Admiration Remains, Feelings Change
Of course, people are going to speculate about a site, about an artist, about a fan.
For those wondering or worrying, please note: I have no intentions of shutting this site down. There are just too many good gems that I’ve written in the past six years to suddenly make inaccessible, and also too many good memories of David and being a fan of David.
I just have no plans to produce future content.
Unless David suddenly surprises me with a new song or album or musical event that sucks me right back in.
Until then, I’m just not on the same obsessive plane over the Voice that used to sustain me and this blog.
It happens. In real life or in fantasy, sometimes you just fall out of love with your idol (or simply, your bright shining light bulb sometimes grows dimmer).
There is no bitterness on my part, no dashed hopes. I’ve always felt that David Archuleta could have shone much brighter and could have had a place on the world stage. However, he himself tasted a bit of stardom, didn’t care for it, and now he’s content to live and make music under the radar and within the insular circle of his LDS faith.
He is still a phenomenal singer, but he has obviously retreated, and those of us who don’t relate, we simply move on, like David has moved on.
I don’t regret waiting and hoping for David’s return to a high-profile music career after his two-year mission. But there have been other Soul David fans who left the fanbase the minute he left for Chile. They knew things were going to change, and they chose to move on.
Some of us just took a little longer to do the same.
At some point, the individual has to believe in his potential, has to WANT something bigger for himself, no matter how much others (like his dad) or his super fans proclaim over and over that he is destined for greatness.
He needs to believe it himself. And it is not a betrayal of humility to want greatness. His own parents, according to his memoir Chords of Strength, urged David to “not hide his light under a bushel.”
Right now, David is shining his light in places that make him comfortable. Good for him! I’m shining my own light in other places.
This ride on the Archubus was great while it lasted. I bought all his CDs, his book, his Christmas DVD, paid VIP prices for his concerts. He was a pleasure to hear live, and his Voice will always be glorious.
However, that Voice no longer speaks to me, and I’m okay with that. He’s not a malicious person, nor do I believe he would reject black female fans like myself (as someone had suggested just because he’s Mormon – like, really?!).
People change, and feelings change. We’ve just drifted apart, and the fact that I’m okay with that – rather than falling apart into a million pieces – is the biggest clue to me that, whatever journey we were on as fan-and-artist, the passion is gone.
Sure, some folks will chalk that up to who was a “real” fan versus who wasn’t. Think what you will. Because if I don’t care about David’s career anymore, I’m certainly not losing sleep over other people’s opinions (baseless or otherwise).
Kudos to those of you whose passion for David still burns bright.
Happy Halloween!
It’s that time of the year to fall back, get a little darker with the season, and anticipate the Christmas holidays.
That said, I’m taking an official break from Soul Davidian since I need to think through how I feel about David and his current direction and what is the meaning of this blog.
That plus I have yet more upcoming projects that need taking care of.
Happy Trick-or-Treatin’ today!
AWOL
Hey Soul Davidians,
It’s been ages since I’ve checked back here, but that might give you an idea of just how INSANELY busy my September has been. I’m just now able to enjoy some breathing room.
For those who have been able to see David Live again, hope it’s still a worthwhile experience. But judging from his recent tweets, I see he’s doubling down on his religiosity (at least he’s heading to Miami this month!):
Soul Davidian 