Listening to David’s sophomore pop album, “The Other Side of Down” is like opening a gift swathed in several layers of wrappers or boxes. Each layer, heightening the excitement; Each peeling, revealing or confirming another facet of David’s enigmatic persona.
This Time it’s Personal
So when David says “this album has more of me” and that “I want people to see me, hear me. It’s like re-introducing the real David Archuleta”, that’s exactly what we get – an album stamped with his personality and his own experiences. It brims with delightful pop textures, unbridled positivity and that quirky sense of “Davidism” on life and its challenges.
TOSOD makes you smile, moves you to tap your feet or bob your head or rekindle some not-so-distant romantic sentiments. Par for the course for a pop album, right? Well, not exactly.
Because TOSOD is anything but simple. At closer inspection, TOSOD reads like a coming-of-age novel. I hear it as a declaration a David’s transition from one life-stage to the next. It tells me growth, wisdom, insight, and the ways in which David develops a mature and conscious understanding and expression of himself and his circumstance.
As fans, we know only too well of David’s genteel side. He may be honest and to most of us, entertainingly candid, but David is unfailingly circumspect with his public dealings (although I would bet a Pad Thai dinner that he is the same even with his private interactions!)
By words and deeds, he is a man for others. His zeal in helping people and supporting his loved ones is probably only outweighed by his passion for music. Even when visibly dead tired, he would still make time for fans. And never one to hog the limelight, David tends to redirect the focus on others’ achievements. Heck, he even promotes other artists during his own promo tour!
Which makes “Who I Am”, a refreshing detour.
A “Me” Time for the Consummate Giver
Out of the 10 songs David co-wrote, there are about four songs which I find more introspective. “Who I Am” is one of those. But what makes “Who I Am” different is that for once, you hear David claim a “Me Time”. And wisely so.
I’m gonna take this moment that I’m in right now
Stop the craziness somehow
Leave it all behind me
And no one’s gonna find me…
The insatiable demands of others can be overwhelming. That’s why a “Me Time” is crucial. The book “Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget”, explains: “If you never have any time except reactive time — things you must do for others — you don’t have a sense of control”.
In “Who I Am”, David shows how he takes control from the whirring madness he finds himself in – even if it is just a brief time in a back of a cab. He shares the importance of stopping and taking stock of things with a humorous twist like ignoring a call from Jeff Fenster himself (there is that dry wit, again!).
It takes maturity to stake this claim and not be apologetic about it. To press the escape button when one needs it and be candid about it, I guess helps make a consummate giver like David continue to give.
It may get crazy at times, but David can always go back to who he is and never go wrong with the abundance that that entails.
The Medium is the Message
I really like how the melody and instrumentation were used to match the message of the song.
“Who I Am” starts with a situationer, placing David in the midst of a typical busy day. Listen to the music. You hear this semi-monotonous beat from a guitar that stays for the 1st two verses. It steps up in the 2nd verse but the repetitive thump persists.
Then you find a build-up which starts as soon as David declares “Days like these, it’s hard to breathe”, then release… you hear the melody metamorphose into this infectious chorus. More instruments join in – the piano, the drums and you get a euphony of sounds bearing an unmistakable celebratory jam.
In going back to “who he is”, the monotonous thump (regular verses) drops away leading to an exuberant groove (chorus). It’s like in claiming his “Me Time”, David is able to slip and slide between the crazy world of entertainment and his real life, while maintaining his balance.
The transformation becomes more pronounced after the bridge – when everything gets quiet except for the piano – yes the piano, not a guitar! See the symbolic shift? We all know that David is a piano man. So what starts out as a rhythmic guitar-led verse, crescendos into this brief, quiet piano-focused moment – cos we need to hear him out. At this point. his stake to claim is fulfilled and we are left with jubilant, liberating, declaratory kick-filled chorus to finish the song. Yeah!
