GMANews.

tv -- Chika Minute (Manila, PH) -- 5/15/09

Interviewer: Pia Guanio

Pia [speaking Tagalog]: We're here right now at Shangri-La Hotel, and we have with
us none other than David Cook and David Archuleta of American Idol season seven.
For David A., as promised, I have some mangoes here for you.

Archuleta: Hey, yay! [laughs]

Cook: Yeahhh [laughs]

Pia: And for David C., since you said you wanted to try them [gets a bowl and holds
it out to David]...

Cook: I did, yeah.

Pia: ...this is balut.

Cook: Yeah

Pia: And I'm just gonna put it right here. [sets it down next to her]

[Cook laughs]

Pia: When you're good and ready...

Cook: Right, right

Pia: ...you can try it for yourself.

Cook: There you go.

Pia: Anyway, good evening to you guys.

Archuleta: Ah, good evening

Pia: And uh, welcome to Bente-kwatro Oras. Um, aside from the, the food...

Cook: Yeah

Pia: ...how are you guys liking The Philippines so far?

Cook: Um...

Archuleta: It's great!

Cook: Yeah, yeah

[Archuleta laughs]
Archuleta: I mean, it's great!

Cook: I think uh...I, I think for me, it's been um...it's been an experience, you know?
To d-- to...to come off of Idol, and then go on the Idol tour, and now we're doin' a, a
college tour back home. To take a break from that and come halfway around the
world, uh, to a beautiful country like The Philippines and, and be greeted the way
we have, uh...it, it's been an absolute blast.

Pia: Mm-hmm

Cook: Yeah

Pia: Were you shocked at all by the reception you got-- you got?

Archuleta: Yeah. I mean, it's, it's like-- you know, wherever you go, it's like...

[Pia laughs]

Archuleta: ...it's like the same response. Cuz usually it's like, you know, wherever
there's like, a group of fans who know where-- that you're going to arrive
there...they, they um, get excited. But here, it's like, just you, you're in a casual
setting, and people...recognize you and get excited and stuff. It's really interesting.

Pia: Well, The Philippines is...really big on American Idol, so...

Archuleta: Yeah

[Cook nods]

Pia: ...thus the reception. But uh, I was uh, I was just a bit concerned, because you
guys have been giving back to back interviews and...and doing back to back
guestings.

Cook: Mm-hmm

Pia: How do you guys take care of your voice? [To Cook] For you, David, do you
have -- uh, David C. --

Cook: Yeah. Uh...

Pia: Do you have any rituals, or...?

Cook: For me I just uh, I, I really had to...kinda take stock of the existing things that
I was doing before Idol. You know, I uh...I, I, I used to drink a ton of soda.

Pia: Mm-hmm

Cook: And so I've had to really cut back on, like, Coke and stuff like that. And, and,
and switch to, like, tea and coffee and water and...um...which has helped a lot. And
then uh, past that, it's just, it's just a matter of, like, takin' the time before a show to
warm up, and...um...yeah. I don't know. Past that, I mean it's, it's been go go go.
I've never, I've never been so strained vocally before. But I imagine if I weren't
takin' care of myself, this-- this train would have derailed a long time ago. [laughs]
So...

Pia: I know, I know David, that uh-- David A.-- that you had, uh, you suffered from
partial vocal...loss at some point.

Archuleta: Oh yeah. Yeah.

Pia: How did that happen?

Archuleta: Um, you know...it was, it was pretty interesting. I just...got really sick
one time, and...it...I was just sick for a few months. I'd never gotten better. [laughs]
And uh...um...I was singing, and...uh... [pauses] like, when I'd sing...I could barely
get through one song.

Pia: Uh-huh

Archuleta: And...it was just like: What's...goin' on here? [laughs] And it kept getting
worse and worse and worse. And I'm like: I don't know what's going on here. So we
went to the doctor, and...they put the scope and...they said: "Oh, yep. Vocal cord
paralysis." And I'm like: What's that? [laughs] What is that? You know?

Pia: And what did he tell you to do?

Archuleta: Um, well, he said "Well, you can either have surgery...which is risky. Or
you could just do voice therapy and see if that works." I'm like: [takes a deep
breath] Um, OK. What...w-- what? I was just really, like, shocked. And just...I was
like: What does this mean for singing? I mean, this is-- I love singing. So...

Pia: Uh-huh

Archuleta: ...I don't get what a...paralyzed vocal cord's gonna...

