It sounds like moms have a “Crush” on David Archuleta.
The “American Idol” runner-up’s first single, “Crush,” bowed at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 on Thursday — a spot higher than the debut of “Idol” season seven winner David Cook’s “The Time Of My Life” in June — and in fact, the song was the biggest chart debut in 18 months, according to Billboard.
So who’s helping the 17-year-old singer make such a splash?
[ Backstage With ‘Idol’ Runner-Up David Archuleta - Play it Now ]
“Moms [are] saying, ‘I love your song!’” David revealed to Access Hollywood‘s Billy Bush in an interview for “The Billy Bush Show.”
“I really was not expecting the older audience to be able to relate to it, because I was like, ‘Oh, is ‘Crush’ too immature?’ but I think the way the song talks about a crush, it’s in a mature way that all ages are able to relate to,” he told Billy.
Archuleta’s own mom has been at the family home in Utah with his four siblings since his “Idol” success, but his dad, Jeff Archuleta, has put his business on hold while he joins David on the “American Idols Live!” tour.
[ All Access: David Archuleta - American Idol - Music ]
“I still need a guardian with me,” David, a minor, explained.
Jeff came under fire from the press for reportedly being too watchful during the “Idol” season, when he was reportedly banned from rehearsals — a story that his son debunked.
“He couldn’t really be thrown out since I needed a guardian!” David said, laughing.
“There wasn’t one story that actually came out to the press that was true,” Jeff told Billy. “We weren’t allowed to say anything while we were on the show — no one on the show or their families was allowed to interact with the press at all. And what we learned early on was that tabloids could basically say whatever, because they knew we couldn’t say anything.”
Though controversies may have affected other contestants, David kept his mind on the music.
“You really just have to look on the bright side,” he said. “People are constantly asking you about press stuff — I just tried to do my best every week.”
And though his best has certainly been good enough for the mom contingent of his “Arch Angels” fans, he says it’s his own parents who deserve some of the credit.
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