about things that I simply hadn't lived or been through yet. But it never seemed to matter because I could still internalize their feelings, relay them, which allowed other people to feel them too. I already told you that I think emotions are contagious, but when you throw music into the mix it becomes like a breeding ground for sensitivity. singing Alicia Keys' "Fallin'," I didn't have a clue in the world as to what I was singing about. (How could I? I was only a kid.) I was trying to get into the energy of that song, the soulfulness of the song, in a way that I hoped people could feel deeply. Because I've been singing from a very early age, I have frequently sung about things that I simply hadn't lived or been through yet. But it never seemed to matter because I could still internalize their feelings, relay them, which allowed other people to feel them too. I already told you that I think emotions are contagious, but when you throw music into the mix it becomes like a breeding ground for sensitivity.

I can't stress it enough that for me, being a recording artist has nothing to do with fame and everything to do with feelings. It always thrills me when I notice someone in the audience really feeling it. I can see that they are actually feeling what I'm singing about, which, to me, gives meaning to the whole act. It allows me to forget about the scary aspect of performing, and instead fuels me with motivation to keep going. It's so powerful that it can turn an intensely shy person (me) into someone who is willing to pour his heart out for arenas full of people. Music just tugs. It draws you in, allowing you to tap into the secret s.p.a.ces of life that sometimes get lost in the day-to-day.

This really rang true for me when I turned on the television one day, only to discover the horror of September 11, 2001, being reported on every news station across the country. I was ten years old, so of course I couldn't (and still can't) totally comprehend the nightmare that was unfolding in New York and Washington, D.C. Even though it was all happening miles away from my peaceful world in Sandy, Utah, I felt the pain of those people deep in my gut, and I could feel a small piece of my innocence being ripped right out of me. My parents, like everyone else, were solemnly glued to the TV, desperate for more information. I would sit and watch with them, half traumatized, half clueless about what was happening. I was too young (and probably still am) to really understand the scope of that tragedy. I also remember all of us huddled together, watching the celebrity telethon that aired live after the attack. There was a sense of sorrow and anguish about every word spoken, a sadness that seemed to have the power to linger over us indefinitely.

Just as I was thinking about this dark reality, something amazing caught my attention: Celine Dion began to sing "G.o.d Bless America." Somehow, through the darkness, appeared a glimmer of light; the emotion in the music gave me a sense of hope. I was so impressed by how Celine was able to take a song that was so familiar and make it seem like it was the first time I had ever heard it. It was clear that that particular song had a very special meaning for us all. The events of those days made us all hear it, though with a new purpose and awareness.

It was another one of those moments when the power of song, combined with the truth about human emotion, came together in a way that felt totally healing. Once again I understood that a certain song could strike enough feeling to inspire the kind of therapeutic force that we need when bad things happen. The experience confirmed that for me, singing would be as much about conveying love as it would be about partic.i.p.ating in art. Every time I would hold a microphone in my hand could be a unique opportunity to share from my heart, a chance to connect with an audience without even having to know anyone's name. For the rest of my life, I have known (consciously or unconsciously) that performing, for me, will never be an act of personal self-indulgence but instead one of total connectivity.

Here I am looking serious as I belt it out A year later, as chance would have it, when I was in New York meeting with record labels, I had the privilege of being invited to sing at the Firefighters' Station 54 on the first anniversary of 9/11. I knew I was singing to people who had lost wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers, and when I sang for those people on that day, I felt their pain. Even though I couldn't possibly begin to understand what they'd gone through, I knew by the looks on the faces of the crowd that it was a moment loaded with raw emotion, a type of sadness unlike anything I'd ever seen. I wasn't sure what my place would be there, but the moment I started to sing, I understood. I sang "G.o.d Bless America" and "I Will Always Love You" and I left that group of people feeling deeply moved by the energy left in the air after I sang. It was one of those moments when music came in where words could not-when a melody could do for a person's soul what a string of spoken sentences would never be able to do.

Here was music stepping in, not as entertainment, but as genuine emotional help, an insight that would give meaning to the kind of singer I would always aspire to be.

I regularly find myself thinking about how crazy it is that all of this started for me when I was so young. I really wasn't able to understand a whole lot of what was going on at the time, but I recently was asked to respond to a clip of myself being interviewed when I was about eleven or twelve. Here's what I had to say: "I love singing because it makes people feel good and it makes me feel good inside. Everyone loves music."

Almost seven years have pa.s.sed since I said those words, and it's safe to say that I believe I'm still the same person now that I was then. To this day, I feel exactly the same way about music as I did back then. I sing because it makes people feel good, and that is the truth.

CHAPTER 10.

STAYING TRUE.

"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece."

-H. J. BROWN.

