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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Newly crowned "American Idol" David Cook, already topping the iTunes music download charts, said on Friday he hopes to put out a rock album that will "make the hair on your neck stand up."

Cook, 25, a Missouri guitarist who was tending bar before auditioning for the most watched show on U.S. television, also said his best musical advice came from Frank Sinatra.

Cook won the seventh season of the singing competition and a recording contract on Wednesday, beating 17-year-old crooner David Archuleta by a 12 million-vote margin in the record 97.5 million votes cast by viewers by telephone and text message.

Cook's first single "The Time of My Life" and the three songs he sang in this week's "American Idol" finale were the top four downloads on Apple Inc's iTunes music store on Friday.

Cook said he would not be putting out an album of standards even though he won fans on the show, which is broadcast on the Fox network, a unit of News Corp, with alternative versions of pop classics such as "Billie Jean" and Lionel Richie's "Hello."

"I think it's going to be a mixture of my writing and hopefully writing with other people. I just want to come out of the gate with a solid record," he told reporters in a telephone conference call.

"It'll probably be a rock record. I just want to make a record that's going to make the hair on your neck stand up ... Even if it doesn't do well commercially, as long as I can put out a record I am proud of -- that's the goal right now. And hopefully the success will follow."

Cook is not likely to start work on the first album until the Top 10 Idols finish a three-month U.S. tour starting in July.

Cook, who played in bands for 10 years trying to make it in the music business, said his biggest lesson came from an article he read during the show on how the late Frank Sinatra focused first on the lyrics of his records.

"It made me think I needed to step back and before I even tried to learn the song, I needed to read the lyrics," he said. "That really helped as far as trying to find the vibe."

Despite a new haircut and losing about 15 pounds during the hectic "Idol" schedule, Cook said he had changed little else.

"I didn't have any expectations of what the show was going to do for me or what I was going to do for the show," he said. "I just went into it as an opportunity to expose myself to a large audience."

"American Idol," has become a pop culture phenomenon, drawing an average 28 million viewers this year and producing stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

His every move is now tracked by the paparazzi and the bloggers, so you know what's going on with David Cook since he won "American Idol almost two weeks ago.

But what's been going on with Cook's family in the Metro in the aftermath of the Idol madness?

David's mom Beth Foraker and younger brother Andrew Cook know things will never be normal again for him, but will things be normal for the rest of the family?  The jury's still out.
   
Andrew says the post-Idol media circus in LA and New York has taken it's toll on his big brother.

"Every single time I've called him, I usually wake him up.  He's tired, but he's still loving it," Andrew said.

While David works on an upcoming album and the American Idol summer tour, Andrew is now back at his summer job at a Metro area retail store but he says he's not completely removed from the spotlight, either.

"I don't mind the attention, I like the attention," Andrew said. "But it is kind of weird to be walking down the street or be walking through the store or something, and you hear those whispers, 'That's David Cook's brother.'"

David's mother Beth Foraker said seeing her son as an A-list celebrity is now just a touch bittersweet.

"It's probably the only time I see my son anymore is on TV or in a magazine, because it's not like I can just drive to Tulsa, or he's going to come up for the weekend to spend the weekend here," Foraker said.

As Foraker tried to get back in her normal work routine at Aquila, the company set up a Q&A session so all her co-workers could get their Idol questions out all at once.  Beth may still take a few more questions, but there's one comment that's off limits.

"I did tell the women that I work with that they can say a lot of things about my son, but they should never come up to me and tell me think my son is sexy!  That's just something you don't tell a mom," she said.

Dave Froehlich, FOX 4 News

Cookie's going to be on Leno again this Thursday the 12th.  It doesn't say it's a repeat and he's listed 3rd in order so I'm guessing he's going to sing!

He and Archie will be on the view on tuesday the 24th!
they're listed 1st & 2nd

First he handily beat out legions of other hopefuls for the "American Idol" crown. Now the champ of TV's top-rated sing-a-thon is on tour with the top 2008 "Idol" contenders, which began last Tuesday in Arizona, and comes to Tacoma on Saturday.
The 25-year old Tulsa musician David Cook — he of the soaring voice, mercurial hair and indie attitude — might be the first rocker champ to please "Idol" fans and critics alike.
By phone from a limo in L.A., a busy but open and amiable Cook seemed eager to talk about matters musical and creative, revealing passions for grunge rock, books by a hot Vancouver, Wash., novelist, and a Broadway role he's dying to play.
Q: You'll be performing in our area for the first time, when the "Idols" tour hits Tacoma. Growing up near Kansas City in the '90s, did the Seattle rock scene ever excite you?
A: I was kinda late on the curve with the Seattle sound. I had to backtrack to get into bands like Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone. But Pearl Jam's "Ten" was one of the first rock records I really embraced.
I absolutely think the Seattle grunge sound was instrumental to my music education. Songs like Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage" ... You listen to the lyrics and think, where in the world did that come from?
Q: Speaking of Seattle musicians, on "Idol" you sang Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean." And we hear you planned to do a Jimi Hendrix classic — Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"?
A: Yeah ... but I never wanted to plateau, y'know? I didn't want to do two songs in a row with the same vibe. The week I sang the Who's "Baba O'Riley," and we slowed it down, I couldn't also do "Watchtower" the way I wanted — with a slow, acoustic, Dave Matthews vibe. I'll get to it down the road.
Q: Vocal versatility helped you win "Idol." Did you always have such a big vocal range?
A: I was a real midrange singer, out of fear or discomfort I wouldn't stray too far from that. It took me doing a solo record ("Analog Heart," released in 2006) and having to sing backup vocals to realize, hey! There are some high notes there I can actually hit.
The hardest part for me is to find a new (vocal) trick and not beat it into the ground — which I'm very capable of doing.
Q: You've had theater training, and your approach to songs on "Idol" seemed very theatrical.
A: Right. Some of the best rock shows I ever saw were those appealing to all your senses. There's definitely a visual aspect and an emotional aspect to a song. And that harks back, for me, to theater. I think every good song tells a story, as ambiguous and vague as it may be. And if you know what a song is talking about, it can only help your performance.
Q: You had different looks, "costumes" for each number.
A: I had to nudge the wardrobe people a little. They didn't want us to dress for the song, just wear street clothes. I said, why can't we do both? To me, there's a very abrupt disconnect if I go on stage in bicycle shorts and a tank top to sing "One" by U2.
Q: Would you like to act, along with making music?
A: To get back into theater would be a lot of fun. I got very excited when (rocker) Sebastian Bach took over the lead in "Phantom of the Opera." I find that role so intriguing and mysterious. When Andrew Lloyd Webber week came along on "Idol," I couldn't imagine myself singing anything but "Music of the Night." I'd love, love to play the phantom.
Q: "Idol" turned you into an instant media celebrity. Was that weird or intrusive for you?
A: It was like three years of PR wrapped into three months! It's nuts! To have people I've never met come up and congratulate me, say they feel they know me ... it's very powerful.
Q: It probably helped that you looked so relaxed on camera.
A: Well, things changed when I sang (Lionel Richie's) "Hello." I couldn't tell any other difference performance-wise from earlier weeks. I just began to engage the camera more. I learned a trick of not looking at the lens, but through it.
There's an odd disconnect with TV sometimes, and if you can do anything to break down that fourth wall between you and the person 10,000 miles away, it can only help.
Q: You're writing new songs for your album. What are they like?
A: I want the album to be eclectic, but still rock. I've tried to incorporate fresh ideas, and actually I've tried not to listen to rock music while I'm doing this.
Q: So what do you listen to?
A: (Singer-songwriter) Imogen Heap. Some Keith Urban. Trying not to stray too far, but get a bit of a fresh perspective.
I'd like this record to be palatable for sure, because I want to sustain a long career. But I don't feel I have to glue myself to the usual 1-4-5 (pop chord structure). I'm trying to write songs you may hear on the radio, but with interesting quirks that make them stand out.
Q: Isn't it the post-album era, where the big thing is single tracks?
A: Yeah, depressing, isn't it? I came from a time when records were records. I'll let the label worry about the singles, I'm into making a record.
Q: What songs will you perform on tour? The same each time?
A: We have a set list, but I want to make it a bit different every night, get as much audience interaction as possible, make it about us ... as opposed to me! I tried to put some duets in with others and I kept hearing, "David, your set's about you."
But y'know, I'm over that. You can have my ego! I want people to walk away from the show feeling like they've seen something completely unique they won't get anywhere else.
Q: Do you feel pressure to sing the big download hits from "Idol" — like "Billie Jean" and "Hello"?
A: I'm feelin' like, whatever's going to make the audience happy. ... I put a lot of work into this, and I'm completely OK to take the credit that entails. But if a lot of people didn't invest themselves, and their phone bills, in what I was trying to do each week, I'd still be in Tulsa bartending. And telling my roommate I can't pay my rent again this month.
Q: Will you play after-hours gigs at clubs during this tour?
A: I've talked to old bandmates about throwing in an under-the-radar acoustic gig here and there. For me, at the end of the day, all the interviews and attention are nice. But I'd rather be playing music.
Q: You're called "word nerd" because you like word puzzles. Do you read much?
A: As much as I can. I read a lot of poetry. ("Fight Club" author) Chuck Palahniuk — I'm really into his work. Autobiographies. "The Road to Dallas," about the JFK assassination, I'm thumbing through that.
Q: Amazing you can read at all, given how much PR stuff you've doing. Weren't you on a talk show with Barack Obama?
A: He was on "Jimmy Kimmel" with me, but by satellite feed so I didn't get to meet him. But hey, I was on a TV show with Barack Obama! At the end of the day, that's all I have to say.

When David Cook found out he had passed his initial audition for "American Idol" and would advance to have a chance to compete on the hit television series, he felt something besides happiness and anticipation.
Cook felt uncomfortable about the situation.
The reason was, he didn't plan to audition in the first place. Cook came to the audition in Omaha to provide moral support for his brother, Andrew, who was trying out for the show. Cook only auditioned after he was prodded into doing so by his brother and his mother (who also came to the audition).
"We were in the same audition group in the first round, and I was the only one out of the group that made it," Cook said in a recent phone interview. "So, yeah, it was a little awkward. I made it a point, as soon as I got out of the arena, I said to him, 'If you don't want me to do this, I won't.' And his response, this kind of speaks to his character, he said, 'If you don't do it, I'll kick your (butt).'"
With an incentive like that, Cook, 25, had little choice but to stay in the running. And what a run it became, as he eventually made the show and, in May, won the "American Idol" competition, beating out David Archuleta in the final.
The fact is, Cook said he never saw himself as "Idol" material. He recently had moved from his long-time home base of Blue Springs, Mo. (near Kansas City) to Tulsa, to play guitar in the Midwest Kings, a band that had a regional touring base.
He already had released a debut CD, "Analog Heart," and was working on his second album when he auditioned for "Idol."
Cook wasn't sold on the idea that his rock-pop sound would be a good fit for "American Idol."
"I didn't really know I was what the show was looking for," Cook said. "I had watched in the past and never seen a rocker win the show. And to me, it was kind of like, if somebody like Bo (Bice) or somebody like Chris (Daughtry) can't come on here and win it, what shot do I have?"
Quite a few people didn't think Cook would come out on top, either. He was initially seen as a darkhorse in the field of 24, and when the competition finally boiled down to Cook and 17-year-old Archuleta, he still was considered by many — including "Idol's" famously outspoken judge, Simon Cowell — to be the underdog.
Even Cook began to buy into that line of thinking. After arriving to prepare for the Wednesday evening finale, Cook was told the vote was 56 percent to 44 percent. He figured that meant only one thing.
"I was like 'OK, Archie's' got it,'" Cook said. "I didn't really think much about it the rest of the day. I kind of went through the motions of getting ready for Wednesday night's finale. I was just stoked to be playing with ZZ Top."
Since that evening (May 21), Cook has been busy preparing for the next steps in the life of an "Idol" champion.
First up is this summer's "American Idols Live" tour, which features the top eight finishers from this season's show. Cook will perform five songs, and is pleased with the material the performers and the organizers of the show selected.
"Everybody seems really happy with their set and we're all able to not only do songs from the show but also throw in some stuff that we weren't able to get on the show, but stuff that we enjoy performing," Cook said. "Like, I'm doing 'My Hero' by the Foo Fighters, and that's one of my favorite songs, just high energy. So it's cool. I think we're all getting to show a little bit more of ourselves to everybody."
Cook also has his sights set on recording his first album under his new record contract with 19 Recordings/RCA, which is due in mid-November.
"I'm a rock singer, so it will be a rock record," Cook said. "But the good thing about rock music is there are some sub-genres there. So there's room to meander. My goal is to put out a record that's both eclectic and cohesive. If I can do that and find that balance, I think the sky's the limit."
Chances are, when Cook's debut album arrives, it will storm the "Billboard" magazine charts. He already smashed all previous records from the digital music age by landing 17 songs on various "Billboard" charts at the same time at the end of May.
Even Cook seemed to have a hard time grasping his presence on the charts.
"I think every so often everything kind of lines up for you, and hopefully that's what's happening now," he said. "I've said it a few times before, I think if this all ends tomorrow I've already had a hell of a ride. I'm content. And I think moving forward, the goal is to keep that vibe."

Sure he's got the great voice, the musical smarts and daring, the cute grin, the word-nerd appeal to fellow crossword-puzzle freaks.
But David Cook had a stealth weapon, as he rose above the pack to be a co-finalist for this year's "American Idol" crown.No, it's not that strange scarf Cook often wears trailing from his back pocket like a talisman.
His special mojo: theater training.
The 25-year-old Cook may be known as a hard rocker. But he took enough acting classes, and co-starred in enough student shows, to also qualify as a true Theater Geek.
His teachers from Blues Springs, Mo., have spilled the beans on how much the adolescent David loved to belt out those Broadway show tunes.
For evidence, get thee to YouTube, where you can watch clips of the teenage Cookie playing Riff in a high-school staging of "West Side Story" and taking pratfalls ("Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh ... ") in a student version of "Singin' in the Rain."
Cook's drama chops gave him the chutzpah to croon that schmaltzy, soaring reverie, "The Music of the Night," from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" — and emerge unscathed.
Thespian versatility also gave Cook — and, to a lesser extent, third-place contestant and college drama major Syesha Mercado — a boost in other key ways.
So listen and learn, wannabe rock gods and "Idol" hopefuls. Here are some tips Cook may have picked up from his own personal "High School Musical" saga:
Tell the story: Cook's best performances on "American Idol" have been when he's chosen story-songs, and made them two-minute musical playlets.
Actors learn how to hook people fast with a compelling narrative. And Cook has used his facial expressions, dramatic arrangements and agile whisper-to-roar voice range to affectingly put across tales of a single teen mom ("Billie Jean"), a lonely Englishwoman ("Eleanor Rigby"), a guy waking up to life ("I'm Alive").
Play the part: Getting into character is, apparently, a foreign concept to even some of the most vocally gifted 2008 "Idol" contestants (such as Carly Smithson and Cook's co-finalist, David Archuleta). They don't seem to grasp that singing is, basically, acting via music.
Cook gets it. He played the swaggering, sexy dude with his covers of Free's "All Right Now" and the Beatles' "Day Tripper," then softened up as the wounded yet gracious ex-lover (for Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby") and the swoony swain (Lionel Richie's "Hello").
As "Idol" judge Randy Jackson once told Cook, with his usual eloquence, "Dude, I really kinda believed you right there, y'know what I'm saying?" Yes, Randy, we kinda believed him, too.
Look the part: Cook understands that, on camera, every outfit is a costume.
To sing "Day Tripper," shrug on that leather jacket. For Dolly Parton's bluegrass ballad "Little Sparrow," wear that humble, white, Sunday-go-to-meetin' shirt. And to stir up fan-girl frenzy, do your hip casual/formal thing: dark shirt, jacket or vest, tie worn over the collar.
And Cook's changing array of hair styles (head and facial)? Like another "Idol" wardrobe chameleon, Seattle's Sanjaya Malakar, Cookie kept 'em guessing by changing up his tresses — from scraggly emo locks and soul patch, to fashionably choppy designer 'do and scruff-beard.
Practice, chill, practice: For the actor to dissolve into the role, you shouldn't see the fluster.
While rivals like Brooke White and Jason Castro betrayed their nerves and inexperience by screwing up lyrics and choking on raw fear, Cook worked the stage (and camera) with assurance — the kind you get by rehearsing hard and performing since grade school. (And, yes, by playing a gazillion dive-bar gigs in Kansas City and Tulsa.)
Save the theatrics for the performance: Acting teachers often remind students to "leave it on the stage." And except for the odd method-acting genius (say, Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis), that's sage advice.
Thanks to "Idol" media frenzy, most Cook fans know: 1) He has high blood pressure, which spiked one night and sent him to the hospital after an on-air "Idol" performance; and 2) his older brother Adam is seriously ill with brain cancer, yet managed to travel to L.A. to cheer him on.
That old "show must go on" mantra may sound corny, but it's the credo actors live by. Since all is fair in love and talent contests, Cook could have milked his family situation for sympathy votes. He didn't, saving his passion for his songs.
Sure, he's only human, and got a little weepy when his bro was in the "Idol" live audience. But he shed those tears after finishing his song and taking a bow. Now that's a trouper.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Jul 09, 2008
A global leader in the lifestyle footwear industry, today announced that it has signed recent American Idol winner and rising star David Cook to a global endorsement agreement. This deal marks the first male celebrity to make SKECHERS' roster since 2002, when actor Robert Downey Jr. was the face of the global brand, and the second American Idol winner, with Carrie Underwood being the first in 2005.
With exclusive worldwide rights to advertise footwear using Cook's image through December 2009, SKECHERS will feature the 25-year-old singer in various SKECHERS' styles through a campaign that will reflect his personality, interests and appeal. Launching in Fall '08, the campaign coincides with the "PopTarts American Idols Live! Tour 2008," and the debut of David's first post-Idol album on 19 Recordings/RCA Records. The SKECHERS Cook campaign will include print, outdoor and in-store.
"I have always viewed SKECHERS as a cool company, so I am excited to be a part of their campaign," said Cook, who proved his enduring popularity by breaking an all-time Billboard chart record with 11 songs debuting on the Hot 100 in a single week after winning American Idol. "They've had some sensational singers like Carrie Underwood and Christina Aguilera as they were starting out and it will be great to be a part of the SKECHERS roster."
"We are thrilled that David will be representing SKECHERS in our marketing campaigns around the world," stated Michael Greenberg, president of SKECHERS. "As a dynamic performer with a friendly, approachable personality, he's a perfect fit for the SKECHERS brand and an exciting next step for our tradition of successful partnerships with emerging music stars."
Greenberg continued, "The crossing-over of fashion and music is beneficial to both industries, and benefits the stars and the brands associated with them. For this reason, we have invested in such phenomenal stars as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Ashlee Simpson, and now, David Cook."
Along with celebrated songstresses Spears, Aguilera, Underwood and Simpson, and male stars like Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, former Lakers player Rick Fox and Downey Jr. have all appeared in SKECHERS marketing campaigns.
Mr. Cook did not plan to try out when he went to support his brother at the Omaha, Nebraska auditions for season seven of American Idol. Despite his intentions, he was convinced to sing, and was selected to continue to the Hollywood round. The guitar-playing rock singer overcame the odds to beat out over 100,000 contestants before advancing to the top 24. David received the necessary votes to stick around week after week, until he eventually won the title of "American Idol" at the finale in Los Angeles on May 21, 2008.
The global endorsement agreement was signed with 19 Merchandising Limited on behalf of Mr. Cook. "

The "American Idol" winner should be a champion for the people--and David Cook [ tickets ] is exactly that. The afternoon before the tour's opening night in Glendale, AZ, Cook walked through the media area acknowledging each reporter. Later that evening, fans sitting side stage got a special treat when Cook stood in the wings watching fellow contestant Brooke White and encouraging ticket holders to cheer her on.
"The goal is just to try to create some energy," said Cook, who tried out for the reality-television talent competition on a whim when he accompanied his brother Andrew to auditions. "I think, watching everybody else's set, I've definitely got my work cut out for me. Everybody's bringing it. It's cool. If I can keep up with everybody else, I'll be just fine."
Cook, who began his five-song set with a rock cover of Lionel Richie's "Hello," spoke with LiveDaily about his forthcoming album, his love of Our Lady Peace and how it felt to win the competition.
I understand you're working on a new album and you had the chance to work with Collective Soul's Ed Roland. How was it?
Aww, man, I am a big fan. Obviously, I did "The World I Know" on the show. He always seems to write just really solid, hooky music. I got more nervous about meeting guys like him than I did anybody else through the show and stuff. The bands I get into, you always worry about, "Are they going to be nice?" Ed was so cool. We're talking about going golfing when we swing through Atlanta on the tour. He's a stand-up guy. I was really, really happy with the way everything turned out. Yeah, cool guy.
Who else have you worked with on the album?
I've written with a few people. I got a chance to write with Raine Maida [lead singer] of Our Lady Peace. That was just crazy. He was so nice. I got to write with Zac Maloy of The Nixons, which was cool. Let's see, who else? I got to write with Jason Wade of Lifehouse. I guess I’m lucky. Everyone I've written with has been so nice and really cool. It's been very fruitful. I'm really excited about where the record's headed.
You did Our Lady Peace's "Innocent" on the show. How did you discover the band? They're biggest in border towns and you're from Missouri.
There was a dude that I went to high school with. He was a year or two older than me. At that point, I was really trying to get into some new music. He said, "Well here. Listen to this record." It was Our Lady Peace's "Clumsy." "You can borrow this, da da da." It took me six months to get it back to him. I just loved the record. Then, once college hit and "Gravity" came out, I re-immersed myself in it. I went back and started listening to "Spiritual Machines" and "Happiness ... is Not a Fish That You Can Catch." The ambient stuff on those records is so solid. You just get lost in it. You see the charitable stuff that Raine does and that solidified it for me. I remember watching very recently his video treatment for "Yellow Brick Road," that song he did on his solo record. It was amazing. He goes out and plays acoustic on the streets all day to try to raise $30,000 to build a school in Africa. It's easy for somebody of his stature to kind of rest on his laurels a little bit. The fact that he is so active--I respect him more than I could ever put into words.
For the tour, are you able to choose which songs you sing?
Yeah, yeah. Mainly I'm doing stuff from the show. I'm going to be doing the single, "Time of My Life." And then I have one song that I didn't do on the show, that I'm very, very excited about. It's high energy. I'm hoping to get the crowd into it a little bit and it means something to me.
Do you think you had an advantage over past contestants because you were allowed to play instruments?
I think it helped, yeah, for me personally. I knew going in I wasn't going to be the strongest singer this season. But I knew I could hold my own in my genre. But the instrumentation helped a lot I think. I don't want to say it was a golden goose for me or anything. At the end of the day, I think it was the perfect storm, just a lot of things falling into place for me.
You looked so shocked when you won "American Idol."
I am. I'm still shocked. It's like, "What?" The best way I can explain that moment was it was just an out-of-body experience. I felt like I was watching it. I try to think about it sometimes. I still haven't really processed it. It still seems so foreign to me. I don't feel like I changed. It's like when you have a birthday. Somebody says, "Do you feel older?" It's like, "No." I don't feel like anything's changed just yet.
Wait until 20,000 people start screaming for you tonight. I thought that was really touching when you brought your brother on stage when you won.
He's the reason I'm here. I feel like I'm here on his ticket. Any opportunity that I accrue to showcase the people who put me where I'm at, I'm all for it. So the fact that I was able to do that, that meant a lot to me.
Did it mean a lot to him?
I think so. When I made it through the first round, we were interviewed by a local news affiliate. They asked my brother how he was feeling. He said, "It's great. I don't have to do any of the work. I can just enjoy the fruits of his labor." I tried to help out where I could. I got the chance to have him come out for his 21st birthday, which was a few weeks ago. Spend a little money on him. Pamper him. It was nice to be able to say I'm in that position in my life where I can do something like that.

American Idol winner David Cook answers Seventeen's juicy questions, including why he'd like to trade places with his dog!

1. When was your first kiss?
I was in seventh grade, so that makes me how old? Twelve or 13.

2. Who's your celebrity crush?
Not sure, actually. I’m gonna say Burt Bacharach.

3. What's a girl fashion trend that confuses you?
The whole uncomfortable-shoes thing. I understand to a degree the "pain is beauty" thing, but the whole scrunching your toes into a shoe that's two sizes too small because it matches your dress seems a little absurd to me.

4. What's the girly movie you secretly love?
Three to Tango.

5. What's your TV guilty pleasure?
Mythbusters.

6. Who would play you in the movie version of your life?
My brother Andrew. Or myself.

7. What's your dream job?
Musician.

8. If you could trade places with anyone in the world for one day, who would it be?
I’m gonna go with my dog, Penny. I think there’s something very beautiful in being able to go through a day and not have to worry about anything except "Why didn’t my owner put food in my dish?"

9. Who in your family are you closest to?
I’m close to pretty much everybody in my family. I don’t know that I could single out one person. I’m a big proponent of family.

10. What's your favorite Website?
Funnyordie.com, specifically Will Ferrell's "The Landlord." Wow, I didn’t even have to think about that one.

11. What's the fast food you can't live without?
Burger King chicken sandwich, light on the lettuce.

12. What's your worst habit?
I don’t know that this is a habit, but when you're turning the volume up on the radio — you know, you get the numbers from zero to 50 — the number always has to be an even number or a multiple of five for me. I'm a bit of a neurotic that way.

13. What's the last song you listened to on your iPod?
"Breathe" by Anna Nalick.

14. What's the last thing you bought?
Toothpaste. Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide with Oxygen Bubbles. Why do I remember that?

15. What did you dream about last night?
I was playing baseball with kids that I used to play baseball with, but I was an adult. It was a good dream.

16. How much money is in your wallet right now?
I think $60 left over from when I took my brother to Santa Monica Pier for his birthday.

17. Fill in the blank: When I was 17, I was ____________.
Awkward.

American idol winner David Cook and the other American Idols are currently on the road on the American Idols Live tour.  David, 25, granted an interview with OK! Magazine this week and he talks about everything from family to life on the road.  When the weekly magazine asked David what he loved about the tour he said it was all for the fans.

"This is our way of saying thank you to everybody that voted - it's one big love fest.  Plus, I'm excited to experience parts of the country that I've never seen before."  On life on the road he added,  "There is something romantic about waking up in a different city every day.  There's a cool synergy within the group, and we're really supportive of each other - we got lucky."

David does miss his family, though.  "Obviously, my family is really important to me, so I'm going to try and get them out to as many shows as possible.  But they're only a phone call away.  Whenever I feel like I need to get my ego in check, that's who I'll call."

On his new look, "I got my hair cut, for starters, and I grew the beard.  The show was stressful, and I've dropped about 15 pounds since it all began.  It's been a physical overhaul for me."  And it is busy, David jokes, "I never have downtime to watch TV and eat a box of Cheez-It's," says David of being on tour.

The American Idol tour officially kicked off in Arizona July 1, starting a summer-long bus odyssey of the continental U.S. On day seven of the journey, though, David Cook and David Archuleta are already feeling the heat of mega fandom that they ignited during Season 7 " albeit in their own ways.

For starters, their tour performances represent their respective hot and cool approaches. Cook claims the audience response so far to Archie is already a tough act to follow. He told TVGuide.com, "It's always fun to go stand in the back and listen to the audience when he first comes out. Crowds have been really noisy for Archie. It's been really intimidating!" Archie maintains, however, that his performance is "laid back" versus Cook's, which is "really exciting and full of energy."

Despite Cook's supposed fear factor, the tour's already trumping the AI competition days. "There's more of an immediate gratification," he confided. "The show, you perform, and then you've got 24 hours before you figure out whether or not you did well. Here it's like, if you do bad, they give you a polite clap or a boo, and if you do well, then they'll cheer."

He added that he's also starting to understand the fandom that's enveloped him and his fellow Idols. "I would always wonder how people got so invested in this show," Cook explained. "And then you go out on tour and talk to people, and they'll have all these stories that really drive home why they tuned in this season." Said Archuleta, "So many people feel that connection with you from watching you."

Yet, for all the savoring of the Idol train, the pair of fan faves still have some mundane perks of their summer tour to embrace. For his part, Cook's looking forward to a stop in Portland, Oregon " not so much for the indie rock scene, as for the lack of state sales tax. What's his plan for the stop? "I'm going to get some golf clubs!" "

We met David Cook, the 2008 winner of “American Idol.” He told us all about being on the show and how it felt to win. David told us that he was very nervous singing in front of so many people every week. He also told us about never being in the bottom three.

David said, “It felt great never to be in the bottom three. My goal every week was not to take last. The fact that I was able to avoid that particular stressor in the show was kind of nice. I can’t imagine how crazy that must have been. I was one of the lucky ones.

“I saw myself when I was a kid being one of three things: a baseball player, a ninja or – I always thought it was cool – the guys that got to stand and ride on the back of the trash truck. Those were like my three dream jobs. The music thing started to hit about 16 or 17.

“When I got older, the sports thing wasn’t progressing the way I would have hoped. Music kind of presented itself as something I could do. It made me that much cooler to my friends.”

When you're the new American Idol, you've got to get to grips with the pop star lifestyle pretty fast.
And just three months after winning the contest, David Cook has already learned the true value of family, fans and... Lysol!

Right now, David and rest of the AI Top Ten finalist are two weeks into the American Idol Live summer tour presented by Pop Tarts, and David tells OK! he's loving every minute of it.

"This is our way of saying thank you to everybody that voted -- it's one big love-fest.
"Plus, I'm excited to experience parts of the country that I've never seen before," said the 25-year-old.

"There is something romantic about waking up in a different city every day. There's a cool synergy within the group, and we're really supportive of each other -- we got lucky."

But there's some pitfalls that you have to look out for when you become a star almost overnight.
Like, if you're a guy who was tending bar less than a year ago, you have to make sure that standing in front of a sea of screaming fans every night doesn't go to your head.
"Whenever I feel like I need to get my ego in check, I'll call my family," he said.

"Obviously, my family is really important to me, so I'm going to try and get them out to as many people as possible."

So apart from a firm grip on reality, is there any other must-have item that David has to have on tour?

"My guitar," he says, "and a can of Lysol. I don't trust Michael Johns and that mustache of his!"

Facial hair must seem like a much bigger health risk when you're on a cramped tour bus. 

It’s kind of quiet now – the Idols have been enjoying a well-deserved two day rest, but, many of them are busy with contractual and recording obligations. So, it never really stops for these singers.
Therefore, when I was kindly asked by one of my readers, AgainstTheDyingOfTheLight to have a listen to David’s pre-Idol CD, Analog Heart, I thought that this “down time” would be a perfect opportunity to do so.
So, here is my take on a couple of David’s songs.
I hope you enjoy my synopsis and, as always, your comments are most welcome.
David Cook`s Pre-Idol CD, Analog Heart
Written, arranged, produced and performed by David Cook.

"The Truth”:
I love the a cappella beginning of this song; it exposes the distinct timbre of David`s pure and natural voice. And, as I listen, I have to say that the mix of this recording is very good. The vocals are not overwhelmed by the instrumentation. Hopefully, David can make sure that the production of his post -Idol CD will enjoy the same clean and pristine sound.
And, as always, David`s articulation of the words are crystal clear and precise and his full-bodied voice sounds beautifully focused indeed!

He sings with a great deal of head voice throughout his vocal range – just perfect! And , when he reaches the final stages of this song, his upper voice sounds gorgeous. He sustains the “aye” diphthong in the word “way” on the pure vowel – “eh” - and the result is a beautifully projected and centered vocal sound.
Additionally he moves with vocal freedom when he manoeuvres the sustained note on the word “way” through ascending and descending notes, always maintaining an even, full and ringing timbre throughout this powerful section of the song. This is a vocally impressive point in the song and he sounds absolutely outstanding.
This is an impressive recording and a stellar composition – extremely sophisticated and refined, yet full of the raw passion that is so inherent in David’s distinct artistry. If this is a glimpse of what David has to offer the music world as a singer-songwriter, his success will be a healthy, rewarding and inspiring experience for the artist and the listener.
Amazing! Absolutely amazing!

“Silver”:
I love the piano at the beginning of this song – two alternating notes a semitone apart , creating a crescendo as introduction to David’s vocals. Very eerie and, actually, very creative!
Then, with the implementation of further instrumentation, the song gains additional power and dimension. David adopts a more rustic sound when singing this song in keeping with the extreme passion of the lyrical content. It is edgier than “The Truth” and the vocals sound more frenzied, but, at the heart of it all, is David’s strong technical skills. It is an audible presence in every song he performs.
And, again, it ends with the piano, this time with a three-note pattern creating a decrescendo. Very lovely indeed.! And the fact that he bookends the raw passion of this song with just the sound of the piano indicates to me that he is such an intelligent and sophisticated songwriter. He obviously puts so much thought and attention into his music – there is real depth and focus to his song writing abilities.
Excellent work, David. Bravo!

In the circle of life that is "American Idol," the show begins each year during the snows of winter. After the spring flowers bloom, a winner is chosen. Then, in blazing summer, the concert version travels across the country, making a regular stop in Detroit.
Yes, the "American Idols Live!" 2008 tour arrives at Joe Louis Arena on Thursday. Expect to see screaming young girls, a Pop-Tarts mascot (the event's presenting sponsor), and all of your favorite Top 10 finalists, from the dude with the dreadlocks, Jason Castro, to the chick with the tattoo sleeve, Carly Smithson.
This year, the hottest performer should be David Cook, the 25-year-old pop-rocker whose confident, creative vibe helped him defeat cutie-pie teen David Archuleta for top "Idol" honors.
We caught up by phone recently with Cook, who's making his Motor City performing debut. He shared his idle thoughts on, among other things, cougars, Chikezie and crossword puzzles.
QUESTION: Is there a way to understand your routine on the road? Is it crazy or is there a lot of downtime?
ANSWER: It's a lot of hurry up and wait. But more than anything, now we get to concentrate on being performers as opposed to being contestants and I think that's kind of freed all of us a little bit. The stress level is a lot lower. The hours are a bit better. We get to do what we love without worrying about getting voted off. It's a win-win.
Q: Are you trashing hotel rooms or not? Do you secretly want to?
A: You know, if I were not worried that it would ruffle feathers, I might want to glue some furniture to the ceiling. But no, I'm a pretty docile guy.
Q: Will this be your first time performing here?
A: Yes it will. I've played in Hillsdale, but never in Detroit.
Q: Did you play pre-"Idol" in Hillsdale with your band?
A: Yes, MWK. We played at a school there. Hillsdale College maybe?
Q: Are there any classic Motown songs you've performed onstage before?
A: Well, when I was living in Tulsa, I played a couple of times an acoustic "Let's Get It On." ... It was pretty interesting, to say the least. There's a reason it only happened a couple of times (laughs).
Q: Do you have time to work on your upcoming CD while you're on the road?
A: Yeah, actually, I got into St. Louis late last night. I was in L.A. for a couple of days working on the record. What I like about it is, to me, it's not really carrying the vibe of a generic melodic rock record. I think there's some twists and turns on it. Lyrically, I feel like I've had something to say for a while. To be able to put pen to paper and actually get it out of my system is pretty therapeutic.
Q: Does it have a title yet, to give us an idea of what to expect?
A: Not yet. I definitely want there to be an attitude to it. ... I don't want to come out singing standards or anything. That's just not my vibe.
Q: You seem like someone who wants his performances to be interesting and intimate. How does playing big arenas affect your style?
A: That's been the big learning curve for me, to make it as intimate for the person in the nosebleed seats as it is for the person pressed up against the railing in the front row. There's a weird irony in that when you're on a stage that big, the best way to get across to an audience is to make yourself as vulnerable as possible, which is tough to do with that many sets of eyes on you. But so far, the crowds have been really responsive, so based on that, I'm at least in the ballpark.
Q: What about cougars for Cook (your middle-aged female fans)? Has it been fun to be associated with that?
A: It's actually been really funny for me. ... I've signed so many David Archuleta T-shirts on this tour, everybody's kind of moved past the battle lines being drawn. Everybody's been really complimentary and cool and to be able to really get back to that vibe -- so if I'm not another contestant, I'm not going to get something thrown at me -- is always a nice feeling.
Q: So you're cool with having a wide age range of fans?
A: Oh absolutely. The more people that want to get into what I'm doing, bring 'em on. We've got plenty of room on the bus.
Q: Which of you among the Top 10 is the most geeked about the concerts? Who's the real live wire?
A: Probably Chikezie. He comes out and opens the show. His energy level every night has been absurdly high, to the point where it's a challenge to try to keep up. But ... that's a tough call. I think we're all really excited and the tour's still really fresh.
Q: Of the other nine finalists, who would you like to become for 24 hours?
A: You know, oddly enough, I'm pretty content with being myself at the moment.
Q: Is fame what you imagined it to be?
A: It is so much more than I could ever have imagined. I never want to be that person that turns anybody away for showing interest in my career and myself. In that aspect, I'm making the time for everybody. As soon as I got off the bus here, I went and dropped my bags off and went outside and signed autographs for 30, 40 minutes. The people that come to these shows are the people who put me where I'm at, so it seems like the very least I can do.
Q: What happens when the tour is over?
A: We get into finishing the record the rest of September and maybe a little bit of October. Then a lot of press and promotion until Christmas. We're going to try to get the record out mid-November. Then we start doing shows in the new year.
Q: You're a word guy. What are you reading now?
A: I just finished a Chuck Palahniuk book called "Snuff." It's definitely an adult read, for sure, but it was interesting. I'm a big Palahniuk guy. Stephen Colbert's book "I Am America (And So Can You!)" I've been thumbing through that. Other than that, just a lot of crosswords and stuff.
Q: You're a huge crossword puzzle fan. Has your name been in a crossword puzzle?
A: I have not run across myself as an answer. That's going to be probably one of the weirdest moments of my life.

The Free Press sat down with several of the top 10 finishers of season 7 of American Idol. Here’s what David Cook, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro and Carly Smithson had to say on a few topics:

DAVID COOK, the winner:
On how his new record, due to drop in November, will differ from his first CD, “Analog Heart.”

“That record was written at a specific time of my life, with a specific genre and style in mind. I don’t think I’m going to completely meander away from that. But I definitely want there to be a progression.”

On his involvement in the writing process of the new CD:

“I am involved … as much as I possibly can be. I always want to write as much as I can. If I could write the whole record by myself, I would totally do it. We’ve done quite a few co-writes, which has actually been really fun for me. It’s allowed me to delve into different aspects of songwriting I didn’t know I was capable of doing. I think in that regard, this will easily be the strongest record I’ve ever done.”

On his post-Idol career:

“For me, I just want to get this record out, play on it. Hopefully people will enjoy it. If that means that I get to play arenas again, great. If it means I get to play touristy venues, then hopefully I can go do that and those 200 people will be thoroughly entertained. I just want to go out and play music.”

On his recent on-stage surprises, in which he doused himself with water in one performance, and played guitar while doing a back-bend in another (he says the tricks weren’t planned):

“The energy that a crowd puts out is directly proportional to the show that they get. The night of the water bottle and the night of the backbend - that stuff was really in the moment and it just felt like the thing to do. It’s funny because I’ll get off the stage and Mike Johns and Chikezie will razz me about it. For me, I want to make sure the people feel like they got their money’s worth.”

And if the energy is up?

“Maybe I’ll do kick splits like David Lee Roth used to do.”

KELLY, love the thread.  I am a huge David Cook fan.  A friend of mine made me a David Cook CD and I play it constantly.  Love the voice, love the consistent look of David's (no surprises) , and love his quiet caring personality.  I will be one of the first in line when his CD comes out.  I hope he is very, very successful.

ROSEMONT, Ill. — It's just past 1 p.m. when a convoy of unmarked luxury tour buses pulls up to Allstate Arena, disgorging 10 American Idol finalists in search of a career.
A big hiss from the coach door. Into the wilting humidity steps Chikezie Eze, who raises a weary eyebrow in greeting. Behind him is Ramiele Malubay, lugging luggage that's almost as tall as she is. "I feel like Santa Claus," she groans.

Michael Johns has a spring in his step, but it's deceiving. "I can't sleep on this thing. I keep thinking it's going to crash," he says.

Brooke White frowns as she looks down at her white pants. Big spot. "Oh, well," she says, sighing, striding toward the arena's backstage entrance. Then she looks back. Big smile. "Welcome to madness."

The Byrds posed the musical question 40 years ago: So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?

The Idols Live tour tries to grant that wish. The old-fashioned way.

Dues are being paid here, a trial by road trip fire that's soothed by both a paycheck and crowds that typically are 10,000 strong.

The Idols pump out nearly a concert a day for 2½ months. Nights on cramped bus bunks, mornings in anonymous hotel rooms. Noon-to-midnight shifts split between signing autographs, performing and signing more autographs. Sleep, wash, rinse, repeat.

On their rare days off, some rush back to Los Angeles to work on albums. Others hammer away at new songs they hope to record before their 15 minutes of Idol fame are up.

This gig in the flight path of O'Hare International Airport is show No. 13 of 53 identical performances that wrap up Sept. 13 in Tulsa. Surely, camaraderie-mauling strife is bound to creep into this grueling picture. Inevitably, the tabloids will have their headlines ("Michael battles Jason for groupie love!").

Right?

A day and night spent with this group reveals friendships that have only gotten tighter, voices that have grown stronger and aspirations that have flown higher.

These are those high school drama buddies at the end of senior year, kids impossibly high on talent whose only lament is that very soon now they'll all scatter to the winds.

How will Jason Castro play blackjack without his good-luck charm, Kristy Lee Cook? Will Malubay ever kick that Lucky Charms habit without Syesha Mercado's concerned nagging? As for fast friends Johns and Idol champ David Cook, separating these twins is something neither wants to address. And for now, they don't have to.

1:40 p.m.

Mobs of fans greet their arrival in Chicago

Suitcases deposited in their latest dressing rooms, most of the Idols head to the parking lot. Hundreds of fans wait in the summer heat, pressed up against metal barricades.

Cheers explode without favor, as shrill for country girl Cook as for tattooed rocker Carly Smithson.

Incredibly, the Idols move slowly and methodically down a 60-yard line of people, skipping no one in this largely female crowd. It's hard to ignore the love. One woman's T-shirt reads O.C.D. — "Obsessive Carly Disorder." Another's banner salutes Dread Heads, fans of dreadlocked Castro.

"He's unique, genuine and humble," says local fan Sarah Crothers, 27, who through a Castro fan site befriended Kairee Kirkwood, 19, who was lured here all the way from Edmonton, Canada, by a free ticket. "I wouldn't have missed him for the world," says Kirkwood.

A few feet away, a fan hands Johns his iPod to sign, then a phone with a girlfriend on the line. The Australian native obliges on both counts. How can he be so relentlessly accommodating?

"Hey, mate, beats what I was doing this time last year," he says.

A fan shoots Johns a thumbs-up for his Chicago Cubs jacket. "Yeah, my buddy Mark DeRosa's the second baseman. I'm going to sing the national anthem at Wrigley again. Doing that made me more nervous than any Idol performance I ever …"

A thundering 747 cuts Johns off, flying just over the roof of the arena on its way to land. The clouds it slices through look menacing.

2:30 p.m.

Time for a quick bite to eat — and a few quick laughs

"Well, look at that, shepherd's pie," says Smithson, surprised to find a British staple as she loads up her plate at the mess hall. The Idols are traveling with their own chef to help mitigate a range in the quality of concert-hall catering.

She sits down with David Archuleta, who's poking at his soup and sandwich. Dad Jeff sits nearby; he's along because his son is only 17.

Castro ambles in. He looks in need of a nap.

"I can't really sleep at night. I guess that's a problem for a lot of us," he says. "I don't go on until the second half of the show, so I grab an hour or more of sleep then."

His favorite part of the tour was a recent two-day hiatus in St. Louis, where the fairer Cook brought him good luck at the blackjack tables. "She and I have gotten close. She's just great."

In a room next door, some of the Idols are trotted out for local media. But given that it's a Saturday and the arena is far from downtown Chicago, the crowd is thin.

After a quick TV interview, Mercado plops down in a plastic chair and exhales. "This is grueling, but being friends helps get us through it."

She says bonding is intense on the girls' bus (the boys have their own). It's an oasis of "Zen calm," complete with candles and healthy foods. Except for Malubay's boxes of sugary cereal.

"Hey, she eats my cereal, too," Malubay says, pointing at Mercado, whom she calls "my sister."

"I do not!" mock-yells Mercado, looking over at White, who also is digging into a bowl.

"Would you look at that woman," says Mercado. "She is so small, but she's always eating."

White laughs. "It's like we're about to graduate, and I can only hope we'll keep in touch," she says. "I am so much myself with these people."

4:10 p.m.

More meeting, more greeting, more signing

All 10 Idols sit at a long table, a bottle of water and a box of Pop-Tarts — the tour's sponsor — in front of each one. Time to get the pens moving again as part of two meet-and-greets, the first with Pop-Tarts' guests, the second with the fractional jet ownership company, NetJets.

Between autographs, Kristy Lee Cook tugs at a bracelet on Archuleta's left wrist. It reads "Archie." A fan gave it to him.

"The crazy thing is, no one has ever called me that before this show," says Archuleta, who is now called that exclusively to distinguish him from the other David.

Cook ascribes Archuleta's huge appeal to the fact that he's "the perfect gentleman." Albeit one she's trying to toughen up. Trained in martial arts, she's teaching him "how to really punch," she says. "He could use some practice."

She says she's had no time to work out since her Idol adventure began. Instead, keeping her motor running means catching shut-eye when she can. And the occasional artificial boost. "I had a can of Red Bull the other day, my first in three years," she says. "I swear, I'm still wound up from it."

The special autograph session over, Eze and David Cook begin the long underground walk to the stage for soundcheck. Cook is carrying a massive framed certificate, showing that a star has been named after the Idol winner.

"Cool, huh?" Cook says.

Eze fires back, "Of course, that's likely a theoretical star."

Cook laughs. "Yeah," he says, "just like me."

Suddenly, a human horn sounds.

"Beep, beep," Smithson says. "Jump on the Carly Express."

Smithson has commandeered a large electric cart. Malubay hops on, followed by others.

"My father-in-law has these carts at his place in Florida, and I love to drive them," Smithson says. She hits the pedal.

It's difficult to tell if those are squeals of delight.

5:25 p.m.

At rehearsals, humor helps lighten the mood

The group is on stage, rehearsing their final number. Time to ham it up as technicians check sound levels.

Kristy Lee Cook, White and Malubay lie on their sides, lifting one leg to the beat in a mock workout. Johns runs up and down a small center-stage staircase as if he's at the gym. Next, they all start doing stomach crunches, laughter drowned out by the thumping beat.

About 90 minutes left before showtime. The group scatters. Eze disappears with his portable video game, deep into a round of Pokémon. The women start hair and makeup, while Johns parks himself in front of an office whose makeshift sign says, "Chiropractor," a useful fixture on a tour that's seen its share of scrapes and bumps (David Cook's knee, Johns' elbow).

"It's been hard to stay fit," Johns says, lamenting his inability to hit the tennis courts. "But I will say, being a celebrity doesn't suck."

He's referring to the tour's stop in Portland, Ore., home of Nike, which gave him a VIP tour.

Johns brought along David Cook, and the two walked out "with a lot of swag," Johns says, pointing at his sneakers. "Roger Federer's personal line of casual shoes. You can't buy these," says Johns, eyes alight. "I don't know how long I'll be a celebrity. Might as well enjoy."

