David Cook – His Single “Light On” – First Listen!

While I’m turning on every light in the house…er…office…I will now listen to Analog Heart, after several repeats of Light On! So. I like the new song. I hope it’s a big hit for him. I wish the arrangement were more interesting, but it is primarily his SINGING that I am in love with. There are some little interesting bits in the song. But it is indeed a rock power ballad. Hair bands, indeed! LOL! Well maybe. I’m listening to Don’t Say A Word, which also sounds quite power ballad-y. I would LURV to hear Fall Back Into Me on the radio, with it’s catchy melody and hook line. And power ballad sound. HAH! As long as the WORDS are not totally inane and the music is listenable for me, I’m gonna like almost anything Cook sings. I think.

I

DIG

IT

omg i have chills. i know this is so ridiculous and silly i am not a tween or fool or anything and gah i actually have tears it doesn’t suck it doesn’t suck i was so worried i wanted it to be really good and i know it’s a power ballad and i know it was cowritten by cornell and that other guy but idc idc idc his voice is awesome made of win and i genuinely like it and i just can’t stand it i want him to really succeed and do well and i’m so happy for him and gah i was freaking out cuz the media player wouldn’t load and then finally it worked and i have listened to it like 10x already and i wanted to get the full lyrics and ha ha ha i think us cookie fans broke dco for a few minutes cuz the site went down but now it’s back up and omg omg omg i’m so excited and i’m an idiot and i’m loling at myself but idc idc idc yay yay yay yay i can’t wait to dl from itunes next week and ~tears~ congratulations cookie u did good!

I think this is going to be highly successful for him.

I’ve learned to have lowered expectations for Idol releases–especially the first release. Taylor’s album–I hated the ballads, but there were several cuts that I liked a lot. I liked about half of Blake Lewis’s album. Cookie’s album will probably be the same–I’ll like some song, others not so much. The first single just happens to fall into the latter category for me. Mostly because I don’t really dig the style of music he’s singing here.

listened to it again, so Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll add very radio friendly but very generic. That could be anybody singing. I think they just took the safest route for the first single and whoà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s to say theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re wrong. The worst part of the song is the stale production. I guess I expected more from an A level producer.

that’s exactly how I feel jpfan. I like it, but it’s just generic IMO. Cookie is way more talented than that.
It’s sort of like a middle of the road song, I still hope it’s a big hit for him, he deserves it.

There’s just nothing really special but it will work because it is a Daughtry sound.

Love it. Perfect first single. Not too edgy to alienate TOML fans but not a total sapfest that proves he’s the real deal. Plus, his voice just kills on this. If this isn’t a radio hit, I will be shocked.

You can definitely hear the Chris Cornell influences – the intro sounds a lot like Soundgardens “Black Hole Sun”….. taking a second listen….

His voice sounds awesome. I still wanted something edgier, but this pop/rock sound will put him on the map….which is what he needs to start with.

I am even more anxious now to hear the whole album.

Total hear what you mean ggdoorsfan. Muscially I hear way more Cornell than Nickelback.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not digging the minor-key verse, but when the song opens up in the chorus ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s got a hook thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s big, sweeping, romantic. As always, Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s vocals are spot-on.

I typically prefer a minor key, but that’s just me. I agree on the chorus, and that’s what I really like about it. Can you imagine having to sing this live every night? I’m afraid he’ll strain his vocal chords!

I agree with MJ. I don’t love it but I don’t hate it. It is just ok, I was expecting more from Cookie since he usually has great ideas for songs. I just don’t think it is a Billy Jean or a Little Sparrow or ABMB. It grows on you after a few listens but I just can’t get into it for some reason. It will do fine on radio. I hope the rest of the album is more Cookie and less generic.

Total hear what you mean ggdoorsfan. Muscially I hear way more Cornell than Nickelback.

I concur…the chorus is very Cornell to me.

Well, the moment I heard him sing “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” on the show, I knew he’d have the “romantic power rock ballad” on his album. Heh. It’s cheesy, but it sells.

My first listen was more “Huh?” than anything, especially when it seemed to end too quickly. But, it’s grown on me. Aside from his live performance of “Innocent”, I’m pretty much sold where David Cook is concerned. This is exactly what I expected. Nothing more, nothing less. For the “more”, we’ll definitely have to buy the album.

I agree that because it’s more commercial it will be a radio hit. His vocals are definitely what will make this work.

Yeah, I’m not hearing Cornell or Daughtry. What I am hearing is Aerosmith. Like, a lot. Which is not a good thing for me. But I do think it is radio friendly, has a very catchy hook, and should be a hit for him, which is all that matters. (I already know my taste is not in the mainstream, and if he hit the ball out of the park just for me, about 3% of the populace would probably like it. So it’s probably better for him that it isn’t just right for me.)

Plus, it can definitely work as an Idol see-ya-later song, which certainly worked for Daughtry.

smartcookie
“What I am hearing is Aerosmith.”

You hit it right on the nail with that. It is very Aerosmith and I didn’t like “I Don’t Miss a Thing” at all. I LOVED “Innocent” though, the studio version is killer. Whoever mention “Innocent”, wow. Actually all of Cookie’s studio recordings from AI are killer.

Disappointed. It’s very formulaic.

Well, the moment I heard him sing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I Donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Want to Miss a Thingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  on the show,

I hate that song. So, so much. LOL.

I knew heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d have the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“romantic power rock balladà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  on his album. Heh. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cheesy, but it sells.

Yeah, I’m not heartbroken or shocked or anything. lol. It’s typical for rock bands to record this type of song for the Top 40 format, while recording harder edged tunes for the rock formats. This is a lot better than the travesty that is Puddle of Mudd’s latest HAC song. lol.

ETA:

Plus, it can definitely work as an Idol see-ya-later song, which certainly worked for Daughtry.

It’s also hella anthemic–meaning it’s got incredible sing along potential. . I can hear the crowds now…

I like it. I love the guyliner too. I’ll leave the light on!!! Amen!

Absolutely love this song. Cannot stop listening. He has such a wonderful deep voice which is perfect for rock ballads. I keep listening over and over again.

yeah…that photo of him is freakin’ HAWT! He’s got one sexy mouth!

Off to hear the song once more before I go to bed.

This is a lot better than the travesty that is Puddle of Muddà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s latest HAC song. lol.

lol, I just listened to it back to back with the new Hinder song to make myself feel better. Now that song is just tragically bad. It’s pretty good for the type of music it is. It’s just the type of music that I personally usually choose to turn off when it comes on the radio.

This is just not what I was expecting given what I know about David’s writing, influences, etc. I think the stuff on Analog Heart, while lacking polish, was more interesting and just as radio friendly. Oh well, when does the next single come out?

Love, love, love it!!!

I love David Cook’s voice so I love this song. Agree with you guys that it isn’t a ABMB or Billy Jean, but hopefully those will come soon. I love Aerosmith and DWTMAT is one of my favs of DC’s. But I like MOTN too so go figure.

I predict this will sell well and be a big hit on radio – I was so wrong with predicting Taylor’s numbers that I am just hoping I have better instincts this time.

I even like the minor key verse!

I think its fantastic and I bet it will sound even better live as he constantly rearranges it. acoustic version ftw?

edit…keep your opinons focused on the song…NOT on your fellow posters.

I’m going to choke if I hear this on some Motel 6 commercial. Hehehehe.

Well, the moment I heard him sing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I Donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Want to Miss a Thingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  on the show,

I hate that song. So, so much. LOL.

You and me both. The lyrics slay me every time. I’m not staying awake to hear anyone breathing. Dang it, I love my sleep!! Well…I’ve lost some zzzz’s on David Cook, though.

I am listening to Light On on the radio as I sit here typing this. Our Top 40 station debuted the song about an hour and a half ago and they are on spin #2 right now. I gotta say…it sounds good on the radio!

I bet this song is chosen as the song played when an idol contestant is sent packing on season 8!

It’s not instant love but I’m sure it will grow on me. I can’t wait to hear it on the radio. I can’t wait to hear THE ACOUSTIC VERSION!!! whoa.

I think my main problem is that it’s a bit loud and overproduced over my laptop speakers. I bet in the car or on a decent sound system it will sound great.

I will be so giddy to start hearing this on the radio. Like, all over the radio. Like, I start to secretly wonder if they’re overplaying it. LET’S DO IT!

FINALLY, got it to play!

It’s good, about what I expected, and right in line with what I hear on my radio station of choice. Probably a good middle ground sound to transition listeners away from the Magic Rainbow sound and give radio stations a good comparison to see which format he’s aiming for.

I agree with the not being a fan of that twangy sound in the beginning, and I’m hoping there’s more voice and less noise on some of the other tracks. I *love* the four lines near the end with the piano, I would have know that was Dave based on that section because you can actually hear his voice there.

Lyrics overall are good, not so much loving the wire’s crossed section right at the end. The minor key is fine, will set it apart a bit from the songs before it and after it on the radio. Dave seems to like an unresolved chord to end a song.

I was expecting/hoping for more of a Collective Soul/Switchfoot sound and vibe from him rather than the Nickelback/Hinder thing , maybe that’ll come on some of the other tunes. I guess mostly I’m just hoping his voice, which is exquisite, won’t be lost amidst all the noise and swelling guitars.

And I am a huuuge fan of the studio Innocent. Probably play that the most of all his AI cuts, with TWIK and DYTM close seconds.

okay…that’s it…I’m falling in love with it. It’s his vocals..he sings the shit out of it. Not crazy about the words or the overprocessed instruments but his voice is killer.

I too want to hear it on a good sound system as my computer speakers suck.

I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t wait to hear THE ACOUSTIC VERSION!!! whoa.

I think my main problem is that ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a bit loud and overproduced..

The above captures my initial thoughts. It’s too touched up. David doesn’t need it. His organic voice is what makes him.

One thing about David is that he’s pulled a few people into rock that’d never been there before — like me. So I can’t compare this song to Sound Fighters or Foo Puddles or Quarterback or nuffin. I do know that I like the part near the end of the song when he sings quietly an octive lower. So I think I’m waiting for the acoustic version, too. Am I waiting in vain or is an acoustic version de rigeur in the rock world?

One last thing. The photo…he’s beautiful

Dreary, really dreary. The chorus is moderately catchy but the lyrics seem a bit silly there…”Leave the light on when I’m gone”…almost sounds like something from a bad country album, so hackneyed. Also, to my ear, the vocal sounds a bit shouty/strained for what is clearly a well “massaged” studio recording, then again that’s what he won Idol with and did on the tour so why change now, I guess.

Honestly, if RCA can payola absolute l dreck like It’s Not Over to the top of radio’s Mediabase for as long as they did, then, surely, this one could be as well. One has to wonder if that is in the cards though, given that Archuleta was given ambush position over D.C. to begin with.

yikes…i wanted to like that a lot more than i did.

The thing is, it’s a total earworm. I don’t even like it, and I’m still singing the chorus under my breath while making dinner. I mean, come ON!

That it may function as a segue between TOML and what he may want to do next is a good point. Hope so, anyway.

Anybody want to guess what will be in the video? Firefighter or policeman leaving for work? Soldier leaving for war? Astronaut leaving to blow up asteroids?

I think it will be a hit for David and I will buy it to support him!

After several listens, I think it’s okay and it will probably grow on me more and more. The words are on the cornball side, but I love the part with just him and the piano. His voice is great there, but the rest is a bit screamy (??).

That said, it’s catchy and it will probably be a hit Those studio guys want something radio friendly to get the ball rolling. Cred and substance can come later.

Astronaut leaving to blow up asteroids?

HAHAHA that was a good one…where’s a mid 90s Summer blockbuster when you need one?

My oldest daughter doesn’t like it at all ( a purist who’s very picky and HATES pop rock) BUT said that she thinks a lot of guys will like it. Hmmmmmm

It sounds a lot like a Daughtry song to me, but since I much prefer Cookie’s voice, I like it better. It isn’t my favorite, but its okay.

David’s brother Andrew reviews the song -

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=3733532CDDA6DDA6F187287952B79545?contentId=7495989&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

“Light On” is a great transition song to get fans of “Time of my Life” to become fans of the David Cook sound as opposed to the American Idol sound.

Well, I hope so.

More here, including his mother’s reaction -

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7495475&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

While I am not big on R&B ballads and Disney-esque ballads, I do enjoy a good rock power ballad, super anthemic with lots of in your face wailing. This song fits the bill nicely. I can totally see Cook closing his concerts with this tune surrounded by a sea of cell phones held high, lights on, arms swaying. I think it’s going to be a good one to perform live, both plugged in and stripped down acoustic. The one thing I don’t like is the way the verses fade into the chorus. It makes the song production sound a tad too manufactured rather than organic. Tiny wrist slap to Cavallo on that.

It’s alright, but I’ll probably love it after hearing it a lot.

after listening to it a few more times, i kind of like the chorus. but the verses are so bland. i dont hate but i dont particularly like it either.

i guess i was expecting too much?

I listened to it a second time and really listened to the words. This is a good transition song and should be a real hit on the radio. I am definitely falling in love with it. I always have to listen to a song more than once to make any judgements and it doesn’t matter who is singing. David’s voice is spot on and I love the lower register part.

It’s a perfect rock ballad.

Stylistically, it sounds very much Daughtry/Nickelback/Hinder/ad infinitum. Pretty generic.

That said, I think Cook has more nuance in his voice than a lot of singers, Daughtry included, who sing in this style.

This one doesn’t make me want the album, but I am not much of a fan of this style of rock singing anyway.

i forgot to mention the single cover! wtf is that? he looks like an elf. its as bad as archie’s cover. damn, can these record companies get some better graphic designers?

More here, including his motherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s reaction -

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7495475&version=7&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Thanks…the cook family is a bunch of criers Very sweet.

The more I listen, the more I love it. I wrote elsewhere earlier toady that if I have to choose commerce or art on the first single, I go commerce all the way. David needs a hit to kick it off, I get that some fans wanted something edgy/unique/rockier/softer, but I really only care about how well it does, because if it does well David will get to put out more songs, and we know he co-wrote almost all the other songs, if not all of them.

Just makes me that much more anxious for THE record.
Oh, and I? Really love this song. It swells up, and it’s great to sing along to, and the quiet part is so beautiful.

Allaccess.com now has the song up with a Top 40 impact date of October 14. There’s nothing listed yet for other formats.

That is a weird pic of David. He looks like he either just got slapped in the face, or maybe someone farted.

Adding my two cents here: I LOVE IT!!!

Killer vocal. Yeah I like it. Good transition song. i dig it.

Cheese said ”

“That is a weird pic of David. He looks like he either just got slapped in the face, or maybe someone farted.”

OMG! That is so funny, I am dying here, LMAO. That caught me off guard, too funny. hahhhahhaa…. I kind dig the cover a little, Cookie looks kind hot.

I like it! Yes, its commercial and probably more generic than some were hoping for, but that is what singles are for. They are designed to appeal to the masses, to play repetitively on the radio, build up the fanbase, make a splash on the charts and entice folks to want more and get the album.

I’ve always been concerned that some of David’s AI fans would not really embrace David, the rock musician, in all his complexity, outside of the controlled reality show bubble. So in this first single, he needed to walk a narrow line from AI reality star to serious rock musician, bringing folks along with him while simultaneously attracting all kinds of new fans and I think this is the perfect vehicle to do just that. This song doesn’t sound like an AI track. It sounds like a radio hit from a popular musician. Bingo.

After listening to it several times I’m liking it more and more! I’m just thinking about how awesome he’ll sound singing it in concert!!!! Can’t wait to download.

The song gets better and better as it goes. Ending’s awesome! I really do believe it was well produced. Can’t wait for the record!!!!

A bit safe for my taste, although I love his singing and the Cornell signature (this sounds a lot like some of his solo music IMHO).
Still very good…. just not over-exciting or original.
Look forward to the album!

The more I listen, the more I love it. I wrote elsewhere earlier toady that if I have to choose commerce or art on the first single, I go commerce all the way. David needs a hit to kick it off, I get that some fans wanted something edgy/unique/rockier/softer, but I really only care about how well it does, because if it does well David will get to put out more songs, and we know he co-wrote almost all the other songs, if not all of them.

Jolene, I am with you entirely on this. It has to be a commercial success or there won’t be a second chance. This has radio hit written on it. This is a good way for him to be introduced to non-AI viewers. I can’t wait to hear it there. I absolutley love his acoustic voice at the very end.

Ok so I only listened to it once. I am disappointed. His voice is so beautiful I thought the song was too much…like Aerosmith. I love the acoustic version of the Foo Fighters song… his voice is so pure..but this song is a little too much..

… I will listen to it a few more times…hopefully it will grow on me..
…I LOVE David and I can’t wait until the whole album comes out.. I love Analog Heart. I want to hear more David..and less of that overproduced stuff…

..on an up note…he has a KILLER VOICE!!!

I don’t love it, don’t hate it. Probably a good choice as a first single though, a winner. TOML to Light on then onto David Cook is the right path I believe. Gentle prodding of the audience in the direction that he wants to go.

His voice sounds great. He looks fine in that pic. Fine, ahhh such an inadequate word.

Someone talked about Innocent in the thread. I have to say that Innocent was absolutely one of my faves from DC during Idol, the studio version is a killer.

DC will do fine with this.

But he could sing the phone book and I would be in thrall! Dat waz the bomb, dawg!

That is a weird pic of David.

Yeah. I kinda need to see some teeth.

Jan..you are right it has to be a commercial success…

Do we know that that’s the single cover? I’m not entirely sure.

Guh, that acoustic part with the piano and the transition afterwards kills me every time! I feel like grabbing a lighter and waving it over my head! LOL

MY HUSBAND JUST HEARD THE ENDING OF “LIGHT ON” ON THE RADIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

The piano part is lovely.

I wish I could say that I love it, but I don’t. I think this one is going to have to grow on me. However, I’ll buy the download when it’s released on iTunes. I agree with MJ-I do think it will be a hit for Cook, especially on AC and Hot AC radio.

I’m so psyched that people are already hearing it on the radio! Woohooo!

Um… just to make sure, you don’t all live in Kansas City, MO, do you? LOL

I’ve listened a couple of times, as I usually need to do with something new, and it’s grown on me. I too find it a bit generic in the rock-ish sense, as I found DA’s single generic in the R-and-B-ish sense. But, as many have said here, it should establish a radio foothold, which is step one to what I believe is a stellar future ahead. Maybe David’s next single will have that beautiful falsetto of his that I love so much! Meantime, he’s got such a hold on me that I’ll definitely get the single from itunes, and I already have the album pre-ordered. :smile1_tb:

Now it’s stuck in my head….

It’s okay but I don’t really dig it that much. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I like ‘Crush’ a lot better. And I’m someone who voted for Cook for the full 4 hours. Yikes.

What to add…? I agree with all of you….

This is a definite step forward from Magic Rainbow :lol_wp:

Have to add that the part just before the end (that short digression, don’t know the technical word…) is really great and very Cook-ish. The song really grows on you as you listen.
Still think it’s a little conventional in the structure.
But I think it will be a success, it does stick in your head easily (or maybe it’s because I just listened to it 10 times in a row???).

Anyone know when he’s going to publish the dates of his tour???

Umà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ just to make sure, you donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t all live in Kansas City, MO, do you? LOL

LOL! No, I live in Dayton, Ohio and when I looked up the station online I saw that it’s considered an Alternative rock, rock and adult rock station!

Anyone know when heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going to publish the dates of his tour???

One thing at a time, dearie. :laugh_tb:

Probably sometime at the end of the year, no? Or early next year?

Wow, I’m way late to the party here! But I just listened to the song and I loved it (as I expected to). I’m into the semi-generic, radio friendly stuff. Stuff I can crank up and sing along to.

What I am NOT digging, however, is that photo of David. He looks like he wants to kill me.

It’s on radio already?? Wow. So glad to hear that. The first time I hear it I’m afraid I’m going to blast all the cars around me, lol.

What I am NOT digging, however, is that photo of David. He looks like he wants to kill me.

Picture looks a bit Daughtry-esque, actually. Forced intensity. LOL. I’ll listen when I get home. Off to face traffic…

i really liked the song. it sounds like a chris cornell song but that’s ok. like everyone has been saying it needs to be a hit so he can continue on. AC radio will like it but will top 40, i say yes they will.

movin2thabeet- I totally agree with you that I have also been thinking it would be difficult for Cook to make the transition from AI to what he will really do, so this is probably a good transition.

I will admit I am a huge Archuleta fan, who has grown to really admire Cook for the way he treated others during and after AI and that TOML has grown on me, but I don’t like this new song. I am just not into rock. I do see it doing well on the radio though for those who like that kind of stuff, and I wish him great success.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s okay but I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t really dig it that much. I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t believe Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m going to say this but I like à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Crushà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ a lot better. And Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m someone who voted for Cook for the full 4 hours. Yikes.

Maybe you say that because Crush is a better song. Unfortunately, in this case, that isn’t saying very much.

Where can we find the lyrics?

As a fan, I am a bit disappointed. It seems a tad generic and not quite the sound I thought he was going for. Hopefully the other songs on the album will grab me though. I’m sure that the label will insure this does well though. :wink_wp: :wink_wp:

CRB, I’ll have to disagree. Crush is not better than this one, both are pretty generic for their type but at least Light On has great lyrics and makes a better use of Cook’s voice. It’s not as blant as Crush.

I was expecting something more commercial, cause this is the first single so it’s no surprise. But I like it better than I thought, the piano, the guitar in the begining, the transitions in David’s voice.
I think it will do very good on radio.

I wish the song had less of that upper register shouty thing but David Cook is love. I can’t deny it.

I really like it. Think it’ll be a big hit for him. I’m buying via mjs itunes link once it’s available.

I liked it on first listen. I really liked it on second and loved it on third. If this is the most commercial of all the songs on David’s album, brace for some really cookified WTF! tracks on the rest of the record. Because even by commercial standards it is not THAT commercial.

