Credit to: @rhiminee
I had the pleasure to spend a little time in Gilbert, AZ, with the lovely SnowAngelz.
As I hadn’t been to a true pop album tour concert since 2009, Ms. TOfan asked me to share my perspective hearing songs from David’s sophomore pop album for the first time live.
Credit to: @rhiminee
This has turned out to be an unparalleled obsession that I have juggled for 3 ½ years. Like most of you, so out of character and not just a little too puzzling. And it demands much thought, soul searching, deliberate choices and development and growth of a new wisdom since I am a mature fan with such a compelling admiration of the music and artistry of Mr. Archuleta.
It is something like a calling. A tap on the shoulder, or maybe, that’s more like a bucket of ice water over the head, haha…but whatever it is, it just keeps me coming back for more.
Credit to: @rhiminee
Spiritual, yes. David’s voice fills all the empty spaces. It is bigger than life. And I suspect it fills the empty spaces in each listener, those empty spaces being so different as we are all distinct from each other in subtle or markedly contrasting ways.
I don’t have a back story of tragedy or struggle that led me to embrace his artistry. I am as humbly ever grateful for the diverse blessings that have populated my life to date. I’m not in search of the meaning of life nor the divine … got my arms around that a while back … one of the positive aspects of being mature, a.k.a., “older.” Lololol.
And so Arizona was in one word, JOY. David appeared relaxed and happy. His command of the stage, the band, the song, the moment, the audience was light years beyond the last time I saw him perform his pop repertoire live.
Throughout the evening, he weaved his innate artistic talent with candor, with energy, with fun, with a wide range of emotion, and with his love of his country. With the growing strength of knowledge and experience of an artist who knows who he is, what he wants, and where he is going. And the resulting performance was a striking balance of honoring the Patriotic event, Constitution Week, 10th Annual in Gilbert, AZ with his music, his message.
Stand By Me – Best performance to date. His last glory note was stunning. The videos don’t capture its full effect.
Heaven – Live before my eyes was a gift, a rare moment. I wanted to slow time and experience it in nanoseconds. David added instrumental segments with the band and made it an unusually strong statement when in prior performances it was more an acoustic set. I think this is a good example of artistic growth, from Heaven on AI when he auditioned, the intervening performances, to this performance, just shows the depth, breadth and scope of change.
Complain – Soulful, so different from the album. “Baby, I can’t complain…” Another striking example of artistic growth.
The Other Side of Down – Light, love, optimism, energy; seeing it performed first time live was something I had been anticipating since hearing it on the studio album. There was a guy and gal in front of me (in their early 20s) who knew all the words and danced to the song complete with choreographed arm movements, obviously they had danced to this before. So much fun.
Star Spangled Banner – He sang the first and fourth verse. Unusual to sing beyond the first… it is such a hard song to sing period. So trust Mr. Archuleta to challenge himself twice on one of the songs that many a superstar has messed up. Authentic, stirring performance. And singing two verses is a subtle, riveting message of patriotism, love of country, and courage. Smart, very smart that.
O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov’d homes and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Elevator – I finally got to sing the audience participation part, “Hi-iiiii-iiii-iiiii-iiigh!” It was a blast. And to the Elevator naysayers, one word, pfffffft. It is a song meant for live performance and David sings it with gusto. It is fun, uplifting and definitely puts an extra sparkle in David’s eyes and his audience seems to effortlessly jump squarely in the palm of his hand as he commands them to sing.
His bows from the left stage, then the right, then with hands together at stage center throughout the applause, the cheering, and the high pitched spontaneous, youthful cries of “David, I love you” was a defining moment. Finally taking the time at concert end to allow the audiences’ exuberance and wild appreciation to waft over him as an artist, an entertainer, in warm, embracing waves…taking in rather than giving, letting the audience give back…the smile on his face as he took his bows was poignant…a sublime finish. Message delivered…….on both sides. More of that please! (And, yet again, another display of artistic growth in the recognition of the give and take between artist and audience.)
David’s entire set was great entertainment offering up a range of messages and sentiments for each concert goer. It saturated the empty spaces in my psyche, or — if I wish to be over-the-top maudlin — my soul, with joy. I found myself grinning from ear to ear for 50 minutes. My face muscles actually hurt from that 3,000-second record-breaking smile.