Cook ambles by. The two communicate in a shorthand usually reserved for siblings, all nudges, winks and quips.

"We have the same sense of humor," Cook says. "But, ultimately, this tour isn't about me or David (Archuleta) or Mike, it's about saying thank you to all these people who voted for us."

Showtime — 7:10 sharp — nears. A few Idols dash back to the commissary for dinner. Fried chicken and king crab legs. Plates are light.

Closer to the stage, White and Smithson harmonize while getting their makeup applied. David Cook and Castro both are on cellphones, Cook pacing incessantly while Castro squats near an equipment dolly. Neither are in a rush because they don't come on until the second half of the show.

Nearby, a man dressed as a Pop-Tart tugs on his cartoon gloves, then poses for a picture with the crew before heading out to clown around with the crowd. Castro does a double take.

7:14 p.m.

It's showtime, and the livin' ain't easy …

Eze kicks things off with a blast of soul, which Malubay stretches into diva-ish R&B. Johns switches into rock mode, predictably crushing with Aerosmith's Dream On, his Idol swan song.

Kristy Lee Cook is a revelation, singing in a pure country voice. Her electric blond hair and sequined body win over the formerly disinterested dads in the audience. During Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA, folks tear up.

Smithson brings back the rock vibe. She's spot-on with Heart's Crazy On You, and the crowd lets her know it. "Wow," she says. "A year ago, we all had regular jobs. Now we're here playing to you. That's crazy."

White softens the mood with her set, typified by her barefoot performance of Let It Be.

Smiling is mom Danielle Achepohl, here with four young girls. "If you have kids who love music, there aren't many shows you can bring them to," she says. "This is clean."

The first half ends with a video nod to the charity effort Idol Gives Back. All those who have performed so far return to the stage for U2's Pride (Inthe Name of Love), which then gives way to a Guitar Hero audience-participation session.

Backstage, Eze is off by himself, video game in hand. He smiles easily, but his voice is hushed.

"I guess I'm a loner generally," he says. "But the audience does give me so much. Excuse me." He disappears off toward the chiropractor's office.

Smithson walks by. "Have you seen the keys to this golf cart? I want to go for another ride," she says. The tour has been "a lot more work" than she expected, between the travel and the incessant autograph sessions, not to mention the concerts. "I'm not sure when Motley Crue gets up, but it's not when we do."

The upside, she says, is being able to sharpen her act without worrying about whether it's Beatles week or what Simon Cowell might say about her outfit. "I feel I'm stronger all the way around, from my personality to my voice," she says.

Kristy Lee Cook nods. "On the road, it's been so satisfying to hear fans say, 'We didn't really like you that much on the show, but we love you now.' "

8:55 p.m.

Archuleta brings the show to a crescendo

On stage, Castro's ukulele is mistakenly left unplugged, but he perseveres. Mercado scores a standing ovation after a blistering version of Beyoncé's Listen.

Then comes the Boy Wonder, recalling Beatlemania. The structural integrity of the arena is in doubt as Archuleta rises from the floor, seated at a piano, to perform Robbie Williams' Angels.

"All we're missing is people on stretchers," says Jeff Archuleta, mouthing every lyric.

After Hello, Idol winner Cook whips out a video camera. "I've been filming every audience on this tour to remind me of this experience, so make some noise," he says. It does.

"We're done!" White says after the Idols' Don't Stop the Music finale.

Not even close.

10:50 p.m.

More fans, and more autographs

Back in T-shirts, jeans and sneakers, the Idols return to their fans. This time, the crowd lines 100 yards of fence, three deep. Nearly two dozen police keep an eye on things, though teen girls tend to pose a threat only to eardrums.

For an hour, 10 singers no one knew a year ago sign shirts and posters and newspaper clippings, collect candies, brownies and kisses, and generally bond with a populace that may stay loyal. Or may move on to Season 8's winners.

But for now, they're theirs.

"I'm tired, sure," Johns says. "But you get energy from these people. Just look at them."

The shrieks erase all thoughts of sleep.

12:05 a.m.

On the road again …

The fans won't leave. But there's a schedule to keep. As the flier distributed to the Idols notes, "Tomorrow is a show day in Columbus, Ohio. O'nite drive: 370 miles/6 hours. Move watches forward an hour."

Rain is in the air. Lightning, too.

Johns heads to the boys' bus. On the way, he wraps Archuleta in a bear hug. The youngest Idol squeals in surprise.

"Come on, mate," Johns says. "Time to go."

Another night, another city.

Even though he's busy on the road with the American Idols Live! tour, reigning champ David Cook says he's making good progress on his debut album. "I think we've for sure got seven songs we're tracking," Cook tells Billboard.com. "We're gonna try to get to around 20 I think, and work it out from there."

Cook's album, which he hopes to release in November via 19 Recordings/Arista, is being helmed by Rob Cavallo in Los Angeles. Cook has been writing material for the set, and his collaborators so far include Collective Soul's Ed Roland, Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida, John Fields and Kara DioGuardi.

"I really just try to get into these creative processes with some different minds and see what happens, and so far the results have been great," Cook says. "I don't really feel like I've had a fruitless writing session yet."

He recently flew back to Los Angeles during a couple of off days from the Idols tour to do some recording and says what he heard is "definitely heading down the right path. I just want the record to be both eclectic and cohesive and have something to say. The music is rock and it's pretty undeniably me, which I'm pretty excited about." He adds that he also wants the album to have "room to meander" stylistically and promises that "there's gonna be some interesting twists and turns ... that will keep people interested."

Cook certainly has reason to be optimistic. After his "American Idol" victory in May he placed a record 10 of his "Idol" performances plus his first single, "The Time of My Life," on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with a total of 944,000 first-week downloads.

That's given him a formidable repertoire for the Idols tour -- where he's sporting a rubber bracelet bearing the legend "David Is My Idol."

"It's actually a David Archuleta wristband," Cook says with a laugh, explaining that it was given to him in Salt Lake City by a fan of the teenage "Idol" runner-up. "I'm actually a pretty big Archuleta fan. I think he's a fantastic performer and, more importantly, a good human being. So it's just a little way to show some support."

DID YOU KNOW?
David Cook January concert in RP


MANILA, Philippines—A surprise announcement from David Cook himself had his web fan site buzzing with excitement, especially from its Filipino subscribers: “American Idol”’s Season 7 champ is coming to Manila for a concert.

Comments from the website ranged from incredulity to amazement to simple joy, in a thread whose common question was the need to present proof.

Inquirer pursued a tip that the evidence was earlier posted on YouTube, and indeed, there it was (type in: CHUMFM interview with David Cook). The audio clip, 4 minutes and 15 seconds long, has Cook being interviewed by DJ Richie on a Canadian radio station. The conversation starts with Cook’s scheduled visit to Toronto as part of the “Idol” tour.

Cook proceeded to discuss his coming major-label debut CD, set for a November release and with Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) as producer.

And then the announcement: “We just booked my first show, post-‘Idol,’ Jan. 27 in the Philippines … a one-off show and then we start the tour in the States …” Pocholo Concepcion

David Cook is making some good headway with his debut album. The American Idol champ is busy on the road with this year's finalists, but he's also setting his sights on writing and recording new music. He recently visited Los Angeles to lay down some tracks for the set, which is expected out November 19th and will feature writing collaborations with Collective Soul's Ed Roland, Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida, John Fields and Kara DioGuardi.

The songs mostly have a rock-based sound, and Cook says so far he's happy with the turnout:"I think we've for sure we've gotten seven songs that we're tracking. We're going to try to get to around 20 I think. I just want the record to be both reflective and cohesive and have something to say and I feel like we're definitely heading down the right path, so."

Cook tells us the songs definitely reflect his personality and personal situations: "It's pretty undeniably me, which I'm excited about. I feel like my experiences in the last year -- not just with the show -- just with life -- I have a lot of things to talk about."

The American Idols Live! tour pulls into Newark, New Jersey tonight (Wednesday, July 30th) and winds down September 13th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

TORONTO — He barely registered on "American Idol" until he cut his hair and sang "Hello."

From then on, David Cook was the unlikely dark horse who reinvented hits from the '80s and '90s to the delight of his female fans, in the end trouncing teenage phenom David Archuleta in a landslide upset.

Cook and his fellow Top 10 competitors arrive in Toronto on Saturday, and it turns out that the emo-balladeer has a musical idol of his own - Canadian singer-songwriter Raine Maida.

Cook says he's long been a fan of the Our Lady Peace singer and requested a meeting with Maida when it came time to hash out material for his "Idol"-funded solo release.

"The songs that we wrote were, in my opinion, some of the strongest that we've done for this record," Cook says by phone from a recent tour stop in Detroit.

"I'm very pleased with how it turned out and I'm actually hoping to get together with him again before the record gets released and try to write some more."

Cook notes that Maida's edgy rock sound is very much in line with the type of material he hopes to put out himself. Other rockers he's written with include Ed Roland from Collective Soul and Zac Maloy from the Nixons.

"I wanted to write with people that I admired and respected and people that I thought could tune into the kind of vibe that I wanted. Raine's definitely one of those people," he says of the L.A. writing session, in which he also met Maida's wife, songstress
Chantal Kreviazuk, and their sons.

"I put his name on a list, I turned that list in and next thing I know he was on the schedule. With it being my first session I remember being just really nervous because you always have that kind of anxiety, this person I look up to - 'Are they going to be nice?' ... And in the first 15 seconds he completely put me at ease. He's the most unassuming, down-to-earth person I think I've ever met."

Cook, who chose the Our Lady Peace song "Innocent" for his Top 8 performance, says he hopes to release the disc in the fall, and follow it up with another tour.

During the Idol competition, the 25-year-old singer distinguished himself from the pack with a harder rock sound and a breathy delivery that made his female fans swoon.

Unconventional arrangements of '80s and '90s classics including Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby," and Lionel Richie's "Hello" earned him glowing reviews from judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Cook's alt-rock performance of "Billie Jean," was actually a Chris Cornell arrangement, but the Idol champ lays claim to unique interpretations of "Always Be My Baby" and "Hello," which came in at week 3 as he entered the Top 16.

Cook says his guitar-driven emo version of "Hello" started out as an inside joke with his buddies back home in Tulsa, Okla.

"We always joked around that that would be a great power ballad. And then I had the first two weeks where I kind of stumbled over myself a little bit, was just trying to find my footing and I really walked into that third week, and was just like...'I'm just going to have fun with this song - I'll do it.' "

The judges loved his rendition, and in many ways, that off-beat approach set the tone for Cook's gradual climb to the top.

Cook says he's going for similar musical surprises when he releases his solo album later this year.

"It's a rock record but in my opinion it's not the standard 'one-four-five' pop chord progression rock," he insists, noting the lyrics deal with "themes of love and displacement, being unsure and all those kind of vibes."

"I wanted there to be some room on this record to meander and do some interesting things that make a listener want to pay attention."

  Hey guys...
Current mood:  creative

Hey guys. Sorry for the delay in updates. It's been difficult finding the time to get a new Vlog put together, so I thought I'd write a quick blog instead. :)

We just wrapped another successful show in Pittsburgh, PA. The crowds have been great. Very responsive. VERY loud. I love it.

We're neck deep in this record. Mr. Rob Cavallo is pushing all the right buttons and turning all the right knobs to make this record great. Just as importantly, I'm proud to announce the first addition to my band, Mr. Neal Tiemann (hereafter referred to as "Doctor"). Doctor was the chief songwriter/lead guitarist in MWK, the band I played with in Tulsa. He's one of my closest friends and I am absolutely stoked to have him on board.

We're putting the finishing touches on my brand new website. It will have a very cool facebook/myspace vibe to it, where you can put together your own space and interact with other fans. I think it could be a really cool way to interact with each other.

I want to address the CDs from my old band, Axium. Quite a few fans have brought these records to the shows, looking for signatures. While I am happy to oblige and am very grateful that so many have taken an interest in something I put my heart into for the bulk of my musical life, I am sad to hear both that the pricing of these records has been set at astronomical amounts purely for the sake of taking advantage of you guys who just want the music, and that the release and sale of these records was done without the consent of the chief songwriters involved in making those records. I can assure you that I play no part in the sale or distribution of these records, and neither condone nor back the people that are. Hell, we would've given you the music but a few years ago. Funny how things and people change...

Be sure to keep an ear to the ground, as we have to singles coming out from some of our friends. Mr. David Archuleta has a single coming out soon, and Ms. Kristy Lee has one coming soon too. So be sure to check those out and support them as well as you've done for me. Let's prove to everyone else that this was and continues to be the most talented season of AI yet.

Take care and see you on the road,
~D

How crazy has life been for David Cook since May, when he edged favorite David Archuleta to be crowned the 2008 winner of the seventh season of "American Idol?"

"They tell me my name's David," the 25-year-old singer says with a laugh. "I don't know what my last name is. I assume it's Archuleta!"

He's in no way complaining about the photo shoots, interviews, tour rehearsals and meetings that have crammed his schedule since his "American Idol" victory, he hastens to add.

"I've been busy but, you know, I welcome it," says Cook, who received 56 percent of the public vote in the final round, and went on to place a record 10 of his "American Idol" performances plus his first single, "The Time of My Life," in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with a total of 944,000 first-week downloads. "I really don't have or ever had any disdainful feelings toward ("American Idol"). I've seen it as an opportunity and nothing more.

"I just never really saw 'Idol' as my path," the singer says. "I was content doing what I was doing before, but I can certainly appreciate how much this has accelerated everything for me."

Cook was, in fact, working on an album in Tulsa, Okla., even before he became an "American Idol" finalist. He has been committed to a musical path since his childhood in the Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs, Mo.

Music was a family affair in the Cook household. His father played guitar, and both parents were avid music listeners. The middle of three brothers, Cook went through R&B and country phases, he recalls, but latched onto rock "and never looked back" after his older brother gave him a stack of records for Christmas that included titles by Billy Joel, Pearl Jam and R.E.M.

"I think for me it was just a matter of finding my own way, for the most part," says Cook, who began playing guitar at 13 and redirected his attention from his other great passion at the time, baseball. "The first two songs I listened to were 'Closer' (1994) by Nine Inch Nails and 'More Human Than Human' (1995) by White Zombie.

"After I started playing there were three records in heavy rotation: (Green Day's) 'Dookie' (1994), 'Clumsy' (1997) by Our Lady Peace and 'The Color and the Shape' (1997) by the Foo Fighters," he continues. "Those are the three I kind of cut my teeth on."

Cook, who had roles in high-school musicals such as "West Side Story" and "The Music Man," says that his parents were generally behind him.

"They were always supportive of my doing what I loved," he recalls, "and kind of allowed me to operate in my own realm a little bit."

They also insisted that he attend college, however, so he wound up at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg on a theater scholarship. After two semesters he switched majors, and ultimately got his degree in printing and graphic design. Simultaneously, though, he was playing in the band Axium, which released three independent albums.

After graduating in 2006, Cook moved to Tulsa to join a regional band called the Midwest Kings. He recorded an EP with that group, released a solo album, "Analog Heart" (2006), and was working on another solo project when he accompanied his younger brother Andrew to "American Idol" auditions in Omaha, where Cook's own plans were derailed.

"I was just there for moral support," he recalls. "We were standing in line at 5:30 in the morning, the sun wasn't up yet, it was raining, and one of the producers comes up with a camera and interviews my brother, 'Why are you the next American Idol?'

"Then he turns the camera to me," the singer continues. "I gave some smart-aleck answer and said, 'I'm not auditioning,' and he goes, 'You are now!' I picked my song (Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer") and it all kind of snowballed."

With no hard feelings from his brother, Cook rolled on to Hollywood and into the finals. His music choices covered a wide range, running from free to Roberta Flack and from Dolly Parton to Duran Duran, with stops at Aerosmith, Mariah Carey, U2 and even a nod to Cook's theater roots with a rendition of "The Music of the Night" from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "The Phantom of the Opera." He particularly impressed viewers, and the show's judges, by performing rocker Chris Cornell's languid version of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

His selections sometimes perplexed people, Cook admits, but there was a method to his madness.

"I wanted to set up the season like a set list," he explains, "and so I guess, in that respect, I forced myself to kind of assume that I'd make it to the end. I wanted to have the first couple weeks be upbeat to draw people in, and then have those peaks and valleys throughout the season.

"The goal was, if I look back now and look at the song list in the order of what I did, there'd be some continuity to it."

With his major-label-debut album looming for fall release, Cook hopes to bring similar coherence to his new material.

"It'll be a rock record," he promises, "an interesting rock record, something people would be glad to say that they bought. To try to do anything else would not be in keeping with who I am.

"I look at guys like Bo Bice and Chris Daughtry ... that operated within the rock realm on ("American Idol") and made it work," Cook says. "Those guys ... made it possible for somebody like me to come on here and win the show."

The album is "heading in the right direction," Cook adds, and will be recorded during days off from the summer's "American Idols Live!" tour and after the tour finishes. Having done it before, he feels comfortable in the studio, but he acknowledges that he's having to learn a great deal in a short time.

"Doing it on this kind of scale is something I always dreamed of doing," he says. "I definitely feel that I'm still a little green. I've got a little bit to lean on, but I also realize that I'm 25 years old and have got the world to learn.

"This is a unique opportunity and can get fairly daunting at times," Cook says. "But for the most part I feel like I've got a leg up on some people that would try to do this, in that I've been on the other side, so I appreciate it a little more.

"I have to give it the best shot I can."

David Cook had " American Idol" fans at "Hello." When the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo., put a rock spin on the Lionel Richie ballad in the "Idol" semifinals, it was the start of a love affair that led to his victory on the show in May. Tonight and tomorrow, fans can say hello to Cook as he and the rest of the top 10 come to the Nassau Coliseum for the "American Idols Live" tour.

Cook recently chatted by phone from Rochester, N.Y., about the tour, his album due in November and Simon Cowell.

What's been the best part of being on the "Idols Live" tour?

"The cool thing is that we're all doing our own set, although I get two more songs than everyone else. So everybody's got their own vibe and they've got their own songs. And not worrying about being judged or voted on has really helped us all open up a lot. It's made us all stronger performers."

Pet Rock: The Pop Culture blog How did being on "American Idol" help you to become a better performer?

"The one thing about doing "Idol" is that it showed me that it doesn't really matter what the size of the crowd is, you have to make it as intimate for the back of the room as well as for the front row. If you can get into that vibe, then you're giving everyone the same show."

Have you started work yet on your album?

"It's been hard with the tour, but Rob Cavallo, who produced Green Day's "American Idiot," is producing, and we've been having a lot of correspondence. We've got about 20 songs that we're tracking."

Will any of the songs from your previous CD make it onto this one?

"I've lucked out in that I have a breadth of material to work from. We're in the tracking process right now, and we're working with one that looks like it's going to fit."

Do you feel that Simon was sometimes too harsh with his criticism?

"Simon says what he does, but he always means it to be constructive. Simon is just being Simon. He's honest. I stood up for my ideas whenever I felt like I needed to. The one thing I did take away from it is that I got a tougher skin. Part of Simon's job is to prepare us for the media saying some unflattering things about us. I'm confident with who I am and I know what I'm about."

(New York – NY) American Idol winner David Cook has teamed up with Grammy winning producer Rob Cavallo on his debut album for 19 Recordings/RCA Records, due out this fall.

Cavallo, best known for his work with the legendary pop-punk band Green Day, has also produced records for superstar artists such as Kid Rock, Eric Clapton, My Chemical Romance, Goo Goo Dolls, and is working with the Dave Matthews Band on an upcoming release.

Cook has been busy in the studio when not on the road with the American Idols Live tour, co-writing many of the upcoming album tracks alongside some of music’s hottest rock songwriters.

Earlier this summer Cook set the record for the most new entries by an artist in the 50-year history of the Hot 100, with 11 songs entering the chart dated June 7, 2008. That broke the record of six new entries in one week. Cook's 11 songs were led by "The Time of My Life," which debuted at No. 3, making it the highest new entry of 2008. "The Time of My Life" debuted at No 1 on two other charts, the Hot Digital Songs and the Hot Digital Tracks.

David Cook has promised to make a rock record that's true to himself, and the American Idol winner has confirmed that the studio maestro tasked with helping him realize that goal is Rob Cavallo. The producer has already lent his talents to high profile projects from My Chemical Romance, Kid Rock, and, most extensively, Green Day, including their Grammy Award-winning
album American Idiot, and Cook is confident that Cavallo is the right person for his upcoming release. "I think he's a great producer with the kind of sound that I want," Cook tells EW.com. "And in talking to him, he's just a good guy. Like the song selection I had on the show, Rob just fit."

The two are currently squeezing in studio time whenever the Idol summer tour allows, and Cook still plans to release the album in mid-November. As previously reported, Cook has had writing sessions with Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida and Collective Soul's Ed Roland, but there's one person who isn't involved with the album: industry vet Clive Davis, the man who executive produced all of the Idols' debuts, but whose role at SonyBMG, where he's currently Chief Creative Officer of SonyBMG Worldwide, has shifted. "I never heard his name brought up," Cook said.

That may free up Cook to make his own decision about whether to include his Idol finale single, "The Time of My Life," on the album. (Being forced to include agenerally-sappy but familiar song on a decidedly rock debut had been a bone of contention for one previous winner, Taylor Hicks,
who reportedly resisted having "Do I Make You Proud" on his album.) Cook hasn't yet made the call about the single. "It's not like there's any resistance to [the song]," he says. "My goal is to make a cohesive record, and I don't want any song to stick out like a sore thumb. But in every meeting that I've had with 19 [Management] and RCA [Records], they've been very supportive of what I want to do with my record."

Album Review
Prior to his big break on the seventh season of American Idol, David Cook was like many struggling regional rockers, rotating through a few bands, setting up camp in a few homes, writing originals along the way, sometimes getting enough tunes together to put out an album on his own. Once his first band, Axium, split after garnering a reasonable amount of attention -- they topped a local Kansas City poll and placed in a Got Milk contest -- he settled down in Tulsa, playing guitar with a group called Midwest Kings while also working on solo stuff, putting out an album called Analog Heart in 2006. Like many local records, it didn't get much play outside its region until it showed up on Amazon's MP3 store partway through the American Idol competition, when it was promptly pulled. Why was it pulled? Because American Idol and 19 Entertainment like to present their Idols as the product of immaculate conception, so they don't want any of their Idol prehistory on the market. Sometimes there are good reasons for this, but in the case of Cook, Analog Heart might have been pulled just because it would be a little too close to what he would do after the show. Anybody familiar with Cook's parade of post-grunge won't find this surprising -- it's stuck in the late '90s, positioned somewhere between 3 Doors Down and Third Eye Blind -- but the shock is that he sounds a lot more convincing when he isn't belting out covers of Our Lady Peace. Cook remains almost defiantly conventional, but he's singing these power ballads and vaguely inspirational anthems with earnest conviction, believing every cliché that passes through his lips and, more importantly, building the tunes upon seriously big arena hooks. It's still rather bland made-for-radio grunge-pop -- designed as much to be his entry into the big leagues as to actually be played on Top 40 -- but with a little gloss the stuff on Analog Heart could sit alongside DAUGHTRY quite comfortably. And that's almost certainly why it was pulled -- there will be a time for David Cook to sit alongside DAUGHTRY and it's not the spring of 2008. It's the holiday season of 2008.

Season 7 American Idol winner David Cook is teaming up with Grammy winning producer Rob Cavallo for his debut album with 19 Recordings/RCA Records. The album is scheduled for release this November. Cavallo is best known for producing Green Day's smash hit American Idiot. Cavallo has also produced albums for Kid Rock, Goo Goo Dolls, My Chemical Romance, and Eric Clapton. He is also working on an upcoming release from The Dave Mathews Band.

Idol has produced one rock star in season five contestant Chris Daughtry, who finished in fourth place on the show. Daughtry's debut album has gone five times platinum and is still producing chart topping singles. Cook, however, will be the first winner to go the rocker route. What remains to be seen is if Cook can combine the stigma of reality TV contestant (Cook recently took home a Teen Choice award for Best Male Reality TV Star) with legitimate rock musician.

At this point Cook has a lot going for him. While on Idol Cook was able to play his guitar during competition, which added to his image as genuine musician. Season seven is the first year Idol contestants were allowed to use instruments in their performances. Cook also has an arsenal of five independent rock albums he recorded prior to appearing on Idol. It's a background that shows Cook was serious about making music long before American Idol came into his life. It could go a long way toward proving to the non-Idol viewing, music buying public that he is not just a manufactured "flavor of the month."

Currently Cook is taking full advantage of all the benefits that being an American Idol winner offers. The massive exposure has attracted a few other high profile collaborators in addition to Cavallo. Cook has had songwriting sessions with Our Lady Peace lead singer Rainn Maida and Collective Soul's Ed Roland. Cook himself has remained very involved in the songwriting process and hopes to make an album that is true to his rock style.

Having a successful producer like Cavallo could be the key to his success. Cook told Entertainment Weekly.com that Cavallo is "a great producer with the kind of sound that I want."

Of course being an American Idol winner does involve some compromise. And for David Cook that compromise is his first single "Time Of My Life." "Time Of My Life" was the winning song in the American Idol songwriting contest and would have been released as a single if it had been David Archuleta who won. Basically the song was not meant for David Cook, it was meant for the Idol winner, whoever that turned out to be.

The song itself is not great, but not all that bad either. It has been decent hit for Cook, debuting at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and is currently having a lot of success on the adult contemporary charts. Cook, who must sing the song every night of the Idol tour, has done enough with the song that it shows off his strong vocals. Nonetheless, it still does not quite fit in with the grunge/modern rock sound Cook is going for. So should the successful single go on his debut album or not?

It looks like it might not make the cut. Cook told EW.com that he is not resisting the song but his "goal is to make a cohesive record, and I don't want any song to stick out like a sore thumb. But in every meeting that I've had with 19 [Management] and RCA [Records], they've been very supportive of what I want to do with my record."

On the one hand a successful single can help drive album sales, but on the other hand a song that is not a representation of the artist's style could compromise their image in the long run.

While it remains to be seen whether David Cook will become a bona fide rock star, he is giving it his best shot. With his massive Idol popularity, a few chart hits already under his belt, and the backing of a major producer like Rob Cavallo, the future looks pretty bright for Cook.

David Cook, victor of the seventh season of "American Idol," is in good spirits on the phone from the Albany, N.Y. tour stop of the "American Idols Live" tour. "The response has been great to everyone," says the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo.
Cook is currently whirling through the now-familiar frantic schedule of his predessors - playing a nationwide tour with his fellow finalists while jetting off to various studios between gigs to record his debut album with respected producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) for 19 Recordings/RCA. Cook says the album is slated for release mid-November.
Aside from being sleep-deprived, he has no complaints about the opportunity to be a working musician. So far there's been little to complain about. On the Fox reality contest, Cook gathered fans from every demographic with quirky, alt-rock polishes of the various pop, country, and classic rock songs offered up by the show's various mentors and themes. Following his triumph on the show, he set a record for new entries on the Billboard Hot 100, when 11 of his "Idol"-related recordings entered the chart in one week including his finale single "The Time of My Life."
Q: How psyched were you when you found out they were changing the "Idol" tour format to de-emphasize big group singing and dancing numbers?
A: When I heard we only had two group numbers and not much choreography, just blocking, I about jumped through the roof. I don't think I was the only one. (Laughs) I think this season especially, everyone had a firm idea musically of who they were coming in and the tour reflects that.
Q: As a big Green Day fan, what did you think when you heard Rob Cavallo was interested?
A: Rob's top tier. He came to us, and I took that as a massive compliment. We talked about what we wanted to do, and everything just clicked.
Q: What kind of a record are you hoping to make?
A: I just told Rob that I want to put out a real record, I want it to be a rock record. I want there to be an interesting vibe to it, and the three artists that I talked about were Our Lady Peace, Big Wreck, and Muse. I don't want to completely start copying other records, but I want to have interesting textures and sounds.
Q: How was it collaborating with Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, who you covered on the show?
A: Walking in I was crazy nervous. I always expected him to be a very closed-off, brooding individual, but he's the nicest, most unassuming guy I've ever met.
Q: A lot of times people think angst-ridden songwriters will be tortured in real life, but often those people say they end up being pretty even-keeled because they're able to exorcise their demons on record.
A: It really is therapeutic. That's what really got me into music in the first place, needing an outlet to express negative energy. I think that's what's allowed me to be a little bit of a steady person.
Q: Did you write much while you were working on the show and will you be including any of your pre-"Idol" stuff on the record?
A: I didn't have a whole lot of time to write on the show. The good news is when I got off the show I had five months worth of writing to get out. June was amazingly fruitful, I think in the first three weeks we wrote about 20 songs. And then with the material I had from before the show - because I had released one record and had another record finished - I think we're in the 50s.
Q: Did you find yourself writing about your "Idol" experience or drawing from outside the bubble?
A: I think more drawing from outside of the bubble. This is such an odd experience that only roughly 160 other people can really understand. I found myself writing about it but only in a vague context because I want people to be able to internalize these songs.
Q: Have you encountered any "Cougars for Cook" on tour?A: I have encountered a few cougars, and they've been very sweet, very respectful, and I'm glad to have them in my family. From a generic guy standpoint it's always nice when a female gives you attention. It doesn't really matter who they are or where they're at in their life it's just cool. (Laughs).
Q: You studied theater for part of your college career, do you have any designs on an acting career?
A: Basically what I told 19 and RCA is that I just want to put myself out there, and if the right anything comes along I'm certainly open to giving it a look. I may have read a script here or there, but nothing's really come out of the woodwork yet. If some huge director came up to me and said I want you to star in my movie and that's it, then maybe I gotta do it. I'm certainly not opposed to being the comedic relief.
Q: As the self-confessed "word nerd" have you managed to graduate to the Sunday Times crossword yet?
A: I have not, I'm still on Wednesday.
Q: Have you been a clue in any of the puzzles?
A: I have not. My mom has told me she's [seen] it a couple of times. I think I might have to stop doing crosswords when that happens.

I’m hearing that David Cook is laying down vocals for his first single today…
Meanwhile, David talks to ABC News Radio about his upcoming album, the tour and “Time of My Life. Check out these excerpts:
On co-writing songs with some of his musical heroes: “I think I went in a little timid, just from the standpoint of, I’d never really co-written before. I’ve always been the kind of writer that just kinda holed up in a room and wrote something on my own…It’s been actually kind of a really cool experience to be able to pick other people’s brains and attack the song from a different standpoint. [It’s] allowed me, I feel, to come up with some of the best material I’ve ever written.”
Working with other writers has made him more willing to reveal himself, “I’m really kind of delving into some aspects of my life and my experiences that maybe a year ago I wasn’t that comfortable writing about. And so it’s really opened me up to being just a little more honest in my songwriting.”
Solo artist, or band? “I want there to be a band vibe. I don’t necessarily know that ‘Cook’ is a good band name but we’re still trying map that all out.”
On having his old bandmate, Neal Tiemann from Midwest Kings, join the band, “He’s an amazing musical mind and I’m also just glad to have a friend in tow — somebody I know that I can be on the road with and not want to wring their necks.”
More about his album, the tour and “Time of My Life” after the JUMP…
David explains what he means when he continually says that his album is “me”, “You listen to bands like Aerosmith and you know that’s Aerosmith. You listen to AC/DC and you know that’s AC/DC — there’s a vibe associated with those bands apart from a sound. I mean, obviously, they have a sound, but there’s an energy to those bands that no one else has been able to replicate and that’s my goal on this record. I want to make a record that has my energy and my vibe.” He admits this is a “lofty goal,” but says, “To shoot for anything less would be disrespectful to people buying the record.”
On feeling pressure to produce a record that fans will enjoy, “I have pressure to live up to my own standards, not everybody else’s. I feel like if I can meet my own, I’ll meet everybody else’s along the way just ’cause nobody’s gonna expect more from myself than me.”
The concert date in the Phillippines he’d previously alluded to isn’t exactly confirmed.
On NBC using “Time of my Life” for their Olympic Coverage:
David hasn’t had a chance to see it, but, “I have plenty of family members filling me in every time in happens.”
Regarding the radio/sales success of “TOML,” and its subsequent use in such an important cultural moment like the Olympics, “I think more than anything, it’s just a testament to the song. I think Reggie Hamm, the guy who wrote it, did an amazing job with it, and it’s just one of those songs that just seems to fit so I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
About the tour:
On commanding the stage, “Really, more than anything for me it’s just a matter of trying to make yourself accessible — I think that’s really the trick, when you get a crowd of 16,000 people, to really become vulnerable in front of all these people and just try to not only entertain them, but make them feel as though they’re part of the experience. I think coming in with that as a conscious idea is something I’ve really kind of strived for.”
He’s still enjoying the tour, “I love it. Every city has its own kind of stamp, every city has its own vibe.”
He singled out his time playing golf in Portland with Michael Johns as a highlight of the tour, adding, “Stuff like that, the little feathers you can put in your cap along the way, is what I love more than anything.”

David Cook says being crowned the seventh American Idol winner earlier this year has enabled him "to do a lot of amazing things."

Debut a record-breaking 11 songs in one week on the Billboard Hot 100 — easy.

Embark on a 50-plus date, cross-country tour — done.

Work on a debut disc with heralded rock producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day) and collaborate on tunes with Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida and Collective Soul's Ed Roland — check.

This weekend, Cook reaches another milestone — visiting Houston, where he was born. He'll perform alongside David Archuleta, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook and the rest of the gang Sunday at Toyota Center.

"That's definitely right up there — to see where I was born and really get a firm memory is something that is really important for me," Cook says, calling from a tour stop in Charlotte, NC.

"I've got a couple family members buried in Houston that I'm hoping to get to see. We moved when I was really little, so I don't really have a lot of memories.

"To be able to get out and kind of see if there are any mental images buried that might resurface as a result of being out there, that's all the stuff I'm excited about getting into."

Earlier this month, Cook donated a white stage jacket to the local Snowdrop Foundation auction, benefiting patients and families at Texas Children's Cancer Center. It sold for $5,000.

His post-Idol debut disc is due later this year, and Cook promises lots of rock twists and turns:

You're on a pretty insane schedule these days, touring, writing and recording.

"I'm very, very much enjoying myself out here on the road. I've got nine of my best friends (with me), traveling the country and doing music for a living. The pay's not bad, either. It's fun — 99 percent of the time."

What happens that other 1 percent of the time?

"I've never slept so little in my entire life. But I've been able to do a lot of things that most people only dream about in the last year. I think as long as I'm able to maintain that perspective, it's pretty easy."

Is there any time to actually relax and take a breath?

"I haven't had a full-on day off in probably two months. You find ways to get through it. I think to decompress would probably take more than a day. What little free time I do get is usually just spent trying to catch up on sleep."

Three months have passed since your Idol win. Have you been able to fully appreciate the experience?

"When I was there and going through that experience, it was very much an out-of-body experience. I didn't process it internally at all. I really felt like I was watching it along with everybody else. I haven't really been able to process it any differently than I did at the time, which is kind of like, 'What just happened?'"

What songs are you performing on tour?

"I'm doing Hello (Lionel Richie), Billie Jean (Michael Jackson via Chris Cornell) and I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) from the show. I'm doing the single, Time of My Life, and I'm doing a song called My Hero by the Foo Fighters."

Are you happy with that rigid setlist?

"Obviously, I'd much prefer to be playing original material. But I think the set that I have is fun, and I've been able to cater it toward some crowd interaction. Really, I just want it to be entertaining for the audience. The crowds have been great. Very loud."

Has there been a standout city on the tour so far?

"I think with Glendale (Ariz.) being the first (show), there was a real cool energy there. Everybody just came out with 20 pounds of energy. I'd say since then, probably the most responsive crowd for me was our second Newark date. They sang all my songs back to me. As a performer, nothing beats that."

Does your solo disc seem like the light at the end of the Idol tunnel?

"It definitely feels like the next horizon. It's strange, I grew up playing in bands and playing original music. For the last year of my life, I haven't played any original music. In that regard, it's been a long time coming for me, just to be able to get back to creating music and really investing myself in a record. I'm certainly stoked about what happens after this tour."

David Archuleta (Crush) and Kristy Lee Cook (15 Minutes of Shame) are already on the radio with slick new singles. Does that add any pressure for you to succeed?

"Look, you only get one shot to come out with a great first record. I can't speak for Archie or Kristy, but maybe they just work faster than I do. I've spent a lot of time in the writing process and really trying to make sure that these songs are me. Whenever my record comes out, as long as it's good, I'm happy. And hopefully, everybody else will be."

How's the sound shaping up so far?

"It's a rock record, but I also feel like it's not going to be a standard rock record. There are some twists and turns on it. I kind of forced myself to be more open as a songwriter than I think I ever had been before. These songs might be of a vague nature, lyrically, but they'll also be pretty firm snapshots of my life — just overall. The last year of my life been's great, but I think to discredit the last 24 would be a waste."

"I hung out and wrote with Luke Menard today.
He told me a story that I got his permission put on here.

Luke Menard found out he had cancer the week of the finale.  2-3 days before David Cook performed in the finale, trying to win Idol, he took time to come to Luke's hospital room in L.A.  I can tell you from experience that the final 2 don't have time to use the restroom, nonetheless break away to see a friend in the hospital.  So, that sacrifice alone says a lot about the dude.
But this story blew me away:

Luke recently did a fundraising concert to help pay for his mounting medical bills.  So, his hometown put on a concert to help pay for said bills, and Luke performed.  David Cook sent a signed guitar as a donation to be sold in the auction.  Nice enough, right.

Then, as the concert/auction/fundraiser was starting, David called and told Luke to let the audience know that whatever they bought the guitar for, he would match personally dollar for dollar.  And he did.

Now, David didn't pay off Luke's bills...he still needs help...but that act of sacrifice was pretty incredible, and, to me, says what kind of guy David is.

Hey, in my first EW blog I questioned if he came across as cocky.  But, speaking as someone who is misread a great deal, I have a feeling David is misread also.

So...just a little story."

posted by ChrisSligh @ 4:42 PM

So, I promised that I wouldn't really try to process all of this madness until I got an extended break, but something happened today that really made me reflect. Well, I may be getting too generic. A lot of small things have happened lately that correlated into some fresh perspective. Let me explain…

We had a much-needed, much-deserved day off in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, today. I took it as an opportunity to rest myself not only physically, but mentally. The strain of trying to put everything I have into this tour, on top of the scheduling conflicts that inevitably arise from doing a record while on the road, and not to mention the crazy press commitments, have left me, and all the idols, with an almost humorous non-distinct stare as we enter the home stretch of this tour. So, today I did little but stay in bed and walk around. I went with MJ and Chik to go see "Tropic Thunder". I give it 4/5 stars. Tom Cruise was the only part I didn't like about it. Don't know why…

After the movie, we went and grabbed dinner, and then split up upon returning to the hotel. I went out to the beach, and plopped down on a chair to watch the waves and the lightning in the distance. (Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Massive Nuisance Fay) All at once, it hit me full on what has happened to me this last year. I thought about Omaha, and my brother, Andrew, and the Green Mile, and the top 12 red carpet event, and the hotel, and the finale, and this tour. It really became apparent to me at that moment that the tour will be done in about a month, and we'll all, hopefully, go on to amazing careers and lives away from this "Idol Machine" and apart from one another. After a year with these guys, that thought looms ominous and scary.

I bring all this up to make this point: There were times from the beginning of college to the time that I made the show where I truly was unsure of what I was supposed to be doing. I've been a professional musician of some degree since I was 15, but could I ever really "make it"? This last year has allotted me a new inner peace, and I'm more thankful for that than anything else. It's nice to have the title of American Idol, and the privilege of making a major-label record, but more than all of those things, I want to say thank you for the support you guys have shown, but more importantly the understanding you guys have shown to my limitations as I try to meander through this very new lifestyle of actually being acknowledged for doing something I love. I'm giving everything I can to make sure that you guys feel as appreciated as you've made me feel over the last year. Here's to many more.


~D

DAVID COOK

Question: How are you taking to touring?
Answer: I love it. I get to travel the country, see places I've never seen with some of my best friends? It's great. We had a day off in Ft. Lauderdale, and I got lost a little bit. Most of the time, we get into a town at 4 or 5 in the morning, grab some sleep and go to the (venue).

Q: So you don't get to usually see much of the town.
A: St. Louis looks a lot like DC, looks a lot like Charlotte, looks a lot like New York.

Q: How much choice did you get in your choice of song for the tour?
A: The tour producers were pretty open to discussion, and everybody had a say. We're all concerned with the flow of our individual sets, and they're more concerned about the overall show.

Q: I must say that "Time of My Life" is one of the better "Idol" singles, that seems so much less of a departure from your style than with other winners.
A: It's interesting. I got a chance to meet (songwriter) Reggie Hamm, who was really down to earth. First and foremost, it's a great song. It did really well after the finale, and whoever picked the music for the Olympics played it again and it's gotten a second life. I'm really happy with it. Just as importantly, I got a chance to tweak the arrangement a little bit. In the end, a great song is a great song. I got lucky.

Q: As a "rocker" who was a little older and more established as a performer than some of the other contestants, you, like Chris Daughtry, got labeled by some people as a sell-out (He nods, rolls his eyes). It's not me saying it. It's that some people don't appreciate, as a lot of musicians have told me, how different the business is. They say you have to use what you've got.
A: There are some people still stuck in the Dark Ages. The thing that's both scary and exciting is that there's no formula anymore. "American Idol," as successful as it is...look at the track record. Some of the winners have become amazingly successful, and some have had to take a different track with their careers. It's just a starting point.

Q: Interesting point. I guess it's what you do with it.
A: Yesterday was my first day off since the tour started. You do the work, and live up to the expectations I set for myself, and (not worry about) what everybody else wanted me to be.

Q: Having fun?
A: More than should be allowed. I'm getting to meet musicians — I got to write with Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace, my favorite band ever, and he's treating me like a peer. I get to write music with this man. It's weird. And Archie and I drove up to do the "Teen Choice Awards," and I was sitting with my leg propped up on the other leg, and Adam Sandler comes by and hits me on the bottom of the foot. Crazy.

Q: Where do you go from here?
A: After a year of singing other people's songs, I want to go back to original music. I'm ready for it. I see myself being happy doing whatever I'm doing, having a family and doing what every generic boy from the Midwest wants to do.

Q: You impress me as sort of a perfectionist.
A: (Smiles) Absolutely. I have seen enough of the (seventh season of "American Idol") to know that for my own sanity, I shouldn't watch it. I'd be like "Why did I let them do my hair like that? Why did I sing that?" I know that nobody's perfect. But I'd be interested in doing something perfect and saying "See?"

Last Christmas, the singer/songwriter/guitarist had passed his  now-famous unplanned first audition and advanced through the semifinal  round. But just getting his ticket punched to Hollywood didn't bring  him wealth and glory.  "I constantly kind of pull from the experience of where I was at, like,  right before the show. ... I think at that time I was in the top 50,  but I wasn't really sure what was gonna happen, and I couldn't really  make any other steps in my life. Like, I couldn't go get a full-time  job or something, and so I was playing acoustic gigs," Cook said in a  phone interview from a Philadelphia tour stop.

  "I think the week I moved out to L.A. for the show, I had, like, 30  bucks to my name. So, that particular vibe is something I always try to  keep hold of now that money has become less of an issue."

  For Cook, whose legions of new fans can tell you he turns 26 in  December, winning the smash reality TV contest in May has fundamentally  altered his life, turning swanky hotels into home and moving his  performances into huge arenas.

  This summer, he and the other Season 7 top 10 contestants are traveling the country on the "American Idols Live!" tour. The tour stops at 7 p.m. Thursday at Oklahoma City's Ford Center and makes its final stop Sept. 13 at Tulsa's new BOK Center.

  "In the short time that I was in Tulsa, I feel Tulsa's just as much  responsible for where I'm at musically as Kansas City is. I mean, I  found myself as a musician in Kansas City, and I found myself as a  person really in Tulsa 'cause that was my first foray into kind of  being self-sufficient," he said.

  Cook, who was raised in Blue Springs, Mo., moved to Tulsa about two years ago to play bar and club dates with the Midwest Kings, and later as a solo artist.

  "The crowds are a little bigger, and you ... just have more resources  available to you. But I don't know, part of me actually kind of misses  playing the Gray Snail (Saloon in Tulsa) on a Wednesday night," he said.

  After he was declared the new "Idol" on May 21, Cook's life instantly  changed. By week's end, he had a record-setting 11 tracks on  Billboard's Hot 100 chart, with his first single, "The Time of My  Life," hitting No. 3. He has signed endorsement deals, performed before  an NBA playoff game and started working with rock producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day).

  "It hits in pockets. You know, you'll wake up in a hotel and realize,  'OK, I couldn't have afforded this new hotel a year ago.' But I mean,  it's small things, I think, that really kind of drive it home. I got my  first bill the other day, and that was ... oh, that threw me out of  fantasyland for a minute," he said, adding that the bill was for "just,  you know, life."

  The hotels might as well be comfortable, because they have essentially  become Cook's new home. He hasn't fully broken ties with Tulsa. Nor has  he moved elsewhere.

  "If anything, I'm homeless for the first time in my life, so I haven't  really made any firm decisions on where I want to end up. I mean, I've  got family and friends in Kansas City; I've got friends in Tulsa. You  know, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

  While on the road, he has been working on his debut album, due out in November.

  "We're writing as we're recording, and I actually think we're like  seven or eight songs into the tracking process. We're going to track  out about 20 songs and narrow it down from there for the record. But  yeah, we're actually ahead of schedule right now, knock on wood," he  said.

  Neither the album nor his band have been named, though Cook announced on his My-Space blog that Midwest Kings lead guitarist Neal "Doctor" Tiemann has joined his band.

  "I'm writing wherever I'm at, meeting with a lot of people for  co-writes. ... A lot of the tracking is being done in L.A. But vocals  on the records, until I get off the road, are probably gonna be done  wherever I'm at," Cook said.

  Cook, who has reportedly collaborated with Collective Soul's Ed Roland and Our Lady Peace's Raine Maida, promised a rock album with "some twists and turns."

  "I want it to be interesting. I don't want a listener to feel they can  just skip a song, so in that regard, I want to make a 'record record.'  I want this to be an album that has a flow to it and every song has a  purpose, whether it's a single or not."

  He won't start performing his new material until after the "Idols" tour  wraps, sticking with his most popular covers from the show and some  personal favorites until then.

  The final "Idol" tour date promises to be an exciting one, since it will be just the third show to come to the new BOK Center, which was just a construction site when Cook left Tulsa for Hollywood.

  "I really hope that people come out to the show," Cook said. "And I  hope that people really understand that I do have a very big place in  my heart for Tulsa. I mean, it's probably one of the most integral  aspects of who I am today, so you know, hopefully, it's the first of  many shows to come."

As Cook looks back now, the year to come was more than the 25-year-old Midwesterner could have expected. The former bar singer was crowned "Idol's" Season 7 winner, he's embarked on a tour stretching to more than 50 U.S. cities, and his debut album is set for release in November.

Cook, along with the other top nine contestants from Season 7 —Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Chikezie Eze, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado — will perform Tuesday at CenturyTel Center in Bossier City.

In an interview with The Times, Cook talks about music, touring, golf and a mysterious pair of pink panties.

The Times: Tell me about your life this time last year. I'm sure it was quite different than your day-to-day life now.
Cook: Everything that defined my life a year ago has completely inverted. Last year, I was at a great place because I was still doing what I love for a living. But my worst day now beats my best day a year ago.