Sometimes when I have a little bit of downtime (which isn't as often these days!), I like to think about what's really going on; what's really most important. I know it sounds pretty simple, but when I do this-when I actually stop and organize my thoughts and ponder the things that matter most-it helps me feel at peace and keep the proper balance in my life. A lot of times, I like to ask myself, How can I accomplish the most good in my life? What choices can I make right now-ones that can really make a difference? Is there something important I can do today? How can I accomplish the most good in my life? What choices can I make right now-ones that can really make a difference? Is there something important I can do today? It doesn't matter where I am, if I'm on tour, on the road recording, at home with my family, visiting relatives, or at some type of an event, it still all boils down to trying to stay true to what I believe in at all times. Even if I don't feel like it. Even when it isn't popular or convenient. If I just worry about trying to do what's right, everything else seems to turn out fine. It doesn't matter where I am, if I'm on tour, on the road recording, at home with my family, visiting relatives, or at some type of an event, it still all boils down to trying to stay true to what I believe in at all times. Even if I don't feel like it. Even when it isn't popular or convenient. If I just worry about trying to do what's right, everything else seems to turn out fine.

I think deep down we all know what's really really important in our lives; we just have to be honest enough with ourselves to face that truth. important in our lives; we just have to be honest enough with ourselves to face that truth.

Why do I bring this up? Well, a question I get a lot is "So, have you changed much since all this Idol Idol stuff?" I understand why people might think that because of what has happened over the past several years of my life, I might have changed into someone else, someone who is unapproachable or thinks he is "better" than the "old me." But the truth is that there is no "old me." There's just the "me" that's always been here, and the "me" that I hope to keep bettering and improving as time goes on. When your life (for better or for worse) changes dramatically overnight, it's easy to lose sight of reality. So I think it's really important to do everything you possibly can to stay true to yourself. stuff?" I understand why people might think that because of what has happened over the past several years of my life, I might have changed into someone else, someone who is unapproachable or thinks he is "better" than the "old me." But the truth is that there is no "old me." There's just the "me" that's always been here, and the "me" that I hope to keep bettering and improving as time goes on. When your life (for better or for worse) changes dramatically overnight, it's easy to lose sight of reality. So I think it's really important to do everything you possibly can to stay true to yourself.

One thing that always helps me with this is to remind myself that there are two kinds of success: success in the world's eyes and success in G.o.d's eyes. For me, success isn't based on fame or money or popularity. It has nothing to do with being on TV, traveling the world performing, or financial success. Those things are fun, and I enjoy them. But to me, the most important success is knowing that you are trying to do what is right and staying true and constant to your set of values. This is why I feel it is so important to trust your intuition and listen to your conscience.

The greatest joy and satisfaction I feel is from trying to simply do what is right, by listening to the promptings that come to me through the "Spirit." I believe everyone has a conscience, which is really the spirit of G.o.d that tries to teach us all what is right and wrong. It seems like when we learn how to listen to and follow our "conscience," which I believe to be the promptings from the Spirit, we feel truly happy. We make better decisions; we are less judgmental, more patient, more understanding, more caring, more loving; we are more sensitive to other people's feelings, all the attributes that I think make someone a great person. It can help us in all areas of our lives, with our work and school and developing our talents and being trustworthy, honest, and responsible-and all the things that make up a good character.

Keeping the Spirit close also helps us when we face challenges in life and gently pushes us to keep the proper perspective when things are uncertain or confusing. But most of all, it helps us with our most important relationships which for me, are those with my Heavenly Father, my family, and my friends.

. . . it's really important to do everything that you possibly can to stay true to yourself . . .

It is also interesting to understand how the promptings of the Spirit work through other people as well. Remember what I told you about how I had been a Boy Scout growing up? Well, the greatest achievement you can accomplish as a Boy Scout is the rank of Eagle Scout. As I was so busy with touring and working on my alb.u.m, I was only home for one or two days every couple of months or so, which made it impossible to even think about finishing the last few steps that I needed for my Eagle. But I had a great neighbor, Cal Madsen (who had gotten me into scouting to begin with), who saw me at church one Sunday and called me into his office. He's also the bishop of the Young Adult Singles ward. I hadn't seen him in a while, because I'd been so busy touring, and just hadn't been home long enough to even go to my own home church or really see any of my old neighbors and friends. I knew he'd ask me about scouting, because he always checks up on me and is the person who made sure I was progressing through the various scout ranks and getting the required merit badges I needed to get. He asked me how long I was home. I said, "I don't know? Three days or so?" I thought I'd be leaving the next Thursday or Friday to go to New York.

That was the window of opportunity Cal was looking for, so he suggested I do my Eagle Scout project in those three days. And, you know, although that whole thing had slipped onto the backburner after American Idol American Idol, I thought, Why not? Why not?

So things were set in motion. I got motivated. Yes. Me! Motivated. I called the parks and recreation department. I called my friends. I called my bishop, my grandpa, and a bunch of my neighbors. I got a pretty big group of people together and organized a tree planting service project at the Jordan River Parkway. My friends and neighbors and family took time out in the middle of a busy school and work day to shovel dirt and plant well more than one hundred trees to help me finish that one last requirement so I could get my Eagle. You had to finish everything before your eighteenth birthday and I was coming up on it soon, so this really was my last chance if I was going to actually achieve it. That's one thing I really like about where I live; there are lots of genuinely good people who listen to their conscience and like to do good things just because. They have really meant a lot to me.