I would have bought it even if I did not like it. I owe him at least two album worth of money between Analog Heart and axium tracks. Loving it makes my choice very easy.

wow, I was gone all day and boy did I miss a lot!!!
I wasn’t sure if I liked the single at first, but it’s growing on me. His vocals sounds amazing! I think it will do really well on the radio and charts!

I’m really lukewarm on this song – don’t love it, don’t hate it. But the hook is a definite earworm – I’ve only listened once, and can’t get the hook out of my head. So, that’s a plus, I guess.

I can understand the appeal of songs like this and why they’d want to go with it for the first single, but I’ll be pretty disappointed if the album is full of songs like this one – and yeah, this is coming from a person who voted feverishly every week.

I also agree with other posters who say the production isn’t really that great, and from a great producer, so that kinda befuddles me. *shrug*

CRB, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll have to disagree. Crush is not better than this one, both are pretty generic for their type but at least Light On has great lyrics and makes a better use of Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s voice.

OK, 1. WORD, and 2. There’s absolutely no reason to compare, they aren’t in the same genre, but once someone does compare, I will definitely say that I cannot get past the “Yeah-e-yeah-e-yeahyeah” bit on Crush, and I find it to be just as generic, only in a teenybopper pop way, so, better song? So very very subjective. I really don’t think the songs are comparable on any level, other than the fanwar one.

Okay, I’m an Archie fan first, Cook fan second, but I liked it! I didn’t love it, but I really liked it. (And guys–the photo may be bad, but it’s not nearly as bad as the dorky one used for Crush!) Have no fear, this will be a hit.

Not feeling it I’m afraid, never been a hit of the shouty vocals, the quiet parts better, but still meh to me

The beginning (to me) is very Steve Perry. It also has an Eagles vibe to it in the verses and definitely gets Aerosmithy in the chorus (which is not a good thing for me). And yes, it definitely has Cornell’s (solo-style) fingerprints all over it.

That said, I really really like it.

I don’t get the comparisons to Nickelback/Daughtry/Creed at all though. It has too much of that old school power ballad feel that I don’t get from Nickelback/Daughtry/Creed. Well, maybe Creed, but they were too lame to even be mentioned in the same breath as the great old school power balladeers.

when the song opens up in the chorus ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s got a hook thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s big, sweeping, romantic. As always, Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s vocals are spot-on.

Been listening to it over and over at popeater. Hehe, the songs amazing. I do agree with most of you that it’s going to be one massive hit!. :lol_ee:

Thanks mj for posting this.

I know this is just the beginning for my brother’s success, and he is deserving of every bit of it.” – Andrew Cook

Awww, I love this!!! As a fan of DC for more than just his music (which I also love and loved fiirst) I couldn’t agree more!!
I thought he did a good review of the song.

I don’t know if its because I have now listened to it over and over, or if the sound quality is better in the various sites I have visited to it but I think I like it better each time I listen. Still wish we could hear more of his voice over the over-produced instrumentals through most of the song. But I think it should be a winner for him.

LK08

The lyrics are posted on davidcookofficial.com but if you don’t want to go there – the site has been very sluggish today, I’ll post them here.

LIGHT ON

Never really said too much
Afraid it wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be enough
Just try to keep my spirits up
When thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s no point in grieving
Doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m leaving

Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s late at night you can look inside
You wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t feel so alone

You know weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve been down that road
What seems a thousand times before
My back to a closing door and my eyes to the seasons
That roll out underneath my heels
And you donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know how bad it feels
To leave the only one that I have ever believed in

Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s late at night you can look inside
You wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t feel so alone (oh yeah)

Sometimes it feels like weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve run out of luck
When the signal keeps on breaking up
When the wires cross in my brain
Youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll start my heart again
When I come along (yeah)

Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s late at night you can look inside
You wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t feel so alone

I don’t think I’ve seen anybody else say this, so I’m wondering if it’s just weird me. This song hit me emotionally from the first and still does–possibly even more so–after many listens. It gets me in my heart. But it’s also true that I’m an old school power rock ballad kinda gal.

I listened couple of times. I don’t hate it, but I don’t like it. I’m not hooked. I’m not sure yet if I’ll buy his single.

Liking more and more…cranked up at home now. I called the radio station most likely to play it (I thought) on my way home from work. I asked if they were going to play Cook’s new single. Radio Person: Ummmm…yeah maybe later. Me: Like later in a few minutes? RP: No, later this week maybe. Me: What? It’s out today! Come on you guys… Well I tried. So. I personally can tell it’s David singing, especially in the not-so-loud parts and toward the end, with the keyboard. Sounds like a Chris Cornell song because it is. ? As with any music, some will like, some will not. I just want to say AGAIN…YAY for David! I like it. I hope it’s HUGE. I hope it’s a good introduction for people who were casual watchers of AI or did not watch at all. I hope he sucks them in and everyone buys his record! I’m already humming it and trying to sing it in my head, which leads to having to listen to David sing it again.

ETA From spritely:
“This song hit me emotionally from the first and still doesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’possibly even more soà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’after many listens. It gets me in my heart.”

AWWWWWWWWW. Yeah me too. I like that first line that gets really Cookified…”words could never make me stay….”

Oh guh…love the section at the end with the keyboard! Oh gosh. Yes, quieter, more acoutic-y, less produced, David singin’ in the bar version would be very cool. Hey, he’s vocally versatile and this power ballad thing is one of his many talents. Me want on iPod NOW!

I’ve listened only once so far. It’s o.k, it reminds me of the band Rainbow a little for some reason and there’s a Daughtry thing going on there too, not sure if it’s just the music or the music/picture combo but I noticed that right off.

I hope it does really well for him, i’ll definitely be buying it. I have a feeling the whole album will sound similar but that’s o.k, I can go for that.

Gonna go listen again………….thanks for the link!

I don’t like it. I hope it does well for him though.

I like the cover art however.

Well, I’m not excited about it. I bet it does well, though, so good for Cookie!

I don’t think this song would have made an Audioslave album, though.

I like it! This and Crush will dominate the radio and charts.

I loved it from the start but I’m a romantic at heart and love these kind of songs. Don’t know who said it but it really is an ear “worm” LOL

I really hope that picture isn’t the cover WTH? He looks so pretty and so baby faced. What is going on? They make DC look so “pretty” and DA look mad and hard?????? HELLO!!?? I think you mixed these guys up LOL

OHHHH – I so much wanted to say I LOVE IT but it is just ok to me right now. It will probably grow on me, I do love hearing his voice again, if that counts for anything.

I have a feeling the whole album will sound similar but thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s o.k, I can go for that.

I probably don’t know what I’m talking about, but I really don’t think this will be the case…However, I can’t wait to find out and I will buy it regardless!

The song is definitely growing on me (still not my style, still way too Aerosmithy, but growing) and I love the pretty, pretty picture.

I really hope that picture isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t the cover WTH?

Somehow, this just looks more appropriate.

I love this song, great song, I think david looks very pretty in that picture.

Gotta say I didn’t love that song. Too much Hinder/Staind type of a vibe. His voice sounds great through and I am also a fan of that photo of him. Nice!

I wanted to love it, but I don’t really. There’s a bridge part that’s pretty good b/c you can really hear David’s voice, but for a lot of the song his voice sounds strained and kind of distorted. I don’t know. Maybe it will grow on me.

So I haven’t really been keeping up with DCook’s happenings, so imagine my surprise when I check this site for the first time in quite awhile and…BAM!…its his freaking single. Really cool. The song itself works for me. Love his voice and I do like it when he is kind of “screamy” (seems like an unflattering adjective but I don’t know what else to call it) because he can do it without sounding “goaty”. I like the guitar in the middle, the piano near the end…sounds like it will fit in with the stuff on the radio right now which, I would imagine, is kind of the point. Probably doesn’t showcase his voice as much as it could, but there is always the next one. He must be thrilled to have his first single out and I am excited for him!

Ok, it goes against my very loyal grain to say anything bad about David Cook. If I were to be impartial, then it does sound a bit too Aerosmithy at points. Oh well. It’s still catchy, it’s not completely forgettable, it has some little melodic things that make it stand out a tiny bit, and it’s not an ugly song…so that should be good.

I don’t know anything about the music industry, so how long do we have to wait until the next single? Do we have to wait for the album to come out? Can this song last two months?

I await too many comparisons to Daughtry. Too too many. And the stupid radio station in my area that plays a total of 10 different songs a day plays Daughtry for 6 of those 10. (Or so it seems.) I can’t decide if DC sounding like Daughtry (not vocally, just the song style) is good or bad.

We must remember that the boy did say he likes anthemic rock. This is what he wants to do. I’d rather he do some more TWIK stuff, but it’s not up to me.

I really hope they don’t make this the exit song, but they probably will, just to piss me off.

I await the promised “twists and turns.” They’d better be some sharp ones, DC!

I LOVE IT!
I’m gonna be honest here, first listen it was okay..
But second listen, I love ittt!!!

Go Cook!

cookie i’m confused.
you are so much better than this generic stuff.
this is not the “progression” from AH or Axium that you promised.
i hope the rest of your album is more the real you that i’ve grown to love & adore from your pre-AI work.
you write the most beautiful songs i’ve ever heard!
your melodies are haunting . your voice is captivating.
you are so Fu**ing SPECIAL more than any artist out there today.
this song DOESN’T do you justice and it makes me sad.
still, i’m rooting for YA
can’t help it, you got under my skin…

I have to go on record saying I really like it and think it will do very well. I like the fact that I think it will do very well maybe a bit more than I like the song. He certainly needs to come out of the gates running, and I believe this will do it for him. I’m sure we all have our fantasies of what we think his first song should be, but I would doubt they are they same for anybody. I listened to it twice and went off to make dinner. I found myself singing it, so yeah, I guess it does indeed work for me.

Just went to listen with great anticipation. All I can really say is hmmmm . . . .

Positives: Some seem to disagree, but I actually thought his voice sounded really good. He has a great rock ballad voice and he was definitely channeling Steve Perry here. The softer parts during the little refrain towards the end were a nice change of pace from the rest of the song. It also seems very radio friendly, so I expect it will find a nice Hot AC niche with plenty of airplay.

Negatives: Where are twists and turns and neck-hair-standing-up parts? Maybe he set the bar too high with this remark. I think Cook is extremely talented, but the melody and the lyric were both pretty generic, definitely not hair-raising. Steve Perry is a great singer, but that’s not the sound I thought Cook was going for. So I am confused by this debut song.

Maybe it will grow on me. But even if I never fall in love with it, I hope millions do love it because Cook is a stand up guy and an interesting enough artist to deserve to have many more shots to make really special music that reflects who (I think) he really is.

I can understand the dissapointment in the single for some but realize that this is just one song and his album as a whole may be where the twists and turns are. Another thing, David may not have wanted this as his first single either. He may not have had much say. At least it isn’t The Runaround.

I woke up, listened to it before reading any comment. A good decision LOL.

I love it. Honestly, I was afraid they were going to go the typical top 40 acoustic pretty rock song style. Not to say this is not generic, I just don’t like singles like that. I’ve seen people complain about Snow Patrol’s new single, “It’s not Chasing Cars.” Ugh.

I think it’s a good first single choice, it’s catchy enough for pop, and has the sound that at least works for some rock/alt stations. I can see where the overproducing complaint comes from, it is, but I don’t mind. As someone who loves Coldplay’s X&Y…

IMO this is a good start, we’ll just see about radio. Already getting played? Also a good start.

This might be just me and my secret inner headbanger side talking, but I don’t see how being Aerosmith-ish is a bad thing. Aerosmith are pretty legit. Wayne and Garth love them. Also, I don’t think you can be Daughtry-ish and Aerosmith-ish. Daughtry is NADA like Aerosmith, Daughtry is more Bon Jovi-ish, if anything.

GwendolynD
Somehow, this just looks more appropriate.

There ya go! Or a light house on a stormy beach………..

I just did the ‘love it/hate it/it’s ok’ poll on Popeater and after 35,000 plus votes it’s:

love it: 76%
hate it: 12%
it’s ok: 12%

I think that’s a pretty good start.

ETA: Forgive me if it’s been posted already, but D-C.org says the album title will be “Out Of My Head.”

sunchick, you’ve convinced me just by mentioning Wayne and Garth.

I’m so confused at this point after reading so many opinions that I really don’t know or care anymore what kind of music David Cook makes, as long as he likes it and it’s authentic to him.

When I listen to LO (which I completely love, BTW), it seems a lot like the ‘anthemic rock’ he said he wanted to do. Obviously, YMMV etc.
I think it’s going to do very well.

btw have these been posted? Two reviews for Light On

They are…. eh….

Usa Today and La Times

Interesting LA Times review…

The song has a bevy of star power behind it, and hits iTunes this week, making the single eligible for Grammy voting, meaning it will get nominated.

Oh and that album title is from Wiki, and most definitely fake.

Still think ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a little conventional in the structure.

For a pop single, I’d have to disagree with you. There’s no lead-in into the chorus, in between the chorus and the verse– it just suddenly launches from the verse to the chorus. He “wails” on the first verse, where you would expect it only on the second verse. His ending note on the chorus isn’t “C”. After the second chorus, the instrumental precedes the bridge, when it’s more common to have it the other way around. And the song doesn’t “wind down”, it just cuts out.

Honestly, once again, given that it’s a pop song, it seems like the structure was crafted by design to be purposefully non-pop at certain points. I think that’s why the song appears to be taking repeated listens for a lot of people to appreciate. In some parts of the song, you don’t hear what you would expect to hear. Personally, I sort of wish he would have just embraced the pop more on this one.

This probably sounds strange, but I’m kind of saddened by the fact that I like it. It’s definitely not a cool song, but I still liked it. It is terribly bland, but there is also something redeeming about it. The vocals make it interesting and listenable, I guess? So, I guess that’s David Cook, once again making me like things that everything in my body is telling me to hate. I am NOT listening to the AC station for you, man. I have to draw the line somewhere.

I do not hear the Daughtry, and the Aerosmith is there, but pretty mild. It does remind me a lot of Chris Cornell – more the solo Cornell than the Audioslave/Soundgarden Cornell. Which is sad, because each Cornell progression has gotten exponentially worse. Though, once you’ve done Black Hole Sun, there is pretty much no where to go but down from there.

It makes me really sad that all the singers of these bands from my teen years are going solo and being so horribly boring. That “Love Remains the Same” song by Gavin Rossdale is another one. It makes me sad that Cook reminds me of them (though that’s probably due to the fact that Cornell co-wrote the fucking thing) , but it makes me sadder that I kind of like the songs. It’s just reminding me as we’re getting older, we’re all sucking a little bit more.

I was not expecting to be admitting IRL that I had DC on iPod, so my expectations were never that high. It’s a decent song. It’s surprisingly hooky. Especially after multiple listenings. Hell, I never like anything on the first listen. I love the new Rise Against song “Re-education (Through Labor)” so much that I just might listen to it until my brain melts in protest (OMG SO AWESOME), but I was meh on it the first time I heard it. However, Light On is nowhere near that level of awesome, so I will probably only listen to it until I accidentally fall asleep with it on and when I wake up it will sound really slow and weird. Please tell me I’m not the only one this has happened to.

Dude’s got serious pipes. I think that will overcome any perceived or actual shortcomings in the song.

That pic, OTOH…

is this the cover of the next “Twilight” novel?

After about my 20th listen, I have to agree with those that said the song is:
1. Rock anthem-ish. (Not necessarily a bad thing. Who doesn’t like a good rock anthem?)
2. Very Chris Cornell-ish. Even his voice in places is eerily similar to Chris’. I hear a lot of similarities to “Black Hole Sun.” (Which isn’t a bad thing either, IMO. I LOVED BHS.)
3. And yes, very Aerosmith-ish. Especially in the section that starts with “Sometimes it feels like weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve run out of luck…”

I’m not hearing the Nickelback or Daughtry comparisons.

I was hoping and expecting to love the song and have it blow me away. It didn’t happen. But, it has grown on me; it’s a definite earworm. I’ll have it playing in my head all day tomorrow, that’s for sure. Which is also a really good thing. I could definitely listen to it over and over again.

That being said, I hope it does well commercially, but I’m looking forward to the stuff that David himself has written. I think that will be even better.

P.S. My husband just told me it was “Very nice,” and he doesn’t really care for most of DC’s stuff. So it must be good!

I did like it better the second and third time than the first. It is very Steven Tyler “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” ish. Again his voice is very nice throughout.

I will say this again if THIS is the most commercial and most poppish song they have on THE Record, brace yourself for some fantastic pure rock twist and turn in the rest of the album. First one was the label’s and producer’s pick. Second I am willling to bet will be David’s and it will be all David- singer,songwriter etc.

“Review proof,” says the LA Times. Well, well, isn’t that interesting, indeed. In other words they’re saying it’s going to be huge no matter what any reviewer says about it. Ha! That gives me a big fat sh*t-eating grin. Man, am I addicted to this song.

For those who like following airplay. Here is the QuickCut Info link for the song (no spins reported yet at posting time, but there are reports that it is being spun so there will likely be spins on the next update):

Light On

I don’t know what my problem is but I dont like either of the Davids pics. David A looks like he’s in jail and mad about it. David C looks like he’s mad and staring a hole through you. But…. I think both of them are going to make really good music.

Of all the modern “post-grunge” bands that people have said the song reminds them of, the only one I do hear is Three Doors Down. But, I’m not someone who thinks Daughtry, Nickelback, Three Doors Down, Hinder, Puddle of Mudd, and Staind all sound alike or even all that similar.

I am really surprised also that more people aren’t commenting about the classic rock and, especially, glam rock influences in the song. Some parts of the song make it sound like it could have been a hit for Bad English in the late 80s.

Does anyone else get the 80′s band vibe? Like Whitesnake or Cinderella ballad songs?

Well, it’s grown on me a little bit. Now that I’ve listened more, I’m also hearing more Aerosmith than Daughtryback, Hinder, whatever. (Not that I love or even like Aerosmith, lol, but there it is – maybe that’s what happens when you make your Idol sing that Armageddon song 53 times).

I remain fairly confident that his album is not going to be just variations of this song 12 times over, so I guess I’ll live with it.

I think it will do well here in Chicago. I just heard Magic Rainbows on our local Hot AC station. I rarely listen to that station, but was surfing. The DJ seemed to think Cook should wear an apron that said “Kiss The Cook” to get chicks. Yes, there’s more than one reason that I don’t listen to the mix very often. Ahem.

I also heard “Crush” on the bus b/c a teen boy had his mp3 player so loud that I could here his song selection. Yes, a teen boy. I’d say 13 or 14. Latino. Blasting Crush.

ETA: And Crush boy… he was across the aisle from me. It was that loud. I fear for his ears. I do.

I am really surprised also that more people arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t commenting about the classic rock and, especially, glam rock influences in the song. Some parts of the song make it sound like it could have been a hit for Bad English in the late 80s.

I didn’t hear that until you said it. But yes, there is a little glam rock in there. Puts the guyliner in a whole new light. LOL.

Am I the only one not convinced it will be a big hit? Seems to generic for that to me. In the sense that he sounds like everyone else and not in a good way. Its should do… okay. Big opening week and then… eh. Unless the replay factor is higher than I’m giving it credit for.

At this point, I am going to forget I ever heard this and wait to hear the rest of the album. I am disappointed in Cook and Cavallo right now.

I’m actually old enough that I don’t consider glam rock or 80′s to be classic. That being said, I heard a bit of Eagles in the guitar. Just wish there was more of a solo, but I guess that’s not what they are selling here. The song really speaks to me as a soldier going to war song, a sad but hopeful song. I can now go on record to say I almost love it…give it 10-15 more spins and I believe I will definitely totally

Am I the only one not convinced it will be a big hit? Seems to generic for that to me. In the sense that he sounds like everyone else and not in a good way. Its should doà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ okay. Big opening week and thenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ eh. Unless the replay factor is higher than Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m giving it credit for.

I don’t think very many songs in this genre go on to be huge hits (do they?), although I think “Light On” compares quite favorably to the current crop of generic rock on the radio. But who knows. He got up to #1 on one format and #5 or 6 on another with a song that doesn’t even belong to any genre, so anything could happen.

That being said, I heard a bit of Eagles in the guitar.

That’s the band I was thinking of when I said I hear classic rock influences in it. In the beginning, it sounds like he may just break into a cover of Hotel California. And then when he starts singing the verse, you realize (or I did, for the first time anyway) that his voice does sound a bit Henleyish.

Okay…just listened to it a second time and I really like it. The first time I thought it was just okay. But then again, I’m not too much into the “Rocker” aspect of David (I’m more into Archie’s music) but I love Cook’s passion for what he does. I love the change up with the piano….to me, that is pure DC rather than the rest of the song in which his voice is more raspy. I’m sure I will like it even better the more I hear it. I didn’t like Daughtry’s CD when I first heard it but after every single was released on the radio I would think “was that on the CD….I don’t remember it.” LOL So I think you sometimes have to hear something more than once or twice.

I have to agree with his bro, Andrew…a good transition song from AI and “Time of My Life” (which I love and don’t think I’ll ever get tired of). I think it will do well on radio.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know what my problem is but I dont like either of the Davids pics. David A looks like heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s in jail and mad about it. David C looks like heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s mad and staring a hole through you. Butà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦. I think both of them are going to make really good music.

I agree with you LU! I wish them both long and successful careers.

I don’t hear Daughtry, Nickelback, Hinder, Aerosmith, Whitesnake, Journey or Eagles in this song at all, but I never listen to these bands. Also, there is nothing Axium in it. 3 Doors Down I do listen to and like, but I don’t see it.

What I hear, besides Chris Cornell, is (uh I’m gonna be considered nuts) Metallica and No Doubt.

ETA: I know right? But the beginning is just too much like Don’t Speak, I expected him to sing “You and me…”

No Doubt? No way!

Sorry.