The Times: The 'American Idols Live!' tour schedule is insane. How do you keep up with it all, get the vocal rest you need and take in any down time?

Cook: You sleep when you can and when you don't have to do press or a meet and greet, you try not to talk too much. I'm lucky in the sense that for about 10 years I sang in smoky bars, which is why I'm able to sing and talk as much as I do on tour.

The Times: When you get a few minutes to rest, what do you like to do to relax on tour?

Cook: I like to get lost in the city we're in. We had an hour today to check out Philly, so Michael Johns and I went golfing. We do what we can with the time allotted. It's like trying to do a 30-minute indoctrination of the city.

The Times: Are you a golfer?

Cook: I play, but I'm definitely not a golfer. I won't even tell you what I shot, but I was in the triple digits — comfortably.

The Times: Performing on "Idol," you knew millions of people were watching. But on tour, you have thousands of people with their eyes on you. Have you felt any nervousness?

Cook: I was exponentially more nervous about the show. On the show, we're competitors trying to impress these three people at a desk with millions of people watching. Now we've established what we're about, and we're not being critiqued harshly or voted off. On the stage, I really try to draw in the back of the room. It's interesting and fun to learn how to make it as intimate an experience for a person on the back row as it is for the person on the front row.

The Times: What was your favorite song to perform on the show?

Cook: "The Music of the Night." It allowed me to lean back on some old music knowledge. I started off as a theater kid, but people didn't expect me to do that song. If that teaches you anything about me, it's that I like messing with people a little bit.
The Times: What are you performing on the tour?

Cook: I'm doing "Hello," "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," "Billie Jean" and my single, "The Time of My Life." I'm also going to do Foo Fighters' "My Hero." It's really exciting, and my set envelops what I wanted this show to be about. It's got a good vibe and energy and gets the crowd involved.

The Times: The show was always quick to pan to screaming girls and fans with posters declaring their love for you. What's the craziest thing a fan has done on this tour?

Cook: I can't remember the city, but I was playing the guitar and something pink hit me in the leg. I looked down and it was a pink pair of girls' underwear with massage oils wrapped in it. I didn't know what to do with it — I'm on a tour bus with four other guys. I guess she used the massage oil to anchor it, but it was perplexing to me.

The Times: How do you digest all this attention?

Cook: I try to take it for what it is and what it isn't. I remember what it was like on the other side of the spectrum when I was fighting to get people to pay attention. Of course, it's flattering and humbling, but when "American Idol" 55 airs no one is going to remember No. 7.

The Times: Now that the competition is over, what is it like to be on the road with your competitors?

Cook: I don't feel they're my competitors anymore. I've never really felt they were my competitors during the show because none of us are really the same. I always felt I was competing against the last version of myself. I love these guys, they've been a huge chunk of my life for the past year. I'm glad we get this last hurrah and, afterwards, we'll get to watch how our careers unfold.

David Cook fans only have a few more months to wait.

The “American Idol” winner told The Examiner he anticipates his first CD since will be released in November.

“I’ve been able to do some great co-writes,” Cook said in a phone interview. “It’s been fun.”

Cook gained a lot of fans on the show by putting his own spin on popular songs like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby.” His singles from the show also broke Billboard chart records for the number of hit singles (11) by one artist at a time.

That includes his first single, “The Time of Life,” which he sang after being crowned the winner. “The Time of My Life” had 944,000 downloads in the first week and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 100 charts. It also debuted at No. 1 the Hot Digital Songs and the Hot Digital-Tracks charts.

But fans shouldn’t expect to see those songs that led him to the finish line on the new album.

“I’ve spent the last year of my life singing other people’s songs,” Cook said. “At this stage it’s not looking too promising (having his performances from the show on his album). I definitely want to progress past that and be an artist.”

Cook, 25, is working with producer Rob Cavallo on his album. Cavallo has worked with artists such as Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Kid Rock, Goo Goo Dolls and Dave Matthews Band.

According to Billboard.com, Cook has, so far, collaborated with Collective Soul’s Ed Roland, Our Lady Peace’s, Raine Maida and others. His album will be released through 19 Recordings/RCA Records.

Currently, Cook is on tour with the top 10 contestants from the show.

Cook -- a Missouri native -- and his brother Andrew will sing the National Anthem at the Kansas City Chiefs home opener against the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 14. Then, he’ll head back to Los Angeles to finish his album, he said.

“I’m looking to maybe get a little bit of downtime around Christmas,” Cook said. “I’m scheduled pretty much through the end of the year.”

Once his album is out, and after the start of the new year, Cook said he’ll begin touring with his album.

Which David - Archuleta or Cook? That was the critical question earlier this year on "American Idol." What most don't know is that David Cook actually has a David Archuleta wristband.

"It was given to me in Utah," Cook tells the Celebrity News Service. "It says 'David is my idol.' He's a good kid."

Cook, 25, won "American Idol" earlier this year, beating out the other David - 17-year-old Archuleta. Though Archuleta was incredibly talented and irresistibly adorable, Cook impressed "Idol" audiences with his unique, radio-ready arrangements of songs like Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" and The Who's "Baba O'Riley."

He also showed off his vocal talents in what was probably his most memorable performance, a cover of Chris Cornell's remake of "Billie Jean."

Now Cook is living the dream - he's working on an album, touring the country with the rest of the top 10 "Idol" finalists on "American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008"and even endorsing Skechers.

CNS spoke with Cook about all of this prior to the "Idols" Ft. Lauderdale show at the BankAtlantic Center on Wednesday. He was just as down-to-earth and eloquent in person as he is on TV.

"The tour's been fun, but crazy," he tells CNS exclusively. "I mean, 53 dates in two and a half months is a pretty ominous task. But I think so far it's been great. I mean, you get to travel the country with nine amazing people and play music. It's not rocket science. It's cool."

During some shows, Cook and fellow "Idol" star and pal Michael Johns have taken to performing funky dances like The Robot during the group performances.

"I think it's more just out of necessity. I mean, we sang Rihanna's 'Please Don't Stop the Music' almost 40 times. Love Rihanna. Amazing song. I'm happy for her, but I think we're all tired of singing it, so Mike and I just kind of started doing it to have fun and be dorks. It's kind of taken on a life of its own," he says, laughing.

He adds, "We were joking the other day, we should start making political stances with our dances and holding signs. But I think more than anything, it's just kind of to help us get through it. Our job is to be entertainers, and if people are entertained by it, then we'll probably do it."

Cook also says that the tour has allowed the Idols to loosen up.

"We were able to go through a really unique experience the last year, and I think that's a bond we'll take well past the end of this tour," he says. "I think there's a different relationship dichotomy now, without us being contestants, and now we're back to being performers. It's let everybody loosen up and now the relationships have definitely augmented themselves."

Cook and the other Idols seemed to enjoy the Ft. Lauderdale stop.

"We had a day off yesterday in Ft. Lauderdale and got to explore a little bit," he says. "I spent half the day just kind of crashing in the hotel, trying to rest up. Then Michael, Chikezie and I went and had dinner and saw 'Tropic Thunder.' Amazing movie. And then I went and hung out on the beach for awhile."

Cook says that Tropical Storm Fay, which was in the area early in the week, did not really affect the group's travel plans.

"The storm was actually off in the distance by time the sun went down, so I got to chill out on the beach and watch the lightning in the distance," he tells CNS. "It was like a velvet painting."

Cook says his favorite stop on the tour so far, though, was Washington, D.C.

"D.C. was probably the most fruitful stop on the tour for me, I think, in terms of what I walked away with," he says. "I'm kind of like my older brother; I kind of enjoy history, so just to see things was cool."

"And then there were some other things that went on in D.C. that were really interesting for me. I got a chance to sit in on a cancer symposium and really kind of learn about some new things."

Touring doesn't last much longer, though - the Idols finish up on Sept. 13. After that, fans can expect to hear from Cook again sometime in November, when he releases his new album.

"It's coming along nicely - we're ahead of schedule right now," he says.

"I probably shouldn't have said that - I probably just jinxed it," he laughs. "But it's moving along at a nice clip and I'm really happy with the way the songs are coming together."

Cook says fans can expect music reminiscent of his "Idol" performances.

"You know, one of the things that I had thrived on on the show was being able to catch people off guard a little bit, so the goal is to kind of keep that up with the record," he tells CNS. "I definitely want it to be palpable and something that is commercially successful, but I want it to be something that has some staying power. I want it to be an important record." Cook won't stray far from his rocker roots.

"It's just gonna be a rock record, but I want it to be interesting and have something to say and make people's ears stand on end a little bit," he says. "I think the record's shaping up to be me, which is of utmost importance."

Cook is less worried about fans' expectations than he is about his own.

"I think the only expectations that I'm really worried about are my own, because the expectations that I have for this record are expectations that nobody else has probably met just yet," he says. "I'm pretty hard on myself. [I'm] definitely a perfectionist, probably to a fault."

"I don't want to put out anything less than what I know I'm capable of doing. In that regard, this record needs to be the best record I've ever done, I think for myself," he tells CNS.

"So that way if the record does poorly, I don't have any excuses. I can just be content and say, 'Listen, I did everything I could on this record.' And if it flops, then okay."

Besides working on the album, Cook also recently signed on with SKECHERS USA, Inc. to promote their footwear in an ad campaign that will last through Dec. 2009.

"That was a real organic partnership.... I just wanted whatever happened to be real," says Cook. "I didn't want to just go up there and smile and wave and throw Skechers at people. I wanted to do something like, this is who I am, this is what I'm about. They kind of grasped onto it."

Cook plans on putting his personality into anything that he works on now.

"I think that's the deal for me. I think whatever I decide to put my name on from here on out, I definitely just want it to be something that is a good thing and something I can believe in," he says. "I think that's the most important thing for me is, whatever I do has to be me. I'm lucky in that since I know who I am."

In and out of music, Cook just wants to stay true to himself and be someone worthy of respect.

"My aspirations are to just be somebody that people look to and respect and maybe not go nuts over," he says. "Somebody who really encapsulates a movement in music, I think, would be amazing."

He adds that if he could collaborate with any musician, living or dead, it'd be Jeff Buckley.

"I would have loved to sit down with Jeff Buckley and written, I think. One of my favorite songs of all time is 'Eternal Life.' To be able to, I guess, pick such a musical mind's brain, you know, would be amazingly educational."

He says, "I think I would love to be somebody that ten years down the road, you ask somebody else that question and then they say me. I think that'd be a huge compliment."

Ultimately, Cook sees himself making music a long time.

"As long as they'll let me. I mean, I'll make music my entire life regardless," he says. "Whether or not I do it as a career is not really up to me. So I don't think music's a career choice for me - I think it's just kind of what I'm doing."

David Cook's brother Andrew Cook.
 
Standing on the stage at the American Idol finale, David Cook hugged is brother Andrew and cried.

"It's all his fault," David said, pointing to Andrew.

Andrew couldn't say much, the whole thing was a bit overwhelming. His brother was a now a bonifide celebrity and was about to get everything that came with it. Hollywood parties, big paychecks, fans and autographs.

Where did David's newfound stardom leave Andrew?

It left him signing autographs for an hour at one of David's shows in St. Louis. It left him partying at the hottest clubs in Los Angeles for his 21st birthday. It left him with his photo in TV Guide.

And, it presented Andrew with a handful of opportunites he's not about to let slip away.

Check out UCM elementary education major Andrew Cook in his own words.

Q: What's life been like for you after David won American Idol?

A: "It's been really amazing. We get noticed a lot more, even my mom and myself. David is still the same guy though, he's just got a higher profile and lots of fans."

Q: What was it like to go up on stage after David won the show?

A: "It was really special. It was cool because my mom and I were there at the beginning with him. Just about one year ago, my mom and I were with him when he auditioned, so, it was the three of us at the beginning and the three of us at the end."

Q: Have you traveled with David since the show?

A" "I've gone to L.A. a couple times, and I went to St. Louis with him just a little while ago. I'm kind of a crier, and when I saw him playing on the stage in St. Louis, I pretty much cried the whole time."

Q: Has the experience been surreal at all?

A: "It hasn't been that weird. I always thought he deserved this. What's really different is that I remember him playing in front of ten people and now he's playing in front of 12,000."

Q: What are some of the best experiences you have had since the audition?

A: "There are three that really stand out. First, I got to go to L.A. on my 21st birthday and we got into all these really cool places in Hollywood."

"Second was the St. Louis show. People there found out who my mom and I were and they started asking for our autographs. We signed autographs for like an hour."

"Third best was just last week. I got to work for the local FOX affiliate interviewing people who were auditioning for the upcoming American Idol. I didn't know this at first, but Ryan Seacrest was there doing his radio show. He found out I was there and wanted to talk to me.

So, I was on his show for about five minutes, and while I was talking to him, there were cameras in the room. I didn't know what they were for, but I ended up being on 'E-News.' The attention is certainly different."

Q: So you have become a bit of a celebrity, too?

A: "My goal is to take the opportunity I have and make the most out of it. I know that my first opportunity comes because of David's hard work. He deserves everything that he has acheived. He's worked so hard for it. I want to do the same."

A year ago this month David Cook decided to ride shotgun with his younger brother, Andrew, on a rainy, early morning trip to Omaha, where Andrew was going to audition for Season 7 of “American Idol.”
Someone with the show persuaded David to try out, too. He did. And … we know what happened.
This weekend Cook, a Blue Springs native and this year’s “Idol” champ, returns to his hometown for two shows in the American Idols Live tour, which features performances from this year’s top 10 contestants. From the road recently, Cook spoke to The Star about the homecoming and the record he has been making during the tour.
Have you been looking ahead to these Sprint Center shows?
From the second I saw the schedule. To be able to come home and have that extra day is huge. I’m definitely looking forward to it. To be able to sit down with my family and breathe for a second will be nice.
Is someone helping you manage the torrent of favors and ticket requests?
Unfortunately, no.
Has your family had a chance to see any of the shows yet?
My mom and stepdad, brother, our stepsister, her husband and their baby came to the show in St. Louis. I have a lot of family in Indiana, so Indianapolis was a big show. And my dad and stepmom and cousins and stuff came to the show in Lexington (Kentucky).
Will you do the same show here as everywhere else, or will they let you do something different or extra in your hometown?
The show will be the same, but I imagine the energy level will be different, at least for me. The tour has been great, and every city has been fantastic. But nothing beats coming home.
So you’re not able to change the setlist?
No. Because of all the lighting and production, we have to stay with it. But we try to find ways to switch it up and make it fresh a little bit.
What have you learned about performing at this level during these shows?
The big learning experience has been trying to make it as engaging for people in the back as it is for people in the front. Strangely enough, with that many people you have to make yourself more vulnerable than you would if you were playing a place like Davey’s Uptown or the Hurricane or whatever the Hurricane is now. So that’s been real interesting.
Has it been an easy transition from the live “Idol” show and the Nokia Theatre to these arena concerts?
With the show and the Nokia Theatre, there was always camera blocking involved so you kind of had to stay within yourself. It was a singing competition and a performing competition, so you had to be on top of your game on all counts. The tour is more relaxed. You can use the stage more and interact with the crowd more and be an entertainer more than a contestant. I’m gonna be real honest, and my apologies to everyone at “Idol,” but I much prefer the live touring feel.
You’ve been making a record during this tour. How does that happen?
I haven’t had a day off in two months, that’s how it happens.
Where do you record?
It’s a mix. Like we’ll have two days off between Tampa and Houston, so I’ll fly to L.A. to do vocals. And I had a day off between D.C. and Lexington, and I stayed in D.C. and tracked out there.
So you’ve lined up studios out on the road?
Yeah. And while I’m out on the road, they’re tracking the record back in L.A. We convene through e-mail and iChat. I’m lucky in that I brought my guitar player, Neal, on board, so he’s been out in L.A. tracking guitars for the record. So I have that direct contact.
Who’s Neal?
Neal Tiemann. He was actually in a band with me in Tulsa — MWK. He was the lead guitar player and songwriter, and I was fortunate enough to get him on board for my band now.
Have you hired anyone else?
Not yet.
Is any part of the record finished yet?
Nothing is finished. We’ve been doing multiple versions of everything to make sure that what we do put out is the strongest possible version of each song. It’s a little strange. We’re still working on the title and naming these songs. Everything’s coming together a little backward.
And you’re still shooting for late fall?
We’re shooting for November. So far, knock on wood, we’re ahead of schedule. The general consensus is we can’t put out anything less than a great record. That’s why we brought in Rob Cavallo to produce. He has a history of great records, so in that aspect I feel like we’re in good hands.
There are probably higher expectations for your album than any other “Idol” winner’s. Is everyone feeling it?
Any pressure like that has been manufactured by others. The standards I’ve set for myself will meet and exceed anyone else’s. If I can meet my own standards, everything, I hope, will fall into place.
Has there been any talk of releasing a single weeks before release date?
Nope. They just told me to put together a great record, and the singles will work themselves out. I’m really lucky. They’re allowing me to worry about making a record as opposed to things like writing a single. I’ve been involved in a lot of co-writes plus a lot of individual writing, stuff I wrote before the show. So I’m highly involved in the writing process.
I’ve read that you’ve worked with Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace and Ed Roland of Collective Soul. Anyone else?
Zac Maloy of the Nixons. I had a chance to sit down and write with him.
Will any special guests show up?
I’m not sure. Anything we do will have to meet the flow of the record and feel natural. So no one yet, but you never know.

Blue Springs, MO — David Cook proudly wears his Kansas City Chiefs hat every day.

“The producers are from L.A., and they are Raiders fans,” Cook quipped.

Cook, who will be back in Kansas City Sept. 14 to sing the national anthem at the Kansas City Chiefs home opener, has just a few more appearances before singing with his brother Andrew at Arrowhead Stadium.

One of those stops is this weekend in Kansas City. Cook and the other nine finalists of “American Idol,” which named Cook the seventh winner back in May, will perform two shows at the Sprint Center Friday and Saturday night.

“I’m absolutely champing at the bit to come home,” Cook said in a phone interview. “It’s been a blast.”

Cook, who hails from Blue Springs, said in a questionnaire on the Idol Web site his dream performance venue would be the new Sprint Center in Kansas City.

Now with another dream realized, Cook said there is one certainty fans can expect from the shows Friday and Saturday.

“They’ll see a lot of excitement from me,” Cook said.

The tour began July 1 and ends Sept. 13 in Tulsa, where Cook moved when he left Blue Springs a few years ago.

A typical day for Cook and his friends on the road generally means the tour bus rolls into a new city early in the morning. The performers get to their hotel rooms and wake up around 10 a.m. or noon. They get ready for the day and get back on the bus to prepare for press interviews and the show.

“I remember growing up thinking I’d never do a job that was routine,” Cook said. “In some ways there is a bit of routine.”

Life on the road, with a different city every day and thousands of screaming fans, hasn’t given Cook much of a chance to process how drastically his life has changed in the last year.

He went from an audition in Omaha, Neb., to a household name in less than a year.

“The moment they announced my name it was unreal,” Cook said. “I kind of don’t want to process it. I’m kind of just taking it as it comes.”

Cook won his spot on the show by chance. He didn’t plan to audition and went to Omaha in support of his brother. In fact, an underlying story of Cook’s was that of his brother’s, who said on one episode he planned to audition again.

But Cook says fans shouldn’t expect to see Andrew’s name in the list of candidates for the upcoming season – he decided not to audition for season eight.

“He made the decision not to audition,” Cook said. “He had some of the resources to do it on his own.”

And as for singing with his brother at the Chief’s game, Cook said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I definitely would not be here without him,” Cook said.

Despite winning one of the top-rated talent searches by millions of votes, Cook knows where he should give thanks – his family, friends and fans back home. And by home, he means all of the Kansas City area.

“I appreciate that they have embraced me the way they have in the last year,” Cook said. “Not just the last year. I’ve been in bands since I was 15.”

One way Cook is planning to show his gratitude is by helping Blue Springs citizens unveil a special piece of art in downtown. The artwork is a mural completed by local students in tribute to the newest hometown star. The unveiling  is Friday, and organizers are optimistic Cook will be on hand for the unveiling.

Cook said he’s flattered and a little humbled by the idea that a larger-than-life mural of him will be installed in the very town he spent so much of his time.

“There are things in life that are way bigger than me and the show,” Cook said.

Still, the chance to return home and see the faces of people who have supported him for decades, is one he wouldn’t pass up.

Although, the show is scheduled for two days, Cook said it doesn’t look like he’ll have much time to visit with family and friends while he’s here. He’s scheduled for multiple stops while in town (including a tour of the Ford plant where he’ll select his Ford Escape Hybrid, just one of the many perks of being a finalist on the show), but he’s hoping to get just a few minutes to show his Idol friends his music roots.

“If I get the opportunity, I’d love to take Carly (Smithson) and Mike Johns to the Plaza and Westport and show them the places I used to play,” Cook said.

No offense to Syesha or Carly or Jason or Michael.
But much of the love outside the Sprint Center before their American Idols Live concert Friday was aimed squarely and largely at hometown boy and this year’s winner, David Cook.
Former contestants of the hit show have been on a cross-country tour since their July 1 kickoff in Arizona. But even before Cook and his companions hit Kansas City, one fan posted this on the “American Idol” discussion board:
“I am totally freaking out!!! 2 DAYS LEFT UNTIL I SEE HOTNESS!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAY!! GO D.C.!!!”
Fans showed up at the Sprint Center as early as 9 a.m. for the 7 p.m. concert. They weren’t worried about long, slow lines getting in and didn’t have to. That proved a nonissue Friday night for a crowd made up largely of 20-somethings, older women and smatterings of men in the company of women and girls.
The early birds came to catch a glimpse of their favorite “Idol” singers arriving in motor coaches from Oklahoma City, where they had performed the night before.
After they arrived in early afternoon, a couple of the stars — Jason “I can’t even look at his eyes, they’re so piercing!” Castro and David “He’s so cute!” Archuleta — came out and shook hands and signed autographs for the early fans lined up on the sidewalk in front of the Sprint Center.
One woman of a “certain age” apparently couldn’t keep her hands off of “Archie.”
Castro doodled on the powder-blue Jason Castro T-shirts worn by Peggy McGonigle and her 9-year-old daughter, Lilly, of Kansas City.
You can bet those T-shirts will never be washed.
McGonigle gushed about the dreadlock-wearing Castro. “He inspired me at age 50 to learn how to play the guitar,” she said.
As word passed that Cook himself wouldn’t come out and meet fans until after the show, fans beat a hasty retreat from the hot concrete outside the glass-bowl arena to their air-conditioned hotel rooms, Power & Light District restaurants and the sidewalk on the shady side of Grand Boulevard.
At 4 p.m., girlfriends Holly Smith and Becky Smith, no relation, had the sidewalk outside the center to themselves. The two became best friends online, as many “Idol” fans do, and carpooled three hours to Kansas City from Nebraska to see Cook.
They call their brethren fans David Cook’s Cookie Jar and have even adopted “cookie” nicknames.
Becky, 35, who provides day care in her Omaha home, calls herself “Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.”
They came bearing gifts for their guy. An Omaha Royals T-shirt. A Nebraska Cornhuskers T-shirt. A folder full of fawning fan letters from members of their group. They planned to press them into Cook’s hands themselves after the concert.
Antionette Guadagnano, 27, who has a David Cook ringtone on her cell phone, brought Cook a gift too: A 20-foot, 12-pound banner that has been passed from concert city to concert city and signed by members of the fan club she leads on www.myspace.com.
Each of the “Idol” singers, she said, has strong Internet fan bases and supporters who are fiercely protective of them.
Guadagnano, who lives in Blue Springs and went to the same high school as Cook, would know. During this last season she was banned for a while from the official “American Idol” Web site for being a tad too strong in defending Cook from his detractors.
Her online, Cook-loving compatriot, Mallory Miley, a 22-year-old college student from Alabama, drove 16 hours to Kansas City with her mother to see Friday’s show with Guadagnano.
It turns out that Miley is the lucky one who, during one “Idol” show, called in and asked Cook whether he was single.
“Yes. Yes. Yes,” was his answer.
Good, good, good, said his fans.

‘American Idol’ winner and Blue Springs native was back in his hometown on Friday. David Cook was in downtown Blue Springs Friday afternoon to unveil a mural painted in his honor.
“I don’t really know exactly what to say,” Cook said to the large crowd that gathered to witness the ceremony. “When I started this process a year ago I didn’t think they were going to paint my face on a building. This is a huge honor.”
That was before Cook even saw the mural. Afterwards, he was truly at a loss for words, at one point even tearing up.
The mural was painted by a group of Blue Springs high school students, and combined they put in more than 2,000 hours of work.
“This is a big deal for us to get this much exposure for a summer art project,” said Jaran Avery, a Blue Springs South Art teacher.
There have been several murals painted by students on the side of the building owned by David Evans, which sits across from Kwik Kopy Printing in downtown Blue Springs, but this year the subject of the mural was an easy pick.
“Let me tell you, it didn’t take long for us to decide what to paint,” Avery said. “We knew Blue Springs needed a David Cook tribute.”
Following the unveiling the students presented cook with a framed version of the mural, and he insisted that each of the students sign it for him.
He then made his way along the crowd to sign autographs, take pictures and shake hands before heading off to perform at Friday night’s “American Idols Live!” concert at the Sprint Center.
Cook will remain in town until after a second performance on Saturday.
According to the Blue Springs School District, the District tried to get Cook to sing at the National Anthem at Sunday’s Blue Springs South vs. Rockhurst football game that will be nationally televised on ESPN, but Cook couldn’t make it since he will be traveling to the next stop on the tour.

"A brave little girl's dream just came true!
As Star exclusively reported in April, while David Cook was singing his way to the Season 7 American Idol championship, he was being cheered on by his biggest fan, 7-year-old Tampa, Fla. native Lindsey Rose Belcher, who's been fighting the good fight against leukemia since last Christmas. And in a show of support, David wore an orange plastic band on his wrist during his televised performances as a personal message of hope to the adorable youngster.
Behind the scenes, David called Lindsey Rose right after his May 21 victory and promised her they would meet in person when the Idol tour made its way to her hometown. That day arrived on Aug. 21, and squeals of delight mingled with tears of joy as big-hearted David, 25, kept his promise to Lindsey Rose, treating her like a little princess during a special day together. "From the moment we arrived, David grabbed Lindsey by the hand and the two were inseparable," her father Charley Belcher, a feature reporter for Fox WTVT Channel 13 in Tampa, tells Star. "They are friends forever."
Pick up the Sept. 8 issue of Star for more exclusive photos of David and Lindsey Rose, and the full, heartwarming story of their storybook meeting!"

Hirsh: Are you ever weirded out by the intensity of your fans?

Cook: I don’t know “weirded out.” I’m definitely humbled to a very severe degree by it. Today, for instance, prime example, I got a package in the mail at the arena. On the show, I talked about one of my favorite foods is a taquito from this gas station called QuikTrip in the Midwest. And I got a package today...

Hirsh: This can’t end well.

Cook: They’re on ice. I just got a ton of QuikTrip taquitos. I don’t know, that’s the kind of stuff that you don’t really think about when you’re going through the process. And all of a sudden it happens, and you’re like, “Man, these people are really invested in what I’m doing.” Which is cool. And I hope that parlays, obviously, into a long and fruitful musical career. But if not, I got QuikTrip taquitos, so it’s pretty good.

Hirsh: There’s a box of frozen taquitos.

Cook: Exactly. It’s a win/win.

Hirsh: Who gets that?

Cook: I do. That’s who gets it. I might share. We’ll see.

Hirsh: What you have done differently in retrospect?

Cook: Would I change anything? Yes. I would’ve cut my hair waaaay sooner on the show.

American Idol winner and Kansas City, Mo., native David Cook is performing around the country with the nine other finalists from the seventh season of the show for the American Idols Live Tour 2008.

Cook released an independent album in 2006, but winning American Idol in May landed him a deal with RCA Records. Cook talked to Jayplay about the tour and the November 18 release of his new album.

Q: How is the tour going so far?

A: It’s going really well. We’re in Wilkes Barre, Penn., right now. I have already had three shows today and I have a fourth tonight, so we’re really busy.

Q: Do you get any down time?

A: It’s really hard to have down time when you are doing a tour like this. But I’m with nine of my best friends doing what I love. The nine other finalists have provided so much support for me.

Q: How do you keep your momentum going for the tour?

A: It’s a lot easier than I thought it would be to perform this often. When you get on stage in front of 10,000 people and they’re all cheering for you, it’s pretty motivating. If that doesn’t get you going, I don’t know what would.

Q: What has been your favorite city on the tour?

A: Going home to Kansas City was my favorite. We performed at the Sprint Center, which is a fun venue.

Q: What is your most memorable comment from Simon Cowell?

A: Probably when he apologized to me for criticizing my performance at the finale. I didn’t expect an apology. It caught me off guard and I started to get emotional.

Q: Any funny moments with fans?

A: I have been hit with undergarments while on stage numerous times. It’s really funny.

Q: How does it feel to be a

celebrity?

A: It’s a little weird that people recognize me all over the country. But I love what I do. Playing music professionally has always been my dream.

Blue Springs, MO — In what ways has this trip to Kansas City been different than your May visit?

I was amidst a competition and really, weird as it is to say this, the whole day was revolving around me being a competitor on the show. I think what’s different about being here now is that it’s about us, the 10 of us and really getting out and saying thank you. The fact that it’s my hometown is extra. I’m anxious not for everybody to see my set; I’m anxious for everybody to see everyone else’s set.

What have been some highlights from your time in Kansas City this go-round?

Well, let’s see. We got into town about 6 this morning, and I woke up for my 9:30 a.m. call. So, it was a little rushed this morning, but I got a chance to go to the Ford plant and see my new car, which was nice. Then I went out to Blue Springs and saw the unveiling of the mural. And it was beautiful. I thought the students and the faculty and everyone involved with it did an amazing job. It was an extremely humbling experience to head home and have something of that magnitude. You know, there’s a lot of hours put into that I’m sure. To see that on the side of a building in your hometown was a pretty intense moment. I had to turn my back to the audience for a minute to keep from weeping.

How will your new album, set for release in November, be different from anything you’ve done before?

June was crazy. We were doing a lot of tour rehearsals and on top of that I co-wrote like 20 songs in three weeks or something ridiculous. It’s just a matter of utilizing time effectively. I’ve had one day off the entire tour and that was just because it was an absolute necessity. I’m a different person I think then when I did the Axium recordings. I think when you get older you get a different perspective; you’ve obviously experienced more in your life, which you can tap into when it comes to writing. Nevermind the resources available – I’ve got like a million dollar budget for this record as opposed to the Axium stuff when it was like, alright guys, we can all pool $200 together so we can have $800 to do a record. It’s a different set of circumstances altogether. It’ll be a rock album, but it’ll have a little extra quirk to it. I want it to be interesting; I want it to be important.

"The song is a great representation of why my brother is not only good enough to win
a television show but good enough to be a successful artist in today's music scene.


- "'Light On' is a great transition song to get fans of "Time of my Life" to become
fans of the David Cook sound as opposed to the American Idol sound. Only a little
over a month to hear the rest of the album and I know I am not the only person
waiting on the edge of my seat for it to come out.


This song alone made me cry for the obvious reason of it being my brother's song,
and I hope he knows how proud I am of him and how much I love him. I know this is
just the beginning for my brother's success, and he is deserving of every bit of
it." - Andrew Cook

COOK'S OFFICIAL SOCIAL NETWORK, DAVIDCOOKOFFICIAL.COM, HAS BEEN
LAUNCHED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

American Idol winner David Cook's
debut album will be released on November 18th, 2008 on 19 Recordings / RCA
Records. Cook has teamed with Grammy winning producer Rob Cavallo (Green
Day, Kid Rock) on the album.

Today marks the launch of DavidCookOfficial.com, Cook's official social
networking site where fans can interact with David, his music and each
other. Fans can create their own profiles, make friends and contribute
their own blogs, photos, videos and connect with other fans in their towns
by various search functionality.

Cook describes the site as a place where he and his fans can
communicate with each other. Cook will be hugely involved in all
interactive aspects of the site. He personally welcomes fans to his site
via video blog and fans can communicate with David by sending him email to
David@DavidCookOfficial.com, Cook's personal mailbox. Those that sign up to
his newsletter will be the first to be notified of the title of his first
single in the coming weeks. Additionally, Cook will regularly message his
fans so they are the first to know breaking news and album updates.

DavidCookOfficial.com will be the home of exclusive content, unique and
exciting contests and will allow fans to keep track of Cook's upcoming
events and appearances with an interactive map feature.
Additionally it
will also incorporate a point system that will allow fans to compete for
points which will earn them special prizes.

DavidCookOfficial.com will also include a Mobile section that will
allow fans to call and text David and download his official ringtones.

As he rushes to complete his first post-Idol album, America's fave faux-grunge rocker knows what's coming: the dreaded Daughtry comparison. Cook says he looks at it this way, "I've been called way worse". To make make what he describes as a set of *substance-based rock*, Cook recruited AI producer Cavallo and added an unreleased Chris Cornell song to the set. "I don't know what the expectations are", Cook says, "But I want to put out a Johua Tree or a White album." He chuckles. "Hope for the best, expect the worst."

"I just want the record to be both eclectic and cohesive and have something to say," Cook told Billboard in July. "The music is rock and it's pretty undeniably me, which I'm retty excited about." He added that "there's gonna be some interesting twists and turns ... that will keep people interested."

Kelly,  the first time I heard David's new single wasn't crazy about it but the more I hear it the more I like it.  He was great performing before the American Music Awards started, good job!!!!  Love the guy!!!!!!!

Trying to figure out where I go to track David's CD.

NOVEMBER 26, 2008, 3:53 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAVID COOK’S SELF-TITLED ALBUM DEBUTS AT #3 ON THE BILLBOARD ALBUM CHARTS
DAVID COOK IS #1 ON THE DIGITAL ALBUM CHART WITH 58,713 UNITS- THE MOST EVER FOR A DEBUT ARTIST
DAVID COOK IS THE BEST DEBUT FROM AN IDOL WINNER SINCE 2006
FIRST SINGLE “LIGHT ON” HAS BEEN #1 ON THE AOL TOP 40 SONGS CHART FOR 6 WEEKS AND IS #1 ON THE CLEARCHANNEL ON DEMAND CHART
“LIGHT ON” IS THE #1 GAINER AT ADULT RADIO AND DEBUTED AS THE BREAKOUT TRACK ON THIS WEEK’S AMERICAN TOP 40 WITH RYAN SEACREST
IDOL SINGLE “THE TIME OF MY LIFE” HAS BEEN CERTIFIED PLATINUM WITH OVER 1 MILLION TRACKS SOLD
(New York – NY) – David Cook enters the Billboard charts at #3 with his self-titled debut album (19 Recordings / RCA Records) selling 279,578 units. The Rob Cavallo produced album is also the #1 album on the digital album chart and is the best debut from an American Idol winner since 2006.
“Light On”, the first single from the album, has been dominating the AOL Top 40 Songs chart at #1 for the past 6 weeks and is currently #1 on the ClearChannel On Demand Chart. It was also the #1 gainer at adult radio and debuted as the breakout track on this week’s American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest. In late September “Light On” premiered on AOL Music’s pop culture news site, PopEater.com, receiving over 1 million plays in less than week.
The ClearChannel premiere of the Wayne Isham directed “Light On” video became their best performing video premiere ahead of Linkin’ Park, The Eagles and Ne-Yo.
American Idol single “The Time Of My Life” (which is featured as a bonus track on David Cook) has reached platinum status with over 1 million tracks sold.

David Cook's debut album is still months away, but his first single, "Light On," is out now and sure to be inescapable this holiday season, or at least until the next Daughtry song comes out. Cook's "Light On," in fact, is firmly in the Daughtry mode, albeit there's a little bit more stubble and gruffness in his voice.
It's full-on, cellphone-waving arena rock schmaltz, with husky, slow-moving guitars and a wallop of meaninglessly earnest vocals. Cook is undoubtedly straining his face red as he oh-so-desperately wails that the object of his affection "try to leave a light on when I’m gone / something I rely on to get home."
It begins with a slow-dance piano, but Cook soon obliterates it, over-singing as if he's bearing the weight of every bad love letter written in the past eight  years upon his back. Or like an "American Idol" winner trying to prove he's rock 'n' roll, if your first point of reference is Nickelback. But it's easily ignorable, and relatively inoffensively sensitive hard rock, and as Idolator predicted -- without even hearing it -- it'll be a soundtrack for shopping malls and drugstores all winter long. 
The song has a bevy of star power behind it, and hits iTunes this week, making the single eligible for Grammy voting, meaning it will get nominated. Some grungy, Soundgarden-like guitars are definitely present in the cut, and co-writing credits go to Soundgarden/Audioslave's Chris Cornell, who picks up right where Audioslave's "Revelations" left off. But the more telling credit goes to Brian Howes, who has written for Daughtry, Puddle of Mudd and Hinder, and Cook is aiming for somewhere in the middle of all of that.

David Cook’s first single “Light On” from his yet untitled up and coming solo album has smashed onto the internet with a bold declaration that this season’s champion isn’t your typical Idol winner; in fact he’s far from it. Cook already has the mass fan appeal to rank him up with Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood for being profitable as a singer. Cook however has something that even they did not; he has a complete and full sense of self and yet is humble enough to trust those around him to make crucial decisions for him that will launch him from being a good singer to a great one.

For anyone who was fortunate enough to catch this year’s Idols on tour, the power and passion that Cook pours into his new single shouldn’t come to any surprise. The song “Light On” is 100% David Cook and is a natural progression of transforming a talented bar singer into a mega-star.

Fans that got their hands on David Cook’s independent album “Analog Heart” are already well aware of his style of rock music. Cook won’t be headlining with Megadeth or any other hard rock bands any time soon; anyone who thought that hard rock would be his genre of choice from his Idols days will be in for disappointment. His sound falls more in line with many great middle of the road rock bands who appeal to the masses such as U2, Aerosmith, Nickleback, and Bon Jovi. There’s a reason that he was able to take on singing songs from 2 of those bands and do them justice while on Idol, it’s because they were his own inspiration for inventing his own sound. His own songs always contain complicated guitar work, vast vocal range, intriguing lyrics, and soul soaring rock/pop blended music.

If you look over the songs from his career “Light On” is the perfect next step progression, and instead of going backward by lingering on the raw sound from his “Analog Heart” days, Cook has taken full advantage of having Grammy winning producer Rob Cavalo (Green Day and Kid Rock) at his side to tweak his natural ability and give his sound rich and full depth. If you tried to compare “Light On” to his pre-Idol work you wouldn’t be able to do so. Having full on professional recording studios and backup musicians at his disposal has taken David’s unrefined sound and elevated his vocals & guitar work into a polished professional.

The lyrics themselves for “Light On” could be interpreted as the male breaking up w/ a woman and then asking her to pine for him while he’s gone, but knowing Cook’s story and knowing that he’s one of the good guys, I’m more inclined to believe that this is a song that’s dedicated to his family and all of the people who supported him over the past year. This song is his goodbye note to them as he’s embarking on a new stage in his life.

Doesn’t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know I’m leaving

Cook seems to be saying that he knows that maybe his songs will never take the place of his being there with those who he loves back home, but that he has to leave and explore this next step in his life.

Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on

The larger chorus that he belts acknowledges that there’s a sense of normalcy and warmth back home with his family and friends; by knowing that things will stay the same back home will help to give him the strength he needs as he heads off on his own.

For a man who openly shared his personal joy to the packed crowd at the Jobing.com arena in Phoenix on the opening night of the AI tour back in July that he had received word that day that his brother Adam’s tumor had stopped growing, it’s not a stretch to believe that his family and friends would be the people who he’d dedicate his first solo single to.

Unlike most of his independent solo songs, “Light On” offers new layers of depth in its music by adding piano accompaniment to go along with guitars and percussion. When I first listened to the song I couldn’t help but think back to when I saw David perform in Phoenix on the IDOL tour, his covers of all of the songs that he performed on tour along with “Time of my Life” would’ve perfectly acted as warm up songs for “Light On.” Cooks re-interpretations of “Hello” and Chris Cornell’s cover of “Billy Jean” were performed with the same power and passion that pours into his new single. And all of the songs performed together offer the same spine tingling energy that makes David’s music such a pleasure to listen to.

The new single takes his signature sound that he worked so hard on “American Idol” to present to the world and lifts it up to a new heightened level. His vocals have never sounded more pitch perfect, professional, and filled with jubilation. Requiring zero noticeable backup singer accompaniments for the single, Cook sings with pure joy and mixes up his vocals throughout the song to prevent it from ever getting boring. Like any of his covers from Idol you only need to hear a single snippet of the song and immediately recognize his voice. Another Cook trademark you can understand every word that he sings as he enunciates each word in the song, even when he’s wailing.

Cook promised this summer while on tour that his album will cause the hairs on people’s arms to stand up; mission accomplished, every nerve in my body lit up with excitement when I first heard the single and the many times afterwards. If this first single from his album that’s scheduled for release on November 18th is any indication of what we can expect from the entire album, I’m thinking Cook’s music might possibly be the perfect conduit for solving the nation’s energy crisis from the huge amounts of electricity that his songs will generate from his fans when they finally get to hear the completed product.

“Light On” is available for online at PopEater previewing and is hitting radio stations this week. The single goes on sale on iTunes on September 30th. “Light On” David, I’m sure it will lead your new song to gold.

It's no secret that I thought America Idol voters did the right thing by handing the season 7 crown to David Cook last May. After all, I reasoned at the time, the show needed a champ who'd be ready from Day One to lead the Billboard charts, and remind the nation of the show's pop-cultural relevance at a time when its star-making power and ratings mojo were both being question.
Well, based on Cook's debut single*, "Light On," a straight-up-the-middle midtempo rocker, the dude is poised to be part of a balanced, mainstream rock diet alongside artists like 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, and Staind. Cook's got the genre's appropriately earnest, slightly tormented delivery down pat, although if I'm being honest, my favorite part of the vocal actually arrives at the 2:50 mark, when he reins in the growl for a minute and shows off the beautiful tone that…ugh, never mind, I'm starting to sound like Paula. Anyhow, while this musical genre is admittedly not a staple of my iPod, it's hard to deny the hook concocted by A-list co-writer Chris Cornell and Brian Howes. After two listens, the "Light On" chorus got caught in my head like butter in the crannies of an English muffin.
Which isn't to say the track is perfect. The lyrics, about a guy who's hitting the road and leaving a loved one behind, feel more like a logjam of carefully focus-grouped words than anything deeply meaningful. The bridge is bombastic almost to the breaking point (of Cook's vocal). And a little part of me -- the part that grew up listening to my sisters blast "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Born on the Bayou" and "Lola" on the record player -- wishes some of today's rocker dudes realized that not everything needs to be so unrelentingly serious. (As Lexi Featherston once said, "Whatever happened to FUN?") But the bottom line is: "Light On" is probably going to be a major hit. And if Cook does the right thing and records a cover of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby," I may not be able to resist the urge to download his disc when it drops in November.

When the American Idols Live tour swung through Dallas a few weeks back, I had a chance to sit down with season seven champ David Cook for a few minutes. Nice guy, if seeming a bit wiped (hard to blame him -- I'd imagine the promo schedule is non-stop) and genuinely interested in talking about what lay ahead. His first single, Light On, is starting to filter out onto the Web (you can take a listen right here) which precedes his as-yet-untitled debut album due in November.
My thoughts? It feels very '80s (which Cook would probably take as a high compliment), in that the chorus has that throaty, Lou Gramm-ish thing going. The instruments are straight early-'90s alt-rock, so he's hitting the sweet spot he talked about in August. An album of tracks similar to this would probably sell kajillions, but make for tough sledding back-to-back. Guess we'll see what else Cook has up his sleeve ...

I have listened to David Cook's debut single "Light On" and there is no doubt David Cook is along Chris Daughtry's line of music. David can surely rock the world -- just like any rock artist -- does with his unique and delightfully different voice.
"Light On" is a song that every radio station will like to play all day. David Cook has shown his vocal prowess especially the part around the coda at 2:30.

David Cook's new single premiered on AOL's pop culture news site PopEater.com Tuesday, September 23. According to his official website Cook's first single from his upcoming debut album is called "Light On." The song was co-written by Soundgarden's Chris Cornell (who's arrangement of Billie Jean Cook based his American Idol performance on) and producer/songwriter Brian Howes. Cook has already released the lyrics to the song on his website.

Cook's first single, "Time Of My Life," had PopEater.com's biggest single premier of the year with over one million streams in twenty-four hours. Cook's debut album is scheduled to be released on November 18. No title has been released for the new album, but it wouldn't be a surprise if it was simply titled "David Cook." In addition to readying his album for release, Cook has launched his own social networking website - David Cook Official.com.

On the site fans can create profiles, upload photos, and interact with other fans. David Cook himself promises to be an active part of the site. He plans to have the site be a main source of news about his music and future plans, as well as a place where he can directly interact with his fans.

"Time Of My Life" is currently number two on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary charts after peaking at #1 last week. The single is currently at number forty-six on Billboard's Hot 100, after seventeen weeks of release and a number three debut. The single has now sold over 880,000 downloads, making it the second highest selling American Idol single ever (behind Clay Aiken's "This Is The Night").

Cook announced the release of his new single through an official email newsletter sent to fans who registered on his website.

The single has now sold over 880,000 downloads, making it the second highest selling American Idol single ever (behind Clay Aiken's "This Is The Night").

DAVID COOK
''LIGHT ON''
Break out the lighters for this mammoth arena anthem courtesy of your American Idol (and co-writer Chris Cornell). ''Light On'' contains all the requisite parts — massive chorus, wall of guitars, obligatory bridge breakdown — that went into the rock hits of artists like Nickelback and Daughtry. Predictable? Sadly so, but still undeniably catchy. B-

Okay, I caught word today that Idol winner David Cook’s first single is hitting the air.  While not generally an Idol fan, I am a big Cook fan.  More to the point, I am a big Axium fan, from back in the day before Cook went off on his own and ultimately decided to show up everyone on season 7.
Cook is like my one (very minor) claim to fame (aside from when I went to a Star Trek convention as a kid and saw William Shatner on stage).  Back when SuperSatellite was still a site for music and stuff, we worked to help promote local bands and concerts.  This brought me in touch with Cook a couple times, and we even did a big giveaway when Axium released “The Story Thus Far.”  I think that was a great example of what Cook is capable of, and what I’m hoping we hear from him in the future.  He’s a nice guy that really knows how to put together some awesome songs.
On to “Light On.”  It’s not a bad song.  My only worry is that it is terribly overproduced.  I’m not sure if I’ve heard a song in recent memory that sounded like it was trying to be so much all at once.  I heard a little Chris Cornell hook in there, you’ve got the quiet piano backed vocals, Cook opens up his voice in the first 25 seconds, the chorus is mainstream, the bridge reeks of everything Nickelback, and so it goes.  It sounds almost exactly how I would expect an Idol produced single for him to sound, and I just really hope the whole album isn’t that way.  That’s not to say it’s a bad song; it’s not.  I just think the record people tried way too hard.
Here’s my take on Cook.  Like many solo artists, it just doesn’t really work as well.  Few (male) artists can work without a band and be better.  Raine Maida did a good job of it, and I don’t have many complaints about Jeff Martin (except that he still sounds pretty much like The Tea Party), but generally speaking when guys go solo, bad things happen.  See Chris Cornell, Billy Corgan, Gavin Rossdale, Travis Meeks, John Popper, Scott Strapp, Jonathan Davis, all four members of KISS, and so it goes on.  The thing is, people are just more creative with a band.  There’s something more organic and collective about music being created by a group of guys with a vision rather than one person being fed lyrics by a writer, or in the case of some of the guys above, thinking they are good enough to do it all on their own.
With Axium, Cook put out what is arguably some of my favorite music.  I still listen to the albums regularly.  When he went solo with “Analog Heart,” it was good, but it just lost a little something.  Cook’s voice is an amazing instrument all on it’s own, and I think him singing and on guitar, with a bassist and drummer - just three guys - as a solid unit would be bulletproof.  American Idol has this idea that artists need to be solo to be successful, and I don’t think that’s true.  Cook needs to put a band together, and get writing their own stuff and get back to what he’s really good at.  The faster that happens, the faster you’re gonna see something unlike anything he did on American Idol.
I’m still looking forward to this album, and I have faith that he’s a sharp enough fellow to not let AI producers run the ship blindly, so I think we’ve got much more to hear from him.