So I got my Eagle Scout and again again realized that there is something to be said about perseverance (on Cal's part probably more than my own), about not giving up, and not letting my music life get in the way of other things that are perhaps not as important to the "world," but are definitely important to me. Scouting is something that a boy begins at age twelve and goes until eighteen, but you have to finish your Eagle before you reach eighteen. It is one of the greatest programs for developing character and values in youth, the things that are rarely addressed these days it seems. It is a six-year potential journey in scouts, and I felt so proud to be able to accomplish that goal while being so busy with my new music career. I feel so blessed to have a family and community that encourage such activities. I believe a lot of what I learned there has prepared me for more important opportunities that will come later in my life. realized that there is something to be said about perseverance (on Cal's part probably more than my own), about not giving up, and not letting my music life get in the way of other things that are perhaps not as important to the "world," but are definitely important to me. Scouting is something that a boy begins at age twelve and goes until eighteen, but you have to finish your Eagle before you reach eighteen. It is one of the greatest programs for developing character and values in youth, the things that are rarely addressed these days it seems. It is a six-year potential journey in scouts, and I felt so proud to be able to accomplish that goal while being so busy with my new music career. I feel so blessed to have a family and community that encourage such activities. I believe a lot of what I learned there has prepared me for more important opportunities that will come later in my life.

I sincerely appreciate all of the amazing things that have happened to me over the past few years. I absolutely love singing and the opportunity it allows me to meet so many people and to share all those special feelings I've talked about earlier on, but I'm totally grateful every single day of my life for all the other less obvious blessings that have come my way. Just because I've been able to succeed as a singer doesn't mean I've changed what is most important to me, as I still feel that my true mission and measure of success is based on first trying to be a good person. And to be a good person, means you think about others and care about them, usually before you worry about yourself.

Without this, I don't think any amount of personal success can make life truly complete. For me, taking time out every day to ponder and pray is the best way to stay connected with our Heavenly Father. By being mindful of my values and keeping my spiritual beliefs close to my heart, I truly believe it helps me stay grounded and always respect the place from where my talents and successes spring. Yes, I've worked hard; and yes, I may have achieved a certain level of success-but I'm very clear about the fact that none of it would be worth it without doing the things that keep me close to G.o.d.

I've talked a lot about what it takes to stay on course, to stay positive and strong; and I've talked about faith as my main tool for being able to do so. But there are a number of other personal values that I've tried to stick to as I've gone through the ups and downs of my "instacareer" and all the chaos (good and bad) that came with it. They help me stay as true to myself as possible in a world that regularly asks us to compromise our integrity. I knew that I would need to arm myself with tools for staying true, and to this day I try to tap in to them regularly.

Perspective has played a major part. Although I had my dad with me during most of my musical experience, it was hard to be away from the rest of the family. Being away from my mother and siblings for so long made me miss them terribly, so my returns home are always charged with deep tenderness and so much love. I now see my time at home as a treat, a bubble of total safety where I can be the David I've always been, temporarily removed from the demands of my career. I would even go as far as to say that before all of this, I may have taken some members of my family for granted. But today, being home with my family any night or day of the week feels like a total blessing, something I cherish and long for whenever I'm away.

My dad has always encouraged me and supported me Absence does does make the heart grow fonder, which I was able to learn make the heart grow fonder, which I was able to learn only only from being away. Just being far from the people I love most gave me an entirely new perspective. I began to appreciate my siblings so much more, seeing them each shine with their own unique gifts, skills and pa.s.sions. My new point of view has also helped me to see my parents for what they really are: supportive, encouraging, inspiring and basically the rocks that I will always lean on through good and bad experiences. from being away. Just being far from the people I love most gave me an entirely new perspective. I began to appreciate my siblings so much more, seeing them each shine with their own unique gifts, skills and pa.s.sions. My new point of view has also helped me to see my parents for what they really are: supportive, encouraging, inspiring and basically the rocks that I will always lean on through good and bad experiences.

My father, for example, was always there for me. He was the one who really looked after me in this crazy time in my life and during this whole journey starting when I was very young. In this entertainment world of adults, it could be easy for a young, naive newcomer like myself to get manipulated and taken advantage of. But my dad was always looking out for me. He helped make sure that each decision we were faced with was made carefully, and he made sure to find people to be part of our "team," who would respect my values and make sure they didn't take advantage of my lack of experience. My dad is the one who has always understood me from the very beginning, and the reasons why I really wanted to sing and get into music in the first place. He helped me stay grounded when things got difficult. He was the one person who constantly kept this in mind despite the challenges surrounding me. He made sure that I always had what I needed and helped me feel prepared when I wasn't sure what I should do. He sacrificed a lot in order to help me have all the opportunities I've been able to experience so far.

I couldn't have accomplished any of what I've done without my dad, who was willing to give up so much of his own time and energy to make sure things would go as smoothly as possible for me. I know it wasn't easy for him, and I appreciate all he's gone through. To me he's been an example of how a father shows love to his son. His support has been unconditional and constant, and for that I am truly grateful.