Generic rock sells, so yeah, I see it doing well if he can sell it.

This is actually a great song to kick off the album. I know there has been tons of talk about “progression”, but it does take time to build a sound and David needed a sound. I think the song is far away enough from the Daughtry’s, Hinder’s of this world to give David a piece of the pie. It’s not OMG…this is genius work…but honestly, David gave up his right to go for that kind of originality when he signed up for American Idol. When you win that show, it’s not a matter of changing music. It’s about SELLING music. These are two extremely different things and it’s the catch 22 that haunts most successful artists today.

The good news is that it’s a catchy song with a strong hooky anthemic chorus that works in a stadium, the arena where I think RCA wants Cook to be. I agree with whoever said that this would be a lovely acoustic number if Cook wanted it to be. It’s also just close enough to TOML as well as the anthemic balladry that so defined David during American Idol to keep his main fan base happy while garnering him some new ones. He’ll never be a cult hit so might as well just let that hope go altogether. Right now, he has to sell. Once he sells, once he becomes that much of a pillar, he can go on to writing awesome material like he probably wants to. But for now…he has to be “popular” to have the chance. I think for these reasons, this is a good song for Cook.

I hope it’ll break into Top 40 in my town. The Top 40 stations here are very rhythmic leaning. So they’ll play whatever Rihanna/Chris Brown crank out every month like they’re on their payroll, but I rarely hear even Daughtry. I have to go to HAC for that. The alternative rock station around here — I dunno, they seem like they’d be snooty about playing an Idol’s music, Chris Cornell or no.

chachi, I differ w/u on some points but overall loved your post. I’m an idiot, but I never realized CC wrote Black Hole Sun. (I was more Boyz II Men than Soundgarden in the 90s, though I knew what I heard/saw on mtv…back when they played videos…there’s no forgetting the BHS video!) I freakin love that song, and was thinking that the guitar licks in LO reminded me of BHS.

This is actually a great song to kick off the album. I know there has been tons of talk about à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“progressionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , but it does take time to build a sound and David needed a sound.

I don’t understand the comments about “progression” being lacking. This definitelty represents a progression. Not everyone may like the point to which he has “progressed”, but this is definitely a departure from anything he has done before. There’s no way this could be an Axium song, and it would ABSOLUTELY NOT fit on Analog Heart.

Am I the only one not convinced it will be a big hit?

I feel confident that it will become a big hit on AC radio. I’m not as confident about it becoming a big hit on Pop radio, but I hope it will be.

HOLY SHIT!!!
I love it!!

It’s kinda 80′s! It’s kind of awesome!

Wow! Go Cookie!

so i was thinking. you know when artists release different singles to different markets.
maybee they can release another COOK song from the album for the european market?
please RCA, please!

Funny – 1st time I listened to Light On, I had the same exact reaction I did when I first heard Crush – over-produced. And as with Crush, I like it better with each subsequent listening. Those of us that were introduced to these artists on AI just appreciate the immediacy of live performances. I have no doubt I will be thrilled to hear this on the radio. Heck, if we all can listen to TOML for 16 weeks, Light On should rule the radio waves for eons. Cook’s vocal performance on this single is phenomenal.

To however made the comment about the picture beeing elvish : THANK YOU!
You will make my dreams so sweet… I’m totally fantasizing right know, Cook in this picture is totally what Aragon/Arwen’s son would look like in my mind… OH BOY !!

Am I the only one not convinced it will be a big hit?

Earlier today I thought so – now? Not so much. Not after seeing the huge negative reaction across the boards.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t understand the comments about à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“progressionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  being lacking. This definitelty represents a progression. Not everyone may like the point to which he has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“progressedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , but this is definitely a departure from anything he has done before. Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s no way this could be an Axium song, and it would ABSOLUTELY NOT fit on Analog Heart.

Agreed. And I’ve got to be a terrible DC fan because I don’t think Analog Heart is nearly as great as many fans do.

I still think it can be a hit. There is a reason why you hear what you hear on the radio now. There is a formula that works. Cook followed that formula. The song wasn’t going to have that unfinished edge that sort of gave Analog Heart and “heart”. It was destined to be polished, highly produced stuff. Cook is a pop-rock artist. This is the stuff that pop-rock artists release.

And I don’t think that the reaction was ALL negative. In fact…the song has a hook, a good solid hook. That’s all you need nowadays…really.

Define hit? That it’ll hit gold? Easy. Platinum? Well, remember how the Magic Rainbow “just won’t die”. And the LA Times gave a negative (music-wise) review but pretty much said the song is “review-proof” and went so far as to predict Grammys (guh?!). Talk about backhanded compliment…

I won’t put Light On up there with classics like “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” or “Black Hole Sun”, but it’s absolutely up there with “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” or “November Rain” (in my book). I guess I’m getting an 80s big hair band vibe from it *LOL*, but thankfully David’s vocals and passionate rendition totally elevated the song (I love Aerosmith live, but can’t stand Steven Tyler’s affected whine – sorry, if there are fans here. It’s not personal. It’s just the way he sings that opening line “I could stay awake in this suhweet suhrenderrruh” irritates the heck out of me. Cook made it masculine (LOL) and sincere, if that makes any sense.

Plan A: release a song that’s super radio friendly pop-rockish and shows off his vocals, which will appeal to the masses outside of the AI world. Becomes a hit which allows for millions of albums to be sold…an album on which we get edgier and fewer overproduced songs. He doesn’t lose AI fans (those outside the picky and often overcritical internet fans who love his earlier work) and he picks up a slew of new fans.

I’m sure DC and his people know what they are doing. If TOML can sell upwards 800,000 then this is sure to be a big hit. RCA will ensure it gets radio play.

I have been on the boards checking out reactions and I haven’t seen a lot of negative responses…most have been quite pleased with this single.

I love the photo too, although I prefer my DC a bit more organic and grunged up.

I do love DC and I really think this song has great potential for bringing in new fans. His voice is hauntingly beautiful while at the same time having enough of an alternative rock sound to appeal to various audiences. This guy is very smart and I am going to trust his instincts. Also,I am a romantic and do love the rock ballads that some here aren’t too keen on! It does have that sort of vibe to it, but I don’t think that is a negative. At least not for me.

I am at the office, with no audio, so I haven’t heard the single yet. I have, however, read all the comments upthread, and honestly, as a huge DC fan, I’m getting sufficiently worried about the fate of the song. It seems like it did not live up to people’s expectations, and this is sad. I have not checked out other sites for reaction on the song, though. Whereas earlier in the day, I couldn’t wait to get home to have a listen, now, not so much. Having said that, since I know next-to-nothing about music, I really didn’t have any expectations on the song other than that it showcases David’s amazing voice. As long as it does that, I think I’ll be good.

Regarding the picture, wondering whether we’ll get to see an uncropped version. Reserving judgment till then. Seriously hoping his hair isn’t “pointy-top” styled. That would be sooo distracting.

Love the song. Don’t love the picture. It isn’t cookie. But, I need to see the whole thing uncropped to be fair. It’s the eyebrows-no likey but I love Cookie. Now, put some Legolas ears on him and long flowing hair and maybe we will have a Mirkwood Elf. I have a serious elf love:)

I am pretty certain that the decision on what song to release as a single is made by the label, not David. He pretty much said as much in an interview. That’s how the business works, especially at this level, and especially for new artists. Those decisions are made purely on commercial criteria – what song will sell the most copies, do the best on radio, and bring in the most fans to buy the album and purchase tickets to the tour. It is not about choosing a song solely to please his already established fanbase, although they certainly want a song that most of his fans would like – which, far as I can tell, we do.

So I guess I’m saying that there are no big surprises here. The chosen single is a well-produced commercial song with a great hook and David’s beautiful vocals. And it has ‘hit’ written all over it. I feel confident in saying that it is probably not the most creative, artistic, or Cook-like song on the album, and it shouldn’t be. Not for the first single released on David’s first major label record.

So, maybe some people had unrealistic expectations about what the trade-offs are for a commercial release, thinking David could somehow circumvent the rules of the game, because he’s that good. But, as David said in his last song, watch out for magic rainbows.

I love it. I love rock power ballads. To me, they are just full of win.
Cook’s voice, unsurprisingly, is superb. I am anxious to see how radio responds. I hope it is a hit for him (I think it could be but I know better than to make predictions). I will be downloading it on Tuesday and am now even more full of anticipation to hear HIS songs on the album.

Movin2thabeet,

Well stated…in total agreement.

Just received the latest David-Cook.org newsletter in which it states tha the title of his record will be “Out of My Head”. Is this old news and I’m late to this info?

I like the title as it works on so many different levels.

Come on record!

I love the song and I believe it will be a hit. I went all over different boards and the main negative reactions come from TWoPers and here at MJ’s which has a great TWoP crossover traffic. Just some analytical folks. Mostly fan reviews are very favorable. Also upon, second, third, tenth listen more and more TWoPers and others are realizing that they like the song and are appreciating it more.

I’m sure it’s sad for David to read all of these things, especially from his most prolific fans, but he has to get used to it since it’s the business.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m quite sure everyone who is so negative right now will be backtracking as they did with Magic Rainbows when that became a huge hit.

“Try to leave a light on when I’m gone….”

Yep, still in the noggin this morning. Darn you, David Cook!!

I did not like this song yesterday when I first heard it, but am beginning to really like it today. I think David will do just fine with this single.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m quite sure everyone who is so negative right now will be backtracking as they did with Magic Rainbows when that became a huge hit.

I think it’s a solid and attractive song. I’ll buy it, I’ll look forward to playing it driving and running.

That said, one’s feelings about a song are not political positions. If fans change them, it’s not “backtracking,” a term which gives the sense of switching publicly expressed judgments in order to follow the crowd.

The phrasing annoys me, I guess, because it’s such a popular fan thing to say. “You’ll change what you say when you see how popular the song is with other people.”

Really? There are thousands of songs that are popular with some folks and not others. It’s not like I find myself reading the billboard chart and saying “Damn, Nickelback IS popular! I better go back and reposition myself on teh Internet before folks notice I criticized them!”

As for the disappointment effect for this particular song, the bar was set high by Cook’s own statements, and perversely, by people’s very enthusiasm for him. They want to LOVE everything he does.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to it already, and it’s definitely the kind of thing that grows on you.

I found it somewhere I shouldn’t have looked and did something I shouldn’t have done in order to, erm, install it into a small personal type of device which I then docked to the stereo, and am really loving the fullness and richness of the whole thing, but especially the vocals, coming out of proper speakers. The vocals are coming across more perfectly balanced with the music than they sounded on the crappy computer speakers, much richer and fuller, WOW! I *will* obtain this through proper channels as soon as it is available. I *want* Dave to get paid for his work.

I called my radio station this morning to ask were they planning to play it, the morning DJ picked up the phone himself. “Wondering if you guys are planning to play David Cook’s new single from his upcoming CD?” “The Chris Cornell song?” “Yep.” “We’re having a meeting about it this morning, so probably, yes.” That’s good news! Seems like the Cornell connection was a smart move in giving Dave cred in the places he wants to be seen as legit.

CAN. NOT. WAIT. for the album!

I’m home!!! Didn’t get much work done today, sigh. Finally, with great trepidation, bit the bullet and listened to the song. I must say, I think it’s great! I am more excited than ever to get my hands on “the record” and see what else David has in store for us. He really is versatile vocally, and the emotion he poured into that song is, just wow. My favorite is his phrasing in the first verse. It just sucks you in, makes you pay attention! His performance of this, live, will be extraordinary to watch. Also, since to me, David’s voice is so recognizable, I can hardly classify the song as generic. There’s absolutely nothing generic with David Cook!

Just my 2 cents…..I like the song don’t love it..yet, but I find I’m trying to convince myself to love it and I guess that’s probably not a good sign As for the pic, my first thought was he looks like Dave Navarro, not the Cookie I love to look at ! What the ptb need to realize is for most of us fans of Cooks, that less is more when it comes to him. That is to say we don’t need this touched up “perfect” picture of him, and we don’t need all those intruments covering up his voice. Some singers that maybe don’t have the true voice that Cook does may need help, but I LOVE just his voice, hence why most fans love his stripped down versions of the songs he did. Probably why I loved the last part of this new song the best.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m quite sure everyone who is so negative right now will be backtracking as they did with Magic Rainbows when that became a huge hit.

Still not crazy about the Magic Rainbow. And after several listens yesterday, I haven’t re-listened to “Light On”. It’s not my cup of tea, and even though I voted for Cook on Idol, I’m not required to love everything he does. Some may change their minds, but as a sidenote, please be careful not to make generalizations about your fellow posters.

OK, I’ve listened — really listened — a couple of more times, and definitely have taken notice of the drama in David’s phrasing. With that, I’m about to cross over the line from feeling a little let down (mainly due to my own expectations) to feeling uplifted! Earlier I had felt it sounded too generic, but now I’m really looking forward to hearing it on the radio, which I have no doubt will be very soon. The question is, I guess, which stations?

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Wondering if you guys are planning to play David Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s new single from his upcoming CD?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“The Chris Cornell song?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Yep.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re having a meeting about it this morning, so probably, yes.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

The song itself left me very hopeful, but this? Makes me nervous. I hope the label plans on giving this song a big radio push, and are not banking on the Cavallo rep/Cornell tie in and Cook’s AI popularity alone to get spins. Zomba seems firmly behind giving Archie the big money marketing push at this point, but RCA is a little more iffy for me right now. Fingers crossed for Cook.

Over on the YES site, “Light On” is showing up as being played already on many stations! Here are some of them:

WABB, WHYI, WIOQ, KAMX, WOOD, KHMX, KTBZ, KBKS, KQCH, WSSX, WMMX, WJLQ, WZPT, KMXV, KOGM, WPLJ

Yeah, which stations is the question. I’d love to hear this song sandwiched between any two others. That will, for me, show how it stacks up. I’m a wee bit prejudiced, you see. I think I will love anything he does because of the voice.

I emailed my local HAC station that has been playing MR faithfully last night and got a response that he didn’t know if they had the song but would look. I didn’t hear it so don’t really know what that means. I will try again later today with one of my other email addresses (don’t want to appear that obsessed) and hopefully will hear it soon on the radio.

Yep I just came back from taking my daughter to school and WPLJ played it. They played, and still play TOML heavily so I had a feeling they would play this. They’re a HOT AC station FWIW.

I love the song and I believe it will be a hit. I went all over different boards and the main negative reactions come from TWoPers and here at MJà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s which has a great TWoP crossover traffic.

Not really. There’s lots of disappoinment on his official board and IDF too. Of course I’m not saying everyone is required to like it but the disappoinment I’m seeing from a large part of the fanbase makes me think it won’t do nearly as well as I thought it would initially.

Even on the TWoP board, it seems like folks are largely positive—I wouldn’t say that the majority loved the song on first listen, but most at least like it, and several are confessing to waking up with the chorus running through their heads. Largely, I think that, to the extent that people are disappointed, it seems more that they were hoping for something that was 100% Cookie, which this isn’t. But it’s within his bailiwick, and it sounds good through better speakers.

I think that the story where that the DJ said that they were meeting about playing the song is a good sign. I don’t think that the label push has really started, other than the press release, as I’ve not been seeing ads on allaccess or fmqb. Which means that the potential interest from that station is coming through a single press release, its own thoughts on the song, its general feelings on DC, and/or fan phone calls. All of which is good.

Kinda reminds me of something Randy (yes, four-words-and-no-more Randy Jackson) told him after he sang “Dream Big” – that it wasn’t the greatest song, but he sang his face off.

To me, that is the ticket. That is how he will make this work.

This David Cook is very different. He’s not American Idol Cookie. He’s not pre-Idol-I-mixed-this-in-my-garage Cookie, either.

Judging from that picture of him GLARING at me above, it looks like they’re trying to yank him away from the Idol mold as soon as possible. His sound is different. His look is different. To some, he won’t be recognizable, especially if you loved him for “Music of the Night”. Hehehe.

However, I don’t think his producers are shooting for the recognition angle here. I don’t think they want to strike up a conversation with, “Remember David Cook from American Idol?” Yeah, I think they’re trying to present him as a competitive vocalist – Commercialized, Competitive Cook. And whaddaya know, he’s still glory-noting in my head. Maybe that works.

I love the song since the first time I heard it. Still do. But I gotta agree with Trina, I see quite a lot of disappointment as well and it might not do as well as people expected. Oh well, we’ll see what happens.

I’m not loving the song, but I’m not predicting doom for it just because some of David’s fans are disappointed that it wasn’t what they had hoped for. It’s not the first time my expectations have been off. I’m still confident that there will be music on the album that I will love.

However, tons and tons of people who never saw David on Idol love this kind of stuff and they’re not sitting around pining for his Little Sparrow vocals or his ABMB arrangement or thinking he should sound like this or like that. People will buy it. Radio stations will play it. Another single will come.

I agree with cheese. There’s a huge market for this so I think LO might probably do well. Well enough to warrant a second single — which I hope is more of the twists and turns that DC talked about.

Also, I kind of adore the album title — Out of My Head. It’s very clever with the double entendre. Oh David, you word nerd.

Also, I kind of adore the album title à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  Out of My Head.

So…Wikipedia was right?

Album Release is November 18, 2008
Now that we have the first single to hold us down for the next two months, another “newsflash” is the title of David’s debut album, “Out Of My Head.”

I got an email about the album so I think it’s official.

Is that title of the album for real? I don’t like it at all. Not that the title of any album makes much difference. Plus Out of MY Head implies to me that he wrote the whole thing and we already know the first single was written by others. Again, no big deal.

I listened it a couple of times last night, and the medlody eludes me now. I can’t remember it at all. Does that mean anything?

I got that email as well. It was from David-Cook.org, the fansite.

ETA: Interesting that they would have that info when the official site does not. I hope they didn’t get that info from Wiki and send out a mass email.

I don’t believe that’s the title, actually I guess the title hasn’t been decided yet. Personally I hate puns…

My favorite is his phrasing in the first verse.

Mine too.

Plus Out of MY Head implies to me that he wrote the whole thing and we already know the first single was written by others.

Isn’t that being too technical? Didn’t he write (or collaborate on) like most of the songs? I also thought that the title implied not just creation but being crazy or overwhelmed at what’s happening to him this past year.

Anyway, I have to say that the chorus is. Still. Stuck. In. My. Head.

I must say I don’t like Out of My Head either. I think it perhaps implies that his ideas and the music is finally out of his head and out into the world. Whatever, I know they can come up with a better title than that. I do really like the single though.

Out of My Head isn’t official I don’t think. The only e-mail I got was a D-C.org newsletter. The only other place I’ve seen that title was on wikipedia where it was replaced later that same date with another title which was later deleted. I think somebody was playing games.

As someone who was a Daughtry and David Cook fan, my feelings after listening to “Light On” are eerily similar to those I had when I first heard “It’s Not Over”. It’s good, but not overwhelming, and will find a nice niche in today’s radio market. And I would assume that was it’s point as a debut single.

Well I woke up this morning with the stupid chorus in me head and couldn’t get rid of it until I turned on the car radio. (It ended up getting replaced with “I Kissed A Girl… not sure if that’s any better. lol) I went back and listened to the song again once I got to the library and… I still don’t like it. But I do feel a little better that it will be at least a modest hit.

As someone who was a Daughtry and David Cook fan, my feelings after listening to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Light Onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  are eerily similar to those I had when I first heard à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Not Overà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ . Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s good, but not overwhelming, and will find a nice niche in todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s radio market. And I would assume that was ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s point as a debut single.

I felt the same way about INO although it did grow on me and still hear it on the radio at work. I don’t love this song but it does have a catchy chorus and will likely do very well on radio. I hate the photo, though.

I’m trying to figure out what the “expectations” are that people had about what was going to come from a solo, independent Dave Cook? Did they expect more Magic Rainbows, in theme and sound? Well then of course they’re disappointed.

He didn’t sing Neil Diamond or Mariah Carey because he wanted to (yet made those exquisitely his own) – he sang Switchfoot and Collective Soul and Our Lady Peace because he wanted to. The one new song he got to choose for tour was Foo Fighters My Hero, a big fat grungy rock anthem. He said over and over his album was going to be rock.

I do think LO is a bit middle of the road, but a smart choice from the business end, as Andrew said and I mentioned yesterday, a song to transition his listeners from AI/MR David to who he intends to be, which I think we’ll hear more clearly when we hear the material he co-wrote with the dudes from CS and OLP.

Funny – 1st time I listened to Light On, I had the same exact reaction I did when I first heard Crush – over-produced.

I kinda had the same reaction.

The first time I listened to “Crush,” I wasn’t so sure I liked it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again. And now, it’s my myspace profile song, my ringtone, and I play it at least once a day on my computer.

I’ve already noticed “Light On” has the same effect on me. The first time I heard it…it was just DIFFERENT. I don’t know what I expected, but I don’t think this was it. However, I have now listened to the song over fifty times, and my roommate knows it by heart. She’s been singing it all morning, and she is NOT a David Cook fan. My little brother, who isn’t a DC fan, either, also loves it; he called me as soon as he heard it. I think it does have a great hook and all it needs is airplay. People will like it. It may not be what the hard-core fans were expecting, but maybe that’s our problem. I don’t know. I know nothing about this business.

Okay, I’ve listened to the song about a dozen times since last night, caught up on all the comments here (and a smattering of comments on the boards), and having processed eveyrthing, I am happy to say now that I like it! Kinda, haha. I felt weird about it when I first heard it, maybe because of expectations, maybe because I’ve been listening to a lot of Analog Heart, some Axium, and some DC Idol songs leading up to the single, and this is such a different side of DC. I don’t love it yet, but I do see the progression, and I have to respectfully disagree with everyone who’s calling it Daughtry-lite, Nickelback-ish, generic, or bland, because if that were the case, I personally would have enjoyed it immediately rather than have to let it sink in after repeat listens. Those generic/bland type rock songs are predictable, and precisely the kinds of songs that I tend to enjoy off the bat, but get sick of quickly.

