The King of Pop

News of the passing of Michael Jackson today at age 50 was met with shock and sorrow by millions of fans the world over, including here on TDC.

Many of us grew up with Michael Jackson from his early days as lead singer for The Jackson 5 through such milestones as the video production of Thriller, Bad, Billie Jean and others. His contributions to the world of music are legendary as are his humanitarian efforts.  There will be many tributes to Michael Jackson in the days to come, but for now, here is a photographic tribute to The King of Pop.

AI Tour Summer 2008
This annual tour takes the finalists across America. Since David had already signed a record contract, not only was he touring, he was recording every chance that he got for his upcoming debut CD. His set included four songs: Angels, Apologize, Stand By Me, and When You Say You Love Me. Night after night many were wowed by his voice, and many were starting to notice his charisma and growing performance technique. Before and after the venue throngs of fans waited in the summer heat to great him.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr9J2dJ7X-U

Crush
Headlines blared “Archuleta Crushes the Competition” after his debut single raced up the charts, topping iTunes just hours after its release. The song became both a chart and critical success and began to silence those who had considered David solely a ‘ballad boy’. “David Archuleta” the CD debuted at number two on Billboard and currently has sold approximately 700k in the US. Crush has sold 1.8 million downloads and is still an AC radio mainstay.

Jingle Ball/Jam
David appeared in a slew of mini sets across the US promoting his CD during the holiday season. The one that always comes to mind is the Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden, when David was sandwiched between Kanye West and Chris Brown. He not only fit right in… he rocked it out!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCG9vGeNnyU

Solo Tour
At the beginning of the year David embarked on his first solo tour, playing a couple of dozen medium sized venues. The reviews of both fans and critics were positive as David had grown as an entertainer, blossoming on stage before our very eyes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCG9vGeNnyU

Asia, home again and McFly
David got a Beatles style welcome from his Asian fans during his press events and promotional performances. Back in the states he returned to the Idol stage and, hampered by nerves, he later roasted his own performance. Finally David toured with the UK band McFly. Bolstered by his fans who came from far and wide, David relied on his pristine voice, stage presence, and matinee idol good looks to win over the McFly fans.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=owTfslYg8KY

Reunion
David Archuleta and David Cook performed a back-to-back concert in Manila. During their stay they were given a warm reception by the fans; both have strong fan bases there. The concert sold out. 50,000 tickets were sold, with reportedly an equal amount swarming the grounds outside the venue.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4nk4XXaPAc

The Present
So much has been said, and will be said about how far David has come, and where this road will take him. What has impressed me the most about David is his drive and determination. He is both tenacious and humble. It’s taken him a long time to realize that yes, the fans come to see him. He seems to try hard to not miss an appearance or an opportunity to greet his fans. David works hard at his craft, but he plays just as hard, taking the opportunity to take in the local flavor of the city or country he visits whenever he can. He’s a young man playing with slime at the Kid’s Choice Awards, and the next he’s working the stage with more than a hint of sass and maturity. I have no doubt that this is David’s passion. There is no question for me but that this is what he was put on this earth to do.

The Future
As another cycle of American Idol begins, and another winner and runner have been determined what can we expect as David’s ties to the show are perhaps relaxed? Will David become a Disney icon? Or will he become, as many of us hope, the type of performer he admires? Will he have the respect of someone like John Mayer, or the cool reputation of Jason Mraz? Soon he will go on tour with Demi Lovato, and is also working on material for his second CD. With talent like David’s, expectations must be high. I have no crystal ball. No prognostications. I do expect that it will be something to keep his growing fan base talking, tweeting, and blogging. I mean, how can we not? He’s done so much in this year since Idol ended, I can only imagine what he will do with even more confidence and experience. I think his future is bright. The accolades will be many. Yes, he’ll stumble sometime, but he’s shown resilience that belies the image many had of him. He’s come a long way in this incredible year.

-brooklyndawn

(And thanks to our own vermeer for the beautiful artwork.)

David may be a born singer, but unlike many other young, aspiring talents, David is not a born performer. Quite the contrary. As a child, his shyness and humility required that he be coaxed and cajoled into singing for small groups of relatives and friends, and slowly but surely in front of increasingly larger crowds. In fairly short order, those crowds became multitudes, and David’s audience today is global and growing.

It is an interesting irony that someone who was at first so audience-shy is so responsive to the live performance setting. No producer has yet gotten near to extracting in the studio what David is capable of onstage. In the course of his early development as a performer, he could have conceivably developed an emotional wall between himself and the audience — tuned them out, as it were — in order to manage his nerves and his lack of confidence. Instead, he bravely opened himself. He shared his vulnerability. He connected. I suspect David gradually discovered that far from being a frightening place that required sheltering, the stage, for him, was just the opposite. The stage was a place unlike any other in the world, a place he could control, and where opening his heart was always met with love.

