David Cook – Declaration – State Farm Home Run Derby

Wow David!!! You’re back in my hot book. Hair looks better than ever. Oh yeah…great performance!

Wow David!!! You’re back in my hot book. Hair looks better than ever.

That was exactly my first thought! :smile_wp:

Now I’m listening to the vid. He sounds pretty good too.

I think they sang Heroes before Declaration. I only saw the last half of Declaration so I just assumed that they didn’t broadcast it.

Eeee!!! They showed David Wright when Cookie was singing! Squeeeee!!!

Great rockin’ performance, with pyro! They’re in the big time now, LOL! Neal is looking hardcore these days. The band really sounds great.

ETA: Word is that they showed Heroes on the MLB network, and that it’ll be rerun tomorrow at 5:00. My TIVO shows that as a rerun of the Allstars batting practice.

I’m watching this right now. Mastercard is donating $1 million dollars to “Stand Up for Cancer” if any of the Home Run Hitters can hit the ball into any of the 4 designated signs around the outfield.

That’s pretty generous by Mastercard and a really great thing for David Cook since he is such a supporter of that cause!

I want to preface my comment with an apology to Cook fans (I’m british, saying sorry comes naturally to us).

OMG what a terrible song, and the performance is shouty and annoying. So much so, that I only lasted 2.03 mins into the video before I had to switch it off. That made my ears ache. :flush_tb:

OMG what a terrible song,

I guess mileage varies here, because I love that song, it’s my favorite from DCTR, and I hope it finally gets to be a single this fall. :smile2_ee:

GUH! That was fanfuckingtastic. He sounded amazing & he looks pretty hot in that screencap as well, lol. Thanks for posting the video so quickly mj. My kids have control of the tv remote so I missed seeing this.

Heroes and Declaration are such a perfect pairing for that type of event!

Great rockin’ performance, with pyro! They’re in the big time now, LOL!

Yep they even earned bursts of fire :laugh_tb:

Some pics from Yahoo

OH! forgot to mention I passed the Nokia theatre before and the jumbotron outside that flashes the upcoming shows had the pretty sold out words under his pic.

Ha, yes, mileage for sure – I love that song, it makes me crank it up and sing along . David was looking good… YAY, I love when he’s on my TV .

So happy for David Cook the baseball fan! Thought he and the band (which needs a name) all looked and sounded great. Thanks – Hope Heroes shows up on YouTube!

I love Declaration! It never fails to put a smile on my face. I can still remember the first time I heard him sing it on SNL. I was grinning like a loon.

OMG what a terrible song, and the performance is shouty and annoying. So much so, that I only lasted 2.03 mins into the video

Neener, neeener, neener, I beat you. I lasted 2:05 until I couldn’t take it any more. Dreadful.

Shallowly (is that a word?) I much enjoyed many Cookie closeups. Hehe.

Amazing performance. That’s the type of talent that was missing last season on Idol. He looks like a natural pro in front of all those people.

Oh, and the pyrotechnics were pretty awesome.

I have a feeling Declaration is going to be the FALL09 single. I also think it’ll be a bigger hit than LO and CBTM.

Declaration and Heroes are so well suited to these sports events. It’s fun to see Dave and the band being able to carry off these huge venues. Great job.

Hair looks better than ever.

OMG what a terrible song

Haha, I love it, mileage most certainly varies.

I’ll preface my own 2 cents with my own biases– I’m a huge David Cook fan, and I LOVE Declaration. I thought his hair was hilariously bad, but whatevs, it looked 1000 degrees there plus they had FIRE behind them so I’ll excuse it. I also thought DC looked a bit nervous, but that said, it was a good performance and sounded good– not his absolute best, not quite a homerun (hehe), but still really good IMO.

I really hope Heroes gets posted. Please post here if anyone finds it!

Thanks for posting this, MJ! Excellent performance. Cookie looked and sounded great. I also remember the anticipation and excitement of seeing him perform this one on SNL, happycamper. It is a song that lifts one’s spirits. Will it be the next single?

ETA: His hair looked just fine, mighty fine.

I thought it was awesome. I noticed that one of the baseball players was videotaping it on his mobile whatever. Neal looked great. Joey the bass player dyed his hair dark purple – why? LOL. Andy looked lively. And David was great. What a thrill it must have been for them. I can’t wait to see Heroes, it is bound to show up. And St. Louis is like David’s home town practically.

ETA: I didn’t think David looked nervous, and I did like his hair, but I wasn’t crazy about those pants.

Thanks for posting. He looked and sounded great, didn’t he? Still love Cookie. My favorite Idol contestant ever! He is also a huge baseball fan so how appropriate that he is appearing at the Home Run Derby. I’ll bet he is loving every minute of being there.

Nice music but what happened to Cook’s voice -he sounded so strained and lifeless? Defintely a sub-par performance – especially with the way he enunciated the words. He always sounded as he is chewing something or what when singing…

I have a feeling Declaration is going to be the FALL09 single. I also think it’ll be a bigger hit than LO and CBTM.

Either that or Heroes, either one will be a bigger hit than the first two singles, and then Kiss on the Neck will seal the deal.

It’s fine if not everyone likes his singing, but it reminds me of Kelly’s first couple of years, when her non-fans were always saying that she was screaming, but after she sold a few million of her sophomore cd, they stopped saying that. Same with Daughtry, everyone complained (including me) that he bleated and sounded too much like Live etc., but after selling 6 million he earned his respect. I think that might happen in David’s case too in time. Even those who don’t care for his singing or his music (to each their own) will eventually come to respect his success and longevity, I suspect.

Here’s a FOX4KC interview from before the HRD (that FOX4KC always comes through, heh!)

Heh. Mileage for sure. I’ve never been a major Declaration fan, but it (and Heroes, which they played first and aired during the pre-show) were perfect for this audience. He and the band sounded great even with the dead-air stadium acoustics, and it’s already bumping sales for the album, which was honestly something I wasn’t really expecting. It’s up 25 spots on the iTunes top albums list since the performance aired.

I’m still mad at Dave, but that was a good performance. I was starting to think he was fading away. I hope that they release a new single soon since CBTM was a flop. LO was just mediocre. I don’t want him to only be remembered for TOML. :bigsurprise_ee: Thanks for the videos, I didn’t know about this performance.

I’m watching the derby. They had recaps per round and while they did not use DC music, they did show shots of the band. They especially liked Animal banging around with his drums. :jittery_tb:

ETA: He’s such a baseball dork. <3

Great news about the album bump, ladymadonna. David Cook never ceases to amaze me. Love his voice, gravel and all. And I thought his hair looked great. At least he didn’t have on one of those goofy hats. LOL

Did they air Heroes during the pre-show? I taped it and fast forwarded through it, and didn’t see the band at all on ESPN. I think it must have been shown on some other channel.

I love the hats and the hair, lol. Just not that particular pair of pants that look like he’s been working under his car. David and the guys were great tonight, I’m really proud of them. Couple this with the exquisite acoustic video yesterday of Mr. Sensitive, and it’s another great week for Cook fans.

Thanks for posting, MJ. Very nice. I hope that Heroes pops up.

No need to apologize, Sunn. None of the rest of us apologize for liking some Idols and not others. I strongly prefer DC’s singing to that of Adam’s, which is just painful to me, but I don’t think that I have to apologize for scrambling for a mute button when Adam is singing. We all have different tastes, right?

Anyway, loved the performance, and glad that they picked these two songs, which really were appropriate for the venue. Wish that the sound feed had been a bit better, but it was still, I thought, a good performance, and there’s already a nice bounce happening on itunes for the record.

ETA: Heroes aired on MLB network, and some folks are trying to upload it. Fingers crossed.

After watching this vid I’m worried. During his season I was a complete fantard for him, and now feel absolutely nothing!! nada. Will this happen with my Adam obsession as well?? I guess it will depend on if I like at least a song out of the debut album. I was very sad it wasn’t the case with Cookie… (I liked analog heart better).

I loved the way the music started with an aerial shot and then slowly zoomed in and found the band. What a great opportunity for David and the band. I’m not surprised at the iTunes bump.

Amazing performance. That’s the type of talent that was missing last season on Idol. He looks like a natural pro in front of all those people.

I saw a few pros last season (if you mean the season that ended 5/09). :smile_wp:

Awesomely awesome!!!! I flove his voice and everything about him. And it’s fine if some folks care neither for him nor the song. More for me! :devil_tb:

And was Andy the only one who wore a National League jersey? I knew I loved that boy for a reason. (David wisely wore none.)

What a great gig for Dave–he looked and sounded great. I love seeing him becoming a Rockstar without losing any of his humanity. He did look a little “overheated” though.

Regarding Joey’s hair…I saw him and DC on the street in Santa Fe prior to the concert there; and, in real life, in sunlight, the hair color reminded me of Barney. Cracked me up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZw-JYjhdp0

youtube of Heroes … a better quality will probably show up later. This is from DCO.

Found this “Heroes” on YouTube. Quality not great, but anyway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZw-JYjhdp0

Editing to say – Boy you’re fast Oceana!

I could see on this vid that the guys in the band have their names on the back of the jerseys they’re wearing.

Thanks for posting this MJ. I had to work so missed it. David and the band looked good. This song fits the event. They sounded great and that is very hard to do in that type of venue. Thanks again.

Hair looks better than ever.

I thought his hair was hilariously bad

and I did like his hair, but I wasn’t crazy about those pants.

And I thought his hair looked great. At least he didn’t have on one of those goofy hats.

Hee! I love Cook fans. I thought he sounded and looked great. I thought he seemed nervous when I first watched, but I think I was projecting, because I was nervous. After re-watching, he seems fine. Our baseball lovin boy must be in 7th heaven tonight.

Oh, and yay for the album bump. Was not expecting that!

After watching this vid I’m worried. During his season I was a complete fantard for him, and now feel absolutely nothing!! nada. Will this happen with my Adam obsession as well??

Only your hairdresser knows for sure, mar, but my fantarding for Adam was brief (though intense) and died before the season was even complete. I may have cheated on Cook for a few months with the Androgynous One, but Dave will always be my favorite Idol. :mrgreen_wp:

I wonder, does DC have any other tv appearances scheduled before GMA (with Adam and Kris) on August 7? I hope so.

David wisely wore none.

Bootstar, David wore an AL jersey during soundcheck, I think.

I think this song is a complete bore. Is it doing well on the charts for him?

I did think Dave looked hot (in both senses of the word), so I checked the weather a little while after the performance. It was 80 degrees, 60% humidity (heat index-84 degrees) in St. Louis this evening. A bit warm and muggy for comfortably rockin’ out.

Loved that [insert band name here] were all wearing jerseys. Does this mean that Andy is the only NL fan? I thought he and Neal were both from Tulsa?

It’s not a single.

I don’t know of any TV gigs lined up between now and August 7th, but we didn’t know about those acoustic gigs at radio stations until they happened, so maybe there are some surprises out there.

You know, DC’s songs have not been huge soaring rockets, but Light On is approaching platinum and has logged a lot of weeks on the Billboard radio charts and went recurrent on the Hot 100, and CBTM has logged 8 weeks on the Hot 100 and isn’t done yet. Really, DC has put together a nice career, and getting to perform at an All Star Game event in his own state has got to be a blast, especially for a baseball fan like him. I’m really happy for the guy.

Is it doing well on the charts for him?

Declaration is an album track. It has not (yet) been released as a single. It was the top-selling non-single from DCTR when the album was released back in November – it sold 20,376 downloads in the first two weeks after the record release. It landed at #75 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, and at #13 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. Since then it has not charted.

BootStar
Jul 13th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

Only your hairdresser knows for sure, mar, but my fantarding for Adam was brief (though intense) and died before the season was even complete. I may have cheated on Cook for a few months with the Androgynous One, but Dave will always be my favorite Idol.

BootStar, I would love it if you would do a concert recap for us, since you’re no longer an Adam tard, and you’re loyalty is to Cook, I think you’re as close to an unaffected observer as we can get on this blog.

Are you planning to go to the concert?

The song to me sounds a lot like the Hannah Montana theme song…you know, you get the beeest of both wooorlds :wink_wp:

I thought he seemed nervous when I first watched, but I think I was projecting, because I was nervous.

Ha, EmmaJK, I think I have the same problem! I always like going back and watching later when I’m done worrying about him. Again, this is why I wasn’t able to get too invested in anyone this year (I do like some of them, just not like THIS)… I’m still worrying about *this* guy. Needlessly, most of the time .

Any more Cookie crumbs to tide me over until July 29? I need more Cookie fix to tide me over ’til the show, hehe.

This was a great, though – Cookie and baseball . I loved the boys in the band and their shirts. Though Andy’s made him look so tiny… then again, when I saw him at one of the shows… he IS tiny (but very cute).

After watching this vid I’m worried. During his season I was a complete fantard for him, and now feel absolutely nothing!! nada. Will this happen with my Adam obsession as well?? I guess it will depend on if I like at least a song out of the debut album. I was very sad it wasn’t the case with Cookie’ ¦ (I liked analog heart better).

I think you have it exactly right– AI obsessions generally fade quickly if you don’t connect with the new material. I only caught like the last four episodes of AI6, and I had a fleeting fangirly stage for Blake, but hated the samples I heard of his post-AI CD, as well as his persona post-Idol, and the fangirliness went away in a flash haha.

For me, with DC, I connected with a lot of his post-AI songs, and started to increasingly like and respect the way he’s handled himself post-Idol, so the fangirliness only increased.

That said, though I still love DC, I didn’t particularly feel a ton after this performance either. Like I mentioned above, though good, this wasn’t his best– he looked overheated and almost tired. Compare this to the SNL perfomance, and it’s a huge difference. But I’m okay that this was good not phenomenal (like the SNL), cuz I’m just happy that I still see enough DC stuff on a regular basis that *are* that good to me, ones that I omg *feel*, heh, that I don’t foresee my interest in the guy fading anytime soon.

I love this man’s voice so strong and sensual. He also looks great with tousled hair and plain T-shirt and jeans.

oh david! that’s why i love him some much…call me blind or whatever but i don’t get all the controversy about his hair i think he looks beautiful as usually and i don’t understand either how some people say he is fading when clearly he’s everywhere lately…been on the home run derby it’s not a sign that he’s fading away

Only your hairdresser knows for sure, mar, but my fantarding for Adam was brief (though intense) and died before the season was even complete. I may have cheated on Cook for a few months with the Androgynous One, but Dave will always be my favorite Idol.

I was never a fantard of DC, but was really liking him last season.

However when I saw a Sketchers ad at the mall with DC during the middle of Adam’s run on AI , I was like “yeeks”. I surprised the friends I was with cause they knew I liked DC. But I am definitely an Adam fan for the long haul. :smile_wp:

I guess that’s the flip side of the story…lol

BootStar, I would love it if you would do a concert recap for us, since you’re no longer an Adam tard, and you’re loyalty is to Cook, I think you’re as close to an unaffected observer as we can get on this blog.

Are you planning to go to the concert?

Aw, Sunn, you’re sweet. I really would like to go to see Adam, Kris and Allison, but I really loathe several contestants this season, so I’m not sure I can justify spending the $80.00 or whatever to see the show here in Philly. And I’m already going to see Cook at the Keswick a few days before the Idols come to town, so I worry the DH may have my credit card revoked if I try to spend any more money. I may see how much tix are selling for the morning of the show though.

Love Declaration! Love David Cook! He is my all time favorite Idol and I doubt anyone, not even Adam(and I do love Adam), will cause this to change. There is just something about David that grabs my heart and won’t let go.

mar
Jul 13th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
After watching this vid I’m worried. During his season I was a complete fantard for him, and now feel absolutely nothing!! nada. Will this happen with my Adam obsession as well?? I guess it will depend on if I like at least a song out of the debut album. I was very sad it wasn’t the case with Cookie’ ¦ (I liked analog heart better).

I could have written this except I did like DCTR, a lot! Almost every song (except Declaration, not so much). I even gifted his album to my best friend. I think what woke me from my David Cook trance was hearing a song that I thought sounded just like Cookie, but wasn’t, and then realized his voice wasn’t so “special” after all… It was quite the rude awakening.