I’m gonna resist quoting your entire comment, noctem seizure, but SO AGREE with this:

Honestly, once again, given that ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a pop song, it seems like the structure was crafted by design to be purposefully non-pop at certain points. I think thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s why the song appears to be taking repeated listens for a lot of people to appreciate.

I definitely hear the 80s/Eagles vibe (particularly the guitar), a touch of Cornell, and definitely some Aerosmith, but what’s great is that it’s also really different from all those things! I do hear the “twists and turns”, and though I’m not too in love with these particular twists and turns for Light On, I think this bodes well for the direction of the record. I’m excited! When does the next single come out? Will there be another before the album (sorry, record) drops?

And of course, there’s his voice– he’s so versatile vocally that he can and will sound quite different throughout the record, which will be 10 kinds of awesome. I went and youtubed the better hits from some of the “generic rock” names people were unfavorably comparing DC to here (Hinder, Puddle of Mud, Nickelback, etc.) and immediately noticed how much better DC’s voice was. That gives me hope, comfort, all that jazz.

Oh, quick comment about the picture. Sure he looks kind of pretty, but not digging the vibe. Is that for sure the album cover? Really hope not.

Is “progression” something Cook used in an interview or something? To me progression means to progress or get better. If you don’t like the new music, how is it a progression? It’s just a different style of music from what Cook did in the past. It’s not like it’s better or more sophisticated, more worthy. So how is going from a style people liked to a new kind of music that many don’t a progression?

I just have to note that while being an earworm will likely get you sales and radio play, which i know are the ultimate goal, it doesn’t mean the song is a “good” song, at least not for me. It just means that the song is doing what it was manufactured to do- sell the product, just like a commercial jingle. I woke up this morning with Crush in my head- a song I don’t like and have hardly listened to at all. I have the chorus from Light On in my head right now, since I’ve listened to it a lot in the last day (trying to give it a fair chance). I’m still disappointed, I still think it’s generic, and if it weren’t David Cook I wouldn’t even consider buying it, but it’s doing what it’s meant to do- become familiar enough to enough people quickly enough that they’ll buy it and make SONY lots of $$. I don’t hate commercial rock at all, I just find it uninteresting and tire of it quickly. (And I’m not pining for “Old Cookie” or “AI Cookie”, and I didn’t have any particular expectations for what it would sound like.)

Progression doesn’t have to mean that everybody will like it. It just means that one is evolving or changing.

I don’t like Cook’s voice, but I like the song first listen. it’s going to be a hit no doubt. I think a lot of people are disappointed because of too high expectation. Archie fans were for the most part worried if he will do well considering the history of runner ups, but keep getting surprised by one good news after another. Light On will do well! it’s a very mainstream song. Way to go David Cook!

Is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“progressionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  something Cook used in an interview or something?

Yep. Not to mention, right there on the Idol stage, when Simon criticized him from not reprising an earlier song instead of singing “The World I Know”. Looks like he’s doing that same thing now.

I don’t expect everyone to love Light On, but even if David released a masterpiece getting universal critical aclaim NY Mag would still trash it. Take a look at their history with *everything* they’ve said about him going back to AI.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m trying to figure out what the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“expectationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  are that people had about what was going to come from a solo, independent Dave Cook? Did they expect more Magic Rainbows, in theme and sound? Well then of course theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re disappointed.

I was praying for no more magic rainbows. LOL. But, no, Cook promised a rock album and that’s what I expected. And hearing this single, that’s what we got, albiet in a very radio-friendly fashion.

Rock isn’t monolithic, there are lots of different styles of rock music. I’m a fan of some, and not so much of others. And it doesn’t bother me that the song is formulaic. It’s this particular style of rock that I don’t personally care for. I was hoping for something a little more bright and melodic. Just to give you an idea of what I mean, I like Daughtry’s “Feels Like Tonight” way more than “It’s Not Over”.

Some of the bands he touched on as favs–Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, Collective Soul write incredibly melodic, radio-friendly songs. I’m not a big fan of hair bands–Aerosmith, and later bands like Nickleback and Hinder–just not my style of rock. I’m guessing not every song on the album will sound exactly like “Light On”, hopefully he mixes it up a bit. I’m looking forward to those “twists and turns” he talked about in interviews.

Having said all that, “Light On” appears to appeal to many in the fan base and I believe it will appeal to many outside of it–the song has a sound that’s hot right now.

It’s funny- both DCO and DC42 are now full of posters saying they woke up this morning with ‘Try to keep a LIGHT on when I’m GONE’ running on a continuous loop in their heads…me, too.
Not sure if it’s ‘progression’ or just ‘transition’, but we used to say ‘resistance is futile’ on the TWOP/Dave thread and I guess it’s still true.

Some of the bands he touched on as favsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, Collective Soul write incredibly melodic, radio-friendly songs.

(A few years ago, Jimmy of Jimmy Eat World lived 2 houses down the street from me. He and his wife were very sweet, very unassuming. I’m kicking myself for never asking for an autograph! I did get invited to their son’s birthday party, but–of course!–I was out of town.)

I agree that a more melodic choice would have been better, but I think it will still do well. I’m interested to see what the rest of the album is like. That’s the true test.

Not really. Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s lots of disappoinment on his official board and IDF too. Of course Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not saying everyone is required to like it but the disappoinment Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m seeing from a large part of the fanbase makes me think it wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t do nearly as well as I thought it would initially.

I’ve been on his official board, but not IDF. I just haven’t seen the negativity that you mention. It seems a large part of his fan base really like it or love it.

I think to people outside the AI world, the song will be total earworm…catchy hook and killer vocals. I think guys (also according to my daughter who dislikes the song but loves his voice) will like it and that bodes well for sales.

I simply think it’ll be a massive hit. Despite all the angst and browbeating in the fandom, and wanking of the holy rock-cred music critics. This is going to be fun. Hee!

And did someone mention he looks like an elf in that pic? Now I can’t get that out of my head. The pale skin, clear eyes, intense gaze, the “guh” lips, and (almost) pointy ears. Angry Cookie iz full of yum(!). He looks so mad at me, I love it. LOL.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve been on his official board, but not IDF. I just havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t seen the negativity that you mention. It seems a large part of his fan base really like it or love it.

I don’t think that matters. Fanbases are far from objective. We judge with our own baggage, and in Idol history fan (or anti-fan) opinion doesn’t necessarily jibe with reality, positive or negative. This chatter will affect his sales for the first few weeks, and that is all.

As for music critic reviews, none of that matters either IMO. Daughtry reviews weren’t necessarily good. I remember initial Breakaway reviews being meh. Ditto Some Hearts. Bottom line, the song will get on the radio, and people will either respond or they won’t. I don’t like the song but it does sound like the stuff that gets played now, so to me it has a shot at success… enough to get to a second single. And that is the way the game is played, so there you go.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s this particular style of rock that I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t personally care for. I was hoping for something a little more bright and melodic. Just to give you an idea of what I mean, I like Daughtryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Feels Like Tonightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  way more than à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Not Overà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ .

This is kind of what I’m feeling. I think I was hoping for something like Optimistic To A Fault

I feel like I should point out — most of us who didn’t love the song at first listen still think it will be successful. Myself I know I am working with certain expectations and my own picky taste…but I realize that even if I don’t love it right away, many (most?) other people will.

And — I gotta think the *crack marketing team* has done their homework regarding which song to release as the debut.

Ok, I finally ventured into other boards to get a flavor of what others think about the song. You know what, I honestly think that rather than David being sad about some not-so-positive reactions of people, including a few serious fans, he’s more likely humbled by and truly appreciative of everyone who cared enough to comment on the song. He’s always been one to not take himself too seriously. I bet more than anything, he’s overwhelmed by the number of people who’ve invested themselves in him and his music, who had such strong opinions on the single, whether good or bad, and who really took the time out to share their thoughts with everyone. I would even go out on a limb and say that David is actually happy to get a mixed review of the song. After all, don’t we all remember the message on the back of the last shirt he wore on tour? While he seems to be a romantic at heart, he’s also a realist. There’s no reason not to believe him when he said that there will be some twists and turns on his album. And so, of course not everyone will like each and every song on the album. He doesn’t expect this at all. For sure though, there will be something for everyone. I, for one, can’t wait for his album to drop!

Dammit. Now I’m gonna have to get those cables to make my home stereo/audio eqpt work with my iPod. The more I listen to LO, the more I like it and the more I think it does NOT sound like everything else out there. (Don’t be silly, you can’t listen to EVERYthing!) I woke up with it in my head also and had to listen again ASAP. IMO, David has a unique voice; his phrasing sets him apart from others; and most of all, the EMOTION in his voice just. kills. me. I expect that the new record will have some variety on it. This is just one song on it and David didn’t write it. I’d like to think he had some hand in the arrangement? And I remembered he has said he likes anthemic rock, which to me is closely related to power ballad rock. I like quite a variety of musical styles myself, and I like this song. I hope it is a HUGE hit for him. And I hope this new record puts him in a place to continue to make music to share with those of us who like it and will pay money to see and hear him sing, share with us, show us his heart and soul.

ETA: What is “progress?” Most of the time, I would guess most of us think “change for the BETTER.” ONE definition from dictionary.com: to grow or develop, as in complexity, scope, or severity; advance. So. I’m gonna go with that as what David might mean by “progress.” As always, YMMV! It all comes down to our subjective preferences, to me. I can be critical of anything but still like it. I like this song and I’m STILL waiting for the rest of that record. Dammit.

DC talked of cohesiveness on the record and the ending of this son sounds like it leads into another….love albums with a concept.

Read on the official board that this is a good transition single between TOML and DC’s more rockish side. I like that and it makes sense. I, too, trust his people at RCA to have done their job by scouting out what would give him the best shot at appealing to the masses.

Soon October, then we can start saying that the record drops next month…like the sound of that.

I listened again today with a co worker who went to the Ellen show and saw him perform way back. She did NOT like him and the rainbow song back then but she LOVED this song – yay a convert, and it has grown on me too. I bet it will be a hit.

You know what I find interesting? After reading this entire thread, it seems a good many people aren’t crazy about the verses but love the chorus and I’m the complete opposite! lol

The verses are what pull me in. DC’s voice sounds crazy sexy on them and I love the way he sings them (like “words could never make me stay”). The chorus is alright, but yeah, it’s the verses that really grabs me.

I have to say that the first time I heard the song, I was a bit “meh.” I was a little disappointed, though I have no idea what I was expecting. But the more I listen to it, the more I love it. So I think it’ll do really well, actually.

Well done, DC! Can’t wait to hear it on the radio!

I already love the song based on just one listen, which doesn’t happen a lot for me.

This song is going to be a total hit.

edit: Assume much? DO NOT QUESTION YOUR FELLOW POSTERS MOTIVES.

Maybe they’re just used to him performing it live BEFORE the studio version comes out. So they don’t think it’s “HIS” yet? I don’t know. I can’t stop listening to it because I think it’s awesome, it sounds just like him. It’s anthemic rock, which he said he wanted to do. And it makes me very happy.

As for “music critics” in NY magazine… yeah… could they BE any more irrelevant?

It’s small but here’s the single cover
http://i36.tinypic.com/2enm3c4.jpg
I still love the picture but I wonder if RCA is ever going to release any pictures of him smiling? You can be RAWWK and smile!

Why is he frowning? Must you frown to be serious???

Looks like he wants to put my “lights out”.

I think it’s HAWT!

I do prefer his preeetty smile, but it would look kind of silly on the cover of an album I think. Big David Cook dorking out smile just doesn’t go with the Rock and Roll.

Although I’d love to see him with that one cocked eyebrow…

I think he looks like a vampire. But, his eyes are pretty.

I like this cover more than the TOML passport photo one, but, yeah, I’m used to seeing him in his skanky old Chiefs hat with a sharpie up his nose : ) I guess he looks a little too pretty

That is the same face every guy makes when the Dr. slips on a rubber glove and then says “okay now bend over and relax.”

I do prefer his preeetty smile, but it would look kind of silly on the cover of an album I think. Big David Cook dorking out smile just doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t go with the Rock and Roll.

See, I just don’t want a big ol’ close up of his face on the album cover, period. Big Ol’ Face also doesn’t scream Rock and Roll to me. Mileage and stuff. I’m not saying I want some French romantic painting, or the Analog Heart graphic redux, and I know DC’s nowhere near ready for an album without his picture on it. I just think anything resembling a passport or mug shot would be disappointing. I like cool covers.

I think the picture was taken during the tour when he did look just a bit gaunt at times with the lack of sleep and whatnot. He’ll look better if a picture is taken now.

Anyway, the song is miles better than TOML which is not saying a lot since I hated (and still do) TOML. It’s not the greatest of songs, won’t be a classic in years to come, and I hope this is just a transition to something which is much more his style.

The song is bugging me a bit though – it keeps reminding me of so many other songs, most of which I can’t quite rememeber. The opening piano bit reminds me a bit of Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America”, and there’re bits of Aerosmith in there. I certainly have heard something very similar to the guitar part in the middle of the song, but just can’t place it. Don’t think it’s Eagles, and the best I can come up with so far is ZZ Top’s “Rough Boy”, but that’s not it.

The song is up on YouTube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bUKjhRgsNs

I don’t know if this means they will actually play it soon but Z100 has Light On on their rotating front page banner for streaming.

I think they will play it eventually. They put magic rainbow into their playlist about a month after it went for adds so I think it might be a good sign they have it up there this soon.

They put magic rainbow into their playlist about a month after it went for adds so I think it might be a good sign they have it up there this soon.

Trina,

I just went back and looked the info I had been keeping track of for TOML. It went for adds on 6/3 and Z100 added TOML 2 weeks later on 6/17. It’s nice to see the ad on their page.

I really like this song! Yes, it’s a fairly generic power ballad, but it’s a good power ballad and Cook sings the shit out of it. It’s very Aerosmithy. I got the sense that “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” did very well for Cook on iTunes and this is the same kind of song. I will be very surprised if the album doesn’t branch out from here significantly, though.

I think he looks like a vampire. But, his eyes are pretty.

Oh yeah…me likey vampires!

That is the same face every guy makes when the Dr. slips on a rubber glove and then says à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“okay now bend over and relax.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

BWAH! I’m not a guy, but many of my guy friends have talked about this (yeah, no holds barred in my group of friends lmao), and that comment made me LOL. Good thing I wasn’t drinking anything while reading this. Good one!

I’m liking the song more today, but still not loving it. The hook is totally stuck in my head though. I was humming it all day at work today.

I don’t like LOVE the song.. but it will be a HIT for sho.

I am so sure. It is catchy enough and Cookie is well liked by the radio people. So yeah, I am sure he will be a success with this single and with this record and he so much deserves.
He will soon become a superstar, very exciting for him.

I actually really like the song. The picture looks like an Elf mated with Prince… I’m not exactly sure how I feel about that.

I love the song. It has a great hook!! It will be a solid radio hit.

I think that DC is the Perfect Idol.

“Love the song. Donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t love the picture.”

Wee lassie- if you think that picture is not Cook, you should look at Archuleta’s album picture. I guess they are trying to appeal to a diverse group of people, but it is just NOT him.

The only ones I don’t expect to love Light On are Archie fans still worried that DC’s success will detract from DA’s. I don’t get the animosity. Get over it already. They appeal to different markets and there is room for both of them. Light On is great. It is addictive. It is vintage David Cook with the gritty rock edge but still listenable if you are not into hard rock music. It is a perfect blend of rock and mainstream. His unique voice and the passion and soul that he puts into everything he does is clearly evident. There would be a gazillion fans upset if the song were too Analog Heart and a gazillion fans upset if it wasn’t enough Analog Heart. I love this song and really hope that it just blankets the airways. I’m so encouraged that the whole CD is going to be something that I love. I’ve probably listened to it a hundred times already and can’t get enough of it. Thank goodness we have something new of David Cook’s to enjoy. November is way to long to wait.

ShariG, with all due respect, I think many of the people who don’t like it are huge DC fans. Not every hardcore fan is going to like every song someone sings the same, and that is ok.

Yes, some Archie fans will not like the song, but it is because they aren’t into rock, not because they are worried about DC’s success. Archie is going to do just fine, and on the Archie boards I visit (way too many) 99% of the people respect Cook and wish him great success.

I’m glad to hear that about Archie fan sites. I am not an Archie fan and therefore do not go to those discussion boards. On the site that is playing Light On, 83% of those who have heard it love it according to the vote and 7% hate it, the others are in between. The negative comments are primarily from Archie fans. I’m sorry but that seems to be a pattern. I agree that all David Cook fans are not going to love every song in the same way. For example, I loved The World I Know more than Billie Jean, but others thought Billie Jean was the most phenomenal performance of season 7, so your point is well taken. You should go to Billboard and read some of the archie fans’ comments. It stings a little bit because he’s such a great guy and he doesn’t deserve some of the ridiculous personal comments that have nothing really to do with the song. So, I guess I am just a little sensitive. I honestly love the song. Loved it the first time I heard it and love it more with each time I hear it. I’m just really surprised that all DC fans don’t love it. It is exactly what I expected and was hoping for and I couldn’t be more happy for him.

So I’m slow to the party, but I didn’t like “Light On” as much as I had wanted or expected to. Perhaps, after more listens, I’ll come to love it.

Oh, and I absolutely hate the single cover that someone linked to up above. I prefer Cook WITH a neck, thank you very much!

Well most of the David’s fans right now are still AI fans who supported one or both of these guys. It is now a completely different scene since they have both been released into the wide world of the music industry (as opposed to a reality tv show). And to be successful, they need to build their fanbases way beyond the AI hardcore fans.

Certainly people who love David Cook’s music have a wide range of musical tastes. There are those who liked his AI cover days, those who preferred his pre-AI days and many who rarely listen to the radio and have little to base a judgment on what is popular and selling right now. Like it or not, the music business is as much about the business aspect as it is the music.

I think the song is a perfect debut single for David. It works well on radio and reels you in the more you listen to it. May it reel millions of folks to buy the single and then, the album!

Regarding the picture, I think it is hawt. Love the lips. It is all about those lips and those eyes and those eyebrows and all three are shown off in great detail in this picture. The one I couldn’t stand was the one on ITunes through the whole AI season 7. That one certainly didn’t do the guy any favors. This one looks just fine to me. LK08, there are Archie fans who don’t like anything DC does just because it is DC doing it. I wish they were all as discriminating as you are. Thanks for wishing him luck. Even though Archie isn’t my favorite, I wish him luck as well and honestly hope they are both very successful.

ShariG-

One more thing- I don’t think all of those comments are necessarily from Archie fans- just haters who want to cause problems. (Trolls) I am sure some are Archies, but again, most archie fans and Cook fans, on mainstream boards are nice people. Yes, they have opinions, but they don’t wish for the other idol’s demise. There was definitely a fair amount of raw feelings between the two fanbases in the beginning and understandably, but I think it has worked itself out with the way these two have treated each other and are obviously not only great friends but feel no competition with the other.

That is what I hate about the internet- the anonymity. People can say anything and act like they are someone they are not. I wish there was a way around it.

LK08, there are Archie fans who donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t like anything DC does just because it is DC doing it.

I’ve seen some Cook fans doing the same thing with respect to Archie and his music, so there are guilty parties in both fanbases.

Back to Light On: Still not in love with the song, but that chorus has been stuck in my head since yesterday. I think the song will probably grow on me eventually.

I am a fan of Archie, but I like Cook’s new single. I’m mostly into pop, but I do like pop rock songs, so I think releasing LO is a smart move to appeal to a wider audience. It is going to be a hit. Congrats Cook!

Maybe you say that because Crush is a better song. Unfortunately, in this case, that isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t saying very much.

Oh, Crush is good. I can’t believe I like it as much as I do. Maybe I expected too much but Light On is a disappointment. I agree it’s kinda dreary.

Entertainment Tonight has a blurb about the single on their site

I wasn’t sure if this was mentioned but there’s a new graphic on his MySpace saying if you sign up for the newsletter you’ll be the first to see the album cover.

I love this song more everytime I hear it.

I think the competition thing with the Archies is just sad and weird.

I honestly like Archie and think he has a great voice. But I honestly don’t like Crush. I think it’s over processed and hides his voice. Also I’m just not a fan of that kind of cutesy pop.

I love Light On. LOVE IT. Can’t stop listening to it. So proud to be a fan of David Cook.

We’re just fans of different genres of music. That’s really all there is to it. I don’t know why the competition just WON’T END for some people.

Edit: DON’T LECTURE PEOPLE. Keep your opinions focused on the subject. Respect your fellow posters

Hey guys –

DC’s song – ssssooooooo k. Reminded me of little d and y’all know how I feel about that! Except, DC has a much better voice, a plus !

I think this song was written to be middlin’ and produced to be middlin’, appeal to the masses. I think it does that — Some will love it, some will hate it, no one will call the radio station and say — get it gone.

Re: his album — I think they need to focus on original DC. If not, he’ll be opening for little d. ack ! (then I’ll have to start http://www.saveDC.biz.)

P.S. Here’s another song, Leave the Light On — Beth Hart. I’d like to hear DC do this version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vcyV5ak0h0&feature=related

i’m a HUGE david cook fan HUGE!
i think the guy is a GENIUS.
but i’m gonna say this and it’s gonna be blunt for some people, i know.
the more i listen to this song the more i hate it.
i know hate is a strong word but this is exactly how i feel.
feels to me that everything i loved about david, all his UNIQUENESS, this song buried all of it.
this song is 100% not the david cook i love and doesn’t show his abilities.
the man is capable of so much more than this Cornell junk.
i wish this was all a bad dream.
i’m in tears writing this because i love david so much
he got under my skin, and now LIGHT ON is associated with him.
Analog Heart, loved it from start to finish.
AXIUM CD’s, loved them all from start to finish.
his AI performances, loved them all.
MWK material, loved it.
the new RECORD?
i’m devastated that a song like LO is taking up space in the record.
clearly i’m not gonna like this album as much as i loved his previous work, no matter how great and amazing the other songs are gonna be.
my heart is BROKEN writing this.