If Star Seach was alpha and American Idol was beta, David’s US 09 Tour was by all rights the first full-fledged, ready-for-prime-time, worldwide release of the cross-platform, widget-ready power-app known as David Archuleta. And gosh dang it if the thing didn’t dazzle right out of the box. Oh, it took a couple of test-runs to warm up, but the general consensus among the early adopters is that by Sayreville, the app was performing functions and showing off features that hadn’t even been advertised. Some even thought a couple of showings warranted an ESRB rating sticker.

In truth, the US09 Tour was perhaps not the ideal vehicle by which to experience the true depths of connection for which David Archuleta is already becoming known. Comprised mainly of middle-of-the-road pop material from his very respectable but ultimately uninventive debut album, the tour wound up drawing more on David’s less-developed skills as a performer than on his remarkable gifts as a sophisticated vocalist. And the success of the tour–not just in box office receipts but in the strength of David’s delivery on date after date–is that much more remarkable because of it. In the end, David’s first solo tour will have been more important for David’s own development as a performer than for his career, the cultivation of his audience, or the fulfillment of his fans.

The two component parts of the phrase, “performing artist” can be quite different from each other within a single individual. There are plenty of performers who possess rather dubious credentials for actually getting on a stage, as well as many great talents whose lights will be forever under a bushel. What is perhaps surprising about David’s evolution as a performer is just how much practice he has actually had, and how long it has taken him to reach certain levels of aptitude. David Archuleta is nothing if not methodical.

The interesting thing is, there is never anything that strikes one as methodical about his performances (except for possibly some of the pre-song patter, which he seems hell-bent on delivering word-for-word, regardless of the circumstances or how quickly the band comes in to challenge him). Every note, every musical moment — and, increasingly, every move and gesture, every shoulder pump and hunker-down — feels utterly spontaneous. And even though his progress is methodical, even incremental, it always amazes me how it also seems to have happened so fast. Wasn’t it just a year ago that the prospect of David commanding a stage and working a crowd was about as likely as hearing him curse like a sailor? I have come to the conclusion that the reason his thoughtful, incremental progress seems so rapid is because he chooses just exactly the right increments. David doesn’t take risks just to see what will happen. He decides what will work and then he bets it all.

This is perhaps best exemplified by Zero Gravity, the buoyant club-track-in-training co-penned by Mr. Archuleta himself (it’s no surprise and no accident that a majority of the best cuts on–and not on–the album are David’s). At it’s tour debut, Zero Gravity felt distinctly like an experiment. David didn’t seem at all certain of it’s place in the current repertoire, or even of his own synergy with the song. But the audience response was immediate and clear: He had a crowd-pleaser on his hands. Within just a few shows, David had worked Zero Gravity into a pumped-up, get-down, sexy and spirited hit.

Most performers who find early success because of prodigal talent don’t tend to evolve much beyond their initial scope of skills. They may explore different realms and dimensions of their instrument, try different directions in style and mood, but the sum and substance of their appeal doesn’t usually evolve in a fundamental way. I think David is unique in this regard. It seems clear that even with the magnificent voice, the unerring musicality, the impeccable taste, and now the emerging skill in songwriting and stage command, we are still only scratching the surface.

The implication of still greater potential signified by David’s careful progess into his own comfort zones, his methodical embrace of his own power and of the widening world at his feet, is at once astonishing, exciting, and absolutely frightening. If David 1.0 can galvanize audiences, surprise critics, and cause such mass hysteria, spiritual epiphany, and obsessive Googling, what is in store for the world on the arrival of, say, David 4.3?

I have to laugh a little when I think about what’s really possible in the future from David. For some obvious (and perhaps not-so-obvious) reasons, David is extremely guarded about any direct expression of sensuality. When he is in the world of his music (which for him is a different world altogether), he can’t help it, of course, and his sensuality oozes out of him like the juice from a sweet summer pear, one which lacks any knowledge of having been bitten or of even being so ripe. What is it going to be like when he truly embraces his own sensual nature? What instrument exists that can measure the power certain to surge from a David Archuleta who uses his sensuality consciously, intentionally, like he uses his miraculous voice? We think he’s smoldering now… My friends: These are cool, collected embers compared the raging brush fires that this guy is capable of.