Pia: But you're--

Archuleta: ...affect-- how that's gonna affect it. But, you know...um af-- you know,
just kinda like, things kinda slowed down for a couple years after that. And ya'
know, I was just...goin'-- went back to school and was just doing normal things.
And...had a summer job when American Idol auditions came up, and...then those
happened. And um...just, I wasn't really expecting anything to-- really to happen. I
was just like...

Pia: Uh-huh
Archuleta: ..."OK, well I'll go audition I guess." And...then everything else happened.
[laughs] So...it was, it was really amazing. Just to see--

Pia: And from the way your career's been going....I, I, I think it's safe to say that
you're totally done with that phase of your life now. [laughs]

Archuleta: Yeah, I mean-- well, yeah.

Pia: Good for you.

Archuleta: I mean, it's just something-- it's really amazing to see that, you know, if--
despite the things that happen to you, and you know, the challenges that come up,
you...if you really...um, have a passion and desire for something, that you can
manage to work things out, and really accom-- you-- accomplish those things.

Pia: Mm-hmm. And with all your commitments...

Cook: Mm-hmm

Pia: ...and all your...gigs...and shows...do you guys still have time to go on dates at
all?

[Cook laughs]

Pia: Nobody's even mentioned this.

[Archuleta laughs]

Cook [to Archuleta]: I'll let you go first.

Archuleta: Me first?

Cook: Yeah, yeah [laughs]

Archuleta: Well I-- my life's not really exciting in that...um...area. But um...I mean,
when...when we're home...I don't know. I...

[Pia laughs]

Archuleta: ...I mean, even-- the last date I even went on was...quite awhile ago. But
you know, it's fun. Maybe I should go on one when I go back home.

[Pia laughs]

Archuleta: But I don't, I don't really go on, like, serious dates that are, like, oooooh
intense or anything.

[Cook laughs]
Archuleta: It's just more like a fun-- it's a fun-- fun date getting to know the person.
It's not like: "Oh I hope..." you know. I-- it's not like a...I don't know.

Pia: Yeah, and f--

Archuleta: It's really casual, light, fun...fun stuff. I like to have fun on dates. So

Pia: And for you, David Cook?

Cook: Uh...I am uh...I'm married to my job. So, dating uh...dating's-- dating seems...

Archuleta: Yeah yeah yeah [laughs]

Cook: ...uh...

Archuleta: Married to the music

Pia: Backburner [laughs]

Cook: ...uh, impossible. Yeah. I, I think um...I, I, I think, you know, maybe if things
ever settled down, maybe I'd like to. But right now, uh... [pauses] uh, right now I'm
enjoyin' playin' music and traveling, so...

Pia: They're just gonna have to wait. [laughs]

Cook: Uh, yeah

Archuleta: Yeah, it's...

Cook: yeah, absolutely

Archuleta: ...hard to focus on that when it's, like, you know, that's a pretty big
commitment.

Pia: Mm-hmm

Archuleta: And you have, like, so many other commitments that you're...

Pia: Yeah

Archuleta: ...you're focused on right now...

Cook: Mm-hmm

Archuleta: ...and it's just a lot-- it's just not the right timing.

Cook: Yeah

Pia: Everyone's so glued on American Idol season eight right now.

Cook: Yeah
Pia: Well...since uh...the first season, actually. And um...they wanted to know...um,
how does it feel to be...before the AI judges?

[Cook does something akin to scoffing, then laughs]

Pia: Simon Cowell, for instance. [laughs]

Cook: Um...I... [pauses] I could think of a lotta things-- a lot of terrible, bad things
that I would rather do...

[Pia and Archuleta laugh]

Cook: ...than uh, than sing in front of the judges...uh, like that again. I--ya' know, I
have to say, it was, it was one of the most uh...gratifying and rewarding
experiences I've ever been a part of. But at the same time, um...

Archuleta: Yeah

Cook: ...it was... [pauses] uh, I mean, all the stress, all-- like that pressure cooker
situation that, that y-- like, the viewers see? That's exactly what's goin' on.

Archuleta [laughing]: Yeah

Cook: Cuz you walk out on the stage, and it's just like: "God, I hope I don't forget the
words." "God, I hope I don't fall all over myself." And uh...you know, to, to have to
do that every week. I, I just remember the finale, like --[to Archuleta] and I think I
told you this-- I was like: "I don't even care who wins or loses..."

Archuleta [laughing]: Yeah, yeah

Cook: "...I just...I just wanna go to bed..."

[Archuleta laughs]

Cook: "...for like, a week, ya know?" Um...

Pia: I just wanna get outta here.

Archuleta: Yeah

Cook: So it's, it's...