Oh, wow, justic. That was such a heartfelt post, I can actually feel your frustration even as I’m sitting at my desk in the middle of the day in another country, miles, miles, miles away from where you are. Is there any way to make you feel better? It seems like your mind’s already made up on the record, so I just really do hope David is successful in selling this one, for him to be given another chance at releasing another record, that hopefully will redeem himself in your eyes. I feel like crying myself that David might be losing a fan in you. Please don’t give up on him.

Oh, and I just caught this. If you don’t like reading negative stuff about your favorite Idol DON’T READ HERE.

The man is into progression. Let him progress!

this is not a progression from his previous work.
this is going backwards and blending with music junk
that is out there today.

this is not a progression from his previous work.
this is going backwards and blending with music junk
that is out there today.

I wildly disagree. In no way can the song “Light On” be called JUNK.

He is not going backwards at all. He is moving on. Starting with a song to draw people in and then holding them with the amazing songs that are sure to fill up his album.

Edited the lecture

I feel like crying myself that David might be losing a fan in you. Please donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t give up on him

he is NOT losing me. i’m buying this junk of a single and i’m buying his album to support him but my heart is devastated.
for months i’ve been telling everyone i know how special and unique this guy is, and this is how he choose to put himself out there?
i feel so betrayed.
i hate you RCA for doing this to him.

edit: Respect your fellow posters. One more rude outburst like that and you. are. banned.

The first time I heard the song, I was so excited and felt so proud of DC I had goosebumps and almost got teary eyed just because I have been one to follow his career from AI. The second time I heard it, I was more calm and got a better listen of the song. It did came out sounding like most of the main stream power ballads but I was never a bit disappointed. The third time I heard it was accompanied with the lyrics and so I got a deeper understanding of what the song is all about.. And then I played it on and on and now I am completely in love with the song that I cannot wait to have it downloaded on the 30th.. much more for the album in Nov.. long story short, DC rocked this one. Love it. love it. love it

IMO progression is not always follow a straight line. You also can change the direction a little bit and try something different.

I also think that the main target with LO is to go for the chart position and as much as we want it we can not change what the main audience want at the moment and you canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t play roulette with the single which have to draw people to buy the album.

But I also see this song not as one dimensional as a lot of people make it.

If you let your own expectations go how a David Cook song has to be and give this song a chance, you maybe see that even if he is a main stream power ballade, you also see a story behind the song and feel the emotions David brings in the song with his voice and the how he choose to sing the words.

edit: DO NOT TELL OTHER POSTERS WHAT TO DO

i’m not offended. i said my thoughts are gonna be blunt for some people to handle.
but this is not just one song.
this is THE song that puts david out there.
this is the song that launchs his ,what i believe to be, long career.
and it breaks my hurt that this song has nothing in it that is showcasing how great and UNIQUE artist david cook really is.

Some additional thoughts: I think a lot of people were expecting a masterpiece straight out of the box from DC. But, sadly, true musical masterpieces don’t get mainstream airplay. That doesn’t mean they won’t be on the album (with even more on album #2) but they aren’t likely to be sent to radio just yet. He’s on a major label and there are games to be played.
Some were hoping for a more Foo Fighters sound. Again, when was the last time they got mainstream airplay? They are established artists, who, at this point (Dave Grohl has been in the game for pushing towards 20 years – damn, I feel old) they can pretty much release whatever they damn well please. And, even they have gone “commercial” on occasion (Big Me and Learn to Fly, anyone?)
I don’t get a Nickelback vibe from the song at all (a little Daughtry, yes, but mostly Hinder, Buckcherry – via “Sorry” and Gavin Rossdale – and to think, I thought “Love Remains the Same” would flop due to fan expectations, including my own, given his history with the wonderful Bush – but, damn, look at it climb in airplay and on itunes – color me gladly corrected). In the end, what matters is having the ability to get a song out to the masses for sales purposes. Given the unfathomable success of TOML, I think it would be quite jarring for those unfamiliar with his previous work (read: the vast majority of the population) to pull a full on rock song out of his pocket for this single. I agree that this is a good transition track. What matters is that the general public (read: non-AI fans, they do exist, in droves and aren’t likely to post on any blogs or message boards regarding an AI alum – note the glaring lack of comments regarding the queen of commercial country herself, Carrie Underwood, who is far and away the biggest seller from AI, period) like it. It was brought to my attention on another board that some stations had LO in a new song showdown or “Pick It or Flick It” this evening and the song came out on top by wide margins due to phone in votes (no spamming efforts) and I see that as a good thing.
I could go on but I will finish by saying this:
Some may think Archie’s “Crush” is warmed-over Chris Brown and that he is capable of much more (raises hand) but there is a reason that the song is #11 at itunes.
Some may think that Cook’s song is Daughtry-lite and that he is capable of much more (raises hand only slightly because I like the song and also like Daughtry – although many here don’t seem to care for Daughtry at all, but in the “real” world, they obviously do) but I can’t think of another explanation for why DC’s album is sitting at #9 on amazon right now.

justic, I hear what you’re saying. Everyone should be able to say how they’re feeling. I don’t want to change your mind. (well I do for your sake, but I know I can’t ) So please take what I’m going to say for what it’s worth and even if it doesn’t strike a cord right away maybe it’s something to consider.

for months ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve been telling everyone i know how special and unique this guy is,

This is still the absolute truth!

this is the song that launchs his ,what i believe to be, long career.

More than likely this is why this song was chosen, to launch his long career and I’m holding on to the fact that the best is yet to come.

and it breaks my hurt that this song has nothing in it that is showcasing how great and UNIQUE artist david cook really is.

I AGREE! But, I’m holding on to the fact that I can hear DC in this song, his great and unique vocals even with all of the processing(?). The beginning of the ending chorus is unique and great IMHO, as well as the way the song ends.

I think it’s undeniable that DC has passionate fans and I’m just thankful that you’re going to support him and buy this and his record in order to support him.

ok blunt again
my problem is that in spite of the fact that i have listened to this song gazillion times already i still can’t warm up to this.
i get the opposite effect instead.
i’m dying to like it but i don’t. i can’t.
there is junk on MTV that sounds better than this (i.can.not.believe.i’m.saying.this)
i can barely recognize his voice on this.
it doesn’t sound like him at all. it’s shouty.
where is this amazing VOICE that even sold TOML to me?
up until this song david cook could cookiefied anything .
on this song he failed.miserably.
i blame it on cavallo. he produced this junk.
he’s producing THE RECORD. i’m worried!

I guessing herejustic, but I’m thinking you saw DC singing TOML live (on tv) and IMO this is when TOML is at its best. We haven’t seen/heard LO live. (Maybe some hope there?)

I have to get some work done so I can’t post anything else right now.

There’s a lot of passion in all of these arguments. I wonder if this single is being released to attract guys into the fold?? Maybe that’s the demographic that constitutes the broader fanbase?

I guessing herejustic, but Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m thinking you saw DC singing TOML live (on tv) and IMO this is when TOML is at its best. We havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t seen/heard LO live. (Maybe some hope there?)

i like the studio version of TOML too.
i seroiusly doubt that i will not love the LIVE version of LO when i’ll hear it, because it’s gonna be DAVID’S twist on it. his touch, not cavallo’s.
the david cook that i know can’t go wrong.
his instincts are SPOT ON.

I like the song. Even if it’s not what I was hoping for, I’m still keeping the faith that Light On was a perfect strategic move to seduce non-AI fans into the David Cook Experience (heh).

I’m editing posts here. Some of you may need a guidelines refresher:

http://mjsbigblog.com/?page_id=1172

Please respect your fellow posters opinions and feelings. Do not tell others what to do, think or feel. And a reminder that posters who repeatedly ignore the guidelines will get banned. And this ain’t TWOP, you can’t sign up with a different username and continue posting if that happens.

I’ve really tried to stay out of these discussions, BUT. David is in the big leagues now and has to play the game. There are a lot of people out there who have never heard of him, or only know his name from TOML. His first single has to appeal to those folks, not necessarily those of us who already know and love him. We expect so much from him because we’ve gotten so much from him. I think LO is a good mix of mainstream and a little bit of quirky David. I don’t think he’s shouty; it’s a good rock wail, with a beautiful acoustic voice at the end – and glory notes, too.

He has to be successful first in order to get what he wants out there. I’m willing to be patient to get to that point. He’ll get there. This is just the beginning.

And, FWIW and IMO David will NEVER, ever be Daughtry-lite. Ever. (Sorry, wwlwilliam, not a fan).

He has to be successful first in order to get what he wants out there. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m willing to be patient to get to that point. Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll get there. This is just the beginning.

I totally agree, because I don’t care how many bars he played in and how long he did it, to those outside of the Idol bubble, he is SEVERELY an amateur, and he will have to prove himself.

I haven’t had a chance to catch up with all the posts in this thread but just wanted to add that I think a large part of the thought process behind putting this song out was to attract fans outside the AI bubble. It would not surprise me if TPTB behind the album took a calculated gamble that the AI fans would at least stick around until the album comes out, giving an opportunity for other fans to be drawn in.

Drawing in fans is going to require something that will get airplay and is more mainstream. Maybe even something a little generic so that fans of similar sounding musicians will think to themselves, “Hey, this is someone else whose music I might like.” Someone starting from scratch who really wants to make it probably can’t afford to be too “out there” – at least at first.

At the end of the day, some people will like it, some will not. He has said himself that his album would a pop-rock blend with twists and turns. “Light-On” fits in with that IMO. Also, as it seems that David is getting some say in the process I don’t think he would have gone for the song if he didn’t believe in it.

It’s very interesting to hear different people’s take on LO.

I think it’s a really good song which is serving the purpose it’s intended to:

To get the man some fans outside of the AI bubble!

Although I am sure that DC appreciates the AI fans, I would think he would want others to validate him by giving LO a listen, hopefully liking it, and get interested in him as a musician and artist. You cannot do that by putting out only music that fans of AH and Axium want to hear…it’s a waaay bigger world out there who have never heard of DC…it’s those people RCA are concerned about reaching. You do that by getting radio play and gaining new fans.

Some AI fans should maybe start realizing that DC isn’t here just to entertain us. He wants to make a living from his music and gain enough cred so that he can continue to make music that’s respected.

This single is a clever and calculated move…a very smart move.

I cannot get that damn refrain out of my head! LOL I really am starting to love what he does what this very pop-rockish song. It will be a well-deserved hit.

BTW, don’t love Daughtry, he’s okay. But I hope that DC one day enjoys the fame that Daughtry is now gaining in Europe!

The more I think about it, the more I think that this song is intended to appeal to a demographic that’s probably somewhat lacking in David’s fanbase – people with a Y chromosome.

Cheese,
Good point. He really does need to appeal to guys. My 19 year old daughter thinks many guys would really like this song and be willing to check out the album on the basis of this song.

Hmmm…..

I really do believe RCA, Cavallo and DC know what they are doing.

We AI fans can perhaps forget that he’s not ours to dictate to.

The faster he can get away from the AI thing,,,the better for DC.

He also needs NOT to regress and do AH and Axium stuff.

He’s been there and done that!

DC isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t here just to entertain us. He wants to make a living from his music and gain enough cred so that he can continue to make music thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s respected.

There ya go. Nail, head, all that stuff….

Another general reminder:

Please give people space. It’s OK if some of the DC fans have expectations they don’t feel are fulfilled. It’s also OK if they continue to dislike the song no matter how many times they’ve listen to it. Negative opinions here are not going to hurt DC’s career. And even if they did, my blog isn’t a fan blog. It’s not my responsibility to support DC or his career.

So, keeping all that in mind, please be careful not to lecture your fellow posters or make suggestions about what they should be thinking, feeling or *realizing*. Also do not question or psychoanalyze your fellow posters motives or opinions or put words in their mouths. It’s impossible to know why someone feels the way they do, and it’s rude to make assumptions. Thank you.

Sorry MJ,

sometimes there seems to be a thin line between giving ones opinion and appearing to be lecturing.

Oops. Sorry, MJ!

Anyhoo……

Not everyone is going to like DC or his music…no biggie.

I wonder how much time is the norm in between releasing the next single? I know that many artists and bands often have more than one single on the charts from the same album.

I guess with DC that will have to wait until LO finds its place.

I have to admit I am bloody excited to have an album of 10-12 songs sung by DC.. Here’s hopin’that the record is cohesive and one song the opening for the next.

Y’all are just wonderful. Seriously. I love reading this blog and specifically everyone’s comments on Light On and David Cook. I am a huge huge HUGE David Cook fan. After finally hearing this single, I realized I didn’t really have any specific expectations, other than I was expecting to hear a NEW song from Cook. I haven’t listened to much pop or rock or pop-rock or alt-rock or pop-pop-rock-rock-alt-lite-adult-contemporary blahblahblah the last 20 years. The last few months, I have just started to explore more than just country. However, prior to THAT, I was definitely a huge rock fan. I’ll say that David Cook brought back the joy of finding new music to me, of listening every day again, of music being more important than TV shows or movies or sometimes food, of seeking out live performances again THANK GAWD! There is so much analysis and there seem to be so many expectations. I can’t even get it all into my head.

ETA: These are just my opinions; I hope I’m not lecturing or telling others how to feel or think or such. Cause I really like this place and I don’t want to get in trouble! Thanks, mj.

But I can say this, all MY OPINIONS and YMMV, of course: I eagerly anticipate any new music from David Cook. I am as excited about him now as I was when we first saw and heard him, as an artist, a singer, a writer. I like Light On. I love his voice. Even in the “shoutier” parts of the song, he is still SINGING. I don’t feel like he ever loses control of his voice, his notes, his phrasing…his phrasing is impeccable and just amplifies everything for me. There are some songs I like better than others from his past. I expect there always will be in the future too. I can’t wait to hear the rest of this album. And most of all, to see him LIVE again. I hope he is HUGE and has a long long long music career.

i know all the arguments that you are making.
i try to tell them to myself since 2 days ago when i first heard this song.
i want to change my mind about this song so bad.
i’m still listening to this song on repeat hopping that this song can get me hooked.
it’s not happening and this is the most frustrating thing of all.
i’m willing to accept that david had to compromise on his first single, but to go for something this bad?
i can’t believe david cook’s name is attached to this awful song.
this is so generic, so mediocre, so incredibly boring
that i refuse to believe that david believs in this song with all his heart.
his previous work is so SO much better than this.
i hate RCA and ROB CAVALLO for this.
i thought david was in good hands. i was wrong!
“Try to leave a light on when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m gone”
based on this song the david cook that i know and love is completely GONE but i’m leaving the light on because i love this man and he has done enough before this horrible single to make me support him.

sometimes there seems to be a thin line between giving ones opinion and appearing to be lecturing.

I know. I find myself doing it and have to edit my own posts sometimes. I really want posters to feel they can express any opinion here, no matter how unpopular, without their fellow posters judging them, or criticizing their opinions.

ETA: The rule of thumb is to use “I” statements in your remarks when responding to posters. Gwen: What you quoted and agreed with in your post was OK. If you’re making general statements about things you’ve read in an article or elsewhere in the fandom, that’s ok too. These rules only reply to posters responding to each others’ comments.

That’s it. Carry on. .

*Cringes* I wasn’t trying to argue or change anyone’s mind…
:smile_wp:

I’m just waiting now, for whatever he does next. I’m hoping that he wrote or co-wrote most or all of the rest of the new record. Definitely, the 2nd record on this label, I want all-Cook-all-the-time. I’m just so excited, I can hardly contain myself, really. :jittery_tb:

Honestly, I think part of my feelings and attitude are attributable to my not having listened to much rock-pop-literock-AC-whatever in the last many years. I don’t have a whole lot to compare this song to – or to compare David Cook to, for that matter. So I’m kinda not really comparing. The only comparison I’ve made to myself about him so far, I think, is I realized that I compared my feelings about Analog Heart and some other earlier Cook music to my feelings when Damn The Torpedoes came out. I thought “I haven’t felt this way about an album since DTT came out!” Next, I thought “Damn I’m OLD!” Banish THAT thought. So anyway, I so hope that I’m listening to David Cook – old music, new music, any and all David Cook – in another THIRTY YEARS (ok 29 technically), just like I am still listening to DTT. And liking it. (Some songs more than others, of course.)

justic I’m sorry you’re this upset and that you hate Rob Cavallo and RCA, but I think you’re going to have to try and deal with things as best that you can because Rob is THE producer of THE album and David is stuck with RCA for as long as they want him. While it’s your opinion that the song is awful and junk, not everyone thinks its that awful. However you also can’t force yourself to like something.

sherryw that was a really great post.

Here’s Michael Slezak’s review of Light On. I think it’s a really fair and balanced review.

eta:

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just waiting now, for whatever he does next. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m hoping that he wrote or co-wrote most or all of the rest of the new record. Definitely, the 2nd record on this label,

Before he gets a 2nd record on this label he needs to succeed with the first one. This is a fact.

Hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Michael Slezakà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s review of Light On. I think ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a really fair and balanced review.

That’s exactly how I feel about “Light On”. Michael put it way more elegantly than I did, however. .

I agreed pretty wholeheartedly with Slezak’s review – the song is an earworm and it’s growing on me even though it’s never going to be in heavy rotation on my iPod, but I will never, ever warm up to the bridge. I’m hoping that David tweaks that part when he sings it live.

Is anyone else a little puzzled that David didn’t do a radio premiere on top of the AOL premiere? Archie certainly benefited from having his song added to the Z100 playlist right out of the gate. David’s going to have to take a stab at the Hot 100 with even less airplay and less than one week on the radio heading into the iTunes release (which likely means more annoying David v. David press when DC doesn’t make it to #2)

Wow, justic. Haven’t read this thread for a while, and you are, like, sane.

If you don’t hear Daughtry, try listen to the lead-in of ‘What About Now,” almost the same with Light on.

The song Light On is generic and shouty, the opposite of Cook’s image that idol creates. I think this is the reason that many Cook fans are disappointed.

I think RCA/Idol respects Daughtry (4th place finisher) in that they put his own songs as the first and second singles. I don’t know what makes they think that their “winner” cannot be himself and has to be Daughtry 2.0.

Hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Michael Slezakà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s review of Light On. I think ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a really fair and balanced review.

Michael Slezak is brillant. I particularly loved this: I will not acknowledge the winning Idol single foisted on Mr. Cook by the pabulum-loving folks at 19 Entertainment.

I noticed last night a lot of the radio statio sites that belong to Clear Channel had LO for streaming on front page banners. I checked the CC website last night and he was listed along with lots of other artists in their on demand scoll box..but now he’s featured on the front of the CC site with a link to his official page and the stream to LO. Does anyone know what the significance of this and is arranged by RCA? Is this a way for CC to sort of test the song?

They finally added LO to his official site and MySpace.

Love Michael Slezak. Fair review.

From Michael Slezak:

Which isn’t to say the track is perfect. The lyrics, about a guy who’s hitting the road and leaving a loved one behind, feel more like a logjam of carefully focus-grouped words than anything deeply meaningful. The bridge is bombastic almost to the breaking point (of Cook’s vocal). And a little part of me — the part that grew up listening to my sisters blast “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Born on the Bayou” and “Lola” on the record player — wishes some of today’s rocker dudes realized that not everything needs to be so unrelentingly serious.

Agreed…for the most part.

Before he gets a 2nd record on this label he needs to succeed with the first one. This is a fact.

Agreed. I’m sure hoping for more albums from him after this one, whatever label they are on. I guess I’m assuming this first one will be successful enough for him to get to make a 2nd one….cross my fingers.

Of course the CC promotion is arranged by RCA, this is not just CC being nice, it takes money. (But I’m even more interested to watch how RCA is gonna promote Kings of Leon, very interesting to see them break UK market first.)

I think premiering on AOL is better than a radio station, he’s got an ad on AOL welcome page. YMMV of course.

ETA: Now they’ve added LO onto his site, and ToML is gone.

cheese, from what I’ve read in the last few days, it seems that debuting your single on AOL is actually better than a radio station as it reaches far more people.

If you donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t hear Daughtry, try listen to the lead-in of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹What About Now,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  almost the same with Light on.

The song Light On is generic and shouty, the opposite of Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s image that idol creates. I think this is the reason that many Cook fans are disappointed.

I think RCA/Idol respects Daughtry (4th place finisher) in that they put his own songs as the first and second singles. I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know what makes they think that their à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“winnerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  cannot be himself and has to be Daughtry 2.0.

As far as anyone knows, “Light On” is very likely the only song on David’s album that he didn’t have a hand in writing. He got all the co-writers he asked for. He had Green Day’s producer come to him. He has his old bandmates working for him in the studio and in his touring band. I think RCA has plenty of respect for David. The choice of Light On is a little puzzling, but if America loves them some generic, shouty Daughtry, then it sort of makes sense to introduce David to a wider audience this way.

I almost wonder if this song was added at this last minute because they feel like David’s material isn’t “generic” enough for the first single given the current state of mainstream pop-rock. I guess we’ll find out in November, but I see the rest of the material being quite a bit different.

I don’t think the song is “Daughtry-lite” though. David has a different singing style and more “gears” to his voice – including the high wail that some will dismiss as screaming. “Light On” is certainly more rock than the two Daughtry songs that I’m hearing the most right now – Feels Like Tonight and What About Now.

cheese, from what Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve read in the last few days, it seems that debuting your single on AOL is actually better than a radio station as it reaches far more people.

That makes sense, I guess I was just thinking about airplay counting more towards chart position than streaming numbers. I didn’t think the song was all that visible on AOL.

Before he gets a 2nd record on this label he needs to succeed with the first one. This is a fact.