Ah, what the heck, this is such an OTT experience anyway. 😀
Yep, JOY. That sums up the evening for me. FESTIVE sums up the crowd’s overall mood. CELEBRATION underpinned by REMEMBRANCE sums up the whole event. And, enhanced, ever-growing artistic BEAUTY, VULNERABILITY, CONNECTION and STRENGTH sums up the evolution of a young man whose music and career trajectory I have followed with most of you for 3 ½ years.
Thanks to TOfan and Refnaf for your terrific companionship and sharing your journey and joy with me. And for allowing me dual citizenship. 😀
The best thing is that this is but a dot on the artistic timeline…..
…and I will just “keep comin’ back for more.”
— Kizzi
P.S. amAZing soundcheck slideshow from the lovely Platinum Archie.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
Kizzi, —>I don’t have a back story of tragedy or struggle that led me to embrace his artistry. I am as humbly ever grateful for the diverse blessings that have populated my life to date. I’m not in search of the meaning of life nor the divine … got my arms around that a while back … one of the positive aspects of being mature, a.k.a., “older.” Lololol.”
thanks for writing my history in the world of OTT/ODD.
I wasn’t able to be in AZ, but I can certainly feel the vibes of excitement that were there. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Tawna
Good to meet a fellow fan with similar OTT/ODD history. 😀
Yes, always a lot of excitement when with @DavidArchie fans at a concert.
Thanks for your kind words.
Kizzi, lovely to have met you in the hotel lobby! I agree with Stand By Me, imho, it his the best version to date with the ending notes stronger and easier to hit. If I were making a list of his best of the evening, My Kind of Perfect would top it. It was the so relaxed and effortless. I thought he really commanded the piano and his voice equally, something he occasionally struggles with.
Lovely to meet you again Janey.
You are so right about “My Kind of Perfect.” His ease of playing the keyboard and singing was singularly outstanding. A quantum leap.
Something you don’t know: whenever I see your name in a post, a happy feeling happens. 😀
♥ ♥ ♥
~it was his~
Kizzi, Thank you for sharing your experience and view with us. Always enjoy your writing and hearing what you have to say about David and his songs. Am so glad you and others were able to show David the love he so deserves. I’m happy that all of you got to enjoy this experience with each other. I’ve been enjoying the videos, recaps, pictures for two days now.
Heidijoy – thanks for you kind words. Spending time with TOfan and Refnaf was wonderful. They made the whole weekend fun and relaxing. Two fantastic women.
Great article Kizzi. And it was wonderful to meet you – again. If I go to enough of these events I will eventually remember which name goes with which face. haha.
Hi Nan – Wonderful to meet you too! Connecting screen names with faces is a test…I haven’t passed it yet. lol. Thanks for the kind feedback. Hope to see you at a Christmas Tour concert.
“Spiritual, yes. David’s voice fills all the empty spaces. It is bigger than life. And I suspect it fills the empty spaces in each listener, those empty spaces being so different as we are all distinct from each other in subtle or markedly contrasting ways.”
((((Kizzi))) I think that is why hearing him live, again and again…. is such a lift. Hubby asked upon my return> “What did he sing? New songs??” When I said “uhhhh , no”, I had to try to explain why I needed to be there. Kiz, I think I will have him read this post…. there is no way I can express in words what you have….you help me understand myself! 🙂
The other awesome thing is sharing the expereince>> so many fan friends, new and old, reconnecting and sharing….. can I say CANT WAIT for CT!!!!
{{{{{Ref, Ref, Ref}}}}} Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and outlook on life. Your heart is soooo B.I.G. & thanks for the kind words.
Looking forward to the Christmas Tour. 😀
Love your post so much, Kiz, esp. this: “It is something like a calling. A tap on the shoulder, or maybe, that’s more like a bucket of ice water over the head” 😆 Yes, yes, and YES!!!!
So cool to get your perspective on how much David has blossomed on stage in two years. I remember in his early shows, Mike K. would give the signals to the band on when to come in, when to stop etc. Awesome to see David totally in charge of all that now. Fist pump endings FTW!!!
There were some technical issues in AZ (and apparently some rude teenage boy “fans” right up front, who I couldn’t see, glad I didn’t) but none of that phased him one bit … nothing’s gonna break his stride.
FPE FTW!!!