But at the end of the day it is The Voice. For many people, there is an unmistakable tone, a timbre, a frequency of some kind that David produces which, at certain moments, pierces through every emotional barrier, every cynical thought, and touches a place of deep and abiding tenderness, that universal point of perspective where sadness and joy become one, and the great fullness of wise recognition, the great surges of profound understanding, overflow and become tears. One of the few experiences that can bring us to this place in a veritable instant is great art. There weren’t perhaps enough of these moments in the US09 tour, but there were some. One of them is offered here, with thanks to genevievewang and StarryNites01.

David Archuleta is immensely powerful not because he is now becoming a pro at leading a crowd or commanding a stage, or even because of a nascent sensuality that is slowly extending itself, but because he invites you to listen and not just hear; to participate with your heart and not just your senses; to realize that music is not a broadcast but a communication.

People feel unusually close to David because his natural state is, ironically, one of intimacy… an intimacy that I dare say he can cultivate and is comfortable with only onstage. For better or worse, this is the mark of a true star and a great artist: one who can locate their true nature only in the realm of performance; who is most powerful and most vulnerable in that odd and magical public setting. It is these artists who have such passionately devoted fans, because somehow their fans know that for these rare and generous individuals, their time onstage is indeed not just a performance. It is life.

–Rascal

Since we first heard the rumblings of a solo tour, we have wondered what a David Archuleta tour would be. We worried about the type of venue. We pondered whether said venues would be suitable for our burgeoning star. We fretted over mosh pits. Questioned whether to mosh or not to mosh. Whether to throw caution to the wind and fly cross country to see one more show.

Once the tour started, we wondered whether the critics would be fair. We wondered whether he would be able to endure such a whirlwind tour, his first solo tour ever. Most of all we probably wished, wondered, prayed whether ‘they’ would love him like we do.

So now we know (vicariously for many) it is better to mosh, than never to have moshed at all. We know that this young man is a force, and although he may be compact in stature, he is strong, vital, and equipped to meet all challenges. We know that the stage is where his magic is made. We know the critics can’t help but tip their collective hat, and give a nod to him because he is the real deal.

Some of us are actually having a little separation anxiety. Our beloved is about to show the world (well at least parts of Asia and the U.K.) what we already know: that David Archuleta is a multi-faceted, once in a lifetime, extraordinary talent. So fans in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, hang on to your seats. Watch out McFly fans. You are about to be amazed.

We’ve come so far as a fan base. Although we still angst and fret, there is also a feeling of certainty in the air. We know that he won’t be denied. Any worries of Disneyfication, or Montanization dissipate with every strut, every flex, and every beam of that megawatt smile.

Every time he steps on that stage with the growing confidence far exceeding our wildest expectations, we are renewed. We forget all of the worry, the fretting, maybe even a little of the fear. If David had any of the same pre-tour apprehension that we did, it must be gone by now.

His solo tour was sold-out success, with fans traveling from literally around the world to see him. The love he poured out on stage was matched and magnified by the adoring crowds.

So now what? What do we do until he graces that stage again? Until he takes Asia and the U.K. by storm? I say we sip a little Angels Tonic. Follow it with a Barriers Chaser. If that is not enough, I would prescribe a Zero Gravity Mojito. After that I would suggest we just catch our collective breath and exhale. Then we strap ourselves in again, this ride has just begun.

— brooklyndawn

How long has it been?

It’s been said that David is a quick learner, and apparently this quality also extends to his performance skills. I’ve been gone from these boards about 3 months, but it seems as if he has benefited from the experience of several years.

As some of you may know, I have not been around these parts in a while. I have been tending to my Archuholism as I try to focus on law school and political work. I was actually supposed to write on the Reno performance, but was called back at the last minute to be part of a candidates debate at UC-Berkeley. Frazzled and flummoxed, I looked online to see if there were any tickets available for some other time. And lo and behold, there were tickets available for Salt Lake City, just four seats above the floor! Oh my stars how lucky was I?

So here I was, unspoiled about David’s solo concert. I knew only a few of the songs David would sing, not having seen any videos from the tour except for a couple from the very first stop. On top of that, the E-Center was filled to capacity, and David was going to give all he could for his hometown. And we all know that David’s not too shabby when it comes to finales. So you can imagine my anticipation! After I found my seat I looked up to see a clear view of…

A sound speaker. Apparently, I was one of maybe six people in the entire stadium who had this dang speaker positioned right between me and the lead microphone. This wasn’t a nosebleed seat, but during the opening acts I got a crick in my neck as I alternated between leaning sideways and looking up to the ceiling toward a monitor. I discovered that I could see David better if I sat on the stairwell next to my seat. That brought down the usher, who told me to go back to where I was. Apparently I was violating some fire code. I grumbled and parked my arse. I didn’t know I was so dangerous.