I’m an Adam Lambert *girl* now. Adam is just as nice and as eloquent as Cook too, which is a bonus (don’t think I would like him otherwise)

Glad to hear DCTR is moving up on iTunes. And here’s hoping the new single does better than CBTM… I will always wish the best for Cook.

ETA: Why are both the idols I like frequently accused of “screaming”?

I uploaded Heroes from the MLB Network. I recorded from my TV so thats why the sound and audio are not fantastic. Turned out well enough to share though until a better one shows up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZw-JYjhdp0

Opps. See you guys already found it. Sorry for the triple post.

Interesting discussion going on but I find these 2 performances tonight really embody exactly where David is at with his music. Any waiting around for that to change probably isn’t going to happen. Sure obsessions fade from Idol when the excitement and glow from the season are over but the ones who truly enjoy the music find a way and reason to stick around. I’m interested because I honestly am still a huge fan of the music and don’t need all the hot photos and funny interviews to keep me going, but of course those add to the fun too.

I thought that David (and band) did a really good job at the Home Run Derby tonight. I love Declaration and I really hope that it’s the next single (or at least in the running). I’ve been a David fan since early on and he keeps getting better and better, in my opinion.

Another great performance by DC and the band. It’s not easy for rock bands to sound good in those kind of venues. If they made Declaration his next single I wouldn’t complain!
ETA: The reasons for why people stopped liking DC are interesting. I can understand why he’s trying so hard to get male fans.

tigervixxxen, you rock! And we get to see David in his American League jersey! Did he take it off because it was so damn hot on the field, or was he afraid of somebody “offing” him like he said in that Fox video? (Thanks for posting that, BTW, sma11ie!) Doesn’t bother me, personally, because the Phils “offed” the Royals in the World Series a couple of years before David was even born. Heh, heh.

Leaving the color aside — or not — Joey’s hairstyle looks like they picked him up from a Renaissance Festival.

Awesome, performance. Great exposure for Dave and his band.
Thanks, MJ.

I love how ESPN and MLB approached David to perform at the All Star Game. And ESPN also used “Heroes” for a College Football Montage. And I recall the NCAA SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament also featured “Heroes”, so yeah, mileage for the sports programmers and commentators, too, and what they think of David Cook’s songs.

And again. it’s great how Dave still gets lauded for his Billie Jean performance from Idol. Favorite performance, indeed.

Its so funny how some idol watchers love soneone that particular season then forget all about them. Season 5 I loved elliott. Season 5 was really the first season I cared about any contestant. I bought Elliott’s cd..actually I loved it. I never seen him on the idol tour..never seen him on tour by himself. I watched some of his you tube videos of his solo concert. I thought he had an amazing voice and seemed like a great guy. After a while when I didnt hear anything from him….I lost interest. Then I seen him on Larry King Live and really felt nothing. I hated season 6…then came season 7.. something about David Cook grabbed me. I didnt vote for him until the final…then I voted like a crazy woman. I watched all the videos from the idol tour..(with him in them) I seen the idol live tour.. Then I got Cooks cd..(plus analog heart) I loved every song. Since then..over a year later..I seen his solo concert…it was so amazing. Oh I forgot to mention that I did watch season 8, I liked Kris and Adam, but neither of them grabbed me the way David Cook has and still does. I have no desire to go to either one of their concerts, or I doubt I will buy their cd, but I must say that I look forward to Cooks second record.

I love watching and listening to Cook because of his sensual voice, sexiness and good looks. I love watching Adam’s performances because I find his moves, wardrobe, voice, well incredibly cheesy. I always have a good chuckle.

Yay, I’m always happy to see DC get some extra exposure

I love Declaration! It never fails to put a smile on my face. I can still remember the first time I heard him sing it on SNL. I was grinning like a loon.

Me too! I’ll always have a soft spot for Declaration and still think it would make a good uptempo single for David.

eta: And that’s awesome that the album’s gotten a bump, presumably from this appearance. David’s one of those rare Idols who can appeal to guys as well as girls, which I think is part of the reason he’s done so well.

Ah yes, the Idol circle of life. Same stories every year, as the fantard fascination fades (often to be replaced by equally intense feelings for the shiniest of the new models). Nobody should feel bad about this – it’s as natural a phenomenon as you can get in this completely unnatural bubble.

It simply underscores the endless refrain – to truly succeed post Idol, one must gain fans from outside the core. A rabid fanbase can’t carry you. Cook has done it, but sustaining and growing a career takes hard work and an elusive combination of label support, talent, luck, and timing. The good news is he definitely has three of those five on his side.

MJ, thanks so much for posting the vid! Life has been hectic and I totes forgot to set the DVR.

Cookie how I missed you. No time for concert vids in over a week. Zoinky! Sporty Dave ftw. And hello, since when do mofo’ flames shoot out of his ass? That’s new. Anyway, Declaration was kickass as it always is live, and I do so enjoy when his voice takes on some of that uber sexy extra grit. Mmm. :smoke_tb: And can I just add, damn you RCA, damn you, cuz I still think Declaration should have been the first single. Not that LO is unloved by moi and didn’t do the trick, but I swear if David was all over the debut single PR circuit singing Declaration rather than LO we’d be talking about 2X platinum recording artist David Cook right now. Ah, que sera sera. And did I mention BF looked hellahawt. Simple tees and jeans suit him more than any other look he’s tried on for size. Especially when the tees and jeans fit like that. It’s very a earthy and bohemian, penniless sitar-err, I mean guitar player touring the country for the love of music unassuming kind of thing.

I may have cheated on Cook for a few months with the Androgynous One, but Dave will always be my favorite Idol.

Heh, this is so me. I will fer shur check out Adam’s album, but my inner fantard belongs to Cook. Adam is one of my fave AI peeps ever, but Dave is one of my favorite singer/songwriters, period. I guess therein lies the diff.

Oh, I have a slightly amusing Cook related story.. So, yesterday I was chatting with my dad while he was on his cell in the car, and I could have sworn I heard Bar Ba Sol in the background. I asked my dad (the guy who used to sing Riders On The Storm to me as a lullabye, god love him) what he was listening to, and he said, “I don’t know the name of the band but I am digging it. Your sister burned this CD for your mom and I stole it from her.” So I asked him to turn it up, and my suspicions were confirmed. Much to my shock, my father has been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

I love that David is so comfortable with the sports guys. You can tell he is truly a fan whenever he is interviewed by someone in the sports community. He knows his stuff.

Thanks for the Heroes video! That’s another one I like to play in the car and sing along – especially fun when my kids are the car because they like to shout “YOU’RE STILL STANDING!” LOL. They played that just before the Race for Hope started here in DC and it gave me goosebumps… it’s just a cool, uplifting sort of song.

This must’ve been so exciting for him

Sure obsessions fade from Idol when the excitement and glow from the season are over but the ones who truly enjoy the music find a way and reason to stick around.

I definitely agree with this. Viewers are often a big fan of somebody on Idol, but once the show ends and they dont see the particular contestant over a course of several months, the love fades.

The thing about David is that while he does inevitably lose some Idol fans post-show, it seems like he’s doing a great job picking up the non-Idol watchers in such an organic fashion. The tour definitely adds to that. He’s played around, what? 60-70 shows on this Declaration Tour? And as the tour progresses, I’ve noticed he seems to be expanding his fanbase, as there have been many more guys at his shows. I’m also constantly seeing people around the internet saying that they’ve just discovered David Cook and love his material. That’s how you sustain in the music industry without having a dying Idol fanbase.

Things are looking quite good for David.

Awww, that’s my boy. Even if he did flub the words in the beginning… He recovered fine, and all is right by me.

I still love my Dave, no fading for me. And I also love my Adam. Differently, obviously, but neither less or more really.

In fact, I’ve wondered how I’m a huge fan of both of them, when they’re so totally different. But then, I do have an eclectic collection of music I like and listen to. Given it’s Idol though, I seem to have some irrational belief that attraction to nearly polar opposites represents some form of schizophrenia on my part. Who knows, maybe it does. Heh.

David is an authentic artist and an authentic sports enthusiast. His love of sports and baseball comes through. Authenticity does resonate.

Ah yes, the Idol circle of life. Same stories every year, as the fantard fascination fades (often to be replaced by equally intense feelings for the shiniest of the new models). Nobody should feel bad about this – it’s as natural a phenomenon as you can get in this completely unnatural bubble.

LOL you’re not kidding. I wish I had a dime for how many obsessed Blake, Constantine, Bo, Taylor, etc fans there were every year who swore they would be a fan for life and then by the time their albums dropped they were like ‘uh who’? Hence why it’s so important to build a fanbase outside the Idol bubble. Those Idol fans can be a fickle bunch.

Even if he did flub the words in the beginning’ ¦ He recovered fine, and all is right by me.

Ha, I THOUGHT I heard that!

In fact, I’ve wondered how I’m a huge fan of both of them, when they’re so totally different. But then, I do have an eclectic collection of music I like and listen to.

weareallinnocent, same here… they are so different, but then again my iPod is all over the place with anything from Al Green to Nine Inch Nails to Indigo Girls to Toby Keith so… And, too, I think I have enough music love to go around to like more than one Idol… just love Cookie the bestest, hehe.

I loved this performance! He looked and sounded great. Looks like he’s gotten some sun playing those festivals this summer. He looks so comfortable on a stage in front of huge crowds. Those 80 shows this summer are really adding to his already stellar stage presence and the band has gelled quite nicely, too. Now off to watch Heroes, aka Sporty Cook.

Also, I think he changed those first lyrics on purpose. That was my thought, anyway.

I remember during the season last year, some AI veterans were laughing at all the David/David fans, saying that many of them would be moving on the next year, and completely forget about their Season 7 fangirlyness. Sounds like some did, some didn’t. I never really considered DC just a “contestant”, I guess because I had never watched the show before. He was a musician I couldn’t wait to see and hear in the “real world”. His voice is “special” to me; whether it’s particularly unique, I don’t know. Everyone sounds like someone.

DC is not someone who I will tire of or forget about in the future. Like many other artists I have loved for a long time, I’ll be a fan for life.

ETA: Heroes! Thanks for posting. That was great.

I finally got to watch that interview – thanks for posting that. Always fun to watch his interviews and hearing him talk sports is better yet. Worth watching to see/hear him laugh, I’m a sucker for that laugh.

Great performances! And I particularly liked the pyrotechnics – nice touch, DWEEB!

I’m seeing the boys this Friday…I’m getting so excited I can hardly stand it. This is going to be one long week!!

Oh, how I love this man and his voice. Despite having listened to his cd a zillion times, i simply can’t get enough. Thankfully he gets a few TV gigs here and there (like this All Star Homerun Derby) and I can get my fill. I had casually sporadically watched AI through the years but Season 7 was the first time I was completely immersed and what hooked me was that voice. No, I don’t get his voice confused with others people have compared to. Its very distinct to me. Kris is interestingly more my style of music and I probably will buy his cd and attend a concert or two (if tickets are reasonable). But he’s not gonna get the devotion I pay Cookie. I mean, I spent over $300 for one ticket last May (worth every penny) and I’m attending 2 more concerts (luckily not as expensive.). This fan is not going away anytime soon.

ladymadonna Jul 13th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Ah yes, the Idol circle of life.

I see a lion cub being lifted up. Awesome. I think that’s Jennifer Hudson’s voice I hear? Also awesome. [Heh]

Bringing this over from DC=42. Another great interview from the game. I think David said he got to play summer league against Albert Pujols!! (I’m guessing this may have been DC’s first clue that he was not meant to be a big league pitcher. Thank you, Albert! )

Y98.com interview

I think David said he got to play summer league against Albert Pujols!! (I’m guessing this may have been DC’s first clue that he was not meant to be a major league pitcher. Thank you, Albert! )

Can you imagine a young Pujols just lighting up that scrawny southpaw? This makes a much better interview story than the real one (that he blew-out his shoulder). I think Cook should adopt this as his go-to anecdote immediately!

I see a lion cub being lifted up. Awesome. I think that’s Jennifer Hudson’s voice I hear? Also awesome. [Heh]

LOL!

Quick soundbites:
-Declaration not my favourite song on the Record, but loooooooove Heroes. Wish Heroes was the lead off song. Oh well…
-Not loving his just-rolled-outa-my-bunk-dammit-whocares-hair. Hee.
-Am I still a DC fan a year and a half after AI7? Well, a couple of days ago:

This.
This.
And this.

Hell yeah.

ETA: Why are both the idols I like frequently accused of ‘screaming’ ?

Prolly because they both have a killer rock wail. :wink_ee: Anyway, nothing wrong with screaming necessarily. You could take the most lameass boring phrase, have AC/DC’s Brian Johnson do his trademark screamy thing with it accompanied by a mean guitar riff, and you’ll find yourself fist pumping beyond your control. For realz.

love seeing cookie on a national sports stage. I still can’t get enough of him.

sunchick, your story about your dad made me chuckle. Cook last year turned me into a crazy fan, which is so not my nature. but there i was, screaming like an idiot outside of the AI tour/leno/ellen degeneres/jimmy kimmel show.

last week my dad called me after seeing that cook was performing at a county fair near the town where we both live. old news to me (thanks to cook’s fansite). but my dad told me he’d like to go see the show with us. apparently he’s a fan too.

Thanks for the interview. And for me David Cook is the only Idol besides Bo who has caught and kept my interest. Bo was the only Idol who’s album I had purchased until David Cook. Now I have everything of David’s that is out there AH, Axium, and AI and of course DCTR. Recently I have purchased Daughtry’s single and Michael John’s album. But for me David is the best singer that ever graced the Idol stage. And of course as had been said before YMMV

Why are both the idols I like frequently accused of ‘screaming’ ?

This is something my sister and I were talking about the other day… I don’t see them screaming (especially not Adam who has ridiculous vocal control) but it seems like some people don’t like the *tone* of their voice and then turn that into “he’s screaming” or “he can’t sing.” Both guys, clearly, can sing. I think the one thing you get out of Idol is you *know* if these kids can sing, you watch them sing (if you’re lucky) week after week. But tonally, different voices are pleasing to different people. Which is fine, wouldn’t it be boring if we all liked the same thing?! LOL. That’s my take on the “screaming” thing, anyway. I don’t see it from either, but whatever.

Did that make any sense? I am so fracking tired I can’t see straight, working 20 hours a day and taking Cookie breaks (that don’t make me fat, ha!) to give me some OOMPH so I can keep on proofreading.

HEROES is a much better song than Declaration! I wish it would be the next single, but it’ll probably be Declaration. (too shouty) The previous two singles have been quite successful – can’t believe people say they haven’t been.

I can’t wait until he gains full control of what he puts on a record, and something like The Truth is on it… That’d be a huge hit.

-Am I still a DC fan a year and a half after AI7? Well, a couple of days ago:

This.

Ding, ding, ding: We have a winner, folks. That IJDIYAT video was AWESOME. I think it’s the best video I’ve seen. Did you film it, daenarys? And he sounded good too!

(Please, David, wear that v-neck tee when you play at the Keswick. And lose your hat that night, ‘kay?)

^^^OOOOHHHH, katymac, if he ever does re-release The Truth as a single, I will die a thousand deaths…

And this.

Wow. Where was this talkative chap during the Virginia Beach concert?

OMG, that video of the party tent, yellow shirt guy and people on the river was hilarious. I love funny Dave.

Post hoing, but it’s been awhile so I’m allowed….Even though I think Declaration was the perfect first single, it’s a missed opportunity whose time has passed. I would be thrilled if Heroes was the next single, katymac. Then after that, in a perfect world, Lie or Avalanche. Which of course means they’ll go with Declaration and I Did It For You.

Ding, ding, ding: We have a winner, folks. That IJDIYAT video was AWESOME. I think it’s the best video I’ve seen.

*watches vid* *watches it a second time* *is tempted to replay it again and fast forward to the part where he beats on the guitar at the end, cuz dayum….*

NavyDavy and the Toobs. ETA: OMG, I think that’s my nomination for the band name!

FTW!