The Craziness of Ranking
As I write this, the 1st week sales started coming in. And so begins the anguished, horrified and disappointed reactions from die-hard fans. What do you know? “Who I Am” has a message for those of us baffled by album’s 1st week sales.
Sometimes (sometimes)
You just know (just know)
When to hold on
When to let go
Of course we want the best for David. We wish a stellar musical career for him. Who has not dreamed of accolades and awards for all his hard work? We shake our heads, dumbfounded when we don’t even get to hear his songs on radio. Instead, we are treated to a barrage of mindless, same-sounding, cookie-cutter, badly written stuff that sell like hotcakes. This speaks volumes about the current state of radio-America, but that piece shall be saved for another day.
I think David has chosen his battles. Instead of kowtowing to Corporate America to create an image to sell to the fickle public, he chose to present authenticity. But by going against the grain, he risks his chances at instant, commercial success.
I got nothing to win and I got nothing to lose
Just trying to walk in my own two shoes
Gonna take the time now
It’s time for me to find out
Who I am
I think that as long he can keep making music, he is OK not being a super pop star. We should therefore take the cue from him.
He has given us a beautifully crafted record, a must-have for anyone who wants or needs to hear what feel-good, great-sounding pop music is all about, delivered with a superb, once in a lifetime vocal power. As fans, we have done our part. Let’s enjoy the music. Meantime, let’s see his Label genuinely push for this album. If it doesn’t, that’s s shame cos there are a lot of songs in this album that deserve airplay.
“Who I Am” is one of my personal favorites. It is deceptively simple. I suppose that’s what I love about it. Yet, it exemplifies how David has progressed through entirely new passages, into a life of deeper meaning. By going back to basics and doing what he does best: by being, as he would say with that megawatt smile, “Who I Am”.
– jackryan4DA
Click to Listen:
[wpaudio url=”https://www.thedavidchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/05-Who-I-Am-2.mp3″ text=”Who I Am” dl=”0″]
ps: (21 Dec 201) David just announced his mission and this song takes a new meaning altogether. His “time for me” is actually time for his Faith… for his Mission. Things make so much more sense now
I don’t think I have posted this here:
AlloyTV Interview -- 21 questions to David Archuleta
JR: Fantastic Review! This is one of my favorite songs on the album and I love how you put the words into the context of David’s public life. The insatiable demands of others can be overwhelming. I can imagine wanting to just ride around in a cab for a while -- away from everyone -- during a whirlwind trip to LA after spending days on the road going from radio station to radio station, and suffering through the opt repeated same old, same old interview questions.
And this: I think that as long he can keep making music, he is OK not being a super pop star. We should therefore take the cue from him. Well said! I know we want much for David, but he seems to be wise enough to realize he doesn’t have to have a meteoric rise to fame. He is taking his time.
A well-known writer from around these parts said something like this to me today, “I’m willing to wait the 5, 10 or even 20 years before David comes into his own.”
Heh, apparently so are the rest of us! 🙂
Comment from SilverFox
Hi there!
I tried & tried to log in to TDC but couldn’t. Dang it! So I just decided to email you instead.
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your review of David’s “Who I Am” on TDC. I really love this song and the way you described the lyrics & tone of the song was just so good! I loved & agreed with every word, especially your assessment of what may or may not be going through David’s mind right now. It’s doubtful he is as stressed out about sales & some of the less than stellar reviews as we are. He will just go with the flow & will wait to see where this album takes him and his career. I find myself feeling so badly for him as I was so sure TOSOD would be a runaway success, then I realize…who am I to determine what would constitute “success” to David? Just the fact that he was able to make this album his way is success. And when I read an eloquent and sensible article such as yours, it makes me look at what is going on with a new perspective.
Anyway, thanks for the great read!
David @ Top 3 on “MTV’s 10 on Top”
SBL submitted for Grammy nominations -- Best Male Vocal Performance ++
“The Grammy Submission lists have leaked. Nearly every Idol who has released music this year has been submitted to the Grammy committee by their record label for consideration.”
http://mjsbigblog.com/grammy-2011-submissions-list.htm/comment-page-1#comment-818113
JR -- I really enjoyed this, thank you. Especially your description The Medium is the Message.