On to the important stuff. David is strengthening as a singer. Here he was, outdoing himself on nearly every song on which I had seen him before, hitting the hard notes more strongly than I remember. And he was able to do this through his entire set.

I grinned and listened for the little touches he added to the songs, thinking about what I could over-think and over-analyze for y’all. “I am here to appreciate a true musician,” I tell myself.

And then something happened. During “Barriers,” while charmingly acting out the lyrics as he lilted through the verses (I love this song!), David sings “We’re not getting any stronger,” flexes his bicep and pats it.

Holy picante sauce! Since when did David become such a flirt? And such a showman to boot. He seems to have a wry self-awareness as he goes through his set—relaxed, and simply enjoying pleasing and performing for the crowd.

Then at other moments he’s exuberant, running around the stage, jumping up and down like an eighteen-year-old. Wait! He IS an eighteen-year-old! His energy is contagious: there’s a definite party atmosphere. I haven’t been to a lot of concerts, but this was by far the most FUN I’ve had during a concert.

Again: how long has it been?

And he goes through his songs with a new aggressiveness: he’s stomping, pleading, pointing, giving burning looks, pushing his shoulder forward. Before his solo tour, even as he became intense (DLTSGDOM) it was as if he went to some inner place. Then later last fall, he started to bring out the dance and slinked through “Works for Me!” and ran through “Crush” – but still with some self-consciousness and reserve.

But that’s all gone now. David is confident, looking straight at the audience, knows exactly what he is doing with his movements, and enjoying every minute of it. There’s no choreography here—his movements are raw, natural. He gets into the groove of the song and lets the song move his body. He has grown to become – dare I say it? – very SEXY.

There. I said it. Is that a bad word around here? Has it been like this all through the tour? He may not be hip swiveling, but there is definitely some X factor going on here.

How long has it been?

David breaks out into “Como La Flor” and gives us some soft consonants. I close my eyes and savor the aural chocolate.

Then he stopped! David, I love you, but yo quiero hear the full song, with some sultry background music.

Virtually every song is different from the studio versions and made better, more intense, more immediate. During AI, although he did creative and wonderful things with his runs and with tone and melody, he generally stayed within the ballad/pop mode of singing. But now David is showing more and more of his soul roots.

There’s nice little surprises – I loved his little play on pronunciation in Barriers (“Open up our ay-ees”), And I also loved the end to “Works for Me!,” when he added a couple of funky syncopations that reminded me of classic R&B and funk. And oh my heck the soulful acappella ending to “My Hands” was brilliant. I don’t know if he improvised or not, but either way the notes he found were surprising, somehow just right, and passionate.

David’s description of the kind of music he wants to do – I believe it was soul-infused pop – truly is fitting. I would love to hear him do more crossover stuff in this area in the future.

Or maybe he could become a dance club artist. I had heard the studio recording of “Zero Gravity” and I had seen his very first performance of this on YouTube. But none of that prepared me for the energy in that room! This song was catchy, fun, and danceable, and made you want to jump in the air (zero gravity!). David and most of the crowd were jumping up and down. And whoever said David can’t dance? This is destined to be a single and I can’t wait to see the music video.

And on the topic of singles, this song and “Barriers,” were very, VERY fun songs live, and I think they both could be pop hits. (My humble opinion of course.)

And then there was “Somebody Out There.”

Some of you will know that I already have a love affair with this song. SOT and I go waay back. It’s simple, it’s earnest, it’s raw, just perfect for David to add his soulful touch. And it’s no coincidence, of course, that David co-wrote it.

Well, he surpassed the studio version by a mile. Whatever place in his spirit this song came out of, David is digging even deeper now. There’s an extra ounce of yearning and earnestness in every word. And I love his musical touches: the delicious “Oooh” during the bridge, the contrasting variation at the beginning of the last chorus. Then that phrase in the very last moments of the song – there are no words! How does David manage to be so creative, innovative – on top of that masterful in his execution – in breaking our hearts like that! We are witnessing a musical maestro.

And David ended the night with “Angels.”

THIS is how I wanted him to play it since I saw his EFY performance – his voice soaring above a lone piano. And he outdid himself – again.

He managed to bring the intimacy from his Seton Hall performance, and combined that with the awesome power of his Tulsa performance. And now he played the bridge on the piano (yay!), and took the song to that higher level.