A boon. Juggernaut. Singular sensation.

Superlatives to characterize the impact of "American Idol" on pop culture simply cannot be overstated. Its abounding influence on TV, record sales, product placement, the Internet—and of course radio—is unparalleled.

Since the show launched in June 2002, Idols have reached No. 1 a jaw-dropping 179 times, counting all national airplay and sales charts compiled by R&R and sister publication Billboard. Album sales among the top 10-selling finalists alone—led by Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry—total more than 33 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Finalist Jennifer Hudson went on to win an Academy Award for her star-making turn in the 2007 film "Dreamgirls," while Aiken, Diana DeGarmo, Fantasia and others have transitioned their success to the Broadway stage. Headlining tours have ensued, hair care products and shoes have been hawked, TV series and soap opera stints born, while profiteering Web sites and blogs have proliferated by the thousands—punch in "American Idol" on Yahoo and you're bestowed 262 million results.

On the R&R charts, Idols have achieved success at myriad formats, dominated by country, CHR/top 40, hot AC and AC, with hits at urban AC, rock and Christian. Cumulative achievements are staggering: During the course of seven seasons, 21 "Idol" hits have reached No. 1 on Nielsen BDS airplay charts for a total of 120 weeks at the apex (ties included)—that's nearly two-and-a-half years that finalists have ruled at one format or another (see list, page 19). Season one winner Clarkson leads the league with 21 weeks at No. 1 at AC for 2005's "Breakaway" and also has four CHR/top 40 No. 1s. Season three victor Fantasia has the second-biggest hit with "Truth Is," which led urban AC for 13 weeks in 2005, followed by season six's Daughtry, whose "Home" led at AC for 11 weeks and "It's Not Over" for nine weeks at hot AC, both in 2007. Season two champion Ruben Studdard is next with "Change Me," a chart-topper at urban AC for eight weeks in 2006. Country is also well-represented on the list, with five No. 1 hits for season five winner Underwood; the biggest is "Jesus, Take the Wheel," No. 1 for six weeks in 2006. Season two's Kimberley Locke also has three songs on the roster of biggest Idol hits, all at AC—with three Christmas titles.

Boiling Point
For anyone suspecting that "Idol" fever is cooling off, despite 2008's well-publicized receding ratings, May 21 winner David Cook posted the highest debut in hot AC history for a career-opening single by a solo male, as "The Time of My Life" (19/RCA) blazed onto the chart at No. 31 in the June 6 issue. That same week, "Time" flew 30-21 with Most Added and Most Increased Plays at AC and was New and Active at CHR/top 40. The previous week, Cook set the record for most debuts (11) by any artist in the 50-year history of the Billboard Hot 100. Cook also commanded Hot Digital Songs with 14 entries, led by the No. 1 "Life," which sold 236,000 downloads. Collectively, his titles moved 888,000 downloads.

It's hardly coincidental that alongside consumers, radio and record labels continue to embrace the phenomenon with unbridled enthusiasm. Simon Fuller, creator of the show and founder/CEO of 19 Entertainment Label Group—which farms most finalists to other labels—says Cook "is a worthy winner of 'American Idol.' I honestly believe he has the potential to become one of the most successful Idols of all time."

Cook, in turn, told billboard.com last month, "This show and the whole process have allotted me a new lease on life, in that I'm more sure of who I am now than ever before. When you're trying to be a career musician and you have $200 in the bank, your car's breaking down and you're lonely, you tend to think about whether you've got what it takes. To be here now is awe-inspiring. It's allowed me to walk around with [a] new aura. I feel like, 'All right, I'm in this. I know what I want to do and I'm not going to accept anything less.' "

Enormous Exposure
For the airwaves and record companies, the TV show affords a kind of artist setup that is just not possible via any other medium. Beverlee Brannigan, OM for Journal Broadcast Group/Wichita and PD of country KFDI, notes that despite faltering ratings, "Idol" is "the most-watched TV show, which is enormous exposure for the new artists it launches. It lets them skip the 'nobody' phase and start their careers as 'somebody.' "

Mike Kennedy, VP of programming and operations for Wilks Broadcast/Kansas City and PD/morning host of country KBEQ, concurs. "If you can get a head start on your new artist promo tour with exposure to millions of potential listeners, it can be nothing but positive and certainly effective. Do they have an advantage? I certainly think so. Our listeners are engaged in this show and we pay attention to that."

So the time has finally come, the tour is over and around the World David Cook fans waiting (im)patiently for some sign of the new recordings.

And then like a flash an email ‘The name of David Cook’s debut single will be – Light On’ I pondered this, the name; it sounded almost religious, but more importantly, UN David Cook.

But I was excited to hear what would be, excited to see what the ‘New, and Signed’ Cook would produce.

One thing I knew before I had even heard ‘Light On’ was that the sound would be better (now don’t go confusing ‘sound’ with ‘musicality.’) The sound production will be better than his pre-idol music, you plough thousands of dollars into a song, and the end product will be cleaner, I just hoped it wouldn’t sound to over-produced (think Cher’s ‘Believe’ as a perfect example.)

‘Light On’ by David Cook:

First listen; I was surprised, neither pleasantly or regretfully, just surprised. It was so far from what I expected, I felt as though I had heard the song before. It didn’t pick me up and slap me in the face, metaphorically. David had always had such individuality that within seconds of hearing his pre-idol stuff, I could recognise it as David, he had his own style and it defined him.

Now I expected a change, who wouldn’t, when an artist goes from unsigned to signed there will always be a shift in genres, to make the artist ‘sellable.’

By the second listen I realised; I don’t like the introduction, it sounds like eighties rock, it sounds old. The piano, plonky chords seem pointless. Then hit’s in the lyrics and within seconds David’s trademark ‘screech’ which can work perfectly in certain situations, but not mid verse. The guitar, in places, especially in the bridge reminds me of The Darkness…Lots of slow high notes put into a melody, sounds old. The lyrics are simple, too simple for a ‘Word-Nerd’ but just right for people to remember them, and be able to sing along.

Third listen, a good eight hours later; The format on the song is perfect, verse chorus, middle eight, bridge, big ending, but I would have expected David to mix it up a bit, as throughout ‘Idol’ one thing he did show was his ability to ‘arrange music.’

And after a good ten hearings of the song; this song has everything a good song should have, powerful, yet simple lyrics, the catchy chorus, the ‘hook’ of the song. It is simple; it is commercial, yet perfect for what it is meant to be.

It isn’t supposed to be some ‘Jazz-Fusion’ masterpiece, some Mozart melody. It is what it should be, a good attempt at a ‘Pop Song.’
 
David Cook’s ‘Light On’ is growing on me.

David Cook’s new single “Light On” is impacting in a big way on Top 40 radio. In addition, it was in the top ten on iTunes the first day it was available and number one at Amazon at least some of the days shortly after it was released. Over the next month, David will be out promoting the single and his debut album, which drops November 18. Look for “Light On” to hit the digital charts next week, possibly even cracking the Hot 100.

Based on a combination of factors, David Cook could be the most successful Idol winner since Carrie Underwood. His coronation single, “The Time of My Life,” continues to maintain a presence on all the major charts 19 weeks after its release. In recent years, this has been unprecedented, and the success of “Time of My Life” and the buzz surrounding the new single certainly indicates interest in the Season 7 winner has not waned.

In addition, if sales figures from this summer’s concert tour are any indication of Cook’s draw, he’s going to do just fine. The numbers show a dramatic increase in the number of attendees at this year’s tour over last year’s. According to Ken Barnes, the average percentage of seats filled was 85.4 percent, up 17 percent over Season 6’s rather paltry 68.4 percent.

Season 7’s numbers are a long way from the 96.1 percent average that Season 5 maintained, but this still bodes well for both Davids (Archuleta and Cook). Interest in the concert appears to have a direct correlation to the contestants’ post-Idol success. All one has to do is look at the sales numbers for the Season 5 alum to make that connection. Will David Cook hit Daughtry-esque numbers? It’s unlikely, due the state of the economy and a slowdown in CD sales overall, but both he and David Archuleta should debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 and go platinum.

Last May David Cook made history triumphing in the greatest upset in "American Idol" history. Now the reigning Season 7 champion is about to break another sound barrier: On Nov. 1 he will become the first idol to appear as the musical guest on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" immediately upon release of his debut album.

Cook will become the fourth idol to appear in the prestigious slot.  However, the three previous "American Idol" graduates who took the 30 Rock stage did so later in the runs of their albums or in their careers.  Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood both appeared after their albums had been out for several months.  Kelly Clarkson appeared in support of her second album.

Cook's eponymous debut album is set to hit stores Nov. 18. He will perform the first single, "Light On," in his "SNL" appearance, which will mark the first televised performance of the song, as well as Cook's first public outing with his new band. The song is already available for download on iTunes. His publicity tour in support of the album will also include a live, open-to-the-public performance on "Good Morning America" booked for Nov. 17. Cook plans a national tour early next year.

David Cook's "The Time of My Life" was that rare "American Idol" victory anthem that forged past souvenir status into a bona fide career-breaking cross-format hit. The first "legit" single from his full-length debut (Nov. 18) makes it clear exactly the musical recipe Cook intends to make his signature: Collaborators are all name-brand rockers, from producer Rob Cavallo to writers Chris Cornell and Brian Howes. He certainly does his part, with the most aggressive, growling and howling vocal we've yet heard from the talented singer, offering a newfound machismo in his lower register. Melodically, there's no question that this bullet is heading right for the brain, where the only thing stickier than the chorus is Cook's appreciably sweaty performance. Like Chris Daughtry before him, here's an Idol who is bound for true rock cred, while accessing the show's popularity to equally indulge a pop base. "Light On" is right on.

Photo caption number 1:'I realize fame is fleeting,' says Cook, 'and I have an awesome family who'll totally call me out if I get out of line.'
"David Cook...answers YOUR Questions"
"We learned there was a lot to love about American Idol's season 7 champ during his run of smoldering takes on Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson. Now, thanks to your unabated curiosity, we found out more winning details: Cook, 25, drives a Lexus hybrid SUV, does a celebrity impression (Kermit the Frog!) and is still dating former Idol finalist Kimberly Caldwell ("Things are good"). With a new self-titled solo album out, the Blue Springs, MO., rocker talked to People's Monica Rizzo about dieting, dressing down and nesting in L.A.
'What was your craziest fan encounter while on the Idol tour this summer?'
Shawna Weiser, Des Moines
'Somebody threw a female undergarment onstage. I caught them and thought it would be a bright idea to toss them at Archie {Idol runner-up David Archuleta}, which freaked him out!'
'Would you rather eat hamburgers and live to be 50 or eat salad and live to be 100?'
Heather Bergeron, Keene, N.H.
'Probably eat hamburgers and die at 50. I'd rather live fast and die young than eat salads every day.'
'You wear a lot of interesting T-shirts. Which is your favorite and why?'
Laura Mount, Greensboro, N.C.
'I have one says "Geeks for Peace" that's probably my favorite because I think I'm a geek.'
Photo caption number 2:"A Kansas City Chiefs fan, Cook sang at a Sept. 14 game."
Photo caption number 3:"Cook's emotional ballad 'Permanent' was inspired by his brother Adam (next to Teri Hatcher at Idol April 15)."
'How is your brother Adam doing? {Cook's older sibling has been battling brain cancer since 1998.}
Patricia McGrady, Boonsboro, Md.
'Adam is doing very well. Thank you for asking. He is continuing treatment, and we are all cautiously optimistic.
'Did you ever get things stuck in your nose as a kid?'
Gwen D., Corpus Christi, Texas
'No. So far in 25 years, I've managed to not get anything stuck up my nose. But a kid that I went to elementary school with got a pencil stuck in his nose. I remember he came back to class with gauze up his nose and no pencil.'
'Could you describe your dream house?'
Nicole, Mandfield, Ohio
'I like a clean look. I don't like a whole lot of clutter, despite the fact that I'm a pack rat. I get into art deco furniture and monochromatic stuff, so a lot of whites and blacks. But nothing too big--I don't want to feel like I live in a museum.'
'What is the first thing you do on your day off?'
Jovelyn, San Pedro, Calif.
'I don't know what a day off is! But the first thing is sleep in as long as I possibly can. The problem is I've gotten so used to getting up early that sleeping in is like 9 a.m. I'm into being domestoc, so I enjoy going to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy and Target for my house in L.A.'
What's the most romantic thing you've done for a woman?'
Karen Chaudhry, Jacksonville, Fla.
'You'd have to ask the girls I've done romantic things for. But I know the most unromantic thing I've ever done: In high school, I thought it was a good idea to buy this girl I was dating this large candle with three wicks for Christmas. There was no motive behind it. But she got me a back scratchier, so I think we're even.'
'You have very nice, clear, porcelain skin. What do you do to keep your skin looking so good?'
Lorie Cook, Yulee, Fla/
'{Laughs} Wow. That is making me blush. I don't do anything. Not even soap and water. Now watch, because she asked that question, I'll wake up tomorrow and my whole face will be broken out. We'll have to cancel all the press and promos!'
photo caption number 4:"We're plugging right along." Cook says of girlfriend Kimberly Caldwell (in L.A. Nov. 6)."

Was the title of ''Mr. Sensitive'' meant to be ironic in any way?
"The song was unintentionally ironic. I had the harmonic riff in my head for five months. In my lyric journal, I had ''Mr. Sincere'' written down, and sincere turned into sensitive. I wanted to write about something outside myself and get a little metaphorical. He lives in a village devoid of feeling. They get so afraid of this child who has feelings that they kill him. It kind of took on this Tim Burton-like, twisted vision of James and the Giant Peach for me. But I know people look at me as that sensitive guy."

“We recorded ‘Permanent’ in two takes and everyone in the room was crying,” Cook recalls. “I actually had to leave at one point because it was so emotional. As a musician, any time you can create something where the end result is exactly what’s in your head, well there’s a heaviness to that moment and it overwhelmed me. I’ve been writing songs for ten years and that was the first time I’d felt it. I think there’s an honesty throughout the record that culminates in that song.”

"David Dedicates song to brother
David Cook isn't lacking for inspiration these days. But while his skyrocketing career is certainly fairy tale fodder, Cook needs to look no further than his own backyard. To that end, the 'American Idol' winner wrote a song called 'Permanent' -- the "poignantly personal" second-to-last track on Cook's forthcoming debut solo record -- for his brother, Adam, who is currently fighting cancer."

Oh David, there's so many things to say, and I have no idea how to put it all into words. :-) You've been one of the few bright spots in my year. Watching your rise to fame on Idol and being a part of it in any small way that I could by voting for you every week, then later discovering your amazing past music and joining in on all the fan fun, and finally being able to listen to your Beautiful album, and just being your fan, has been such an honor. Even though we've never met I still feel I can say what a special human being you are, infinitely talented, intelligent, handsome, charming and funny, with a huge caring heart. You deserve only the best, not only for your birthday, but your family, your career and everything and everyone that matters most to you. You're going to go far David, and my birthday wish for you is that you're happy, healthy and loved every step of the way, and that every dream and prayer that you hold in your heart, is fulfilled. Happy 26th Birthday David! All my love, ~Kelly~

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving!
December 1st, 2008, 12:08 AM
I ran out of space in my horn of plenty….
I am writing this blog from about 35000 feet in the air as I travel back to LA, concluding my trip to Kansas City for Thanksgiving. Just to help paint a picture for you….
First off, let me give everyone a sorely belated Happy Thanksgiving. I spent my break with family and a chest cold, and before you give me the, “awwww, that’s terrible….” (This phrase should be in reference to the chest cold, not my family), it was a blessing in disguise, as it kept me home, resting, as opposed to going out with friends every night to try to catch up, which would’ve been the exact opposite of resting. I truly enjoyed my holiday, and suffice to say, I have MORE than enough to be thankful for this year, every single one of you included.
Thank you for going on this journey with me. Thank you for the bloated phone bills, and the tired morning-afters because you stayed up all night contributing to said bloated phone bill. Thank you for braving the elements and each other (ha) all summer trying to show your appreciation to all of us this summer on the tour. We noticed. Thank you for supporting all of us after the tour, by going out and buying, requesting, and promoting our various projects and endeavors, no matter how big or small they may be. Thank you for donating your time and resources to causes we all believe in. Thank you for standing in lines just for the chance to say hello and offer a compliment. Thank you for enjoying the donuts. Thank you for the letters. The pictures. The flowers. The books. The crossword puzzles. The Oar. The Stuffed Animals. The… ahem… anchored undergarments. The signs. The cheers. The jeers. The adamant defenses and the reasons for them. The karaokes that made the internet rounds (best pantomime drummer EVER), The crowds, the lights, the sounds, the vibes, the memories. And last but not least, the Beginning and THE END.
Love all you guys. See you soon.
~D

September 18, 2008, 3:40AM
First New Blog For New Site!!
Hey Guys,
I wanted to drop a note and answer a few emails that I’ve been getting! I can’t thank you guys enough for all the sign-ups and emails pertaining to the website. And thanks to everyone who came out on the tour. As you know, the AI tour has ended and although it was sad to sing together for the last time in Tulsa, we had a blast all summer.....
The new album is coming along great! I can say that, because I’m in the studio typing this, as we speak. Well as I speak. You’re reading. You guys are going to be the first to know the name of the first single AND what the album cover is going to look like. Make sure to sign up to get in on that if you’re interested in being the first to know.
I love the new site and hope you do too...it’s just the beginning and we’re still working out some kinks here and there. I know a few people had some password issues and that’s all been fixed we think. The web nerds (get it?) helping me out apologize for the inconvenience. So much more coming for the site too....like a points system, listening parties, maybe even a few other secret things that I’ll be able to talk about soon.
I also wanted to grab a few emails and respond to them because I really appreciate you emailing me. I do read email, but obviously can’t respond to all of them...so I’ll pick out a few to blog about from time to time. Below are this week’s picks!
Again thanks guys!
~D

=========
FROM MY RECENT EMAILS SENT TO DAVID@DAVIDCOOKOFFICIAL.COM
------------------------
From: Roberta
Date: 01:09pm Sep 15, 2008 EST
Subject: Message from a huge brazilian fan
OMFG is this really David Cook?
D: ummmmm… yes, it is. Thanks for stopping by.

------------------------
From: sandygirl67
Subject: Does this work?
Helloooooooooooo!
Just saw this email address listed as the way to contact David Cook so I wanted to try it and see if this is true, or is someone playing a cruel joke?? If this is DC. . .I registered at your new site and LOVE it! There are lots of suggestions being made, not sure if you have looked at all, but there are some very good ones you might consider. . .ohhhh especially the LIVE CHAT. . .: ) And well, if it's not DC. . .Hello anyway and nice joke! Ha!
Sandy
D: Hey Sandusky. Hope you dig the nickname. Live Chat is definitely something on the horizon. Those web nerds I referenced earlier are hard at work trying to make this site as fan friendly as possible. Tick tock, web nerds, tick tock…

---------------------------
From: janprentice
Hi David,
Are you writing your own songs for the new album?? If so, I’m sure it will be quite introspective… I can hardly wait to delve into that sweet heart and soul!!
ps-I’m not a stalker—I’m a happily married mother of tweens. I’m just as happy for your mom as I am for you. I know she is so proud of your success and your spirit.
D: Dear Jan,
Thanks for the sweet note. I’m heavily involved in the writing of this record, so you can bet that there will be some heart and soul to in fact delve into. And I’ll pass that on to my Mom. Sometimes I wonder if she’s enjoying this ride a bit too much. (kidding. LOVE YOU MOM!!!)

-----------------------------
From: bonnie
Subject: What is the best word in the English language?
Greetings.
As an high school English teacher, I work with words daily. I have a
sheet of paper posted to the wall where I list the words of the week,
with the heading "Be A Word Nerd!" Each day I give the students a word
to chew on, and I have wondered what word you think is the best in the
English language. It is a challenge, because some minute words carry a
lot of weight. We are tempted to choose larger words that somehow
suggest our own intelligence, but I think you would take the time to
really mull this over.
Should you have the time, please reply. My students and I would
appreciate it.
Best of luck to you, your record and your family. May you find some
solace in the days to come, prior to your album release.
D: Hello, Miss Bonnie. Hmmmm…favorite word in the English language… that’s tough… currently, I’d say “vacation”. HA. Either that, or I’d go with “diligence”. I need both as I navigate through this experience. Thank you for the well wishes, not only for me, but my family. Those wishes mean more than any gold record.

---------------------------------
From: ghst501
Subject: A suggestion for the site, and a poem...
Feedback for the site, and another poem for you.
1st, wow! Love the new site, it's awesome! So much to do, it's hard to take it all in! lol One suggestion I have is for the listing of members/fans. Most of us know each other, or have heard of each other through various sites. If there was a way to look through the names in alphabetical order that would be a huge help! I know there is a search bar, but some of the names are so similar, it's easy to confuse them with someone else. This way we could look at the profile quickly to determine if it's someone we know! =o)
2nd, I miss the tour being over because we got our 'daily dose of David' and a side of Mavid! Now it's gone, and it's sad! I know great things are coming in the near future though, and I cling to that! Anyway, I wrote this with those very emotions in mind.
The Summer of David
(Serenity65 ~ Lisa H)
It was the summer of David, friendships and fun
Brought together in harmony and rhyme
In moments of darkness, he brought us the light
Leaving memories to keep for all time.
Though the silence hangs thick when the stadium dims
Where the crowd has since left it behind
You still hear the music inside of your head
Merely an echo left to remind.
It’s hard to leave and you don’t want to go
But there’s nothing left for you here
Moments it seems, where there once was a smile
Is replaced by the path of a tear.
Now we cling to each other, with a promise of hope
The music once silent, will resound again
Not an end to the memories, but a new page we’ll turn
We’ll look back, and remember when…
D: Hey Lisa, I love the poem. Very nice use of imagery. Makes me miss it myself. As far as the Search Bar goes, WEBNERDS! GET ON IT!!!! We’ll see what we can do.
----------------------------------
Well guys, that’s all For today’s post. Back to work in this here studio to keep recording and mixing. Only a few more weeks until November 18th!!! Keep coming back, fill up your pages, sign up your friends and let’s build this site into something great we can all enjoy.
Take care,
~D

Interview: A Conversation With Raine Maida

Recently Maida chatted with me about his music, his activism, and his plans for the future.

I was introduced to you and your band Our Lady Peace through David Cook on American Idol. Have you noticed any extra attention because of that?

I don't know, to be honest. I'm in my own little world here. I've actually been writing with David Cook on his first record.

Were you surprised to have somebody perform one of your songs on American Idol?

I guess, in a way. I don't really watch the show, so I wasn't really familiar with that. The day before [the show] I got a call from David, or the management, to get permission. That was a little interesting. [David Cook] is probably a very good advocate for that show, because he's a real artist.

(there's more to the interview about songwriting and collaborations)

With his single "Light On" just starting to impact radio, and a debut album expected to chart big when it's released next month, is it any wonder David Cook would need a venue the size of a football field for his first video? On Oct. 16, the reigning American Idol and his newly assembled band took to the field at L.A. Valley College to film a performance clip for "Light On." But while the stadium vibe may have felt a bit like the Beatles at Shea, surprisingly, there was no audience in sight. Rather, the overnight shoot focused on Cook, who's by now well-versed in the art of emoting for the cameras, and was purposely light on extras and volume, due to the school's proximity to residential areas.

Despite a handful of complaints from residences in the nearby Valley Glen neighborhood, the video went off without a hitch. Cook arrived at 11 p.m. and shot mostly solo footage for the first three hours, while his bandmates tried to stay warm in a makeshift trailer compound where they fully absorbed the cliched Hollywood adage, "hurry up and wait."

After a couple of wardrobe changes, the band joined in and pounded their way through the song for more than a dozen takes. All instruments had to be muted during filming, but that didn't stop director Wayne Isham (Bon Jovi, Metallica, Britney Spears) from yelling to turn the track up louder, nor did it hinder Cook from belting for real (as opposed to lip-synching). By daylight, things were starting to wrap and Cook was finally let go at 6:30 a.m. Fortunately, he had the next day off, but there's little rest for the weary in Idol-land. Soon, Cook will be off to New York for Saturday Night Live and a slew of other TV appearances.

Archuleta's not the only "American Idol" vet named David for whom life has become an affair worthy of a "Twilight Zone" episode.
Immediately after more than 31 million people watched angsty/scruffy 25-year-old David Cook snatch the "Idol" crown from the reach of Archuleta's tiny 17-year-old arms, both were whisked away to juggle two enormous tasks: hitting the road for the "American Idol" tour, and recording their new CDs at a breakneck pace so that both could be released in time for the holidays.
With "David Archuleta" set for release by 19 Recordings/Jive on Nov. 11 and "David Cook" dropping through 19/RCA a week later, the world waits to see whether - much like in that other big "younger man vs. older dude" battle that'll be playing out nationwide on Tuesday - age and experience can win out over youthful charisma.
Or, in the parlance of the now-legendary "American Idol" post-show sales battle between the winner and the runner-up, whether David vs. David will be the next Kelly vs. Justin or the next Clay vs. Ruben.
Whatever the result, the path to it was nerve-racking for both.
Archuleta's travel mate Cook, endured the same crazy pace. Grammy-winning producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day) assembled many of the 12 tracks on Cook's album while the singer - who set a record the week after the "Idol" finale by placing 11 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 in one week - was still on the road with the tour.
"A lot of it was done via e-mail and telephone calls," Cook recently told Rolling Stone. "I was face to face with Rob maybe five times before I got off the tour, and I had to bare my soul to this guy. It was really scary."
One would think, after seeing Cook bring tears to American eyes with his heart-melting rendition of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" while his cancer-stricken brother Adam watched from the front row, that singing to Green Day's producer would pale in comparison. But baring your soul in any circumstance can weaken one's defenses.
"The best analogy I can come up with," Cook said about his long-distance relationship with Cavallo, "is that it was like taking off your clothes in church."
While the circumstances were similar for both singers, the nature of their recordings hewed closely to their respective pop and rock leanings.
Cook was treading on more familiar territory, having previously recorded a solo album called "Analog Heart," as well as releases with his bands Midwest Kings and Axium before his time on "Idol."
As such, Cook employed a drastically different formula for his debut, including writing or co-writing many of his record's dozen tracks himself. When he did use collaborators, they were less chart veterans than rockers, some from just mildly popular bands that Cook had long admired.
"I worked hard to write music that forced not only my hand, but the label's hand," Cook told Orlando's XL1067.com. "I wanted to put music in front of them [where they went], 'We have to put this on the record.' "
While Cook - whose first single, "Light On," was co-written by Chris Cornell and Hinder producer Brian Howes - was more the old pro, he was still felled by some scary moments, usually when working with his heroes. Meeting with Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace, one of his favorite bands, for instance, rattled the Idol. But once that went well, it set the tone for the entire record.
While Archuleta's CD is being formulated for maximum radio-hit potential, Cook's will be largely what fans have come to expect from him: a rock record through and through, although one that will shift gears enough to keep fans intrigued, from the hard-edged "Bar-ba-sol" to the more grandiose "Come Back to Me."
"I just wanted to write a record that really was eclectic and had some movement," Cook told 1067.com. "There's heavy songs on this record, and songs with piano, strings and vocal. I wanted this record to be heavy and delicate, all at the same time."
Considering the timing of the two releases, the speculation about which will emerge as the king of the music charts and the fact that one of these young talents beat the other for the most prestigious title in music, one has to wonder if the two Davids are out for blood, each anxious to demolish to other - at least in terms of CD and digital sales.
The truth is, these Davids are totally BFF.
"He has seriously been like my big brother," Archuleta says of his older counterpart. "He'll still text me once in a while to make sure things are going well. He's a really caring guy."
As evidence of their closeness, Cook was seen on the "Idol" tour wearing a bracelet that said, "David Is My Idol" - but it was an Archuleta bracelet.
"I spent so much time with him, and we really got close during the show, especially at the end," says Archuleta. "He understood what I was going through more than anyone else - because he was going through it, too."

He has throngs of devoted fans and will soon be releasing an album, but David Cook says his life now isn't too different than it was before winning American Idol.

"I think in one sense everything's changed but in another sense nothing has," says the reigning Idol champ. "There's all these different things around me that I didn't have a year ago. I was able to furnish a home and get a nice car and be able to treat my family to some of the things that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to do."

But, says the singer, 25, "I'm still a goober from the Midwest. Now I've just got a few more resources. I don't feel like the show changed me at all."

Cook spoke with PEOPLE after recording a performance video with his band for Walmart's Soundchecks, which can be viewed online and in Walmart stores.

The singer, who will release his self-titled debut album Nov. 18, describes his music as "eclectic rock" with some songs featuring lots of riffs and others that are "very piano driven and delicate."

"I got to show some different aspects of who I am as a person," he says about  the upcoming album.

Cook's next gig: performing on this week's Saturday Night Live hosted by Ben Affleck. "I grew up watching it like everybody else so to be apart of it in any capacity is obviously a huge honor," he says, before adding that he's "really nervous."

"I'm going to make sure my shoelaces are tied so I don’t trip and fall on the floor!"

The Q&A:
David Cook: "I just think this record is me"
The ''American Idol'' season 7 winner talks about his upcoming self-titled debut album, comparisons to runner-up David Archuleta and fourth-place season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry, and handling post-''Idol'' fame.
It's after midnight, but the shoot for David Cook's first music video, ''Light On,'' is just beginning in the middle of a football field at Los Angeles' Valley College. Director Wayne Isham is bragging on Cook's personality to his cameraman and other assembled crew members. ''I loved meeting you yesterday,'' gushes Isham, who has worked with many of the biggest names in the business over the last 20 years, ''because you're the nicest guy.'' Cook demurs upon hearing that praise, telling everyone, ''Give me 15 minutes and I'm gonna be the biggest a--hole you ever met.''

The man doth protest too much...and too politely, we might add. Over the course of a nearly seven-hour shoot, wearing a T-shirt in unexpectedly chilly weather, Cook proves unflappably affable, all promises of diva fits to the contrary. But do nice guys always finish first? They might on American Idol, as Cook did in winning this past season, but it remains to be seen how the singer will fare in the rock & roll musical realm he's reentering with his first major-label album, David Cook, which hits stores Nov. 18.

A couple of weeks after the video shoot, we caught some chat time with Cook, and true to form, the singer is proving quite sanguine under pressure, as you'll see in the conversation that follows.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Do you ever go online and sample the insane, intense fan scrutiny there?
DAVID COOK: ''There is this one video on YouTube that I've gotten into a habit of...well, not a habit, but I've [watched] it a couple of times. It's these early-teen girls watching the finale, and they filmed themselves, and they're all Archuleta fans, which is fun. My name gets announced [as the winner], and the girls just lose it. It's painful to watch in that sense, because obviously I don't want to feel like I'm upsetting anybody. But these girls said something that's so funny, to me: ''How could they vote for that guy? He doesn't even shave!'' I love that. Because to me that encapsulated everything about people getting into the show. They embraced the littlest things about each person. I find that so interesting, from a sociological level. The things that some people gravitate toward me for are the things that other people just shun. You've got to take it with a grain of salt. But I love that everybody cares enough to have an opinion. Loved, hated, but never ignored, I guess is how I look at it."

Sometimes you can read the partisan fan squabbles that are still happening online and wonder if 20 years from now people will still be battling out the Cook-versus-Archie dynamic.
"Hopefully, because that means Archie and I are hopefully still doing well! In a sense, it's fun that that whole rivalry thing got created. If you put me in the same sentence with David Archuleta, I'll be fine."

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: On the show's next-to-last night, in that famous moment when Simon didn't like the Collective Soul song you chose, some people wondered, since you had been set up as a favorite, is Simon deliberately doing this to set up a backlash against himself, so it won't seem like such an easy win for you? On the other hand, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and it's possible that Simon Cowell really just doesn't like Collective Soul.
DAVID COOK: "When Simon said that about Collective Soul, and said, ''You should have sung 'Billie Jean' again or something,'' it was a rare moment where I felt justified to try to defend myself, just from the stance that I'd already done it, and I didn't want to do it again. I guess the way I looked at it was, I'd rather fall flat on my face on my own terms. The fact that people responded the way they did is amazing. The [winning by] 12 million votes thing still throws me. I even conceded defeat that night to Archie. I thought he'd done amazingly. I stood on the stage and watched all three of his songs and was in awe. For a kid his age to do what he's done, my hat's off to the kid."

I was trying to analyze why even I got unexpectedly caught up in that moment. It was like, ''Yeah! Stick it to the man with your Collective Soul ballad!'' Then you step back and think, well, that's not the most rebellious thing, like doing a punk song or something.
"Right, exactly."

But in the context of what was happening, it was a more subtle song than you might have picked, and that in itself could be considered a slightly rebellious act.
'That song to me probably has the biggest backstory of any song I did on the show. Because I had that song in my head early, and I kept working on it, and it never felt like it was ready, so I would go with other songs. We got to the finale and I had the option to do it, and I was like, ''Man, I've just gotta do it, because if I don't do it now, I'm gonna regret it the rest of my life.'' First off, I love Collective Soul, and I think it's a great song. It seemed like a fitting way to end my run as a competitor in that show. I knew if I could pull it off the way it was in my head, that win or lose, I was cool with that. And it came off really well. That's actually one of the two performances that I watched back after the finale. I watched that one and I watched my week 1 performance of ''Happy Together'' by the Turtles, just to see the absurd transition. It was night and day, man. I changed more during the four and a half months on that show than I changed the 25 years prior."

Your very first album, which you recorded and released independently, sold a few hundred units online during Idol before it was pulled from distribution. And, of course, it's been pirated online. But the actual CD must be a real collectors' item.
"Yeah, it's crazy. My mom pointed it out to me. A copy of it sold for two grand on eBay. That's about a grand more than I paid to make it."

And you were working on a second indie album when you went into Idol? What happened with that?
'I had completed a second one. Neal [Tiemann], my guitar player, produced it. That very first album was intended to be by the band I was in, and by a series of events, I just ended up putting that out solo. But I started working on the second one with more of a clear [solo] intention in mind. By the time I made it on the show, I had these 12 or 13 songs recorded that have never seen the light of day, other than in the live shows. Actually, one of them, ''A Daily AntheM,'' did [get re-recorded for] the new record. I'm sure one way or another eventually [the rest of] those songs will be heard."

Making your first major-label album must have seemed like the best and worst of worlds, in a way. As with every Idol winner's album, a great deal of it is being recorded while you're not there, because you have to be out on the road with the Idol tour. Did you resent having to go on tour, thinking, ''I should be writing and recording right now''?
"I only hated having to change mindsets. I enjoyed touring and I enjoyed recording, and I hated having to rewire my brain between the two. That was tough....But it helped that [producer] Rob Cavallo and I really hit it off. And I was able to bring my guitar player aboard early. Neal has an idea where my head is at musically, so it was nice to have somebody in the studio, when I wasn't there, who spoke for me and spoke accurately....I'm still kind of in awe of it. To do what we did in this amount of time is no small feat. We essentially put a year's worth of work into three months."

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let's talk about a few of the new songs, starting with the single ''Light On,'' one of only two songs you didn't co-write.
DAVID COOK: ''Light On'' is an interesting song. It encompasses almost all of my range. It's all over the place. That's Chris Cornell at his finest. It's got some Zeppelin influence in it; it's got some '80s hair-metal influence; it's got some grunge influence. To me it's like a rock history lesson put into about a four-minute lecture. It's fun to play, but it is definitely an intimidating song."

The heaviest song on the album, by far, is ''Bar Ba Sol.'' It's got some almost metal chords.
"I'm a big fan of this band Injected, out of Atlanta. We called them up and said, can we have a run at this song and see what happens? What they sent us was a demo version, so we took the idea and ran with it. It's heavy, but still a strong melody."

Was the title of ''Mr. Sensitive'' meant to be ironic in any way?
"The song was unintentionally ironic. I had the harmonic riff in my head for five months. In my lyric journal, I had ''Mr. Sincere'' written down, and sincere turned into sensitive. I wanted to write about something outside myself and get a little metaphorical. He lives in a village devoid of feeling. They get so afraid of this child who has feelings that they kill him. It kind of took on this Tim Burton-like, twisted vision of James and the Giant Peach for me. But I know people look at me as that sensitive guy."

And ''A Daily AntheM'' has to do with your brother [Adam, who is fighting cancer], who people learned about from watching Idol, right?
''A Daily AntheM'' is three years old. I didn't originally write it with the intention of it being about Adam. I just wanted to write something that had a John Lennon, ''War Is Over'' quality. Then I was like, oh s---, if you capitalize that letter and that letter and that letter, you've capitalized my brother's name."

You fit in with a style of rock singing that's popular right now. There's the singers from Hinder and Nickelback, guys who have a broad range, but not the real clean, Steve Perry-type of singing that was popular in the mainstream in the '80s. The guys who can sing but have more smoke or rasp in the voice seem to be favored now.
"Dumb luck, man. Singing in smoky clubs for 10 years will give you a little bit of a rasp, for sure. When I first started playing in bands, I played it safe and I stayed in my midrange and all that. As I got more into it, I realized I could do more things with my voice. That's the kind of thing that's fun for me. I love having the vocal capacities to do something like that, because I realize that it's a gift and not everybody has it."

Everyone will be making the comparison you're sick of: Is he gonna have a Daughtry-like career?
"Opinions and perceptions, man — I didn't let it get to me on the show, and I see no reason to let it get to me afterward. I just think this record is me, and if people want to compare it to Daughtry, awesome. He's sold a ton of records. I just hope someday the coin will flip and somebody will compare somebody else to me."

It must be hard to have perspective on what really happened with the show, even this far out from it now.
"It's strange. I don't feel inherently that there's a justification for it. I realize that a lot of people watch the show, and I get the idea of the celebrity aspect of it, I guess. But I still feel like that awkward musician; I think I always will. That's a huge component of me staying kind of humbled and grounded about the whole thing: I get the flimsiness of it. I get that it could all go away. I mean, fame is fleeting....But I'm at peace. I've got guys that I'm playing with that I love to death, and I'm playing music that I think we all really get into, and as long as we've got that and a place to play, I'm good."

The king of Blue Springs got a coveted stamp on his celebrity passport on Saturday: David Cook was the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live."

And it wasn't just any episode. It was the last one before the presidential election and the end of a campaign that has brought "SNL" a ton of viewers and newfound respect. Plus, John McCain was a special guest, adding even more hype to the show.

Cook sang two songs from his debut album "David Cook," which comes out on Nov. 18: the first single, "Light On" and then the album's first track, "Declaration." Both are ideal singles for several radio formats: Top 40, adult alternative, mainstream rock, adult Top 40. (Remember: His fandom includes a very large cult of women 30 and older.)

The live "SNL" versions were good but frankly I don't think either surpassed his best "Idol" moments. His voice sounded strong in some spots, a little fatigued in others, especially during "Declaration." He could probably use a good vacation.

The band behind him looked and sounded like a lot of other stout and polished big-label bands, including the crew that supports Daughtry. I didn't hear a full-blown arena act, but he/they could easily handle something more intimate: large theaters or big auditoriums, like Memorial Hall.

If debates and campaigns are supposed to prove to America whether a candidate is presidential, an "SNL" performance should prove whether a band or performer is a legitimate big-time entertainer. Saturday night, Cook passed that muster with room to spare. Now comes the hard part.

David Cook's video for his single "Light On" was done much like his performances during the AI season--successful and impactful yet without a lot of hoopla.  The shoot took place on a football field in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles, which one might think would mean a stadium filled with extras and fans.  This was not so, however.  Instead, the only people there were David Cook, his newly formed band, and the video crew.
EntertainmentWeekly.com said that David proved he's "now well-versed in the art of emoting for the cameras, and was purposely light on extras and volume, due to the school's proximity to residential areas."
Despite a few complaints from local residents, all went well according to the EW article.  Not surprisingly, David actually sang as opposed to lip-synching, and the band "joined in and pounded their way through the song..." 
David was there until 6:30 a.m. and, although he had that following day off, there wasn't much rest for the weary rock star.  He had to take off to do a slieu of appearances, including a sit-down interview with americanidol.com!  Watch the video now!"

"Need more proof of rock’s return? Listen to David Cook. Yes, that David Cook. The season 7 “American Idol” champ may not have Chris Cornell’s pedigree, but he’s doing his best to sound like a Seattle native.

For Cook’s debut, “David Cook,” out Nov. 18, he enlisted a rock all-star team. The album was helmed by Rob Cavallo, the producer behind Kid Rock’s “Rock N Roll Jesus,” My Chemical Romance’s “Black Parade” and the last five Green Day discs. Although Cook co-wrote most of the record, Daughtry and Hinder hit scribe Brian Howes and Cornell himself pitched in - the single “Light On” was penned by the modern-rock trifecta.

If it seems odd that rock’s next big thing is an American Idol, it shouldn’t.

“Idol” began by launching pop and country stars, including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood. But the last few seasons failed miserably at replicating the show’s early Midas touch. Taylor Hicks would probably take offense at this, if he wasn’t busy cutting a ribbon at a Wal-Mart somewhere in Alabama.

The only recent blockbuster album to come from the “Idol” stable is Chris Daughtry’s Nickelback-ish, post-grunge debut. The season 5, fourth-place finisher’s “Daughtry” was the top-selling album of 2007 and has since gone quadruple platinum.

As heavy - at least compared with Aiken - as Daughtry is, Cook may be heavier. Most of the record is pretty generic stuff akin to his “Idol” peers as influenced by Audioslave, Creed and other bland bands. But it undoubtedly rocks: “Bar-ba-sol” has a metallic crunch unheard in any of Simon Cowell’s other offspring.

And if it’s a hit, look for “Idol” to capitalize on the trend with fewer Soul Patrols and more “Black Hole Suns.”

In just a few short months, David Cook went from no-name aspiring singer/songwriter to household-name “American Idol” winner.
His post-”Idol” single “The Time of My Life” debuted at No. 3 on the Hot 100, the highest entry of 2008, and has sold 970,000 digital downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Now Cook and the team at 19 Recordings/RCA are trying to keep the momentum going with his self-titled debut, due November 18. On “Idol,” he received rave reviews and millions of votes for his hard rock makeovers of pop songs like Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby.” Some controversy arose as to where the arrangements came from, particularly concerning his rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” which was based on a version done by Chris Cornell, but it didn’t deter fans from crowning him the winner.
With the covers game out of the way, Cook says he wants this new record to be a reintroduction of sorts to his fans. “I came from a background of playing original music,” he says, “and I really wanted to get back to that.”
Cook and producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Kid Rock) started recording in late June, with Cook frequently hitting the studio during downtime from the 53-date summer American Idols Live tour. A host of rock veterans lent a hand with the songwriting, including Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik, Cook’s longtime idol Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace and, oddly enough, Cornell, who co-wrote first single “Light On” with Brian Howes. The tune debuted and peaked at No. 17 on the Hot 100, but slid to No. 80 in its fourth week.
“We were able to pull together what I think to be a very accurate representation of who I am musically within a three-month period, which is kind of hard to do,” Cook says of the quick turnaround time. The sound he was going for was an “eclectic rock” record, with “rhythmic songs, heavier tracks and sparse instrumentation.”
Songs on the album include the spiraling rocker “Declaration,” penned by Cook, Rzeznik and Gregg Wattenberg, which he describes as “open and epic”; “Permanent,” a piano and string-backed ballad that showcases the power of Cook’s voice; and “Come Back to Me,” a soaring number that reaches for U2-like atmospherics.
Cook’s rock edge compares closely to that of former contestant Chris Daughtry, whose namesake band has blown up the charts since his season-six run. RCA Music Group senior VP Aaron Borns feels the two have little in common, though, other than “they both have really rabid fans.”
There’s been a strong push to congregate those fans online with Cook’s Web site, which features a social-networking community so fans can stay up-to-date and interact with one another.
While mobilizing Cook’s existing fan base online is a chief component of the campaign, Borns says RCA is reaching out at radio to bring in new listeners. Cook began making radio appearances at the end of October, and he is also confirmed to appear on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “Live With Regis and Kelly.”
A preorder at iTunes comes with an exclusive bonus track, as does the edition carried at Wal-Mart. And fans who buy the album at the Times Square Virgin Megastore on street date will earn a ticket to an exclusive club show later that night. Touring plans are in the works, but Cook says he’d like to go to college towns this spring and “get out on foot and meet people.
“The power of treating someone like a human being goes a lot farther than a pamphlet or flier,” Cook says of connecting with his fans. “For me it’s just about taking the time.”

"My American Idol: A source of inspiration for me is our cover girl, Beth Foraker. Beth is best known as the mom of 2008’s American Idol winner, David Cook. When I think of Beth, I think of her journey and how proud she is of David. I was lucky enough to get to meet David and his brother, Andrew, a few months ago and—I have to say—all the things you read about David in the press are true! Surrounded by hundreds of people asking for pictures and requesting autographs, he stopped and accommodated everyone he could. Beth should be so proud--she has raised two wonderful boys. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up seeing Andrew in Hollywood, too…he’s such a character!

