With budding maturity, David Archuleta captures two years’ worth of introspection and reflection, dozens of songwriting sessions, long days spent in the studio and nights in the air, all leading to The Other Side of Down, his highly anticipated second album.
Not only the follow up to David’s 2008 self-titled debut, it’s a reintroduction to the American Idol runner-up with the angelic voice who 30 million television viewers fell in love with during season 7—now older, wiser, with faith still on his side and an eternally optimistic wide-eyed outlook. Hence, the album’s title. “For me, it’s about moving forward and making progress,” David explains. “I’m heading towards ‘the other side of down,’ which is ‘up.’”
Was watching you sing on you tube the other day (what is it with ALL the you tube vids? Like… when do you get anything DONE?), and I said to myself: “That guy really likes to sing. Maybe he should consider making a career out of it. Or something. You know, pursue some op-tions.”
A friend of mine told me to put a bug in your ear. Heh, much as I would like to be able to do that… you know, per-form that little function… I am not planning on a trip to Chile any time soon. And bugs are not known for their reliable ability to communicate understandably, they being a more “proceed with caution” messenger service.
Flexing my knuckles and facing my keyboard therefore, I proceed in presenting a case:
1.
So the angels (“good fairies”?) deemed it wise to give you a warped vocal chord? It seems there have been some com-pen-sa-tor-y measures taken. Consider for instance, that your face is remarkably symmetrical. Remarkably. In fact, remarks have been made. Just sayin’. And please, who sees a vocal chord, anyway?
2.
Short in the “tall” division? True. You are short, small, little. I get it.
But, I get the suspicion, watching some of these vids, that if you like, open your mouth and sing – you know – with feeling, there is a good possibility that peeps are not going to notice anyone else in the room anyway. You should try it. Maybe stand on a table, or somethin’. You know, just to get the hang of it.
3.
Funny breathing?
Hey, everybody needs a “signature”, something that people can re-cognize. I wouldn’t worry about it. They do keep oxygen tanks in public places, ya know. In fact, I’ve seen peeps in the audiences being supplied with oxygen. So, it’s covered.
(Besides, although it doesn’t seem to be you’re thing, there are those that like a little heavy breathing.)
All in all, I think you might have a chance. You got this – you know – this big heart. They aren’t going to know what to do with that, true. It doesn’t really market, per se, but a handicap? Look at it this way kid, having something they can’t package means “no limits”. I like the sound of that.
This “bug” comes to you more or less anonymously, from a faithful viewer.
Go for it. Just sayin’.
“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.”
Posted by bluesky4home on Sunday, December 30, 2012
When I see something wonderful that talented people are doing, I always get excited and I wonder, “How is this going to fit into what DA will need, or be doing, or have available, etc. when he comes home?”
Why? Because: I believe.
I believe that things that bless others will also bless him. I believe that because there are so many changes happening within the music industry and how “brands” are created, produced and marketed, that a new paradigm is emerging that will bless his life as well as the lives of others. I believe DA is young, savvy, focused and inspired. I do not say that it will all be roses, smooth sailing, or that everything will magically fall into place, but I do believe absolutely that new horizons of opportunity will be available to him. And when he is blessed, so are we.
My case in point for today: ThePianoGuys.
I had been hearing about Jon Schmidt, a creative composer/pianist, for a long time and have gone to two of his concerts. He is well known in our area and offers concerts each year. When I first saw him on You Tube, I saw this title above the vid: ThePianoGuys. I thought that was a little strange, since he was the only person in the videos. Later, I saw several vids where he was performing duets with Steven Sharp Nelson, a wonderful cellist. I loved the music but was still a bit confused by the title. Being that I am a bit slow, it was not until this last summer when I attended a concert close to home that I caught the full vision of what they, ThePianoGuys were all about.
From their Official Channel:
Five guys from different walks of life with different skill sets, from different places — each had built their own careers: a piano store owner/videographer (Paul Anderson), a music producer (Al van der Beek), a videographer/editor (Tel Stewart), a pianist (Jon Schmidt), and a cellist (Steven Sharp Nelson). But all with the same ambition: to inspire the world with the talents given them. Each met through seemingly-happenstance, but divinely-influenced circumstances. Combined, they had the tools, the passion, and the drive necessary to independently build one of the most successful music video production companies in the world. They are famous for taking their instruments (especially grand pianos) and video equipment to unbelievable places. But above all, ThePianoGuys love what they do — and it shows. At the end of the day, they are ordinary guys that love their families and that thank God for the opportunity they have to do what they love.