As for my mom, she was a big part of my musical influence as well, but that's only touching the surface. She has always been a positive, loving role model not only to me, but also to all of my siblings equally. Her love of entertaining made singing and performing something extra-special in our home, but that wasn't nearly as important as the way she always took such good care of our family so unselfishly. Her zest for music was a constant, but I remember more of how she would get up every morning before school and fix us endless stacks of pancakes, French toast, and oatmeal. I spent much of my youth listening to my mom sing her heart out, and I know a lot of my inspiration also comes directly from her.

Emotion is the driving force of all my shows But as serious as I am about music, I'm just even more intent on making sure my family relationships and friendships are properly taken care of. These are the people who have loved me unconditionally, some ever since I was a little kid, since before I even knew that things like American Idol American Idol or or Star Search Star Search existed. These are the people who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. They are the ones who have always shown me respect for who I was, not for what I have accomplished. I feel like I have learned so much from my friends, and I take a lot of my cues directly from these people, who have not only been by my side as pals but also, in many ways, serve as role models for the kind of person I want to be. Some of my closest friends are so motivating in the way they live and the choices they make, and since I'm surrounded by the often superficial world of "the industry," it's always so refreshing for me to be able to come home to what's familiar, what's real. existed. These are the people who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. They are the ones who have always shown me respect for who I was, not for what I have accomplished. I feel like I have learned so much from my friends, and I take a lot of my cues directly from these people, who have not only been by my side as pals but also, in many ways, serve as role models for the kind of person I want to be. Some of my closest friends are so motivating in the way they live and the choices they make, and since I'm surrounded by the often superficial world of "the industry," it's always so refreshing for me to be able to come home to what's familiar, what's real.

I see it as my duty to give back whenever I can . . .

Friends are the ones who will always have your back and their perspective on you doesn't change no matter what! They keep it simple, they keep it real and they keep it familiar. To me, that's priceless. They don't look at me just as a famous singer; they look at me as David.

I guess I see it as my duty to give back whenever I can, even if that means finding a minute here or a second there between meetings and appointments to make sure that the people in my world feel as loved and cared for as I always have. I feel that besides one's own sense of self-worth, the most powerful strength you can get is the love and support that someone else is willing to give you. There's nothing more empowering than knowing that someone else believes and has faith in you; especially when that someone is a person you love and respect, or who has always been a part of your life. In a way, it's almost like this type of strength is what makes the world go round, with all of us just trying to help one another out, a chain link of love that lets people shine. I don't think we can overstate how important love is-not romantic love necessarily, but instead true, pure, unconditional love. It's the stuff we're all made of when we're at our best, and the stuff we should all aim to cultivate throughout life.

Something else that always comes to mind when I think about what it takes to stay true is accepting that life isn't always pretty. Everyone knows that the human condition comes with all kinds of situations-the good, the bad and the ugly. Pain and hardship are almost impossible to avoid, right? For me, the best thing you can do when you feel pain or hardship is to use it as a tool for putting things into perspective. I guess because of how fast things have happened to me, people often say, "Oh, wow, it's like you're living a dream!" I understand why someone on the outside of my life might come to that conclusion, and this has been a dream for me; but I am human and I feel happiness and pain just like everyone else. Rather than feeling sorry for ourselves when the chips are down, we should take stock of the things that we actually feel happy and grateful for. If you think about it this way, pain can become like a barometer or a point of reference against which to measure the other aspects of your life that are going well. It's almost like without the darkness, we can't really appreciate the light.

For me, music is a way to communicate. It's a way of letting all that emotion out into the world, so that other people can hopefully relate in some way. I think when people relate to one another it creates this sense of community in the world.

If you always focus on what hasn't worked out the way you wanted, you miss out on seeing all those things that have. If you focus on the pain, you're not looking at the complete picture. Without the struggle, we can't really appreciate the joy when it comes. I could go on talking about pain in songs, but the thing that really drives me as a person and as a singer is the light in life, the high points. I know that the only way you can paint the complete picture of those high points is to also show and feel the low ones; but in the end, for me the joy always beats the pain. If I only ever looked at the bad things in life through my music, it would be such a plain and ugly picture. Whenever anything is too one dimensional, it's kind of boring. I mean, you don't want to look at a canvas that's painted completely gray, do you? Of course not! You want to see colors come alive; you want to see something happen; you want to see something dynamic with depth. You want to see all those beautiful, bright colors, but they will look that much more stunning if they're painted against the darker, dimmer colors that give a sense of contrast. It's everything together that makes the picture come to life. I think the same is true with music. In order to show people a sense of wholeness, I think it's really important to give them a wide range of emotion. In this way, I like to think of the songs I sing as symbolizing a slice of life-real life, with all the beauty and pain that's naturally built in to it.

To me, staying true is about knowing how to define success. The irony about that is that my success as a performer is not really what matters to me the most. It's totally the opposite: I try not to think about the fact that people like me, or enjoy the way that I sing. It's not about how far I've come, or what I've accomplished. It all goes back to the basic idea of sharing: sharing a moment with someone, sharing my pa.s.sion, sharing a feeling that I may have experienced that maybe someone in my audience is going through right now. This is really at the heart of everything I stand for, and it's the most important thing to me in regard to my music. That's why I like to call my singing a gift and not a talent, because a gift is something that pa.s.ses from one hand to the next, as a gesture of goodwill, as an act of compa.s.sion and love. "Talent" implies some degree of unique skill, whereas "gift" takes the simple description one step further and makes that talent something meaningful to share with the rest of the world. Talent mostly serves the person who has it-but a gift, by definition, is something special to give and receive. To me, this is the heart and soul of music.