We knew we were witnessing something great – it was as if a fierce storm had built up and was passing through the place. The final screams and cheers began long before David’s last notes.

THIS is a glimpse into David’s future. Years down the line, after his career is established and long enough that we can look back on his list of triumphs, THIS is the image of David that people will think of the most—a singer accompanying himself on the piano, voice soaring, bringing out every emotion, from bliss to pain to contentment.

When I think back to last night, I think most to his piercing cry near the end of “Angels.”

And that was how David bade farewell: farewell to us fans, farewell to his first solo tour. I felt a strange sense of bittersweetness – not just because he leaves us for the UK, where I know he will win over thousands of new hearts when he reprises their “Angels” with a dose of American soul – but also because when he comes back he won’t be exactly as I now know him. He will have grown even more in talent, broadened his horizons, discovered new powers within himself.

Although he will always be the same David, in some strange way I will barely recognize him.

And I’ll be shaking my head saying: “How long has it been?”

–Ronaldsf

* Postscript: It really is true what they say that Utahns are nice. My airport shuttle driver was talkative – after coming back back from the war 38 years ago, he stayed in Salt Lake City one winter for work. He spent the summer there, and fell in love with the place.

“Great place to raise a family,” he said. “Crime is low, not a lot of bad things for kids to get drawn up in. Last year, there were 55 murders in Utah.”

Pretty dang low!

I stood in a huge line at the airport, when actually (because I had no luggage to check-in) I should have just gone straight to the express line. To my right, rushing up to the express line, is Jeff! He appears to be in a hurry, so I decide not to bother him. Besides, I didn’t want to lose in my place in that long line. (I still didn’t know I didn’t belong there.)

But apparently there’s something Jeff needs, so he steps out. I walk up to the counter and get my boarding pass. When I turn around, I see Jeff – and David!

All these thoughts race through my mind – there’s that awesome, uber-talented guy who sang his heart out last night! I thought I would never get to see him in person again! And he and I have matching jackets!!

I approach him and say “David!”, but apparently he thinks I’m some old friend he no longer recognizes or that I’m crazy. I should have prefaced it with “I’m a fan!” or “I was at the concert!”

He gives me a look of either confusion or profound concern.

Then I say “You were awesome last night.”

“Thank you!!” His voice is hoarse, and he puts his hand up to his mouth as he clears his throat. He gave his all last night!

“Oh, you must be on vocal rest!” I take out my wallet and remove the “Rising Star Outreach” charity card that was given out during the concert. I flip it around to Molapro’s drawing and ask David to sign it – and give him my blue ballpoint pen.

He furrows his eyebrows as he scratches the pen onto the card to get the ink flowing. He scrawls his signature. (Stupid me. I had a Sharpie in my bag!)

I thanked him and went on my way, grinning. I must have looked like an idiot, with my stupid words and my stupid pen. But yay – I just bumped into David!

And later on, at my departure gate, there was David, at a nearby gate with Jeff and Lupe. Several people approach and take pictures with him. I glare at them with jealousy as I realize I should I have brought a camera with me.

Didn’t Silverfox also get to bump into David – twice? I think that we in the nD/jD community are blessed. Good karma for all the love we show on this page, I sez.

Moral of the story? Stand in the wrong line. You never know what will happen. And join the nD/jD community too.

You will find here a variety of views and reviews of the Solo Tour final stop that will be posted throughout the day. Keep checking back!

E-Center, Friday, March 27, 2009.

from davidfanLIZ – I made lemonade out of rather lousy seats and enjoyed looking at the whole spectacle from afar. Can you picture looking down on 8000 people jumping to Zero Gravity? David was intense throughout the show and gave every song his all. He jumped and stomped and hunkered. He sang both My Hand and Your Eyes Don’t Lie, and I got to hear the whistling live for the first time! My first AI show had similar rooftop seats and I remembered back to those days when David was somewhat tentatively finding his footing on the stage. Tonight he completely filled that large arena with just David, with his voice, with his intensity, with his sweet charm. BTW you might have noticed that David wore an orange wristband tonight. The words on it say: David vs Goliath, CRUSH MS, Find the Cure. On the inside it says: Brett Hales. Brett and friends were selling these to raise money for MS research.

from kizzi ~ Joy & Power: Having attended the first solo tour concert at Virginia Beach and then the final for this tour at SLC, my overall sense is the quantum performance leap David has achieved in 32 days. And, I can no longer imagine where he will be in the coming years, heck, the coming months!