It was then that I finally realized that ThePianoGuys was a collaborative effort: when you go to their website, the three that seldom appear as performers on video are given top billing and space. All are equal to the importance of the creation of their “brand”. What is most exciting to me is that their very successful brand was chosen, produced and offered to the public on their own terms, not those of someone else. No record company told them what they could or could not be. No marketing body handed them a pre-fabricated identity, relegating them by color, size, or sound to fit neatly into one of the few molded shapes allowed in a modern music cafeteria tray. They became famous through YouTube, posting their first video in March of 2010. Two years and 39 videos later, many produced a week apart, they now have a total of 205,419,123 views and 1,178,305 subscribers to their channel.
In December 2011, they released their first album and their second album, released in 2012 reached number one on the Billboard New Age Albums chart.
So… without further ado, here is an example of what can be accomplished when people follow their passion and remain true to themselves.
One of my favs, sure to make you smile:
One of my passions, sure to inspire:
One of their newest, sure to make you believe in dreams:
The other day I caught this comment on YouTube under one of their videos:
“wow that was awesome ps you guys should make a David Archuleta song”
Now, from time to time they do record their arrangements/videos with a singer. And I have a pretty good idea who I think would sound best. You might want to save some time on your calendar for a certain returned missionary in 2014 Piano Guys. Can you say “Broken”?
Post script: “The Piano Guys” last concert in SLC was produced and recorded for PBS and they just recently got signed by a label: Sony Masterworks. On first hearing this I worried. But then I saw the company they were in…
Placido Domingo, Jascha Heifetz, Vittorio Grigolo, Wynton Marsallis, Yo-Yo Ma, etc. …and I guess I am willing to believe that it is a “good place”.
Conclusion: Talented people are leading fulfilling lives sharing their passion and abilities on their own terms. Can David Archuleta be successful doing this? Things beyond our knowing are aligning for him and others like him.
Without question: Yes. I believe.
The following is a synopsis from PR Newswire introducing all Five Guys in a rare performance together on video:
Ironically, The Piano Guys, who got their name from a piano store in St. George, Utah, are a quintet featuring only two musicians – only one being a pianist. Store owner Paul Anderson devised a Facebook promotional page and a YouTube channel featuring well-established, self-described “New Age Classical” pianist Jon Schmidt , who teamed up musically with Steven Sharp Nelson , an innovative cellist. Together, Schmidt and Nelson form the musical core of The Piano Guys, with Anderson – who has since closed the store – joining forces with genius co-videographer Tel Stewart in creating The Piano Guys’ videos. Al van der Beek , the fifth “Guy,” heads up the group’s studio operations, and also assists in co-writing and arranging, as well as percussion and vocal texturing. As seen in their One Direction video, in performance, all five of The Piano Guys frequently appear together.
There is a song from the musical, “Finnigans Rainbow” that includes the line: “When I’m not near the girl I love, I love the girl I’m near!” That sentiment is fairly understandable for the character in the story, but it doesn’t really ‘work for me’ where DA and his music is concerned. *_*
Still, now and then I run into a really fun individual that has SOME of the same qualities that I so admire in the Voice. Ergo… “Reminding me of DA”.
For today, Jamie Grace is “Reminding me of DA”, and I wonder, have I found DA’s “Sister-from-another-mother”?
Jamie Grace is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter who just graduated from college (she began early). She has had a bundle of challenges thrown at her since early childhood. Yet, sustained by the love and support of her family, especially her relationship with her sister, she has not only overcome, but somehow, thrived. The beginning of her upward journey began with a set of drums given to her by her father. Instead of the ”girl with Tourette’s syndrome”, she became the “girl who plays music”. This last year she was nominated for a Grammy. She writes of her early life: “I grew up a sick kid, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, asthma, pneumonia… my sister was one of the few constants in my life offering a smile, hug or movie night on top of her patience and strength.”
Here is the official video of her song, “Hold Me”, featuring Toby Mac, who discovered her and has been supporting her career.
I hear ‘happy’ in her voice. I hear DA’s funky rhythm and blues. I hear a joy that shines without being glossy, a glow that generously invites, rather than the pulsing strobe of manufactured necessity.
(DA… I want to hear a duet. I am seriously asking the universal powers-that-be to work on this… ((You have 1.5 years, powers…. Do it.)) )
This video is of her song, “Not Alone”. Jamie tells about writing it:
“I wrote this song in just a few hours sitting at my piano needing to pour my heart. Having had friends who have survived cancer and other illnesses but also having had a good friend go to be with Jesus after a battle with cancer just this year I’ve seen firsthand the strength it takes to endure that type of pain. This particular song shares the story of a mother with a child who is sick but she is yet understanding that God’s arms are right there and she’s not alone. I hope this is an encouragement to you whether you’ve face difficulty with illness, finances, relationships or whatever it is. “We may have pain, but not as great as His name.”
Jamie… I hear the sweet, breathy vowels like those used by Lights. I love those “oooos” at the beginning. The depth and feeling in the delivery. The courage. The commitment. Yeah, I’m signing up for the DA/JG concert!