Beth Foraker:
The American Idol Mom
A little over a year ago, Beth Foraker found herself in what you might call a parenting pickle. While camped out in Omaha’s Qwest Center with thousands of other American Idol hopefuls, her two boys, David and Andrew Cook, stood on opposite ends of a foursome. Each one was given just a few seconds to sing his heart out in front of Idol producers. After a short deliberation, the producers sent three of the four, including Andrew, to the right. They sent David to the left. Beth had been watching closely and knew what that meant…David would move on to the next round of auditions, and Andrew would be sent home. For a split second she wavered on which boy to run after.
“I didn’t know exactly where David was going or what his next step was, but I knew I had to go to Andrew. I knew he needed me more than David did right then."
This sort of balancing act is nothing new for Beth. For 12 years, she raised her boys as a single mom, balancing a full-time job as an executive assistant at Aquila with the boys’ constant sports activities and theatre performances, on top of putting herself through college at Park University.. She promised herself she would graduate college before David graduated high school. After attending night and weekend classes on and off for 13 years, she beat David by two weeks, graduating in May 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
“Often, when one of the boys had a game, I would come home from work, go to part of the game and then I’d have to leave to go to school. I would have loved to have stayed for the whole thing, but it wasn’t possible.”
Her tenacity and determination are partly a result of her upbringing. Born and raised in small-town Kokomo, Ind., Beth’s mother was a factory worker and her father on the staff of the local newspaper. And while both parents worked very hard, they placed tremendous emphasis on family.
“Family time was very important. My mother worked all day, but she would still come home and fix dinner and we would all eat together. Holidays always included extended family…aunts, uncles, cousins…family was a big part of our life.”
Beth says emphasis on family is what got her through some very hard times as a single mom. Divorced when the boys were young,
“We pretty much did everything together while they were growing , and they were what got me through. There were times I thought we needed to pack up and move back in with my parents,” she says, her voice breaking slightly.
“But I’m somewhat hard-headed and I wasn’t going to do that. I wasn’t going to tuck my tail between my legs and move home. I wasn’t going to disrupt the boys’ lives anymore than I already had.”
Though times were sometimes tough for Beth, the boys had a remarkably normal childhood. They explored every sport imaginable. David honed his skills in football and baseball, and Andrew excelled in wrestling. Both boys found a love of singing and acting, performing in numerous stage productions at Blue Springs South High School. And it was at Blue Springs South where David foundanother love--playing music in front of people. Rock music. When David told his mom he had formed a band called Axium with his buddies, she assumed it was just another of his passing phases.
“I hoped it was just a phase, just something that was cute during high school until they’d all become doctors and lawyers or something like that.”
But the bandmates stuck together, with all but one choosing to attend Central Missouri State University (now called University of Central Missouri), and the band continued to flourish.
“I’m finding out bits and pieces now,” says Beth. “I think David probably spent too much time on the band and not so much on the studies. He tells me now how he used to skip classes to go look at different places for them to play.”
And when he graduated from CMSU in 2006, David told his mom he wasn’t ready to give up on music.
“During his senior year at CMSU, he had become friends with some guys in a band down in Tulsa called The Midwest Kings. He told me after he graduated he’d like to move down there and play with them. It was kind of a surreal flashback for me. I could see myself at his age telling my parents I wanted to move away, and now he was doing the same thing. I really didn’t want him to go. But he told me he was going to give himself two years to make it, so what could I do?”
Eighteen months into that two-year time limit, Beth found herself in the American Idol pickle. One boy in and one boy out. One she wanted to be elated for and one she wanted to hug until no more tears would come.
“It’s one of the hardest dilemmas a parent could face,” she says.
Beth continued to trek to Omaha and later Hollywood for the endless rounds of auditions, watching hundreds of others get cut. But each time, David would emerge with a smile and tell her he’d made it. And then he’d tell her how good the other contestants were and that he wasn’t sure he could make the nextcut. But he did. Again and again.
And suddenly Beth’s world got a little crazy. For 15 consecutive weeks, she made the trip to Los Angeles to watch David perform live on American Idol. The routine consisted of her husband, Grenvell, driving her to the airport on Tuesday mornings and returning to pick her up on Thursdays, while she continued to hold down her full-time job as a payroll manager at Aquila.
“Aquila was just awesome in letting me do this, but I also had a really great staff working for me that made sure everyone got paid correctly and on time.” The schedule was harrowing, not to mention the fact that Beth never knew if she was making her last trip. She’d make her reservations a couple of weeks in advance, telling herself she could always use the ticket for something else if David got the boot. And surprisingly, as the Idol process wore on, strangers began to give Beth their frequent flier miles and hand over their free tickets. One local business even donated six airline tickets to help get Beth and her family to and from L.A. As David gained more attention, the community began to rally behind its hometown rocker. On most weeks, Beth had dinner with David after the show. But often she was so busy calling in and voting for David during dinner, she didn’t get to enjoy the time fully.
“The people in the restaurants probably thought our family was pretty rude because we’d spend the better part of dinner calling in votes on our phones. But we only had two hours to get our votes in, so we couldn’t waste time!” Beth says she never really knew if David would make it to the next week. She always thought his performances were good, but she’d watched the show in the past and knew strange things could happen. Good people got kicked off. She knew David had set goals for himself throughout the Idol process, first to make it to the top 24, then top 10, top 5, top 3…and so on. She did her best to focus on those goals instead of the final outcome. Surprisingly, she never let herself think about David winning until the very last night of competition.
One of the highlights of the Idol journey for Beth was when David made it to the final three and came home to KC for a visit, complete with Idol cameras and producers. She chuckles at how naïve the family was prior to the visit. She remembers telling David, a family friend that owned a car service was willing to pick him up from the airport in a limousine. David told her no thanks; he didn’t want to attract a lot of attention when he came home. Instead, Idol sent him by private jet and escorted him everywhere in a shiny black SUV…no attention indeed! Beth spent the first morning of his visit watching him on local television interviews, but didn’t actually get to see him until the huge rally in KC’s Power and Light District later that day. The family was flabbergasted at the crowds that came out to support David, and shocked their boy had become such a celebrity.
“My neighbor and I decided to make t-shirts that said ‘Vote for David Cook’. I think she bought two cases of t-shirts and said ‘Oh my gosh, my husband’s going to kill me if we can’t sell these t-shirts.’ We think back on that and laugh hysterically. Fifteen to 20 cases later we realized how much support was coming from this community, and we’re so grateful.”
Another favorite memory of the hometown visit was when David surprised his grade school music teacher, Mrs. Gentry, with flowers in front of the whole school. Both Beth and David credit Mrs. Gentry with discovering David’s singing talent. He sang his first solo for her in a second grade Christmas program. The rest of the whirlwind hometown visit included a homecoming parade in Blue Springs and throwing out the first pitch at a Royals game. The visit left Beth and her family (which now includes three stepdaughters, Heather, Jenna, and Kyla, step son–in-law, Eric, and step-grandchildren, Aylish and Marshall) with a bundle of emotions—pride in David, deep appreciation for the support of their friends and community, and just a touch of bittersweet because there wasn’t much time just to sit and “be” with the rising star. Even when he had a chance to come home for lunch during the visit, the house was filled with people wanting a quick hello, limousines and police cars parked out front, and helicopters circling overhead. Just a week later Beth, Grenvell, Andrew and Beth’s momDebra, found themselves in L.A. again, this time as David battled another David, David Archuletta, for the title of American Idol.
Beth could hardly believe they’d come this far. She watched David perform three songs and thought he’d done well, but still didn’t let her mind go there…to winning. Because the winner was determined by audience votes, she eagerly checked the Internet that night and the next morning to see what people were saying. It appeared most were picking David Cook by a decent margin, but she still didn’t trust the accuracy of what she was seeing.
“You just never know,” she said.
The winner was to be announced live the next night, but not before Beth watched David perform with rock legend ZZ Top. “He was so stoked about that,” she says. “And he looked like a natural up there!”
And finally, after a two-hour show, host Ryan Seacrest held up the envelope that would determine David’s future. “And the next American Idol,” said Seacrest, “is David…COOK!” And then it all became a blur to Beth. She was ecstatic. She wanted to jump up and down but she had on high heels. She watched David close the show with his now famous single, “Time of My Life,” and tears filled her eyes.
Nigel Lythgoe, the show’s producer, motioned for her and Andrew to come up on stage. She remembers hugging David. Then Andrew hugging David. And after a few moments, he was whisked away to do press interviews. They reunited with him later at a couple of celebrations and had a night that can only be described as the time of their lives. Back home, things have returned to normal for the family. Beth is back at her job at Kansas City Power & Light (which acquired Aquila earlier this year). Andrew is pursuing his degree in Elementary Education at University of Central Missouri. Beth says she gets recognized a lot more, but people are quite nice for the most part. She loves seeing David Cook t-shirts at the grocery store and still tears up every time his “Time of My Life” single comes on the radio. She even had the opportunity to hear him sing it to a sold-out Sprint Center audience when the American Idol tour wheeled into KC in September. She says that experience was “unbelievable.” And lest you think she has a favorite son, don’t think she doesn’t share praises about Andrew as well. Beth knows he had a difficult time at first when David was chosen for Idol and he wasn’t. And for a time, the boys weren’t as close as they once were. “There was a period in the beginning where Andrew really withdrew from the Idol experience and didn’t want to be part of it. He needed some time to make peace with the fact that David had made it, and he took that time. And then he joined me in L.A. for an Idol performance and hasn’t looked back. He and David have grown closer, and Andrew has taken an interest in the music business.”
For now, Andrew is focused on getting his degree, but Beth thinks he will likely help his brother in some capacity in the music business when he finishes. He’s also lined up some of his own gigs as a result of Idol publicity, including being a Fox 4 “roving reporter” during local American Idol auditions and singing for a local beauty pageant.
“Andrew is his own person, with a completely unique set of strengths and a huge personality. People love him.”
In fact, Beth is enormously proud of both of her boys. She says they were the bright spot in her life when many other things weren’t going her way. She can hardly describe how proud she is without tears streaming down her cheeks. More than any one accomplishment, she is proud of the men they have grown up to be—caring, genuine, protective of their mother, and humble. And if you’d asked her a year ago what she thought about her son being the next American Idol? “Which one?” she’d have said. And then probably, “You’re crazy!” HL

Got a minute? Last season's American Idol winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta dish about their upcoming albums (out November 18 and today, respectively) and panty-throwing fans.
Q: You guys are putting out albums right after a huge election. Do you keep your political beliefs to yourselves?
Cook: I think voting is a personal right and a privilege. For me it's less about alienating anybody and more about not trying to be a persuasion. People need to vote based on their own ideas.
Archuleta: I try to stay away from taking sides in politics, sports—anything competitive, really, because fans get so into that. I don't want people to base their opinion of me on a small comment I make.
Q: So you'd rather have them judge you on your new albums. What can we expect?
Archuleta: It's a pop album with a little R&B flavor. There's a nice variety, because I didn't want to pigeonhole myself. Being a teenager, I'm always changing my mind.
Cook: Mine is very eclectic, although it's a rock record for sure. There are heavy, guitar-driven songs, very delicate piano songs, and everything in between. I had a chance to work with people I admire, like Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace, Kevin Griffin from Better Than Ezra, Johnny Rzeznik, Zac Maloy. It was great for them to treat me as a peer.
Q: What albums did you look to for inspiration?
Cook: I tried to keep outside influence to a minimum. I found myself relying more on self-evaluation than anything. I wanted to be fresh and untainted.
Archuleta: I listened to Jordin Sparks' first album, because she's another artist my age and she mixed it up, which allowed her to do more with her next album. The guy who wrote "My Hands" on my album actually wrote "No Air" for Jordin.
Q: What's the craziest fan experience you guys have had?
Archuleta: My fans don't do freaky things. They throw stuffed animals. One time, Cook got some underwear, and he threw them on me. I was like, "Oh, nasty!" I freaked out.
Cook: For the record, yeah, I did. But they were thrown at me by a fan first.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A year ago David Cook was a struggling musician with just $30 in the bank, competing for a spot on top-rated television talent show "American Idol."

On November 18, "Idol" winner Cook debuts his self-titled album that he said was made by his own rules and "comes out of the gates with all guns blazing."

"The record is different from what people saw on 'American Idol.' I was able to make a rock record that to me is eclectic. But I don't think I have completely alienated the people who supported me," said Cook.

On the program, Cooked rocked audiences with alternative versions of other singers' hits, such as Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and Lionel Ritchie's "Hello."

"I wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs on the album. I was involved with everything -- the music, lyrics and I helped design the art on the CD. I wanted it to be a very accurate definition of who I am," the 25 year-old told Reuters.

Cook joins alumni from America's most watched television show -- "Idol" averaged nearly 30 million viewers weekly last season -- whose fortunes as stand-alone music stars have varied from stellar (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson) to sluggish (Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard).

"Light On," Cook's first single off his album, fell in the middle, debuting at No.17 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in September but slipping to No. 80 four weeks later.

But Cook, who formed his first band at age 15 and auditioned for "American Idol" on a whim, has a different way of measuring success than just selling records.

"I went into 'Idol' with no expectations. But the one thing I wanted to do was to accurately portray myself. So I will gauge my success on whether or not I can remain happy and still remain true to who I know that I am.

"Whether I sell one record or one billion records, I will be happy," he said. "I would rather sell one billion though."

One song, "Heroes," is an homage to Cook's family. Two are to his brother Adam who has brain cancer, and "Life on the Moon" is about the crazy journey from Missouri bartender and part-time musician to "American Idol" star.

The past few months have brought more money, but some sacrifices of privacy.

"As far as my personal life goes, the major difference is that I don't have one any more. I am a private person so having to navigate this celebrity thing is something I haven't got used to," he said.

Cook and his band will play for U.S. troops in Iraq in January, then head out on a U.S. tour and later overseas.

But as big a career as Cook may have, he wants to remain the same guy he was back in Missouri.

Not a surprise, but hundreds of David Cook fans gushed about the star's new album. Fans got a sneak peek at his complete album on Thursday. And, they couldn't stop talking about it.

Below, we compiled a sampling of the comments on David Cook's official web site. Get an idea of the tracks fans can't stop talking about. And, fans have a tip for impatient listeners...don't miss the bonus track at the end. Cook's album can be purchased on November 18.


"I cried as I listened to Permanent--can't imagine how painful it must be for you to watch your brother going through his cancer and simultaneously going through this sudden overwhelming fame. I hope your music can help you stay grounded through it all." - Lynda

"There is a bonus track, "Kiss on the Neck" at the 12 minute mark of A Daily Anthem!!!!! Do not miss it!" - pegsaj54

"Congratulations to David for this solid and amazing work. I like the album a lot and really love some songs. Come Back To Me, Avalanche, Lie, Heroes, Bar-Ba-Sol, A Daily AntheM, Permanent and the Hidden Track are my favorites! Can't stop listening to." - Nono

"Love it, love it, love it!!!!! David you are truly amazing. Permanent is such a beautiful song. Loved Life on the Moon, Lie, Avalanche, oh lets be honest, I loved them all! Can't not wait until Tuesday - but big thanks to iheartmusic for the preview - a pleasant surprise for the day. Good luck with the album, hope to see you next year on tour." - nhcookiefan1030

"David, I hope you're happy. I listened to your record and I do in fact feel like I ran a 5K marathon. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was up until 4am? I couldn't resist...I had to go back and listen to the whole thing again...(My favorites: Mr. Sensitive, Bar Ba Sol, Declaration, Lie, Permanent)" - japhy rider

"Congratulations. I am thrilled for you. My favorites: Permanent. Bar ba Sol. Kiss on the Neck. Because each song is spectacular in its own right, but together they are a great demonstration of the range of your talent." - rockymountainhi

"American Idol" season seven champ David Cook already scored a solid hit with his first single, "The Time of My Life," the kind of sentimental ballad every winner is forced to churn out. Much like his predecessors' quick-turnaround debuts, Cook's is fairly generic, but its rock edge is dirtied up with crunching guitars and the artist's tuneful growl. There are a host of big, anthemic choruses that highlight the power of Cook's voice, namely the soaring "Declaration" and Chris Cornell/Brian Howes-penned "Light On." Elsewhere, Cook exercises his right to rawk with the swaggering, gritty "Bar-ba-sol" and bares his soul alongside a delicate piano and string arrangement on "Permanent." There are some lyrical missteps ("Life on the Moon," which marvels at the titular concept), but as the lone rocker winner of "Idol" to date, Cook stands apart from cookie-cutter pop.

By Leah Greenblatt

If you're expecting Daughtry 2: Post-Grunge Boogaloo, well...you're about right. Cook is clearly built in the guy-linered mold of that earlier Idol alum, though his debut owes just as much to the expert hands that craft it, including producers Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) and Brian Howes (Hinder, Chris Cornell). They give David Cook's clutch of bombastic verse-chorus- verse rockers an impressive melodic sheen, one well suited to Cook's husky, expressive vocals. If anything, the series of booming midtempo anthems (most notable among them "Bar-ba-sol" and "Mr. Sensitive") could use a little sandpapering around the edges. B

The Time of His Life

With a national tour behind him and a debut album out this month, David Cook is just warming up.

Shortly after plunking down his bags in his new Tulsa home two years ago, David Cook recalls hearing a quote, which seems eerily prescient now.

"'Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity' is a quote I was told when I first moved to Tulsa – it really was just that," the 25-year-old American Idol winner recalls of the famous phrase uttered by motivational speaker, Earl Nightingale.

As the phrase foretold, the recent graphic design graduate, wannabe rock star and bartender would soon find himself packing his bags again on his way to the national spotlight and Idol stardom.

"I've worked at doing this since I was 15 years old, and everything else in my life at the time seemed pointless or mundane. It's funny to look back and see how the past interacts with what I am doing now – like the graphic design stuff. I spent a lot of time designing CDs, posters and ancillary material... just thinking, hey, it's fun. And that artistic ideal really parlays itself into what I'm doing now. I believe in fate to a degree. I believe fate puts you in a position that allows you the opportunity to do what you want to do. I believe it's just a matter of whether or not you have the wherewithal to take hold of it, and go with it."

The role fate played in Cook's rise to fame is now the stuff of legend. He originally set out for the American Idol auditions in Omaha, Neb. in support of his younger brother Andrew. Although his original plan was to stay in the shadows, Andrew convinced him to audition too. So, Cook picked up a microphone and sang Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" for the show's judges, and the rest, as they say, is Idol history.

"It was a very out-of-body experience. I can't remember what it felt like to stand on that stage," Cook says of the moment that catapulted him from a final contender to champ last May, just a few months after that fateful audition.

"I feel like I have a third-person view of it. It's like... I can remember what it looked like. And I can remember reactions. But I can't remember how I felt. You know I look back on the reaction when they said my name, and I'm like... I did that? It's one of those life-defining moments, I hope."

Cook's life in Tulsa, before "Idol," had just been taking definition. Bartending stints kept him afloat while he cut his own CD, Analog Heart, and toured with the popular Tulsa-based band Midwest Kings playing guitar, bass and singing back-up vocals. It was an experience that would eventually serve as prep school for the American Idol Live summer tour, featuring the show's top 10 finalists in a whirlwind trip to 49 U.S. and Canadian cities in 75 days. During the tour, Cook divided his time between performing and working on his debut CD. And, as the journey wound down, preparing to say goodbye to friends who have become like family.

Unpretentious, soft spoken and quick-witted, Cook's tone deepens in wistful sincerity when he speaks of his fellow Idol contestants.

"You know, it's really bittersweet – I've built relationships with these guys over the last year and from that standpoint, I'll be sad to see everyone go their own way," he says of his fellow Idol mates, particularly Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, with whom he says he formed the tightest bonds. "Hopefully we'll be able to reconvene as a group and catch up," says Cook.

"By the same token, I'm really excited because I grew up playing original music, and in the last year, I've had to sing everyone else's songs. To get back into the original music realm where I can sing the songs that I created from scratch is something I am definitely looking forward to.

"I've done a lot of co-writes for this record. I went into this process knowing what kind of music I wanted to make. I knew what kind of artist I was," Cook continues. "But I'm also pretty 'green' to the process. I went in without an ego and just said, hey... let's bring in people I can co-write with and really work on some different sounds. I know what kind of songs I can write, but I don't know what kind of songs everyone else can write. So it's been fun, it's been a great learning process and definitely the most fruitful period of my life musically."

Cook partnered on the album with several fellow Oklahomans, including former Midwest Kings bandmates Andy Skib and Neal Tiemann, as well as Zac Maloy of the Nixons. Produced by Rob Cavallo, the CD's early release single "Light On" is creating a sensation that is becoming typical of all things Cook. While he's only been releasing music for a short time, Cook's become accustomed to shattering record charts, including the unparalleled feat of having 11 songs entered at one time on the Billboard Hot 100. Cook's post-Idol release "Time of My Life" debuted at the No. 3 spot on the same chart, and was a No. 1 download on iTunes.

With so much early and unprecedented success fronting this release, Cook speaks with a remarkable level of maturity about what it's like coping with enormous expectations and stress.

"You know, it's interesting... all the pressure I feel is pressure that I put on myself," he says. "I want to put out a record that is important, and I want to put together a live show that's more than just... you know, you come and hear 12 songs and that's it. I want it to be experienced on a lot of sensory levels. So, the pressure that's built up is all self-created.

"As far as de-stressing, I've got a great circle of people around me. I have a great family, I have wonderful friends and the fact that I've been able to tour this summer with nine people going through the same experience – it's been a godsend."

"That's where it gets a little bittersweet... I don't know what I'm going to do with myself after the other nine are off doing their own thing. I'll probably call them and be like, 'Dude, I don't know how to handle this.' We definitely lean on each other quite a bit."

As the seventh American Idol winner, Cooks says he is also able to draw emotional support and empathy from previous winners and participants, including Checotah, Okla. native and Season Four American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

"I talk to Carrie every now and again," he says. "Carrie's been awesome in that she's really been available to me for advice, just to try to navigate what is the absurd lifestyle of being a winner of American Idol. Past that, you know, you catch people at shows – Gina Glocksen (from American Idol Season Six) came to our show in Fort Wayne, Ind.. It's always nice to just talk to people who have been through the experience and try to pick their brain – it's definitely a fraternity of sorts."

That fraternity also includes the show's judges – Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell – the central core of the extended American Idol family circle.

"I ran into Randy and Paula a couple of times this summer at events, but Simon's been a little harder to track down," Cook says. "Although I imagine I'll see him this next season – I'm sure I'll stop by and catch a show."

Maintaining a congenial relationship with the judges throughout the season – even with the feather-ruffling Cowell – may have been a noteworthy accomplishment in itself for the affable Cook, who takes personal joy in shaking things up with audiences. In fact, when asked which song he performed during the season brought him the most satisfaction, the post-grunge/alternative rocker gives an unexpected response.

"'Music of the Night,'" he says of the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber classic from Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera. "In case it wasn't obvious on the show, I kind of enjoyed messing with people and really turning their expectations on their ear a little bit. To know, going into that week, that I could pull it off – not necessarily that I would – but that I could, and then to have it go over as well as it did was exciting because I knew some people didn't think I could do it."

Another thing about Cook that may surprise his fans includes one of his dreams for the future.

"There's just something inherently real about the Midwest that I haven't experienced anywhere else in the country," says the Houston native, who grew up in Blue Springs, Mo. "Like Oklahoma and Kansas City – the places where I really grew up and lived – all have that in common. I think when all is said and done; I'll probably wind up in the Midwest somewhere. There's just a vibe there that you can't find anywhere else... it's just the right speed for me."

Cook says the draw to Tulsa is still a personally significant one, and that he finds himself missing – among other things – the action in the city's downtown district.

"I've got a ton of friends there and I spent two years of my life – probably two of the most defining years of my life – in Tulsa, just finding out who I was as a human being and as an individual and a musician," he says.

With the release of his new CD, which he plans to support with a tour early next year, Cook's life isn't slowing down. In fact it's just the opposite. With clamoring fans, an unrelenting schedule, and back-to-back talk show and media appearances, one wonders if being a rock star is every bit as cool as he'd hoped.

"On paper, yes... it's a lot of work, though," he says with a chuckle. "But my worst day of doing this beats my best day of doing anything else. I've been tired since March. I'm trying to get to Christmas."

In spite of the exhaustion, the world's newest rock sensation looks beyond the immediate, and foresees a future that blends his enthusiasm and hope with a capacity for personal happiness and artistic expression

"As long as I'm happy doing what I'm doing, I'm okay," Cook says. "My goal on this record is to have it do well enough that I can make another record – and that will be the goal of every record. Obviously, I have loftier ideals. I want this record to be important and stand up long after I'm gone. But you know, the first goal is to make another record. I'll be a musician the rest of my life."

"David Cook and David Archuleta were far and away the most talented performers on American idol last season.  The show tried to tighten things up a bit after the previous season's disaster that included Blake Lewis in the finals and the way too long stay for Sanjayah Malakar.  So when it became obvious that it would be the David and David show for the finals, it was a bit refreshing.
So is there a post Idol battle?  Sort of.  In Touch notes in an item this week that American Idol winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta are competing against each other again on the charts, but don't worry they're actually each other's biggest fans! 
Seventeen year old "Archie" says he's giving the older David's single "Light On" prominent play on his iPod - while the Idol winner is so sure of the younger David's success that he's incorporating the "Crush" singer into his own career backup plan. 
"I think David A. is destined for great things - he has the talent to pull it off," 25-year-old David C. tells In Touch.  "If my record flops, maybe he'll need a guitar player!"

When David Cook sits down for an interview, he doesn't bring his iPhone. Despite being on a promotional mill that has one journalist handing him off to another, he works to engage with every one. Of course, since he's hitched his star to the Simon Fuller machine, he's almost certainly been pushed into submission at media-trainng boot camp. But he's managed to maintain the I-didn't-mean-to-be-here naturalness that's made his rise on "American Idol" fun to watch.
Cook spent an hour or so playing tracks from his upcoming solo album and chatting about his hesher roots and pop star future. He laughed a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed him and quietly regretted making such a fuss about his "Idol" borrowings.

So you claim you are really a rocker. Convince me!
"My first rock concert was Mötley Crüe and Ted Nugent! I remember being so enthralled. Nugent came out and they were playing "Stranglehold," and he was wearing a loincloth; they had set this archery target up on one of the light fillers and he came out with a bow and arrow and just nailed it, and all this pyro took off. There's something fun in that '80s excess, rock mythos kind of thing. And that's really what I want to get back to."

So the record sounds like hair metal?
"We've actually got some twists and turns on this record, some secrets along the way to spice it up. There is a song that does have a little bit of L.A. rock swagger to it. The whole songwriting process was about how this is going to parlay live. I wanted big, open songs; I wanted those U2 bridges that could go on for a day and a half and the crowd would just eat it up. And I feel like we pulled it off. A lot of these songs are just very, very big. I love it!"

You've enlisted a couple of your former bandmates from the Midwest Kings to tour with you. That seems like a wise move.
"I just really want this to work, and to get out on the road, it's tight quarters and you gotta go with guys you can deal with. I wanted to grab guys from home whenever I could. Neil [Tiemann, lead guitar] and Andy [Skib, rhythm guitar and keyboards] are great musicians, I respect them as musicians and on top of that I've been in bands with them so I know I can get along with them. Neil actually played on the record, which was huge."

You're going to be playing in venues very different from the bars you played in with the Midwest Kings. How are you making the transition?
"Before anything else, you have to have the songs. I want songs that are versatile -- that could be huge arena songs, or that you could go into a bar and play for five people and get the vibe across. That's what's great about rock, versus any other genre. There's a scope to it that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. You can take it anywhere."

The ladies love David Cook. Is that an issue for your credibility?
[Slightly flustered, or at least pretending to be.] "The way that I've always approached music is just to write it. If more women than men like my music, I suppose that makes for a prettier audience. But I want to write music that makes me feel something, and if I feel something, I will perform it better, and if I perform it better, hopefully it engages more people. I'm not looking at it as a gender issue. It's more about inclusion."

Is there any part of you that misses the grassroots scene back in Oklahoma and Missouri?
"There are aspects I miss, for sure. I've made it known that I would love to do underground gigs. Pick another band name and just go. There's something inherently rock 'n' roll about a dingy club on a Wednesday night, when the only reason anybody shows up is for the drink special. But I'm in a very amazing position right now, and whatever I can do to make this record a success is what I'm going to do live."

"The first time I hear a song, I know it’s good when it hits that first chorus and I uncontrollably break into a smile. And if I really think it’s good, my head bops along to the beat.
But as I was listening to “David Cook,” neither my lips nor my head even budged.
I don’t know what it was that was bothering me. Maybe I was expecting something different. Maybe it was too rock for me. Maybe it was because so many of the songs featured high screams followed immediately by hushed singing in his lower register, making them sound terribly alike.
Whatever it was, I just couldn’t get into the CD. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t good, I just wasn’t feeling it.
Then somewhere in the middle of the chorus of “Lie,” the eighth track on the CD, I felt the smile. One track later came the head bob. And then everything was fine. In fact, when I gave the CD a second listen, I enjoyed it a lot more.
So what was my problem in the beginning? Maybe I just had too much David Archuleta stuck in my head…
The CD starts out with “Declaration,” the song Cook sang on “SNL.” It sounds much better recorded, but I think it could still use a little less soaring of a chorus…
“Heroes” has a great chorus with some pretty good lyrics…
Then it’s the first single, “Light On,” which I still think rocks, even if Top 40 radio doesn’t…
“Come Back To Me” has a Lifehouse sound to it—and I mean that as a compliment…
“Life On the Moon” has some interesting lyrics and a pretty catchy chorus. It’s the moody rocker song.
The real rocker on the CD is “Bar-ba-sol.” And even though I’m not a big rock song fan, this one actually kind of works for me…
“Mr. Sensitive,” however, is a tad too much on the rock side for me. I think it’s the way David sings the word “sensitive”…
I’ve already told you about “Lie,” which is one of the best tracks on the CD…
“I Did It For You” is a great song with a great chorus…
“Avalanche” seemed to be continuing the CD’s momentum, but then it lost me…
But then Cook whips out a GORGEOUS ballad, “Permanent,” and I was back…
Cook then goes feel good—or as feel good as a rock anthem can get—with “A Daily Anthem.” It has a good chorus, but it goes a little too long.
And then, at the 12:04 mark of “Anthem” after several minutes of silence, there’s a hidden track possibly called “Kiss On the Neck.” I’m not sure why Cook kept this one hidden because it’s one of the best songs on the CD…
The CD closes with the bonus track, “The Time of My Life.” I was concerned that this song wouldn’t fit in, but after the hard rocking “Neck,” it works nicely…
“David Cook” tries really hard to strike the balance between rock and radio-friendly and for the most part it does with both solid rock songs and solid radio singles. But if you’re looking for catchy pop, you’re not going to get it here…
However, if you’re looking for some music with substance from an outstanding vocalist, this CD is for you.
It might just take an extra listen or two to get there…
“David Cook” hits stores Tuesday, November 18th…

He rocked his way to the season 7 ''American Idol'' win. But with his new self-titled album, he's facing some much tougher judges: the CD-buying public
Honoring a time-worn rock & roll tradition, David Cook is trying to coax his drummer out of a prone position. ''Hey, I didn't make you go out and drink last night!'' he ribs the reclining stickman. ''You're at work, bitch! Don't lie on the couch and look at me like I just killed your dog.'' Soon they are all back at it inside Hollywood's famed SIR rehearsal studios, where hard-rock bands have long given their chops a workout before hitting the road. This afternoon, the hardest and loudest sounds are coming out of Studio 6, where Cook & Co. are running through songs from the American Idol winner's forthcoming major-label debut. ''Bar Ba Sol,'' the heaviest song from the new album, builds from thick, bottom-end-rattling riffs to screaming solos, and Cook is letting loose the kind of grungy wailing that might make less gifted singers bust a corpuscle. The metalheads down the hall must surely be impressed.
The song ends, and the mood is broken as Stevie Salas, the musical director who helped Cook put this new band together, bursts through the studio door, phone to his ear. ''David, this is my ex-girlfriend,'' he announces, ''and she told me to give you a pinch on your cute little ass from one of your cougar fans.'' Cook winces. ''I am passing it on verbally without giving you the pinch,'' Salas reassures him.
And therein lies, if not a pinch, a rub. Idol hasn't churned out many rockers before Cook — certainly none who actually won the competition — and the singer is now facing a big challenge: How feasible is it to rock like a mofo while still wooing the mom-and-kiddie crowd that helped him win in the first place?
The self-titled David Cook (due in stores Nov. 18) aims to split that difference. It's a guitar record, full of gut-busting singing, but also mainstream, melodic, earnest, and anthemic almost to a fault — in other words, what you might have expected from a smolderingly affable Midwesterner who staked his entire Idol career on a Collective Soul cover. ''There was always a dialogue between the A&R guys and David and myself,'' says Rob Cavallo, the noted rock producer (Green Day's American Idiot, among others) who oversaw Cook's album. ''We were trying to strike the right balance between something 100 percent true to David as an artist, and at the same time satisfying all the supposed needs or desires of the cougar set, or whatever you want to call it. Or,'' he corrects himself, backing up over the C-word, ''I should just say his Idol audience — that's the best way to say it.''
Like all post-Idol debuts, David Cook was made preposterously quickly. Almost the entire 10-week recording process happened without Cook, who was still on the road with last summer's Idol package tour. Cavallo oversaw tracking back in L.A., and Cook would e-mail demos from his tour bus, songs concocted during frantic hotel-room writing sessions with guys from the Goo Goo Dolls and Our Lady Peace. It was an on-the-fly collaborative process he calls ''completely organic and at the same time completely absurd.''
Even so, Cook says he's thrilled with the result. ''I managed to convince enough people to give me a little bit of carte blanche,'' says the 25-year-old singer. ''I wanted to make a record that had some meat to it, where no song was disposable. I'd put this record up against any record out right now. That's not a cocky thing. To me, it's my kid. I want to try to prove the 56 million people who voted for me right.''
Whatever happens, Cook clearly won't have a career like either of the two previous Idol winners. The 2006 victor, Taylor Hicks, benefited from older-lady mania in his TV run before getting dropped after one fast-fizzling album, while 2007's Jordin Sparks went from being the show's least buzzed-about champ to scoring a surprising string of fizzy, teen-oriented pop hits with her debut disc. Cook's situation is more like that of Carrie Underwood, who similarly exited the show with a distinct musical identity. But while Underwood had country radio waiting with open arms, Cook's soul-searching lyrics, Idol roots, and dearth of tattoos may hurt his chances within his chosen genre. ''I'd like to see him on the rock charts,'' says Cavallo. ''I don't know that it's gonna go there. I think it's gonna find its audience on the Hot AC and pop charts.'' First single ''Light On'' is making solid headway at Hot AC, though the power ballad's rock edge is a tougher sell at rhythm-oriented Top 40. ''David Archuleta's song ['Crush'] is the more natural fit,'' says Sharon Dastur, program director at New York City's Z100, ''but I think Cook has a great shot at Top 40 as well.''
His coronation anthem, ''The Time of My Life,'' sold almost a million downloads. He also set a Billboard record by having 11 of his Idol performances debut in the Hot 100 at once. The question is whether Cook can still find the same love now that he's getting out from under the covers. If there's a hopeful precedent to cite, it's Idol also-ran Chris Daughtry, who saw four of his similarly riff-heavy tunes crack the Hot 100's top 20. Still, Daughtry was able to buy himself a little distance from the Idol franchise in ways Cook can't, first by (a) not winning, then by (b) scowling a lot. Cook does affect a glowering look on his album cover, but as viewers know, a warm, easy smile comes more naturally. ''I do take music seriously,'' he says. ''I don't think you can do this and not. I don't think I'm gonna be putting out a Weird Al record anytime soon. But I don't take myself all that seriously. I'm kind of a goober from the Midwest who hit the lottery.''
The night after the band's final rehearsal, Cook is doing a friends-and-family-only gig at the Viper Room, working out any last kinks before his appearance on Saturday Night Live. Backstage, the singer is telling his bandmates he's battling an unexpected case of anxiety. Guitarist Neal Tiemann, a holdover from Cook's pre-Idol band, the Midwest Kings, is surprised. ''You've done more nervous-making things than this,'' he says. No kidding. ''Yeah, in a sense...,'' Cook replies, unable to explain why he's so intimidated by the hundred or so friendly waiting souls. ''I think we're finally a band,'' he says. ''It's something I've been looking forward to for about a year now, just to have a moment where it felt like...well, like it felt a year ago.'' In other words, back when he was still playing clubs — pre-Simon, pre-Archuleta, pre-makeover, pre-king of the world.
There's a knock on the door, and Cook's girlfriend, season 2 Idol contestant Kimberly Caldwell, makes an entrance. ''I told you not to let her in!'' Cook barks, affecting a preshow boys-club paranoia. Break-a-leg smooches are exchanged before Caldwell exits with these parting words: ''Be wonderful! Be fabulous!'' Then, realizing her mistake, she corrects herself. ''I mean, be hardcore!''
Out on stage, Cook isn't long into the mini-set before he mentions that the last time he played the Viper Room, an A&R guy told him he needed to find another line of work. A middle finger of vindication follows, along with a nice vocal raspberry. As the set progresses, he seems proudest after the thundering ''Bar Ba Sol.'' ''And you guys thought you were at an American Idol concert!'' he crows at the song's conclusion. Then he looks around a little sheepishly, as if remembering what bad form it might be to bite the hand that brought him here. ''I had to say it once,'' Cook murmurs with a smile, before moving on to a power ballad.

David Cook releases his first album tomorrow.
When it comes to first albums from winners of "American Idol," the problem is usually too many cooks. This time around it's not enough Cook. Or more precisely, not enough of 2008 victor David Cook's own personality.
"David Cook"
RCA
Cook was this year's designated "rocker" on the Fox talent contest. But his eponymous debut, out tomorrow, never really goes far enough in any particular direction to stake a claim for individuality. Indeed, it's hard to distinguish Cook's sound from that of his own idols, like Our Lady Peace and Better Than Ezra.

The 25-year-old, who wrote or co-wrote most of the material with a few of those heroes, does dabble in aggro-riffage on the swaggering "Bar-ba-Sol" and even injects a little country sensibility into "A Daily AntheM." But most of the record occupies that post-grunge middle ground encapsulated by first single "Light On" - co-authored by Chris Cornell - that sounds good one song at a time on the radio but loses its flavor over the course of an entire disc. (Evidence of Cook's interest in more contemporary and progressive heavy rockers like Muse is scant.)

There's reason for hope, however, in the handful of strong songs that display sharp pop instincts.

The most striking are those that Cook wrote with Norwegian songwriting-production duo Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund, a.k.a. Espionage. The pair has lent a hand to some of the tastiest soul pop confections of recent days, including Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable," Chris Brown's "With You," and "Just for the Record," the best song on 2007 "Idol" Jordin Sparks's album.

Cook and savvy producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) wisely incorporate the duo's ear-catching melodies into the three tracks that ring most authentic vocally and lyrically.

The rolling and tumbling "Come Back to Me" is an earnest if-you-love-something-set-it-free anthem. On "Life on the Moon" Cook does something difficult - examine his own "Idol" whirlwind with poise and thoughtfulness. "The life that I knew is through and I'm going to need you more than ever," he sings on the chorus, perhaps to a friend, perhaps to his own sense of sanity. The vocal is emotive without being forced, and the pointed, metal-edged guitars feel natural.

The same can be said of the heartbreaker "Lie," in which the singer tries to postpone an inevitable breakup with a mix of dread and optimism but not an ounce of bitterness, as acoustic guitars play in wistful waltz-time.

Cook gave his best performances on "Idol" doing this type of thing, roughing up such pop and soul gems as Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and Lionel Richie's "Hello." The most successful rockers - from U2 to Aerosmith - know that combination is a surefire recipe for success.

Seven years into its run and American Idol has finally produced a winner who can hold his own and work with his own Idols. This says more about David Cook, grand champion of season seven, than it does of the franchise itself: AmIdol suffered a significant ratings slowdown during its no-drama seventh season and, despite the megastardom of Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Daughtry, major-league stars only saw the show as a way to hock a new album. Fortunately, major-league stars hold no fascination for David Cook. As he proved time and time again on the show, Cook's greatest wish was to be an American Our Lady Peace, a hurdle that's not exactly hard to clear. This low ambition works in Cook's favor on his eponymous major-label debut as it gives him a goal that's achievable — plus, it's been so long that this sound has been in fashion that his heroes are waiting in the wings, eager to contribute to a project that may just raise their own profile. Foremost among these is Cook's biggest idol, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, who co-wrote three songs, but he's not alone: Zac Maloy of the Nixons has three songs, while Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra assists on "Avalanche," forgotten neo-grungesters Injected rev up the record with the hardest-rocking (and best) song in "Bar-ba-sol," and Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, no stranger to reality TV himself, gets a credit on "Declaration." It's a virtual parade of second and third stringers from the late '90s, all led by Chris Cornell, who continues his slow march into alt-rock anonymity here with "Light On," a perfectly fine bland power ballad that strangely finds the Soundgarden singer trying to write like those who followed in his footsteps.

All these rockers may give Cook some relative street cred but they're no guarantee for a hit record, something the AmIdol enterprise desperately needs at this point, so they're paired with certified hitmakers: Cathy Dennis comes in for "Heroes," Chantal Kreviazuk teams with Maida for "Permanent," and most notably, Espionage work with Maloy on his three songs. If Espionage's work leaves no discernible impact — there's nothing that sounds remotely similar to Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" or other hits they've penned for Chris Brown or Jessica Simpson — Kerviazuk and Dennis compensate by gently weaving tried and true commercialisms into their songs, gently pushing Cook toward a crossover he's already made anyway. He not only is a star thanks to AmIdol, but he's always been ready to do big, happy, crowd-pleasing grunge-pop, as his self-released 2006 debut, Analog Heart, proved. David Cook is remarkably similar to that now-suppressed effort, heavy on crawling, melodic midtempo rockers and power ballads, only given more gloss in its production and writing. All this makes David Cook remarkably similar to the debut of his AmIdol forefather, DAUGHTRY, but where Chris Daughtry wallows in his stylized amorphous angst, Cook is a friendly puppy dog, eager to please. This may result in some embarrassing earnest moments — none too coincidentally, they're almost all enabled by Maida, including "Mr. Sensitive," which rolls up the worst traits of Our Lady Peace and David Cook in one big blob of goopy glop, and the Maloy/Espionage "Life on the Moon" isn't far behind either — but this enthusiasm makes David Cook a likable record: he's so happy to be here it's hard not to warm to him at least a little bit. After all, it's hard to be mad at somebody who wants nothing more than to make an album that could be played comfortably between the Toadies and Third Eye Blind.
3.5/5 stars

The latest ‘Idol’ champ, David Cook, steps into his role as mainstream rocker on his self-titled debut major label album. Finally able to move on from his “magic rainbows,” Cook really nails the target with this album, produced by veteran Rob Cavallo.
Kicking things off with the fired-up rock anthem “Declaration,” Cook surely knows how to wet the appetites of his fans. “Declaration” would be the perfect follow-up single choice because it is practically designed with radio in mind.
Something that is extremely noticeable on ‘David Cook’ is the lyrics. Having wrote or co-wrote 10 of the songs, Cook’s songwriting talents were not wasted compared to what is found on most ‘Idol’ debuts. This is especially seen on “Heroes,” where Cook emphasizes his love by suggesting “all these heroes come and go / but you’re still standing.”
As for mid-tempos, “Life on the Moon” is perhaps the best track of this kind on the album, as it displays Cook’s aptitude for conveying emotion into his work. Although it is not half bad itself, the album’s first single, “Light On,” pales in comparison as a mid-tempo track.
On “Mr. Sensitive,” aspects of a major motion picture’s raising theme song come to mind, and would perhaps be a perfect fit on a superhero film’s soundtrack. The hard rock instrumentation meshes surprisingly well with Cook’s controlled vocals. In addition to “Mr. Sensitive,” Cook really digs into the grungy depths of rock on tracks like “Bar-ba-sol” and the hidden track “Kiss on the Neck” and does not come off sounding pretentious.
On “Come Back to Me,” Cook trades in authenticity for radio-friendly fare in the form of a Bo Bice-lite track that would be a perfect fit for Hot AC radio. While “Lie” would also be an ideal single due to its hook, it is able to retain validity in the context of the rest of the album’s tracks. But the weakest track is without a doubt “I Did It for You,” which has such generic lyrics and a bland sound that it is almost embarrassing to see it tacked onto the album.
Where Cook really comes into his own is on the album’s ballads, especially “Permanent” and “Avalanche.” On “Permanent,” a vulnerable Cook utilizes his reserved vocals in conjunction with piano and stringed accompaniment. This is a side of him his fans do not see as often as one might expect, so it is definitely a pleasant surprise. While a little more forgettable, “Avalanche” is another example of Cook’s ability to adapt musically to a more heartfelt persona.
The album’s final standout comes in the form of “A Daily AntheM,” which is a spirited, uplifting piece of work that gives hope to a brighter day. And then there’s the inescapable “The Time of My Life,” which Cook has little choice but to include to cap off an otherwise solid album.
Without a doubt, David Cook puts his best foot forward on ‘David Cook,’ and the result of his dedicated work and moving vocals is hard to deny. Expect big things from the ‘Idol’ alum in the future.
David Cook will be available to purchase in stores and online on Tues., Nov. 18.

Like most "American Idol" champ debuts, " David Cook" (19/RCA) won't go down as the rocker's best album. It's uneven, sort of rushed and slightly schizophrenic, held together mainly by his charming growl and producer Rob Cavallo's rockish gloss. But that only speaks to David Cook's considerable promise, bolstered by the album's impressive middle. The power ballads "Life on the Moon" and "Mr.Sensitive" should prove even more durable than the smash "The Time of My Life." He stretches boundaries creatively with the metallic, grinding "Bar-Ba-Sol" - part Pearl Jam fist-pumper, part Alice in Chains slither. Somehow, "David Cook" matches its creator - a little unfocused but brimming with potential and so much likability that the faults get forgotten.

DAVID COOK "David Cook"

THE GRADE B(+)

BOTTOM LINE "Idol" keeps winning.

"David Cook"
David Cook
19 Recordings/RCA

Six months after he won the "American Idol" title, David Cook is back with his major-label debut CD, "David Cook," and it's the grittiest, most rocking record by an "Idol" winner yet.

Produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day) and co-written by the likes of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell, Collective Soul's Ed Roland and new "AI" judge Kara DioGuardi, the 13 songs marry a formidable rock edge with undeniable pop sensibility.

At his worst on "American Idol," Cook displayed a smug arrogance that often put him at odds with the judges. But at his best, the 25-year-old Missouri singer stood out for his roughhewn, starkly beautiful (and, yes, humble) interpretations of pop hits such as "Billie Jean" and "Hello" – as well as for a poignant relationship with his cancer-stricken brother.

So who is the real David Cook? On the album's opening track, Cook sings, "This is my declaration to anyone who's listening." The line is meant for someone Cook calls his "inspiration" but the singer may as well be addressing fans as well as anyone who doubted he could hold on to the qualities that set him apart in the first place.

Many of the 11 songs here touch on Cook's relationship with his brother Adam. On "Permanent," the singer agonizes over whether "there's a way for me to take his place." The song, a slow piano ballad, is the perfect framework for the sentiment – simple and never overpowering. It's such moments that underscore not just Cook's talents but also his ability to realize when less truly is more.

Likewise, the album's first single, "Light On" is as radio-ready a hit as they come with its perfect whisper-to-a-scream, verse-chorus-verse pattern. It's undeniably slick, produced to within an inch of its Top 40 life, yet somehow it still radiates heart – it's believable and endearing.

And therein lies Cook's appeal. Yes, he's a newly minted Idol, but for all the trappings of success that come with winning such a contest – big tours, million- dollar production, endless managers and handlers – the singer clearly endeavored to hold on to his voice.

Other winners include the sweetly pleading "Come Back to Me" and "Bar-Ba-Sol," a wickedly raucous toe-tapper. These are tracks that won't merely fit into today's radio soundscape, they'll stand out sharply amid a wave of generic notes and sentiments.

Unfortunately Cook doesn't always show such character or command. The "Mr. Sensitive" power ballad is as gratingly self-satisfied as its name implies, and on "A Daily Anthem," amid a whirl of guitars and tedious drumbeats, Cook pitches and wails with abandon. Yes, we get that it's an anthem, but it's carelessly overwrought and unappealing.

Then again, "David Cook" includes a very telling "bonus" track, "The Time of My Life," from Cook's final "Idol" showdown.

The inclusion of the track, sticky-sweet and, well, icky, is likely a contractual obligation, but it also serves a nice juxtaposition – a reminder that, flawed as it may be, the rest of Cook's album is unquestionably his.