Tonight, his smile was in constant attendance and the overarching emotion was simply……Joy. He is a home boy. The love his hometown has for him washed over us non-homey’s in waves and we knew we were experiencing a rare relationship; and, that love continued to spill out over the walls and through the roof of the E-Center all evening. I think it will be most evident in the videos.

The power David infused into his voice this night was most spectacular. And, I’ve seen quite a few David performances. His voice took us to pure beauty and art and magic in EACH and EVERY song. “Somebody Out There” was absolutely the most perfect performance he has done with that song–the notes were strong or soft, drenched in poignant, heartfelt tenderness and longing. “Don’t Let Go” is very special to David and he is expressing, again, a yearning that just emerges from him with every note and shimmers into sight tantalizing us with glimpses of the depth and breadth of what he is expressing–a vulnerability and rawness that is completely compelling–we feel his emotion and if we fill in our personal “blank” with our own life experience, that song unlocks our own secrets, our own yearnings–so powerful.

Finally, the band has journeyed with David these last 32 days and they have progressed along with him. It seems to me that they have given him an artistic launching pad–an organic energy source–and he has given them the same. I believe the question isn’t “will David be successful?” I believe the question is “how successful does David want to be?

from vermeer - Watching David sing and talk, whether it is in a smaller setting like the Knitting Factory in Boise, or in an arena such as the E-Center, I still felt the overwhelming joy and love surging out of my body for him. You feel a connection, a strong connection. He beamed at the audience throughout the night at his home town crowd though it was made up of many people from all over the place as well. It is such a joy to feel his joy.

I’ll leave the review of the songs to others but I’ll say that there were new runs and tasty nuggets he added to various numbers as always and I noticed a new small kick move that he incorporated … now I’m already forgetting which song, but it made me chuckle with glee. Anything David does is heartwarming. He does it for his own experimenting and growth and for the audience. I so appreciate anything that he does as it shows dedication and supreme effort to improve his craft. Gotta LOVE this guy!!

Because this was his last show of his first solo tour, it wasn’t without some sad emotional moments that you sensed when he was introducing Crush. Crush signaled the end of the show and the end of the tour. When Liz and I were walking back to the car in the arena parking lot very late at night after enjoying some quiet moments in a nearby restaurant, we ran into Eli. The fact that this was the end of the tour sunk in even more was he said he won’t be seeing David after tonight, that is, until the band rejoins him for the UK tour.

On last note is I thoroughly enjoyed the two opening acts and will be YouTubing them to hear more

from awestruck: Reflections of the SLC Concert – My FIRST time to see David perform live.  Mood:  melancholy.  So, the highlights of my fragmented thoughts will best be served up in point form and not necessarily in chronological order.
-    I took advantage of other’s comments:  Enjoy the moment.  I was selfish and deliberately left my camera at home.  KUDOS to those who go to David’s concerts and provide video and photographs from their experience.
-    It surprises me that I don’t seem to have thoughts of the entire concert, as I know I focused entirely on David the whole time.
-   Overall, David was energetic, powerful, assured in his in between song banter, passionate, intense, and seemed to completely open himself up to the audience in front of him.  I could hear clearly every word he spoke and sang.  How his voice projected in an arena filled with screaming fans just blew me away.  I must say that for the most part the crowd was respectfully quiet while he was talking and singing (especially during the slow songs), but sure showed him love in between.
-    HIS SMILE – when he first came on and sang Touch My Hand was from ear to ear.  I did not know anyone could sing this way.  It was obvious he was glad to be home.  Numerous times he said how happy (sorry I can’t remember the exact word he used) he was to be home.
-    The connection he feels to the songs he had a part in is palpable.  His introduction to SOT was a heartfelt reminder to the audience that there IS someone out there for each of us, even if we don’t realize it.  WFM is one of my favorites, just because it seems to have so much meaning for David himself.  Of all his penned songs it is this one that seems to be directly related to himself.  Fun to see him perform it.  Don’t Let Go – not one that particularly stood out to me on the album – but AMAZING live. The final “don’t let goooooo” was spine chilling.
-    Zero Gravity deserves a point all by itself.  Nearly the entire audience was jumping up and down during the choruses, I did glance around during this one.  This song goes by sooo fast.  The energy he has while singing it is amazing.  This is the song that may make a breakthrough for David overseas, imo.
-    My Hands.  Loved, loved, loved the ending.
-    TBWY – tears.
-   You Can – my VBH (very brave hubby, who came with me) whispered in my ear that THIS was the song that he could not get out of his head one night and woke up to.
-    Como la Flor was sung with a different kind of passionate tone to my ears. To hear him sing in Spanish you would think it was his native tongue.  I would love it if David included a song/portion of a song a capella in every concert he does.
-    Don’t laugh now, I cried while he sang Crush.  He dedicated this song to the audience with such emotion in his voice that my emotions took over.
-    ANGELS.   I can’t express to you all how grateful I am that I got to hear David perform this live.  TEARS.  He told the crowd “I love you guys” at the end, then got up and bowed, waved and left…

So overwhelmingly amazingly cool to finally meet some of my online friends, I truly consider you that – you know who you all are, I don’t want to leave anyone out if I list names.  Curious how once I started writing this down it all seemed to come pouring out.  Sorry it’s so long.  I want to thank VBH for being there for me and with me.