This is a show in Rockford, IL. I love how calm I look in this one

It's like if you heard a really funny joke, and never told it to anyone. Because when you hear that joke, you want to share it with someone, and it is actually the funniest when you hear someone else laugh at it, or when you get your chance to tell it for yourself. You want that other person to experience the punch line just like you did when you first heard it. It's like that with music, too. I naturally want to pa.s.s on what I felt when I first heard a song because to me that's what makes music so special: It's for everyone. It's ours.

If I had to break it all down to answer the question of how I stay true, it always goes back to the simple things: happiness, giving, loving, and sharing. Those are the things that are important, and everyone has different ways of finding them. You might think that sounds oversimplified, but I believe that when we simplify, we make life that much easier to handle. I think the way my life has unfolded has only helped me to see those simple little things much more clearly. The whole fame and recognition game makes the really important things stand out in a way that shows me how meaningful they truly are. I have a deeper sense of appreciation for the small things in life that maybe I took for granted before all of this happened. I'm able to enjoy life's little treats with a new point of view, one that's largely shaped by grat.i.tude.

I believe the only true measure of success is knowing that at each moment, you're living your life to its fullest. For me success is not measured by any single goal or milestone-but instead, by knowing that each second of life is precious and that no matter how high on the ladder you think you've climbed, there is always room for growth and progress. Once you let yourself believe that you've gotten to the top, you've lost sight of the real goal, which is to keep climbing no matter what. And by climbing, I don't mean trying to outdo yourself with even more accomplishments. Instead, what I mean is that just when we think we have done something well, we should start looking at the other areas of our lives that also need our attention.

This is from one of my recent tours Again, if I take my own life as an example, it's important for me to be able to look at all the aspects of my world-not just music, singing and performing. After all, I am so much more than that. Before I was ever a singer, I was a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a friend-a person. Like everyone in the world, I come with many dimensions and I like to think that life is our chance to explore all of those dimensions and be the best we can in each one. Again, the moment we focus on only part of our existence, we lose the big picture; and the big picture is so much more interesting and complete than any one little thing in it.

Staying true is about knowing how to define success.

Another critical lesson I've learned along the way is how to stick up for myself. Before all of this, I was just grateful to get the chance to sing, at any cost. Now that I've proven to myself that I can sing, and that I'm meant to, I feel a bit more confident to speak my mind when it comes to the kind of music I want to do. Maybe that's just part of growing up, or part of the learning curve that comes with anything. But I can tell you that it's totally empowering to know what you want and to be able to communicate it. I'm not saying that you should always think people are out to get you, but I have definitely learned how important it is to not be naive and to stand up for whatever your beliefs may be, whether it's about music, my personal beliefs or anything in between. Experience has taught me that all relationships, whether personal or professional, have to be about both parties helping one another-equally.

I know now that I can't just blindly accept what people tell me, and that I have to really think everything through and make choices that work for me. I'm not talking about being selfish-I'm talking about being honest with yourself about your need to feel good about whatever it is you are doing at any given time, and with a bit of maturity I've learned to step back and think about what works for me and what doesn't, without feeling bad about upsetting anyone or letting people down. I now realize that it would ultimately be much worse if I let myself down. After all, it is my life, and I should feel good about the decisions being made that will affect it. As I get older, I am clearer about the need to pay close attention to everything that's being asked of me, and all of the expectations that I'm supposed to meet. I think it's really important to set my own limits and create my own sense of expectations, because I'm the one who goes to bed at night and wakes up each morning with myself, so ultimately I'm the one responsible for my own peace of mind. As far as music goes, it's going to be my face on the cover of the alb.u.m-so I better make sure I like how I am being represented. Better yet, I should be directly involved in deciding how to represent myself. This is also a major part of staying true.

the moment we focus on only part of our existence, we lose the big picture It's about learning that sometimes you have to say no, and sometimes you have to be firm, and that it's okay. It's okay to not please everyone all the time. Sometimes you have to build the courage to say, "You know what? I would rather do it this way," or "Actually, I prefer this kind of direction," or "I'm sorry. That's just not who I am or what I want to say." Sometimes you have to be strong enough to simply say, "No, thanks. Not this time." I remember when it used to be really hard for me to do this, when I was afraid of letting anyone down. I just wanted to make people happy. But I guess life gradually teaches us the lessons that we're meant to learn, and in time, we figure out what we need in order to live happier. The funny thing about it is that people tend to show you more respect when you do stick up for yourself and speak your mind. They take you more seriously and begin to understand that your point of view matters and will ultimately create a better outcome.

