David Cook Performs on the Red Carpet at the AMAs

Very nice—thanks for posting.

Scott,

That is a fabulous recap. One day you’ll be able to look bac on this amazing day able to say “Wow, I was there at the beginning.”

Thanks Scott for the amazing recap and photos and John for the fabulous videos. I have to keep rewinding Declaration to the point where Joey comes in after the quiet line. I flove that bass run! I love all the pretty and especially how well Dave and his fans were treated at the AMA’s.

Yeah!

Thanks Scott, John, and MJ for sharing. It’s nice to see David and the band so relaxed and having such a good time performing and hanging out with fans. Sounds like the AMA took good care of you all!

Perhaps, someday David’ll perform one of these inside the venue. :tongue_rolleye_ee: The fan singing in the quiet parts is pretty bad, even if they do know the words.

OMG, this is great! Thanks!

Anyway, I just have to say that I just watched Ellen (the ep in Vegas) where Bette Midler was divine and Pink was fabulous. She sang “So What” and the whole place was jumping and dancing with her. I suddenly wanted Dc to sing Bar-ba-sol when he guests on Ellen.

ETA: CRB, what do you mean, bad? I thought the fans singing was cute.

We had a blast! Penny is going to post the HD version of the video later today hopefully at http://davidcooksfan.com (hope its ok to plug her MJ!). I can’t put in to words how frustrating it is trying to post high quality video on youtube!

Yes, but I’m not surprised, those were big established acts that got to play during the show. I’m just happy he was invited to perform at all

And that me and 180-ish other fans got to see him for free!

I love the little grin that he got when he realized that the crowd knew the words and were singing that whole part of the chorus. Given that his debut CD had only been out for a few days at that point, pretty cool that he got to do any performance in connection with the AMAs.

Oh man “nuclear fusion of charisma”. I love that!

Thank you so much, Scott, for sharing your experience and photos, and huge thank you to John for capturing all of this on video.

Quick question – I read on DCO that the HQ video will be available later on some other DC site, and forgot to save the link. Could someone direct me where I might find it? This is definitely a keeper!

ETA: OK, got my answer in the interim. Thank you John!

MJ: Thank you for posting these awesome videos on your blog.

And Thanks to Scott, John for sharing this special moment in time.

AWWWWW. Guh thank you SO much, John and Scott. And mj, as always. Wow. It is so nice to read your impression of the whole amazing deal, Scott. I’m glad you guys had a good time and it all went so well. And I’m INSANELY jealous! Wah. I would so love to be a LIVE part of all the Cookness (and EEB) going on right now! Just WOW. I cannot WAIT for the David Cook and The Guys Who Make David Cook Look Good Right Now Band tour in 2009. How many shows can I make? Let me count….
:clap_tb:

I cannot WAIT for the David Cook and The Guys Who Make David Cook Look Good Right Now Band tour in 2009

LMAO. That should totally be the official band name.
Wait, the acronym test – David Cook and TGWMDCLGRN. Hmmm… a bit long, but I think we can work with it. (-;

I actually think EEB is really close to becoming semi-official. I’ve seen it used on various forums and boards, how long will it take until it gets to the boys? (if it hasn’t already?). LOL

ETA: CRB, what do you mean, bad? I thought the fans singing was cute.

After sitting directly in front of a squealing brace of dozen pre-teen Achuletites, who were definitely “cute” but also extremely piercing, during Idols Live I may just be hypersensitive to the off-key sing along…forgive me.

I cannot WAIT for the David Cook and The Guys Who Make David Cook Look Good Right Now Band tour in 2009

That’s a nice name, but I like another one better, “David Cook and the Internet Rumors”.

Love you Scott, do I say that often enough? This might be my favorite picture ever! OMG SO CUTE.

Nothing to forgive. I just wanted to know why. Because yes, it was a little off in the youtube clips but I thought that the broadcast was fine and like I said, it came off cute and amusing.

Thank you, Scott and John. Your pics and videos are superb. I’ve always wondered what happens between tapings and behind the scenes of these award shows. You brought it up close and personal for me.

Hmmmm, I REALLY like how the boys were dressed for this performance. Kudos to the person who picks their clothes. Maybe David A. could “borrow” him/her?

CRB, one should speak only about, and to, what one knows! JK, I’m just a little snarky today.
Let me fill you in with some of my perspective.
How this looked on air and how it looks on the home videos are completely different. It looked great on air, and that’s what it was designed for: to make David look good.
Point #2: you can’t perform at the AMAs if your not nominated yet, or haven’t been nominated in the past (or by a similar entitiy, like the Grammys, even though they compete).
The point here, is that David is both new AND established. One of the many contradictions the man embodies. He’s a hot artist right now. He was invited to introduce Taylor Swift, but not to perform. He did have bands like Motley Crue stopping by his seat to greet him on their way down the aisle (it’s on my DVR – you all may have seen it). This year, David is a featured player. He was showcased on the very highly rated Red Carpet show where all the fashions on display and interviews are done. The “pre-show” is every bit as big as the main show in terms of national viewership and ratings… and prominance. He was the sole artist featured. He was showcased. And his fans were the ones who were brought in to fill half the bleachers. That’s A-list treatment.

