Does it not look like he’s playing a harmonica here? 🙂
This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving waaaaaay up here in the Great White North (not white yet, but give us a few weeks), coincidentally coinciding with the two year anniversary of David Archuleta’s “The Other Side of Down” album release.
How fortuitous. Like many (hopefully most) of you, I am very very very thankful for TOSOD. Since David’s given us so much more music since then (live and on record), going back to listen to TOSOD now is like a taking a lovely trip back home to visit dear friends.
My very first listen of the album (I confess it was from those blasted leaked youTubes) was with the lovely Refnaf, KT and RamblingDA (Lorna). My instant top faves were TOSOD, Elevator, STR and MKOP. Even though I’ve come to love other songs, those are still my favourites. And when the ATE edition came out, I also loved Love Don’t Hate and Notice Me.
I’m still convinced that if stoooopid Jive had done their job properly and booked David on some live performances of those songs on prime time TV (which is where many of us discovered him, after all), he’d have had some hits from that awesome album. It’s weird to see random people on Twitter discovering those songs only now, better late than never I guess.
Anyway, back to Thanksgiving … I’m grateful for David, of course, and all the music he’s left us, but most of all I’d like to say a big huge thank you to everyone who’s reading this or who has ever dropped by, lurked, hovered, or taken the time to share your thoughts… I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I connected with such a fun, funny, fascinating, quirky, diverse, just-as-crazy-as-I-am-but-with-exquisite-taste-in-music bunch of people as you guys. Who’s in for a group hug?
I was trying to think that if I had to pick one David-related thing to be thankful for, what would it be and, wow, my list got really long. What I kept coming back to was that night I stumbled on him singing Shop Around… 1:54 minutes that changed my life.
How about you guys? What David-related thing/moment/event/perf. are you most grateful for?
P.S.
Just read this from @weiyannn on Twitter and had to share! 😆
Reasons why I love The Other Side Of Down (the song):
1) The lyrics are amazing. It’s hopeful, positive and uplifting, without sounding too cheesy.
2) He sounds super sexy in the song.
3) I love how he sounds so sexy AND optimistic at the same time. It’s like a “F*ck you life, I’m sexy and you’re not gonna knock me down that easily.” kind of thing.
4) It has an addictive bassline.
5) The backing vocals are cool. Especially in the chorus, at “other,” “stride,” “climbing,” “fighting,” and obviously the “down, down” parts, and also the bridge where he goes “the other side of down.”
6) His cute “one foot front of the other” dance when he performs this song live.
7) The acoustic version is ace.
8) The “hah!”
9) The first time I heard this song live, we made him laugh because we were singing along and he went “you guys know this song!” Any interaction with David makes me happy. It is also a happy memory.
10) When he performed this at Avalon (in Singapore 2012), the fans were all singing along and it was the best 3 minutes of my life because I felt like the love we felt for him was mutual. And it was so so much fun. We even did the “hah!” for him and everything, and we knew all his rifts and all the little changes he does to the song when he performs it live that he had to come up with new ones.
11) It is a very non-fan-friendly song. All my friends who aren’t big fans of David love this song, and it makes me happy. I have friends who listen to very little english pop who actually like this song. A song with a good message that people love!
12) I love how it represents David so well, sexy and optimistic. (See point 3.)
13) It is David’s favourite song on the album, so I love it even more haha.
14) It was influenced by A Fine Frenzy and I fricking love her.
15) Sometimes it reminds me of how David had to fight (not literally FIGHT) to have this album the way he wanted it to be, and this song in particular makes me feel very proud of him.
Random story: TOSOD was one of the only previews I listened to from this album, other than SBL and Elevator. The first time I listened to it I loved it so much I fell off my chair and just laid on the floor like a fish out of water, as if I was having a seizure or something. It was scary and weird, but nevertheless a funny memory. Lol.
P.P.S.
Gonna add “grateful for Kari” to my list…. 🙂
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I am grateful for so many things, I’d need a top 20, or at least top 5.
But here’s one: Listening to David sing Ave Maria live.
I swear I could feel my mom close by when he sang that.
Wait, does that sound nuts? I’m not really crazy lol.
that doesn’t sound nuts at all… she was close by, I truly believe that… I feel there’s some sort of transporting magic that goes on when he sings certain songs, either loved ones are transported close to us or we to them, can’t really explain what I mean but I’ve definitely felt it, so if you’re crazy then so am I, lol.
he got me at shoparound also,love this site and you tofan david archuleta
I am grateful for soooo much.
I am grateful for all my David fan friends I’ve made. So grateful, I can’t even put it in words properly how grateful.
I am grateful I had the opportunity to give David a letter at a VIP before he went away on his mission (didn’t know at the time how grateful I’d be for that, obviously, since I didn’t know he was going away).
I am grateful for Canada being so close to the US, where we can just drive across and go to concerts.
So much more, grateful for so much <3333
Count me in that group hug Deb 🙂 Not to be a copycat, but I too was captivated by David’s SHOP AROUND performance…never get tired of watching it ~who would NOT fall in love with that special young man after watching it?! To be honest, though, I already knew who MY next American Idol would be when I heard him sing HEAVEN at Hollywood auditions. I’ve never had anything touch me like that musically and his preciousness grabbed my heart & has never let go!