For Christmas, she gathered lots of family and friends and wrote the song “Christmas Together”.
The chorus includes these words:
“And unless ya got 20 people,
stuck on an elevator,
I can’t imagine a time —
When we’re all this close!”
Seriously? An elevator? Somehow that just rang a bell with me. ^_^
On a more serious note, Jamie just posted a new video on Sep 6 2012 for a young cousin who is in the hospital. She covers a song by Emeli Sandé, “My Kind of Love”. Jamie changes the last verse and adds an impromptu chorus at the end as a message:
“You see the times, they’re changing, I’m sure of nothing that I know
Except this is us, this is love. This is where I’m home
And while hearts breaking, and nothing is for keeps,
This is us, this is love. This is where I sleep”
In my view, this song and her delivery of it, is a rather good summation or post-script to the message from DA’s album: Begin.
Anyway…..
(Dear DA: The weather is good. The family is fine. While you are gone, I’ll try not to whine.)
Let me know what you think of Jamie Grace! And whose reminding you of DA?
Here are the lyrics to “My Kind of Love” by Emeli Sandé
I can’t buy your love, don’t even wanna try.
Sometimes the truth won’t make you happy, so I’m not gonna lie.
But don’t ever question if my heart beats only for you, it beats only for you.
I know i’m far from perfect, nothin’ like your entourage
I can’t grant you any wishes, I won’t promise you the stars.
But don’t ever question if my heart beats only for you, it beats only for you.
Cause when you’ve given up.
When no matter what you do it’s never good enough.
When you never thought that it could ever get this tough,
Thats when you feel my kind of love.
And when you’re crying out.
When you fall and then can’t pick, you’re heavy on the ground
When the friends you thought you had haven’t stuck around.
That’s when you feel my kind of love.
You won’t see me at the parties, I guess I’m just no fun.
I won’t be turning up the radio singing “Baby You’re The One”.
But don’t ever question if my heart beats only for you, it beats only for you.
I know sometimes I get angry, and I say what i don’t mean.
I know I keep my heart protected, far away from my sleeve.
But don’t ever question if my heart beats only for you, it beats only for you.
Cause when you’ve given up.
When no matter what you do it’s never good enough.
When you never thought that it could ever get this tough,
Thats when you feel my kind of love.
And when you’re crying out.
When you fall and then can’t pick, you’re heavy on the ground
When the friends you thought you had haven’t stuck around.
That’s when you feel my kind of love.
Cause when you’ve given up.
When no matter what you do it’s never good enough.
When you never thought that it could ever get this tough,
That’s when you feel my kind of love.
You can see her sing it here:
Not the best recording for her voice, but I think it was the emotion. Still a great listen.
Hands hold many messages. They are symbolic of personal power, capability, action, autonomy, self-expression, appeal, intelligence, language and more. DA’s hands are always part of his musical messages. However, when he is not singing, he can tend to down-play them; tuck, and fold them away with his thoughts behind those magnificent eyes.
In this photo, it seems to me that Matt Clayton has deliberately down played most of the rest of DA: his legs, torso, arms, shoulders and head are all in positions of rest or pulling back. His hands however, are bared, sleeves rolled back in preparation for action, every digit brought to full relief with light and shadow as though sculpted. The hands seem aware, fully present, caught in that moment before movement. What happens next as their purpose becomes realized, the eyes open, the head rises and body unfolds, will be a revelation.
Matt Clayton seems to me to tell stories with his work. It would be fun to know what he is thinking. There are so many ways to go with the Matt Clayton photo, e. g., pulling back before you move forward, as a metaphor for the mission, as a metaphor for our own lives, looking inward from where the “newness” actually comes from.
I looked up some of Matt Clayton’s more recent work and he shows such respect for the human body: that is, he picks settings and textures and backgrounds that show a reverence for not only the people involved and their “topic” but for human beings in general. I am not used to this.
And the pic of him sitting by DA is so fun. He has the whole design of the picture: light and dark, shadows and objects, all pointing to DA. while he sits on a lower box in the shadow. It is as though, even while he is ostensibly in the photo, he is still the observer. Only this time he is observing us observing him. That is__he is looking at us looking at DA. HIS DA. I find that so funny. I think he has a great sense of humor under it all. So I guess what I am saying is, that he not only shows respect for his subject but for his audience as well. He takes his art seriously, but not himself. Remind you of anyone?
“In Art, man reveals himself and not his objects.”
The Man (Or: DA ((aka: Christopher Robin)) visits my Hundred Acre Woods.)