Bootstar: I wish! Hehe. Seriously, I’m amazed at the videographer’s, um, composure. I’m just watching the Toobies like a crack addict. This tour is making me a nutcase, coz I race home every night to check out NavyDavy and the Toobs. ETA: OMG, I think that’s my nomination for the band name!

Again, I think MLB shot of Heroes was better than ESPN’s Declaration – they captured the whole band vibe by literally getting right in their faces (I love Neal, but baseball shirt or no, he’d skeer me if I didn’t already know he’s a sweetheart LOL!), and less of the wide empty field shots which distances the crowd from the performers.

Kimberann, I suspect there are a lot of singers, including a lot of AI alumni, that would be happy to have their songs flop like CBTM or be mediocre like LO, or be known for TOML (though I surely hope that is eclipsed down the road). I believe CBTM is at #7 on Hot AC, and LO is fast approaching platinum status. All his songs have charted well in three formats. He has all three being played extensively in multiple formats at the same time. How many artists in or out of AI can say that? Much less a brand new artist? A more typical pattern is a single that shoots up for a short time then dies back, to be followed by another that does similarly. One reason CBTM isn’t higher than it is, is that it is competing with LO on many stations. All his singles have been selling the album at a steady pace. I am not sure where the idea is coming from that he is fading, but I don’t see it. In all but a few markets, he is nearly inescapable, not to mention his tour all over the country.

As far as Declaration, I thought he looked and sounded great. YMMV for sure on that. I didn’t find his voice weak, but resonant as usual. I think the acoustics may contribute to the impression. I suspect those that hated Declaration tonite probably love music that I hate. Variety is a good thing, no? It would be pretty boring if we all liked the same stuff.

OMG what a terrible song

Haha yea I wouldn’t call it terrible but it does grate. Actually Cook’s whole album is like that for me, my first three listens, I loved it and then after a while it started to give me a headache, it’s not an album I can listen to over and over. Most of the songs are formulaic, mostly ballad-y verses with soaring choruses and a lot of shouting in the bridge = headache.

Which of course means they’ll go with Declaration and I Did It For You.

Nooo! I already did penance for joking that I Did It For You would be the next single… and people threw curses at me and stuff! It had to work! LOL!

Where was this talkative chap during the Virginia Beach concert?

Hehe, maybe talkative Matt Nathanson used up all the available talk for that night !

For all you IDIYAT / Yo Arms / La Petit Mort (my personal favourite, heh) fans: this one at House of Blues Chicago was arrrrrrghsome. He got the entire floor singing that song end-to-end. There were also reported sightings of the male of the species spazzing out.

Has this derby interview been posted? He’s such a baseball nut *sighs*. Psssst David: if you don’t feel like fixing your hair, the baseball cap looks reeeeeeeally good on ya….

My 2 cents: I still think Life On The Moon (Yo Moon?!) could be his biggest single. It’s pretty much underated.

Where did this style of singing, that sounds like passing a kidney stone, come from? DAUGHTRY does it. Cooke does it. And, now this kid who won Idol does it. Scrunch their faces up, strain until their neck veins are ready to burst, and scream in apparent agony.

I’ve been watching rock n’ roll since my first live concert (Jimi Hendrix) and I’ve never seen this before. Who are they copying?

hwc Jul 14th, 2009 at 1:57 am

Where did this style of singing, that sounds like passing a kidney stone, come from? DAUGHTRY does it. Cooke does it. And, now this kid who won Idol does it. Scrunch their faces up, strain until their neck veins are ready to burst, and scream in apparent agony.

I’ve been watching rock n’ roll since my first live concert (Jimi Hendrix) and I’ve never seen this before. Who are they copying?

I wish I knew.

Where did this style of singing , that sounds like passing a kidney stone, come from? DAUGHTRY does it. Cooke does it. And, now this kid who won Idol does it.

That particular idol is not the topic of this thread. Don’t take the bait

Thankfully, music is so varied that their is an artist out there for all taste. But Cookie can scrunch up his cute little face and “scream ” at me anytime, anywhere.

Reminder:

No fan warring in this thread. If you don’t have anything substantive to say, and have just dropped by to bait the fans here, knock it off.

Conversely, the answer to someone who is criticizing your Idol is NOT to criticize THEIR Idol. I stop fanwars and ban people who continue them.

Let’s get back to discussing Cook’s performance at the Home Run Derby.

edit: No worries .

Scrunch their faces up, strain until their neck veins are ready to burst, and scream in apparent agony….I’ve been watching rock n’ roll since my first live concert (Jimi Hendrix) and I’ve never seen this before.

Maybe you just skipped over the music of my generation? :laugh_tb: Semi-random aside: Best cover of a scrunch your face up and scream in anguish song ever.

Sunn, THIS
I love David Cook, was my favorite last year, but I don’t like this song

I loved this performance! David and the band were totally rocking it out!

The tour definitely adds to that. He’s played around, what? 60-70 shows on this Declaration Tour? And as the tour progresses, I’ve noticed he seems to be expanding his fanbase, as there have been many more guys at his shows

According to DCO, David just performed the 81st concert of the Declaration Tour in Chicago .

So happy he performed Declaration. It’s my favorite track (well, in the top tier) on DCTR. Hope it’s the next single.

I was a huge fan of idol and pre-idol David, still a fan but not keen on the album and particularly sing-along rock type songs like Declaration.

But, like for all the other album songs, it find the live performance vastly superior to the album version. I have ripped an mp3 and will play it as part of my DC live playlist that I like well enough but sadly don’t love as much as his previous material.

Song isnt bad….sort of meh..he voice still rocks solid though!!!!!!!

And yep, he’s steadily loosing the battle with his hair

WOW! DC is my favourite idol I think (I also love Elliott, Kelly, Chris, Kris). I didn’t much like Declaration though before I heard this live version. He blew it out, IMO.

Sunchick,thanks for all the links haha! In case others who didn’t feel like clicking were wondering, she linked great tubeys of NIN, Nirvana, Soundgarden, LIVE, KoRN, and lastly, a Violent Femmes cover by Arcade Fire.

Thanks, sunchick. I was afraid it was all Kurt Cobain’s fault.

Several have commented on love for certain idols fading. I just don’t see Dave being that popular anymore or for a long time in the future. I think the gas on this album has run out. There were better songs for singles and not sure why the label didn’t choose those. Maybe his next album will be stronger. I still wish him luck even though he isn’t my favorite idol anymore.

I think we know that Idol’s a singing competition — and probably not a contemporary “popstar” competition, the way they’d like it to be — when we see that quite a few of the winners and finalists are actually better live than they are on the albums.

Cook, Elliott, my fave, for sure, and quite a few others. These people can really sing and really perform. But in a day when everything recorded and deemed “radio friendly” seems to be produced out the wazoo and electronically enhanced to make crappy voices uncrappy (un-human, as well) and smashed into some kind of pabulum, their singing abilities and performance abilities (and even their writing and arranging abilities, should they have any) are mostly not what pull in the big dollars. It’s image that does — and a catchy hook (but no complexity in the song), plus production that’s exactly in the style of this week — I guess.

Great performance and Cook’s vocal tone is beautiful and he looks very comfortable performing in front of 45,000 people. David Cook is a very talented singer/songwriter with his third successful radio hit and I’m proud to be his fan.

Edit: I like the high-lights in his hair, very nice.

Thank you for posting this MJ.

I agree with Hwc–they do sing like thier passing a kidney stone but its the style they choose and it is quite popular the big thing is works. The song is ok the problem is that it sounds very similar to a song out there.

Lets be realistic David Cook does not have a major hit on pop radio yet on AC/ yes.

Keep in mind that Cook has also had a few major hits on HAC, where all are still being played and are ranked high. HAC has significant market share. I am pretty sure there are a lot of artists out there who would gladly take his sales and radio play right now. He may be fading for some, but he is on the rise for others and holding a lot more. And Kimberann, considering this album has at least one more single expected, I’m pretty sure it has quite a bit more gas left in it.

I also understand that the facial scrunch thing actually does have a technical effect in terms of the singer’s vocal chords to enable singers to hit higher notes, etc.

The fact that David does not have a hit on pop radio is not in dispute. Pop radio is only a small piece of the pie and a pop radio hit does not define a successful artist. A platinum selling record, 3 hits on HAC not AC, a successful tour that has been extended and has according to a recent radio interview a 90% sell out rate. Being asked to play at the Home Run Derby by MLB. Just some examples of what things other than top 40 might define success.

As far as singing style goes David has many styles of singing which is represented on his record as do most Rock groups.

Cook obviously loves his early nineties influences, but this sort of singing didn’t start there. Hello, Robert Plant, Axl Rose, Whoever is fronting Van Halen this week? Even John Lennon had himself a good, full-throated go at songs now and then. Singing like this is required to match the sort of balls to the wall instrumentation this song and a few others on the album feature. Both singing and arrangement are cathartic — the kind of upbeat music that gets you (okay me — and a few people in the audience shots in this video, and certainly in the Cook & Band concert videos) out of your seat and dancing around. It’s easy to see why it was chosen for an event like the Home Run Derby. I love it, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea for sure.

The thing I like about Cook is that this isn’t the only kind of singing he’s capable of. These songs all sound good stripped down, and he sounds good on them. He also sounds good, without a scream in sight, on the ballads on the record. He’s got such a beautiful tone to his voice.

His hair on the other hand… Oh dear. Good thing it’s not his hair I like listening to…

Aw, he made 2 million last year according to Forbes not counting the AItour money and AI itunes downloads. He’s on the back of a sellout tour stretching all the way into Autumn-winter now. I never saw him as the next Lady Gaga / Justin Timberlake, but I definitely see his potential to have the kind of career longevity Pearl Jam / Bruce Springsteen / Dave Matthews Band / Collective Soul / Rob Thomas et al have – luckily for me those are right up my ballpark. And the dough they’re making is nothing to sniff at.

From all I’ve seen of David’s personality: I think he’d be far far happier with a solid rock band career and a low low public (as “celebrity”) profile. He’s never going to change his hair or lack of / body-type / skull / headgear / love of tattoos on his ‘real-estate’/ beer and taquitos / scrunchy money-note sexface screaminess LOL – all of which are the subject of constant griping of his detractors (and deadhorsebeating by fans!). And more power to the dude. There’s something about having the object of my fantarding to be a mild mannered polite mid western homeboy who sets out to enjoy his experience with his band of merry men and his dawg without giving a fock to general opinion. He’ll even occasionally make fun of himself in the process (imagine that! Heh). I hope he never changes.

It’s great to see David get national TV promo. Good for 19E and RCA.

Hm, not really understanding the emphasis on “favorite” Idol as it’s no longer Sophie’s Choice. I like different artists and sounds: Carrie, Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, and David – and own all their albums. Thankfully I can like all of them and support them all. Heh.

I also understand that the facial scrunch thing actually does have a technical effect in terms of the singer’s vocal chords to enable singers to hit higher notes, etc.

It does. But it’s also usually a sign that you should probably go to a good vocal coach and get your muscles retrained so you can hit the note without scrunching. In the long run, for the health of your voice, it’s not a good thing to have your face and neck muscles “helping” you hit high notes. Doing it creates tension all over your head and inside your mouth and throat that ultimately can damage your voice.

Several have commented on love for certain idols fading. I just don’t see Dave being that popular anymore or for a long time in the future. I think the gas on this album has run out.

That just seems like an odd comment to me after he got a gig playing on National TV before the Home Run Derby, and before he even releases another single, but I think much depends on… perspective? No, he hasn’t had a breakout Top 40 hit yet (and who knows if he will) but I think “he’s fading for ME” gets a bit mixed in with “he’s fading,” period. Whether or not the gas on the album has run out, I would think, is still to be determined by how the next single does. Until then… he’s still chugging along with his HAC hits and God knows I hear him every time I turn on the radio (or walk into Subway, or the furniture store…)

Oh well. Not everyone is going to like him (or stick with him) but I still enjoy him being announced as “platinum-selling artist” lol.

When has this beome the Daivd Cook blog? If Dc is having hits ac/hac good for him.. Someone stated that “pop” stations get more money .I rekon Ai/lable thought Dc would be a fast “pop” major star like a Daughtry..Dc is a different artist w/ his own pace…..

I also like David’s live version a lot more. That’s what makes a good artist anyways.

When has this beome the Daivd Cook blog?

Fans of David are allowed here, always were. Just like non fans. If the fans are the vast majority, that’s well… life and David’s talent and charisma. But I don’t know how that makes this a David Cook blog.

Someone stated that ‘pop’  stations get more money

I don’t know what stations get more money… but artists who are not played on pop can make a lot more money than those who are.

Well, this is a David Cook thread, so you would sorta expect a lot of posts about David here. :smile_wp: As to other threads, I don’t see all that much mention of him outside of the daily news and Mediabase threads. Most of those mentions in tour threads seem to be from non-fans making unflattering comparisons. Maybe I’ve missed some fun?

Hehe, maybe talkative Matt Nathanson used up all the available talk for that night !

Yes, Matt Nathanson was very charming. On the strength of his performance at VB, I downloaded his hit single. But, I hope Talkative Dave shows up at the Birchmere so I can see another side of him in person.

When has this beome the Daivd Cook blog? If Dc is having hits ac/hac good for him.. Someone stated that ‘pop’  stations get more money .I rekon Ai/lable thought Dc would be a fast ‘pop’  major star like a Daughtry..Dc is a different artist w/ his own pace’ ¦..

Someone correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Daughtry also mainly an HAC artist? Far as I know he’s never had a number 1 in the Top 40 (Pop) format and with the trend in Top 40 moving towards urban and R&B, it doesn’t seem he will with the new album either. I never knew Daughtry to be a “pop” artist, most of the stuff that I read points to him being HAC. Granted, the big difference being, Daughtry has had at least 4 number 1s in HAC.

That said, a lot of bands find success in HAC these days. They get decent radio play in that format and they sell records, which is essentially from what I can see, the same trajectory that David is taking.

At this point, artists like David and yes, even the mighty Daughtry will really find their home in the HAC format. And based on the stuff that I’ve read, that format isn’t anything to sniff at.

Finally….I just figured out what my problem is with David Cook and why, after really liking his AI performances and his tour vids I’m having a harder time with the current David Cook.

Somewhere, for me, he has lost that wide-eyed innocent “I’m in love with singing” persona that he had early on. He has become, to me, too uptight and seems to, now, treat his singing as a job…it is now his vocation rather than his avocation. He no longer seems to be singing because he just wants to sing and because he loves it (which I am sure he still does) but he sings because he has to.

I see in David (my view only) that he wants to give the best performance, and do the best “job” etc. and because he is so concerned with that a lot of the joy that was part of him has slowly dissapated. He sings well and does a good “job” but I feel that he has lost or is hiding his soul…that inner vibe that pulls someone into the music.

I am sure it is hard to sing the same stuff for a hundred gigs and keep it fresh and alive and new and interesting. Maybe his next album will have more stuff on it that he can really relate to and that he won’t be selling but will be feeling.

“Oh well. Not everyone is going to like him (or stick with him) but I still enjoy him being announced as ‘platinum-selling artist’  lol.”

But every idol winner is a platinum-selling artist. I think you have to be better than just platinum to stick around in the business. And most of those platinum sales happened quickly. He doesn’t really seem to be picking up that many new fans. Hopefully for his next album, he can go more the Analog Heart route.
AH>>>>DCTR for me.

Oh, and poporange? If the measure of money made for pop station exposure is touring dollars or album sales, then I don’t think David has to worry (he’s buying new equipment, extending his tour, hitting larger venues, and getting 90% of sold out). These are where the money is made, and he is doing well in both regardless of the perceived lack of pop radio love. I am not aware of any other way in which pop radio is a big money maker other than its effect on sales and touring audiences.

I don’t get the fixation on pop radio, but I’d say he’s done well there. I would bet there are not but a handful of artists who have had 3 songs in under a year all hit the top 50 of pop radio, let alone one chart in the top 20 along with that. It may not be stellar, but it is respectable.