LOL TOfan – remember his first solo show in Virginia Beach? First ZG performance:
Hi,
Attending the Constitution Fair I now understand why David’s fans are fixated on going to so many of his concerts. His voice is something that can not be explained and should really be listened to live to fully experience what his fans do. His voice really does fill all the empty voids in your heart and especially when you hear the first few melodies come out of David you can’t help but have tears in your eyes. The only reason that David hasn’t gained the popularity that he should have is because of the fact that not many people have really heard him live. He really pours out his soul into each and every song that he sings. I just hope that David will continue in the path that he is in and not stray because of what the music industry wants in singers these days. All I want to say is that everyone should hear him live as much as they could because there’s really nothing like it in this world!! 🙂
Kizzi – HUGS to you – as you speak to my heart. You are more than entitled to an OTT experience! Love, LoVe LOVE your view of David’s artistist evolution – “The best thing is that this is but a dot on the artistic timeline…..”
I so hope I can swing a Christmas tour ‘tour’…
Kizzi, Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing your gift of writing and your heart… Just really appreciate your thoughtful words.. It is great to read something that I am feeling! 😀
Kizzi,
Wonderful recap! These are my feelings as well…
“Throughout the evening, he weaved his innate artistic talent with candor, with energy, with fun, with a wide range of emotion, and with his love of his country. With the growing strength of knowledge and experience of an artist who knows who he is, what he wants, and where he is going.”
I wish I could find the words to explain & describe how I felt during David’s much anticipated performance in AZ and you always find the “just right” words. Reading your recap and your reviews of some of the songs were right on. 😀
It was great seeing you, TOfan & refnaf as always. Hope to see you again soon at one or more concerts on David’s Christmas Tour, as yet TBA!
Kizzi! You were there???? How did I miss you – lol?
She was in the lobby while I was waiting for youuuuuu…
aaawwwwwweee, did I make my mad dash right past her?
Kizzie,
I am so bummed that I didn’t meet you. I have been an admirer of not only your gifted writing but also your perspective on all things David for quite some time now, and you were so close!
Your words brought me back to each of those moments with new eyes and better appreciation of what may seem like little things to some but we know better.
Thank you 🙂
Kizzi – beautiful post! You’ve said everything so well! Love reading your perspective of not having seen a pop concert of his for a while! So glad you got to experience it!! <33333
Kizzi, just loved reading every word of your wonderful post. You have a lovely way with words and your descriptive, heartfelt, insightful commentary was a delight to read! As a ‘mature’ fan myself I also relate well to this…. “not in search of the meaning of life nor the divine … got my arms around that a while back … one of the positive aspects of being mature, a.k.a., “older.” Lololol.”
I am simply loving the pure joy of David and my age certainly has not stopped me from jumping in ‘feet first’ when it comes to David, his artistry and all that it brings.
Have to repeat this too…..”It is something like a calling. A tap on the shoulder, or maybe, that’s more like a bucket of ice water over the head, haha…but whatever it is, it just keeps me coming back for more.” So true and well said!
Thank you for your great recap….from song to song, emotion to emotion and heart to heart. 🙂
ArchieFanDoc-FanScene, nooo. she was gone by then.
Awestruck: Hope we see each other at a Christmas Tour concert. Maybe it will become a tradition, eh?
MonkFod: Thank you for kind comments. When TOfan asked me to write a recap it made me process everything from a deeper perspective. A little more work and so worth it.
Silverfox: SF, so wonderful to see you again. Hope to spend a little more time together if we perchance attend the same Christmas concert later this year. Putting this concert experience into words is a lot like “grabbing jello.” haha. It is always an elusive experience and describing it walks all kinds of fine lines as a mature fan, from foolish, to moonstruck, to farcical. What are the “normals” for being an older fan?…wish there was a manual out there but it appears we are writing the first one as we go along. As I said it is an OTT experience that takes work. It is probably easier in some respects to just walk away than keep trying to find the path that best suits me but I do seem to just “keep comin’ back for more.” LOL
ArchieFanDoc: Sorry to have missed you too. I heard that you and Todd were attending. Next time!
Djafan: Thanks for your sweet words. My time in AZ was so fleeting. I feel like I spent more time in the air than on the ground last weekend. Next time we are at the same concert we will be sure to meet.
abanana: ♥ ♥ ♥ to you too!
peppertara: It is interesting adventure, for sure, to be a mature fan. You are so right, “pure joy” is where it’s at! Thanks for your kind comments.
New post/thread!
🙂