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Confession: I’m not a person who watches a lot of YouTube videos… *gasp* even David Archuleta videos.
I’m usually all about the audio.
Even the vlogs David used to do. I’d watch for sure once, maybe even twice, but that’s about it.
I think I’ve seen the SBL vid once. Numb maybe four times because I love the song so much.
But this one’s different. For a lot of reasons.
At first I kept watching it because of the lighting. HA HA HA, as if. It was totally because of the dancing.
When it came out, I didn’t even realize it had been released yet. The very thoughtful Refnaf emailed me, basically saying, “Where the heck ARE you??? The Up All Night video is up and DAVID IS DANCING! D.A.N.C.I.N.G!”
And I actually thought, “Nah, she can’t mean really dancing.”
Then I started watching it at work with headphones on.
I had to slap my hands over my mouth to stop from screaming and freeze myself in my chair to stop from leaping out of it and running around the office like a wild banshee arms flailing in the air because that’s exactly what I felt like doing.
And then I had to watch it again to verify that what I just saw really happened.
And once more to make sure I had three solid sources. #journalismschool
I was floored, as I’m sure many of you were. Not because he could dance… we all knew that … he telegraphed it with each subtle salsa-ish move, shoulder twitch and sly strut on stage.
But because he did dance. Openly. Freely. Unabashedly. Went for it.
As one youTube commenter accurately put it:”You ate up that beat @ 1:15 and i am all about it! Go get it, D.!”
The video was brilliantly edited to pepper his moves throughout the song, instead of one big show-stopping number… like breadcrumbs teasing you along… “did I just see what I thought I saw?” “there he goes again!” “I need to see moaaaaarrrr!” Genius!
But even more than the dancing, I loved how the video added even more layers to the story of the song, which is upbeat and joyous and simple yet has depth and real emotion to it, feelings I think we can all identify with… that yearning for “somewhere we belong.”
People have talked about the diversity in the video and, coming from a diverse, multicultural place, I loved that. It looked like home. Home with David singing and dancing in it, what on this Earth could possibly be better?? Not much, am I right? 🙂
And we see not just different shades of people, but pierced and tattooed peeps, and, heck, even grey-haired folks, and two girls dancing together, and then everyone was dancing together.
With all the dark and terrible things happening in the world, I want to focus on this kind of love and acceptance and inclusion… all THESE feelings inside, keeping me up all night, all these feelings inside.
Let’s watch it again, shall we?
How about you guys? Are you still watching it? What was your favourite part?? Do you think David will try any of these moves in his upcoming shows (which start in one week, btw, I repeat, SEVEN DAYS!!!)?
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
Thank you for the blog!
They always cheer me up. I’m a fan of David’s dancing too. I’ve seen him dance a little on stage and in that IG story! I’m more of fan if his natural grooving kinda dancing to music than the highly choreographed dance which was
very impressive!!! What I love about the video is the message of kindness and lighting lol.
I do like the dancing, but my favourite part is when David goes out and brings the other people back to the roof, right there when he opens the door and they all come in, his smile and expression of pure happiness gives me a feeling of happiness.
Love love the dancing. But,,, my favorite part is his joyous crinkly nosed laughing out loud moment at 132 and 342. The whole video is joyous. Dares you not to get up and join in!
I have been watching the video every day and I love the voice of course with the sweet theme. With that said the dancing is great (what a nice surprise that was). My feelings are similar to what you said:
With all the dark and terrible things happening in the world, I want to focus on this kind of love and acceptance and inclusion…”. Well put!
This is really a fun song too….makes you feel good. 🙂
I whole heartedly agree with this post! I too love the diversity of the people in the video. I remember back in the day when the video was released for “Touch My Hand” and the complaints from some fans that the “older” fans were not on the video, only the young fans. Jive had wanted to make David a tween/teen star. This video really shows that David does want fans of all ages, ethnicity, etc. – everyone that enjoys his music.
Keeping Sean and Jen’s family in my prayers… my heart goes out to them… Lovely idea of support from FOD:
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Aw, my heart goes out to Sean and his family too. Lovely idea ar FOD. I don’t have good equipment to make a video but some folks probably will, very nice idea. Here’s to Sean’s healing. ❤
So Invincible has been around awhile
I cannot stop watching this video. So inspirational. Sometimes I watch a video many times, sometimes only once.
And yes, I hope dancing is part of David’s shows. What the heck, dancing or no dancing, we have shows!!!
aww love this picture! how did I miss these??
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUSecc9gvt8/?taken-by=vegasbaby_forever
Did Taylor Hartley’s mom and Stephanie Mabey’s dad watch the same “Promote your Kids on Twitter” TEDTalk? lol 😆 😆 😆
Isn’t it customary for the artist to thank co-writers at the appropriate time? David always does, and his copious liner notes speak to this truth. Perhaps these folks are hoping to share in production costs. 🙂
Unfortunately there are no liner notes on an EP and David hadn’t told us his co-writers so I’m glad the parents spoke up. I love the words to Invincible so I wondered who helped David write it. I hope they write together again!
No liner notes on an EP? I didn’t know that. If we can get physical copies of the EP (per Kari), I would hope the co-writers of the songs would at least be listed. It still seems odd to me for the parents of very adult children to promote them in this manner, but I am often out of synch with social media norms.
I agree… but totally something my mom would do… you know, next time I release an EP. 😆
And I did not know that either, that EPs don’t have liner notes… I mean, I’ve bought them before but, except for David, didn’t look for any liner notes. And his are usually EPIC! lol
The Forevermore album minus Nandiko Ako has been added to David’s Spotify available albums to play.
cool!
I am still watching this video every day. It just makes me feel happy and helps me get my priorities straight. His dancing is just the best !! He is really good, but not overly “cool” if you know what I mean. Just David. I’m not stressing over lack of promo. If he wanted Fame, he would have stayed in LA. He wants to sing and express himself through music. That is what he’s doing and I’m enjoying all of it ! Of course a tad more promo wouldn’t hurt. LOL
Yes, a tad more promo wouldn’t hurt of course but I guess David covered all his media sites, did a couple of facebook chats. I was thinking about what Indie artists do to promote other than these things and I guess unless you are willing to spend money on ads, etc. not sure what artists do Suppose you could talk about it more on twitter, etc. but all that info is there. Does anyone know what people do for promo? It is quite different without a big label (a lot less stress for D I’m sure). His tour and concerts will help I think. I don’t worry about him though, I think he’ll be fine. Glad he is doing things his way and what makes him happy, he’s still making music and that’s definitely a good thing. 🙂
I have a feeling he already knows ways to get more promo, but would rather stay in his comfort zone.
oliveoil
Well if David is happy, that’s what counts. Sometimes slow but steady can work just fine. 🙂
Actually I have seen some promo at local levels from various venues where he is performing. Maybe more is being done that way.
Speaking of promo (or lack thereof)… I completely missed this FB post until today… must’ve scrolled right past it because there’s no photo or video with it… oh well… baby steps, lol.
here’s my version, hahahaha
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love how he embraces his dorkiness, lol … and “oh btw, I’m going on tour” 😆 😆 😆
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUxM7M2jL5B/?taken-by=jahzey
INTERVIEW!!!!!!! awesome one, one of his best, I think
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My, lots of goodies, great photo. Love the interview David did, so nice and rehearsing Forevermore? Also so nice. love the song (and the voice).
Thanks for the Facebook info, signed up. Guess that is for the same newsletter as from his OS, maybe. Well, it;s doubly good as are your your captions TOfan, haha.