One of the other lessons I have learned is that sometimes you have to pick your battles and that there's no use complaining about every little thing that comes up. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, so the best we can do is accept the fact that things take time and effort, and hopefully the end result is something that you can live with or better yet, be proud of. Music, like life, is a learning process. First you have to learn the melody; then you start memorizing the words, soon you are making the song your own, and before you know it, you're singing with pure, true emotion. But it doesn't happen overnight, and it takes all kinds of practice before you can actually feel good about yourself. I think the trick is to trust the process and enjoy the ride, not thinking about what the end result will be, but instead savoring the beauty of every little part along the way.

I have learned so much about myself over the years-good and bad. I've realized that the more I know about myself, the more I can live the rest of my life in a way that makes sense. Knowing myself well allows me to move forward with my strengths and weaknesses in check; it lets me get closer to what my ultimate goals really are. And beyond goals, knowing myself keeps me rooted in my truth. I understand now that even though your essence doesn't change, the things you go through as a person do change. So I think the key in life is to always be able to hold on to your essence no matter what happens.

In short, staying true is about staying grounded, and staying grounded is about never losing sight of who you really are.

CHAPTER 11.

DREAMING ON.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

-ALBERT SCHWEITZER.

The future can be a scary thing, because it's something that's always left open for anything to happen. It's a total mystery. But at the same time, it's so exciting. Each decision we the same time, it's so exciting. Each decision we make can alter how our future will turn out, so how we end up in the future is really our decision. We never know what will be thrown at us, but it's up to each of us as to how we deal with whatever does come. No one else can decide that for us. While I might be wondering about what will happen down the road for me, and get nervous about it every now and then, I am also really hopeful for it because I know there will be so many windows of opportunity that can really change my life if I choose to take hold of them and not be afraid to go for it.

The proof is in the pudding: look at my smile!

I think the word "success" is another thing that has been distorted by people. They say that you can't be happy and successful until the world knows who you are, or you no longer have to work hard for things. I really think that you become successful when you are on a path that you feel you are progressing on, and feel like you are accomplishing things that are worthwhile each day. Success to me is when you've found happiness. If you've reached "success" but still aren't happy, then have you really reached the point of true success? It doesn't make sense to me if you have one but not the other, because I think they go hand in hand. We should strive to succeed in finding happiness. Or maybe success means that you've worked hard, accomplished your goals, enjoy what you do, and have been satisfied with what you've done in your life. Shouldn't that make you happy? Shouldn't that make you happy?

I don't want to express myself creatively just for the sake of rubbing it in anyone's face, or having flashy things that get the most people's attention. I just want to be able to do well at what I love and feel good about, and to be respected for that.

I've been asked, "What will it take for me to always be happy?" I know how I would answer it: I would turn the question around and say that you should be asking yourself, "What can I do to make others happy?" I think that is the main point I want to get across to people reading this book. To me, the secret to happiness is that it isn't all about YOU it isn't all about YOU. I am happy, but I try not to worry too much about things I want. If I just think about what I want, the type of feelings I get are not as fulfilling as the ones that come up when I am thinking about what I can do to help others feel happy. That way the flow isn't interrupted, it keeps going through me and on to other people. When I just think of myself, it stops with me and never seems to completely satisfy that inner desire to feel completely happy. That, to me, is that true key to happiness.

The other question I get a lot is, "Does music make me the happiest?" I would have to say that I have received a lot of joy and happiness from what I've been able to experience through music; it definitely means a lot to me. But happiness and music don't always go perfectly hand in hand. There are definitely times where music can cause a lot of pain, especially when you're already having a difficult time. Music is relatable, that's where the power is. I guess that's why spiritual music affects people the way it does. It's familiar and really draws us in, even though we may not understand exactly why.

So, looking forward, this takes me to another important question, which is, what are my dreams what are my dreams? I definitely have some that are music related and others that are not. I definitely have a dream of one day singing at the Olympics, an event that to me represents everything that I love about life in general: I like how it can bring millions or even possibly billions of people all over the world together. I love when people can share something like that in common and feel the joy that comes from such unity and oneness. I remember my first-ever concert was the closing ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, which featured performances from artists such as *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, Harry Connick Jr., and Sting. The levels of joy and celebration in the air were amazing. These types of unique occasions are so loaded already, and I love how music has the power to accentuate the experience with that much more spirit.

And as far as music goes, I look forward to being a part of it, whether it be as a writer, as a performer, or even as a listener. I really love songs that are about moving forward, about the power of progress and the ability to overcome; songs that really give people an idea, whether it's a better understanding of something in their lives, or a better understanding of me as a person. I just love the idea of sharing ideas through music, and I'm especially drawn to songs that have purpose, an angle. For me, the best songs are about getting through chal lenges: your basic "triumph of the human spirit" type of stuff, which is a common theme in music (and in life) that inspires me tremendously. Incredible music has been written about broken hearts or lost love, but it's so refreshing when you hear a song that has real depth of character.

I know I'm expected to sing and write songs about romance-but I also know that I like to sing songs that go beyond romance and that have more universal messages. Of course, we all want to be able to relate to the songs that we hear, but I think it's neat when those same songs are unique enough to stand on their own as different and distinct from what you might expect. Moving forward in my own musical development, this is the standard I'd like to set for myself.