Oh, and poporange? If the measure of money made for pop station exposure is touring dollars or album sales, then I don’t think David has to worry (he’s buying new equipment, extending his tour, hitting larger venues, and getting 90% of sold out). These are where the money is made, and he is doing well in both regardless of the perceived lack of pop radio love. I am not aware of any other way in which pop radio is a big money maker other than its effect on sales and touring audiences.

I don’t get the fixation on pop radio, but I’d say he’s done well there. I would bet there are not but a handful of artists who have had 3 songs in under a year all hit the top 50 of pop radio, let alone one chart in the top 20 along with that. It may not be stellar, but it is respectable.

Well, this is a David Cook thread, so you would sorta expect a lot of posts about David here.

This… exactly. It’s a thread about David Cook. I don’t post about David Cook on threads that aren’t about David Cook or without a headline about David Cook, so I figure a thread that is about him… is the right place to do it.

But, I hope Talkative Dave shows up at the Birchmere so I can see another side of him in person.

Me too! I’ll be there too, interested to see how it works out with that venue, I am not sure he’s played a seated-at-the-table-eating sort of venue yet?

He was pretty chatty (and funny) at Radford.

Kimberann, for one thing, he is closing in on 1.2 million in sales. so he is well past simple platinum; for another, not every Idol has sold platinum (notably, Taylor Hicks shipped platinum but still has not sold over 800k after several years); also, platinum is the new 2 or 3x platinum in this economy, according to more than one publication. There are others who have this info more at their fingertips, but my recollection is that there has been something like a 40% dropoff in album sales from 2007, or at least from a few years back. The top charting albums are selling considerably less than in the past. The MJ sales are a never-to-be-repeated phenomenon and do not disprove this.

If you have to sell more than platinum to stick around now, then singers should be dropping like flies. Some of the darlings of top 40 are nowhere close. David has the 7th highest selling album of the chart year as of the last numbers we have, and the highest by a new artist. You may not like DCTR, but it is doing VERY well.

As to top 40 and Daughtry, I think his newest single has not risen above somewhere in the low 20′s so far. I don’t think this is bad on Daughtry. I think it is one more indicator that top 40 seems only able to tolerate one or two rock songs at a time, being overwhelmingly filled with urban and hip hop and rap songs.

He has become, to me, too uptight and seems to, now, treat his singing as a job’ ¦it is now his vocation rather than his avocation. He no longer seems to be singing because he just wants to sing and because he loves it (which I am sure he still does) but he sings because he has to.

Hey, Tess – not trying to convert you or anything because not all artists work for all people but I’ve seen him twice on tour and to me he absolutely exuded a joy for his songs, being on stage, and singing. Maybe it doesn’t always come across, and I’m sure sometimes he gets tired since he’s performing almost every night, but one of the things I like the most about him is that joy that he has. He seems so happy to be there, and appreciative that people are paying to come see him. Plus he’s a flirty goofball . He *does* seem to get more nervous/reserved in situations like this but then again this is a totally different audience of mostly guys so I don’t think flirty Dave would’ve worked so well!

But every idol winner is a platinum-selling artist. I think you have to be better than just platinum to stick around in the business.

That was not my point. There was no point – maybe I should have been more clear… I *personally* as his fan enjoy him being announced as a platinum selling artist. I’m not angsting over album sales these days, just enjoying the music. (And thank you again to ya’ll who pointed me to Blindsided because I’m still stuck on… “It’s therapy to meeeeeee….”)

Someone correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Daughtry also mainly an HAC artist?

No. Daughtry’s last album had multiple huge pop hits. He also did well at HAC, but HAC is not what sold 4 million albums for him.

and with the trend in Top 40 moving towards urban and R&B, it doesn’t seem he will with the new album either.

That remains to be seen. A lot will depend on single selection and the direction pop radio takes over the next year.

But every idol winner is a platinum-selling artist. I think you have to be better than just platinum to stick around in the business.

Taylor never went platinum and Jordin took over almost a year and a half to reach it. What gets you to stick around in the business is to continue making your label a profit. As long as he keeps doing that, he will be fine.

I got the impression from some on this blog that getting played on ac/hac was not as good as on pop stations.(cougar as fans bad now good)..just repeating what was said of others..The same is true about Dc name popping up to be fair it happens every year….Which light Ai puts then in either there great or get asked why poeple hate the idol…….Just stating what i read in the past..BTW to suceed is making a living at what you love..

a lot of the joy that was part of him has slowly dissapated.

LOL That’s quite the conclusion for someone who hasn’t seen a full performance or an interview or anything by him since idol ended. But David sure has lots of joy in his concerts… it may not translate on TV, but live? It’s all there. He probably just enjoys having the crowds so close to him at the live concerts and feed from it, maybe more exciting than performing for the cameras.
I follow the tour from the start, and I think lately he is enjoying it more than in the beginning. Could be that he is more confortable now, or the private life… but the shows recently have been even more fun.

kimberann, I’m still mildly curious about what happened (or didn’t happen) at the last show you attended that turned you off so badly. No biggie, it’s just when someone who is the uber-fan — and so emotionally invested — turns into the uber-anti-fan overnight, it piques my curiosity. In any event, I’m really sorry you had an unsatisfying experience, but it was bound to happen, ya know? These “Idols” are still human (as are their uber-fans.)

Peace.

Tierbee, ITA. If all you had seen of David in a while was this HRD performance, I could see that comment about doing it as a job making sense, as he was not his usual happy, smiling self. If you check out any recent tour videos, however, he is clearly loose and having tons of fun. If anything, he is the poster child for loving what he does. He constantly experiments with the songs, something few singers do, which to me is an indication of his pure love for the music.

Taylor never went platinum

Taylor never sold a million copies but he was certified platinum coz platinum is for number of albums shipped not sold

I do agree that you need more than a platinum album to have longevity. Jordin took a while before she reached platinum but she has the biggest selling idol single of all time with No Air, iirc. And almost all her singles have been good radio hits.

And besides, almost all these idols suffer from a huge sophomore slump so if we take Carrie Underwood as an example… 7x plat 1st album then 2x plat 2nd album. How many sales for a 2nd album can we gauge from a 1x plat 1st album?

weareallinnocent, I don’t want to put down Dave. I guess you could just say the blinders have been removed. I have met him several times now. And he wasn’t the guy I thought he was upon meeting him. I know some people will say differently, but for me that was the case. I am not an aggressive fan at all and was very patient and calm about meeting him. I don’t want go into detail, but the first time I met him during the idol tour, he was rude to several of my friends and I. But being the big fan that I was, I just brushed it off because I figured there was a reason for the behavior to fans that day. But it was even worse the second time meeting him, so I guess I just saw something maybe other fans haven’t seen. It seems like he likes to be on for the cameras but he has side I just don’t care for. If others like him and feel differently or had better experiences, then I am happy for them. I still wish him good luck in everything and would probably buy his next album but I won’t be going to anymore of his shows.

Hardkandy, that’s why I made the distinction between platinum sold and platinum certified. Just because someone got excited and way overshipped, resulting in an embarrassing disconnect between reality and perceived reality does not make Taylor a platinum seller (emphasis on the word seller). He wasn’t just a little short. But he does have a respectable career nevertheless, certainly better than he had before Idol. The point remains that it is not a given or a standard thing that every Idol is platinum, as though that was easy to achieve. I wish I had at my fingertips the number of albums that are platinum for this chart year. LadyM? Anyone? I know it is small.

Hardkandy, that’s why I made the distinction between platinum sold and platinum certified. Just because someone got excited and way overshipped, resulting in an embarrassing disconnect between reality and perceived reality does not make Taylor a platinum seller (emphasis on the word seller). He wasn’t just a little short. But he does have a respectable career nevertheless, certainly better than he had before Idol. The point remains that it is not a given or a standard thing that every Idol is platinum, as though that was easy to achieve. I wish I had at my fingertips the number of albums that are platinum for this chart year. LadyM? Anyone? I know it is small.

I just read in blogs how impotant pop radio is and how others on just ac/hac is not good’ ¦sort of like huh.

I know me personally as a David Cook fan would *love* to see him get a pop hit and blow up… but I think it’s more the theory/assertion that “he has no top 40 hit so he’s a failure” that makes people defensive and gets the hackles up. And that is bandied about quite a bit. He’s chugging along for now without one, so we’ll just have to sit back and see what happens with his next single if Come Back to Me ever stops rising on HAC, because sure doesn’t seem like we’ll see one until it does!

And besides, almost all these idols suffer from a huge sophomore slump so if we take Carrie Underwood as an example’ ¦ 7x plat 1st album then 2x plat 2nd album. How many sales for a 2nd album can we gauge from a 1x plat 1st album?

Unless one is a soothsayer, I would think that’s impossible to gauge album sales until the album is actually released

Hardkandy, that’s why I made the distinction between platinum sold and platinum certified.

Yeah but still, that’s one idol out of 7 who didn’t sell platinum. So while it is not a given that once you win you will sell platinum, it’s also not out of the ordinary or considered to be such a marked achievement for an idol winner. With AI batting 6 out of 7, AI winners selling platinum is more expected than it is not.

I see in David (my view only) that he wants to give the best performance, and do the best ‘job’  etc. and because he is so concerned with that a lot of the joy that was part of him has slowly dissapated.

I don’t think you’ve watched any of the tour performances. He looks a lot happier than he did on idol and he’s hilarious on stage with the banter (even funnier than he was on the idol tour). I’ve’ never seen Dave live in person (just on the tube) but I’ve been to a lot of concerts by current artists and the guy seems to connect with people in the crowd more than anything I’ve ever witnessed. Strange fantard behavior aside, I think it’s one of the reasons people go to so many of his concerts. I don’t think an Idol performance right after his brother’s death or a huge stadium performance that doesn’t lend itself to any real audience connection is representative of how he is on stage. If you would like to see some of his tour performances I’m sure people (including myself) would be happy to post them if you express interest. I do agree with the first part of your sentence though.

Yup. This is a David Cook thread, so we do get to talk about him here. [smile]

Nope. Not every Idol winner is a platinum seller, and Jordin barely eked hers out. And the fact of the matter is that it is pretty rare to have sold platinum in this chart year, as DC has done. As a final note—for most artists, their first week or two are their strongest, and that’s true for DC as well, but as folks on Pulse have estimated, he seems pretty likely to hit 1.4 million when all is said and done, meaning that (1) only 20% of his overall sales will be from his first week, which is both pretty normal and very solid for an Idol contestant, and (2) he’ll have sold between 500K and 600K after the end of the holiday season after his win, which is extremely solid.

I’ve actually seen DC be quite joyful about playing a concert, but in the end, he is a professional with a professional’s obligation to make sure that the people who bought tickets get their money’s worth. Based on the concerts that I’ve seen, and the youtubes that I’ve watched, he does a good job of balancing that.

Just because an error is repeated a lot does not make it any less an error. There would be pretty much no rock music left if top 40 radio was required to be a big star. And they are not the only ones. What about country? I think top 40 is so overrated as a requirement for success. Of course I’d love to see Cook blow up big there, but he’s doing great without it.

Unless one is a soothsayer, I would think that’s impossible to gauge album sales until the album is actually released

Well, of course. But if we’re basing it on observation, without buzz from the AI win (or loss in Daughtry’s case)… it is usual that the idols sell much less of their 2nd album than the 1st. In fact the ONLY exception to this rule that I know of is Kelly Clarkson so it is a pretty strong observation and who knows, maybe DC will also be an exception to the rule… but if he’s not, a slump from 1x platinum would probably result in not very satisfactory sales.

Tess, thanks for that interesting post.

Before AI, Cook could record and write whatever music moved him. Yes, nobody in the industry knew who he was. But at least then he didn’t have to deal with the media spotlight or meeting the expectations of fans or winning over music skeptics. Not to mention being stuck singing crappy songs that don’t represent him musically. Or compromising with the music label. Then all the touring and promotion.

So yeah, DCTR was never going to be like the music he did before AI- a major label will want hits, so pop-rock it was. Still, I’ve grown to really like DCTR, I think it’s a solid record for him.

While I disagree that Cook’s joy for music has “dissipated,” I think the pressures on him now may force him to “hide his soul” sometimes, as you put it. Considering how his life has changed in the last year and a half, I think he’s done better than I ever expected.

Hopefully the next album will reveal more of the Cook before an during AI.

As Fans we sometimes set up expectations of artists that are not met. Sometimes singers have good days and sometimes they have bad and we as fans have absolutely no idea what is going on at that particular time in the life of the performer. I myself have no expectations of meeting any singer that I like. If they are nice or not does not come into play as far as I am concerned because what does that have to do with the performance? As far as anecdotal evidence on whether a performer is nice or not I would say that the fan reports that I have read about encounters with David Cook the overwhelming majority skew in favor of him being a nice young man. And these were when the camera was not rolling. My conclusion is that he is human being that has good days and bad. He could not possibly live up to everyone’s expectations because that really is impossible.

The whole reason why I’m so sucked in deeper is precisely because of the sheer joy and fun he exudes onstage and his constant concern that audiences are having a good time.

This.
This.
And This.

Nuff said. In fact, the last vid later made me cry when I realised that was the concert he announced taking 2 days off (in retrospect it was to say goodbye to big brother Adam). Even in private sorrow, he’ll find something joyful.

edit: don’t comment on other posters. stick to the subject

Hardkandy, I would reiterate that times have changed. The industry has experienced a huge loss of album sales over the last several years, and an even more noticeable one in the last year. Few artists of any stripe are hitting platinum these days. There is a huge drop-off. I believe this is why Kelly’s sales are so much less than in the past, among other factors. You simply can’t compare sales expectations for the last year to sales of the past.

Ah, the lost of the uberfan is bound to happen, how long can that kind of OTT interest continue? I don’t think this is a bad thing for any former Idol. At some point the fanbase has to normalize and the record buyers and concert goers only expectations are about the music and getting a great show.

I don’t get the “fading” thing. As others have pointed out David is still selling a record that has been out for nine months despite his “failure” on Top 40. His tour that was supposed to end in April keeps getting extended because of demand. While there are repeat concertgoers, after 80 shows, I think there are quite a few newbies showing up too.
David isn’t on tv all the time so he’s not popular anymore? I don’t see Bono or the Dave Mattews band or any number of artists on my tv all the time, someone better tell them their on their way out. LOL.

Bottom line for me is that a successful career in music is not a overnight happening, despite the instant gratification mindset of a lot of AI fans. David earned a huge stepping stone into the music industry by winning Idol but is going about growing his career for longevity. As a fan, I’m allright with that.

Hardkandy, I would reiterate that times have changed. The industry has experienced a huge loss of album sales over the last several years, and an even more noticeable one in the last year. Few artists of any stripe are hitting platinum these days. There is a huge drop-off. I believe this is why Kelly’s sales are so much less than in the past, among other factors. You simply can’t compare sales expectations for the last year to sales of the past.

I get that, but doesn’t that make the prospect of a sophomore slump even worse? No AI buzz added with sharply declining sales across the board?

I think DC has to push past 2x platinum so even if he suffers the sophomore slump, it will not be so unsatisfactory that he doesn’t get to make a 3rd album with RCA. I think his third single needs to be killer in order to achieve this.

I haven’t read through all the posts, but I wanted to put my two cents in …

My brother told me Cook sang during the derby, but I wasn’t upset I missed it ’cause I knew MJ would have it up (thanks MJ!). He told me it was a new song, but obviously couldn’t tell me what song, but he did say that he liked it, which is awesome coming from my brother who loves rock but has been indifferent to Cook’s previous singles. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the song was my favorite song from the album! He sounds awesome as usual. I really hope they make it a next single. I think it would do really well.

Pyrotechnics FTW!

daenarys, thanks for posting those videos! I had seen them all before, but it was really great seeing them again.

Just to throw my two cents in, I love that DC keeps tweaking his songs and making them better and better. The live version of Lie (which I heard in person at Moody Gardens) is absolutely gorgeous. I think had David had more time to work on the record, it would’ve come out better on the whole. I still love DCTR, but I’m looking forward a second, less rushed album. Also, I’m hoping the band gets to contribute to the next album too. I’d like some Neal Tiemann guitar solos.