I live in LA and am a credentialed member of the media. I’m a staff producer and newswriter at the CBS owned and operated TV stations KCBS & KCAL; I’m a member of the WGA and personally know Cook band member Andy Skib (keyboards, guitar backup vocals) and am acquainted with Neal Tiemann (lead guitarist). I don’t say this for any other reason than to give you some idea where I’m coming from. I don’t have some huge “inside” path, but I am well versed on Hollywood and the entertainment world out here. I can tell you assuredly that David has crossed into A-list territory in the music biz, and is already well established in the entertainment community at large.

Wow, Scott. So they basically gave him as much of a showcase as they could, given the rules on who can perform at the AMAs? That’s awesome.

Yes. And it’s not so much hard rules as much as tradition. They can make an exception. Producers can have anyone they want perform. But they had an all-star lineup of established acts, and so they gave David a little something extra. It was huge.

Scott, “He did have bands like Motley Crue stopping by his seat to greet him on their way down the aisle (ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s on my DVR – you all may have seen it)”

I missed that part, are you able to put up some pictures or a video? I would love to see that.

David Cook is gaining momentum and recognition among the music greats, because he did a heck of a job representing the “Rock” genre on Idol.

I am so proud of him, and he deserves all this good Karma that is coming his way.

Thank you for your input Scott.

I have never figured out how to import from my DVR. I think I need software or a tuner for my computer. I’m working on it though! Some other fans pointed it out Sunday night… when I got home and saw the posts I cued up my recording and saw it too. I also loved the way, in the few cutaways they had of David and Kyle (David’s drummer was his “date” LOL!), they gave everyone standing ovations. Two or three times you see David and Kyle standing up clapping, and then sitting down. They’re gentlemen. I would love to know how Kyle ended up being David’s plus one!

Wow, this is interesting stuff. How did the pre-show get in touch with the Cook fans? Did they advertise on his official fan board. I only watched past shows for the clothes so I’m not up on this. Who performed last year?

Does ABC produce the pre-show or does the AMA? I’m a little surprised that 150 choice seats at the awards were given to Cook fans but lucky, lucky fans indeed. Trust me I wouldn’t dare say Cook wasn’t A list or accepted by rock royalty. Not in this crowd. :lol_ee:

“I would love to know how Kyle ended up being Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s plus one!”

I’m guessing paper, rock, scissors. :wink1_tb:

DC: Kim can’t go to the AMAs, and I need someone to be my “date” Which of you guys will it be?

Neal: F that. I already played wingman at the Teen Choice Awards. And Miley performed there, too.

Andy: Neal described the horror of the TCAs in detail to me last summer, so no. Also, this scruff that I wore during the performance is itchy and I want to shave.

Joey: You know how much I hate cameras to be on me when I’m not performing.

[Kyle is too busy banging on his drums to respond.]

DC: Kyle it is.

LOL, I thought Neal would love meeting Motley Crue, but watching Miley again might be too much of a cost…

jpfan, LOL!
The AMAs are produced by Dick Clark Productions and sold to ABC. ABC has a long term contract and kind of co-produces it. It was designed in the 1970s to compete with the Grammys, long a CBS staple of February sweeps. The network consults with DC Productions along the way to coordinate the whole thing.

The offer was made at davidcookofficial.com. We were given brief information and a link. The link took us to an AMA site with an email link. We were instructed to make our requests and give age & contact information in our request. Same with our guest (we were allowed 1 guest each). All of us got a reply back within a day that we were accepted and then we received followup emails with instructions on where to park, where to go, restrictions, etc. It was very easy and very well coordinated. We showed up at a remote parking structure and there were two groups. Seat fillers and David Cook fans. We took shuttle buses to the Nokia. They did a great job and really showed us some love. I felt very honored and proud to be a Cook fan on Sunday.

Scott, that is a huge honor for Dick Clark Productions and ABC, to welcome David Cook among their midst. And I’m happy to hear that his fans were treated well.

All those hours of voting for Cook is paying off tenfold. Yea!!!

Was that a little bit of Weezer’s, “Say it Ain’t So” near the end of the first video? It’s right before David says, “we only know 10-15 seconds of a bunch of songs.” I love that song.

jpfan asked: “Who performed last year?”

jpfan, as far as I can tell, AMA has not done this before, I couldn’t find any intel about any other Red Carpet pre-show performances in any past years.

There’s an interview with Carrie Ann Inaba and and an EW story that says this is the first time in AMA’s 36 year history that there has been a televised Red Carpet Pre-Show, and both speak of David Cook as being the only performer.

FWIW.