Archuleta [laughing]: Yeah, and just get it done with.

Cook: ...it's, it's, it's...stressful...would be the best word I could use to describe it.

Pia [to Archuleta]: How 'bout you?

Archuleta: Um...well...if it was-- like, when we went back to sing on the show, like,
after, you know, we were done and...you know, just, like, singing as an artist and
stuff, like, "welcome back David!" a few weeks ago...that was a lot more nerve-
wracking for me. Because it's like: I wasn't prepared to, like, see the judges there
on-- in that table and...have all those memories flood, flood back into my mind. I
was like: "Ohhh my gosh."

[Pia laughs]

Archuleta: "This is where I got judged every week by, like, so many people."

[Cook laughs]

Archuleta: And those...judges... [laughs] they're just...they were just really--it's just
weird, you know? Getting...you know, doin' somethin' that's...you love to do,
and...so much fun, and then get judged and critiqued...

Pia: Mm-hmm

Archuleta: ...after...each performance you do. It's, it's really scary. So I couldn't get
that out of my mind. and I was so...scared. I mean, I had been scared on stage for
a long time, but I, I just...really felt it the-- in front of those judges. It just...to see
their faces. It's just like [pauses]: I don't know what they're thinking. It's...scary.

Pia: Well--

Archuleta: Especially Simon. Because his...expression never really changes.

[Cook laughs]

Archuleta: Whether it's good or bad.

Pia: Well I think this is proof of what, uh, strong stuff you guys are made of.

Cook: Mmm

Pia: Because you just...you not only went through the whole...experience, but
you...totally wowed everyone...

Cook: Oh...

Archuleta: Oh, thank you.

Pia: ...doing it, too.

Cook: Yeah, thanks.

Pia: Well it-- it's, it has, it's been great talking to you guys...

Cook: Yeah

Archuleta: Good talking to you too.

Pia: ...for the second time around.

Archuleta: Yeah, yeah

[Cook and Archuleta laugh]

Pia: And um...you wanna invite the uh, viewers out there to come watch your show
tomorrow?

Cook: Yeah

Archuleta: Yeah, yeah, yeah

Pia: OK

Cook: Uh, we'll look...where are we lookin'? [points to camera] right here?

Archuleta [moving his head all around: Uhhh, uhhh

Pia [pointing to camera]: Over there.

Cook [looking into a camera]: Everybody make sure you come out-- [moves to a
different camera] right here. We're gonna go here instead. [points at camera]

Pia: That one. Yeah

Cook: Make sure everybody comes out and sees us tomorrow night at uh...the Mall
of Asia open grounds. Mr. Archuleta and myself will be perfomrin'.

[Archuleta gives a thumbs up]

Cook: Makin' a ton of noise, hopefully havin' a lot of fun.

Archuleta: Oh, it'll be great.

Cook: Um, maybe we can talk him in to dancin' [points to Archuleta, then waves his
hands as if to say "wishy washy"] but I don't know.

Archuleta: Oh, I don't know if you wanna say that. But I mean--

[Cook pats Archuleta on the back and laughs. Pia laughs, then Archuleta laughs]

Cook: Hope to see you guys there tomorrow night.

Pia: Thank you very much. David Cook...

Cook: Thank you

Pia: ...David Archuleta. Two Davids...

Archuleta: Oh, thank you.

Pia: ...and good luck on your show tomorrow.

Archuleta: Thank you

Pia: Don't you wanna practice your Tagalog?

Archuleta: Uh...yeah. Well, I mean...

Pia: Salamat

Archuleta: Yeah! Of course.

[Cook and Pia laugh]

Archuleta: Yeah, that's...I mean I--

Cook [raising fist in triumph]: I know that.

Archuleta: I need to find a greater way of saying that, because... [pauses]

[Pia laughs]

Archuleta: ...I mean, it's like...I feel like there's so much...more thanks to give to
everybody here.

Pia [laughing]: Ok, I get it.

Archuleta: But...

Pia: OK, and don't forget your goodies.

Cook: I'm on it. Yeah.

Archuleta: Oh yeah! Yeah, yeah.

Pia: Good luck on your show tomorrow night.

Archuleta: Thank you very much.

Pia: It's been a pleasure you guys.

Archuleta: Hope to see you there!

Cook: Salamat.

Pia: Yeahhh

[Archuleta laughs]
Pia [speaking Tagalog]: And thank you very much. This is Chika Minute for today,
thank you very much. Have a great weekend everyone. I am Pia Guanio, and this is
Chika Minute. [addressing reporter in the studio] Mike.

END OF INTERVIEW