Let's be honest. The latest season of "American Idol" didn't really get exciting until David Cook and his pointy hair shot ahead of the competition. The Oklahoma rocker, 26, handily defeated his warbling 17-year-old nemesis David Archuleta in the finals, marking a victory for stalwart grunge fans everywhere. Now the two get to face off again on the charts. Cook's first album, "David Cook," arrives Tuesday, a week after Archuleta's self-titled CD was released. Cook's record was produced by Rob Cavallo, who not only oversaw the past five Green Day discs but also Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" and My Chemical Romance's "Black Parade." This pretty much guarantees it will rock. Plus, Chris Cornell helped write the first single, "Light On." We spoke to Cook, who grew up in Blue Springs, Mo., near Kansas City, by phone from Los Angeles.

Q: Do you think there's a "From David to David" movie in your future?

A: I implore somebody to tell me where that plot goes.

Q: I'm sure you've gotten plenty of worse offers.

A: Well, yeah. You get this shot once, so I'll do anything and everything that I feel is going to be artistic and has some substance. So far my concentration has been on the record, so I've read scripts with the general idea that now is not the time for me to be going on location shooting a movie. I really want this record to do well, and I'm willing to do everything within my power to make sure that happens.

Q: Do you ever wonder how some "American Idol" winners sell millions, like Kelly Clarkson, and others end up owing $200,000 in back taxes, like Ruben Studdard?

A: Obviously, you pay attention to music, being a musician. You kind of see what people are doing well and what people aren't. But I haven't let myself get bogged down by thinking about everybody else. Each of the "Idol" contestants' experiences is unique, and each of their stories is unique. To that end, I can't really say there's a given formula. I'm just going to do what I do, and I'm going to be me. If not, it's been a hell of a ride.

Q: Something like 97.5 million people voted on the last season of "Idol." Surely, some of them might buy your record.

A: If I could get one of those silver discs for my wall, I'll be a happy panda, for sure.

Q: What, are pandas your favorite animal now?

A: You know, I just kind of picked up on that phrase. I don't even know what it means.

Q: I think it means you need to stop hanging out with David Archuleta.

A: I know, right?

Q: Are you still getting a lot of death threats from his fans?

A: No, his fans are really sweet for the most part. There are always going to be a few bad eggs. It's funny. The more I read about David, the more we're supposed to have this real heavy disdain for each other, and that really couldn't be further from the truth. I think he's an amazing person and obviously an immense talent.

Q: What's the best thing about winning so far?

A: Getting to go home and to play in front of a packed house was one of the coolest things so far. We had two nights in Kansas City and both nights were either sold out or within a thousand of being sold out. To walk on that stage and see people you grew up with and a few detractors who told you you were never going to make it - it's vindicating on a lot of levels.

American Idol, the reigning pop cultural king- and-queen-maker, is so tightly controlled and aggressively packaged that it’s difficult for any of the contestants to break free and develop their own personalities.

There are exceptions, of course, although they tend to be largely female — Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood have each demonstrably broken free from Idol’s bonds. Chris Daughtry is, arguably, the only male to have accomplished much of note (OK, and Clay Aiken) and the lone rocker spawned by the show. Most other male contestants — Taylor Hicks, where have you gone? — have slipped almost completely out of the public consciousness.

The Houston-born David Cook, who beat out cherubic moppet David Archuleta to win the show’s seventh season earlier this year, stands to have the best chance at breaking out of Idol’s pop ghetto, aided by overwhelming goodwill and a willingness to embrace the sort of white-bread rock music that inexplicably soothes the souls of the modern masses.

Yet there are a few thrilling curveballs tucked away in Cook’s self-titled, major-label debut, produced by slick radio savant Rob Cavallo, suggesting that the 25-year-old singer/songwriter isn’t interested in spending a career exclusively doling out tunes better suited for movie soundtracks than mosh pits. A sizable chunk of David Cook bogs down in tired alt-rock tropes (although his slavish aural nods to mid-'90s heavyweights like Live and Our Lady Peace warms the heart of someone who also came of age during that time), but it’s far from the micromanaged misfires that are most Idol debuts.

Life on the Moon might be the sharpest evocation of navigating sudden fame ever penned by an Idol contestant; if nothing else, it’s an incredibly self-aware piece of songwriting that deftly walks the line between pop psychology and pure emotion. It’s followed by the deliriously crunchy Bar-Ba-Sol, which spins out lyrics steeped in defiant paranoia against a thumping beat that might even wring a smile out of Toadies frontman Vaden Todd Lewis.

Cook proves to be an overly throaty pro at the big, arena-filling numbers, but his most unexpected asset? A light, achingly melodic gift for penning ballads that feel poignant without becoming maudlin. The powerful Come Back to Me echoes the mood of Kelly Clarkson’s signature Breakaway, with its carpe diem-with-love couplets and soaring sonics.

The adoring fans will doubtless embrace David Cook as one of the finest Idol albums yet produced, a thoroughly debatable point. It’s easier to approach the disc for what it really is: the capstone for what has undoubtedly been a whirlwind year for the budding musician and a collection of songs suggesting that Cook could become what fellow Idol alum Daughtry can’t or won’t — a reality show-birthed rock star worth watching.

Download this: Come Back to Me

For David Cook, the easy part is over. He won “American Idol”; he survived the grueling “Idol” tour; and he made his inaugural record, “David Cook.” Now comes the difficult part: living up to more hype than any of the preceding “Idol” winners.

His first big-label album is officially released Tuesday, but it seems Cook and “David Cook” are already meeting high expectations.

Across his large and rabid fan base, accolades have been pouring in since an on-line streaming of the album last week. Three of those songs have already been birthed: “Light On,” the album’s first single; “Declaration,” which Cook performed on “Saturday Night Live” recently; and “The Time of My Life,” the winner of the “Idol” songwriting contest.

The 11 other songs (a secret track is embedded in Track 12) follow imilar templates. “Cook” is loaded with melodic arena-rock anthems and ballads with titanium hooks and standard modern-rock riffs. It’s music that recalls bands like Nickelback, the Rev Theory and Cook’s “Idol” alum, Chris Daughtry. Post-grunge dynamics prevail here: mid-volume verses and loud, crashing, panoramic choruses. One song is even called “A Daily AntheM” ; it was written for his older brother, Adam, a cancer patient (thus the typographic effect with the capital letters).

Some of these tracks are geared toward modern-rock radio (“A Kiss on the Neck,” “Mr. Sensitive”); others (“Heroes,” “Come Back To Me”) were written and produced with Top 40, adult-alternative and mainstream-rock radio in mind. At least one, “Bar-ba-sol,” sounds like an offering to heavy-rock/metal stations that mix their Metallica with their Nickelback -- like Kansas City’s the Rock (98.9 FM). But I’ll be surprised if they played anything off this. (Blame the “Idol” factor).

Instead, Cook and his label have made a record that will be marketed to an audience that is predominantly female and includes a lot of fans 30 and older. There is plenty for them to like, especially for anyone who’s a fan of Bon Jovi or Journey, two of Cook’s lyrical touchstones. A couple of songs are tender, confessionals – the musical equivalent of chick flicks. One of those, the orchestral “Permanent,” bears a resemblance to Journey’s “Faithfully.”

If that makes you wince, keep in mind that’s the intent here. Producer Rob Cavallo has crafted slick, dynamic, major-league album designed to hang around for a while. None of the production techniques will fall out of fashion over the next two years, which ought to be the shelf life of this record. There are at least six singles on “Cook,” not counting “The Time of My Life.” If commercial radio is part of your daily life, be prepared to start hearing these songs soon and often. When you do, remember it’s the sound of a local boy making it really big.

Since David Cook won the title in May, his fans have been hungrily anticipating the arrival of the American Idol's self-titled album, out today. Cook can empathize.

"I feel like I've been waiting for Nov. 18 for 25 years," he says.

The seventh-season champ describes David Cook as the reintroduction of David Cook, not the Idol grunt at boot camp but the liberated rocker at ground zero.

"I wanted this record to be a definition of me as a person," says Cook, parked in 19 Entertainment's conference room overlooking the Sunset Strip. "The goal was to make an eclectic rock record. Bar-Ba-Sol is guitar-driven and heavy but still melodic. On the flip side is Permanent, with a string section and piano. The power behind that song is the angst and the vocal. I love both songs for the aspects in my character that they define. It sounds egotistical, but I see myself as a complex person."

Cook, 25, does embody contradictions. He is by turns reserved and goofy, articulate and tongue-tied, humble and ambitious.

He talks about ducking attention and fostering harmony among Idol finalists but also confesses: "I've had a competitive spirit all my life. Love me or hate me, just don't ignore me."

Comfortable in front of reporters and cameras, he strikes Zoolander poses to amuse onlookers during a photo shoot.

Newfound fame "is the most awkward thing," he says. "When people look at me as a rock star, it seems humorous to me. I look at myself as a goober."

In the next breath, when envisioning his ideal future, he says emphatically: "I just want to be an important artist. I don't want to be a flash in the pan. I don't want to be a one-hit wonder. When people talk about this period in music, I want my name to be brought up."

This album's pivotal role in that goal may explain his anxiety before a Nov. 1 appearance on Saturday Night Live, also spotlighting John McCain. The show drew 12 million viewers, a fraction of the 31.7 million who tuned in for the May 21 Idol finale, yet Cook says the SNL gig was a bigger freak-out.

"Dress rehearsal was full of nausea and dry heaves," he says. "It was so nerve-racking because it was our big unveiling as a band. I listened to the performances (of Light On and Declaration) the day after, and you can hear some timidness in my voice."

Despite being swept instantly into the industry's major league, Cook was not timid when it came to making his album. For starters, he was no neophyte. He had released 2006 solo debut Analog Heart after four albums with former band Axium, plus an EP with the Midwest Kings. He also embarked on his post-Idol career with enviable chart credentials posted the week after the finale, when he landed 11 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, the most since The Beatles nailed 14 in 1964.

Though determined to dictate the shape of his album, Cook also found himself starstruck by collaborators.

"I was kind of dumbfounded to work with my musical heroes," says Cook, who had e-mailed a wish list to his manager the day after the finale and wound up co-writing tunes with such faves as Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace. "It was like going to Disneyland every day."

Cook says he never let the star power of heavyweight co-workers or the clout of producer Rob Cavallo deter him from following his impulses.

"I'm comfortable with who I am as a musician and artist," he says. "As humbling as it is to work with these people, I understand it's work. If I'm going to sing these songs for the next 15, 20 years, I need to love them.

"I've got to stand up for myself because I don't know if anyone's going to stand up for me. I was lucky Rob tuned in early to what kind of record I wanted to make. He brought something out of me that I couldn't have done on my own."

The songs, many of them completed while Cook was on tour, reveal his love for early '90s alt-rock. He's especially fond of the push-pull dynamics in Seattle grunge because "every song punched you in the face but cradled you before you hit the ground. It was heavy and delicate at the same time."

The first full-tilt rocker to capture Idol's crown isn't worried about the franchise's pop bent. As he confronts rock's rebel-craving ranks, he shrugs off fears of a stigma from the show's assembly-line process, citing Chris Daughtry, the 2006 finalist who rocked the chart with a multiplatinum debut.

"If I'd done this in Season 1, it might be different," Cook says. "I think Chris and Bo (Bice, 2005 runner-up) laid the pavement for someone like me to win. Anyway, whether I do rock or jazz or pop or country, there will always be people shining a negative light on it."

True, early reviews are mixed, and few expect a commercial blockbuster. With music sales in steady decline, "it would be almost impossible for Cook to top Daughtry's sales figures," says music writer Don Waller, one of USA TODAY's American Idol coaches.

On record, Cook's vocals "sound good, strong and totally professional, with the distinctive character and sandpapery timbre that are instantly familiar to those who watched the show," he says.

First single Light On, however, "is by-the-numbers generic power balladry, a song that could be anybody from Green Day to My Chemical Romance," both also produced by Cavallo.

If RCA pumps money into promoting Cook and releases a second single by Christmas, the disc might sell 500,000, Waller speculates.

"I doubt that would turn a profit for the label, though," Waller adds, suggesting it will take a million-seller to establish Cook as a commercial entity.

Music consultant Tom Vickers predicts a brighter future.

"There hasn't been a mainstream pop/rock-leaning hitmaker since Bryan Adams, and I see Cook in that zone," he says. "He's not as hard-edged as Daughtry; he's genuinely likable, the right amalgam of rock star and regular guy."

Cook hopes to validate the Idol decision, particularly since handicappers predicted a landslide for David Archuleta. Cook got 56% of the votes, 12 million more than the favorite.

"I guess I have a chip on my shoulder, because I hate that some people call it an upset," he says, then allows, "I stood on the side of the stage that last Tuesday and thought Archie owned it. Give the kid credit: 17 years old, and he came in as a front-runner and held it for 14 weeks. I came in under the radar and had time to get my feet under me."

And that big brother/little brother narrative? Media hokum.

"To look at him as someone who needs protecting demeans him a little," he says. "I was seriously trying to keep my own boat afloat. What made the season fun is there wasn't a lot of behind-the-scenes drama. We ran a clean race."

Contest stresses faded on the road. "I know I ended up winning the prize everyone was shooting for," Cook says. "I was worried about a backlash, but nobody made me feel unwanted. I never felt any malice or jealousy."

Likewise regarding younger brother Andrew, rejected in Idol auditions only to see Cook head to Hollywood.

"I think he had to distance himself for a while to make peace and come to grips with it, but then he became one of my biggest supporters," Cook says.

As career pressures mount, Cook increasingly leans on his family, torn this year between celebrating his success and rallying around older brother Adam, who is battling brain cancer.

"There were uncertainties going into the summer, but we got good news while I was on the road," he says. "He's continuing treatment, and we're all cautiously optimistic. My brothers are my backbone, my parents are my oxygen. I can't operate without them."

The sleep-deprived former bartender sighs and admits he is homesick for Blue Springs, Mo. He craves time off to spend with girlfriend (and ex-Idol finalist) Kimberly Caldwell or to catch up on sports, Family Guy and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Cook stops to remind himself why he tolerates the pandemonium: "I would rather do this than toil in obscurity."

Tuesday is the day millions of "American Idol" fans have been waiting for — winner David Cook's album lands in stores.

So is it worth buying?

That probably depends on which David you were rooting for in the contest. If you preferred the poppy, softer sounds of teen dream David Archuleta, you may want to skip Cook's album and stick with the puppy-love sweetness of Archie.

But if you were a hardcore "Cookie" or simply enjoy catchy rock songs, Cook's self-titled album isn't a bad investment.

There's certainly no lack of talent behind the album. Cook's booming rock voice is bolstered by the producing efforts of Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) and Brian Howes (Hinder, Chris Cornell). Cook gets writing or co-writing credits on at least 10 of the tracks, with some help from the Goo Goo Dolls' Johnny Rzeznik, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace and Chris Cornell (who helped write the album's first single, "Light On").

Since we got a sneak preview, here's a breakdown of the album's best tracks.

Don't Miss:

Bar-ba-sol: Clever, catchy and musically the most fun, with an infectious groove.

Declaration: Definitely some of the anthemic rock Cook wanted on the album, and he performed it so well on "Saturday Night Live" a few weeks ago.

Life on the Moon: Perfectly captures his bizarre journey from bartender to superstar.

Cougars for Cook
(Ladies of a certain age who make up a passionate portion of Cook's fan base will dig these tracks)

Mr. Sensitive: Oh, ladies. If only he knew the right words. But for many of you, he just needs to sing and play the guitar, right? No talking necessary.

Lie: He pleads with some hussy not to break his heart. Fans will appreciate his tortured side: "Lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night/I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart."

Avalanche: A perfect rocker-in-love song for pop radio.

Inspiration rock

Permanent: Cookie slows it down and opts for piano and orchestra to back his sweet, sad song about his brother's struggle with cancer.

A Daily AntheM: Yes, the M is capitalized, because the capitalized letters in the title spell out brother Adam's name (although Cook said it wasn't originally written about him). A classic, arm-waving arena rock anthem.

Time of my Life: It's the magic rainbow song! Cook's chart-topping hit from his "Idol" victory. And since then, he's been having the time of his life, for sure.

Cook's First Album
This CD may be David Cook’s first major- label record, but his self-released “Analog Heart” was actually his first. It won local awards and accolade — and then shot up to No. 1 on Amazon’s download list after he became a contender on “American Idol.” Hard to-find originals of the CD sold for as much as $2,000 when Cook was declared the “Idol” winner. A recent search of eBay didn’t unearth any copies for sale.

DAVID COOK
David Cook (19 Recordings)
Rating: 3

The way American Idol is designed (men versus women, rock and pop opposite country and R&B) you can't be a fan of two contestants. You pick a favourite and stick with that decision to the end, for better or worse.

The gulf between last year's finalists was even more pronounced.

David Archuleta, who lost, was the cutesy, elfin fan favourite, while his foil, winner David Cook, played the smug, wannabe rocker.

The oil-and-water appeal of the two Davids wasn't just for TV: It's in ample supply on the pair's first recordings as graduates of the popular American Idol franchise.

Cook has a good grasp of radio rock, and collaborations with slick hitmakers Chris Cornell (of Audioslave), Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) and Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) give the record a veneer that couldn't be tarnished with sandpaper and a bag of gravel. Fans will love it.

Cook is a decent songwriter and solid singer, which makes him a great fit for the studio. When you don't have to watch him on the small screen, constantly over-emoting, that's a good thing.

Archuleta should have smashed his debut out of the park. He has the track record (his Idol version of Imagine was staggering) and built-in cute factor, yet he delivers a remarkably bland effort.

Archuleta, who is a month shy of 18, can no doubt sing, but he's too processed in spots. This David-versus-David battle goes to Cook.

DAVID COOK
David Cook felt sure he'd lost American Idol when Simon Cowell criticized his final song choice. ''When Simon said, 'You should have sung ''Billie Jean'' [again],' it was a rare moment where I wanted to defend myself. I'd rather fall flat on my face on my own terms.'' Instead, he won 55 million votes. Now the raspy belter, 25, has put that pride into his self-titled album. ''This record is me. I have found a calm in it that people thought I had on the show.''

`Idol' champ David Cook keeps rocking on new album
When he was on "American Idol," David Cook --
as cool as a cucumber for much of last season -- fought back tears
after performing for a studio audience that included his brother
Adam, who's fighting brain cancer.
It was a moment of raw emotion, winning Cook the sympathy of
viewers who've also been touched by tragedy.
Cook's tears have flowed more freely in private. The 25-year-old
rocker, who won the Fox competition in May, fueled his anguish over
Adam's illness into the gut-wrenching ballad "Permanent," one of
13 songs on his namesake debut album.
After recording the track in two takes, "I actually called my
dad and wept openly for about 10 minutes," he says.
"Anytime you can create something where what's in your head
actually comes out the way you originally heard it, it can be
pretty overwhelming and pretty heavy," he adds. "I just remember
being completely knocked on my (butt) by this song."
Cook is hoping listeners have a similar experience when they
listen to the rest of "David Cook," which comes six months after
he snagged the "Idol" crown. Recorded in a span of 10 weeks, it's
packed with power ballads that accentuate his anthemic voice.
"I wanted to come out with a record that was both heavy and
delicate and had some eclectic-ness to it," he says during a break
in rehearsals before a recent appearance on "Saturday Night
Live." "So I feel like we've got this record that meanders and
takes people on a journey a little bit."
Cook's path to stardom took the fast-track after he auditioned
for "Idol." A working musician/bartender based in Tulsa, Okla.,
he auditioned for the talent competition on a lark: He joined
younger brother Andrew on line for moral support, and was persuaded
to try out, eventually facing Simon Cowell in the judges' chambers.
Cook made it to Hollywood; Andrew didn't.
Once "Idol" started, Cowell was one of Cook's biggest critics,
condemning him for lacking personality. But the boyishly handsome
singer clung on each week, gaining momentum after a midseason
makeover that included manly facial scruff and a much-needed
haircut. He ultimately won over Cowell with rock-infused covers of
pop songs (like Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby") that were
downloaded by thousands of fans.
If only he could remember his big moment.
"I actually watched it back and was like, 'I don't remember
doing any of that,"' Cook muses about the finale. "I can't tell
you what it was like to stand up there and hug Archie (runner-up
David Archuleta) after the fact."
While 17-year-old Archuleta controlled the tween voting bloc,
Cook held sway over smitten fans -- many of them women of a certain
age -- who delivered at the polls (the phones), propelling him to
his title. Cook laughs off all that "cougar" love, claiming a
lack of heartthrob appeal.
"I've never ever looked at myself or thought of myself as
that," says the singer, whose bright hazel eyes, bee-stung lips
and mussed hair add a sexy mystique to his nice-guy demeanor. "I'm
just this goober who likes crosswords and plays music. And that's
really what I am. The whole rock-star mythos thing, man, does not
apply to me in the least."
If he had to chalk his success up to something, though, he'd say
his emotional honesty made the ladies swoon.
"I didn't put up a front," says Cook. "I wasn't trying to be
anything else. I wasn't trying to cater to any particular person. I
just was on the show, you know? And so, when I cried, it was real.
When I laughed, it was real. And, I don't know. Maybe that hit a
nerve with some people."
Following the "Idol" finale, Cook jumped immediately into
writing sessions for his album. He recruited Grammy-winning
producer Rob Cavallo and a team of songwriters including Chris
Cornell, Brian Howes and Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls.
Cavallo compares Cook to big-voiced former Journey frontman
Steve Perry, who dropped by the studio while Cook was recording.
"He really is an unbelievably gifted singer," Cavallo says of
Cook. "There's no song on the record that he didn't sing in two or
three takes. ... He can sing harmony to any of his songs
automatically without even thinking about it."
Ironically, Archuleta is beating Cook on Billboard's Hot 100
singles chart. The pop singer's "Crush" sits at No. 22, while
Cook's first single "Light On" has dropped to 89th place after
debuting at No. 17 last month. It ranks at No. 18 on Billboard's
Hot Adult Top 40.
Cook marvels at his own journey from nobody to reality TV star.
But he understands that the transition to rock star will be a
harder one to pull off.
"I mean, look, there's way better musicians out there than me,
there's way better singers out there than me," says Cook.
"The problem is they never get the opportunity to do this. And
I think that's what `Idol' represents. It's an opportunity. It's
not a golden ticket. It's not a free pass."

The first day of "Idol" champion David Cook's post-show career began with a very positive sign: His album debuted in the top position on the iTunes top albums chart — sweeping aside not just his Season 7 opponent David Archuleta but also the formidable marketplace powers of Taylor Swift, the "Twilight" soundtrack, Beyonce, Britney and Nickelback.   Idol Nation anxiously awaits the arrival of hard numbers on both Davids' sales with upcoming charts, but in the meantime this bodes well for a singer who less than a year ago, in the opening days of the top 24, was given less a chance of winning than the guy who worked the backstage coat room. He was the singer whom judge Cowell dismissed out of hand, saying he had zero charisma.

But coming out of nowhere during Season 7, Cook owned the Idoldome as no one has since Season 4's Carrie Underwood.  Often called the smartest of contestants, Cook showed the rare ability to learn as he went along, to shape himself for the competition and to consistently turn in the show-stopping, history-making performances that bond "Idol" audiences with their performers forever, building a fan base that stretched from a hard-core cougar following to a tween movement that at times rivaled that of the Chosen One himself, David Archuleta.  And now, he belongs to the world.

Best of luck to the boy from Tulsa.

While David Cook uncorks the bubbly...

Great artists meet with great expectations. That can be said of many highly anticipated debut albums from today's most promising rising stars.

However, mention of "American Idol" leaves many music critics wincing in anticipatory agony. The show certainly has had its success stories: Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Daughtry have all broken through the Idol barrier and moved on to sell millions of records. But names like Sanjaya Malakar (a Top Six finalist), William Hung (who didn't make it past the first audition), and Taylor Hicks (um, he won) have threatened the show's credibility.

Season seven, which wrapped on May 21, may have re-established Idol's claim of finding the best undiscovered talent in the country. David Cook, the scruffily handsome bartender-turned-rocker from Blue Springs, Mich., handily beat his competition, fan favorite and "aw shucks" cutie pie David Archuleta, by 12 million votes.

Many found Cook's landslide victory a shocker, but Simon Cowell watched in glee as America finally crowned a winner with an honest chance at success in mainstream music. After watching Chris Daughtry's untimely elimination back on Season five, America wanted their rocker. And boy, did they get him.

"The Time of My Life," Cook's coronation anthem, has gone nearly platinum and has been a permanent resident on the charts. His newest single, "Light On," which was co-written by Chris Cornell, is stealthily climbing the charts, with appearances on iTunes' Top 10 Singles list and downloads that numbered over one million on AOL.

His self-titled debut album, which dropped yesterday, promises more twists and turns from the singer/songwriter. Cook's success is predicted to exceed any male, and possibly female, winner, and he seems well on his way: "David Cook" has already rested comfortably at no.1 on Amazon's charts and no. 2 on iTunes, even before its official release.

After his original takes on classic songs during his Idol reign led to a record-breaking 11 singles in the Billboard Hot 100, Cook's album will certainly find its way under the musical microscope. Cook wrote and co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs on the record, calling upon musicians like Rain Maida of Our Lady Peace and Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls. Rob Cavallo, the legendary rock producer behind Green Day's "American Idiot," oversaw Cook's record and ensured mainstream success.

Cook's album opens with "Declaration," an upbeat number that he performed on Saturday Night Live. The rhythm is positively addictive and could garner some serious radio play. Other songs like "Heroes," "Lie," and "A Daily AntheM" (the capitalized letters spell out the name of Cook's brother) have swelling choruses and meaningful lyrics that make them some of the best songs on the album, hands down.

"Come Back to Me" has a U2 vibe mixing through the melodies, and the hard-edged "Bar-ba-sol" channels some of the greatest metal bands in history. "Life on the Moon" and "Mr. Sensitive" parody experiences throughout Cook's Idol journey. His voice is grainy, but rich-his multiple-octave range is displayed in almost every song. He doesn't just sing songs; he belts them with believability and passion.

The deepest song on the album, "Permanent," was written for Cook's older brother Adam, who is battling brain cancer. The lyrics are heart-wrenching and beautiful, but they pale in comparison to Cook's raw, scratchy voice, obviously filled with emotion, as he belts out the simple song, accompanied only by a piano and strings.

"I want this to be a piano lullaby to my older brother, who's been battling a brain tumor for a long time," Cook told PopEater. "I knew that the record was lacking this kind of bare, honest, naked song. I was crying, of course, because I do that all the time."

It is impossible not to get choked up while listening to this song; it is very possibly Cook's best vocal to date.

Cook's debut does not disappoint. (Take it from someone who spent the majority of her freshman year dialing the phone until her fingers bled). This guy has some serious talent and will prove to be a contender on the charts. So long as Cook continues to write meaningful music and stay true to his rocker roots, we can expect him to stick around for quite some time.

The songs on this album will get stuck in your head and have you humming happily all day long. Put the CD in your car, roll down the windows, and sing along; each song is contagious and purely, simply good. Even with its hurried two-and-a-half month process, this album is fantastic from start to finish. Put this Idol winner on your radar-his success is coming fast and sure.

Grade: A

Cheers to David Cook for bringing genuine emotion to American Idol. The heart-tugging story of his brother Adam's battle against brain cancer made the rocker's victory even more bittersweet. Besides, anyone who can wring tangible angst out of pop dross like Lionel Richie's "Hello" and Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" deserves to be worshipped.

A few weeks before the American Idol finale, TV Guide imagined solo album covers of the final four contestants. This was the faux disc for Idol victor David Cook, who couldn't look more natural as a chart-shattering, YouTube-dominating rock-and-roll heartthrob.

The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
Thursday (12/25), ABC (Syndicated; check local listings)
Holiday Cook-ing
American Idol David Cook, who performs at the 25th annual Christmas march through the Magic Kingdom, tells us how it feels to rock the mouse house. - Damian Holbrook
Playing Disney is pretty big.
"I've never been to a Disney theme park, so this is all very new to me. It makes me feel like a kid again."
What are you singing?
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." "It's just going to be me and my guitarist playing a little acoustic rendition."
Any holiday plans?
"I'm gonna spend some time with the family. It's been an amazing year, but one drawback is that I've had to spend a little less time with them."
Better cough up some big gifts!
"I know, right? I lucked  out the last couple years, since I was definitely under the poverty line."
"I haven't decided if I'm that shameless yet!" - on whether he'd give his own album David Cook, as a Christmas gift.

New Year's Eve Live 11/10c FOX
The Big Draw David Cook will perform. Could the 97.5 million fans who voted for him on American Idol be wrong?

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- “American Idol” Season 7 winner David Cook is single again.
A source close to the star confirmed to Access on Monday that he and fellow “Idol” alumni, Kimberly Caldwell, have broken up.
David and Kimberly, both 26, began dating not long after he won “Idol” in Spring 2008.

KELLY, thanks so much for all the hard work you do in following David Cook's career as he zooms to the top.  I for one really appreciate all  the information you find and bring to  us.

I haven't met a more down-to-earth, good-natured, scene-free artist in ages — no small feat considering winning American Idol means, at the very least — front-page news, a spot on Saturday Night Live, and a national TV spot featuring you dancing around in your skivvies — he seemed truly touched that so many DC fans submitted so many thoughtful questions.

Barely six months after being crowned the winner of "American Idol," David Cook has released his self-titled debut album.
The Missouri native (no relation to the author of this article) described the recording process as "squeezing a year's worth of work on a record into 2½ months." But he's very happy with the result.
"It's a very accurate definition of where I'm at, where I was and where I want to be," he said.
Cook sticks to his rock roots on the release, eliciting help from ex-Soundgarden member Chris Cornell to write the lead single, "Light On."
He also keeps loved ones close: The track "Heroes" is a tribute to his family. "Permanent" (which Cook describes as having a "delicate and lullaby feel") and "A Daily AntheM" ("sing-alongy and grandiose") acknowledge his older brother, who is battling brain cancer. The latter song was written three years before Cook's "Idol" run, when he was cutting his teeth as a grass-roots rocker.  Watch David Cook show his chops »
Cook, 25, dropped by CNN's New York offices (with his mother, Beth Foraker, in tow) to talk about keeping creative control, losing his privacy and his responsibility as Idol No. 7. The following is an edited version of that interview.
CNN: You were very involved in the making of your debut album, weren't you?
David Cook: Yeah. Out of 12 songs on the record, I wrote or co-wrote 10, and the label was even kind enough to let me get involved with the art direction on the record. So it was a busy summer.
CNN: You actually have a degree in graphic design, don't you?
Cook: I spent five long years at the University of Central Missouri. It should've been four, but I enjoyed college a little bit more than I should have.
CNN: There's skepticism that American Idols have very little control over the music they ultimately make. That wasn't the case for you?
Cook: Well, I can't speak for anybody else except myself, and I guess in that sense, I lucked out. I mean, 19 [Entertainment] and RCA really [gave] me a little bit of carte blanche to allow me to make a record that is me. And to that end, I think we managed to pull something really cool off.
CNN: What was your approach with the music?
Cook: I tried to put music down on this record that [translated] live. I want these songs to make people feel things and invoke certain responses in an audience. And so it's a lot of very epic choruses and open bridges and stuff like that. Something that will give a show some room to meander and feel like a unique experience for everybody.
CNN: [Lead single "Light On"] debuted on the Billboard charts at No. 17, and then several weeks later -- about four -- it dropped to No. 80. Was that discouraging?
Cook: No, not really. I think, for us, it's all about the long-term results. And I feel like the song seems to be getting speed now, especially with the record coming out. It just feels like everything's headed in the right direction, so I'm definitely not one to hang my head on immediate results. I'd rather the song hit No. 1 four months from now if it's gonna do it. I'm just excited to get this record out. I'm excited to have people hear it.
CNN: When you were catapulted to fame, did you ever experience any self-doubt or feelings of insecurity?
Cook: I'll be the first to admit there are [musicians] out there who are way better than me. I feel almost a responsibility to do everything that I can with this on their behalf as well as my own. But I've always been a confident person. I feel like I know why I'm here, I know what put me here. It's just a matter of trusting it and going with it.
CNN: All this talk about you and ["American Idol" runner-up] David Archuleta being mortal enemies is absolute garbage, isn't it?
Cook: It is. David is one of the most unassuming, down-to-earth people I think I've ever met. It seems like he has no idea he was even on the show, let alone did well. And I find that really endearing. He'll be the first to congratulate you. He seems to just appreciate every moment
CNN: You seem to be a very private person. Has all this attention been a little intrusive?
Cook: In a sense, yeah. It's a little strange to go from toiling in obscurity to having to worry about walking out of a restaurant and [seeing] who's going to shove a camera in your face and all that. But it comes with the territory, and if dealing with that on occasion allows me to make music that I want to make ... then, I'll take it.

The last few months have been a whirlwind for hometown singer David Cook. And, Tuesday, November 18 is the tornado.

David Cook sat in a studio in New York doing interview after interview with television stations around the country to promote his new self-titled album. By the time he got to FOX 4 in Kansas City, he only had nine more left.

We asked him if the album felt rushed. Cook said "the whole album felt rushed, but I don't think it suffered." He said by not trying to make it "right," it left the songs with a youthful energy. He said the record is rough around the edges which he appreciates.

Despite Saturday Night Live, Leno and Good Morning America appearances, Cook said he knows who he is. He said his family and friends keep him in check and don't let his head get too big.

He said he appreciates all 100,000 friends he has on Myspace. And, he hopes to add even more to that list.

Next on Cook's agenda, he'll head to Iraq to play for the troops and he's planning an early 2009 tour.

Before hitting the road for his new album, Cook will return to Kansas City to light up the Plaza. "It's a huge honor to even be asked. I think it's going to be a lot of fun," Cook said.

Even if you hate American Idol with the passion of a thousand suns, the buzz over the clash of the Davids last May was unavoidable.
You had to pick a side.
After weeks of hardcore campaign tactics from which John McCain probably could have benefited, the show’s fans had their say: Missouri rocker David Cook bested tween dream David Archuleta by 12 million votes during the bloated spectacle that was the Idol finale.
But let’s face it, the Idol crown doesn’t guarantee success on the charts (see: Taylor Hicks). That said, the Davids recently dropped albums within a week of each other — the question is, are they any good? And more importantly, whose is better?  

David Archuleta
David Archuleta
Jive
1.5 stars

Oh Archie.

Somehow he takes the bulletproof tween-pop formula - eyes squeezed shut with passion, earnest face, Fist of Emotion - to new levels of awkwardness.

Granted, he has a gorgeous voice, but his self-titled album does little to showcase it. The disc's mix of saccharine R&B ballads (think Chris Brown's underdeveloped kid brother) and touches of Christian contemporary come together in a sticky mess of pop gone terribly wrong.

There are a couple better-than-average songs. The album's lead single, "Crush," is a catchy little confection, and "Don't Let Go," co-written by N'Sync's JC Chasez, lends the disc some much-needed edge.

The album is indicative of what plagued Archuleta on Idol. While he technically has all the tools to be a huge star - the Voice, generic good looks, "aw shucks" charm - he's still just a kid. And he's a kid who does what he's told. The album sounds like he was pulled in a bunch of different directions, and the strain shows.

At his best, Archuleta can move grown women to tears with his pristine vocals. But when he deviates away from his signature trills, he ends up with the kind of uninspired dreck this album offers.

But it's OK. Archie's Angels (as his fans call themselves) will love it regardless. They did, after all, stand behind his ill-advised Idol performance of "With You" (YouTube this, stat!).

David Cook
David Cook
19 Recordings/RCA Records
4/5 stars

David Cook, the new face of 'fly-over rock'? David Cook, Daughtry 2.0? Maybe, but how about, David Cook, nice guy makes good?

Cook knows what works for him, and with the help of rock guru Rob Cavallo (Green Day) he delivers a solid album packed with the soaring vocals and smoldering angst that helped him capture the Idol crown. Arena-ready anthems and deeply personal lyrics make this record vintage Cook for those familiar with his indie work.

Cook's surprising range sees him growl and swagger through "Bar Ba Sol," a good ol' fashioned rock joint complete with extra crunchy guitar riffs, and lament the pain of keeping vigil by the bedside of an ailing loved one in "Permanent," a heart-wrenching piano-driven ballad. His love-it-or-hate-it facial scruff and tendency to over-accessorize cannot hide the fact he has a great voice.

Music snobs may scoff, but Cook's album is a treat. It's the album he's been waiting to make heard for years. Prior to being catapulted to fame on Idol, he was a struggling musician/bartender who couldn't give away copies of his indie record. Now that same record fetches thousands on eBay.

Sure, he's a little sentimental and admittedly, his songs are nothing groundbreaking, but they speak to who he is. Who can fault a guy for that?

Two extremely lucky female David Cook fans had the experience of a lifetime, as one of them won the contest on David's web site that sent her and her friend to see him perform in The Big Apple.  Check out the details of their unforgettable day below:
"I’m sitting on an airplane about to fly to NY to see David Cook perform on Good Morning America.
I turn to my friend Susan and make a silly face, she responds with “is this really happening?”  
I myself still cannot believe it.  I won a contest to fly to NY to see David Cook on Good Morning America...um...really?? A short 45 minute flight later the flight attendant says “Welcome to New York, enjoy your stay” Oh hot damn...we are here!  Susan and I got a case of the giggles, I don't know if its because we were super tired from having to wake up early, the New York air pollution or the fact that we are going to meet DAVID COOK...probably a combination.  
We grab our bags, jump in a taxi and head off to Times Square to our swanky hotel, which was conveniently located on the same block as the Good Morning America Studios. Being that it was football Sunday, Susan and I put on our Baltimore Ravens jerseys to catch the game against the New York Giants at ESPN Zone.  While watching the Giants beat up on the Ravens we were still in awe that we were in New York and going to meet David the next day. After the game we took the walk of shame back to our hotel… all the Giants fans kept reminding us that the Ravens were just walked over.  Oh well, can't win them all!
Susan and I changed our clothes and sent a text to our favorite web nerd Josh from RCA, “Josh, save us from the Giants fans!”  Josh and his roommate met up with us at the hotel, we hung out for a bit and decided to go grab a beer and some wings down the street.  We stepped out of the hotel into a MOB of people, it was the TRL finale show and the streets were so crowded you couldn’t even walk.  All we could do was laugh, it was crazy!  We made it to the bar, had a couple beers, and watched some more football.
Josh told us he was going to meet up with us the next morning at 6:45am to walk across the street to the GMA studio.  Susan and I decided we should go back to the hotel to get some beauty rest.  As soon as we got back to the hotel we fell onto our beds and fell asleep to the screaming crowds watching the TRL finale.
Bzzzzz...5AM! Ugh!  People really wake up this early?!? I took a shower and pushed Susan out of bed as she’s mumbling “Nooooo....I don’t wanna get up...” Susan and I were putting on our make up and looked at each other and smiled “Yay! We are going to meet David Cook!  How cool is that?” We ran downstairs to meet Josh, we were fashionably late, as all women should be. Josh looked at the both of us and said “Where are your coats?!! It’s freezing outside!”  
Um...yea, we left those back in Baltimore, it was 60 degrees when we left, who knew it was going to drop 30 degrees!  Luckily Josh is 6’2” so Susan and I hid behind him to block the wind.  We looked across the street and saw the line of people wrapped around the block...they were all here to see David.  Some had signs, some had blankets or posters and just about everyone had a camera.  We walked up to the front of the line and waited to be let in.  IT WAS FREEZING! We could hear David and the band practicing Light On.  Oooh! So freaking exciting!!!  
We waited outside for about 15 minutes and then were escorted into the studio. The woman from GMA put Susan and I right next to the stage!  Other fans started being let in. Some of them said they had been waiting in line outside since 10:30pm the night before!  Now I think David Cook is awesome, but I don't know if I would have lasted outside all night long in 30 degree weather to see him!  
They packed as many fans as they could into the small studio, then told us David Cook will be out in 15 minutes.  Susan and I took that time to take pictures of EVERYTHING...even the sleeping roadie...hehe poor guy had no idea.
 Then I hear it… all of the shrieking and screaming, I looked up and there he was Mr. David Cook strolling into the room.  It was so weird, the guy that was singing on my TV for 4 months was right in front of me!  I think we took ooooh about 100 pictures...Who needs that many pictures? Nobody, but we took them anyway.  David and the band sang ‘Heroes’ and then ‘Light On’.  Both songs are great, but the live version of Light On blows the recorded version out of the water!  After the band was finished David made his way around to all of the fans, which was amazing.  
He is so busy, but he still has time to stop and say “Hello,” to everyone, sign some autographs, pose for pictures and answer questions.  The man is so genuine, he is just awesome. Josh pulled Susan and I off to the side to wait for David.  David was trying to make his way over to us and he kept getting stopped for more autographs and pictures.  At one point he looked up and said “I’m sorry, I’m working my way over, thank you for your patience,”
He is so polite, he didn't have to apologize to us, we were happily waiting.  When he came over, Josh introduced me as the winner of the contest from DCO.com and David said “I know, I saw your picture,” I looked at Josh and said, “Thanks Josh, you could have asked me for a better pic!” he just laughed at me. I asked David to sign my Chuck Taylors, he signed his name and then wrote “Watch your step…” How does the man know I’m a klutz?  Haha!  David then asked me to sign his shoe, which was super cool.  I got a big hug from him, said thank you and he said “It was great to meet you.”  
David, Susan and I posed for a picture for the website and off we went. Everyone has asked me “What was David Cook like…”  David Cook is an amazingly talented man with the patience of a saint. He is just a genuine nice guy.  Josh then took Susan and I back to the Sony building and gave us a copy of David's CD!  I love all of the songs, but I do have to say that “Bar-ba-sol” is my favorite, but that’s because I like my music a little rough.  Thank you Josh and everyone at RCA and GMA for such an awesome experience! For more on this and David Cook's CD, which is number one on iTunes, visit DavidCookOfficial.com !

The man who was not originally going to audition for “American Idol” is probably now thanking his lucky stars. David Cook, who auditioned in Nebraska with Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” was initially there only to support his brother — who was not as successful at making it to Hollywood.
It was down to the two Davids in the last week, and as it turns out, the one with a rocker style and rough voice won it all and took the title as the seventh “American Idol” winner. David Cook’s self-titled debut album portrays a wide variety of music styles and instrumentals, all of which are enhanced with his rock sound and husky voice.
This is not the only musical experience Cook has had. He emerged on the scene in his younger years in drama and choir (he even received a theater scholarship to University of Central Missouri), as well as his lead singer/guitarist position in Axium (“Hold” was a major hit) and Midwest Kings before his breakout on “American Idol.” He released a solo CD, Analog Heart, before the hit reality show as well, but it had to be pulled from Amazon.com to be fair to the other contestants.
But that didn’t stop Cook, who took full advantage of the use of instruments on “American Idol” by playing either the electric or acoustic guitar in almost every song he sang and winning the hearts and votes of millions.
Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, the judges of “American Idol,” continually gave Cook props for his outstanding ability to change his sound from song to song. His self-titled album is no exception. All other winners were known for sticking to typical pop songs with an emphasis on love, whereas Cook sets himself apart from the others with his grunge sound and alternative rocker edge.
By adding a variety of different sounds and instrumentals, David Cook does a wonderful job showcasing his abilities. Cook shows vulnerability and bares his heart in the songs “Permanent” and “Life on the Moon.” “Permanent,” with heartfelt lyrics like “Will you think that you’re all alone/ When no one’s there to hold your hand/ And all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary rest your head/ I’m permanent” accompanied with a soft, but noticeable piano juxtaposed with his gravelly voice tugs at your emotions. “Life on the Moon,” however, has more of a frantic and worried side to it with lyrics like “Here in this crowd I’m feeling all alone/ Turn me around and point me back to home/ I’m getting lost more everyday and the life that I knew is through/ And I’m gonna need you more than ever/ I’m alone in this crowded room.”
In the short time Cook has been famous, he has already broken some pretty impressive records. The week after he won the coveted title of “American Idol,” he shattered records in the Billboard’s Top 100 by debuting an astonishing 11 songs at once.
His hit “The Time of My Life” — his finale song after he was declared winner and also a bonus track on his new album — rocketed to the No. 3 spot on the Hot 100. David Cook’s originality pooled with his powerful voice should have America proud of their new Idol winner.
4 stars out of 5

Season 7 of the hit music reality show 'American Idol' brought out a first: a rocker had won the competition after 5 pop-flavored contestants and a country star had won the previous six seasons. It was almost fitting to see the former Tulsa bartender, part time indie rocker and former The Midwest Kings moonlighter/bassist win in a landslide over the more decidedly hipper David Archuleta after watching former Idol rocker Chris Daughtry skyrocket to fame after getting an unceremonious boot in Season 5. So knowing what Daughtry had brought to the table before Cook won Season 7, how would RCA/19 Recordings handle having a rocker with more or less the same independent spirit?

The end result is David Cook's full length debut, an eponymous one at that (already a strike one for this reviewer...your debut should never be an eponymous one). Coming out a mere few months after his win on Idol, anyone who expected a well-crafted and well-oiled machine of an album should be disappointed. Much like Kelly Clarkson's album debut, 'Thankful', 'David Cook' show glimpses of where David would like to go while other moments suggest exactly what it is: no one can craft a well-above decent album in just a few months in between TV appearances and the 'Idols on Tour' national tour. And frankly, an album out this soon (I know it's part of the deal, doesn't mean we all have to like it) is a slight injustice of all the creative spark and talent this man carries inside of him (watch his take on Mariah Carey's 'Always Be My Baby' or his show-stopping rendition of 'Music of the Night' to have an idea of the spark he truly carries).

The first four songs of the album, 'Declaration', 'Heroes', 'Light On' and 'Come Back to Me' are among the many moments of the album where you can tell these songs did not truly fit David Cook. The arena rock feel is something that Cook is comfortable with but it is the songs in the middle part of the album that capture full essence of what makes the 'Idol' winner tick. . 'Light On' has the radio-friendly feel and while Cook pulls it off quite well like he did with every other song in the album, the style fits more towards a band like The Calling or even Daughtry than Cook's leanings and inclinations to more harder rock with a slightly progressive feel. It is though quite obvious why the label chose 'Light On' as the official single from the album, with the melodic feel and the overall swell to the middle of the song. It is also interesting to note that 'Light On' is a Chris Cornell-penned song and we can only guess that means he truly hasn't left the arena rock genre given what he has put out lately.

The meaty part of the album begins with the first of three grungy hard rock numbers, 'Life on the Moon'. Do not be shocked this song lands airplay on an alternative rock station or even one that plays harder rock. Honestly, one must wonder where some critics come from on their assertion that the song had great execution on the part of Cook but the lyrics were mangled. The song's lyrics evokes what might be the best characterization of an Idol's rise to fame since the song Kelly Clarkson sung the night she won, 'A Moment Like This.' One of the best tracks is the badly titled 'Bar-ba-sol' and good thing that was the only bad thing that was bad about the song. It's another gritty, grungy number that fits the Cook style: gritty lyrics, measured hard rock swagger and electricity crackling in the instrumentation. The next track, 'Mr. Sensitive' continues the gritty, swaggering trend and the song will leave you wanting more at the end

'Lie' is one of the obligatory grunge-rock numbers about long lost love and trying to reclaim it back. The song is nothing too spectacular lyric-wise but once again it is another exercise in Cook able to make it his own despite the hokey nature of both songs. The problem with the song is that it sounds a little bit like Daughtry's 'Breakdown', giving the song a slightly cheap feeling.