To be fair…I have tried to watch every segment about David Cook that is posted on this blog. But I can’t get very far into the songs or performances before I get “bored”. Jokes, funnies, fan interaction…it doesn’t matter. I just cannot establish an emotional connection to David. And to be honest, I have the same visual problem with Daughtry (though I do enjoy his music when it comes on the radio…at least his first album…not so sure about his second from what I have heard).

I thought David Cook was very good on Idol and enjoyed his performances and watched some of his stuff from the Idol tour and enjoyed the Mavid dances. But, I cannot find the emotional connection with this Artist. I respect those of you that love him and I respect your right to do so.

I also have other Idols that I “used” to love unconditionally who I now find myself choosing to ignore their current out-put. Did I over-saturate myself? Probably. Loving a performer is very very subjective and being able to love them no matter what is pretty rare, in my opinion. Other than Pink Floyd I don’t know of a single Music Act that I can say I have “loved” everything they have ever done. Maybe at some point David will put out a song that will bring me in…I hope he puts out a new album sooner than later…I personally don’t think he can “hold onto his fame” without a new jolt of energy for his occasional fans.

Yeah but still, that’s one idol out of 7 who didn’t sell platinum. So while it is not a given that once you win you will sell platinum, it’s also not out of the ordinary or considered to be such a marked achievement for an idol winner. With AI batting 6 out of 7, AI winners selling platinum is more expected than it is not.

I agree and disagree with this. I think the winners are expected sell well, but more like relatively well for their time. Does that make sense? Kelly and Rueben broke 2 mil, which for those years was considered good but not superstar status. If Kris matches those sales today, he WOULD be a superstar. Jordin went platinum but it took her a long time, DC did it in 3 months… the first idol to get it done quickly since Carrie.

I think the verdict on DC is mixed so far. He has not met the big pop hit requirement of winners… I think only Jordin, Kelly and Carrie have. But he’s not followed the pattern of idols who sell only to idol fans and drop off either. That would mean his album would drop fast after Christmas sales (Rueben, Clay, Taylor), and that has not happened. Not even after Idol ended, despite the accusation that his continued sales were all because Idol was flashing his picture at the beginning of the show. LOL. He’s pretty clearly generating sales off radio play so it would stand to reason that he’s gaining fans in the HAC set… which would be primarily people in their 30s. I’ve said this before but I think he’s way more like Fantasia than Rueben in this sense.

The next album does have the danger of not making platinum I think, but only if he doesn’t continue growing his fanbase. To me there have only been 4 previous idol winners in this position of having an initial album that established them on radio format.. Kelly, Carrie, Jordin and Fantasia. Fantasia sold a lot less the next time, Kelly famously sold a lot more, Carrie sold less (she’s closing in on 3x platinum) but since she’s had multiple country hits that might have more to do with the market than her – plus the fact that she hasn’t had a crossover pop hit this time. The jury is still out on Jordin. Only time will tell what happens next with Cook IMO.

I’m not going to fret about how the next CD performs, because there are so many variables, not the least of which are what the music market will look like and what radio will look like. My personal prediction is that, if CHR does, in fact, increasingly ignore rock, pop-rock, and singer-songwriters, HAC/Hot Adult Top 40 will grow a lot as a format—as data is already showing—meaning that gettng hits on that format will be even more beneficial than it is now. Alternatively, maybe there will be more openness on CHR to rock-oriented music, and DC will have a massive Top 40 hit, much larger than the moderate Top 40 hits that he had in Magic Rainbow and LO. Or maybe neither of those will occur. Who knows?

My biggest reason to be excited about the next CD is the fact that these guys have managed to improve so many of the songs live, not just by being a good, tight, live act, but by tweaking them. Add acapella to Lie. Add an additional guitar to CBTM. Make Declaration a bit faster. Add some more gravel to the singing on Heroes. Etc. This makes me think that, with more time to play around with the songs for the next record, they’ll be able to make the recorded versions of whatever songs are on that record better. DC recentl revealed in an interview that they are traveling with an acoustic recording studio to do just that—play around with riffs and song ideas. Whether that will translate into the same or better sales, I again say, who knows? But I do think that it will mean that the sophomore album will be a stronger effort than DCTR—and, as I like DCTR, that thought makes me happy.

I like David Cook, because he sings rock music, period. He has a good rock voice, and I like rock. Same way I like Daughtry from his year and Allison from this year. I don’t like pop, urban, hip hop or country. I do not listen to them at all. If it wasn’t for Idol, I wouldn’t know who or what a Lady Gaga was.

I hope David still loves to perform, because I enjoy watching him. I’m not in love with him, do not care if I meet him or not, and if I do meet him I hope he treats me like a little bag of money. Because I am a fan, and fan means money to entertainers.

Good for David getting to sing at Busch Stadium in St.Louis. I like Heroes and Declaration. Both good solid songs. Hope one of them will be the next single. I’m still upset that they only sent Barbasol to rock radio. It’s like pulling teeth to get a Idol on rock radio, bunch of snobs.

In fact the ONLY exception to this rule that I know of is Kelly Clarkson so it is a pretty strong observation and who knows, maybe DC will also be an exception to the rule’ ¦ but if he’s not, a slump from 1x platinum would probably result in not very satisfactory sales.

I think that rule works with the idols who start off really well but don’t end up getting good radio play (e.g. Clay, Fantasia, etc) or whose album sales drop to below 1000/wk within 4 months. I’m less worried about those who have a modest start but gain momentum with radio play or single sales. People like Cook , Jordin (especially Jordin!) and Kellie Pickler fall into that 2nd category. I haven’t kept track of Kellie Pickler’s album sales, but in terms of buzz, ability to have sold out concerts, single sales and radio play, she’s doing far better with this 2nd album. I would be surprised if Jordin’s second album didn’t do better than her first or at least as well. Carrie and Daughtry put out albums at a time when albums were selling extremely well, which is the main reason why their 2nd albums did not, or will not do as well as their first. I think that also explains why Kelly Clarkson’s current album is not doing as well as her priors despite the fact that she is making a killing in radio play and single sales. DC has broken enough idol “rules” for me to think that he stands a good chance at having longevity.

I hope the sales slump for the industry ends with the economy presumably picking up at some point in the (I hope) near future. I think it’s possible the norm of sophomore sales being so much less may be broken for those who release in a down economy with their first and releasing in a better one for their next. I believe some of the industry sales slump is a trend, but some is a function of the economy. Otherwise a lot more than just some Idols will be in trouble. If he sells sub-platinum next time when other big names are doing likewise, again you have a new paradigm. You can’t ignore the overall state of the industry.

I’m less worried about those who have a modest start but gain momentum with radio play or single sales.

I don’t really suppose DC had a modest start or is gaining momentum with radio airplay but YMMV. I do agree with you about Jordin =) And Pickler – well her 2nd album ain’t doing so hot but I am not worried about her, she knows how to network VERY WELL. She’s BFF with Taylor Swift which like guarantees her an opening spot on the Taylor tours for as long as Taylor remains successful, heh.

I get that, but doesn’t that make the prospect of a sophomore slump even worse? No AI buzz added with sharply declining sales across the board?

I think DC has to push past 2x platinum so even if he suffers the sophomore slump, it will not be so unsatisfactory that he doesn’t get to make a 3rd album with RCA. I think his third single needs to be killer in order to achieve this.

I think expectations for everyone are going to change pretty quickly. At this point, the reality doesn’t seem to have quite set in yet that the days of having lots of multiplatinum artists, albums, and songs are over. When that reality does begin to dawn on people, though, maybe we’ll get a more realistic set of expectations for what “success” means.

If hardly anybody gets platinum, then just doing well, regularly selling in the hundreds of thousands, and being able to extend your tours and get good crowds should be enough, right? This pressure to get that just right single that’ll sell millions on its own, sit on the top of the Top 40 for months, and push your album to platinum just makes sense for so few artists that I can’t imagine it won’t evaporate. And it’s especially ridiculous for somebody who doesn’t really have a “top 40″ persona to have these expectations on them, seems to me.

I don’t want to put down Dave. I guess you could just say the blinders have been removed. I have met him several times now. And he wasn’t the guy I thought he was upon meeting him. I know some people will say differently, but for me that was the case. I am not an aggressive fan at all and was very patient and calm about meeting him. I don’t want go into detail, but the first time I met him during the idol tour, he was rude to several of my friends and I. But being the big fan that I was, I just brushed it off because I figured there was a reason for the behavior to fans that day. But it was even worse the second time meeting him, so I guess I just saw something maybe other fans haven’t seen. It seems like he likes to be on for the cameras but he has side I just don’t care for. If others like him and feel differently or had better experiences, then I am happy for them. I still wish him good luck in everything and would probably buy his next album but I won’t be going to anymore of his shows.

Kimberann:

I get what you’re saying.

I went to the Idol tour for the very first time last year, all because of David Cook. He struck me — through Idol’s season 7 — as someone who was an artist I could appreciate outside of Idol and reminded me, very much, of the multi-talented singer/songwriters of my youth in the 70′s and 80′s. So, that’s what has drawn me.

Now, unlike those days, I had an opportunity — via Idol — to actually stand along a line outside the concert venue and say hi to David and get his autograph. I have to say that he spent the most time and seemed the most engaged with the children in the line. A particularly touching interaction was with a little boy. Cook stooped down to his level and talked a time with him. The little boy presented David with a small, matchbox car. No kiddin’. And, David thanked him and said he needed a new car.

Anyway, when I got my chance to get an autograph, David definitely did not give me that kind of time. He signed my program and moved along. To be honest, I was ready to grab someone’s kid, so that he’d stop a moment longer with me, but alas, I am childless. Heh.

That was the Washington DC Idol stop, and I bring that up because David had a beautiful charcoal suit on, and initially, seemed very distant, into himself, and looked somewhat forbidding in the autograph line. We learned that he had just come back from a meeting with Senate staffers and anti cancer activists, discussing the latest breakthroughs and actions that could be taken. This was a part of his initial interaction with that ABC2 group which David has teamed up with to raise money to fight cancer. So, I can understand this initial mood of his — coming from that meeting — to greet fans. I am sure his mind was not initially on us, even though he was there before us.

However, as time passed and David moved along the line, he appeared to get looser and goofier, even fooling around with Michael Johns — which was posted on Youtube. I think people who got to interact with him at the end of the line got a much sunnier David, then those in the beginning.

All I know is that he stayed out on that autograph line, in that hot weather, to the very end, longer than just about anyone. In fact, I left before he did because it was very warm and getting tiring.

I have since been to only one concert of David’s on his solo tour, and I have intentionally made no effort to meet him because — frankly — this is no longer an Idol tour. Idol tours have their own expectations and modes of behavior and demands. Fans often expect the Idols to take time to come out before or after the concert, and they expect meet and greets. They especially expect this from the winner.

But, as an artist outside of Idol, I don’t expect this of him, just as I don’t expect it from any other non-Idol artist. And, since I have no rational reason for seeking David out, other than to say — “good show!” — I just don’t. However, if I suddenly find the cure for bad hairdos or even cancer, I will make one heck of a beeline towards him … right after I hit the NIH.

Just took a moment to look at David’s album sales…

280,000 end of 1st week
582,000 by Christmas (23rd Dec)
843,000 by January 6th
1,200,000 current

David has been touring constantly during 2009 and has sold about 350,000 units during his tour which includes several gigs on AI. This is about 14,000 units per week. Totally respectable in this economy. And it does point out that he is getting some sales buzz through his concerts.

I just don’t know when would be a good time to release Album 2 and have it make an impact. Fall (the good CD buying time, traditionally) will be inundated by other AI albums…winter never seems to be a good time….and if he waits until next summer will he have enough buzz to carry him until then?

I don’t really suppose DC had a modest start or is gaining momentum with radio airplay but YMMV.

Heh. I think I agree with you. He did not have a modest start. That was Jordin. DC had a good start and a great Christmas season. And I don’t know if he’s gaining momentum on radio, more like holding steady and establishing himself at HAC. But that ain’t bad.

I think if he ends this era never having a pop hit bigger than LO expectations and budgets for his next will certainly be adjusted downward, but he can still make his label a profit. I would be pretty comfortable with him matching his post christmas sales (selling another 800,000 to a total of 1.6 mil) before it is all over. Not that I don’t like 1.4, that’s good too. LOL.

I just don’t know when would be a good time to release Album 2 and have it make an impact. Fall (the good CD buying time, traditionally) will be inundated by other AI albums’ ¦winter never seems to be a good time’ ¦.and if he waits until next summer will he have enough buzz to carry him until then?

Good question. I think a lot is going to depend on when the last hit from this era ends up being, as well as how big a hit it is and on what format(s). Also, what he does between albums to keep his name out there is a factor. Usually people try to get something out within a year of their last chart appearance, unless they are super established, I think.

Despite the kind of expectations people may have or not, there’s no way David would still be in the BB200 top 100 and HOT100 if his music wasn’t out there and reaching new people.
I think that’s the difference between the idols who do well and the ones who do not so well… the first group gets to have their music and albums alive months after the release date and a year after their idol season. Some numbers are bigger than others, but if you accomplish that, if your music is still surviving that’s a good sign. And it is the case with David. He’s still very much out there.

I don’t really suppose DC had a modest start or is gaining momentum with radio airplay but YMMV.

Hardkandy, both Light On and TOML gained momentum. As I recall, a lot of people said Light On was a flop (which was mainly because it didn’t do as well with the idol crowd). TOML was criticized because it didn’t hit #1 in its first week like other coronation songs (I recall people saying that it performed worse than Taylor?). LO is now almost platinum and we all know about the success of TOML. His album sales are also still sustained which is very un-idol. None of those three things would have happen if he wasn’t gaining momentum with the non-idol audience which is exactly the audience he needs in order to have good sales with his next album. He hasn’t hit Jordin popularity yet but Jordin took quite a while to hit Jordin popularity too. I agree with those who say that the jury is still out for him, but I also don’t think he’s followed the same path as any prior winner to have any real precedent. If Cook is doomed then that really doesn’t bode well for the others from his season or even for Kelly (at least in terms of album sales).

I think if he ends this era never having a pop hit bigger than LO expectations and budgets for his next will certainly be adjusted downward, but he can still make his label a profit.

At this point, there is a good chance that DCTR will be RCA’s #1 selling CD of this chart year, and an excellent chance that it will be in the top 3 (DMB and Daughtry each have a possibility of passing him, but I don’t see any other RCA albums passing him this chart year). He’ll have two platinum-selling singles, and I think that it is possible that CBTM will go gold. [We'll see.] Given those stats, I tend to think that RCA will invest in promoting the next CD, regardless of whether any singles outdo LO on CHR.

Good question. I think a lot is going to depend on when the last hit from this era ends up being, as well as how big a hit it is and on what format(s). Also, what he does between albums to keep his name out there is a factor. Usually people try to get something out within a year of their last chart appearance, unless they are super established, I think.

My best guess is that you’ll have CBTM charting for about another 12 weeks on HAC (going recurrent at that time), which would take you to mid-October. It definitely looks like there will be another single—obviously, we don’t know what it will be and how it will do, but if it has anything like the sort of longetivity on HAC that his other songs have had on that format, you’d be looking at him getting 20-26 weeks out of that, some of that overlapping with CBTM. So, think, maybe, mid-March of next year. That would seem to leave plenty of flexibility on timing as to when to release the next CD. It also would seem to leave open the possibility of debuting the first single for the next CD in the later weeks of Idol, like Daughtry and Jordin did.

Hardkandy, both Light On and TOML gained momentum.

I don’t really look at TOML as a DCTR single for DC, and I’m sure he doesn’t too. And well, LO gaining momentum on radio depends on how you define momentum. I think Jordin gained momentum, I think DC had gotten pretty steady airplay.

agree with those who say that the jury is still out for him, but I also don’t think he’s followed the same path as any prior winner to have any real precedent. If Cook is doomed then that really doesn’t bode well for the others from his season or even for Kelly (at least in terms of album sales).