I agree, Trina. We said the exact same thing about Archie, didn’t we? I HAVE to believe the marketing peeps know what they’re doing. These kids have to figure out how to be IN the game in order to keep PLAYING the game, and it’s a tricky business, to say the least. All the best to David – I’m not worried at all.

Kathryntx – love your posts – they’re so heartfelt.

The single choice was clearly a strategic move. Didn’t he said they had something like 50 or 70 (or some huge number) songs written for the album?

Slezak has a pretty bad track record at predicting hits. I remember when he poo-pooed “Umbrella” and praised Beyonce’s 1st single from her last album… I can’t even remember the name of it. LOL. He has a blind spot for his favorites.

That said, I think he may be right with this one. The thing is, those who hate Hinder type songs (like me) will totally not like it, but LOTS of people buy those songs. And the chorus is catchy on repeated listens. So even if it’s not a monster hit, it should indeed hit. It very well may be polarizing though.

cheese, your explanation doesn’t answer my question of why RCA thinks Cook cannot be himself in his single? He is not a 17 year old boy who doesn’t have an original style before Idol. Cook is a grown man with 10 year experience in the music industry and some firm idea about what direction of music he should go in.

Without hearing Cook’s own material, I cannot judge whether he or Daughtry has better materials. I can say that this Chris Cornell song is not as good as Daughtry’s. Daughtry does Daughtry better than anyone else.

cheese, your explanation doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t answer my question of why RCA thinks Cook cannot be himself in his single?

How the hell should I know? I don’t work for RCA. I can only offer my opinion that the absolute safest first single is probably something that sounds like everything else and that perhaps Cook did not come up with such a song. The direction of the album as a whole will likely reflect who he is as an artist. His original music is pop-rock, but with a different feel to it. It’s easy to find on youtube if you’re really interested. Plus, we haven’t heard anything he’s written since 2006. It’s really all a mystery. Please feel free to disagree with my opinion.

For me, “Light On” compares favorably to other songs in the same genre, Daughtry included, and is light years ahead of that awful new Hinder song, which is sort of like anti-music.

I don’t know Michael Slezak well enough to tell if he was joking, or if he really is holding out hope for ABMB to be on David’s record. If it’s the latter, I’m afraid he’ll be sorely disappointed. I, for one, am not expecting, nor do I want, any of David’s AI covers to be on the record, no matter how good they were. I’m soooo ready for new music from the man!

I’m also soooo ready for him to talk to us! Come on David, let’s hear your thoughts on the single, how it was received so far, and all that jazz!

Guys, seriously, isn’t he supposed to be promoting the single before it’s released for sale?

Looking at the other blogs about “Light On” I see an interesting trend. It seems that it is DC’s AI fans who are the most disappointed in the song. Maybe it is because we know what he is capable of doing, maybe its because we were expecting someting more original.
However, the opinion of those who didn’t know him before seems to be very favorable. If the ultimate goal of releasing this song first was to pull in more folks from outside the AI bubble, it seems – from the bloggers at least – to be working. Now I hope that the longterm fans’ wish to have the remainder of the CD to be more “true DC’ are realized.
I purposely haven’t listened to LO in two days because I want to get “second take” on it. But I think I could still sing most of the song at this moment. It does stay with you.

“Is anyone else a little puzzled that David didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t do a radio premiere on top of the AOL premiere? Archie certainly benefited from having his song added to the Z100 playlist right out of the gate. Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going to have to take a stab at the Hot 100 with even less airplay and less than one week on the radio heading into the iTunes release (which likely means more annoying David v. David press when DC doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t make it to #2)”

Cheese- I am doing everything I can when I read an article to remind people that it is mostly the media doing the David VS David comparisons and I am seeing lot of signs among the coments on major articles that have been coming out that others feel the same way. Now the Cook VS daughtry comparisons will be hard to avoid.

I HAVE to believe the marketing peeps know what theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re doing. These kids have to figure out how to be IN the game in order to keep PLAYING the game, and ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a tricky business, to say the least. All the best to David – Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not worried at all.

Kathryntx – love your posts – theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re so heartfelt.

AWWW thank you, lucyfan. And agreed. I have a little rootin’ tootin’ cat named Lucy! Cats are Lucy, Eleanor, Miss Penny, and Abby. Get it? LOL! ANYWAY, I come here rather than fansites to talk about this stuff. I am a member of several fansites but I like the seemingly more varied opinions here. Thank you all again. Love to mj too!

And…I liked Chris D. A LOT when he was on AI and swore I would buy whatever he put out. I didn’t buy it though – until after I bought Cook’s Analog Heart! And all his iTunes stuff. And Axium. And MWK. And whatever Cook I could find. I’ve listened and listened and listened, especially to AH, since March. Love it. Love some songs more than others. Oh looky, “Home” is on the speakers right now! LOL!

I think hope wish that “Light On” will suck people into Cookdom, a lovely musical place to be, for the most part, IMO.

Now a song by my friend at work who is in a band is on! Gawd, I’m loving my new music SOOOOOOOOOOOO much.

I know NUTHING about writing songs, hit or otherwise. I do know what I like when I hear it. I know nothing about the music biz. I know how to read music and maybe I can still play the oboe, English horn, xylophone, bells, and marching cymbals; and I know I can still play piano. I know nothing about “production values” or what exactly “over produced” means; or about releasing a single or picking a single from an album. I cannot really sing, although I’m a good sight reader and passable alto in a choir. I don’t know Cook, dammit. :rolleyes_wp: (I wish.) I know he’s been writing and making music since he was about 15 or 16 or 17. I think he’s a hard worker and a smart man. I’ve got my fingers crossed that he can walk that line, in the big-time music biz he’s in now, the line that IS personal happiness AND commercial success. OK, more than crossed fingers…I’ve INVESTED in him. And I mean my time, my money, my heart. Corny but factual. In fact, I think I should send him a bill for what I’ve spent because of him, money-only. Oh, I’ll wait til his album goes platinum…lalala.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know Michael Slezak well enough to tell if he was joking, or if he really is holding out hope for ABMB to be on Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s record.

I think he’s quite serious, if this is any indication.

Thanks for the links, guys. Sorry, this thread getting so long I can’t scroll up and recall who to thank. Did anyone notice the Entertainment Tonight blurb is calling the single “Lights On”? First, Popeater with the “Lights Out” mistake, now ET. C’mon, is this song title really that hard to get right? LOL, I just cracked myself up wailing along to the chorus and replacing “light on” with lights out and lights on… not sure why that’s so hilarious to me, but it has a parody-ish feel to me. Don’t mind me, I’m in a weird mood.

Love Slezak, and really liked his review. From what I recall, he floved ABMB, so I think he’s serious, but as much as I flove that as well, I will bet my firstborn (okay, maybe not) that it won’t show up on this record. I hold out small hope it may end up on a soundtrack at some point (thanks for planting that thought, Paula), but I’d venture to guess that DC won’t want to put out that type of pop sound in his first or even second albums.

Justic,

Don’t know if you will be back in this thread. Am not totes positive this link is ok for this thread? But . . . just sad to see someone else sad.

A few days ago I put together a “handmade acoustic set” of D Cook. Links to all his best acoustic performances from the Show, Taste For a Cure, Ford Day, Blue Springs, etc.

If you are feeling down, maybe this will soothe the troubled waters. He’s a lovely performer live, no? Even if you end up only ever liking him from the show and his old record, that’s ok, too.

* confession, I like LO

Oh, and Slezak rocks, he just loves the big belters—Carly was his initial fave–so David plus Mariah was like heaven for him! And really, wouldn’t most of us ‘plode too–if Cook came out and sang *your most favorite song in the world*?

I am another massively obsessed DC fan who was expecting the earth to shake and everyone in the world to bow down when David’s first single came out. I was expecting it to be THE.BEST.SONG.EVER. And I’m guessing I’m not the only fan out there with these kinds of expectations.

So I must say that yes, I was a little disappointed when I heard the song. BUT, I don’t think ANYTHING David had released would have matched my unbelievably high expectations. And I do agree that AI fans, and David’s fans in particular, are much more critical of anything and everything he does. We put him under a microscope, analyze every nuance to death, and anything less than perfection is then analyzed some more.

The average listener is NOT going to be that critical. They will hear it on the radio or Internet, and either think, “Hey, that’s a catchy song!” or it probably just won’t register to them. I think David’s song is good enough that it WILL catch a lot of people’s attention.

And I agree with the poster that said that this song may be geared to attract more male fans. I can’t speak for all of them, but I can say that my husband, who – up until this point – has NOT been a big DC fan, really likes Light On. Probably more than I do. And THAT is saying something.

So even though I’m somewhat disappointed, I still like the song, and I will still buy it, and I will still eagerly anticipate David’s album. I’m not going to pass judgment on David and his career solely on the weight of this song. I think he still has a lot of surprises in store for us.

Cook is a grown man with 10 year experience in the music industry and some firm idea about what direction of music he should go in.

He’s as new to this business as Archuleta is, and just as much an unknown to most people. Playing in bars and clubs, and releasing indie records on his own dime is a different animal than what he’s doing now.

Without hearing Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s own material, I cannot judge whether he or Daughtry has better materials. I can say that this Chris Cornell song is not as good as Daughtryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s.

I’m a bit biased because I’m no Daughtry fan, but David’s prior work, IMO, is superior to both Daughtry and the song LO (lyrically, at least). Everything is subjective, I guess. I’m tired of the Daughtry comparisons already, and the song is barely out.

doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t answer my question of why RCA thinks Cook cannot be himself in his single?

I also donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know.

There has been rumors two weeks ago that they have still 3 songs to choose to be the first single.

It could be a lot of things, but I think to bring Chris Cornell with in the boat is one.
Maybe they really want to go for a Grammy( or just a nomination) and the chance with a Chris Cornell song are exponential higher than a David Cook song.

I’ll bet he’s just glad to be singing something other than Magic Rainbows….

There has been rumors two weeks ago that they have still 3 songs to choose to be the first single.

Not quite. There was an article that came out two weeks ago that said 3 songs were mixed that week and all three were in the running to be the next single and would be ready for radio before the end of the month.

Slezak has a pretty bad track record at predicting hits.

So true. I think he predicted Break Anotha would be massive. I like Daughtry and obviously he’s had incredible success. I’m not surprised in the least that they would push Cook in that direction. If they get half of the fans digging Cook that like Daughtry, he’ll be a platinum seller.

Is that the cover of the single? I don’t like the manscaping of the beard. Manscaping…isn’t that a Daughtry thing? I think I see eyeliner. Is a Cook tattoo next?

Oh, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll wait til his album goes platinumà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦lalala.

Lol, kathryn! And the cat names – I get it! BTW, if you’re still reading this thread, I’m dying to know if you ever got to give Cookie the necklace you made. I know this is a bit OT, so I’ll go now (sorry MJ).

I think the picture was taken during May/April. He was still gaunt then. Now, he’s a little fuller although the workouts are working since the tummy’s getting smaller and the biceps are bulging…um, what was the question again?

Ah, no Cook tattoo. Probably another eye to complete the set. Heh.

I’m laughing at Slezak saying he rooted for Cook because Idol needed a commercial winner (I guess Jordin doesn’t count). Now he’s supporting the song because he thinks it’ll be a hit. Does he have stock in 19E/R? Why the big interest in whether the franchise makes money?

I do understand why Cook fans want this to be a hit though. Voting on Idol gets you invested in these artists and you don’t a)want to feel you’ve wasted time/$ in supporting a “loser”and/or b)genuinely believe in the person. Agreeance with the person who said they’re trying to broaden the Cook fan base. This kind of rock has primarily male appeal.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m laughing at Slezak saying he rooted for Cook because Idol needed a commercial winner (I guess Jordin doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t count). Now heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s supporting the song because he thinks ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll be a hit. Does he have stock in 19E/R? Why the big interest in whether the franchise makes money?

Slezak has no interest in whether the franchise makes money. He is, however, interested in American Idol staying healthy as a franchise and continuing. Winners who are successful give the franchise more credibility. I would not be surprised to see the ratings go up this year if the Davids are wildly successful.

On another note… man, mj, you are getting some serious HITS out of this! LOL! Look at this post count!

I think I’m going too have to cool it on the internet for a while. Now that the song is out, the long, agonizing chart checking, sales watching, radio station stalking phase begins, not to mention the nasty message board comments (other boards, not here of course) and the “my idol did better” stuff takes over. Sigh. Really I just wanna hear some more songs (especially because I’m not that crazy about this one) and all the hyper competitiveness and overanaylzing makes me anxious in the meantime. I have no problem with chart watching, of course, I just can’t take it right now. LOL!

That said I think it will do well, hopefully well enough for RCA to keep going with the promotions cash. But it’s pretty much out of our hands at this point. No matter, all we can do is buy the record and hope for the best.

Michael Slezak is right…resistance is futile! I goddamn love this song now…it is total earworm. Love DC’s vocals. I really really do. It sounds great with decent speakers…hooked up my daughters speakers to the ‘puter.

Does anyone know the number of streams it got in the first 24 hours? Where do you find that sorta thing? MJ?

I understand Slezak supporting ths show. But Jordin has cranked up three huge singles in a row. So how many more hit singles do they need off this show to keep it healthy? Although, I do understand Slezak liking Cook and believing he was a more credible winner than Archie. Plus maybe the show needs another a Carrie/Daughtry megastar winner who can sell multi-platinum albums. Oops

Slezak hated Archie during the show, but Archie’s 3 part interview with him afterwards goes down among fans as one of the favorites. I think Archie changed Slezak’s mind. Slezak was so supportive when Crush came out.

Lol, kathryn! And the cat names – I get it! BTW, if youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re still reading this thread, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m dying to know if you ever got to give Cookie the necklace you made. I know this is a bit OT, so Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll go now (sorry MJ).

LOL lucyfan! How can we talk off of here? I’m not very high-tech usually, but I’m a fast learner! Can I put an eml in here, such as suzanne1122 at hot mail dot com?

Yeah I’ll wait til the boy has some real MONY in his pocket, then send him that bill. How else will I get any return on investment? Just keep listening, I suppose. I still CAN’T WAIT for the next new thing from Mr. Cook!

Still a bit OT – I bought Crush too! After seeing Archie live, I think he’s gonna be BIG too. What a voice. Sheesh.

Slezak hated Archie during the show….

Heh. I hardly think he hated him. Archie spent nearly as much time in Slezak’s #1 rankings as David Cook did.

As a matter of fact, I think he was ranked #1 going into the final week.

I think Slezak’s constructively critical and usually spot on. What may have “won him over” was that “Crush” was probably more suited to Archie’s voice than the older-than-he-is stuff he sang on the show.

Slezak ignored Jordin because he still hasn’t got over that Tattoo, a song he panned, is a huge hit. On the other hand, Break Anotha and Blake’s album, which he acclaimed as big hits, are flops.

Layla, I’m so glad someone else loves it as much as I do. I was getting lonely

On another noteà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ man, mj, you are getting some serious HITS out of this! LOL! Look at this post count!

This is a very popular post!

I think Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m going too have to cool it on the internet for a while. Now that the song is out, the long, agonizing chart checking, sales watching, radio station stalking phase begins, not to mention the nasty message board comments (other boards, not here of course) and the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“my idol did betterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  stuff takes over.

Fall is my least favorite season of the Idol cycle just for the reasons you mentioned. I know the feeling of wanting to cool it, although this season has been OK so far… *crosses fingers*

Sigh. Really I just wanna hear some more songs (especially because Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not that crazy about this one) and all the hyper competitiveness and overanaylzing makes me anxious in the meantime. I have no problem with chart watching, of course, I just canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t take it right now. LOL!

Yeah, just because “Light On” isn’t going to find a regular place on my iPod, doesn’t mean there aren’t other songs on the album that will. I just listened to Jennifer Hudson’s album and the singles are hardly the best the album has to offer.

That said I think it will do well, hopefully well enough for RCA to keep going with the promotions cash. But ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s pretty much out of our hands at this point. No matter, all we can do is buy the record and hope for the best.

Like Slezak said, The Hinder/Nickleback/3doors down type of rock is very popular on Top 40 stations. Cook needs a hit. This is the way to go.

I agree with Slezak. I think the single is going to do very well.

Wow, 326 comments!I went back to the archives to see what the reaction was when Jordin’s “Tattoo” first released and found that all the buzz here was about Blake and his upcoming release. Some were even predicting Daughtry like success for him and were doubtful of Jordin being able to sell beyond Kat McPhee numbers.
http://mjsbigblog.com/blake-lewis-signs-with-19rarista-and-other-s7-record-news.htm

Funny how Blake turned out to be a flash in the pan and Jordin is burning up the charts. I think Season 7 will be the first season where the winner and the runner-up will be equally successful.

I tell y’all, we’re nutso. I asked a friend of mine to give Light On a listen. She did not watch Idol, has no idea who anyone from S7 is. When I asked if she likes music, she said:

Sure, I like music, just not that rap stuff, you know? I like ethnic music, particularly Latino salsa and Andean pan-pipes. Also like that old original Bill Monroe twangy bluegrass.

She indulged me and listened to Light On. She tried the popeater link, didn’t work, so I sent her the link to DCO and said try this if you’re still interested. Here is a review of Light On from a disinterested, non-AI fan:

It’s okay. I can’t say that it strikes me as outstanding.

LOLOLOLOLOL! Now, why did this crack me up? Look at all the TALK on mjs, look at this thread. Hilarious!

Beesims, thanks for the link. I found my first comments on Tattoo.

“I heard Jordinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s sing and I like her. Her voice sounds great recorded and she can really put the feeling into her music. Will it break out like Wait for You (other Stargate idol song)? I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know but ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s good. Comparisons are odious, but Jordin can do this stuff much, much better than Kat. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m interested in hearing Blakeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s stuff and hope his single releases soon.”

OMG, I’ve been posting here for two years. I wonder if I’ll make it through another Idol season. Anyway, I guess it’s harmless and keeps my mind off politics. For what it’s worth, I don’t see Light On being a monster hit. It’s just too generic.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s just too generic.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s such a thing as “too generic” for Pop radio.

This is a very popular post!

True dat. Just think, if people had all liked the song, the post would only have half as many replies! Cookie’s loss is your gain. LOL.

Honestly, I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s such a thing as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“too genericà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  for Pop radio.

Ain’t that the *depressing* truth.

I’m still thinking more modest hit than monster smash though.

Layla, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so glad someone else loves it as much as I do. I was getting lonely

I can’t help it julieitis. I am not a pop rock sorta woman, but DC’s voice and passion just do me in…it’s not the words or the pop-rock styled instrument sound, it’s DC and the way he sings it. Plus I didn’t want a rehash of AH or Axium songs.

I honestly stuggled with it the first few listens, (I like my rock a little harder and deeper) but then i closed my eyes and listened to him and resistance was truly futile.

I also think this single is an extremely smart choice on the heels of TOML. DC, RCA and cavallo know the market they want to target, and chose the right type of single.

Oh hell yeah this is going to be a big hit for DC…no doubt.

I’ll go with modest hit more than smash. I guess generic isn’t the right word. But it doesn’t pop out at me and sounds kinda dated. But I’m no fan of this genre so I’m better at making predictions in top 40/Pop.

Beesims = You predicted Tattoo would be a huge hit. (I just saw that on the thread you posted) What’s your verdict on LO?

Honestly, I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s such a thing as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“too genericà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  for Pop radio.

ITA. Everything on pop radio is generic. Most of the hits all sound alike and that’s why they fit. It’s called formulaic for a reason – there is a formula that works, at least at this point. Artists keep adding and changing things here and there in their songs, but there’s not really some huge change in the construction of hits from year to year that keeps the songs from following the same general forumla.

I mean, if we’re gonna talk about generic/formulaic/all that crap, how about “Tattoo” sounding like a ripoff of “Irreplaceable”??

I understand Slezak supporting ths show. But Jordin has cranked up three huge singles in a row. So how many more hit singles do they need off this show to keep it healthy?

Jordin came from a season that had very little post-season interest, and that carried over to her post-show popularity. Sure, she’s sold very well with her downloads, but the album hasn’t even gone platinum yet. Daughtry is 4x platinum and has at least two singles (“It’s Not Over” and “Home”) that are platinum as well. IMO, Jordin is not quite there yet, and she’s had over a year already. I’d have to look back and see what Daughtry’s stats were a year after his release, but I know they were better than Jordin’s currently are.

Not saying that she’s not GOING to get there, or that she hasn’t had success, because I think that she will and that she has. But she’s not up to Kelly/Carrie/Daughtry level YET, though she’s certainly on her way. Only time will tell if either or both of the David’s can get there, too.

If it does turn out to be a modest hit I don’t think that will be all that bad. Breakaway’s first song (the title track) was a modest hit, it wasn’t until they got to “Since You Been Gone” that the thing broke wide open. They just need this song to chart well enough to help open the album (which we know will open huge anyway) and then if they don’t get too huge of a drop off in album sales they can justify going to single 2 and/or 3. Each single is a new opportunity for a big hit to me.

Ok, that makes me feel a little better. Hee.

As far as Season 6 went, I thought Jordin and Blake would both do really well. Like Slezak, I thought “Break Anotha” would be a hit. I also thought Jordin’s album would grow legs despite the soft opening.

I was at least half right. LOL.

The record industry is so volatile, a hit record depends on so many factors, it’s hard to predict. Still doesn’t stop me, though.

ETA: I would not be surprised if Jordin has already shipped platinum. She’s sold over 900,000. I think at this point it’s just a matter of Jive going through the certification process.

The thing is, is that David Cook has everbody talking, and that is a good thing! The more I hear the song, the more I love it. I just think he has an hauntingly beautiful sound. I personally don’t get the Daughtry comparisons. I think David has a unique sound that distinguishes him from the rest of the rock pack. One or two words is all I need to hear to know it’s him. Usually the artists that make it big, whether it’s Pink, Nirvana, or Elton John is because they have such a distictive sound. I think DC has that in my opinion. I think it wil be a hit for him. And I also think we’ll get the twists and turns he promised on the new album. I trust this man’s instincts.

Breakawayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s first song (the title track) was a modest hit, it wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t until they got to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Since You Been Goneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  that the thing broke wide open. They just need this song to chart well enough to help open the album

I agree with this to an extent. I don’t Kelly is a great example because “Breakaway” (the album) was Kelly’s 2nd album. The label had a visible measure of her popularity and saleability from the first album, and seemingly already had enough of a vested interest and confidence in her due to that. And actually, I don’t think “Breakaway” (the song) was even intended to originally be on the album. Kelly originally recorded the song for “The Princess Diaries 2″ soundtrack. It was only added and the album titled after it AFTER it became such a hit.

Anyway! I think a better example in this situation (modest hit to open the album then taking off with subsequent hits) would be Carrie. She had lots of popularity coming off the show and sold well with “Jesus Take the Wheel”, but what really broke things open was her THIRD single. If David could have a great crossover hit like “Before He Cheats”, I think things will be fine and dandy.

So, I agree that the first single is not the end-all be-all to the album’s success… as well all know, an album needs to have “legs” to succeed in the long run. We see that with the multiple hit singles from Kelly/Carrie/Daughtry and now, Jordin. Of course, Kat had a decent sized hit on her hands with “Over It” and still didn’t sell, so that just proves that sometimes predictions are pretty futile. LOL.

Anyway, honestly, after thinking about it and digesting this for a couple days, I’m taking this song at what Andrew basically said its’ purpose is – to bridge the gap between AI David and Solo Artist David. If his comment about the song truly is the purpose of it, then I think it will serve that purpose.

Well this has turned out to be a strange week. Clearly quite a few people are disappointed with LO as the first single.

I am happy with it. I think Cook’s vocal saves it from being bland city. I’ve heard a few people call it shouty. I’ve been listening to Billie Jean on Youtube from practically ever stop on this tour. So I was happy to hear some of that attitude transferred to his first single.

I think I’ll have to reassess my prediction for his album sales. I thought he could beat Daughtery, now I’m not so sure. There seems to be some hostility out there that I did not see coming at all. And I’m not talking about differing opinions. I love looking through different views. So yeah. I guess I’ll wait and see how the single sells.

I think David will have at least a modest hit.

Wouldn’t TOML be considered a modest hit with a #1 in AC, a top 6 in HAC and Top 30 on Pop with 900K in sales? If so, I just have to assume that a song without twinkly bits and rainbows would top it. Generic pop-rock should do better than whatever TOML is. And there’s not THAT much new stuff in the pop-rock genre out right now. I think it will do fine – they need to play something between T.I. and Rihanna.

I have to say, I finally gave in and listened again tonight and I do like it better.
I hope he has a hit on his hands. I went to the local radio stations and they all have him posted on their sites. Of course that doesn’t mean they are playing him yet, they just have the link to listen. Funny enough though I went to our very conservative AC station and hit the link and it started playing TOML!

Predicting a singles success is tricky whether it be Jordin, Blake,etc. When I first heard Jesus Take The Wheel I thought it was boring and terrible choice for a first single, I thought coming off AI Bo would outsell Carrie, I thought TOML would fall off the charts after 6 weeks tops. You never know how the general public will react to someone or a certain song. My hope for DC is he’ll be successful enough for a second album. Hoping for Daughtry level sales or beating him is IMO reaching too high since he’s the benchmark for male AI success.

I agree that this song is a good transitional door opener – and I believe it will be a hit. Being on a major label now means that David is playing by different rules than he has been up to this point. It seems to me that the main goal of this first single release is to broaden his audience. And best as I can tell, it is doing just that. I’ve noticed that many of David’s fans from AI are women, which is kind of an expected result from a reality show. But, I believe, in the rock world, the majority of the fans are guys. It seems only logical that the label would need to reach out to that demographic if David is to have any staying power as a rock musician. I applaud this choice and I also look forward to the rest of the album which I am certain will have more of the David imprint complete with the twists and turns he’s promised us.

Beesims = You predicted Tattoo would be a huge hit. (I just saw that on the thread you posted) Whatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s your verdict on LO?

I also thought that Taylor’s “Runaround” was going to be a big hit after I heard him perform it at a soundcheck at Rock Center on the way to work so my hit predicting skills are not to be trusted (of course, it might have been a hit if it had ever been released as a single :wink_wp:)

I am ashamed to admit it but I have a great fondness for the pop candy that is “Crush”. I could not get that chorus out of my head for days. “Light On” does nothing for me (and I was a big fan of Cookie on the show) but I think it will be has the potential to be a big hit.

I was just reminded of my initial concern about a rocker winning AI. Cause I really think that most of the viewers of the show prefer more pop music. It is no coincidence that these are the radio stations that have the most AI coverage. It was clear to me that on AI, in addition to rocking out pop covers, David was also popifying his own sound just by playing in the AI pool. So my concern was that there would, by necessity, be an adjustment period when David finally did venture out of the AI bubble and into the harsh bright light of the big leagues of the music industry.

I think we’re in that adjustment period right now.

I am not a country music fan, but when I first heard “Jesus Take the Wheel” I thought , “Oh, this is someone’s idea of a joke.” Of course I didn’t watch AI then either so I had no idea who Carrie Underwood was or why someone would release a song like that. So I guess I wouldn’t be a good judge to say what will happen now with Cook – or Archie for that matter.
I just wish them both the best.

edit – don’t question your fellow poster’s motives or criticize their opinions.

Daughtry was my favourite on Season 5 – he wasn’t innovative or pushing the envelope but he was a solid rock singer – great vocals & great expressive talent (he could bring out the best in the songs he chose. In contrast with great technical singers who end up leaving you cold). I think he held his own with Elliot on that season, and Elliot is undeniably a great vocalist. These are some of the things I think Cook shared, although to me Cook rose above the pack with his “vocal versatility and personable” character (Cook has something beyond singing chops, he could always find the angle in a song that he can bring home. And he’s a terrific performer who drives and thrives on audience reation, and his Analog Heart album shows a raw heart-on-his-sleeve expressiveness that makes it difficult to listen and yet difficult to turn away). Anyway, I like Daughtry, loved his album, “Home” is great poignant song

edit – Same as above, plus, don’t tell your fellow posters what to think or how to feel. Please read my guidelines

I tried taking a step back from my Cookie fandom and just listen to Light On, and you know what, I still like it. I want to sing it when it’s on, and hum when it’s not. Same with Home.

I love Cook and Daughtry both. There, I said it.

VERSATILITY!!! Okay, I’m finally excited about this single!!! VERSATILITY!!!! I have seen many posts comparing this single, “Light On”, to various bands! Eagles, Aerosmith, Daughtry, Chris Cornell, 3 Doors Down…have there been others? Many of the comparisons (not all) have been favorable! VERSATILITY!!!

My excitement came before this revelation and when I started thinking about it… and ding, ding, ding! bells went off in my head. VERSATILITY!!!

YET, I still hear David Cook’s voice and what I believe to be his twist at the end!

And once more I’m struck….This guy is amazing!

Well this has turned out to be a strange week. Clearly quite a few people are disappointed with LO as the first single.

Well, there is a danger that we are overstating the disappointment. It’s not a bad song, in fact it is quite listenable and may do very well in the chart. We are just grumbling this is not his type of song, it lacks a distinction style and sound that David can call his own, and the production of the song isn’t as good as it can be.

So slightly disappointed, but still hopeful that better ones will come along.

For those who like following airplay. Here is the QuickCut Info link for the song (no spins reported yet at posting time, but there are reports that it is being spun so there will likely be spins on the next update):

Light On

Question here. How many spins does LO need to make the charts? I realize there is no set in stone formula here, but can you give me an idea?

I also realize sales has a lot to do with the charts thing, which obviously won’t start until next Tues.

On last thing, how often is this chart updated?

Thanks!!!!

LO is not that bad. Just people have different taste. My husbad didn’t watch AI much. Yesterday I asked him to listen two songs and give me his opinions. First one is “crush” ,second one is “Light on”, then he said the first one he could only listen once, the second one he could listen many times. And I asked why, he said he liked second song more, second one’s voice more.

Layla, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m so glad someone else loves it as much as I do. I was getting lonely

*waves* I love it too. I also love classic Aerosmith, Buckcherry’s last disc, and rock power ballads, all of which I recently discovered may not be very chick friendly. Oh well. Different strokes, etc.

A word about Cavallo…I still have faith that he can pull a decent Cookie record out of his butt. This isn’t a Blake situation wherein he was paired with a young and relatively unproven producer and got stuck with an unhooky first single and an album with no promotion. I guess you have to actually dig Green Day to appreciate this, but Cavallo has been with them since Dookie, and they’ve done pretty well for themselves. I don’t think he’s the type of producer to take on an artist and not have some sort of plan to propel their career forward. Like many others, I think this song was a strategic move to bridge the gap between AI David and recording artist David, and also get the foot in the door of some rock stations. I doubt Hot AC is where Cook wants to stay. I also am not shocked that they went with an old school rock vibe (which is not a Daughtry vibe, IMO, as Daughtry is more of a watered down alt rock sound.) Look at the what the dude was doing on tour….wearing tight lace up pants, performing a mostly plugged in set, rock star back bends…. I hope we are being prepared for an even harder sound for the second single. And I hope this doesn’t tick off the acoustic Dave loving fans too much, because I’m sure there will something new and acoustic to love eventually, if his career doesn’t suffer from lack of promotion. RCA, I’m looking at you. It won’t matter what the song sounds like if it doesn’t get a lot of debut spins and a chance to grow on people.

YET, I still hear David Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s voice and what I believe to be his twist at the end!

Exactly what I thought!

First, let me say I’m one of Cookie’s biggest fans and supporters (I think my family hates on him because I play him in my car all the time and I can spend days at a time where he is the only one I’ll play in the car). :wub_tb:

Shit, I don’t even want to post my opinion, because, it’s not going to change anything, the song has already been released, and I just end up pissing myself off. :wallbash_tb:But, I’ve been carrying this around all day and I just need to type it out loud, so here goes.

PSA: Please scroll down to the next comment, or you’ll probably end up pissed off at me, also. :furious_tb:

I listened to Light On a few times (like 10 times) last night, but not 10 minutes after I had logged off, I could not remember any of the words or even the melody to this song. Also, I can totally hear Daughtery (I think this is how you spell it) singing it or some producer offering it to him and Chris saying “Nah, I already have enough slow songs on the album”.

I don’t know how to feel right know; maybe after a few more listens, I’ll hear it in a different light. Thank you MJ for providing a place for me to rant.

All right everyone, flame me now. :sad_tb:

It’s interesting how different the Cookie crumbles for everyone. Where you find unremarkable, some can’t get it out of their head. Where you hear Daughtry (lite or otherwise), some hear Aerosmith or Hinder or not at all. I hope you feel better about the single but if not, then hopefully, the second one fits more what you expected.

PokeSmot, I hear you. I’ve listened to it many times over the past three days (knowing I’m a fan of DC the person and the artist) and wanting to like it. Finally this evening, I’ve reached that point and beyond by seeing the genius of this transition song.

You may never agree, and that’s okay. No flamethrowing here!

Woke up with the chrous reverberating in my head. I realy really need to have that record drop so I can stop obssessing about this song. To me, as with many many others, it’s an great choice of a first single, with an ending which leaves one absolutely panting for the record.

I do wish the Nickelback comparisons would cease and desist, bu know the Daughtry ones are inevitable…which I don’t understand as they sound nothing a like and only have in comon AI.

Oh well, DC is being discussed so he’s getting his name out there but I cannot wait until the AI thing is behind him.

poke smot
I choose one Daughtery song, play it , then play LO, do many times, then I found lot of difference, and I like DC more, like LO more, now really enjoy LO.

Look at the length of this thread. It’s been going for three days and I can’t resist checking it first thing in the morning. I’m a grown woman who needs her life back. Help me someone!

Look at the length of this thread. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s been going for three days and I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t resist checking it first thing in the morning. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m a grown woman who needs her life back. Help me someone!

Tell me about it! My daughters and husband just shakre their heads at me!

Can you imagine the thread when the record comes out and we have 10-12 songs to discuss and agrgue about????

Hope MJ is prepared for that!

Ok, so I’m one of those innate worrywarts, deeply invested in seeing DC succeed. I know many have predicted at least a modest hit for the single. I, on the other hand (the worrywart that I am), can’t help but obsess that with all the hype surrounding the single release, not to mention the mixed reviews of the song, maybe we’ve jinxed it for David?

Is it safe for me to assume that since a majority of us think that LO is an improvement over TOML, LO should at least do as well as TOML? Is this something I can take comfort in?

Picking up from an earlier comment, I’d hate to see TOML, successful as it is, being tagged as David’s signature song.

po

I cannot get this song out of my head. It is better than Daughtry. This songs screams hit.

Layla – when the album comes out I’m going into hiding without access to broadband, ipod or anything. Seriously.

I have been lurking and reading everyone’s comments regarding LO. Count me in the group that fell in love with it on first listen. As someone who grew up on MTV back when it started in the 80′s, I developed a deep appreciation for the “power ballad”. David’s voice on this is incredible. His ability to effortlessly hit and sustain the higher notes and then drop into the lower range during the acoustic section just blows me away. I think this song will be a major hit. On another note, for those who aren’t “feeling the love”, I will offer a bit of hope. I live in Tulsa and talked to my local alternative rock station’s morning DJ this morning. He is friends with David and told me that they didn’t have LO yet, but when they did get it, they would be playing it. He also said just wait until you hear the material on his new record. His exact words were it will “blow you away.” Since he is someone who has been friends with him since his “before Idol” days, I got very excited to hear him say that. I will be one of the first in line to buy LO from iTunes and the record when it drops in November.

OK, jewelsrice, you just gave me chills! Yay! I’m going to be at Wal-Mart or whatever store is open at midnight on November 18, I don’t care how tired I am the next day!!

I live in Tulsa and talked to my local alternative rock stationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s morning DJ this morning.

He also said just wait until you hear the material on his new record. His exact words were it will à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“blow you away.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

:clap_tb: :thumbup_tb: :clap_tb: Come on November!!!!!!!

I live in Tulsa and talked to my local alternative rock stationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s morning DJ this morning. He is friends with David and told me that they didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have LO yet, but when they did get it, they would be playing it. He also said just wait until you hear the material on his new record. His exact words were it will à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“blow you away.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Since he is someone who has been friends with him since his à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“before Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  days, I got very excited to hear him say that. I will be one of the first in line to buy LO from iTunes and the record when it drops in November.

AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH I have goosebumps! LOL! I’ve given up on ever having back my life before Cook. Would that have been 2007 L.B.C.? HAH. GAWD I am beyond excited for anything new from Cook. I like Light On, I play it over and over and over. It is HIS voice, his singing, his phrasing, his emotions, his heart on his sleeve that I hear. Heartthrob, indeed. And I STILL can’t get enough. Never too much Cook! I’ve got 2 copies pre-ordered, 1 for me, 1 for a friend. I’m certain I will download the single and the album because I will not. be. able. to. wait. And here’s what a GOOFBALL I am about this man and his music – I think I’m gonna get a heart tat, my first ever. I’m too old for this! Sheesh. He. is. killing. me.

And cookcricket…YES, VERSATILITY! I realized after you wrote it out loud that that is one of the things I like about Light On. He is just something else. I bet we get a variety on this new record. And I bet I AM blown away. Again.

So take a minute just to breathe
and think of everything you wanted
and what you got instead
Is it a labor just to see
around the left, the right, over my head
to straight ahead

Movin’ with the boy, wherever he goes.
:jittery_tb:

He also said just wait until you hear the material on his new record. His exact words were it will à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“blow you away.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Oh sweet Jesus!!! COME ON November 18th…come tyhe hell ON!

Just got home…opened up popeaters and am playing my boy. Light on DC, Light on!

I preordered the record on Amazon at the jump and having it sent to my sister in CA…she is under the strictest of orders to have that padded envelope addressed and ready to take to the post office as SOON as the record arrives…and she knows I’m bloody serious!!!

OK. I give up. DC – my life is yours. Resistance is futile.

Sorry for my earlier post mj, i was starting to get affected by all the daughtry put-downs.

Thanks for the heads up Jewelsrice. My gut feeling is LO is his calling card to the general public – a kind of “cushion” if you like to prepare them for the harder rock material that he has on the rest of the album. It’s interesting to me that David couldn’t stop talking about input from Ed Rolland (Collective Soul) / Raine Maida (OLP), but never gave a peep about Chris Cornell’s fingerprints. After all, a contribution by Cornell is a pretty big deal, especially after the Billie Jean covergate. It was like he didn’t really want to draw fans’ attention to the “softer” material on his album. I think it’s strategic to release a power rock ballad written by Cornell & Howie 1st for the public to digest before hitting them with the more “eclectic” “hair-raising” tracks. Some hardcore fans may be unsatisfied with this single, but unlike the public that won’t put them off waiting for the album to drop and giving the other tracks a listen. Andrew said it: LO is a “transit” track. Lucky for me, I like it *LOL*.

maturin thank you for the acoustic set. that’s david at his best.
the guy is simply Amazing.
jewelsrice i’m hanging on to your words otherwise i’ll go crazy.
i want to be blown away by him now more than ever.
ianamy i agree with you. on LO it seems like david is aiming to be daughtry 2.0 or any other artist that people have mentioned on this thread.
what he is not aiming to be is DAVID COOK.
that’s why i don’t like him on this song and i too don’t get why the label and cavallo doesn’t appreciate his talent enough to let him be himself on the first single. I JUST DON’T GET IT!

I’ve come to the conclusion that “Light On” is what I classify as a “boy song” and I’m just never going to love it. But I don’t hate it and it gets stuck in my head, so I still listen to it. Plus, I get a huuuge kick of listening to myself try to sing along to it. I don’t quite have David’s range, lol.

The song is really really growing on me and if he does even half as well as Daughtry has done I will be happy, BUT – I hope he does even better

waffle, good point. Who here thought ToML had *anything* going for it besides the fact David was singing it? And yet here it is likely to go platinum. Light On at least has the approval of most of DCs fans, and seems like it could pick up a lot of new folks along the way.

And even grumpy, debbie downer DC fans like me who don’t love Light On are mostly still gonna buy it and the album. So it’s really no loss for David.

I’ve come to the conclusion that “Light On” is what I classify as a “boy song” and I’m just never going to love it.

That’s interesting. I’ve always thought of rock power ballads as “girl songs”–the softer songs on a rock album meant to cross over to a wider audience. The song will likely be a hit on Hot Adult Contemporary, which I do believe has a huge female listening audience…

i agree with you. on LO it seems like david is aiming to be daughtry 2.0 or any other artist that people have mentioned on this thread.
what he is not aiming to be is DAVID COOK.
thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s why i donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t like him on this song and i too donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t get why the label and cavallo doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t appreciate his talent enough to let him be himself on the first single. I JUST DONà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢T GET IT!

I get what you are saying justic, and I share the same concern. To me, the most successful Idols are the ones who draw a straight line from their image on the show to the general music buying public, and while this song is certainly mainstream rock like one could expect, it’s a completely different type of mainstream rock than how Cook “branded” himself. That is, it’s pretty conventional insta-rock as opposed to creative and different assessible rock. To me, that’s the source of the backlash right there. And I worry what this song might do to any attempts to be received as creative in the future.

That said, it does seem like a hit song. We have not heard the whole album, and it could be this song is the surest bet for a hit out of the gate. Plus he does have the problem of dealing with the unexpected success of TOML. That song has garnered him a bunch of new listeners who never heard of AI. So now, he has to gather 2 groups of people – the AI fans of the creative, full of surprises rocker bartender-next-door, and the fans of the earnest adult contemporary balladeer of “that olympic song” – and try to take them with him as he launches into the next phase of his career. That is a tall order.

I’m thinking that while the other songs of the album may be wonderful, they weren’t going to pull all that off, they went with something that might be more likely to attract the TOML listeners while counting on the AI hardcore fans to stick with him regardless. Rob Cavallo has a long track record of being good, so I’m going to have faith that there is more on the album that sounds like what we would expect from David.

Wow, that was long wasn’t it? LOL. But I hope that helps a little.

Stupid radio stations. I’ve called once, no luck. This morning, I finally turned on the iPod in my car so I wouldn’t have to listen to the inane boring-ness that is most radio talk, IMO, when they aren’t playing MUSIC in the mornings. Then I flipped back to a station I thought MIGHT play LO. And what was playing? TIME OF MY LIFE! I YELLED at the radio then PLAY LIGHT ON, DAMMIT! PLAY LIGHT ON! No, some other stupid boring song came on after TOML. (Of course, I listened to TOML.) Tried another station; and, they were playing something I recognized but can’t tell you anything about it, like song title, artist, etc. BUT I thought Light On could FOLLOW it! Nope, no luck. WTF with the radio stations in Texas? Sigh.

Am now loving Cook singing “…when the wires cross in my brain….” Yeah. Please please please do well, LO. I can only do so much because my discretionary income has been sucked up the last few months by something…someone…let’s see, could it be…DAVID COOK?

Who here thought ToML had *anything* going for it besides the fact David was singing it?

How I HATED that song at first, much as I LOVED (and still love) DC. Now, when I hear that familar guitar strum at its beginning, I let out an audible gasp and immediately reach for the dial to turn it up. With that song, it’s always been about the voice singing it, not the song itself.
I may eventually let out a similar gasp when I hear those piano keys start things off for LO on the radio, but it’s already loud enough that I probably won’t reach for the dial! Ha.

With that song, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s always been about the voice singing it, not the song itself.

I agree Sarah. on TOML david’s vocals saved the song and upgraded it.
i wish his voice was doing the same on LO.
unfortunately i can barely recognize his brilliant vocals through all the shouting. WHY?
because he is faking. he is trying to be someone else
and i don’t buy it.
when david cook is not being who he really is
that automatically makes me reject it.
DAVID
PLEASE BE WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND NOT A REPLICATION OF OTHERS!