I think for me, the bottom line is that I want to sing songs that make you feel good, songs that remind you about your right to choose happiness and finding the will to do so. I'm attracted to music that gets you thinking, that gets your mind moving in a more positive direction, music that stirs the soul somehow. I really do see each song as an empty canvas, as a moment of opportunity. With that in mind, my goal is to always paint a complete picture with my music, a picture that glows with color and dimension. I'm looking for movement in the songs that I sing, so that you actually go through something when you hear it, kind of like a life experience.

We never know what will be thrown at us, but it's up to each of us as to how we deal with whatever does come.

I'm sure that people have certain expectations of me, some because of the types of songs I performed when I was on American Idol American Idol; but I also know that I have my own expectations which may be different from what people have heard me perform in the past. To me, that means that my music should grow and change as I do, as part of a creative evolution that knows no limits. I want people to get a sense of what's going on in my mind, but even more than that, I want them to know what my emotions look like. Thoughts are one thing-but as I see it, the true beauty of human communication lies in the power of emotions. I feel that it's my job as an artist and a singer to communicate my perceptions through all the different colors of what I'm really like inside. So right now for me, music is the vehicle.

People are not born amazing singers. When I was six years old, I wasn't the best singer but I just may have been the most pa.s.sionate! I loved it so much. When you have a pa.s.sion for something and you work hard at it, that's when you start growing. That's when you start strengthening yourself as an artist.

Today, I love being busy. Sure, it can get stressful, but when you finish a task on your to-do list, it's always so gratifying. You think to yourself, "Man, I worked hard for this, and now I can say I did it." I have also learned that deadlines are excellent tools for me. The pressure gives me more of an appreciation for what I'm doing and forces me to be effective and stay focused.

But I don't feel that ultimate happiness can be achieved by finishing something. I like to believe that every time a milestone is reached, it's an open door for the next one to be tackled. I see my life as a progression of personal accomplishments that all tie together to show the truth. I love it when music makes a person say, "I get what that singer is feeling." When that comes through, I feel like I've done my job. And it has to do with several elements, a fine balance of things: the melodic flow of the song, its structure, its lyrics and, of course, the sentiment of the song. When all of these things come together to create a sense of connectivity between my audience and myself, I feel totally complete. Now that I have gotten to this level, I know it's my duty to work even harder to get to the next one, whatever that may be.

I think that the only way to be truly happy and satisfied with your life is to keep working and improving, because we are never perfect, and the only thing that really makes us feel accomplished in our lives is to keep growing and to progress. I think that's the best feeling. As for myself, I know there is still so much I need to learn.

Looking toward the future, I know I can't kid myself about my personal challenges. For example, one of my goals is to continue learning as much as I possibly can about songwriting. Though it's one of the scariest things for me, it's necessary for my shaping as an artist. Not to mention that without songwriters there would be no songs to sing! As a performer of songs, I feel I should understand the process from the beginning-to partic.i.p.ate partic.i.p.ate in the process. Songwriting is the new dimension for me, the next level. I've been able to feel good about songs I've been a part of writing in the past, whether on my own or ones I've been able to write with other great songwriters, but I just feel I have so much farther to go. I can really appreciate the idea that being able to create something is incredibly satisfying. You can look at it and say, "Wow, this is something I helped create. It came to life. It's from my soul." in the process. Songwriting is the new dimension for me, the next level. I've been able to feel good about songs I've been a part of writing in the past, whether on my own or ones I've been able to write with other great songwriters, but I just feel I have so much farther to go. I can really appreciate the idea that being able to create something is incredibly satisfying. You can look at it and say, "Wow, this is something I helped create. It came to life. It's from my soul."

Even though I am not wholly comfortable with this (yet), to get it, I'm going to do what I have always done in my relationship with music: I'm going to listen and learn listen and learn. I have been listening practically since birth; and the learning has always come naturally as I was exposed to the musical library that basically has been such a big part of my life. The songs have became a part of me, so now I hope that I will be able to evolve into understanding it so well that I can also partic.i.p.ate in its creation.

I've done it before so I feel I have the potential, so now I just need to improve my skill set-and that comes with experience, exposure and education. The old me would have probably been completely freaked out by the idea of having to master songwriting, which is totally different from just writing a song. Now I see it as a new horizon for me-I see it as potential growth. I'm being given the chance to take my love for music further, and to begin thinking about how I can define myself as an artist. What mark do I want to leave? What is my message? What do I stand for? What is my sound? What mark do I want to leave? What is my message? What do I stand for? What is my sound? These are huge questions, and the answers will color and shape my future as a singer, writer and interpreter. These are huge questions, and the answers will color and shape my future as a singer, writer and interpreter.