I am not saying Cook is doomed, but I am just wondering if he doesn’t break the 2x plat mark on how his second album will do coz history is not on his side. If he becomes one of those rare exceptions, then that’s fantastic for him. We’re all just theorizing here.

What exactly is the definition of this elusive pop hit? Why is LO going top 20 in the format not a hit but some magical number not defined is? Are we talking top 10 here, top 5?

I also wouldn’t rush to declare a sophomore slump before the start of second record existing in any form. David has proved to be selling to audiences outside of he Idol bubble in a steady fashion. If the radio play continues and exposure to national media and audiences he will be just fine.

I’m also not sure what the purpose of all the yardsticks are for. Yes, people are interested in watching the numbers and careers of their favorite Idols post show. But in the end what does it all mean? Those who enjoy David’s music just want him to keep putting it out and to tour and make appearances. I’m not sure what validation he is supposed to be looking for and what people he’s supposed to impress who are not interested in his music in the first place. I’m a happy fan because there has been something to look forward to for over a year and it looks to be continuing that way for the foreseeable future.

I have great faith that Record #2 will sell as much, if not more than, DCTR. Why? Several factors, including:

1. DCTR was made up mostly of collaborations, which is something his label/AI more or less forces upon (in a nice way) their winners. Like they don’t think that these people can come up with good material on their own. We know this is not true of David, and that his Axium/Analog Heart stuff is very worthy. I think Record #2 will include MUCH more stuff written solely by David and/or DC and the band. This will appeal to a wider audience and, in my opinion, be higher quality material than is what is on DCTR.

2. This being said, the EEB will be heavily involved in Record #2, which IMO can only improve the quality of the record.

3. If David includes any of his music off Analog Heart (I’m looking at you, The Truth!) and releases it as a single, he could have a huge hit. I am one of those people who believes Analog Heart >>> DCTR, so if his next album is more in that vein, I think it will be even more widely accepted.

4. Record #2 will be written, arranged and recorded without any major rush, unlike DCTR. This can only improve the all-around quality of the record.

While I enjoy DCTR, I enjoy Analog Heart even more, and I am looking forward to Record #2 with great anticipation.

At this point, there is a good chance that DCTR will be RCA’s #1 selling CD of this chart year, and an excellent chance that it will be in the top 3 (DMB and Daughtry each have a possibility of passing him, but I don’t see any other RCA albums passing him this chart year). He’ll have two platinum-selling singles, and I think that it is possible that CBTM will go gold. [We'll see.] Given those stats, I tend to think that RCA will invest in promoting the next CD, regardless of whether any singles outdo LO on CHR.

Kings of Leon might pass him too. But make no mistake, I think he will get a good sized budget and promo regardless. But I do think they will take into account Idol bleed-off and come up with a projection lower than what they would have if his next a single is a huge hit. If he is more of a HAC based act that has to cross over, that’s a different animal than an established pop/HAC act in terms of sales, to me. I don’t think they won’t see his potential and fund him accordingly, but will they keep pushing after the initial single? That’s what I’m talking about here.

He’s still in a good position either way IMO, but will he get good funding or great funding?

What exactly is the definition of this elusive pop hit? Why is LO going top 20 in the format not a hit but some magical number not defined is? Are we talking top 10 here, top 5?

There’s no set rule, but these days a big pop hit is generally something hat gets to 2 million in sales and charts at least top 10 or so. LO was a moderate hit by those standards.

On gaining momentum with fans outside of AI: that seems to happen every time David & Band make one of these sorts of appearances, no? There was a bump from the basketball series airplay of Heroes and a bump from this performance last night.

For anecdotal evidence, I didn’t watch AI last year or any year before that — just had no interest and I couldn’t see how anyone on the show could possibly make the sort of music I like. All that changed when I heard Cook’s music — first from DCTR and then on Analog Heart, etc. I watched AI *this* year to see if there was anyone else I might like (and found her — Allison!), but it was DC that brought me to AI, not the other way around.

What does that translate into? Well I bought the album (and many copies of the Charity singles as gifts) and have purchased concert tickets, so that’s a small portion of growing DC’s post-AI audience.

It’s too bad there’s no way for him to make money off YouTube concert videos, because he’d make a ridiculous chunk of change from me. (And for anyone who misses seeing the joy he gets in performing, watch these videos — there are new ones every day. Woo!)

Hardkandy, I would reiterate that times have changed. The industry has experienced a huge loss of album sales over the last several years, and an even more noticeable one in the last year. Few artists of any stripe are hitting platinum these days. There is a huge drop-off. I believe this is why Kelly’s sales are so much less than in the past, among other factors. You simply can’t compare sales expectations for the last year to sales of the past.

Great point. There aren’t even very many Gold singles in the US this year. And if you take out Hip-Hop R&B and records released since 10/1/08, all you’re left with in one gold record each from The Fray, Paramore and Zac Brown Band (country). Album sales are even in worse shape.

The music industry is going thru a significant transition — digital media, file sharing, and online “radio”, along with the recession, really makes comparison somewhat useless. Who really listens to terrestrial radio anymore? With Pandora and all the MySpace pages streaming free MP3?

Also, I think post-grunge rock is fading a bit and post-punk music — like Paramore — and alt. pop rock — like The Fray — is increasing in popularity.

The whole grunge movement was a response to the materialism of the late 80′s/90′s. And, IMO angst-ridden post-grunge music just doesn’t really seem to suit the times. Lot’s of people actually have really worries now, and I think that is part of the reason that tastes are shifting.

I really like Heroes — but can pass on Declaration. I don’t know if it is because I’m bored with post-grunge rock like Declaration or just don’t find it authentic angst (like Kurt Colbain) or have enough angst in my life that I don’t seek anymore. Or maybe, it just that Cathy Dennis did a great job on Heros.

There’s no set rule, but these days a big pop hit is generally something hat gets to 2 million in sales and charts at least top 10 or so. LO was a moderate hit by those standards.

Ok, good to know what the definition is. Well then that definition excludes a lot of other Idol songs and not just David’s.

I don’t really look at TOML as a DCTR single for DC, and I’m sure he doesn’t too. And well, LO gaining momentum on radio depends on how you define momentum.

I think that whenever someone goes from very little radio play to #5 HAC or #20 pop I call that momentum. I also was thinking more of momentum with the non-idol crowd. Based on all the testimonials of people once liking Cook and not liking him anymore, I would say that he’s not gaining momentum with the idol folk! Anyway, we’ll agree to disagree. His success has definitely not been staggering and the two singles that were released were not the best of his album, so I can see why some would not be that enthusiastic about his future. I’m probably also a little biased by seeing a lot of videos of his tour performances and the changes in both the audience and audience response.

Kimberann, I don’t doubt your experiences, but I would be surprised if it had anything to do with him being off or on for the camera. I say this because I’ve seen some of the not-so charming Cook moments on AI tour videos where he probably knew that he was being filmed. He might just be one of those people who makes no attempt to hide his mood. I’m OK with that (partially because I have no real urge to meet him), but I could see that being disappointing for people who catch him on a bad day. Sorry that happend to you (twice!!).

edit: don’t comment on other posters. STICK TO THE SUBJECT

On his radio/album success: I don’t really understand the sense of disappointment people feel. Maybe 95% of the music I buy is from artists that never chart on Top 40 and yet put out great albums, successful tours and are fabulous musicians with strong music careers. Maybe my expectations were different but I never expected Cook to have big Top40 success in today’s music environment. That’s just not his sound. And I’m fine with that. As long as I like an album, I don’t really care how it does on pop radio as long as it still finds the audience it needs to sustain a career.

It’s especially hard to compare Idol CDs over the years, not only due to the fall off in CD sales in general, but also since the “bloom is off the rose” and Idol fans just don’t buy every CD automatically like the used too.

Ok, good to know what the definition is. Well then that definition excludes a lot of other Idol songs and not just David’s.

Well, to be fair I said big hit. Something like Crush or Tattoo is a solid hit, just not hhhuuuugeeee. My Life Would Suck was a big hit, as was No Air.

Of course, it is all debatable, but from what I’ve been observing I would say that would seem to be the closest thing to a consensus.

On his radio/album success: I don’t really understand the sense of disappointment people feel.

Because it’s idol and everything has to be big for idols.
I think I’d need only one hand to count the number of idols that a year removed from the show and 8 months after the album release were doing as well as David is doing now.

I only listen to HAC and never top 40 because I don’t like most of the songs and they repeat them over and over. Hey that is just like the songs themselves they repeat the same phrases over and over they never let good lyrics get in the way of the song. Rock radio around me plays oldies mostly with a new song here and there but I like to listen to new music so I don’t listen to rock much. Now the Indie station I listen to is okay but I can’t get it to come in a lot of the time.

Trying to get a handle on what will happen the rest of this year or next is impossible because we don’t know what is coming up that may help album sales. We just don’t know if the next single will be a big “hit” or not. No one has a crystal ball. Now some crystal ball gazing from last fall was flat out wrong so I usually don’t pay attention to it. I can say that David is doing well so far and I can’t wait to see where he takes us next.

ETA: alias Dory

I say this because I’ve seen some of the not-so charming Cook moments on AI tour videos where he probably knew that he was being filmed. He might just be one of those people who makes no attempt to hide his mood.

Agreed, and frankly I prefer someone who isn’t a phony YMMV.

If it’s one thing I learned over the years following many artists is that no one is perfect. Some of the most brilliant singers, artists, actors, sports figures are complete assholes when you meet them. I met Derek Jeter, who I was once obsessed with and he was a total jerk. You know what though? I was still a fan of him as a baseball player, just realized he wasn’t perfect. David isn’t my friend, I’ll never hang out with him or shoot the breeze with him but I love his voice, I’m a huge fan of watching him perform and hearing him sing, he’s shown me he’s a good person when it comes to raising awareness for cancer, he gives interviews and I laugh, I find him to be charming, if he isn’t the world most perfect person in the real world no biggie to me because I never saw him that way and it will have no impact on my life whatsoever.

Maybe my expectations were different but I never expected Cook to have big Top40 success in today’s music environment. That’s just not his sound.

I definitely wished for it, even if I did not necessarily expect it. I mean, maybe not “big” success, but why not a Top 10 hit, or a 2nd Top 20 song? I don’t agree that it’s just not his sound. Sure, Top40 is really pretty urban or female pop oriented these days, but I still hear crap like Shinedown (“goodbye is a second chance” is a good lyric, really?) on my Top40 station, why can’t I have some (infinitely better, IMO) David Cook?

I only listen to HAC and never top 40 because I don’t like most of the songs and they repeat them over and over.

I don’t want to make assumptions on demographics, but everyone I know in their early 20s or younger listens to Top40 and not HAC (the “Mix”) stations. You can argue the relative merit of a younger listenership (older people buy more music, etc.) but for better or worse, Top40 is pop culture, and you don’t build a widely recognized “name” unless you get airplay on Top40. Not that DC needs that, specifically, to be successful but I personally would like to see him have it, especially since I actually think his music could fit there. And also I love pop culture and I want DC to be part of it. And I want my friends to hear his music and realize he’s not just an AI contestant, etc.

Just wanna say, I love these DC threads on MJ’s. Good discussions and debate, and all opinions are allowed. Love it.

I don’t really look at TOML as a DCTR single for DC, and I’m sure he doesn’t too. And well, LO gaining momentum on radio depends on how you define momentum. I think Jordin gained momentum, I think DC had gotten pretty steady airplay.

Cook may not think of TOML as a single for DCTR, but the fact of the matter is that more than a year later, it’s still getting played on HAC (not just AC stations). One of the three HAC stations in my area (the one with the largest audience) has 3 Cook songs on their playlist. So whether or not TOML is his style, it’s keeping Cook a 24 hour presence in my neck of the woods (#4 radio market in the nation).

As for momentum, I think the fact that he has songs that seem to stay on the radio an awfully long time, coupled with the continuing release of singles (even as slow as the pace may seem to fans) builds momentum in and of itself just because, as someone else stated above, there’s the ubiquity factor. If I can get through a 35 minute commute to and from work without hearing a Cook song on the radio (I mostly listen to HAC), it’s a pretty rare day. Now, is he the biggest star on HAC these days? Well, no, not even close, but at this point I think he’s proven himself to a lot of radio PDs as being a steady success whose continued presence on the airplay charts does not appear to be driven primarily by the Idol factor anymore.

everyone I know in their early 20s or younger listens to Top40 and not HAC (the ‘Mix’ ) stations. You can argue the relative merit of a younger listenership (older people buy more music, etc.) but for better or worse, Top40 is pop culture, and you don’t build a widely recognized ‘name’  unless you get airplay on Top40. Not that DC needs that, specifically, to be successful but I personally would like to see him have it, especially since I actually think his music could fit there.

Wow. I think that was a GREAT way to word it.

I am very happy with DC’s career so far in that I think this is a very tough time to be launched as a new radio rock act. He’s done well in today’s context. But that bolded part right there is why it would be nice to have a big pop hit this go around. It may still happen. I’m perfectly happy with the fact that he will have another album because as fan that’s what I want the most. But if he could get into this pop hit territory, it will go a long way to making sure the second album is handled in a way that is more likely to get him to a third. Its like I want him to get as many chances at bat as possible.

Mmm. DCTR’s total sales almost exactly 300K higher than Kings of Leon’s CD. Given that KOL is selling better at the moment than DCTR I could see KOL ultimately passing DCTR. However, that is over a longer period of time. During this chart year, DCTR has sold more than 550K more than KOL, and I don’t see KOL making that difference up.

First, as a relatively new reader of MJs, it has seemed obvious to me for some time that Cook’s fans were being played on here.

LOL, Liz, you are spot on, but I think both sides get “played”. Most idol fans love any kind of excuse to stretch out a topic on their favorite, and who better to provide that extra fruit for discussion than the “playahs”! Even though I always get a sense of groundhog day on some of these threads, I still find them far more interesting than hearing about the season 8 drama. However, since I don’t post on fansites, I probably find these discussions more entertaining than the average person.

Agreed, and frankly I prefer someone who isn’t a phony YMMV.

Same here. I respect the honesty.

I have been reading this site for a while and finally am able to register as a user. I am a hardcore Cook fan. I am sad that Kimberann changed her heart about DC. I am sorry for her bad experience when meeting DC. I had a very pleasant experience when I got his autograph at Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert. He was very charming and gorgeous. I re-live that experience every night before I go to sleep.

And also I love pop culture and I want DC to be part of it. And I want my friends to hear his music and realize he’s not just an AI contestant, etc.

me too, sma11ie.

On the issue of Top 40 radio, here is the thing though – you have many artists or certain songs by those artists are on multiple formats. I wish there was something that told us what format actually sell how many copies of any album or song.

It seems to me the key to success is either to be on the right format for your demographic or be played on multiple radio formats and’/or make those charts. If you are a country artist no point bothering with Top 40 radio, you can sell millions of copies without even touching Top 40 radio.

And if a so-called Top 40 song is being played on multiple formats how do you know where the sales are coming from – maybe it’s all us old fogies listening to Adult Contemporary.

I think sometimes Cook seems a little tour weary, which is understandable, esp on your first major tour outing, and he’s really pushed it hard, almost too hard, I mean he hasn’t really taken any decent break yet since Idol started has he and he lost his brother in the middle of that and didn’t take a lot of time. Most bands take a good 4 – 8 week break between tour legs on an extensive tour. Has David? And he’s not traveling in luxury as some bands do.

So Cookie is beating Kings of Leon in the US but now what about worldwide sales though – I think KOL is doing very well internationally – I know they were Top 40 in Canada and Oz for sure. But that’s OK – world wide domination takes more time for some, bwah.

Kidding aside, Cook’s platinum sales is a proud achievement – I looked it up at RIAA and the last year has seen very few artists reach platinum if you don’t include all the Latin artists I have never heard who are apparently selling multiplatinum in the US – aya carumba. I should compile the non Latin music list, even gold album certifications are few and far between unless your name is Michael Jackson right now.

“Agreed, and frankly I prefer someone who isn’t a phony YMMV.”

See, for me Dave screams phony. YMMV. And he is a far cry from rock.