Being such a giver I agree that he needs to find “me” time in order to rejuvenate and being so assured in knowing who he is allows him a peacefulness in doing so.
“Sometimes (sometimes)
You just know (just know)
When to hold on
When to let go”
These are words for worry wart fans to heed! As for instantaneous commercial success, yes by daring to be different in today’s pop world David’s way will be slow, steady and sure. Everlasting.
JR, excellent review of one of my favorite songs on TOSOD! I particularly appreciate your pointing out how the giver David is claiming his me time here. So true! I feel like he is really sharing something of himself with his fans. And I also really enjoyed reading your observations on the music itself. I have to go listen again to hear the piano part. I didn’t even notice! Thank you!
I haven’t been around these parts lately, so I am going back to previous posts. I know I’ve missed some good ones and the comments.
Great to see Silverfox! Glad you persisted in spite of log in issues!
If anyone can’t log in or can’t remember their password, just send me an email or use the contact form (top of page). I’ll reset your password so you can get in!
Loved your article, JR, it all rings so true! …“unfailingly circumspect”…? Oh yeah, that’s rich… you nailed it!
re: the MTV Top 3 clip… David on Glee would so make my day… um, week… er, DECADE! (OK, maybe not decade, my life isn’t that dull!)
JR: Wonderful analysis of a great song! Who I am is up there toward the top for me also. I also see that it as a personal statement You hit the nail on the head with how I feel about the album when you said “At closer inspection, TOSOD reads like a coming-of-age novel. I hear it as a declaration a David’s transition from one life-stage to the next. It tells me growth, wisdom, insight, and the ways in which David develops a mature and conscious understanding and expression of himself and his circumstance.”
My favorite line from the song is ” I got nothing to win and I got nothing to lose Just trying to walk in my own two shoes
Gonna take the time now It’s time for me to find out
Who I am”
I believe that is exactly where David is at. And also, in my mind- when he sings that part- I picture with album cover with the big boots :-), also the opening scence of SBL, and the amazing line in OSOD where he says “I put one foot front of the other, No no no nothing’s gonna break my stride”
I see David’s reflection all over this album.
Am glad that the article resonated with you guys.
Am also glad to see a number of you, who has been away from this board for some time, took the time to comment. That means a lot. Hope it won’t be a while again to see familiar names esp since we are just half-way with the song-by-song analysis of TOSOD.
Can’t wait for Ronald’s take on Falling Stars! Watch out for that!
Thanks again for your lovely comments 🙂
HIGHERVIBE -- I have been praying that one of the writers of GLEE think of a plot that would fit David. Pleeeeeeeeeeease Glee geniuses. They should probably see him playing piano for that smiling mango? That could be an audition clip that fits a GLEEK to a T, right?
And I just remembered, I was so enamored with Other Side of Down that I submitted it to “The Biggest Loser”, suggesting that it could be their theme song for this year. LOL, and that was just when we only had a snippet!
Archies are really loco, noh?
And if there is any doubt how David is sooo loved here in my corner of the world, see this --
Young stars singing & dancing to a medley of SBL & Elevator
!
Please excuse the poor kids for murdering the song — IT’S THE THOUGHT & EFFORT (?) THAT COUNTS, ok? LOL
ps: I don’t know the program cos I practically don’t watch TV for some time now.
EMBE’s interpretation of MKOP 🙂
http://www.mediafire.com/?8cqa1m0r1df7dd5
EMBE -- you should submit this to David. Dang! Too bad the myspace contest thingy is not available in your parts.
Perhaps those of you in the US can still submit it? Is it still on?
JR -- Thanks for sharing that video. I wish American kids “got” David like that. Those are FANS!
