Archuleta Releases the Music Video for His “Everybody Hurts” Cover

He may have recently started his two-year Mormon mission… But David Archuleta’s presence will still be felt in the music world.

The 21-year-old Honduran/Spanish-American singer has released the music video for the next single from his just released BEGIN. album, a cover of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts.”

David Archuleta

Archuleta croons his heart out while covering the classic song, which was originally released by R.E.M. in 1992. In the clip, the American Idol runner-up can be seen singing in a recording studio alongside an orchestra and producer Kurt Bestor.

Archuleta’s studio scenes was shot the day before he left for his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints mission in South America.

The Jed Wells-directed clip also includes a touching scene of a father on his daughter’s wedding day, a female soldier missing her son and a young couple who must be separated when one of them has to move out of town.

After releasing the video on his official YouTube channel, Archuleta posted a note for his fans say he’ll make more music after completing his two-year mission.

“I hope you know that I never wanted to leave you guys without music, and will continue when I get back,” he states.

“Everybody Hurts” is one of the covers on Archuleta’s latest album BEGIN., which was released on August 7. Other covers include Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

Archuleta’s Latest Album Begin. Debuts on the Billboard Charts

He may be participating in a long-term Mormon mission, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have brand new David Archuleta music to hold you over…

The 21-year-old Honduran/Spanish American singer and former American Idol runner-up, who announced last December that he was devoting two years of his life to a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has released his latest album, which debuts on the Billboard 200 this week at No. 28.

David Archuleta

Entitled Begin., the album is a collection of 10 cover songs and one original, “Broken,” which was co-written by Archuleta. He recorded the album before starting his mission in South America.

The remakes include R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush’s “Don’t Give Up” and Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

David Archuleta's Begin Album

Signed to RCA after his success on Idol, Archuleta is now on the independent Highway Records imprint, owned by Desert Book, the publishing arm of the LDS church.

That qualifies Begin. to appear on Billboard’s Top Independent Chart, where it debuts at No. 5. The album makes an even higher bow on the Top Internet Albums chart, entering at No. 3. That equals Archuleta’s previous highest peak on the survey, when his self-titled debut album entered at No. 3 in 2008.

Begin. is Archuleta’s fifth album to appear on the Billboard 200. He has had one album debut on the chart every year since 2008.