TOUCH MY HAND -- more complete intro (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=d75W25mtsAE

TOUCH MY HAND (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JexzZv6gvFA

TOUCH MY HAND (thanks to mcamy1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwpyMh1rF_M

TOUCH MY HAND (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MXpHusUt7A

BARRIERS - taking vids w/ fans(thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqOw9pIPCkY

BARRIERS - upclose & personal(thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgorosyxzZc

BARRIERS (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJlFJ878Jj0

ALTNOY (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRhX1jqsukA

ALTNOY -- incl of pix taking w/ audience (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=McoJxupxPjY

ALTNOY -- upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gSDp4hXqWI

ALTNOY -- closer (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6_eppnyEyo

MY HANDS (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTPHlG08MZI

MY HANDS -- upclose & personal! (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTUQW0Y8804

SOMEBODY OUT THERE - upclose & personal! (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSIe00_JnUk

SOMEBODY OUT THERE -- better video (thanks to ebayrae)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RGF7X9CS5Y

SOMEBODY OUT THERE -- closer (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6xpWIGeYVA

WORKS FOR ME!close-up alert!(thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA8CT5Iacv0

WORKS FOR ME! -- upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft_q-X8IBOI

WORKS FOR ME! -- closer (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEqdt0iG9Q8

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DbQY4foO1Y

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY -- upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fA5KH8Q8eQ

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY -- closer (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JJqTGfDsXE

YOUR EYES DON’T LIE -- great close-ups! (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6fGkbkBxmI

YOUR EYES DON’T LIE (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHaCN2m0-2M

YOUR EYES DON’T LIE -- upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7irAJC7_qQI

YOUR EYES DON’T LIE -- better video (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2QbC0PRgQ

YOUR EYES DON’T LIE -- close-up galore & the laugh at the end! (thanks to mcamy1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8paJVjfNvQM

MEDLEY - upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPr9dmZtEHM

LOVE SONG -- uber screen close-up! (thanks toAmyE228)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgUeAhpmhGg

I’M YOURS - upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-6oJv0nfqQ

TO BE WITH YOU -- uber screen close-up! (thanks toAmyE228)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPJ7somALxw

TO BE WITH YOU -- better video (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOG_n1uXCng

TO BE WITH YOU - upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vl5YHyHrgU

COMO LA FLOR -- great close-ups! (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGwuDS6FZ3I

COMO LA FLOR - upclose & personal (thanks to genevievewang)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPzzKZPHziY

COMO LA FLOR -- steady & closer (thanks to mcamy1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2JeM_G_zqI

DON’T LET GO -- close-up alert! (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBRDolqxw8A

DON’T LET GO (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=34I9yeFqdRE

DON’T LET GO (thanks tomuldur99)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=azFj3bLbjKs

ZERO GRAVITY -- panoramic shot jumping audience (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-RfX9X5-lE

ZERO GRAVITY (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzqKVrZXBGs

ZERO GRAVITY -- better video (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz__N6gmkUk

YOU CAN -- close-up alert! (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRR5rukx2GY

YOU CAN -- better video (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt1IuaBAQFg

CRUSH -- close-up alert! (thanks tobrett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfC4Ny8qXg

CRUSH (thanks to StarryNites)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXFgM4cYDVs

ATM -- uber screen close-up! (thanks toAmyE228)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozS5g2r_FUw

ATM - close-up alert! (thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmRacGIa1ss

ATM -- better video but partial (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr5Xtwz06xY

ANGELS - close-up alert!(thanks to brett337)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGAM1NZ-kQc

ANGELS - upclose & personal!(thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn1IQaQRYKI

ANGELS -- close-up alert! (thanks to mcamy1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1VNb8oh1ZM

INTRO OF BAND (thanks to almostround9)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TWlCu6i1-Q

TOUCH MY HANDS (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u91D3Lf5bqs

TOUCH MY HANDS (thanks to chiedunkwocha)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=skAEWJsgsk8