Truthfully? My natural thought processes tend to be more like Eeyore than Winnie the Pooh. I have also been known to share a weekly cup of anxiety with Piglet. (Just sayin’: There are probably going to be thorns on that there rose. But, no stomping please. Good roses are hard to find!) Some people tell me that the words pragmatic and paranoid are just a little too close in my dictionary. *sigh*
So when DA began his career following Idol with the outlook: “I could get hit by a car…”, part of me nodded in melancholy approval of his “seize the day” attitude. And I totally understood his occasional forays into: “If this doesn’t work out I might…” From my viewpoint this was no ‘starry-eyed puppy’. Although he may have been inexperienced, he was still a man who had done his homework and knew something about the odds.
So my own Pooh Bear (in search of ever more DA music), has always been accompanied by a very faithful Eeyore (ready to predict the inevitable lack). However DA, (with his inimitable way of upsetting my “Is it half full, or half empty?” apple cart), has come to the rescue once again, and like Christopher Robin who cures all ills, he has set right the affairs in my Hundred Acre Woods. He has answered the question of the ages: “Will there be enough music from you, DA?” He has penned ‘Happily Ever After’ into my story.
How? By answering the simple question: “Who would you like to sing with this year?” And DA, (who seems to always speak while offering a restful, mental branch on which any migrant thought may land) said: Tony Bennett. “I think it would be so cool! He’s just… he’s been doing it for so long and he still sounds amazing.” (DA, you just kinda make my heart go pitter-patter when you say things like that.)
Fox25TonyBennet
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Thereupon my inner “Eeyore” sat down in shocked wonder and blissfully forgot that he had ever lost his tail. You could say, he “closed his eyes and saw the view”.
The Music (Or: Is there a ((classical)) genre that does NOT wait anxiously for DA to rebirth it?)
Cannons! Fireworks! Stadiums of cheers! Cue the 1812 Overture and Beethoven’s’ Ode to Joy! While DA can often confuse, entertain and delight us with seeming non-sequiturs, he is never random when it comes to music. (Exhibit “A”: Eva Cassidy.) So I knew he was perfectly serious. And. I. Rejoiced.
Tony Bennett. (Bless his unsuspecting heart!) This genre of music has not been on the top of my listening choices. But I do appreciate it. And I love what Michael Buble has done and is doing to bring that genius forward to a new audience.
My lack however, did not stop me from recognizing DAs’ own brilliance, appreciation, embodiment, and slam-dunk delivery of said genre whenever he got the chance.
So you can get the idea, here is Tony Bennett (generation jumping) with Michael Buble in 2010.
I can totally see how DA would look on stage with either of these lovely people. (Or both?! Yes, please?) And I would start saving my money….. now.
The Mission (Or: Even though the offer may self-destruct in 10 seconds, I believe DA has accepted his own Mission Impossible and will succeed.)
The historical perspective: Tony Bennetts’ first number one hit was in 1951. He was 25 years old. After several hits his run came to an end in the mid 60s and he seemed to disappear. He had a 15 year span when he was off the musical radar. In the 90s he came back stronger than ever, again putting out gold records. He has kept his musical style intact and “remains a popular and critically praised recording artist and concert performer.” Two things are credited with his comeback success: 1) a good manager (his brother) and 2) being true to his own music.
The New York Times said, “Tony Bennett has not just bridged the generation gap, he has demolished it. He has solidly connected with a younger crowd weaned on rock. And there have been no compromises.” At age 68 he had made it all the way back. He was 84 this last August and is still giving performances and concerts. (Added note: He was taught the “Bel canto” singing discipline, which was said to “keep his voice in good shape for his entire career.”)
Mr. Bennett also knows he has unique fans, especially the ones in the UK. He says how they “really take you in and treat you like family” (Sound like any fans you know?)
DA is a planner, a worker, a dreamer, an avid learner and constantly searches the heavens (both within and without) for guidance. He makes goals. He has vision. He has experience with challenges and how they can ultimately work in surprising ways for ones benefit. He also recognizes and appreciates these attributes when he finds them in others.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that he said he would like to sing with Tony Bennett. This year. Ahem. (Please take notice, Mr. Bennett!) I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that he dreams of singing until he is 84. Think of all the songs!!!! It. blows. my. mind. (Cause, (( love ya Mr. B.)) DA has more than one genre he can sing – actually.) (And, actually, he already copped the whole “demolishing generation gaps” thing when he was 17: “Shop Around”, “Imagine”, Christmas tour, anyone?)
DA, I love how you think and I trust you. Thank you so much for just being who you are. And for wanting to sing with Tony Bennett.
“You find it! You know it! Don’t make it wait! These are words I wanna say every hour of every day.” Wherever he is, DA makes it a “good place”. And my heart is comforted. My Hundred Acre Woods is lit with the eternal sunlight of contentment. And me? *sigh* I have been given the map to the honey tree.
Abrra
Angelica
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