I've learned that cowriting is a great way to get the creative juices cooking. As you throw ideas around with someone, you begin to tune into the different frequencies that are open to you, and each person seems to have their own set of frequencies, so it's always a unique experience to write with different combinations of writers. Sometimes, there is just one other person, and sometimes we have four or five people. It may sound like a lot, and occasionally there can be conflicts of opinion, but other times, something just clicks and things come out better or in a completely different direction than you could have ever expected. You forget about judging yourself because you're involved in a musical discussion with someone else in the room. Writing with other people is great because anything anything collaborative is great; it is multidimensional, rich and textured. I've been spending the past few months doing a lot of writing with different types of writers and producer-some in Hollywood, New York, and Nashville, and each one with a different angle on music and direction. So I'm never sure exactly what to expect. It's been an amazing experience so far, and I'm very happy with the type of music we've been able to come up with. It is very inspiring! When you're in a room with a gifted songwriter, you stop floundering in self-doubt-instead, you step up and perform because you are charged by their energy. collaborative is great; it is multidimensional, rich and textured. I've been spending the past few months doing a lot of writing with different types of writers and producer-some in Hollywood, New York, and Nashville, and each one with a different angle on music and direction. So I'm never sure exactly what to expect. It's been an amazing experience so far, and I'm very happy with the type of music we've been able to come up with. It is very inspiring! When you're in a room with a gifted songwriter, you stop floundering in self-doubt-instead, you step up and perform because you are charged by their energy. It really is contagious It really is contagious. You just have to make yourself open to it.

Another personal goal is to learn how to play guitar better so I can use it both for writing as well as actually accompany myself when I perform. As a singer, your voice is your instrument, and even though I play some piano, I'm approaching guitar playing with the mind-set that even though I already know how to play something, I want to also have another palette to draw from musically. I can kind of compare it to the idea of learning a new language, just like I speak a little piano and I hope to be able to speak guitar soon.

And speaking of new languages, another cool way to expand my musical vocabulary is to actually sing in different languages. After all, I learned my first few words in Spanish as a kid and enjoyed singing songs from a French musical in a c.o.c.kney accent when I was six; and both my parents speak fluent Spanish so I've always been exposed to that. In fact, on my Christmas alb.u.m that came out in late 2009, I was able to sing in four different languages: English, Spanish, French and Latin. I know English and a fair amount of Spanish, but playing with words in French and Latin was a totally different challenge. It felt so good to be able to reach out to people all over the world, and to dive into those cultures momentarily through their languages. The world is so large yet so small.

TOP 5 ARTISTS Natalie Cole Natalie Cole because she has this unique quality to her voice that's amazingly soothing and smooth. Maybe I love her because it is a voice that I have always been able to relate to and crosses a wide range of styles. When my aunt Char gave me her greatest hits CD one Christmas, I was obsessed and listened to it over and over. I could feel her feelings in the songs. because she has this unique quality to her voice that's amazingly soothing and smooth. Maybe I love her because it is a voice that I have always been able to relate to and crosses a wide range of styles. When my aunt Char gave me her greatest hits CD one Christmas, I was obsessed and listened to it over and over. I could feel her feelings in the songs. Eva Ca.s.sidy Eva Ca.s.sidy because I don't think there is anyone who I've ever heard sing with more sensitivity and emotion than she does. You can feel her heart when she sings. The way I sang "Imagine" was very much inspired by the way she sings. I also included her version of "Fields of Gold" during my 2009 Winter Tour, which although it was written by Sting, it is her version that is magical to me, ever since I first heard it during the 2002 Winter Olympics. because I don't think there is anyone who I've ever heard sing with more sensitivity and emotion than she does. You can feel her heart when she sings. The way I sang "Imagine" was very much inspired by the way she sings. I also included her version of "Fields of Gold" during my 2009 Winter Tour, which although it was written by Sting, it is her version that is magical to me, ever since I first heard it during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Michael Jackson Michael Jackson because his songs are so catchy and he was such a gifted performer. It was always a show, and always so much fun to watch. He was truly THE greatest entertainer! There's a reason why everyone loved him and why he influenced so many people. because his songs are so catchy and he was such a gifted performer. It was always a show, and always so much fun to watch. He was truly THE greatest entertainer! There's a reason why everyone loved him and why he influenced so many people. Natasha Beddingfield Natasha Beddingfield because she dares to be herself. She's not afraid to show her personality in her songs. She has some SERIOUS chops! because she dares to be herself. She's not afraid to show her personality in her songs. She has some SERIOUS chops! Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder because you can feel his happiness when he sings, and you can see in his expressions how much he truly enjoys it. The runs and riffs that he does are always so clean that it always makes me think, Man, I want to sing like that. I want to enjoy singing the way he does. because you can feel his happiness when he sings, and you can see in his expressions how much he truly enjoys it. The runs and riffs that he does are always so clean that it always makes me think, Man, I want to sing like that. I want to enjoy singing the way he does.

As it is, getting this far along on my path has already helped me in so many ways. I am freer, less inhibited, less afraid, more comfortable. I have more energy as a person, so my performances are more energetic. I've learned to let loose a bit and have more fun onstage. I never imagined that I could feel so relaxed in front of so many people, and now that I perform all the time, I realize how far I have come in terms of conquering my shyness. I have become more comfortable as a communicator. I am a little better at looking at and listening to footage of myself and I'm way more relaxed in front of cameras. I even agreed to try out a little acting by being myself on iCarly iCarly and and Hannah Montana Hannah Montana! That was something I never imagined was going to be in my cards. But the universe works in mysterious ways, and our job is to trust it no matter the crazy and unforeseeable twists and turns.