I think since this is gonna be a “record” record, it would be pretty coherent. No matter what his friends say, IMO if you hate the first, big chance you’re gonna hate the album too. Just not the audience he is going for this time.

what he is not aiming to be is DAVID COOK.

Honestly and truly, who is DAVID COOK? Really. Can, any of us answer that question?

The only way I can define him is through his music. I’ve got AXIUM, MIDWEST KINGS, ANALOG HEART, none of which is like the other.

How can I say this isn’t him when he’s proven that he is, in so many ways, multi-faceted??

Can you imagine the thread when the record comes out and we have 10-12 songs to discuss and agrgue about???

personally i hope that on that thread we will reach even more comments, and every one that i will be making there, will be the complete opposite of the bitching i’ve been doing here.
i need him desperately to change my mind about his “new music” and prove to me that i haven’t lost him completely.

Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s interesting. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve always thought of rock power ballads as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“girl songsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’the softer songs on a rock album meant to cross over to a wider audience. The song will likely be a hit on Hot Adult Contemporary, which I do believe has a huge female listening audienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

I didn’t say I was a normal girl, lol. I basically write off 90% mainstream rock from the last 3 or 4 decades in general as boys’ music. I know a power ballad will come on the car radio and my husband will crank it while the kids roll their eyes and I start looking around for that B-52s CD that the whole family loves. I hear a little bit of hair band in “Light On” too and that is NOT acceptable to a girl who shunned all that stuff in the 80s for “Girlfriend in a Coma”

I really was expecting David’s first single to be sound like a polished up, more sophisticated evolution of one of the better Analog Heart tracks – he doesn’t write happy songs, but he does have a “brighter,” less dreary, more alternative sound that I think “should” have no problem both fitting in and standing out on the radio. Assuming that Light On is the only song that he didn’t write or co-write, I’m certainly not ready to give up hope. I think that he has informally confirmed that one of the songs from his unreleased album will likely make the cut.

Finally, since I keep blathering on, one thing I have no problem with on Light On is the vocals. To me, he’s not shouting, he’s wailing. (When I attempt to sing along, THAT is shouting) Big difference to my ears, but then again, Jack White is my favorite rock vocalist and I guess some people would call him scream-y. Rock music isn’t supposed to be all neat and tidy, imo.

Kristen, I saw someone on David-Cook.org quote you on the topic of radio station ads. Does that mean there is somewhere we can link to see how many radio adds LO has gotten so far? It didn’t look like many according to what I saw.

The only way I can define him is through his music. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve got AXIUM, MIDWEST KINGS, ANALOG HEART, none of which is like the other.
How can I say this isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t him when heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s proven that he is, in so many ways, multi-faceted??

the light on version of david resembles so many other artists.
and i prefer the original over the replication.
the AXIUM, MWK, AH, AI version of david is distinctive and is nothing like others.
that’s what makes him SPECIAL & UNIQUE and that’s what made me fall in love with this man.
for me he was like a breath of fresh air in the midst of everything mediocre and formulatic.

when david cook is not being who he really is
that automatically makes me reject it.

I don’t think we know what his true sound is. We know Axium and Analog Heart songs, but David has said he wants to progress. So for all the love there is for AH maybe that’s not what HE wants to sound like now? Maybe he actually likes Light On?

and i prefer the original over the replication.
the AXIUM, MWK, AH, AI version of david is distinctive and is nothing like others.

Maybe David doesn’t want to be those things anymore. We don’t really know. He’s never going to please everyone because I’m sure there are other fans out there like myself who do like LO and don’t think his pre-AI music is anything special. And that’s pretty much why a lot of popular AI people lose fans once they put their own music out, it happens all the time.

For some reason Im getting a connection timed out message when I try to open this but I read there’s an ad for Light On here on Mediabase http://www.mediabase.com

In my lil ole town I was driving my husband to work and the DJ announced that David Cook had a new song out, so, I made my poor husband (and I) sit thru about 7 commercials before I allowed him out of the car – so he could hear the new song too. AND IT WAS TOML – ARGGGHHHHHH!!!

David has said he wants to progress

sounding like others is NOT a progression!

Maybe David doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t want to be those things anymore

yes he does. he promised twists and turns.
an artist that makes this statement doesn’t want to resemble others. he wants to leave HIS mark.

For some reason Im getting a connection timed out message when I try to open this but I read thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s an ad for Light On here on Mediabase http://www.mediabase.com

Yes it is there, along with a link to listen to LO and the impact date of 10/13. The photo of DC bowing is kind of cute.

sounding like others is NOT a progression!

I’d go so far as to say that every artist sounds a little like the artists who have gone before him.

The radio rollout is just starting folks so be patient and keep requesting LO. David has encouraged us to call our local radio stations to request the song, within reason. That is the best way to show our appreciation for David right now, and it doesn’t cost a cent. The stations likely to play LO right now are Top 40 and HAC. Both AC and rock stations are also possibilities even through they go in opposite directions. Such is the situation that David finds himself in right now.

People, there is a reason that Andrew Cook calls LO a transition song to get fans used to his AI covers and TOML ready for the David Cook sound. I’m not at all surprised that there is a bumpy response to this transition. Many, including myself, have reminded fans that David had to soften his sound to work on AI. But that side is only one of many aspects of David and he’s preparing folks for the rest.

I believe that this side of David will bring in alot of the guys who like the rougher stuff. And if David is to have staying power he needs those rocker dudes on board.

And another point that I believe has not yet been raised. Remember that David saw each song on AI as like a setlist, and he has mentioned a similar quality about his record, wanting it to be a cohesive flow so that you want to hear the whole journey. Well, I think he’s approaching the single in that same light. He’s starting it off with a surprise – “You thought you had me pegged, well, check this out!” Then, once we’ve wrapped ourselves around this new aspect of David, he’s prepped us for a wild ride involving a whole spectrum of textures and styles. He’s set the stage so we can’t wait to see what he’s going to pull out next. And I can’t wait!

The radio rollout is just starting folks so be patient and keep requesting LO. David has encouraged us to call our local radio stations to request the song, within reason. That is the best way to show our appreciation for David right now, and it doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t cost a cent. The stations likely to play LO right now are Top 40 and HAC. Both AC and rock stations are also possibilities even through they go in opposite directions. Such is the situation that David finds himself in right now.

I’m not going to delete this, but I will remind you all that my blog is not the place for street team activities. Please don’t post call-to-arms here urging fans to call radio stations to request songs on behalf of an Idol. Street team activities belong on the fan forums. Thank you.

If DC doesn’t want to be relgated to some obscure radio station playing his stuff at midnight, he is progressing in the right direction.

I personally do not want a rehash of what DC has done with Axium, Midwest Kings, and AH . Those songs have been done already and are wonderful in a raw unpolished way. Those songs are not hard rock either and no waaay approach what the Foo Fighters have been doing for years, or David Grohl for nearly 20 years.

If DC wants to sell he is going to have to start with a single like Light On in order to get a real foot in the door to people outside of the AI bubble. He needs to distance himself from it and gain a new audience…an audience which includes young males.

I don’t think any of us knows in what direction he wants to go. He’s a good songwriter but it will probably be some time before he’s given the freedom to do what he wants…but how do we know that songs like Light On isn’t what he wants to do? We really don’t know.

I think and hope that there are some acoustic songs and edgier songs on the record….as I like my rock like that.

But for now…Light On is the right move. His voice sounds killer. And now that I know the words….when he wails (it isn’t shouting…no way!) I wail along with him and I love it! He sounds like DC to me and he sings his fuckin’ face off!

I’ve been listening to LO on repeat for the last hour, and had a revelation about it that I know I’d read on this or another forum a few days ago. If you really listen to the lyrics, they could easily be about someone being called up for duty and being shipped off away from their loved one. I can see this song becoming somewhat of a personal anthem for those in the armed forces. It put another whole perspective on the song for me, and I respect it even more now.

I like your post movin2thabeet. Good common sense they are. ITA

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve been listening to LO on repeat for the last hour, and had a revelation about it that I know Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d read on this or another forum a few days ago. If you really listen to the lyrics, they could easily be about someone being called up for duty and being shipped off away from their loved one.

You must be reading my mind! Because when I listen to the song, the visual “video” I get in my head is of a soldier being called up for duty and leaving his wife behind … and who knows, maybe David saw somthing similar in the lyrics drawing him to embrace the song ….

Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s interesting. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve always thought of rock power ballads as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“girl songsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’the softer songs on a rock album meant to cross over to a wider audience. The song will likely be a hit on Hot Adult Contemporary, which I do believe has a huge female listening audienceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

I have similar thoughts MJ. The first few times I listened to this song, I felt that it was a song that many women may find appealing. It’ll be interesting to see if guys will buy into this song as well.

I feel confident that Light On will be a radio hit for DC. It will be interesting to see how things progress with the download sales after the initial fanbase rush to buy next week. Early on, the reaction to the song has been somewhat mixed, but it seems to be a song that grows on people the more they listen to it. There will be plenty of opportunities for that to happen-RCA will push the hell out of this single and it should get a ton of airplay and promo.

I think the testament of a true fan is having read this entire thread over the past few days.

At this point, after doing all that reading, I just want to scream that it’s just a song. I didn’t hate it the first time I listened to it, and today, after hearing some similar “rock” on the radio, I went back and listened to LO again, and I really really thought it was much better in comparison.

I don’t think David is attempting to copy anyone; I just think this is just one of the facets of his voice and style. I really do believe he himself likes this song (compare it to choices he’s made on AI). I’m just going to listen to it and enjoy it, and not psychoanalyze why it was chosen and what it all means. It’s a song, and music is meant to entertain. It might not entertain some people, but that’s freaking ok. (This is me convincing myself, no one else! Not lecturing!)

On a semi-bright note, I heard TOML on the radio two nights ago for what seems to be only the 3rd time since it came out (I was also in Greece for 3 weeks, so I might have missed two more plays). Needless to say, I rolled down the windows and blasted it, because I believe everyone around me needs to be exposed to the greatness that is David Cook. I’ve been switching back and forth between two local radio stations every morning and every afternoon in my car commuting to and from work, hoping to hear at least one play of LO. I was reaching a boiling point after I heard both of Jordin Spark’s songs played at least 4 times of day and then finally, today, I hear the words “David Cook.” I scream in delight that I’ll hear it, but no, it’s just the DJ saying that they’re playing the single, in general. Oh well, at least it got a mention. At least it’s being played, even when I’m not in my car. Sorry, had to share all that. Everyone else I know would think I was crazy.

Oh yeah! The DJ on the radio was saying something about how it was amazing how much David Cook looked like Chris Cornell…and I’m like…WTF? I do not see the resemblance.

As a side note, Chris Cornell is getting a lot of publicity lately; he was mentioned 5 times in a Verizon Vcast commercial that I just heard. What’s going on?

I absolutely LOVE Light On. Why? David’s vocals are impeccable. The words and melody are fun and good. Is it overproduced? Perhaps. But so what. The song is good, catchy and i could listen to his voice all day, any day. I don’t care if it sounds like Daughtry, Chris Cornel, Hinder, or any of the other people (sounds) that it has been compared to. I don’t normally like big ballads, etc. But this song is great for me. I can’t wait for his album. I’m not a huge Daughtry fan. I like some of his stuff. I’m not a huge CC fan, but I like some of his stuff. I’m sick of all the comparisons. Who cares who or what the song sounds like. If you like the song, you like the song. If you don’t you turn the channel. I actually saw on one blog that someone was comparing Cook to Archie. Seriously? I couldn’t believe it. There is no comparison. Can Archie sing? Hell, yes. Can Cook sing? You bet. It is all a matter of what you like. I like David Cook. But there were a couple of songs that Archie did on the show that I loved. I will judge both their albums not on who they sound like. I will judge them on if I like the songs. Pure and simple.

There has been some anecdotal reports of guys really liking this song. I have seen several accounts of people who have directed several friends to the song and the guys are the most enthusiastic about it. (Not that the females don’t like it too – but the guys have expressed very strong positive opinions.) So maybe it is a guy song. However, I’m a girl and I really like it too.

After last night’s rant and logging off at MJ’s, I went to Cookie’s for a few more listens (like 10). And, I woke up this morning to…Try to leave the light on when I’m gone, Something I rely on to get home. One I can feel at night. A naked light, a fire to keep me warm, running through my brain. And, I could, and did, recall it all day at work today (Yea!…insert fangirly squeal) :clap_tb:

I find I really love the first verse to this song and Cookie’s voice during the whole thing! Like good fungus, it really grew on me.

Now that I can reflect back, I think I was mostly disappointed that the first song released was a slow song. I was really hoping the first release was going to be a hard rocker, but, I should have known TFPTB wouldn’t go for that. Also, the fact that a slow rocker has the most potential for cross-over success, I can see why they went with the rock ballad.

Rock On D.C.; I’m awaiting anxiously for Nov. 18th. I seriously hope (for my sake) that the album contains more krackers (salty, edgy, lots of rough/gravelly vocals) than cookies (sweet, smooth, well-rounded songs). :wink_wp:

Who cares who or what the song sounds like. If you like the song, you like the song. If you don’t you turn the channel.

I care. It’s interesting to me to trace the influences in an artists music. There’s nothing new under the sun. Every artist is shaped by what has come before them and I love analyzing songs–spotting and pulling out the different musical influences that I find, like threads in a cloth.

What’s been really interesting about this discussion, is how ya’ll hear different things. Peeps bring their own musical experiences to the thread. Someone says, “I hear Aerosmith” and then I think about it and go “Yeah, Aerosmith! Now that you mention it…” Heh.

A seriously great discussion peeps. Thanks for participating!

“There has been some anecdotal reports of guys really liking this song.” Snrk! That is inadvertently funny.

I mean I think it’s true, and that Cook has a lot of guy appeal. But women definitely do the fanboard thing in much bigger numbers. One interesting thing to me is that while there’s way more women in online communities, seems to be way more dude DJs and radio personalities. On rock stations it’s practically all guys on-the-air although plenty of women listen to mostly rock (me). Cook seemed way comfortable and connected in chatting to all the radioland dudes in those thousand interviews since May. Maybe that’ll give him an extra little boost.

I’m so happy for you PokeSmot!!! Yeah!!! :thumbup_tb:

I care. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s interesting to me to trace the influences in an artists music. Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s nothing new under the sun. Every artist is shaped by what has come before them and I love analyzing songsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’spotting and pulling out the different musical influences that I find, like threads in a cloth.

Whatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s been really interesting about this discussion, is how yaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll hear different things. Peeps bring their own musical experiences to the thread. Someone says, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I hear Aerosmithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and then I think about it and go à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Yeah, Aerosmith! Now that you mention ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Heh.

A seriously great discussion peeps. Thanks for participating!

ITA! Things just pop into my head quite often, without me actively engaging the brain (not difficult for me! haha). However, I do get to a point where I’m just listening to the specific song. I’m not thinking 4,892 comparisons, analyzing, speculating, etc. I think ALMOST every artist is going to sound SOMETHING like many artists who came before. Aren’t there some true originals though? I dunno…like who? After I get done analyzing and thinking, I hear the song again. I hear David Cook’s voice and style. I even think I hear him saying something like…

I don’t want to be the next Daughtry. I want to make a David Cook record. I know who I am. And damn, this is incredible, this opportunity, to have this song by Chris Cornell that is MINE now; to be in the studio with these other musicians, including my best friend; to have these resources behind me; to not have to do EVERYTHING myself; to have some financial backing, some true promotion…I can just SING…and write…what I want to do…I don’t have to be the producer, the art director, the promoter, the manager, the distributor…I can be an artist now!

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just hoping for him. I don’t know him and I certainly don’t want to put words in his mouth! I am hoping so hard for him, hoping that he IS doing what HE wants to do, that everything goes well for him. OK, part of that is selfish because I want more Cook music, for many years to come.
:cool_wp:

For whatever it’s worth, I think that since girls are generally more sensitive individuals, at least tone wise, they’re the ones most likely to take DC’s fantastic “rock wail” as shouting. The guys probably don’t think that at all.

Also, it just dawned on me — the relentless over-analyzing of the song choice and singing is really a backlash of the judging done on the show. Hence, followers of AI (music critics and fans alike) just cannot help but look for the positives and negatives on every performance of an idol. Mixed reviews are therefore to be expected. After all, nobody’s perfect. Not even David Cook. There’s ALWAYS going to be room for improvement.

I think people outside of the AI fandom will not be as critical or as unforgiving of the song choice of LO being David’s first major label debut single. It is an interesting song! Again, in my opinion, not generic. The song showcases David’s vocal versatility and beautiful tone. So, I’m hoping those who listen to it will be curious as to what David’s other songs in his upcoming record will be like. This is a good thing! : )

This thread is ginormous!!! So proud to be a part of it!!

Wonder whether anyone read this review from LA Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/09/jennifer-hudson.html

Kind of summarized my problems with this song.

Thank you cookcricket :mrgreen_wp:

MJ, I agree with you regarding influences…I was just on youtube and was listening to some of the songs from Analog Heart and Axium. And I find I lean towards his Axium music stylings more (I really like the harder sound of Axium, although I realize that he has most likely grown out of that sound). However, one can hope.

Well, I’m through with all the tearing up and down of this song…As long as David’s pround of what he has produced, then I’m happy for him and happy for me.

ROCK ON DAVID :bye_tb:

As a side note, Chris Cornell is getting a lot of publicity lately; he was mentioned 5 times in a Verizon Vcast commercial that I just heard. Whatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going on?

He seems to be doing some sort of weird career reboot/makeover. His new album was produced by Timbaland of all people and he sounds very different. I think the publicity stems from the formula of:

Cred that Chris Cornell has built up over the years PLUS Timbaland = Buzz

which is why Verizon has decided to use his music to promote their music download service dealio (I don’t pay close attention to commercials, sorry).

On topic: The single has me looking forward to the rest of the album. It wasn’t what I was expecting but I guess I didn’t really know what to expect in the first place. It definitely fit into the whole “Bzuh? WTF, Cook?” experience of watching him throughout S7, however. He sounds awesome on the single, IMO. I’m not getting the comments that he sounds screamy in the single. I also heard those comments during S7 and never heard it at all. Loved his voice in this and I think he’s really going to stand out in radio with his vocals while the production values (Cavallo’s) are ensuring that he still sounds familiar to your average radio listener.

Listening to the song again this morning. As with MANY of David’s songs, it REALLY grows on a person the more you listen to it. I’ve gone from ambivalence to love. If it’s not a hit, I will be shocked.

waffle,

…DCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fantastic à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“rock wailà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  as shouting.

I love that description! Well I don’t mean the “as shouting” part. I don’t think he’s shouting or screaming, I think he’s SANGING! Fantastic rock wail, OK, that’s good, like it like it.

Awwww pokesmot…

Well, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m through with all the tearing up and down of this songà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦As long as Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s proud of what he has produced, then Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m happy for him and happy for me.
ROCK ON DAVID

Yeah. I think I might have to quit checking this thread now! haha. Cook FTMFW!

ETA: HAD to start playing Light On this morning soon as I could because IT IS STUCK IN MY HEAD, 24/7 I THINK. I went to bed hearing it and woke up hearing it. Sheesh, I need my life back. Cook. Thanks.

I actually haven’t listened to “Light On” for two days. There’s an excessive need to get it out of my head. So….I did a couple of days of Jennifer Hudson marathons. Only problem is, “Light On” is constantly in the back of my mind. JHud’s talking “Spotlight”s and David’s…wailing “Light On”. I don’t even know the verses. It’s just that persistent “Try to leave a LIGHT on when I’m GONE….” It won’t go away. That’s how he’s gonna snag ‘em. Pretty smart move.

It wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t go away. Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s how heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s gonna snag à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹em. Pretty smart move.

Exactly.

That wailing, along with the quiet part, is what make the song for me. I honestly cannot get the chorus out of my head either!

Go Cookie! Go!

“I care. Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s interesting to me to trace the influences in an artists music. Thereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s nothing new under the sun. Every artist is shaped by what has come before them and I love analyzing songsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’spotting and pulling out the different musical influences that I find, like threads in a cloth.”

So here is my question to the above quote. I can certainly understand tracing an artist’s influences (it’s interesting). But, does listening to a song, and hearing another artists influence effect whether you like the song or not? Case in point: Sounds like Daughtry. Let’s say you don’t like Daughtry. Does that mean you don’t like the song? Or is a particular song where you hear Daughtry’s influence or type of sound enough to kill the song for you. In other words, can a song stand on it’s own merit? I think that is what I was trying to say. Does comparing with another artist influence whether you like the song or not, or does the song stand on it’s own? Because when I read some of what people have written about Light On, it sounds like they are saying they don’t like the song because it sounds like someone else. And that, I don’t get. I don’t like Neil Diamond, but there are a couple of songs I do like that he did, and loved other’s when David did them. They stand on their own. His influence, or even voice don’t bother me with those songs.

Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Something I rely to get home…It’s still stuck in my head and I haven’t played it since Friday night. :clap_tb:
I believe David has himself a winner. :thumbup_tb:

I find myself really looking forward to the complete album…really hoping that TFPTB gave/give David the creative input needed to reflect his musicality and allows him to create something HE can be proud of. I’ll be checking back with y’all on Nov 18th. Til then…

Peace Out and Poke Smot!! :mrgreen_wp:

David, thanks for bringing back the power ballad! I was missing those since I don’t know when!
My neurons won’t let me forget the song. I caught myself yesterday singing the chorus while I was walking around the university where I work. A student looked at me like what the???
See, David? This is just your first single, I don’t know what I’m going to do when the complete album is out. :jittery_tb:
I completely trust your instincts and, even though I’m a die hard fan of Axium and Analog heart, I know that THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW! You are gonna rock anyway!!
God bless you always!

Love and warm kisses from the sunny Puerto Rico!!!