'Permanent' is an interesting number. Although one of the shorter numbers in the album, Cook shows an incredible flexibility which may serve him well in the future. The number is a piano-driven number and stripped of any of the hard rock anthem that Cook is most comfortable with, very moving and hypnotic. The song certainly focuses more on Cook's vocals as well as the powerful lyrics...now this is a love song he can pull off without showering it in electric guitars and drum playing.

The album ends with the now very annoying 'Time of My Life' and in retrospect, the lyrics about 'chasing rainbows' and chanting 'This is my time' and 'My face in the crowd' almost sounds incredibly too preachy for a grungy hard rocker like David Cook. But hey, the song won the Idol songwriter's competition and this is what Cook got stuck with and he obviously does his best to not fall flat on his face delivering this song.

Overall, 'David Cook' has moments where you can clearly see where David Cook stands in the music world. At heart, he is a grungy hard rocker armed with an electric guitar and capable of writing crackling lyrics, much like he did with his own indie album and with The Midwest Kings. But at the same time, he is capable of writing a power rock ballad, much like what you hear in the painfully short but great 'Permanent'. Unfortunately for this talented rocker, he gets weighed down by songs like the overly preachy 'Declaration' and the radio-friendly 'Light On'. Both songs are by its merit excellent arena rock numbers, but while Cook obviously can master that genre, he is at his best in songs like 'Life on the Moon' and 'Bar-ba-sol'.

Outside of having being weighed down by most of the tracks in the album, he clearly has a future in the business and we certainly look forward to seeing what he comes up with next and we can only hope RCA can give him more creative control and more freedom to write than he did on this debut. Don't get me wrong, 'David Cook' undoubtedly is the most control the label has given to its winner when it comes to the 9 songs Cook helped co-write. But this man deserves a chance to be the one to call a bulk of the shots in the creation of an album, production and musical composition included. But in the end, this debut, while good, could be better and we know he will be markedly better on his next effort...dare we say GREAT. If he is given the chance and the tools by 19, do not be surprised that Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson one day will have competition at the top and his name is: DAVID COOK.
My rating: 4.1 out of 5

Last week I reviewed little David Archuleta’s debut, and even though I gave it a positive critique, I was spurned by a plethora of Archie-loving lunatics. This week, it’s David Cook’s turn in the spotlight, and while I don’t anticipate the same back-lash from Cook extremists, treat this review as one of unbiased intention.
During much of his run last season on American Idol, David Cook drew many comparisons to season five’s resident-rocker Chris Daughtry. Not only was Cook’s style harder-edged than the competition — especially in the context of Idol — he even pulled the same advantage-grabbing stunts that Daughtry did. Cook emerged from the franchise’s most talented season primed to be the first contestant who can hold his own with his Idols.
Of course, the difference between Cook and Daughtry is that Cook won the freaking competition, a feat fourth-place finisher Daughtry could not achieve. This loss certainly didn’t diminish Daughtry’s multi-platinum success, and Cook’s win actually presents a significant challenge. Unlike Daughtry, who had nearly two years to distance himself from the show’s sugary-pop associations, Cook has no such luxury, needing to rush out an album that skirts the line between hard-rocking and Idol-appropriate — a record that solidifies his alternative, post-grunge rock credibility, while still catering to the vastly diverse Idol audience that supported him, from swooning soccer moms to angst-ridden teenagers.
And while this obligatory nod to all audiences has catapulted several post-Idol contestants into super-stardom (Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson), it also has resulted in embarrassingly misguided debuts (Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice), demoting contestants that showed artistic vision on the show into second-rate pop-rock balladeers. Thankfully, Cook avoids this pitfall, as his eponymous debut is a diverse, winning combination of poignant pop ballads and rolling rock anthems.
Surging album opener “Declaration” sets the stage, as Cook effectively builds from a haunting, sparse guitar riff into a swelling chorus. Lead single “Light On” and “Heroes” follow suit, pairing professional songwriting craft by Chris Cornell and Cathy Dennis with Cook’s soaring vocals. Sweeping, U2-esque mid-tempo “Come Back to Me” and hardest-rocking gem “Bar-ba-sol” are arena anthems in the making — perfectly suited for stadiums filled with cell-phone waving, Cook-loving crazies. Nevertheless, the most indelible moments on David Cook are when he tones down the guitars and amps up the emotion, as is the case on the stirring “Lie” or on the compellingly uncomplicated “Permanent.”
Even when the album is lyrically uneven (“Life on the Moon”), feels sort of forced (“Mr. Sensitive”) or is slightly generic (“I Did It For You”), David Cook is held together by the winner’s charming growl and Green Day-producer Rob Cavallo’s welcomed rock flourishes. With a voice that is more versatile than nearly every artist to come out of the Idol machine, David Cook is a multi-format monster in the making, a record that stays true to Cook’s identity while still appealing to the same pop-rock and adult-contemporary-loving audiences that got him here.

It's been six months since David Cook was crowned the latest "American Idol" but after a summer "Idols" group national tour, he had only six weeks to put together his debut album.

Cook, 25, who was working as a bartender while trying to break into the music business, talked to Reuters about his self-titled album, which was released this week, and his hopes for the future.

Q: How different is this first album from the David Cook we saw on "American Idol".

A: "In the show, we had a different set of boundaries -- Mariah Carey songs one week, songs from your birth year another. With this record I was able to make my own rules ... Lyrically the songs have a mature angle but there is a youthful energy to the record because we had to do everything quickly. I think the time worked out in our favor. We wanted the record to come out of the gates with all guns blazing, and it does."

Q: You wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs on the album and some of them are very personal.

A: "Family is very important to me and 'Heroes' is a pretty accurate vibe to that. 'A Daily AntheM' ... all fell into place very organically and I finished the song before I realized it was about my brother Adam. 'Permanent' (also about Adam) is bare bones, piano, strings and vocal. I figured out through the process of making this record that sometimes the most powerful songs don't have all the bells and whistles on them."

Q: "American Idol" viewers heard about Adam's battle with brain cancer on the show. How is he doing?

A: "Adam's good. He is plugging along. We remain cautiously optimistic."

Q: Was the summer "Idols" tour in those huge stadiums good preparation for life as a solo artist, or are you more of a smaller, club venue performer?

A: "I hope I get to do that a million times over! I feel I have an aptitude for both (venues) and I think this record can play to both. Hopefully in the next year I will be playing as many venues as will have me."

Q: Does the perceived rivalry with David Archuleta grate on you?

A: "It does a little and I am sure Archie would share my opinion. We both recognize we are completely different artists and so it is comparing apples and oranges. Even in the 'Idol' finals, we didn't feel like we were competing against each other. Archie is a good person. I consider him a really good friend and wish him all the success he deserves."

Q: How did you feel about your "American Idol" make-over, and is it true you are dating former "Idol" contestant Kimberly Caldwell?

A: "Yes. She has been a steady, well-needed break. She is great. Very supportive. The make-over didn't hurt! It was weird the way it panned out. I had been talking for some time about chopping off my hair and one week we decided to do it and that same week I literally lost my razor and so I just didn't shave. I remember the reaction (from fans) after that performance. It was just dumb luck."

Q: What's next for you? Are there any plans to tour internationally?

A: "In early January we are going to Iraq to play for the troops. I am very excited about it. It is a huge honor even to be asked. Then hopefully we'll start the U.S. tour in early February and keep going until the wheels fall off. I realize that this whole thing is a kind of a one shot. So if someone wants to hear me play in the farthest reaches of this planet, I will do it."

David Cook, reigning American Idol champ, gives me a shout out from the American Music Awards!
5:02 p.m.  Outside the green room, a production assistant misidentifies Chris Daughtry as Dave Cook. Luckily, this happens out of Daughtry’s earshot.
8:11 p.m. The show is finished and David Archuleta makes his way through the crowd. He goes backstage and spies David Cook. They hug.

Former Missouri bartender David Cook rocked the world's most popular talent competition to become the new American Idol—by a margin of 12 million over heavy favorite David Archuleta, out of a whopping 97 million votes cast. MF recently chatted with Cook—arguably the fittest Idol yet—to learn more about his regimen, his diet, and his new rock record.
            
Some finalists, when they do the show, gain weight throughout the season. Perhaps it's the stress—or Simon's caustic critiques. But you actually got fitter as the show went on.
I'm the American Idol. That's what I do. No, it was more out of necessity, just to keep up with everyone else. Vocally, Idol is about as grueling as it gets, because you're singing every single day. I was forced into taking care of myself, and now I'm glad I did. Even if I was voted out week one, the benefits I gained from working out are tenfold. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I lost between 10 and 15 throughout the course of the show, and I probably dropped another five since.

What did you do to lose the weight?
I would do 10 to 15 minutes of cardio work, mixed in with some light weight training. Now, It's a lot more cardio-intensive workouts, like boxing. My trainer takes me out a couple times a week and we run football routes for about an hour and a half. More than anything, it's watching what I eat.  

What's your diet like?
I eat a lot of salad, grilled chicken, and fish. A typical meal for me is salmon and asparagus. If I'm on the go, I'd try to do a burger with no bun. I really just eliminate what carbs that I can and eat more lean protein and vegetables. It's all about substitutions, like changing white bread to whole-grain bread.    

You did a 53-date Idol tour this past summer. How did you stay fit on the road?
Everybody would go in the order they were eliminated from the show, so it ended with Syesha, Archuleta, then myself. When Syesha's set started, I would do the Perfect Pushup and I would do five pushups for every song leading up to my set. That equals to about 35-40 pushups a night.

So being onstage is a workout in and of itself?
You try to make it an emotional experience, not just for the people up front, but also for the people in the nosebleed seeds. You want everyone to walk out happy. When I would hit the stage, the way I put my set together, I wanted it to be high-energy so I'd always be running around the stage. At the end of the tour, my T-shirts fit better, which is nice (Laughs).

Is there a song off your album that makes the perfect workout song?
"Bar-ba-so." It's a real riff-heavy song, but with a groove and a swagger.  

What do you work out to?
Oh, I put "Chariots of Fire" on.

Tell us a little more about your self-titled debut, David Cook.
It's a rock record, but rock is a very generic term to use. I really tried to stretch the boundaries and come up with a different sound and piece an album that way. The record's really taken on that kind of life. We've got some mid-tempo melodic rock songs, uptempo four-to-the-floor kind of songs, and piano-based intimate songs. To me, it runs the gamut. In my last year, I've definitely accrued some things to talk about, as well as the 24 years before that. I think this record would be a very accurate snapshot of who I am and what got me to this point.

And you got to work with your own Idols, like Chris Cornell and Our Lady of Peace.
What's made this experience as great as it's been is not only do I get to write with my musical heroes, but they're actually cool guys. It's almost validating for me . . .  like, I'm not the worst judge of character.

Your life's been such a whirlwind lately. When do you sleep?
Usually on flights. If I whine enough for a day off, I get half a day — if I'm lucky.

How come your album doesn't include any of the cool covers you did, like "Billie Jean" and "Always Be My Baby"?
It's been discussed. For me, if I want to continue doing covers, it'll be in a live setting. I want this record to be about what kind of musician I am. I certainly don't want to bite the hand that feeds me. Idol's given me an amazing life in the last year. But I also want to be an artist right now. I don't want to sing other people's stuff.

During the Idol Final 2 performance, we learned that David Archuleta weighed in at "100 pounds, soaking wet." You think you could bench press Little Archie?
If you asked me that question a year ago I would say no . . . but I think now, maybe. It kind of depends. If we're maxing out, then maybe. If we're going for a set of 10? Maybe not.

There's some pretty funny YouTube clips circulating of you and fellow finalist Michael Johns dancing onstage. What's that about?
I think people started calling it The Mavid Dance. Hey, man, when you sing "Please Don't Stop the Music" as many times as we sang it last year, it gets a little repetitive. You do whatever you can to keep our sanity.

David Cook's self-titled debut is out now.

Rock solid is probably the best way to describe the major label debut from American Idol champion David Cook. The technical precision of his stellar voice sets him apart from a number of other post-grunge competitors. In addition, the album David Cook is a well selected and well programmed set of songs that range across sensitive ballads, towering anthems, and gutsy rockers. Cook's American Idol fans will be pleased, and he is likely to gather a significant number of new followers among previously skeptical rock fans.
Stellar Singing Enhances the Rock Growl
Perhaps the most valuable impact American Idol has had on popular music is the influx of new artists with stellar singing capabilities. David Cook proved on American Idol that his voice was an impressive enough instrument that he could step outside his rock comfort zone to tackle something as far removed as a Phantom of the Opera showstopper. This vocal skill makes a rousing anthem like the album opener "Declaration" stand out from the pack. David Cook's voice has a resonance and range that doesn't rely on but is enhanced by a raspy rock growl.
David Cook Dials Up the Intensity
Although the bulk of David Cook is filled with arena rocking anthems like the hit single "Light On," there are points at which Cook dials up the intensity and truly soars. The rocker "Bar-ba-sol" has a swagger and crunch that raises the stakes to another level. Near the end of the album David Cook bares his soul on the ballad "Permanent," written for his brother Adam who is battling cancer. Once again the intensity of Cook's music ratchets up in a way that moves his performance to the top ranks of current pop/rock performers.
Top David Cook Tracks
"Declaration"
"Light On"
"Bar-ba-sol"
"Mr. Sensitive"
"Permanent"
Following the Trail Blazed By Daughtry
Chris Daughtry, with his band Daughtry, broke down the door for American Idol rock performers to find a place on pop radio and in the hearts of pop music consumers. David Cook charges through that opening in search of being an even bigger star. He has already been successful in being the first rock performer to win American Idol. With the quality of this album, he has the potential to become one of the most successful of all Idol champions with the music-buying public.

Los Angeles, CA U.S.A. -  Leona Lewis,
Brad Paisley  & Maroon 5 have been honored along with
independent favorites Starfish & Coffee, Will Peppers,
Tom Savell & other recording artists for New Music Weekly
magazine's 2008 New Music Awards.  The event held
Saturday, November 22nd at the Avalon Theatre in
Hollywood, California U.S.A. also honored radio stations,
program directors & record labels.  

The complete list of winners are:

Top40 Single of the Year:
Katy Perry "I Kissed A Girl"

Top40 Male Artist of the Year:
David Cook

Top40 Female Artist of the Year:
Colbie Caillat

Top40 Group of the Year:
Maroon 5

Top40 New Artist of the Year:
Leona Lewis
 
Top40 New Group of the Year:
Starfish & Coffee
 
Top40 Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Alyson
 
Top40 Radio Station of the Year:
KLQQ
 
Top40 Program Director of the Year:
John Mangan

Top40 Music Director of the Year:
Beth Valiant

Top40 Promotion of the Year:
Jerome Promotions

Top40 Record Label of the Year:
Interscope

AC Single of the Year:
"Realize" Colbie Caillat
 
AC Male Artist of the Year:
Michael Buble
 
AC Female Artst of the Year:
Natasha Bedingfield
 
AC Group of the Year:
Coldplay
 
AC40 New Artist of the Year:
Tom Savell
 
AC Group of the Year:
Fools
 
AC Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Sandra Crede
 
AC Radio Station of the Year:
KKRB
 
AC Program Director of the Year:
Randy Adams
 
AC Music Director of the Year:
Nikki Thunder
 
AC Promotion of the Year:
Jennifer Lyneis
 
AC Record Label of the Year:
Capitol/EMI
 
Country Single of the Year:
"Don't Blink" Kenny Chesney
 
Country Male Artist of the Year:
Brad Paisley

Country Female Artst of the Year:
Carrie Underwood
 
Country Group of the Year:
Lady Antebellum

Country New Artist of the Year:
Will Peppers
 
Country New Group of the Year:
The Roadhammers
 
Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Christine Van Hoy
 
Country Radio Station of the Year:
KTTI
 
Country Program Director of the Year:
Mike Thomas
 
Country Music Director D of the Year:
Lee Richey
 
Country Promotion of the Year:
James Williams

Country Record Label of the Year:
Big 7/Lofton Creek

Crossover Artist of the Year:
Char Butler
 
College Artist of the Year:
Jacob Dylan
 
College Band of the Year:
Thieves & Liars

College New Artist of the Year:
Vic Ruggiero

College New Band of the Year:
A Band Of Bees

College Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Kevin Lucas Orchestra

College Radio Station of the Year:
KLCC
 
College Program Director of the Year:
Jason Wells

College Music Director of the Year:
Terry Moses

College Promotion of the Year:
Powderfinger Promotion

College Record Label of the Year:
Tooth & Nail

Record Pool of the Year:
Starfleet
 
Internet Radio Station of the Year:
I-Radio/Los Angeles, CA

Publicity Firm of the Year:
Rogers & Cowans

David Cook fans have much to celebrate. Today, November 18th 2008, David Cook’s much-anticipated CD was released to enormous acclaim.
According to the Los Angeles Times:
"Cook has taken it (rock) further, not only competing on “Idol” with songs by Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul, but also enlisting a focused list of co-writers for his album, including Maida and his wife, Chantal Kreviazuk; Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls; Better Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin; Nixons founder Zac Maloy and Atlanta hard rockers Injected."
Additionally, David, himself, added
"I think the collaborations I’ve been able to do just made this record,” said Cook. “I just tried really hard to hold my own and not come across as some kid awe-struck with fear."
He further stated that:
"I purposely tried to be a storyteller on this particular song," said Cook of "Permanent," which features a spare production highlighted by piano and strings. "I made it known what I was talking about. But it’s still written in a way that people can take what they want out of it."
One of my readers, CookieMonster, wrote a comment in another blog topic here and stated that "you really must listen to "Permanent". You will absolutely love it! So much passion. It is really powerful and it makes me cry". I hope that others will join in this Masterclass celebration of David Cook and add some lively commentary to this blog.
Having watched David throughout American Idol Season 7 and, then, viewing his live performance in Toronto, Ontario Canada, there is no doubt in my mind that this young man’s career holds endless possibilities for successful advancement.
He is like a chameleon - he wears a musical coat of many colors. Although he is a certifiable rock musician, one only needs to listen to his heart-rending full-length recording of “Music Of The Night” from “Phantom Of The Opera” to know that this exceptional artist is capable of many genres outside of rock music. He is a very intelligent, self-aware individual but, more, important, he is sublimely musical and knows where he wants to take his illustrious career.
David Cook will move far and beyond the stage of American Idol, but mark my words, his genuine and sincere nature will never allow him to forget where he got his start.
So, to David and all of his fans - and I count myself one of many - congratulations on the success of this CD. At this moment, his CD sits at the #1 sales spot on Amazon.Com. Excellent!
And, for those of you who have yet to purchase this CD, well - what’s the hold-up?

For the first time, renowned TV show ‘American Idol’ is using the reigning “Idol” to promote the show. A new promotional spot for the show, headlined by David Cook, is set to debut this week, according to Fox marketing chief Joe Earley.

In an interview with TVweek Earley elaborated, “the ad begins with the singer about to go on-stage to perform his new single, ‘Light On.’ After rewinding through images of his current life—limos, parties, paparazzi—Mr. Cook is seen lying in bed, dreaming about how his ‘Idol’ voyage began.”
 
Then, viewers will see splices of Cook’s appearances on the show. After that, “He then steps on-stage, and when he starts singing, you get that rush,” Earley described.

Cook spent a whole day shooting the spot with Fox. The ad is expected to run again and again over the Thanksgiving weekend. In addition to promoting the show, the ad also promotes Cook’s recently released album.  

Fox says that this ‘idol’ spot is just one of several spots they plan to release during the upcoming holidays.

IdolHeadEd writes
I was, as I suspect many, anxious to hear what David Cook would offer up.  I was personally wondering which Cook would be my favorite of the CD releases.


The last 2 years have not been banner years for the Idol winner’s CDs. While Jordin has certainly gotten mucho airplay, her CD is not running away with any records. But she did do the best from that season. As for season 5 winner Taylor, he got neither airplay nor sales. More embarrassingly, he placed 3rd in sales from that season way behind Chris Daughtry and marginally behind Kellie Pickler. As for Kellie, she has a new CD out and without giving too much away, it is better than her first. I will review this later.
 
I suspect strongly this vicious cycle is about to be broken. With a good mixture of Acoustic Rock and Pop Rock this CD is worth the buy.  Every song has a very good melody. And Rock with good melody equals mucho record sales. Just ask Chris Daughtry.
 
Here’s how I see it:

“Declaration”
With an electric Acoustic start it grabs you from the first note. This one could be a single. David delivers a knockout hook and bounces back and forth from hard driving to light touch with ease. Grade: A-
 
“Heroes”
This one has David harmonizing with himself very effectively. It is hard driving tune has the sound of a TV theme song and a great one. We might be hearing this on a Fox show soon. Grade B+
 
“Light On”
This first single shows the many textures of David’s winning voice. Whilst it is a good tune it is not the best on this CD by far.  In fact the first two tunes were better in my opinion. Grade B
 
“Come Back to Me”
The very catchy electric plucking is an early attention getter, and is followed by full orchestra. David does not get lost in the music at all. The message “when you find you, come back to me” is poignant and may help this become a single. I really like this tune. Excellent melody. Grade A
 
“Life on the Moon”
This one starts off as an Acoustic ballad but soon moves into a Pop Rock tune. It is David’s voice hat makes this song work. His range is put to test and passes. Another good song. Grade A-
 
"Bar-Ba-Sol"
This one starts off like a Heavy Metal Blues song. David’s gruff side is on display here. I could see this song being sung about 10 different ways. Bar-ba-sol is unique to this CD. It is the only tune on this CD that could be considered pure Rock. This tune is reminicent of tunes from the ‘70’s.  Grade A-
 
“Mr. Sensitive”
I love the sounds this gives in the beginning. This may be the David Cook signature type song. There is a lot of contrast in this tune, something I personally like. This too could make the singles arena. Grade A-
 
“Lie”
Now we get to my favorite song on this CD. There is no reason this should not be a single and do very well. Great melody, great vocal contrast and control. David’s entire vocal repertoire in on display for us to sample here. Love it. The message can be understood by all. Grade A+
 
“I Did it for You”
Another good melodic song. I’m not sure this is single material but it is certainly good enough to gain some degree of fandom. Grade B
 
“Avalanche”
Another catchy beginning. I love all these cool electric plucking arrangements. While this is another good song, it gets kind of lost amongst all the other great songs on this CD. We do get to hear more of David’s mid range which is a good thing. Grade B-
 
“Permanent”
The first and only piano intro. This is more orchestral than Rock. It, like “Bar-Ba-Sol” is unique on this CD.  It’s a good change from almost all Idol debut CDs to date. This song will remind many of the Andrew Lloyd Webber night. In fact this could be a song from a “Phantom....” type play. Very majestic in scope. Grade A-
 
“Daily Anthem"
The electric guitar intro swells into a soft spoken piece. And with all the instrumentation it amazes me that David’s voice never gets lost. He’s got it goin’ on. This also has single potential. Grade A
 
There is no reason this CD shouldn’t go at least double platinum. First week's sales were 279,578 and the digital (which I did) set a record for a debut album at 58,713. "Light On" has already been certified platinum. I think the PTB are really working hard to turn the tide with season 7 contestants as far as production and songs.  Although the other Cook, Kristy, got the shaft on promoting, she got the royal great song treatment like Mr. Cook. I actually like this CD better than Chris’s. The public rarely sees it my way as can be evidenced in my enthusiasm for Kristy’s CD.
 
Great effort for David and whether this CD sells millions or hundreds, David will have a sparkling music career. This debut CD can not be accused of "all the songs sound the same" line. Each song is quite unique in its own right. "David Cook" is every bit worth a buy. You can click the iTunes banner on the side and buy it now. This is a Great CD that will easily out sell Kristy, even though I like Kristy’s better, and in my opinion, is the 3rd best CD ever put out by a first time Idol behind only Kristy and Carrie. In fact Kristy’s has now replaced Carrie as #1 for me and is only outpaced by Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” as #1 of all time.  Maybe in time, "David Cook" will move up a notch.
 
I will be standing in line for the David Cook concert tickets. I hope you will too after you buy this CD.
 
Is it Season 8 yet?
 
Idolhead Ed

It wasn't the first time that David Cook had been back to L.A.'s Nokia Theatre since he won season 7 of American Idol there last spring. But performing at the American Music Awards pre-show on Sunday still brought out the jitters. "I actually get panic attacks whenever I'm in a five-mile radius of this place," he told EW.com following his two-song set in the courtyard, a stone's throw away from the Idol finale showdown stage. "It's home to one of the most nerve-wracking moments in my life." In the months since, Cook has performed at the Staples Center across the street, as part of the Idol summer tour, but Sunday's visit for the AMAs stirred up memories nonetheless. "I'm presenting, so I do have to walk on that stage. We'll see how it goes. If I have a freak-out or something, it'll make for good TV, I suppose."
In fact, for Cook and his fellow Idol finalist, David Archuleta, the competition continues, in a way. EW.com also bumped into the season 7 runner-up, getting his take on their current close race in record stores. (Archuleta's first week tally of 183,000 is already in and sales numbers for Cook's debut are due out on Wednesday.) Archuleta, for one, said he's content with his album's performance. "I'm quite comfortable with second place," he quipped. "Right behind Taylor Swift is not a bad place to be."

The “tale of two Davids” moves into Phase 2 now that the “American Idol” final 2, David Cook and David Archuleta, have released debut albums.

It seems like forever since rocker Cook beat out pop phenom Archuleta to win the coveted talent prize.

Up until now, it’s been a race to see whose single would do better, which is a pretty good precursor to how their albums would fare.

Archuleta has had a pretty good run with his single “Crush.” The song has been huge on Top 40 radio formats. In fact, it hit No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Not bad for a first time out.

Cook’s leadoff single from “AI” fared a little better out of the box, but overall, its mass appeal didn’t score as well. “The Time Of My Life” is currently No. 1 on the adult contemporary charts.

What’s different for Cook, however, was the kick-off “AI” gave him. Cook had 11 songs crack the Hot 100 at the same time, a feat accomplished only once before, by The Beatles.

Archuleta’s debut album landed at No. 2 in its first week on the Hot 200. I’m beginning to sense a pattern here with Archie. He always seems to get to No. 2. Only Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” kept him from debuting on top.

Several tracks have that upbeat pop appeal that works well with his peer listening audience, but what gives Archie an edge is how good of a singer he truly is. There’s not a bad song on the 12-track disc, which includes other potentially radio-friendly tracks “My Hands,” “A Little Too Not Over You,” “You Can” and “To Be With You.”

The best track for me has to be his cover of Robbie Williams’ “Angels.” It’s worth having the album just for that song. He absolutely nails it!

Cook’s self-titled release didn’t put him at No. 1, but in his defense, Cook was up against two of the biggest heavy hitters in the business – new albums by Beyonce and Nickelback. Cook debuted at. No. 3.

I’m glad Cook put out a rock album instead of something commercially manufactured, as can be the case with some talent show winners. He stayed true to himself.

The 12-song set also includes the bonus track “The Time Of My Life,” which was a nice addition.

The first single, “Light On,” finds Cook’s raspy, melodic voice right at home. He almost pleads for help in finding his way back in the lyrics: “Try to leave a light on when I’m gone/something I rely on to get home.” The song is not overdone, overproduced or over-the-top. It’s just right, which is why the public gravitated toward him so much on the show.

To pick, or try to pick, the most noteworthy tracks seems silly. They’re all equally as good, but I do especially like “Permanent,” “I Did It For You” and “Heroes.”

If I could offer any advice to Cook, however, it would be this: Since I’m fairly certain you’re going to be on the road a lot, you might want to consider staying at Motel 6. They really will leave the light on for ya!

To many, David Cook is “that pop guy who won American Idol.” To the kajillions of Idol fans who watched the show religiously in 2008, however, Cook is the rock guy.

He’s the singer/guitarist who regularly stepped on the Idol stage with a Les Paul and a half-stack and blew mainstream music fans’ minds with rock and roll re-imaginings of famous pop songs. His haunting, Chris Cornell-inspired version of “Billie Jean” made him an early frontrunner. Since winning the show, Cook has seen 11 of his tunes hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has just completed his self-titled major label debut for 19/RCA.

One thing that set Cook apart from many of his Idol competitors was his inner poise—the near Zen-like calmness that gave him an air of bulletproof resolve. “I’m actually a mellow, introverted individual for the most part,” says Cook. “But when you get on stage, there has to be something to draw people in. I wanted to come across as 12 feet tall. In order to do that, you really have to be 12 feet tall. You have to hit the stage with the mindset of, ‘I own this entire room and everybody in it,’ and then try to shoot the moon.”

When Cook started on the show, his guitar—an EMG-loaded lefty Les Paul Studio—was a crutch. “It was a buffer that made the judges’ criticism a little less harsh,” he says. “But once I got in the mind frame of using the guitar to accentuate what I was trying to do with the song, everything started to take off for me. Anybody can shred if they practice at it, but even with guys like Vai, Satriani, and Yngwie, there’s something extra in their music that transcends mere guitar playing. Being on Idol really taught me that sometimes the most powerful guitar is the one that is not played that much.”

It took less than a year for the folks on our Breakout Stars of 2008 list to become household names. You may not have known them a year ago, but this year you couldn't get away.
David Cook became the first angsty rocker to win "American Idol."

#2 David Cook and David Archuleta
Though Cook took the crown, American Idol's seventh season singers--also known as the Davids--both scored big audiences and loyal followings. In the months since, the stars have each spent much time on the Billboard charts, traveled the country on the always-popular Idol concert tour and recently dropped hotly anticipated albums.

David Cook, Sean Penn in ''Milk,'' ''Dexter,'' and 12 others make up the countdown of pop culture gems YOU -- and the EW staff -- are loving this week

READER'S CHOICE*: MUSIC
13. BAR-BA-SOL, David Cook
Catchy, fun, and it has the swagger that can only come from Cook.

Musician David Cook has goals for his music and one of those is to keep it real and remain true to himself and hope his fans continue to embrace him.
From the sound of things, Cook doesn't have anything to worry about. The season seven winner of "American Idol" is continuing to find success with his old school rocker style.
Celebrity News Service had a chance to catch his new song "Barbasol," a song Cook said fans will be hearing a lot of because he loves to play it. "American Idol" fans seem to be the loyal type, so CNS checked with a few to see what they thought of "Barbasol."
"David Cook's song 'Barbasol' is amazing, I have listened to it over and over again. I just love him and was so glad when he won 'American Idol,'" a Cook fan said.
For his part, Cook is also glad he won the singing reality show saying that "Idol" is an amazing platform for people like him to have an opportunity to be heard.
"I got David Cook's new album as an early Christmas present and haven't stopped listening to it. The guy rocks," another fan said.

David Cook - David Cook review Artist: David Cook
Album: David Cook
Release: 2008
Genre: Rock » Classic/Hard
Length: 60 min 48 sec
 

Musician David Cook became known in the native States after he took part in the seventh season of the American Idol competition and its winner. However, before he reached fame, the artist made a long creative way. David was born in Texas and he grew up in Missouri with two brothers. The boy got interested in music in his early age, and his parents presented him with his first guitar, when David was twelve. In the high school, he formed the rock band Axium, becoming its guitarist and soloist. The musicians recorded three albums; they were considered one of the most promising indie bands in the US. However, in 2006, the command was disbanded, and Cook joined the collective Midwest Kings. Soon he decided to pursue the solo career the same year and released the debut album Analog Heart. Initially, David Cook was not going to try himself for the American Idol - he came to the audition only to create his brother Andrew. Andrew did not pass the audition, while David was a success. On the show, Cook became the most noticeable rock musician, who reached the top, although his repertoire varied from rock to pop hits and even an opera number from Phantom Of The Opera. David demonstrated such a brilliant command of his voice that no one could hesitate about his star future. Soon after the American Idol, Cook finished his first major label album, David Cook.

David Cook: an excellent specimen of solid rock
The new work by David Cook, which will definitely make him famous over the world (if he is not yet), can be best described as a solid rock record. For the long-play David Cook, the artist chose the genuinely qualitative material, which varies from booming post-grunge tracks to lyrical ballads and arena-ready anthems. One of such inspiring rock hymns is the album opener Declaration. Cook’s pop single Light On can be related to the same category. It has a memorable tune and hooky chorus. The pleasant growling vocals by David shows the slightest tints of emotions he means. The speedy rock composition I Did It For You adds energy and charm to the album. The power ballad Life On The Moon became one of the strongest moments of the full-length, although it has too much dreamy moods in its lyrics. The middle tempo arena track Bar-Ba-Sol has an unforgettable melody and is followed up by the sincere composition Mr. Sensitive, in which Cook opens his soul. The touching piano ballad Permanent with the tender string arrangement was written by Cook along with Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida in order to maintain his brother Adam, who is fighting with the brain cancer right now. The track A Daily Anthem/Kiss On The Neck (Hidden Track) is also devoted by the artist to his brother. The disc closes with the hit tune The Time Of My Life, which is surely well-remembered by the American Idol spectators. If you still have not heard this track, you are strongly recommended to do it.

The artist with the great future
The album David Cook became not the first work by the artist in the musical world, but it definitely became his first creation to reach so much attention. David Cook is the performer with great potential and is sure to get even more popularity in the nearest future on the rock scene. He is not from the crowd of those talent show contestants, who let you to forget about them easily. Initially being the brightest American Idol, Cook wonderfully showed himself after the show too. The album David Cook, produced by such big names as Rob Cavallo and Brian Howes, perfectly reflects the personality of this young musician – the disc is very diverse, energetic and has a big potential inside. The mixture of memorable tunes and pleasant vocals in the moods of Canadian rockers Nickelback will definitely mesmerize both the rock auditory and adult contemporary lovers. The strong lyrics will make the listeners to add the disc David Cook to their regular play list in order to hear again the favorite lines. However, this album is rather created to introduce David Cook to the public in the role of the promising young rocker than to demonstrate his rich vocals in its full strength. From the same American Idol experience, it is known that Cook as a soloist is able for much more, and there is hope that on his new disc, David would perform more complicated melodies. The main thing is that these motifs should be the same unforgettable as the big songs on David Cook.

Two Cook's go on the highest rated TV show--one is breaking records all over the place, with 11 songs from his first album debuting on Billboard's Hot 100, while the other was given her second chance on a major label, yet has already been dropped.  A harrowing riddle?  Nope.  Just the unfortunate truth of what can happen once you've been on Idol.
According to americanidol.com, David Cook has had the highest number of new entries in a single week by an artist since The Beatles in 1964.  His self-titled major-label debut entered the Billboard charts at No. 3, and is currently the No. 1 album on the digital album chart.  Kristy Lee Cook, on the other hand, released a single called "15 Minutes Of Shame," which was eerily accurate in predicting her future.  The USA Today blog, Idol Chatter, has the scoop:
In what just might be a record for an Idol, Kristy Lee is "no longer signed" to Arista Nashville, according to country industry publication Music Row's online news update Thursday. As you know, she had one album released, a slow seller (25,000 as of Wednesday), and one single, 15 Minutes of Shame, which had been promoted vigorously enough to penetrate the top 30 briefly and is, as of last week, still on the chart. No reason given.
One might be able to point the finger at a the lack of promotion of the overall album, and Kristy Lee Cook as an artist.  However, those of us who watched the show know that there did seem to be a bit of something missing there, as she showed up in the bottom three, week after week.  However, she hung on like a spider monkey, clinging to a tree!  Appealing to the patriotic viewers with her moving rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A.," she was somehow able to overcome the countrified nightmare that was "Eight Days A Week".  Shivers.  Unfortunately, her stunning face and sweet-as-pie personality didn't seem to provide the staying power one needs in the music biz.  And to think, she promised Simon she'd blow the socks right off him.
Aternatively, David Cook has such a public draw, producers used him in the promo for season eight.  It's the first time in AI history that they have chosen to use a former Idol to promote the upcoming season.  It was so popular, americanidol.com has released a new, extended version on the site.  It's actually quite cool, as it takes a look at David Cook's American Idol path in rewind, all the way back to his initial audition in front of Randy, Paula, and Simon.  If you don't get chills watching this--well then, you're just not human.

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I spoke briefly with David Cook before the Q100 “Miracle on West Peachtree Street” Christmas concert Monday night. He was not wearing any makeup and had no bags under his eyes despite the whirlwind of the past few months. He actually looked relaxed and happy.

But first, here’s a video I took of Cook from the concert where his brother Andrew dressed up as Santa and presented him with a birthday cake before he performed “Bar-Ba-Sol.” Cook turns 26 on Dec. 20. My camera took a few seconds to focus.

I asked him about how he felt his single and album were doing. “Knock on wood, so far, so good,” he said. Both are “still making forward progress. If everything holds up, we can hit gold [500,000 albums sold] this week.”

“Do you think ‘Light On’ can beat Archuleta’s ‘Crush’?” I asked.

“I don’t know! That song is a juggernaut. If I can get even close, I’ll be happy.” [“Crush” peaked at about 15 on the radio pop chart. Not quite a juggernaut but a solid opener for the Arch.]

I asked what he was up to next week. ‘I’m going to be off the grid for two weeks until New Year’s. This is my last gig until the Mirage [in Vegas.] This will give me a chance to reflect on the last year, try to feel normal.”

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“How come you don’t look tired at all?” I asked. “You have no bags under your eyes!”

“I have a band full of friends and a bunch of amazing people that make this a whole lot easier,” he said.

“How did you manage to get two weeks off? Wouldn’t the label want you to work nonstop, even through Christmas?”

“Back in June, I fought, I begged and pleaded and screamed. It worked!”

“You’re battling David Archuleta on the VH1 video countdown. I saw he was No. 1 last week and you were No. 2.”

“We’ve been going back and forth. I think it’s just a testament to our fan bases. My video debuted at No. 1, went back, then 1, now 2.”

And he noted that he’s grateful. “Second place is a lot higher than I was charting before ‘Idol’!”

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“So are you at all tired of talking about ‘Idol’?”

“In all honesty, ‘Idol’ is my meal ticket. I busted my chops for 10 years. ‘Idol’ gave me the platform to make people listen. I owe ‘Idol’ quite a bit.”

“What are you going to do in the new year?”

“We’re going to hit the road. It’s going to be an all-college tour in the spring. I remember I have an older brother’s Indiana State college yearbook, Larry Bird’s senior year. It had all these pages of concerts like Elvis Costello. You look at the current landscape of acts. Not a lot do college campuses. I want to bring it to the people who don’t get a lot of entertainment amid all the textbooks and make it fun.”

Summer, he noted, is still wide open. “If anybody is interested, call me!”

He’s still not sure of a second single. “We still want to give ‘Light On’ room to breath,” he said.

“A friend of mine wanted to know about the eyeliner. Why so much?”

“The eyeliner is more out of necessity. I’m a pale man of Irish, English and German descent. Anything to make the eyes pop amid stage lights! It stands out reason. I just don’t want to go nuts. I went nuts on tour a little bit. I’ll scale back.”

“You missed your friend Michael Johns by a couple of days. Do you miss the ‘Mavid’ dancing?”

“I will tell you. We never did any serious dancing on the tour. Mike and I had fun with the ‘Mavid’ thing. But the show was basically stage blocking. We should never consider that dancing.”

“No dancing tonight, right?”

“A little rock star preening and holding on to the mike stand for dear life!” [Would you consider what he’s doing below preening? :) )
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David Cook: On May 21, the singer-songwriter was announced the winner on American Idol. He then went on to produce a great album.

David Archuleta was just about crowned the winner of "American Idol's" Season 7 the first week of the semi-finals, so to watch David Cook slowly but steadily climb into the final two was an emo-fied thrill ride of re-arranged rock standards. And even though he had already conquered the impossible task of making a Lionel Richie song sound hip, Cook was still an underdog going into the finale. Even Seacrest seemed surprised when he read Cook's name in the end.

Honorable Mention: David Cook shoots to stardom; After 'Idol', Cook went from being a nobody to being a superstar

David Cook is the major-label self-titled debut album, second overall, from seventh season American Idol winner David Cook.
The album was released on November 18, 2008 in the United States and has sold approximately 582,000 copies to date.
David Cook released his own independent debut album ‘Analog Heart’ in 2006.

Produced by Grammy winning Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Kid Rock), David Cook is a quality album full with radio hits.
Cook co-wrote 9 songs from his debut, along with songwriters like Chris Cornell, Brian Howes & Cathy Dennis.

If you’re expecting the usual pop songs and cliche lyrics that tend to come out of American Idol, then this album will surprise you!
If you like the music sound of Bon Jovi, Daughtry, U2, then you’ll love this album.
The album is an eclectic mix that range from slow evocative ballads to hard driving rockers, which should both appease his fans from the show and encourage appreciation from new listeners.

 
David Cook Album Track Listing

1. Declaration - 3:13
2. Heroes - 3:27
3. Light On - 3:49
4. Come Back to Me - 4:07
5. Life on the Moon - 3:38
6. Bar-ba-sol - 4:27
7. Mr. Sensitive - 3:37
8. Lie - 3:49
9. I Did It For You - 3:49
10. Avalanche - 4:32
11. Permanent - 2:56
12. A Daily Anthem - 4:23
13. Kiss on the Neck (Hidden Track starts 12 minutes into “A Daily Anthem”) - 3:17
14. The Time of My Life (Bonus Track) - 3:36
15. My Last Request (iTunes pre-order Bonus track) - 3:30
16. Breathe Tonight (Walmart Bonus track) - 3:03

The first single released was “Light On“, which was released to U.S. radio on September 30, 2008. The song was co-written by one of rock music’s most influential innovators, Chris Cornell, lead singer and songwriter for Soundgarden and Audioslave, and acclaimed producer / songwriter Brian Howes, who has worked with superstar rock bands such as Hinder and Puddle of Mudd.
It sold 109,000 digital downloads in it’s first week of availability, leading to a #17 debut on the Billboard Hot 100.

“The Time of My Life” (his first feature single as the winner of American Idol) is also featured as a bonus track on the album.

“Declaration” was debuted on November 1, 2008 on Saturday Night Live where David performed with his band.
David stated that the second single is still uncertain at this time.

David Cook sings with his heart and soul, and that gives his music a beautiful spirit which is touching, powerful and full of depth.
For people who may not like him at first, please give a second try. Listen to it again with your heart, then you will find yourselves loving it and keep loving it forever.

Album Information

Released November 18, 2008
Genre Pop rock
Label RCA, 19 Records
Producer Rob Cavallo

Reigning champion David Cook passed the 500,000 mark on this week's Billboard album sales chart.  Cook held the No. 10 slot for the second week in a row, putting the sales total on his post-show debut at 582,000.
A couple random stats on Cook's achievement and where this places him in the Idol firmament:
-- According to Yahoo's Charts blog, "This is the longest run in the top 10 for a debut album by an "American Idol" winner since Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" logged 25 weeks in the top 10 in 2005-2006... This also matches Jennifer Hudson's four-week run in the top 10 as the best recent showing by a debut album by an Idol contestant."
-- By my count, this makes Cook's album the all-time 15th best selling Idol alum album. (Nine Idol alum albums have gone platinum.)
-- Cook's victory single "Time of My Life" has now spent more than 10 weeks on the Billboard adult contemporary charts. According to Americanidol.com, this makes "him one of 15 solo male artists to do so for 10 weeks or more since the chart began in 1961."
And let us not forget the most important statistic of all, David's birthday. This Saturday, DC turns 26. A very happy birthday to our champion!

It’s a warm afternoon in late July, almost one month into the American Idols Live! Tour 2008, and David Cook is seated diagonally across from me at a rectangular folding table in the backstage area of Newark, New Jersey’s newly built Prudential Center, just hours before show time. Next to him is the fellow Idol contestant with the poetic Australian accent, Michael Johns. “What is… What is…?” Cook asks me in a curious tone following his introduction, a finger pointed at the tattoo on my inner right forearm (my own remix of The Beatles’ Revolver album cover). “The Beatles,” I say, holding up my arm. “Revolver.” Both Cook and Johns respond nearly in unison.

“Wow!” Johns exclaims as Cook lets out a “That is cool!”

“That is the first tattoo I’ve actually liked,” Johns continues while receiving mocking glares from Cook, who has a couple tattoos himself, although they seem to remain hidden.

Cook’s tattoos may not be prominent, but the fact that he’s one of the most talented up-and-coming musicians we’ve had in decades, absolutely is. It may take some people time to realize it, having the Idol label following him everywhere he goes, but bear in mind that by the week following his win, Cook had 11 songs residing in Billboard’s Hot 100—a feat no artist had accomplished since the Beatles in 1964. It’s not just his handsome exterior or throaty, versatile and powerful Paul Rogers- like voice that makes him remarkable and drew Idol viewers in, but the fact that there are layers of unadulterated emotion and fearlessness behind it. Every facet of him is genuine. Throughout the competition Cook never failed to do anything on his own terms—including winning.

“I started this season, much to Simon’s chagrin, as ‘the wordnerd,’” Cook said during the show’s finale as he pulled himself together, still with tears in his eyes. “And I am absolutely at a loss for words right now. Thank you. You guys, this is; this is amazing, thank you.”

On May 21, 2008, America decided, just as I had, that the 26-year-old Texas native with the confounding roar was the frontrunner of Idol’s seventh run, beating the adorable 17-year-old David “Archie” Archuleta by a staggering 12 million votes. It was a landslide, just like this year’s presidential election, and perhaps just as good for the shape of contemporary music as Barack Obama is for the shape of the country. After announcing Cook’s victory, host Ryan Seacrest let everyone know that Cook was “brought to us, by his brother,” Andrew Cook.

Turning to see his mother, Beth Foraker, and Andrew standing beside him onstage, Cook hugged Foraker, and then his younger brother, rubbing his head as he looked him in the eye and lifted the microphone to his mouth once again with a grin. “This is all your fault!”

“David is my best friend and to see him win American Idol, I could not have been prouder,” Andrew, who seems to share his brother’s authentic and candid nature, humbly tells me months later via email. Though currently studying Elementary Education at the University of Central Missouri, he is also a singer, and elaborates for me on how he accidentally became responsible for America’s newest Idol. “I saw my path as being just a regular college student, getting a degree and working a regular nine-to-five, but when I decided to try out for Idol, I was telling myself that something big is going to happen in my life.”

Although he claims not to have the same dedication to music as his older brother, he tried out for Idol in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was joined by Cook and Foraker. That’s when Cook was thrown into the reality show’s whirlwind purely on a whim, after never seeing Idol as his path. “I convinced David into trying out with me, and since then, we have never looked back,” Andrew explains. “I was so confident in David and I going to the next round [of auditions], but only one Cook made it through, and looking back I am glad it was David instead of me.”

“David came up to me one on one after the cattle call auditions and asked me, ‘Do you want me to continue farther into this competition or do you want me to stop here?’ I quickly told him, ‘David if you do quit right now, I am going to kick your (bad word that shouldn’t be printed).’”

As Cook and Johns sit before me, they seem to enjoy taking shots at each other with private jokes. Suddenly, the spitfire turns in my direction, and Cook’s dry wit rears its head as he begins to look at me both skeptically and
quizzically. “I’m just lookin’ at her face,” he says to Johns as I cut in to argue my point, but Cook continues his thought. “Like it’s a real ominous question!”

After I am able to complete my inquiry, he tells me his current musical inspirations are a “Muse, meets U2, meets Our Lady Peace kinda vibe.” He continues: “I mean, Muse’s live shows; that’s the kind of stuff that inspires me. Just to think that there’s a chance that I could get to this point where I could put a show together like that. I think about, after all, how it was for me standing in an audience and seeing stuff like that. To be on the other side of that, I think, would be the coolest feeling in the world; just to have that entire audience in the palm of your hand.