I think if I take the number of platinum certifications over the last year, and only look at albums that were released in that same time period, David is in very very good company – only a handful of artists sold at the platinum level within the same period as the album was released – in other words most albums that have achieved platinum and multi platinum status in the last year are albums that have been on the charts for a good long time, more than a year and many several years. Jordin Sparks’ first album went platinum Dec. 12/08 vs Cook going platinum Jan. 22/09 and Jordin had some monster Top 40 hits and about a year on Cookie.

I also note it has been a great year for Kid Rock, Tim McGraw and movie soundtracks. I think I am onto something, want to make money get your song on a hit movie soundtrack. Oh this is not news?

I’m just going to cut to the chase. The label didn’t release the best songs yet off that cd. It royally pisses me off. And they’re taking a helluva long time between singles. Also pisses me off. And they released the only two songs that David didn’t co-write. Another major pissoff.

David is not as angsty or ballady as the singles so far suggest. When/if they released Declaration, Heroes, Breathe Tonight, Avalanche, and Kiss on the Neck, then I would welcome comments based on some of his best work. And if they ever re-record some of the great songs from Analog Heart, and release them as singles, then again, I would welcome comments, because I feel those songs more fairly represent David’s music and talent and it really irks me that he is not being heard yet.

But even with all that, he’s doing very well. He hasn’t had that big hit song yet but he will if the label ever gets their head out of their ass. Sorry but honestly it’s how I feel …

ETA: I rarely judge celebrities by how they act when signing autographs. I expect them to be human and sometimes be in bad moods or not feeling well or rushed or whatever, and often fans have unrealistic expectations. If I had to sign autographs every day I’d probably be a bitch half of the time, or else people would say I was aloof because you know what? Some artists are introverts and don’t always want to be at the beck and call of fans, and some fans can be real pains too. So I take such comments with a grain of salt. Because David seems like a nice guy, however I think he has an arrogant side and I don’t mind that. I’m not looking for sainthood in my singers. Sometimes I think he tries too hard to be humble. American Idol kind of expects that of its stars, whereas other artists can get away with more being real people. I don’t even think artists should sign autographs if they don’t feel like it. So there. LOL (and this is just speaking in general, not directed to anything anyone here might have expressed about meeting him, I’m sure it can be disappointing and disillusioning when the meeting doesn’t go as hoped for, or when one learns that the idol is human and not always totally likable every single day)

kimberann Jul 14th, 2009 at 10:42 am

weareallinnocent, I don’t want to put down Dave.

kimberann Jul 14th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

See, for me Dave screams phony. YMMV. And he is a far cry from rock.

I see you changed your mind! Haha, that’s cool. But seriously, whether you view someone you don’t really know personally as a phony or not, that’s a pretty subjective thing based on one’s perceptions. No point in arguing about that. Also, I don’t think he’s hard rock (yay!) but he is rock, IMO. Perhaps that’s subjective too.

A little different perspective:

In my youth, I had some musician friends who became very well known and some other opporutnities to do the backstage thing. I quickly came to realize that they are just “making sausage” like like every other schlub. It’s more fun and preserves the illusion more to just buy a ticket, sit in the audience, enjoy the show, and go home.

For me, the whole bow and scrape at famous musicians and the whole wait by the buses for autographs detracts from the experience. I hate reading how so and so was “so nice” to the autograph hounds or so and so was a jerk so now I hate him. I’d rather just leave the poor guy alone to kick his feet up after a night at the office.

hwc, I completely agree. I even feel that way about reading fan sites, every piece of minutia, etc. People say things off the cuff or casually all the time that don’t have much meaning, but every single syllable of an Idoler seems to be analyzed to death.

On the discussion of rock music and kids, though, I had an interesting conversation with my 12 year old nephew and his friends. They all told me they hate Pop music stations now and they only like rock. It’s because they spend many hours a week playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero, and those are almost all old rock songs. I think there is something like 40-50 million units, combined, of those product sold. Who knows, but that could end up really influencing a whole generation of kids and their music preference.

I also went to see Green Day last night, and I think at least 30% of the audience, at least by me, was 16 or younger. They new every song and were rocking it out. We were joking it was the Disney crowd, but BJA sure wasn’t using language Mickey Mouse would approve. It was pretty funny.

I’d rather just leave the poor guy alone to kick his feet up after a night at the office

This exactly, performing and entertaining is their JOB. That’s what you pay a concert ticket for, to be entertained. If the performance sucks, then you have every reason to complain. Not having the encounter of your dreams when a artist steps off stage just does not compute for me. I think TPTB of the idol tour do these kids a disservice by allowing and encouraging these informal bus meet and greets.It sets up an unrealistic expectation that can only lead to disappointment. Once these artists are in the real world, this crap just does not go on. Can anyone name one current popular non idol artist (rock, pop, or R&B) that you can just go hang out at their tour buses and expect some kind of meaningful, whatever that would constitute, contact?

On Cook being a little tour-weary at some points, I actually do feel this. Back in the spring, before he took off some time off to be with family due to Adam’s situation, someone on this blog commented about watching some tour videos in the March time frame and sensing that Cook had lost the glow that he had in Tallahassee at the start of the tour. I just chalked it up to that 2-week or so period when, according to fan reports, everyone on the bus except for Neal had the flu. But now thinking about it, I did see some real soul weariness in him in the spring until their break at the end of May, which most probably was related to Adam’s situation. We found out, after he passed, that Adam decided to forego any treatment for his cancer at the start of 2009 so I think from that point on, it was just a sad and lonely vigil for Cook and his family. Afterwards, of course, he went back on that tour bus for another month basically freshly bereaved and back to a job that (no matter how much he says he loves it) requires him to put on a great big smile and work his ass off to get the audience to forget about their troubles for a few hours a night. (I also believe the “please don’t stalk us” blog was a symptom of this soul weariness.)

Anyway, he’s certainly seem to have come back from his mini-break in June with a BANG, if the new tour videos are any indication. I hope he does take care of himself emotionally as well as physically and understand that he is still actively grieving despite the great place he may be in career-wise. From experience, being bereaved is a very exhausting and fatiguing thing to be. And being on that tour bus for the 6th straight month with 6-14 other smelly and noisy guys can’t be that relaxing. And let’s not even talk about what happens after he steps out of that bus, as he meets all types of fan personalities and their expectations. (Glad Dublin’s with him.)

Mmm. DCTR’s total sales almost exactly 300K higher than Kings of Leon’s CD. Given that KOL is selling better at the moment than DCTR I could see KOL ultimately passing DCTR. However, that is over a longer period of time. During this chart year, DCTR has sold more than 550K more than KOL, and I don’t see KOL making that difference up.

Okay, I will concede to you on this one! I was thinking it was possible by the end of the year, but the CHART year would exclude christmas sales, and without those you are right, they probably won’t catch up by then.

As far as kimberann’s story… I am not in need of any details, and I am also not wanting to feel like I am making someone uncomfortable for however they feel. So I personally am leaving the subject alone.

As far as kimberann’s story’ ¦ I am not in need of any details, and I am also not wanting to feel like I am making someone uncomfortable for however they feel. So I personally am leaving the subject alone.

Thank you tinawina.

Reminder:

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Has David? And he’s not traveling in luxury as some bands do.

Didn’t he pretty much only get like a 2 week break recently? He’s really been performing almost every night for months now… he’s bound to get a little tired.

Keel I love your post.

It hasn’t been very long since his brother passed away. He’s a trooper. I do think he likes to be up on the stage and surround himself with his friends/band and his fans, maybe that’s his own therapy. And his dog . I’ve cried on my dogs more times than I can count!

I’d be happy to see the waiting/signing by the bus thing go away. I was lucky enough to meet him, but I didn’t expect it and just got sucked in when I was walking right… by… the bus… hehe. But I paid to see him sing, not to have him talk to me, so it’d be ok by me to “just” get a show.

It’s more fun and preserves the illusion more to just buy a ticket, sit in the audience, enjoy the show, and go home.

Ha, yes, I manage my brother (or did, I think he’s about done) and… I think I’d rather just be a fan. It’s a grind, there were many shows when he didn’t want to be there and just put on his game face and did it. The fans didn’t know about the 2 hours of griping before the show that he did – he came out and killed it. But I sure did

Here’s a link to a pic of David at the All-Star Game today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markedwardsflicks/3722091376/in/photostream/

Also saw a tweet that he was on the field getting autographs during batting practice.

Didn’t he say in an interview yesterday that he was like a kid in a candy store? Glad he had a day just to hang out and have some fun. Wonder if he and Pujols reminisced about summer league. (kidding!)

And I love his shirt.

These two days must be like a dream come true. I love the shirt he’s wearing, too.

Aw, cute pic! I love his big cheesy grin, lol. I bet he’s having a blast and glad he’s getting a little break and having fun. He does look rather nice in that shirt, hehe.

More pics from the game…

http://fr.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=fefbz6&s=3

http://fr.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=28v9bwm&s=3

http://fr.tinypic.com/view.php?pic=358cd4w&s=3

Thank you, EmmaJK. Love this cute guy.

hwc, I completely agree. I even feel that way about reading fan sites, every piece of minutia, etc. People say things off the cuff or casually all the time that don’t have much meaning, but every single syllable of an Idoler seems to be analyzed to death.

I think the music is fair game. I think when they do something like storm off the stage or tattoo their name across their back or whatever, that’s fair game.

On the other hand, I cringe at fans who think they know a performers “mood” or whether they are “nice” or “not” and draw all kinds of conclusions from facial expressions or even less tenuous evidence. I don’t know what any American Idol is like as a person. Nor, do I particularly care unless it impacts me in some way — like if they are falling down drunk and unable to perform at a show I’ve paid good money to see. I don’t feel like any of them are part of my immediate family.

I agree that the Idol Tour people should put an end to these autograph lines at the buses after the show. That whole scene appears to be out of control.

So I logged on to MJ’s and said, “A thread about Cookie’s ESPN appearance has amassed 200 comments?! The hell? Okay, it’s either got to be another hair debate or more proof of his alleged questionable taste in women who he isn’t dating…” and discover that the hot button topic is whether his career has cooled. Ah, irony. I love you guys, btw. Anyway, when a Cook thread has a total of five replies, then I guess I’ll start to wonder if I’m an oasis of Cook love in a sea of indifference. Even then, whatevs, I’ll prolly post reply number six. Selfishly, I am hardly ever swayed by popular opinion, so as long as bf keeps writing and performing stuff that I dig and filling out that one pair of ripped jeans so well while doing it, I’m prolly not gonna lose sleep over the state of his career. (Except to snobbishly muse on occasion that America has crappy taste in music if he doesn’t sell a mill of his next CD.) I’m in it for the talented funny guy who does it for me musically. And the sweet ass. :innocent1_tb: That said, I don’t think anyone can argue that David Cook hasn’t busted that sweet ass to make the most of this AI afforded opportunity and ensure he’s not a flash in the pan. I am always amazed by his work ethic. I wish I had it. And while the future was iffy back when LO first dropped and didn’t shoot up the charts like a rocket, it seems to me now that he’s on the way to acheiving some sort of significant longevity, ie, his ass busting has paid off. Maybe that manifests itself as the career of a moderately sucessful HAC artist with a super loyal tour following (which works for me because I *heart* live!Dave more than album!Dave, and live!music in general) or a huge crossover pop rock artist who is destined to be all over the charts and media or whatever…it’s still too soon to tell. But I’m pretty confident in saying I don’t think he’s going to be going back to playing gigs for ten people in a dive bar any time soon. Over Simon Fuller’s cold dead body.

I don’t know if it is because I’m bored with post-grunge rock like Declaration or just don’t find it authentic angst (like Kurt Colbain) or have enough angst in my life that I don’t seek anymore.

Interesting, because while there are abundant post-grunge rock lnfluences on DCTR, to me Declaration specifically sounds more heavily influenced by pop punk/emo and Canadian alt rock like OLP than American post grunge. The four on the floor rhythm and semi-anthemic message is more conducive to pogoing in a mosh pit than tripping out on angst. YMMV. Permanent aside because it’s a special case, I think David’s most authentically angsty stuff would be the songs he’s penned about bad relationships and crappy luck with women. It’s tragically funny, actually, how many songs his relationship history appears to have inspired over the years. Poor little analog heart. If he wants to write a bunch more of those it’s cool with me, because I’m a sucker for tortured, heartbroken and semi-pissed off Dave, lyrically speaking.

Or….

But even with all that, he’s doing very well. He hasn’t had that big hit song yet but he will if the label ever gets their head out of their ass.

…what oceana said.

As for the fan interaction stuff, meh. I’ve been a huge Ryan Adams fan for years and sometimes he doesn’t even bother to make eye contact with the audience DURING a concert. But it’s part of his, well, unique charm that either amuses you or pisses you off. Either way, he could personally give a shit. Anyway, I don’t hope for a warm embrace as Cook thanks me for my shameless fantarding. I had a helluva good time at my concert, so I’m good. I do get that kind of thing is a big deal for a lot of people to varying degrees, though. As an extreme example, I have an aunt who is a talk show junkie and has met a crapload of celebrities while hitting the NYC circuit as an audience filler, and I swear she has all the celebrities mentally catalogued by their friendliness and accessibility rather than by their actual talents. But, you know, it makes her happy and she’s harmless for all of her celeb stalkery ways, so you go, Aunt Dee.

What an interesting thread which I finally got around to reading. I’m glad David’s fans are no longer arguing LO was a huge hit. However, I’ve changed my tune and think David is kind of charting a new direction for Idol. Less domination and more longevity if that makes sense. His album sales are very good for someone who hasn’t done great on Top 40.

My only question with Cook is why the endless tour of small colleges, small towns. I’m just surprised they didn’t put him on a bill with an established group and done a bigger tour. But maybe this is how he wants to build his career and/or there are really no suitable artists to tour with.

I found David smug on the show but post Idol he seems to be a nice guy. If I was a huge fan and he didn’t live up to my expectations in person, I could see being turned off. It’s a normal thing. The show kind of turns them into “perfect people” but they’re just regular folks. Even the “saintly Idol” who I’ve been a huge fan of for years, is not really a saint at all. Quite the opposite. Probably healthier to see them warts and all.

Sunchick – loved your post. kinda how I feel.

My only question with Cook is why the endless tour of small colleges, small towns. I’m just surprised they didn’t put him on a bill with an established group and done a bigger tour. But maybe this is how he wants to build his career and/or there are really no suitable artists to tour with.

jpfan, I don’t profess to know him or what’s in his mind or what his label was thinking but based on his comments I got the feeling that he wanted to do this to sort of go back and “earn” his fans the way he would have without Idol… going out and doing the smaller venues, touring like crazy, etc. Whatever his motivation, I *loved* the smaller-venue-vibe at Radford and am excited for small venue at Birchmere and if he ever moves past this and plays the big places I’ll miss it a bit, having a more “intimate” experience. I think it is where he really shines, too, because then he can be ChattyDave. Although he certainly does very well on the bigger stages as well and there was for sure something to be said for VA Beach… gorgeous weather, outside on the beach, lots of singing fans, etc., etc.

I don’t know how many seats he could sell, but he certainly could sell more than these small venues have – I was glad I got my tickets right away for Birchmere because *poof* they were gone right away. If I didn’t get tickets for a show 15 mins away from me I might’ve been driving by longingly or something stupid, lol.

As an extreme example, I have an aunt who is a talk show junkie and has met a crapload of celebrities while hitting the NYC circuit as an audience filler, and I swear she has all the celebrities mentally catalogued by their friendliness and accessibility rather than by their actual talents. But, you know, it makes her happy and she’s harmless for all of her celeb stalkery ways, so you go, Aunt Dee.

That made me spit out my soda, fricking funny! I have no celeb stalkers in my family *yet* though my mom does at least think Andy Skib is “that cute brown haired boy” so hey, it’s a start. That’s seriously how she refers to him… she calls me, “Hey, I saw your boy David Cook on TV, and I saw that cute brown haired boy playing the guitar…”

LOL

^^Thanks well. Although I just realized I mixed metaphors….should be oasis of Cook love in a desert of indifference. Or island in a sea…. Oh, the brevity of it all, dammit.