PS -- I added a player to your post so people can listen to Who I Am. Check it out.
There is unconfirmed news that David will be coming to Manila early next year. The better news is that it will NOT be under the producer who originally brought them here!
I know he is coming. He said so himself. Just waiting for confirmation from our local Sony unit.
But the part that it won’t be under Fearless Prod is the best part cos that means we will have a shot at a legitimate M&G!
Heaven, I’m in heaven… sing with me peeps, sing with me …
Saw this at Snarkies:
Tweet from @Chance_of_Fate to @melindaWEG: I think it would be great if David had a fanclub the way the Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, and a lot of other singers do.
Melinda replies: funny you should say that we are setting that up now 🙂
I’m not familiar with what a “fanclub” provides but hopefully it’s all good :).
Gonna see if my new avi shows up. It’s my twitter avi but thought I should change it for here too when I saw JR mention the mango!
MARLIE -- that player is SO cool! Just noticed that there is a download link though. Can we disable that?
VERMEER -- LOL at your avi w/ the mango. Look at that -- the mango is looking up to David lovingly!
JR, I know! The mango is making goo goo eyes at David! Can’t blame him/her/it LOL!
Embe! Your MKOP is wonderful! I’m glad we are getting a chance to hear it.
Wonderful write up, JR. I just love “Who I Am” (I haven’t decided if SBL or this song is my favorite.) And, I think this album has helped bring fruition to many of my hopes for David these past years. David is finally being able to show the warm, caring, introspective & goofy young man all of his fans know he is, instead of the misconceived “robot/ballad boy” that the media had thrust him with. I am now reading reviews of past anti-Archie folks who are giving him credit where credit was always due. Bloggers who were dismissive are now singing his praise and musical artists who respect his talent and are the ones trying to get pictures of themselves with him.
David is being honest to himself and to us, as you have written JR --“By going back to basics and doing what he does best: by being, as he would say with that megawatt smile, “Who I Am”.”
Um… what mango are you guys talking about? David played for a mango? I must have missed that vid! Please provide link. 🙂
HV -- this is the vid -- BTS Barndance from FM97! -- that has the mango segment. Then look at vermeer’s avi, the mango looks like its making googly eyes w/ DA 🙂
It was posted in the STR thread 🙂
JR, what a pleasure this article is! It’s truly a labor of love.
I too think that Who I Am is one of the stronger songs on the album. When I hear that chorus, it just gives me this feeling of the world breezing by and feeling alright about it. Also, the lyrics are strong: straightforward and heartfelt. I love all the parts that people have quoted. It reads like an anthem of sorts.
I initially thought this might be an okay single because of the chorus -- I can imagine people turning it up in the car and saying to themselves, “This is exactly how I feel right now.” But I’m not as sure now, and I’m hoping that a couple of other tracks will be given a chance at that task.
I have a slightly different take on the TOSOD album in that I see it as the product of a continued balancing act -- I think it represents an effort to allow David to show his personality more through the lyrics, while staying musically within the bounds of pop music. I think some of the mixed reactions are related to the fact that people have such diverging expectations for what a “David Pop Album” should be.
I, for example, wish we had more chances to get lost in that Voice, such as that sweet part during the end of Who I Am. You all know which part I’m talking about -- the acappella part with the Many Davids singing in harmony with each other, softening and then increasing in intensity. (Suh-weet sounding, and what a powerful way to represent being in his own world: a David Echo Chamber! :))
It makes me wonder if a more musically-eclectic approach to a David Album is in order, perhaps with some more straightforward (radio-format-wise) approaches to pop (Look Around comes to mind, plus a strong epic conventional ballad), alongside some more musically adventurous songs, like 70s-style rock-pop (the kind where the singers sing in harmony) along with the quirks (I’m looking at you, Elevator ;)). But David is young, and there is time for growth.