Thanks MJ for posting this and to those who shared the videos.
It’s fun to see the banter. LOL The grapfruit part was quite hilarious.

Thanks for the info on the Pre-show. These shows kind of blur together for me so I guess this was the first AMA pre show. I thought Joan Rivers used to snark on the clothes but maybe I’m confusing the Grammys with this. Anyway, amazing that Cook got the gig.

I’d love to know how he got this. I would guess 19 was behind it? The newer Idols I always remember attending in some form even if it’s as a presenter. I know Clay and Ruben did a duet that one year but this was a really cool gig to get.

Thanks so much Scott and John for the recap and vids.. So much goodness for David happening last several weeks and more in the future weeks.

He is really becoming an A-lister in all aspects, not just for hi awesome talent but he is such an all around awesome guy.

Good things come to good people !!!

Cannot wait for all the future goodness we get to witness for him, I am so thrilled to be a part of the ride even if I am usually in the trunk

Great recap and video, Scott and John. Thanks so much for sharing! What a cool thing for the fans who got to go and then even attend the awards. Majorly impressive!

I also wonder how this gig came about. It was kind of a “late add.” But they had enough time to pull it off and build a customized stage, and work it into the production planning.

It could be 19, but it might RCA amping up the publicity machine. David has made a lot of great friends with important people in the music industry – from uber producer Rob Cavallo (who called David in a recent intervew one of the most gifted singers he’s worked with), to all of his collaborators. Simon Fuller manages him personally (along with Daughtry and other big names). He’s built a reputation of being insanely talented but easy to work with. “Insistant” (if not subborn) in creative matters, but never difficult. He has a musical point of view and knows what he wants, but is open to (and even solicits) input from the pros. That’s a very winning combination for a newbie to have. To be a dream to work with and back it up in the talent department, and be so competent during interviews.

But again, I do wonder how it came about.

It’s like you say Scott, “Nothing sells David better than David”

Thanks again scott and john for the vids for the “full experience”

jpfan I think if they didn’t use DC fans they would have just used seat fillers anyway. They probably figured we’d bring more energy to the mini-concert portion

The tickets to get into the actual awards show were never promised but I think they were the extras after the event did not sell out (and since I turned mine down I am curious…those of you who stayed, what kind of seats were they?)

I not only want to know where the DC fans sat, but where Neil, Joey and Andy sat! I mean, I assume they didn’t just go home after the event if they could’ve sat (in the balcony, maybe, but still) in the house with Motley Crue and Annie Lennox and Kanye West and Alicia Keys and Coldplay. I mean, come on!

The seats were pretty good. The were back kind of far, but dead center, in the back of the loge. The loge is really a slight stadium section of the orchestra. Not quite as steep as tradional theater stadium seating, but an incline that’s steeper than the front part of the orchestra. The Nokia is an amazing venue, designed especially for big events. It’s like a bowl on the first level… a typical but wide orchestra with a steeper loge in the rear. Then there are two levels of upper box seats on the sides, and at least one mezzanine or balcony above the loge. The acoustics are phenomenal. It’s perfect for concerts, televised awards shows, etc. Several big screens (like jumbotrons) in the front and a stage that’s wide enough to have two side-by-side sets… that’s how they went back to back from one performance to another. There isn’t a bad seat in the house.

So our seats were like rear orchestra, with an unobstructed view because of the incline.

I assume Joey, Neal and Andy sat in the mid-to front orchestra in courtesy “house seats,” but not in the very front where David & Kyle, and all the presenters and performers sit.

From LadyMadonna at DCO (via DC42):

Final numbers are in from HDD:

1 BEYONCE 505,593

2 NICKELBACK 320,187

3 DAVID COOK 283,446

4 TAYLOR SWIFTE 209,513

5 IL DIVO 154,496

John has posted his HQ version of his videos of the David Cook Band’s AMA performance, and the’re amazing!
http://davidcooksfan.com/

Okay I have nothing to add except that I adore how the band dresses. They’re so fancy, yet rock and roll at the same time.
LOVE THAT.

Also? David’s smile makes me happy.

Nuclear Fusion of Charisma, indeed. So do we just call David NFoC now? LOL. Hmm maybe NFC? Sort of sounds like NFL, but betta.

Thank you John & Scott for the video and for sharing your day with us. Off to get my daily dose of AOL Shaving Cream.

OK, I know this is waaay late, but I just came across it by sheer luck and wanted to share. A super-cute pic of DC @ the AMA’s that I haven’t seen before. Sorry if it’s already been posted somewhere else and I somehow missed it.

http://www.daylife.com/photo/04zibog8dU1c0/American_Idol

Well, I totally screwed that up, lol. This is the first time I’ve tried to post a link, and I don’t know what I did but it was all wrong, so maybe you guys can just copy and paste? Sorry!

Just want to add my thanks to both Scott and John! Scott, I unofficially nominate you to recap all future DC events!