Picture edit: Reiko on Twitter

“Falling Stars”, Track 6 on “The Other Side of Down” was met with mixed reviews by record critics and fans when the album was released in October of 2010. Some felt the song was irrelevant to the central theme of the album. Others thought the song wasn’t believable for David to sing because he wasn’t old or experienced enough. Still others dismissed the song as a departure from the optimistic lyrics we have come to expect from David’s music. And then there were those, including me, who fell head over heels in love with the song.

Written by Emanuel “Eman” Kiriakou, Claude Kelly and Jess Cates, “Falling Stars” is a hauntingly beautiful song about not getting over a romantic relationship. “Over you, never over you…”

When Eman gave us a snippet of the song in a bubbletweet a month before album release, it may have sounded tinny and inaudible but it was love at first listen for me. I’m drawn to love songs, especially those sung by the most angelic voice in the universe. The bubbletweet immediately captured me and made me yearn for the full song.

That tinny-sounding bubbletweet got 23,755 views!

20,000 may have been mine. LOL

video edit: Abrra

“Falling Stars” begins with a relaxing tone and builds as it progresses until it reaches a very emotional pinnacle at the chorus after the bridge when David sings “like fallling starrrss” and “like crashing carrrs.” On the album version, you can hear a slight buzz in his voice throughout the song, giving it a dream-like quality. The steady drumbeat during the song is reminiscent of the sound of a heartbeat which perhaps was intentional. It breaks my heart as he tells the story of a love that can never be. I believe him because unlike anyone I have heard, he is able to sing with the emotional maturity of someone who has actually had the experience even if he hasn’t. It’s part of his genius. His refrain from using vibrato at the suggestion of Eman gives the song an unusual quality, one that fits the sullen mood of the song. He ends the song with a relaxed tone again, and brings us back down to earth.

Credit Rusharr

YouTube comment from six months ago:

“AHAHAHA I remember my dad turning to me asking me ‘Are those high notes even possible?

Why my interest in “Falling Stars” now, almost three years after its release? I never stopped loving the song. I always wished for radio play and I don’t think it ever got the recognition it deserved. But a recent comment on The Voice by Emmegirl prompted me to dive into YouTube when she pointed out that there has been renewed interest in some of David’s music as evidenced by very recent comments, even on videos that are not live performances. I chose to investigate “Falling Stars” and was encouraged to find brand new comments praising the song, especially since David has been out of the country for almost two years. I saw from the comments that I am not alone in my admiration and fascination for this song.  

From YouTube: 

This song made my life so much less complicated. It cleared my head. He’s the reason I’m smiling right now.5 months ago

This song is so beautiful. 4 months ago

Still listening in 2013 to this romantic song. 2 weeks ago

I feel so good when I listen to this song. 2 months ago

Such an emotional song. I cry when I hear it. 2 months ago

The song is so calm and soothes my broken heart. 1 month ago

He is so passionate-his voice, his lyrics, his emotions…everything about him is so wonderful. He is an amazing singer and what’s more, a lovely man. 11 months ago

found on tumblr

I’m sure you’ve noticed that David has specific body language for each song he performs. Check out the angst he portrays in this live performance of “Falling Stars” from Wichita, Kansas.

Credit Clear Channel

When you forget me

 When you don’t remember my name

 Not even a memory

 Somewhere in the back of your brain

 I won’t be offended

‘Cause I always knew that the day

 Would come when I’m not enough to make you stay

 You tell me it’s not possible, no way that we could break

 But nothing is illogical, believe me

 

 Like falling stars over your head

 We were bound to burn out, burn like crashing cars

 I’ll never get over you, never over you

‘Cause you are so beautiful, yeah

 

 The world is turning

 And time keeps on lingering on

 The sun will be burning

 Eventually you will be gone

 

 I’ll always love you

 Oh, believe it or not

 Baby, that’s not enough to, not enough to

 Stop these…

 

Falling stars over your head

 We were bound to burn out, burn like crashing cars

 I’ll never get over you, never over you

‘Cause you are so beautiful, yeah

 

 When it’s all said and done

 I’ll be just a speck in the galaxy

 Floating far, far away by gravity

 Tell me it’s not possible, no way that we could break

 

 Like falling stars

 Like crashing cars

 Like falling stars over your head

 We were bound to burn out, just like crashing cars

 I’ll never get over you, never over you

‘Cause you are so beautiful, yeah.

David’s use of his falsetto in “Falling Stars” is perhaps the highlight of the song for me.  My heart skips a beat as his voice glides effortlessly from falsetto and back again, as if he is crying from the deep pain he feels about this doomed relationship.  In the above interview, he describes his own feelings about the song.

Eman, who was one of the writers of that song, he wanted me to not sound like myself…he wanted me to sing with a different tone and a different energy…

It really added a more mature…it kind of has like an umph kind of manly kind of vibe now, and I think that was what Eman was trying to do.

It’s not about showing me and reflecting me, but…I felt like it was okay to have one song that was just a genuinely truly amazing song.  I think that song is one of them.

I totally agree.