And thanks for including that Filipino vid! Erm, yes, I chalk up the subpar singing performance to the fact that SBL is an uberly-difficult song to sing. But gotta love the enthusiasm!! I am absolutely not surprised that David would be visiting the P.I. -- we are a people that will fall in love with David and be fiercely loyal! 🙂
I know that 6 seconds is nothing but 6 seconds of David?
Well, I found additional footage from the Wendy Williams Show, 6 secs to be exact. So if anyone is interested, it starts at mark :10
AOLmusic’s surprise -- A DAY IN THE LIFE OF DAVID ARCHULETA http://www.popeater.com/2010/10/18/david-archuleta-a-day-in-the-life/
JR -- I found a fix to the download link -- gone!
Pretty short video for a day in the life. But -- we’ll take what we can get 🙂
JR -- haha, juicy!! Vermeer--Oh, that poor lovesick mango!!!!!!! hahahaha, THANKS!
Of course, that prompted me to look for YTs of David performing that (Sara) song… here’s a medley, it’s the 3rd:
rel="nofollow ugc">
(no “v” thingy, so I can watch on BBerry at the vet… gotta run now)
Some PIX from PopEater’s coverage of the ‘A Day in the Life’ vid
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2010/10/david-archuleta-590-101810.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2010/10/david-archuleta-590-02-101810-1287415917.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.popeater.com/media/2010/10/david-archuleta-590-03-101810-1287415888.jpg
MARLIE -- thanks for disabling the DL link 🙂
The photographer of the 1-day-in-the-life shoot twitted and blogged about David
http://dianalevine.tumblr.com/
http://www.dianalevine.com/v3/
Gosh! Haven’t been here in ages! I’ve missed you all 🙂
JR, you’re such a ninja 😀 I can’t believe you’ve posted my MKOP cover here too.
Tomorrow, when I have proper time, I’ll read through the song-by-song analysis you guys have created.
Hey embe! Good to see you. I thought you sounded soooo sweet on MKOP.
I really enjoyed the PopEater video, write up and photos as a whole. I LOLed at the mention of how the writer knew David was getting hungry as “he started pointing out all the random food spots and specials of the day we’d pass.” Good observation!
Ronald, I love this new album but I know, as you point out, musically he could only take it so far in the direction that he probably would have wanted to, based on many things he’d said. But I am happy and proud of him that he got the label to let him have so much say on the content, lyrically. In a recent interview, when asked what type of music he liked, he answered “soulful R&B”. Perhaps his next album?? Hope so!!!
On the topic of Who I Am, anyone heard N Jonas’ Who I Am? Lyrically, it doesn’t even compare. It is so one-dimensional and run of the mill, and vocally, it sounds incredibly forced to my ears. Am I biased??!!
Highervibe! How are ya? Glad the mango made you laugh! It’s so cute how it leans towards him on the piano. LOL
Update on the Q-Ball Show
David sang Something ‘Bout Love, My Hands, Elevator, Angels and Crush.
@MikeK twitted: Hangin back stage with David Archuleta, Ryan Star and Steven Page from Barenaked Ladies! What a trip!
And this made me laugh:
@AndreaFOD Ryan Star just said he gets all giddy when he sees David archuleta’s pic flash on the wall haha
Ryan Starr was one of the contestants from the reality contest RockSuperNova. He was the brooding type so giddy is a term I don’t associate with him. Trust TheArchuletor!
Muldur was there so we are assured of great vids. Twit from her
“I listened to my recordings. Best five song set I ever heard. Lighting was not easy. New camera. So video is not consistently awesome. But he sure sounded incredible. New stuff in all songs especially angels and my hands.sbl was perfect. Crush was another acoustic gem and elevator was so fun.”
I’ve set up the Pittsburgh page so for videos and succeeding updates pls check it there:
https://www.thedavidchronicles.com/2010/10/radiotour-pittsburgh-pa-19-oct-2010/
Muldur has me all psyched up to hear this performance. I hope I don’t have to wait until tomorrow! Wahhhhhh. 🙂