BARRIERS (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_eVPjXKxA8

BARRIERS (thanks to pence50)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuJf-8F3ezY

ALTNOY (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_Cd6GUFwjo

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMyzn9bBTMg

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to azac460)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMyzn9bBTMg

MY HANDS (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMyzn9bBTMg

WORKS FOR ME! (thanks to zerogravity111A)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxYqwONsvuk

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZmO40VyV0c

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY (thanks to chiedunkwocha)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=--jk1YC9qhc

MEDLEY: I’M YOURS (thanks to azac460)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_di3i3deaYs

MEDLEY: I’M YOURS (thanks to subwayummy)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKzsF-47Dc

COMO LA FLOR (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gKHXJ2lIjs

COMO LA FLOR (thanks to zerogravity111A)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7l17K5cTvA

DON’T LET GO (thanks to mamezamd)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMyzn9bBTMg

TOUCH MY HANDS (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7yiEMD--uI

BARRIERS (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrLkNrLYtJk

BARRIERS (thanks to TheDarkYear1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfewK7x1jCU

BARRIERS (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1wImsy-JRI

ALTNOY (thanks to TheDarkYear1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRIIkw40rhM

ALTNOY (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFR6mivoxJU

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVddCF3jWfw

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to TheDarkYear1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBMdeqKJXuU

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=upgJBYPvYt0

WORKS FOR ME (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV5CvyCejTs

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2aRak4KyLI

MEDLEY COMPLETE (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDaQoZJrH-U

MEDLEY: ONE -- part 1 (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3bTfEe2gY

MEDLEY: ONE -- part 2 (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyHj7YCjbuw

MEDLEY: LOVE SONG (thanks to ninasmom97)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZAghovRxIk

MEDLEY: I’M YOURS (thanks to ninasmom97)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7HYpXW1wWY

TO BE WITH YOU (thanks to ninasmom97)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRWAA5ACsDo

COMO LA FLOR (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRTm1d_MEgE

DON’T LET GO (thanks to TheDarkYear1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwhWY2Fx5VU

DON’T LET GO (thanks to tileedn)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLcPudk2tgA

ZERO GRAVITY (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=31K7xq7oxc4

ZERO GRAVITY (thanks to ninasmom97)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ufda-WIDE

YOU CAN (thanks to ShellyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkKKoof3mkM

CRUSH (thanks to ninasmom97)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3B2C2ZMi0A

ATM (thanks to 4jess30)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO7S7a4r7eI

ATM (thanks to ninasmom97)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd6_bDI-O5E

ANGELS (thanks to kmw226)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_fHKAPv3Pg

TOUCH MY HAND (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJAz24Ez86Q

BARRIERS (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cHaj03cKQo

BARRIERS (thanks to  VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fqKqlc94oU

ALTNOY -- incl the Leslie hug & pix taking (thanks to  VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SBjpCm5D28

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kTP2ijfG2Q

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArJkn7R9e-c

SOMEBODY OUT THERE (thanks to chocolatebar5130)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXIBNKz7q2U

MY HANDS (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkvpYgUoAR4

WORKS FOR ME! (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQJImniF7B8

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A9rDdGeHws

WAITING FOR YESTERDAY (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=85G4PG_GLWM

MEDLEY & BAND INTRO (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoweAVEteBg

MEDLEY (thanks to chocolatebar5130)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggyp5azvvj0

MEDLEY: ONE- close-up (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HZUcH9H-v8

MEDLEY: LOVE SONG & I’M YOURS (thanks to BoiseAuntie )

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaQa7v_kP0Q

TO BE WITH YOU (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC0hGHW4vbY

TO BE WITH YOU- close-up (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtCWfZXBpaY

TO BE WITH YOU (thanks to BoiseAuntie)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1xSD7eb4rc

COMO LA FLOR (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=plxzZirqF3Y

COMO LA FLOR (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7dhPwYzlIk

DON’T LET GO (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=isTcUev81KA

DON’T LET GO (thanks to 123clicks)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxCwwIMGL_g

ZERO GRAVITY (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4QLgnoiwb0

ZERO GRAVITY (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FRDZ2EY_Oc

YOU CAN (thanks to ShelleyFOD)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRmZ9f1GAO0

YOU CAN (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR1TCWSmoFw

CRUSH (thanks to BoiseAuntie )

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlSOBCC0rnM

ATM (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUfrlq_ZGRE

ANGELS (thanks to BoiseAuntie )

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfJf71GDO5o

ANGELS (thanks to VWilliams1231)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC37wyRfWwI