I’m squeezing in on that group hug too!! I am soooooooo thankful for deciding at the last minute to go to David’s Verona concert as this was the only time I had ever seen him perform live and once he made his announcement a couple of weeks later, I almost got off the couch and fell to my knees in thankfulness as I listened to him tell us that he was leaving us for two years! I’m not sure how much I actually remember of the concert as I was in awe the whole time but you all know how that feels 🙂 And silly me didn’t realize that people actually travelled the country to see this wonder boy but now that I’ve figured that out, just let them try to leave Toronto without me now….booking my seat now for any future David trips!! 😉
TOSOD has one of my favorite David songs on it…..I am so in love with Falling Stars!!! Everytime it comes on, I hit repeat numerous times……gahhhhhhh!! Can never hear it enough but that’s the case with everything our boy does….the kid just snuck into my heart and settled there for life ❤
Lastly, I'm thankful for all of David's wonderful fans that feel like family and life long friends even though I've only actually met a handful in person!! This journey just wouldn't be the same without all of you guys! And I'm really thankful for EVERY SINGLE OF YOU that take the time and effort to keep all of David's fansites going and allowing us all to take a break from our real lives to enjoy this life long path David has led us down….not sure how he did it but here we all are enjoying the ride!!
Have a great Thanksgiving this weekend to all in Canada 🙂
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!
Oh Shop Around had me going “what the heck?”
The Other Side Of Down live my first time David concert had me screaming my head off.
Hugs all all around!!!
ROTFL!!! Just saw the picture on the side of David….Huh??? Canada has it’s own Thanksgiving??? TOfan…. You kill me!!! DYING!! 😀
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone across the country so full of color right now and yes there is snow out west! My favorite season by far.
I am thankful for the news that Justin Trudeau will be in the running for our next prime minister. So young, so so so…not a grumpy older politician! Better leave it at that!
Thanks for the humor TOfan, it is always appreciated.
SB
Ahh – I am excited about Justin Trudeau too! I have a slight crush on him 😛 We need some younger politicians!
What a lovely Happy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend post! Just so much I am grateful for, hard to pinpoint one thing. Have to say David had me from his WOTWTC audition. Just had to keep watching that boy and so glad I did! One of the things I am grateful for is knowing that there are other older fans who are so taken with this incredible young artist like I am….when I discovered that fact, it was a big relief, lol.
Grateful for all the fans, this great site TOfan (and all the other supportive sites) and very, very grateful to David, he’s brought so many so much joy. Used to call him my “sweet soulful stress reliever”. Still do actually!
Here’s to everyone who supports David and here’s to a great album on it’s two year anniversary, TOSOD, still love it.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving weekend, fellow Canadian fans!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadian!:))
So many things to be grateful for……
First of, Grateful that I found David on the American idol…Honestly, I remember I used to wait for every Tuesday, which was my fave day of the week because I was soo excited to hear what he was going to sing! don’t know why at the time lol. Thankful to have met lovely TOfan and many amzing Canadian fans at David’s My Kind of Christmas Tour in New York , May I take this opportunity to thank Tofan for entering my name to the Verona VIP contest where I met David for the first time, a memorable moment of my life :))….Grateful also to have met many of David’s awesome fans from our neighboring country…they truly are warm, friendly and great people :))
Grateful for David’s beautiful music that brings joy and inspiration to everyone…and for his humbling,caring persona and gentle spirit that motivate, inspired, and open many hearts to be a better person and make a difference in the life of other people in need …I think that is what David is all about !:))
K, back to lurking lol.
Happy thanksgiving again and may God’s blessings be with you all and with David=)
*waves* to Audry. Verona was all that and more! Glad I got to meet you last year. 😀
*waves* to Kizzi….will always remember our road trip to Verona with TOfan and Refnaf!!:))
hope to see you all again in 2014 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving weekend to our amazing David-fan neighbors in Canada.
Waves to all and call out to Awestruck, Conditioner and Sunshine!
Though we share a mutual bond, I know friendship and warm regard would have been the outcome had we met through other circumstances.
One of my favorite Thanksgiving sayings seems to sum it all up: “Best of all… (let our friendships)…preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song.”
Yours in Thanksgiving and Song! 😀
Love ya SAz’s
stoooopid is as stoooopid does (heard that somewhere) 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving Snowangelz!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Off to family dinner — about 14 of us and not another David Archuleta fan in the bunch. Oh well, I do love my family and turkey!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!!! <33333
And I want to add to my "gratitude" list, JR4DA for recording and sharing beautiful moments like this with all of us. *warning* grab tissues, people!!!
Away for a couple of days and hoping this post would still be up so I could add my wishes for a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend! I am grateful for my Canadian friends! You are loyal and amazing—even exemplary by my standards—David fans!
Am not Canadian but can I squeeze myself into your group hug? Happy Thanksgiving Day Snowangelz! This is one of my fave Archu destination 🙂
The picture of the trees – love it!
(((((((((((((((((((group hug)))))))))))))))))
I am so thankful for each one of you!!!!
And for David > what joy this fan journey has brought !!!
*waves* to Refnaf. ((((group hug))))
A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadian Fans. Group Hug for sure:) Got goosebumps just now listening to “Shop Around” Was hooked from “Waiting On The World To Change”
Got TOSOD out again recently and my those messages are so much more meaningful now.
Blessings all around. Lots of wonderful memories of David concerts:)
Thanks for being here 🙂
New post/thread!
🙂