“The first show I ever did for a large crowd was, for like, a thousand people at my college; we opened for Smash Mouth,” Cook recalls. “When I walked out onstage, I got a look up at how tall the ceiling was, and that was the
barometer for me; the taller the ceiling, the bigger I’ve got.”

He couldn’t hide his awe and emotion later that night during his set on this large arena’s stage, staring up at one of the largest ceilings he’s ever played beneath. He asked that the house lights be turned up so that he could see his audience in its entirety and film them on his personal digital video camera. You could easily see the tears building up and the indisputable appreciation for where he was at that very moment. All of his hard work and passion had paid off, and whether he realized it or not, by the looks on their faces, he had that audience in the palm of his hand.

Since winning, the pace has picked up for Cook, and even while on tour, he has been recording his debut album—being produced by Rob Cavallo—due out Nov. 18. “After the finale, I came out here to New York, and I had three meetings with three different labels. The first one was RCA, and I walked in, sat down with Barry Weiss, and he said, ‘Before we get into it, the first thing I want to tell you is we want you to make the record that you want to make,’” says Cook. “So I cancelled my other two meetings.”

Although recording the album, plus touring and doing promotion, is unquestionably exhausting, he is enjoying every minute of it. “I get to travel the country playing music. Nothin’ wrong with that!” he states emphatically. In addition to the large amounts of work involved, there have been some moments that certainly keep things humorous. “We switched bus drivers like a week and a half in [to the tour],” Cook describes as he begins to laugh. “The first five feet that our new bus driver was driving, he hit a van; like, a parked van, literally going like two miles an hour.” Then there was Archuleta’s Nutter Butter incident. After announcing in an interview that they were his favorite snack, crates of the cookie began showing up at tour stops. “I always need socks and underwear. Medium boxer briefs, socks size 10-13!” Cook hints.

“Look who we got our Hanes on now!” Johns says in a sing-song voice.

“Goin’ for the necessities.”

One of the most important aspects of Cook’s life remains his nothing-but-supportive family. His older brother Adam, who is a big inspiration for his album, is currently battling cancer. Even so, taking all the necessary measures and precautions, he made it to Los Angeles at least once to watch Cook compete, the night he sang Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” and received some of his highest praise from Simon, Paula, and Randy.

“He’s dealing with something that allows me to put all of this in perspective. I’m able to go out every night and just enjoy this for what it is, and not get stressed out about all the mundane details.”

“He’s happy for you. That’s the coolest thing,” Johns adds.

While Cook continues on his surprise conduit, Andrew continues to find himself as an artist, and aspires to one day produce songs that he is 100 percent confident in. “With David being the older one, I grew up wanting to do exactly what he did. And even today I still want to; I just want to take a different path.” It seems as though the paths both Andrew and Cook set for themselves, were really meant for each other.
“Hopefully one day you can be looking through the CDs at the store and see Andrew Cook right next to David Cook. That would be a dream."

My Xmas Blog
December 27, 2008, 2:34 AM
OK, as I write this, I am putting the finishing touches on gift wrapping for the first time in literally 3 years. It’s been amazing just to be able to buy gifts this year, as opposed to convincing my brother to throw my name on things, and I’ll pay him back. (Which I never could…). By the way, I’m still holding out hope that he forgot about my little IOU, so keep it to yourself…

I certainly hope that each of you have an incredibly happy holiday season. Eat good food, get some cool stuff, GIVE some cool stuff, but most importantly, enjoy the time with the ones you care about. The one’s who let you show up to Christmas without presents and still love you all the same. It makes it all the sweeter when you finally get to pay them back for their patience. ☺

See you guys in ’09.

~D

P.S. – If you’re looking for something to fill that last little space at the rim of the stocking…. There’s a certain album by a certain person that may fit perfectly. (DISCLAIMER: FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE HINT… THE SELF-TITLED ALBUM FROM DAVID COOK IS ON SALE NOW!!!!)

Sorry… had to be done. Happy Holidays, guys.

Almost "Idol" Luke Menard is cancer free! "It's exciting to get that news," he told AccessHollywood.com. The Season Seven wannabe found out about his lymphoma just days after being booted from the competition. But that didn't stop "Idol" from helping Luke, providing him with funds to pay for his treatment. Season Seven winner David Cook helped the singer - who just released a new CD with his a cappella group "Chapter 6" - financially stay on his feet during the difficult time. Luke said his hometown held benefits and fans all over the world sent small bits of money to help pay for his chemotherapy. Who said "Idol" doesn't give back?

When you look at the Hot AC charts nowadays it's incredible how many former American Idol's rule the roost. Sitting at number one is last years winner David Cook with a rock and roll record heavy on the power chords and meaty guitar riffs. Cook's current single "The Time of my Life" has spent 32 weeks on the charts. In addition to Cook, David number two known as Archuleta isn't far behind with his first single titled "Crush." Further down the chart you'll find Carrie Underwood whose massive success has been unparrelled in country music and Kimberly Locke making a showing with "We Need a Little Christmas."
One artist who has matched Underwood in musical prowess is former Idol Chris Daughtry. Looking at the chart Daughtry has two singles in the top ten from his debut record that released over two years ago. Not only has the disc went four times platinum but it has hovered in the Billborad top five albums chart since its release.
Last year I had the opportunity to hook up with Chris as he garnered the opening slot with Nickelback. I was covering Chris for Fox Detroit, a short video interview  can be seen here.
I've never been the type of journalist to ask the real simple questions. I like being edgier and thinking outside of the box. I guess an example would be when I interviewed Damian Kulash of OKGO I didn't ask him about the treadmill video that launched his band.
I told Chris I wouldn't talk about 'that' show. It's not because I hate American Idol, it's because Chris does at least thirty interviews a week. During every one of those I guarantee most journalists' will mention Idol.
The interview went great so we moved to do a few quick television spots for the 6:00 News. They went fine as well and as we were leaving I told Chris I had to ask him one more thing.  I turned my wrist over (I wear watches backwards because the watch bands are often cooler then the watches.) As he stared down at my hand right there was my new 'American Idol' watch that I'd bought the day before at Big Lots for $5.  Chris smiled and laughed as his Road Manager asked what all the fuss was about. Chris said, "He's got on an American Idol watch!' We laughed as we made our way to the backstage door and I realized I'd told the truth, I showed him the watch but I'd never actually brought up American Idol!

It is American Idol (AI) time again. The eighth season of the phenomenal talent show unreels on Jan. 13. Of course, we will get it live. We will get it both ways, on Star World on cable and on Q-11 for free TV and like in the previous years there will surely be repeats two or three times that same day and replays on other days. That is how popular AI is among us Pinoys.

I am not surprised. American Idol is a blend of things we like to watch rolled up in one enjoyable reality package. It has glamour with big stars joining the fun. It is drama, lots of tears, fights and love-giving all around. It is funny, most contestants should go into comedy instead and judge Simon Cowell can be really witty. It is a musical, where we get to hear all those old songs we love. Best of all, although we can’t vote, it is one of the most suspenseful competitions ever.

Nowadays American Idol is also the fastest road to stardom. The previous winners have all done very well. Kelly Clarkson, Reuben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks and Jordin Sparks became instant stars. Some of them may now have some problems staying on top. But they were all Idols and something like that will always look good on anybody’s resume.

Even non-winners, think Chris Daughtry of the phenomenal Daughtry band and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, were able to ride the Idol wave to success. We may not hear as often from William Hung or Sanjaya Malakar as often these days, but you have to agree that they really made the most of their Idol stints. So we are once more curious as to who will be discovered this year.

Last season’s American Idol ended in the battle between two Davids. One, who emerged the winner, was the charismatic rocker David Cook. He could take any song and make it sound better as his own. The other one was David Archuleta, a kid who might have given AI, its very first tween idol and an excellent rival to the Jonas boys. You know, the adorable type who sings ditties like Crush and whom those 10-year-old girls will scream for.

Crush is indeed the title of Archuleta’s first single out of his first CD, also titled David Archuleta. This boy can sing and could be another Josh Groban. Remember his rendition of Heaven during the contest. But because he is teen idol material, he has to be promoting something cute like Crush.

Anyway, Archuleta does the song well and he gets to strut his real stuff in the other cuts. His version of Robbie Williams’ classic Angels is particularly moving and the sweet heartache tune To Be With You certainly shows that he would have also been a great choice for an American Idol. The other songs included are Touch My Hand, Barriers, My Hands, A Little Too Not Over You, You Can, Running, Desperate, Don’t Let Go and Your Eyes Don’t Lie.

Now the reason why Archuleta did not win was because he came up against David Cook. The guy was a quiet presence at the start but almost unobtrusively started amassing points with his superb singing. He had his own style and a knack for choosing unlikely songs that he always managed to turn into stunning performances. There were lots of people rooting for Archuleta towards the end but the voice of sanity won out and the more deserving contestant won.

David Cook by David Cook is a well-made rock album. Surprise! The guy also writes songs and he composed or co-wrote most of the songs in the CD. The music is pretty much formulaic for rock radio consumption. But what makes it a joy to listen to is David’s singing. He really feels the songs and you cannot help but get caught up with his emotions. These are at their barest and I must say rawest in the metal tinged Bar-ba-sol and in the heart-rending ballad Permanent.

David Cook does not have one bad cut. It is one of those albums wherein the songs just flow from one to the other in smooth transition. There are also lots of potential singles from among Declaration, Heroes, Light On, Come Back to Me, Life On the Moon, Mr. Sensitive, Lie, I Did It For You, Avalanche and A Daily Anthem.

 For his closer, there is his American Idol song, The Time of My Life. And it ends the CD well. But where on earth is his version of Mariah Carey’s Always Be My Baby or of Collective Soul’s The World I Know or Dream Big, Billie Jean, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, or of I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing? Those songs may not be originals but I wanted to have them all together in Cook’s first album.

‘LIGHT ON’ Looking hot on his self-titled album which carries the carrier single “Light On.” According to All Music senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine, “[His enthusiasm] makes David Cook a likable record: he’s so happy to be here it’s hard not to warm to him at least a little bit. After all, it’s hard to be mad at somebody who wants nothing more than to make an album that could be played comfortably between the Toadies and Third Eye Blind.”
LOS ANGELES—At one point on the road he’s still on, leading from American Idol to the iPod promotions and summer shed tours of actual rock stardom, David Cook recently stopped for a bite to eat. In the car with him was Raine Maida, the Canadian singer and songwriter who fronts Our Lady Peace, a band Cook famously loves. v The 25-year-old newbie had seen the 38-year-old veteran perform numerous times back when Our Lady Peace was on the rise and Cook was still just a Midwestern kid making demos on the weekends. Now here they were, driving around on a break from writing songs for Cook’s major-label debut.
“I had one moment with Raine when I asked him about the first time I saw him live,” said Cook during an interview in the West Hollywood offices of the Idol-driven management company 19 Entertainment. “It was at this music festival in Kansas City called Rockfest. I was really engrossed in his performance—he didn’t look at the audience the whole time he was performing. Watching him that day, I would have been so apprehensive about meeting him.”
Cook smiled his famous room-warming smile. “Raine goes, ‘Oh, yeah...I had a 104-degree temperature. I was so dizzy, I couldn’t look up,’” he recalled.
And so the eyes of the most charmingly ambitious Idol since Kelly Clarkson were opened just a little bit wider. For Cook, whose eponymous album was released recently on RCA Records, the biggest prize so far has been the friendships he’s forged with mentors such as Maida, artists whose influence shaped his own warm, inspirational sound.
“Had I not been able to write with people whom I not only respected but admired and looked up to, it would have been a much harder process,” said Cook. “To be able to walk into a room and know that I was going to probably love any idea these people came up with made it so much easier. And it certainly helped that the people I admired the most seemed to be the nicest people and treated me completely as an equal and allowed me a little bit of confidence in a very unconfident situation.”
Much has been made of Cook’s status as the “heaviest” rocker American Idol has produced. His album’s first single, “Light On,” was cowritten by Seattle rock titan Chris Cornell and flyover rock mastermind Brian Howes. He’s already nabbed the authenticating spot of musical guest on Saturday Night Live, becoming the first Idol to do so before his first album was released.
And an iPhone application has been issued that allows fans to play “Light On” and trigger a simulation of that ultimate rock-concert semaphore, the upheld lighter.
Yet, Cook’s specific loyalties within rock’s vast landscape might be what’s most interesting about him. Making his dream album, he’s also refocusing attention on a little-considered corner of the genre: the literate but accessible strain that arose after the alternative-rock explosion of the mid-1990s, fitting midway between the underground and the mainstream.
Chris Daughtry, Cook’s predecessor in establishing rock as a viable Idol category, made a similar move when he gave props to his favorite band, Live, on the program. Cook has taken it further, not only competing on Idol with songs by Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul, but also enlisting a focused list of cowriters for his album, including Maida and his wife, Chantal Kreviazuk; Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls; Better Than Ezra’s Kevin Griffin; Nixons founder Zac Maloy and Atlanta hard rockers Injected.
“I think the collaborations I’ve been able to do just made this record,” said Cook. “I just tried really hard to hold my own and not come across as some kid awestruck with fear.”
Cook’s writing partners hardly represent the height of rock fashion; like the young singer-songwriter himself, they are a steady lot, making music that engenders loyalty from a core fan base instead of media buzz. To call them “postgrunge” reduces the regional breadth and continued appeal of these artists, who hail from nearly every point on the North American map and have made their bread and butter releasing steady-selling albums and playing summer rock festivals for more than a decade.
“His favorite bands are not necessarily mainstream artists that sell millions and millions,” said Rob Cavallo, who produced Cook’s debut. “But that’s actually characteristic of a lot of artists that I’ve worked with and talked to. He seems to be a part of that scene.”
Maida, who continues to make music with Our Lady Peace, as well as cowrites hits with Kreviazuk for the likes of Avril Lavigne and Clarkson, sees his career and Cook’s in a cyclical light. Our Lady Peace has sold millions of albums and remains a top Canadian live draw, but lately Maida has returned to the independent status Cook is just now escaping.
“I love the whole journey of it,” said Maida by phone from his home in Toronto. “I wouldn’t have been able to get here without being there first—without selling a bunch of records and being able to play a lot of big places. My solo record came from having a studio record in my house, and I released it independently. Owning the masters is a big deal for me.
“David is coming through it from the other end. He made five or six records on his own. Now he’s on a major label. And me, I don’t have someone paying for my projects, and I love it. Life is like that.”
Maida’s four cowrites with Cook are standouts on an album that’s consistently well-crafted and thoughtful, despite having been made while the singer was still on the annual American Idol tour. One track both writers and producer Cavallo single out is “Permanent,” a ballad penned for Cook’s brother Adam, whose continuing struggle with cancer has become a key element of his brother’s public story.
“I purposely tried to be a storyteller on this particular song,” said Cook of “Permanent,” which features a spare production highlighted by piano and strings. “I made it known what I was talking about. But it’s still written in a way that people can take what they want out of it.”
Cook’s ultimate goal, when he feels up to looking that far into the future, is to become a career artist who can tour on his own terms and write for himself and others. Not unlike Maida.
As for the Canadian rocker, he’s just happy to have made Cook’s acquaintance.
“On a personal level, I have a new friend,” he said. “I admire what he’s been able to do. In terms of Our Lady Peace and my own music—the cowriting that I do helps me see different sides of the pop spectrum....Every  time I get to cowrite with someone I learn from them.” Cook would certainly agree. But what’s funny about his debut is that its best song might be the one he wrote entirely on his own: “A Daily Anthem,” an energizing ode to the magic of—what else—a great power ballad. This song, which Cook wrote before he was famous, describes and establishes the bar he sets for himself.
“My goals have always been based on the premise hope for the best, expect the worst,” he said. “I expect this record to be a solid record. I hope it’s an important record. That’s kind of how I operate.”

NEW YORK — When he was on "American Idol," David Cook - as cool as a cucumber for much of last season - fought back tears after performing for a studio audience that included his brother Adam, who's fighting brain cancer.
It was a moment of raw emotion, winning Cook the sympathy of viewers who've also been touched by tragedy.
Cook's tears have flowed more freely in private. The 25-year-old rocker, who won the Fox competition in May, fuelled his anguish over Adam's illness into the gut-wrenching ballad "Permanent," one of 13 songs on his namesake debut album.
After recording the track in two takes, "I actually called my dad and wept openly for about 10 minutes," he says.
"Anytime you can create something where what's in your head actually comes out the way you originally heard it, it can be pretty overwhelming and pretty heavy," he adds. "I just remember being completely knocked on my (butt) by this song."
Cook is hoping listeners have a similar experience when they listen to the rest of "David Cook," which comes six months after he snagged the "Idol" crown. Recorded in a span of 10 weeks, it's packed with power ballads that accentuate his anthemic voice.
"I wanted to come out with a record that was both heavy and delicate and had some eclectic-ness to it," he says during a break in rehearsals before a recent appearance on "Saturday Night Live." "So I feel like we've got this record that meanders and takes people on a journey a little bit."
Cook's path to stardom took the fast-track after he auditioned for "Idol." A working musician/bartender based in Tulsa, Okla., he auditioned for the talent competition on a lark.
He joined younger brother Andrew on the line for moral support and was persuaded to try out, eventually facing Simon Cowell in the judges' chambers. Cook made it to Hollywood but Andrew didn't.
Once "Idol" started, Cowell was one of Cook's biggest critics, condemning him for lacking personality. But the boyishly handsome singer clung on each week, gaining momentum after a midseason makeover that included manly facial scruff and a much-needed haircut.
He ultimately won over Cowell with rock-infused covers of pop songs (like Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby") that were downloaded by thousands of fans.
If only he could remember his big moment.
"I actually watched it back and was like, 'I don't remember doing any of that,' " Cook muses about the finale. "I can't tell you what it was like to stand up there and hug Archie (runner-up David Archuleta) after the fact."
While 17-year-old Archuleta controlled the tween voting bloc, Cook held sway over smitten fans - many of them women of a certain age - who delivered at the polls (the phones), propelling him to his title. Cook laughs off all that "cougar" love, claiming a lack of heartthrob appeal.
"I've never ever looked at myself or thought of myself as that," says the singer, whose bright hazel eyes, bee-stung lips and mussed hair add a sexy mystique to his nice-guy demeanour.
"I'm just this goober who likes crosswords and plays music. And that's really what I am. The whole rock-star mythos thing, man, does not apply to me in the least."
If he had to chalk his success up to something, though, he'd say his emotional honesty made the ladies swoon.
"I didn't put up a front," says Cook, who dates former "Idol" contestant Kimberly Caldwell. "I wasn't trying to be anything else. I wasn't trying to cater to any particular person. I just was on the show, you know? And so, when I cried, it was real. When I laughed, it was real. And, I don't know. Maybe that hit a nerve with some people."
Following the "Idol" finale, Cook jumped immediately into writing sessions for his album. He recruited Grammy-winning producer Rob Cavallo and a team of songwriters including Chris Cornell, Brian Howes and Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls.
Cavallo compares Cook to big-voiced former Journey frontman Steve Perry, who dropped by the studio while Cook was recording.
"He really is an unbelievably gifted singer," Cavallo says of Cook. "There's no song on the record that he didn't sing in two or three takes. . . . He can sing harmony to any of his songs automatically without even thinking about it."
Ironically, Archuleta is beating Cook on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. The pop singer's "Crush" sits at No. 22, while Cook's first single "Light On" has dropped to 89th place after debuting at No. 17 last month. It ranks at No. 18 on Billboard's Hot Adult Top 40.
Cook marvels at his own journey from nobody to reality TV star. But he understands that the transition to rock star will be a harder one to pull off.
"I mean, look, there's way better musicians out there than me, there's way better singers out there than me," says Cook.
"The problem is they never get the opportunity to do this. And I think that's what 'Idol' represents. It's an opportunity. It's not a golden ticket. It's not a free pass."

As Richard Rushfield of the Los Angeles Times has pointed out this week, the fan wars triggered by last year's epic finale showdown between David Cook and David Archuleta are still going on. All you have to do is read the comments of any blog post that tries to compare the two.

It's interesting to dig deeper into this phenomenon. Here are some of my observations:
• Personal taste aside, both singers are talented. Archuleta, a former "Star Search" winner, was essentially groomed to be a pop music star. Along the way he's had professional vocal training and even took a Babizon modeling class. Some top vocal trainers have praised his skills, even though such "runs" are sometimes criticized as showboating on "Idol."

Cook, meanwhile, made an impact on the show with a crowd-pleasing ability to apply contemporary rock styling to older songs, such as "Hello" by Lionel Richie and "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles. Unlike Archuleta, he labored away as a bartender and bar-band frontman for years before getting his break on "Idol." Cook came across as a more polished showman than Archuleta. And Cook's no slouch in the voice department either.

• They are not competing in the marketplace. Cook's debut CD is straight-ahead rock, while Archuleta's is primarily pop, bordering on adult contemporary.

• They like and respect each other. Both report a big-brother, little-brother type of relationship that continues through frequent text messaging.

Bottom line: If you prefer one David or another, please keep in mind that any sense of competition between the two is long over. And when it did really exist, it was a construct of a TV show geared at manufacturing conflict for the sake of TV ratings.

None of this means you can't express a preference for one or the other. It just means that dissing the other one is really kind of pointless.

David Cook is down with the gays. He tells Logo’s NewNowNext Blog that if he could have voted on Proposition 8 in California, he would have voted NO.
David says, “Human rights is human rights, and I don’t really see how sexuality parlays into whether or not you’re a human being.” He adds that in his house growing up, “general tolerance” was “kind of the norm” and that he can’t recall ever feeling uncomfortable with the idea of sexuality, whether it be his own, or anybody else’s.
Does David listen to superstar music? Well, a girlfriend turned him on to Ani DiFranco back in college…
Very interesting interview. It’s not often Idols make controversial political statements in public. I find it refreshing.
ETA: Just to amend my “controversial” comment–you’ll notice that Idols rarely give opinions on the big issues of the day. Even when Chris Daughtry did work for the political campaign this year, he took great pains not to choose sides–he performed for both the Democratic and Republican conventions. There’s an expectation for Idols, particularly a sitting Idol, that they don’t rock the boat, because the Idol viewing audience is vast and encompasses all types of people. The fact that David would make a statement on a controversial issue is a real departure for an Idol. Also, if I’m not mistaken, he is the first sitting Idol to interview with a GLBT publication.

David Cook: “It’s An Interesting Time To Be A Homosexual”: David Cook is speaking out about California’s Prop 8 and gay rights to LOGO’s NewNowNext. “Human rights is human rights and I don’t really see how sexuality parlays into whether or not you’re a human being. I grew up in a really cool area of the country where tolerance was kind of the norm. I can’t recall at any point in my life ever feeling uncomfortable about sexuality whether it be my own or anyone else’s,” David said during the interview. “It’s an interesting time to be a homosexual in this country. I hope that very soon we get to this point where we look back now, [like] on women’s rights and that struggle in the 20’s - I hope this is another hurdle this country can overcome really quick.”

It wasn't that we weren't ready for season 8 of American Idol to start, but on premiere night, we couldn't pass up one last look back at season 7. And so, instead of being glued to our TV at 8:00 p.m., we watched David Cook wow a crowd of several hundred diehard fans — live! — on the Jimmy Kimmel Live outdoor stage, in what was undoubtedly a stroke of booking genius. Perhaps you caught some of the performance on Tuesday night's show? Well, let us fill you in on what you didn't see.
Cook played a five-song mini-set that kicked off with his debut single, "Light On," and included a rousing version of "Kiss on My Neck," a bonus track offered with his self-titled album, as well as one very ambitious cover of Fleetwood Mac's 1987 hit "Little Lies". There was lots of sing-along going on, as the audience took over the chorus on "Declaration" and handled the breakdown in "Light On" with aplomb, which made for a cheery Cook and a confident, now super-tight band. Band members Neal Tiemann, Andy Skib, Joey Clement and Kyle Peek brought the rock, but it was Idol worship all the way. The proof was in the signage: "David Cook Is My Guitar Hero," "I heart DC" and "Marry Me, David," among other homemade banners held high by teens and cougars alike, some of whom had been waiting out in the L.A. heat all day in hopes of scoring a front row spot.
But we've got some good news for fans aching for their own live dose of Cook: He's heading out on a college tour starting Feb. 13. Following a performance to open the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando on Feb. 12, Cook will hit the road for a month's worth of dates, starting in Tallahassee, Fla.. The full tour routing should be announced this week, Cook told us after the show.
What else did our reigning American Idol winner have to say on this premiere night? Read on for our quickie Cookie Q&A...
What can you tell us about the tour?
We're gonna do a kind of grassroots thing and hit a lot of colleges. Because I remember going to shows in my college life and feeling like there's such a cool energy that you don't find in a regular venue. Like in the '70s, all these amazing bands were playing college circuits, and I want to get back to that. It's what I'm really stoked about — not only do I get to go out with four cool guys and have fun, but I get to do what I want to do.
Any thoughts on openers?
We'll take on any comers, man. My vibe right now is that we just want it to be real. I want whoever goes to the show to come out and feel like they got way too much for what they paid for.
Your cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies" was unexpected. Are you a big fan?
I'm more of a cursory fan. It was an idea that my guitar player Neil brought up, and I was, like, "Oh yeah, I remember this song." He and I tossed it around and worked it out. It's fun to play, it's got a cool energy and when you throw on the distorted guitars, it works.  
You're obviously no stranger to big moments on live television, but what was it like to receive your first platinum plaque on "New Year's Rockin' Eve?"
I was a little bit in shock, so my reaction was not indicative of how I felt. I was just so focused in on the performance that night that it was like, "OK, what?! There's a platinum record right there. It's legit!" But it was an amazing plaque and it looks very nice in the house. Hopefully I'll get a few more to add to the collection.
Idol is starting up as we speak. Will you be watching this season?
I Tivo'd it. But it's funny, I was telling my manager earlier, everything is so fresh all of a sudden. To talk about Idol again, I remember how it felt to do city auditions and get to Hollywood. I'm anxious and nervous for these people. So I'll probably watch it with half a fingernail hanging on, chewing them to the nub.
According to new judge Kara Dioguardi, the guys are looking good this year. Do you feel like you and David Archuleta had anything to do with an impressive male turnout?
Talent is talent and I'm certainly not at the point where I feel responsible for anyone. It's all much bigger than me. But I'm excited to see how the changes go and I'm always on the lookout for another good rocker. I'm still amazed that it happened to me!

Hey Kelly, I went to AppleBee's for dinner last night and I heard Light On. Was awesome to hear David there. :bigsmile I just got his CD and it's really good. Thanks for all the news. Would love to see him on tour. Maybe he'll sing on AI this year.

Sweet!!! DavidCook.com announced his tour dates. I like to see him in Towson on April 3rd. :bouncy I see he's coming to IL in April too. Is that near you Kelly? Hope you can be able to see him. Do you know when tickets go on sale and how you can get them like at ticketmaster? I only seen 2 dates there so far.

(Jan. 23) - Hot off the release of his debut self-titled album, 'Idol' winner David Cook is hitting the road for a full-fledged Spring tour. The singer (and well-documented cougar bait) will kick things off on February 13 at Florida State University, and end up at the University of Tulsa, Oklahama, on April 25. Cook has drawn inspiration from arena-rock staples U2, telling PopEater, "Seeing U2 at the Super Bowl a few year back. It was just very poignant. Not overdone, but definitely powerful." Check out the full list of tour dates below.
Friday, February 13th - Tallahasee, Fl - Florida State University
Saturday, February 14th - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage
Sunday, February 15th - Oxford, MS - Ole Miss
Wednesday, February 18th - Eau Claire, WI - University of Wisconsin
Thursday February 19th - Cedar Falls, IA - University of Northern Iowa
Friday, February 20th - Green Bay, WI - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Saturday, February 21st - Valparaiso, IN - Valparaiso University
Monday, February 23rd - Waverly, IA – Warlburg
Tuesday, February 24th - Fullton, MO – Westminster
Wednesday, February 25th - Conway, AR - Central Arkansas University
Friday, February 27th- Portsmouth, OH - Shawnee State University
Sunday, March 1st - Newburgh, NY - Mount St. Mary
Tuesday, March 3rd - Carlisie, PA – Dickenson
Friday, March 6th - Morgantown, WV - W Virginia University
Sunday, March 8th - Willimantic, CT - Eastern Connecticut State University
Tuesday, March 10th - Poughkeepsie, NY - Marist College
Friday, March 13th - Niagara Falls, NY - Seneca Niagara Casino
Saturday, March 14th - Elkins, WV - Davis and Elkins
Monday, March 16th - Bloomington, PA - Bloomington University
Thursday, March 19th - Mansfield, PA - Mansfield University
Friday, March 20th - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata
Saturday, March 21st - Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata
Monday, March 23rd – Selinsgrove, PA - Susquehanna University
Tuesday, March 24th- York, PA - Penn State York
Thursday, March 26th - Blues Creek, NC - Campbell, University
Friday, March 27th - Pemberton, NJ - Burlington Community College
Monday, March 30th - New London, NH - Colby Sawyer College
Tuesday, March 31st - New Haven, CT - So. CT State
Thursday, April 2nd - Wilmington, NC - Azalea Fest at Wilmington University
Friday, April 3rd - Towson, MD - Towson University
Sunday, April 5th - Radford, VA - Radford University
Wednesday, April 8th - Macon, GA - Mercer University
Tuesday, April 14th - Macomb, IL - Western Illinois University
Tuesday, April 21st - Searcy, AR - Harding University
Wednesday, April 22nd - Kansas City, MO - Ameristar Casino
Saturday, April 25th - Tulsa, OK - University of Tulsa

The Declaration Tour 2009
JANUARY 26, 2009, 6:10 PM
Last Season’s American Idol Winner, Kicks off his first Headline tour “The Declaration Tour – 2009” in Tallahassee, FL on February 13th.
LOS ANGELES (Monday, January 26, 2009) – Reigning American Idol winner, David Cook, has announced plans for his first ever solo tour to promote his debut self-titled album, released in November 2008. This will be first time that Cook has been on the road since headlining the American Idol season 7 tour. Cook exclusively unveiled his tour dates on AOL Music’s PopEater.com on Friday, January 23rd.
Cook entered the Billboard charts at #3 with David Cook (19 Recordings / RCA Records). The Rob Cavallo produced album also debuted as the #1 album on the digital album chart and is the best debut from an American Idol winner since 2006. The first single, “Light On,” dominated the AOL Top 40 radio chart with 8 (non consecutive) weeks at #1 and is currently Top 10 at Hot AC radio and still growing. In late September “Light On” premiered on AOL Music’s pop culture news site, PopEater.com, receiving over 1 million plays in less than week.
Rolling Stone Magazine deemed Cook “the most imaginative American Idol talent to date.”
“I’m more than excited to hop on the road and support this record. This tour represents both a new beginning and a return to form for me,” said Cook. “It’s our first full tour, and we’re all ready to pour whatever blood, sweat, and tears that we can muster into making this show, and every show from here on out, an experience. Part of that experience is bringing back this college tour idea. There’s something inherently nostalgic about playing college shows. So many amazing acts used to do it, so it’s nice to be able to bring that ideal back, in some small way. And besides, touring on a bus beats what we used to do, which was cram five guys into a 7 passenger van for one show, 13 hours away... ”
Cook’s first single, “The Time of My Life” recently went platinum, with over one million tracks sold. “The Time of My Life” is not only the biggest single debut but the highest selling coronation single in the show’s history. Cook is the 34th "American Idol" contestant to appear on a Billboard chart.
Cook kicked off 2009 by performing for troops during a USO tour. He visited seven different bases, singing songs off his self-titled album.
On February 12, Walt Disney World Resort will host the world premiere of their new blockbuster attraction, “The American Idol Experience” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. David Cook will perform live from the attraction on GOOD MORNING AMERICA (ABC) that morning, and will headline a special guest performance during the night’s event.
“The Declaration Tour – 2009” will kick off February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, FL and will continue nationwide hitting various college campus and major venues.
The full schedule for David Cook’s tour is as follows:
Friday, February 13th - Tallahasee, Fl - Florida State University
Saturday, February 14th - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage
Sunday, February 15th - Oxford, MS - Ole Miss
Wednesday, February 18th - Eau Claire, WI - University of Wisconsin
Thursday February 19th - Cedar Falls, IA - University of Northern Iowa
Friday, February 20th - Green Bay, WI - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Saturday, February 21st - Valparaiso, IN - Valparaiso University
Monday, February 23rd - Waverly, IA – Warlburg
Tuesday, February 24th - Fullton, MO – Westminster
Wednesday, February 25th - Conway, AR - Central Arkansas University
Friday, February 27th- Portsmouth, OH - Shawnee State University
Sunday, March 1st - Newburgh, NY - Mount St. Mary
Tuesday, March 3rd - Carlisie, PA – Dickenson
Friday, March 6th - Morgantown, WV - W Virginia University
Sunday, March 8th - Willimantic, CT - Eastern Connecticut State University
Tuesday, March 10th - Poughkeepsie, NY - Marist College
Friday, March 13th - Niagara Falls, NY - Seneca Niagara Casino
Saturday, March 14th - Elkins, WV - Davis and Elkins
Monday, March 16th - Bloomington, PA - Bloomington University
Thursday, March 19th - Mansfield, PA - Mansfield University
Friday, March 20th - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata
Saturday, March 21st - Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata
Monday, March 23rd – Selinsgrove, PA - Susquehanna University
Tuesday, March 24th- York, PA - Penn State York
Thursday, March 26th - Blues Creek, NC - Campbell, University
Friday, March 27th - Pemberton, NJ - Burlington Community College
Monday, March 30th - New London, NH - Colby Sawyer College
Tuesday, March 31st - New Haven, CT - So. CT State
Thursday, April 2nd - Wilmington, NC - Azalea Fest at Wilmington University
Friday, April 3rd - Towson, MD - Towson University
Sunday, April 5th - Radford, VA - Radford University
Wednesday, April 8th - Macon, GA - Mercer University
Tuesday, April 14th - Malcomb, IL - Western Illinois University
Tuesday, April 21st - Searcy, AR - Harding University
Wednesday, April 22nd - Kansas City, MO - Ameristar Casino
Saturday, April 25th - Tulsa, OK - University of Tulsa

Awww Kelly, I'm so sorry you can't see him. :hugg At least I'm sure the concerts could be on YouTube. Not sure If I can be able to go yet. My sister is thinking about going with me. I hope so. Thanks for the info. I called there a few days ago and the girl on the phone didn't even know he was coming. I'm checking his site when the ticket thing is up.

'David Cook" Certified Platinum
DAVID COOK’S SELF TITLED DEBUT CD IS CERTIFIED PLATINUM BY THE RIAA FOR SALES EXCEEDING 1 MILLION UNITS
Last Season’s American Idol Winner, Kicks off his first Headline tour “The Declaration Tour – 2009” in Tallahassee, FL on February 13th.
(New York –NY) David Cook’s self titled debut cd has been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding 1 million units. American Idol Cook is set to kick off his first headline tour, “The Declaration Tour – 2009” in Tallahassee, FL on February 13th.
Released on November 18th, 2008, David Cook (19 Recordings / RCA Records) entered the Billboard charts at #3 and the digital album charts at #1, marking the best debut from an American Idol winner since 2006. Collectively the songs from David Cook have sold over 2 million tracks and ringtones combined. The first single, “Light On,” dominated the AOL Top 40 radio chart with 8 (non consecutive) weeks at #1 and is currently Top 10 at Hot AC radio and still growing. In late September “Light On” premiered on AOL Music’s pop culture news site, PopEater.com, receiving over 1 million plays in less than a week.
Cook’s coronation single, “The Time of My Life” recently went platinum, with over one million tracks sold. “The Time of My Life” is not only the biggest single debut but the highest selling coronation single in the show’s history. “The Time of My Life” also held the #1 position at mainstream AC radio for nearly 4 months straight. Cook is the 34th "American Idol" contestant to appear on a Billboard chart.
Cook kicked off 2009 by performing for troops during a USO tour. He visited seven different bases, singing songs off his self-titled album.

Catch David Cook on Good Morning America as he kicks off his first nationwide tour tomorrow morning, live from the American Idol Exhibit in Disneyworld at 7 AM on ABC.

"We just play the doting boyfriend and girlfriend," Cook told US in October of their relationship.
David & Kimberly Call It Quits
American Idol alums David Cook and Kimberly Caldwell won't be dueting on any love songs. A source tells US the couple split just before Christmas. "They didn't want to make a big deal about it," another insider says of the pair, who started dating in June after Cook, 26, asked out the Season 2 contestant while she was interviewing him on TV. The reason for the split? "He has a lot of options and wants to explore them", the pal tells US. "He doesn't want to be tied down." As for one tabloid report that the Season 7 winner planned to propose to Caldwell, 26, with a 2-carat Tiffany diamond, the source says, "That rumor was not true. The relationship just sort of dissolved."

Romance Cooked David Cook and Kimberly Caldwell are no more. The breakup of David, the winner of last season's American Idol, and Kimberly, a season 2 contestant, was confirmed by reps for the two singers. "Kimberly and David ended their relationship just before the holidays," says Caldwell's spokesperson. "The couple remain good friends and, being very private people, appreciate their privacy at this time." The duo started dating after David's Idol win last May.

Hair Apparents Haven't we seen Adan Lambert before? At least, his hair? The L.A. native is just one of several Idol contestants whose rocker look is similar - OK, identical - to the banged 'do of last year's winner, David Cook. "It's deja vu," jokes Idol makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy. "They're like, 'Oh, he won so I'll get that look!'"

Hollywood Valentines: Cupid's Most Wanted: The Sexiest Single Stars!
#10 DAVID COOK
The American Idol winner – who's heading out on his first solo tour the day before Valentine's Day – just split from fellow Idol singer Kimberly Caldwell in mid-January. So what does he look for in a girl? "Confidence and compassion," he tells PEOPLE. "To have both means you are probably a pretty well-rounded woman."

Reigning American Idol winner, David Cook, has announced plans for his first ever solo tour to promote his debut self-titled album, released in November 2008. This will be first time that Cook has been on the road since headlining the American Idol season 7 tour. Cook exclusively unveiled his tour dates on AOL Music's PopEater.com on Friday, January 23rd.

Cook entered the Billboard charts at #3 with David Cook (19 Recordings / RCA Records). The Rob Cavallo produced album also debuted as the #1 album on the digital album chart and is the best debut from an American Idol winner since 2006. The first single, "Light On," dominated the AOL Top 40 radio chart with 8 (non consecutive) weeks at #1 and is currently Top 10 at Hot AC radio and still growing. In late September "Light On" premiered on AOL Music's pop culture news site, PopEater.com, receiving over 1 million plays in less than week.

Rolling Stone Magazine deemed Cook "the most imaginative American Idol talent to date."

"I'm more than excited to hop on the road and support this record. This tour represents both a new beginning and a return to form for me," said Cook. "It's our first full tour, and we're all ready to pour whatever blood, sweat, and tears that we can muster into making this show, and every show from here on out, an experience. Part of that experience is bringing back this college tour idea. There's something inherently nostalgic about playing college shows. So many amazing acts used to do it, so it's nice to be able to bring that ideal back, in some small way. And besides, touring on a bus beats what we used to do, which was cram five guys into a 7 passenger van for one show, 13 hours away... "

Cook's first single, "The Time of My Life" recently went platinum, with over one million tracks sold. "The Time of My Life" is not only the biggest single debut but the highest selling coronation single in the show's history. Cook is the 34th "American Idol" contestant to appear on a Billboard chart.

Cook kicked off 2009 by performing for troops during a USO tour. He visited seven different bases, singing songs off his self-titled album.

On February 12, Walt Disney World Resort will host the world premiere of their new blockbuster attraction, "The American Idol Experience" at Disney's Hollywood Studios. David Cook will perform live from the attraction on GOOD MORNING AMERICA (ABC) that morning, and will headline a special guest performance during the night's event.

"The Declaration Tour - 2009" will kick off February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, FL and will continue nationwide hitting various college campus and major venues.

The full schedule for David Cook's tour is as follows:

    * Friday, February 13th - Tallahassee, Fl - Florida State University
    * Saturday, February 14th - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage
    * Sunday, February 15th - Oxford, MS - Ole Miss
    * Wednesday, February 18th - Eau Claire, WI- University of Wisconsin
    * Thursday February 19th - Cedar Falls, IA - University of Northern Iowa
    * Friday, February 20th - Green Bay, WI- University of Wisconsin- Green Bay
    * Saturday, February 21st - Valparaiso, IN- Valparaiso University
    * Monday, February 23rd - Waverly, IA - Warlburg
    * Tuesday, February 24th - Fulton, MO- Westminster
    * Wednesday, February 25th - Conway, AR- Central Arkansas University
    * Friday, February 27th- Portsmouth, OH - Shawnee State University
    * Sunday, March 1st - Newburgh, NY- Mount St. Mary
    * Tuesday, March 3rd - Carlisle, PA- Dickenson
    * Friday, March 6th - Morgantown, WV- W Virginia University
    * Sunday, March 8th - Willimantic, CT- Eastern Connecticut State University
    * Tuesday, March 10th - Poughkeepsie, NY- Marist College
    * Friday, March 13th - Niagara Falls, NY- Seneca Niagara Casino
    * Saturday, March 14th - Elkins, WV- Davis and Elkins
    * Monday, March 16th - Bloomington, PA- Bloomington University
    * Thursday, March 19th - Mansfield, PA- Mansfield University
    * Friday, March 20th - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata
    * Saturday, March 21st - Atlantic City, NJ- Borgata
    * Monday, March 23rd - Selinsgrove, PA- Susquehanna University
    * Tuesday, March 24th- York, PA- Penn State York
    * Thursday, March 26th - Blues Creek, NC- Campbell, University
    * Friday, March 27th - Pemberton, NJ- Burlington Community College
    * Monday, March 30th - New London, NH- Colby Sawyer College
    * Tuesday, March 31st - New Haven, CT - So. CT State
    * Thursday, April 2nd - Wilmington, NC- Azalea Fest at Wilmington University
    * Friday, April 3rd - Towson, MD- Towson University
    * Sunday, April 5th - Radford, VA- Radford University
    * Wednesday, April 8th - Macon, GA- Mercer University
    * Tuesday, April 14th - Malcomb, IL- Western Illinois University
    * Tuesday, April 21st - Searcy, AR- Harding University
    * Wednesday, April 22nd - Kansas City, MO- Ameristar Casino
    * Saturday, April 25th - Tulsa, OK- University of Tulsa

NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE) Records/Atlantic recording artist Ryan Star has announced details of a major U.S. tour. The acclaimed New York-based rocker will join David Cook for the trek, kicking off February 13th at Florida State University's Club Down Under in Tallahassee (see itinerary below) with a special hometown headline performance at The Bowery Ballroom on March 17th. The dates then continue through late April. The tour heralds the release of Star's long awaited label debut, "11:59," which arrives everywhere this summer. The album is preceded by the single, "Last Train Home," which is impacting now at Hot AC radio outlets nationwide. The track is currently available via iTunes and all digital services, while a companion video has just completed production and is slated to premiere shortly.

In the meantime, Star's music is featured in a number of high profile promotions. "This Could Be The Year" was included in two commercials aired during last Sunday's Super Bowl festivities, including spots promoting NFL's Pro Bowl and NBC's upcoming series, "Kings." "This Could Be The Year" is streaming now on NBC.com's music page at www.nbc.com/featured_music. In addition, Star's "Brand New Day" is serving as the main theme to Fox's new series, "Lie To Me." His recent single, "Right Now," was among the songs soundtracking both The NFL Network & Nike Presents, "Total Access: Nike REWIND" and ESPN's "Red Bull: New Year No Limits."

Produced by Grammy Award-winner Matt Serletic (matchbox twenty, Collective Soul) with additional production by Howard Benson (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance), "11:59" sees Ryan Star seamlessly melding traditional rock elements with captivating rhythms and resonant narratives. Thoughtfully and meticulously created, the album highlights the Dix Hills, New York-native's stripped-bare vocal style and high-octane energy level.

Star first drew national attention as a member of the band Stage. Upon embarking on a solo career, he honed his skills performing in clubs across New York, including Joe's Pub and Rockwood Music Hall. He continued to build a fervent fan following as a MySpace Featured Artist, as well as by competing on CBS' reality series, "Rock Star: Supernova."

Ryan's stellar songwriting and natural-born showmanship have earned him acclaim from a variety of publications, including Newsday, which recently hailed "Last Train Home" for taking "the drama and vocal power Star has conjured for years and (welding) it to an undeniable rock hook." Newsday also praised "Right Now" as "a massive rock anthem signaling Star's pending arrival."

For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit www.rstar.net and www.myspace.com/rstar.

(TOUR ITINERARY BELOW)

 
                     RYAN STAR - ON TOUR 2009
                  All Dates w/David Cook Except +
                     * Open to Students Only
                         +Headline Date

FEBRUARY
13  Tallahassee, FL      Club Down Under at FSU
14  Biloxi, MS           Beau Rivage Theatre
15  University, MS       Gertrude Castello Performing Arts Center
18  Eau Claire, WI       University of Wisconsin Council Fire Room
19  Cedar Falls, IA      University of Northern Iowa
20  Green Bay, WI        University of Wisconsin Weidner Center
21  Valparaiso, IN       Valparaiso University Ballroom
23  Waverly, IA          Wartburg College Neuman Auditorium
24  Fulton, MO           Westminster College Champ Auditorium
25  Conway, AR           UCA Reynolds Performance Hall
27  Portsmouth, OH       Shawnee State University Verne Riffe Center

MARCH
1   Newburgh, NY         Mt. St. Mary College Aquinas Theater
2   Brookville, NY       Long Island University CW Post Lecture Hall *
3   Carlisle, PA         Dickinson College Anita Tuvin Auditorium
6   Morgantown, WV       West Virginia University Mountainair Ballroom
8   Willimantic, CT      Eastern Connecticut State Shafer Auditorium *
10  Poughkeepsie, NY     Marist College Bardavon Opera House
11  Brockport, NY        Seymour Union Ballroom*
14  Elkins, WV           Davis and Elkins College
16  Bloomsburg, PA       Bloomsburg University Gross Auditorium
17  New York, NY         Bowery Ballroom+
19  Mansfield, PA        Mansfield University
20  Atlantic City, NJ    Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
21  Atlantic City, NJ    Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
24  York, PA             Pullo Performing Arts Center
26  Buies Creek, NC      Campbell University Turner Auditorium
27  Pemberton, NJ        Burlington County College Gym
28  Williamsburg, VA     Sadler Center Chesapeake Ballroom *
30  New London, NH       Colby Sawyer College Center Theatre
31  New Haven, CT        John Lyman Center For The Performing Arts

APRIL
3   Towson, MD           University Union PAWS Lounge
5   Radford, VA          Radford University Preston Hall
7   Columbia, SC         Russell House University Union Ballroom *
8   Macon, GA            Mercer University Grand Opera House
10  Knoxville, TN        Square Room
11  Memphis, TN          Minglewood Hall
13  Joliet, IL           Moser Performing Arts Center *
14  Macomb, IL           Western Illinois University Heritage Room
20  Tyler, TX            University of Texas University Center *
21  Searcy, AR           Harding University Administration Auditorium
22  Kansas City, MO      Ameristar Casino & Hotel
24  Omaha, NE            Slowdown *
25  Tulsa, OK            University of Tulsa Great Hall