David Archuleta - Archey Report - Toronto, Canada - 07/26/08
Image: David Archuleta
(Here's the Archey Report from Helen in Toronto, Canada! She was one of our cellcasters and she was Cookified! LOL -- Go Helen! Thanks for cheering for Cook when the Archies around you didn't want to.)
This was my first concert ever and I was so stoked to go that I only slept 2 hours the night before. I woke up at 4 and got ready to hop on the bus to Toronto with my friend (anniie) at 6:30. We arrived at around 8:45 and walked around Toronto a little loss. Then we finally found out which subway and streetcars to take and arrived at the ACC around 10:30ish when I called Rickey. We didn’t know if we were in the right spot at first but once we saw the sea of white clothing we figured this had to be the right spot. They were all waiting by the railings by the underground parking which made no sense since the idols would never be able to meet them are. Eventually we all moved inside the building where they were beginning to put up barricades.
http://www.youtube.com/v/sCq255ESeLY&hl=en&fs=1
Let me say, that was the longest 5 hours of my life standing in the same spot doing nothing. Security men kept walking past and the crowd only got bigger. At random times there would be “WE LOVE MICHAEL JOHNS!” scream and “ARCHIE-ARCHIE-ARCHIE” or “ARCH-U-LET-A” chanting. Ray walked past a few times but no Archie L At around 3:30 Ramiele comes running through telling us that she has to start at the other end. Next was David Cook who walked past and pointed at my sign and smiled. (It said “We Love David Archuleta”) Then we see some dreads moving slowly down the line and when he got to us the girls behind me were so pushy I was violated by their poster in so many ways I’d rather not speak of it. He was so nice to everyone making sure he signed everything! Then Kristy came out and none of the idols were taking pictures because they said they were all signing the first round and would take pictures on their way back, well none except Jason. Then Brooke came out and had a conversation with like everyone! Ramiele and David made their way back to us and Carly made an appearance. Brooke walked past and my “We Love Brooke White” poster fell and she walked past and didn’t see it. Instead she saw that my “We Love David Archuleta” poster had fallen and picked it up for me. She’s such a sweetheart! Biggest disappointment for me, Archie never came out I seriously wanted to cry. So of course the place goes wild since the two most adored idols (according to posters, t-shirts and screaming) never came out. Everyone was so mad.
Then we saw Carly pop her head out numerous times from a window of the next floor and wave at us and then Cook came and Chikezie! Of course everyone screamed yet again and began the “We want Michael” and “Arch-ulet-a” chants. Then bam! Michael Johns comes to window waves but never comes down to sign autographs. Some people notice that Syesha is in the window beside him and then finally, we see a wave and Archie comes to the window!!!! He smiled and just kept waving but never came down. But at least I got to see him.
Then the concert, finally yay! By this time my feet were soar and I could barely walk straight. 2 hours of sleep and 7 hours of waiting for Archie with no food or water. I got to my seat (Right Floor Row 15) and I had an amazing view! The poptarts people came out to get the crowd pumped and picked on the poor old guy and made him dance. After they were done all of their “OH-YEAH”’s and “PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR” Chikezie finally started. He was a lot better than I had anticipated. I don’t know what happened but I switched into Chikezie fangirl mode and was screaming “I love you Chikezie” the whole time. He really got the crowd going with his dancing too. Good job Chikezie!
Then Ramiele came on the stage and all I was thinking was “Manesha stikes again?” Ramiele had mic problems, so they got her a new one, and that didn’t work either. I enjoyed her set, wasn’t my favourite but it was still good. There were a lot of Ramiele fans there (I stood beside some when we were waiting for the idols and they would not shut up! All I could hear was “We want to have your babies –something in French- We love Ramiele”. Really uncomfortable) Anyways……. Ramiele didn’t have the crowd like Chikezie and her voice sounded really strained but she did awesome!
Then, Papa Johns!!! He was outstanding! Had the loudest cheers up until then by far! His vocals were awesome and I loved his entire set! What can I say, it’s Michael Johns! I was so surprised that I was so close to them when they walked to the end of the stage. If I could use my camcorder I would have had the most awesome footage!
Kristy Lee Cook, another shocker. She blew me away! Good move on changing the second song by the way. I honestly thought that she was going to sing “God Bless Canada” lol. Then she mentioned how they wanted to go to Niagara Falls so bad which made me scream at the tope of my lungs since that’s where I live! She through 2 t-shirts but none reached where I was. Her set was the best I’ve ever seen her sing and boy does she know how to work the crowd.
Then the wonderful Carly comes rising from the stage and the crowd goes nuts for Carly. I was taking pictures like crazy that my memory card was about full when the concert was over. All I could think about was “Rickey must be having a great time right now.” Lol, I really wanted to watch Rickey’s Show, at least I can hear the audio from it.
In the words of Carly “the Gorgeous Brooke” had made her entrance on the piano singing let it be. One of my favourites of the night, almost had me in tears thinking back to when she sang it on the show. Love Her! I must have annoyed the people behind me cause I kept holding my poster up, lol. Then she got the crowd screaming when she mentioned her husband was born in Toronto and raised in Halifax (which she had told us earlier when we met her.) I love Brooke! She was great!
Intermission time, I ran out of there as fast I could so I could buy a poster and omg, it was like a madhouse. I finally got to the counter after squeezing through the dozens of people and ran back to find out that I missed the guitar hero commercial and Jason’s first song. But we fantastic from what I saw and had a lot of fans. Not as many dreadheads from the looks of it as other cities but he definitely had a fanclub there.
Syesha, Luvesha. As much I say I don’t like her, she was amazing. Girl has vocals! She kept saying how she liked all of the posters for her…… there were 2. But she was so good from what I can remember, the whole time I was just thinking about David Archuleta.
When he came up from the stage I don’t think I have ever screamed so loud in my life! I was using my camcorder to record him and I got away with Angels but security found me and told me to delete everything I had on it or I would have to leave. So I had to delete Apologize cause he was watching me the whole time and I misses most of Stand By Me because of that. I lied and said I had no other tour videos so he and she (another one came over) left and I whipped out my camera and use the video on that (not as clear and no zoom) to get Beautiful Girls and When You Say You Love Me.) I love David Archuleta! He was sooooo good. I had the part when he was singing what I thought was a part of “with you” but others say he was singing “Oh Canada” lol. Loudest screams for Archie ever! 90% of the fans there were for him and I was surrounded by all Archies.
Image: Brooke White
When Cook came on I called Rickey but I got a busy signal. Then he called me and I guess it worked fine. He was awesome and I cheered for him the whole time because no one around me was. He through a few guitar pics into the audience and his dedication speech to his brother was like the sweetest thing! I had to keep waving my phone around because the people had their eye on my after they caught me and well I pretended it was a lighter/glowstick and just kept waving it around. Lmfao. I hope you guys enjoyed it! I loved please don’t stop the music but never got it on camera L David Archuleta jumping up and down was the cutest thing ever!!! And this time Brooke saw my poster! She saw it and immediately had the biggest smile on her face! Yay!
So my attempt to catch the bus, got on the wrong subway bus and went in a big circle. Just missed the streetcar and had to get on another one 10 minutes later full of crossdressers in tight leather clothes. I missed the bus by 6 minutes and it was the last bus until 3 am. Luckily there was greyhound leaving at 11:15 but when I got to the ticket office it was 11:17. That bus was so full they were delayed until they got another bus for the second batch. Thank god for that!! I was so happy to get home and lay down. My legs were so tired from running at 11 through Toronto and standing from 9am-7pm. Overall great day minus never meeting Archie.
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