I got the feeling that he wanted to do this to sort of go back and ‘earn’  his fans the way he would have without Idol’ ¦ going out and doing the smaller venues, touring like crazy, etc.

I agree with this, and think that he honestly loves the smaller venues. He does shine in them. He’ll also be playing a lot of large fairs/festivals this summer as well.

I’ve noticed that as the summer and fall progresses, the venues are starting to become larger. I have a feeling that he’s being “tested” somewhat. Not sure if that’s the right way to say it, but 19/RCA/Fuller – whoever – is testing his ability to sell to larger venues.

My only question with Cook is why the endless tour of small colleges, small towns. I’m just surprised they didn’t put him on a bill with an established group and done a bigger tour. But maybe this is how he wants to build his career and/or there are really no suitable artists to tour with.

He’s not doing colleges anymore and he’s not really doing small towns, yeah some are small but he’s doing shows in NYC, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington, Philly, etc. The venue sizes vary where some are bigger than other but I do agree I wish they would put him on the road with a more established act. I think an opening act gig for an already established artist is a smarter move when it comes to building a fanbase. I worry he’s playing to the same fans all these months who find it easy to go to 20 shows and fly all over.

My only question with Cook is why the endless tour of small colleges, small towns. I’m just surprised they didn’t put him on a bill with an established group and done a bigger tour.

I think it’s a compliment that he’s been “the headliner” from the beginning. There’s some faith there in his abilities. My only complaint is that I wish his sets were longer. I just get revved up when he’s winding down…. Just like a man.

I got the feeling that he wanted to do this to sort of go back and ‘earn’  his fans the way he would have without Idol’ ¦ going out and doing the smaller venues, touring like crazy, etc.

I think this is probably right on the money. Didn’t David say on the Tonight Show, right after he won, that “the work starts now?” I’ve always gotten the feeling that he felt almost like this “short cut” to fame just wasn’t “right” and he didn’t quite deserve it if he didn’t sweat it, like anyone else who hadn’t been on AI.

Great discussion on this thread. Highlights the idiosyncracies of Idol fandom. Sunchick I love your last post and agree with you 100%. I really think DC is charting his own post-Idol/artistic course and I am along for the long haul, much more because of my (probably unhealthy) interest in him than in any Idol association. I have seen DC live twice–festival venue at VA Beach and relatively small venue (800) in Santa Fe. I thought both shows were great, but had great seats with wonderful acoustics in Santa Fe. He is a terrific live performer, and the awesome band was noticably improved in the short month between shows. I am hoping that the relatively slow but consistent build post Idol is an indicator that he is building to a career explosion in conjunction with his second record. I totally think that we have not seen the best of David Cook but have inklings of his great potential as an artist (tm Simon). I am excited to see where he goes musically in conjunction with his current band mates which I think may bring out the best in Cook.

Thanks to this site which brings about so much interesting discussion which I think is facilitated by the broad variety of opinions. Shout out to Tinawina who is the most rational fantard I have followed on any of the Idol or DC fansites.

Sunchick: did you crack my skull and put my (inarticulate) thoughts online? I was like yes, yess, YESSS, the whole time reading it (my cat is eyeing me suspiciously now, LOL).

Oh, and guys: look closely at 0:52 on that Declaration vid, stage left, short yellow person under the stack of amps (nope, not Neal). Yes, it’s that plastic chicken touring with NavyDavy and the Toobs. I just found out from DCO that she (he?) has a name: the italian sounding Parmesana (Parm for short), and she has…. myspace. Dang! She gyrates to Barbasol, and — she blogs. More specifically a Dr Phil blog. Bwahahahahahahahahahaha! Oh help me, I’m dying here *can’t breath*.

Sumbody: please don’t tell me that Carrie actually signed her butt?!

OMG I’m in tears laughing here! I’m trying to picture the conversation with Carrie. What did David say to her? Here, sign this chickens ass? Did she volunteer to sign a chickens ass? :lol_tb:

I just found out from DCO that she (he?) has a name: the italian sounding Parmesana (Parm for short), and she has’ ¦. myspace. Dang!

OK, that’s just *perfect* for my no-sleep-pissy-but-loopy mood that I’m in currently. Parm FTW!

With Carrie’s signature on her sweet ass

Ah, brevity.

cute little article on Dave here, from the next stop on his continuing tour
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/125300/
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/pages/fun

wellhesback, thanks for bringing that little article over. I still have about 4 hours of work to do and Cookie crumbs will keep me awake, lol!!

OMG I’m in tears laughing here! I’m trying to picture the conversation with Carrie.

Honestly, I think Carrie’s more the Before He Cheats/Last Name chick than many people realize. No, not that she’s a bat-wielding psycho slut, although Mike Fisher should lock his hockey sticks somewhere Carrie doesn’t have keys for…I think Carrie more fun than her image allows her to be.

ETA: re the Duluth article:

That guy thinks he’s David Cook.

Ahahahaha…

The night before this Home Run Derby performance, I was lucky enough to see David Cook and his band at the House of Blues in Chicago. It was a sold out show. David looked well rested, was in great spirits, and owned us while he was on that stage! His voice was in top form, and he gave us everything he had, for every song. He brought the house down.

We were ridiculously loud, and he was so strong vocally, that I was worried for his voice for the performance in St. Louis. I thought he sounded awesome! I also thought he looked great, but a bit tired. Watching what he did the night before, it didn’t surprise me. Seeing what he does on stage has made me respect him even more. He has been on the road nonstop for months now, and has performed at least 80 concerts since mid – February. He treats each show like it is his first. I saw him earlier this year at a college concert, and he gave just as much to that small college crowd as he did for the Chicago HOB’s. I was happy to see that he got a chance to enjoy a couple of days, doing what he loves to do – watching sports! Those photos were very cool. He looked like a very happy guy!

Love that dude.

ETA: re the Duluth article: That guy thinks he’s David Cook.

Where is the YouTube of his banter with that story? Anyone know which show? I want to say it was in New Orleans but I could be so very wrong. It was funny as hell. Must find….

Here ya go -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPVrBVuyTa4

Baton Rouge… I was close? Kinda?

Thanks for the link tierbee. I swear his banter alone is worth the price of admission to his shows! That was hilarious. I have to go back and watch that one more time. “I am apparently posing as me” LOL!

I know, I love his banter – ChattyDave is the best. He makes me laugh

David and the band sounded great! I love Declaration! Love love Cookie!

(Sunchick, based on the band performance links you posted, I believe I would have loved hanging out and going to shows with you in college….)

This performance was solid, but I do hear vocal strain on the highnotes (they never quite have slam-dunked this song on television again the way they did the first night they unveiled it on SNL). This is most likely because this kid’s tour schedule is INSANE. Kirsten is usually the go-to-girl when it comes to Idol history, and I wonder if she or anyone else has ever kept track of Idol-spawned artists’ comparative touring in support of their first records. I’m just guessing here, but I would bet DC is smashing all existing records in that respect.

Here’s what I can tell you from my fairly limited knowledge of bands and touring. The “standard” for a band that is what you might call “on the cusp of making it” is to play approximately one-hundred shows in a twelve month period. We’re talking here about the type of act who might have one song or so that has some radio presence in certain formats or maybe a song or two on a soundtrack or featured on a television program, but whose name 85% or above of the general public wouldn’t recognize. The type of group who may be the opener for the opener for a major music act, in other words.

On the other, hand an established musical artist would likely be expected to have a notably lighter tour schedule. Well, by my count according to his tour schedule listed on his website, David Cook (an established musical artist) will have performed between 110 – 120 shows… in a six month period, from mid-February to mid- August. And he’s not stopping even then, although it does seem his dates become more spaced out after that.

Of course, there are trade-offs. One is that his voice is not always in top-form, and sometimes this is true for crammed-in national television appearances. Anothder is that there is some grumbling out there that he’s something of a “short set man”. Of course, if you were performing two out of every three days, you’d probabaly keep your sets shorter too to preserve your voice as much as possible.

However, concert-goers aren’t going to be taking that into that consideration if they come away from a show thinking it seemed like it was almost over before it began. After all, almost all of them are only interested in feeling like they got a great experience for their money; they don’t give a damn about the other four concerts the band is playing that week which they won’t be attending.

So, that’s one thing Cook may want to change going forward– play fewer dates and longer sets when he’s headlining. Another might be to do a few stints as an opener for a “bigger name”.

There’s no nice way to say this, but some of Cook’s maniac fans could potentially be harming his career a bit. When you’re at a show, as I was, and having a casual conversation pre-show with the a member of the venue staff in a place Cook has never played before, and the man mentions off the cuff that he’s heard “this guy’s fans are crazy”, then that tells you that Cook Nation is getting a bit of a reputation in the music-and-event-sphere. So playing some opening gigs not only might attract new fans, it will also ensure there is less of an element of “the crazy” in the house that can ultimately stigmatize an artist by proxy and limit his potential reach.

Well, I just read the blog page on the rubber chicken’s (the one on stage with DC and the boys) MySpace page. Hilarious! I wonder who in the group writes it, or if they all contribute.

Noctem – I’m with you on the worry about the crazy fans. Apparently Parma the chicken is too. This is from that MySpace
“Dear Dr. Parmesana,
I am a sad and miserable person, so I need to make shit up to escape from reality. I have a whole string of lies that I tell, and sometimes I can’t even keep them all straight! I just want to feel better about myself by pretending that I have relationships with rockstars and roadies and such. Is that so wrong?
Starved for attention
Dear Starved
Yes.
Get REAL help,
Parm”
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=137778397

Noctem, I agree about the crazy concert schedule and more dates are being added every day. The only reason the dates are more spaced out after August is because they haven’t been announced yet. Most club dates are announced about 1 month before the shows, so whatever dates seem free now will be quickly filled up.

I was at the Chicago show on Sunday and chatted with one of the staff (she was an acquaintance of my friend) who said that they did expect some drama for the David Cook show since they’ve been getting constant calls with questions about where to line up and how they can get into the venue earlier. She then said, that although it’s annoying for the staff, they were completely booked for the concert general admission, VIP seats, and lunch and dinner restaurant seating weeks ahead of time. The gift shop was also doing great business with people purchasing merchandise so they can get into the “pass” line. She said not all shows sell out, so they do appreciate it when an artist can bring in that much business and they have security to deal with any OTT behavior. She also said there are bands out there who bring in a much worse crowd.

He seems to be playing gradually larger venues now. I didn’t like the college tour theme at first, but it’s given the band time to gel, and given them a grass roots feel, a chance to work their way up to the bigger arenas someday. Meanwhile they are improving as a band and working together. I agree with whoever said that David is building a career and we haven’t seen his best yet, I think he will develop as an artist and songwriter over many years for a long career. I get frustrated because I don’t think the best songs have been released yet but all in good time, I tell myself as I calm down.

OMG, noctem, thanks for that entire post. I could’ve written it myself, cuz I agree with every point, and now I don’t have to .

David Cook (an established musical artist) will have performed between 110 – 120 shows’ ¦ in a six month period, from mid-February to mid- August. And he’s not stopping even then, although it does seem his dates become more spaced out after that. [Concert goers] don’t give a damn about the other four concerts the band is playing that week which they won’t be attending.

I’ve been mulling about DC’s brutal tour schedule and short sets for a while now… so thank you for putting it in numbers. That’s really ridiculous. DC mentioned Bryan Adams’ advice to him at the finale to keep working and don’t stop until you want to stop. I get the advice, but I’m starting to think DC is taking it a tad too literally. Bryan Adams concerts these days last like 20-plus songs, but that’s because he’s not playing shows 5 times a week, and scheduling shows in bum-farck USA between the bigger city stops.

So, that’s one thing Cook may want to change going forward’“ play fewer dates and longer sets when he’s headlining. Another might be to do a few stints as an opener for a ‘bigger name’ .

YES please! Opening will also help that crazy fan rep too! The die-hards are traveling anyways, so why not concentrate on the large metro areas, space them out a bit more, and in doing so, fill up larger venues. I really really wish for DC to open for someone big, but unfortunately, I don’t think it’ll happen. They seem keen on scheduling this headline tour out to December, at which point… I think DC may head back to the studio? Doesn’t seem to leave too much time to open for a big act… I hope I’m wrong, but it just seems to be the case. Ugh

smallie – I agree with your post – up to the ugh. I think he and his management may have reasons for doing the tour the way they are. And it seems successful. So I’m not going to angst, too much anyway.

From an admittedly selfish point of view, I loved the small college venues. When I walked in and saw how small the room was, I was so happy. I felt this was the closest experience I could get, that might feel like experiencing David before Idol fame.(There was a lot of discussion on various boards about people wishing they had known him before Idol, so that they could have seen him play in those small bars he so fondly talks about!) The college concert was so intimate and a completely different experience than seeing him on the AI Tour last summer. I loved them both, but the small venue was the closest to experiencing him in a small club atmosphere, just DC and his band doing what they love to do – play great music!

As far as being weary, I haven’t seen that at all during the concerts I attended. He seemed both grateful and extremely happy to be able to play. He always says thank you for supporting his music, and by supporting it, it allows him to do what he loves to do. As far as crazy fan behaviour, I saw it at the Idol shows, but not at the 2 smaller shows I attendeded. At the Chicago HOB’s, it was interesting to me, that even in a sophisticated city, people were lined up for his concert hours before it started. I think that is a very good indication as to how well he is doing post – idol, for many reasons.

Regarding his short sets… I just saw David perform on July 3 and he played for an hour and a half. Is that really that short for a new band? I would assume they want the majority of the material to be the current release, which it was. They usually fill in some spots with previous David solo music off Analog Heart, something that didn’t make DCTR like Souvenir, maybe an MWK song and then 2 covers. I LOVED the show and as much as I would have liked for them to play all night long, I felt like I got my money’s worth. And that was my first time to see David solo. I also didn’t expect to meet him at the bus…. although he was out in the casino playing blackjack earlier in the day and waved to some fans from what I heard.

He averages 12 songs per show, which is short for a headliner by at least 5 or so songs, at least compared to the concerts I go to– especially ones with only 1 opener.

Cross-posting a cute interview with MLB here.

Agree smallie with the shorter sets as a headliner. He’s great with the banter and he and the band are just awesome all around, but that doesn’t change the fact that, compared to other acts (and not just the big ones filling stadiums), headliners usually do a few more than 12 songs per show. I would say he’s 3-6 songs short of what I’m used to seeing from headliners.

One thing they could do to still keep up their pace and preserve the voice (and in fact they did do this at the start of the tour with the drummer), is to have the guys in the band jam a bit at the start or in the middle of some of their songs. I mean they have at least two guys who are remarkably gifted instrumentalists (Kyle and Neal), so why not give them extended drum and guitar solos at different points during the concert. They’d still need to add a few more songs (at least 3 more) but they could extend the time of the concert by just extending the length of some of the songs by having the band members jam. As Dave keeps saying, it’s a rock show. He should let his talented band members jam a bit and help save his voice.

Love that interview with MLB.com, sma11ie. How cool that he was able to spend a day just being a fan, meeting his heroes (including Hank Aaron!), and enjoying the AL win in such a gorgeous ballpark.

And another nice counterpoint to the tour-weariness, fan-interaction, “he’s a jerk!”/”no he’s a nice guy!” discussion of the past few days. From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

David Cook is a class act at All-Star game

I know this thread is just about done but I want to thank the folks who posted the basevideo and the class act article. Refreshing. very happy for Cookie.

Thanks ladymadonna for that article, David Cook is a class act at All-Star Game. Every time I have been lucky enough to be around after a show, he has always been nothing but gracious to people waiting to meet him. I hope many people see that article, because he is truly sincere and kind. He seems very happy to meet his fans. He was very gracious to my nephew who is in his teens and had questions about Analog Heart. He actually got a huge kick out of my nephew saying he would forgive him for not singing Let Go at the concert that night. For some reason that really cracked him up! I wish this thread wasn’t just about over, so more people could read what that person who wrote the article had to say about how David interacts with fans. He is a sweetheart, whether cameras are on or off.