A family from Utah uploaded a video of them singing along to a popular song in their car to commemorate a lost relative. The video has gone viral since being released in Feb. 2020 on Jewell Richins’ YouTube channel.
The channel contains plenty of videos showing Jewell and his family singing along to various songs while driving. Jewell always takes the driver’s seat and his kids take the rest during these mini-concerts. He is a single father raising seven children. Not all of his kids are present in each video except for his daughter KB. Typically sitting in the front passenger seat, KB shines as one of the family’s best vocalists.
The Richins family has entertained their social media followers for the past year by uploading short videos of themselves having fun while driving and singing. They have a blast while blasting their car radio. They express their love for one another and music by showing off their stunning abilities.
They are also active on other social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok. Fellow TikTok users have resonated with their videos, helping the family gain over one million followers.
All of their videos have received a plethora of views, likes and comments. Usually attaining thousands and thousands of views, the channel has gotten popular within the YouTube community. A handful of their videos have surpassed the 1 million mark in viewership, with their most popular video reaching over 7.4 million views.
The video that started it all has since captured the hearts of thousands. The video is full of talent and expresses so much love and admiration for the family’s lost relative. Their sadness is present, but the hopefulness that they’ll one day be reunited is even brighter.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video 🙂
The Richins family started their YouTube channel in Feb. 2020. The channel’s description was accurately written by Jewell in the “About” section. It reads, “Just a dad who loves his kids and has a ton of fun raising them.”
Since then, the family has managed to acquire over 180,000 subscribers and almost 27 million total views. While most of the videos focus on singing in the car, there are a few that give insight into the family’s personal lives, like shopping adventures and public performances.
They uploaded their first video to the channel on Feb. 7, 2020, dedicating it to Jewell’s second father, Joe Hill. The description states, “This goes out to my father #2, dialysis ends and a new journey begins. We will never forget you Joe Hill.”
During the video, Jewell and two of his daughters poured their hearts out for all to see while singing Andra Day’s “Rise Up.”
With lyrics like “You’re broken down and tired / Of living life on a merry-go-round,” the meaning of the emotional song was embraced by the family and viewers alike. The concept of rising up and moving through the much-needed grief period after losing a loved one could certainly be considered a battle.
The powerful message of the song took over Jewell within the first few moments of the performance. His eyes pooled with tears as he remembered his family member.
Their most recent video is from Jewell’s TikTok account, which was uploaded to fit the YouTube standards. It shows the family collecting clothes, games, toys and food to donate to people in need in Mexico.
Andra Day is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Her debut album “Cheers to the Fall” was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards. That same year, her single “Rise Up” was nominated for Best R&B Performance. The star won a Golden Globe for her role in the biopic “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” Day’s real name is Cassandra Monique Batie, but she chose to go by her stage name to commemorate her idol Billie Holiday. She has also been nominated for an Academy Award.
The song “Rise Up” has been used many times in the entertainment industry. It has been played during television shows, televised singing performances, sports games and in movies and movie trailers. Contestants have also performed covers of the track multiple times on reality shows like “America’s Got Talent.”
During an interview with Time magazine, Day expressed her reason for writing “Rise Up,” explaining that it started almost like a prayer.
“I thought about what I needed to hear to be able to get back on my feet,” Day said during the interview. “Honestly, there are lines in there I’d normally find cliche. But sometimes a good cliche is exactly what you need in a moment of hopelessness.”
The Richins family’s own performance matched the emotional state the tune presents. The two daughters present in the video appeared tired. The family immersed themselves in the song, giving it everything they had. The girls’ vocals were sweet yet strong for being so young. You would think their performance had taken place on an arena stage as opposed to inside their car.
Jewell expressed his varying emotions throughout the performance. He pointed to the camera, tapped his fingers along his chest and snapped his fingers along to the melody every now and then. He appeared to be singing softly or lip-synching alongside his daughters.
He mostly stayed focused on the road, having only glanced at the camera a few times. Jewell allowed himself a few brief moments to close his eyes to completely fall into the comforts of the song.
The love for Joe was present throughout the beautiful, uplifting video.
KB really showcased her bright vocals. She sang the verses on her own, broadcasting the gentle tone of her voice. The other daughter, sitting in the backseat, kept her blanket wrapped tightly around herself and joined her sister to harmonize during the chorus of the song.
The family’s sadness and outpouring love powered through the performance. Viewers received the video with just as much emotion as the family put into it. The comments section was instantly flooded with positive reactions expressing their sympathy for the family, and it continues to be active today.
Jewell ended the video with a sweet message for Joe, as he said, “We all love you, Joe. We’ll see you on the other side. Thanks for all the memories, bro. Peace out, buddy.”
The beautiful moment was able to be captured and kept for the family to look back on. It has become a beacon of hope for those struggling with their own grief. The kindness shared by the family and all of those who have encountered the video is a reminder that it’s okay to be vulnerable.
What song brings you joy when you’re feeling sad? Let us know! Be sure to seek out your family and friends for a car jam session the next time you need a little pick-me-up.
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