David Cook Single “Light On” Debuts on AOL 9/24, Releases to iTunes 9/30

Now that the thread is up, for those of you who didn’t know about or remember TOML’s debut on popeater, I found the link HERE.

It appears that David does not have a writing credit on the song. I honestly donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think it matters as long as the song is killer.

My thoughts exactly. :wink_wp:

So, anyone have any clue how soon we can expect it on PopEater.com? Could it be as soon as midnight tonight, or will it take until tomorrow morning?

I’m soooooooooo excited!

Interesting that the press release fails to mention that Brian Howes has also worked with Daughtryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

You know what else that press release fails to mention? The words American Idol. LOL

I really can’t wait to hear it. I’m hoping it’s a mid tempo power ballad and not anything too rocked out. I’ve seen some conflicting opinions on the matter, but really, almost all of Analog Heart is power ballads (unless my idea of power ballads is too loose), and I don’t see the record company releasing anything too out there as a first single. The lyrics also lead me in that direction.

Hmm, still no radio impact date, but I guess we’ll know soon enough. 9/30 is sooner than I expected it to be on iTunes, so I’m happy about that.

Having said that, hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hoping the song is more Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslaveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’YAY!) than Brian Howes (Hinder, Puddle of Muddà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’YUCK). But, thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s just me.

Word. I’m not impressed at all with anything Howes has been involved in. It’s kind of hard imagining a Cornell song being a big Top 40 hit, but I guess we’ll see. David’s voice is a little easier on the ear holes.

MJ, I believe you mean that it debuts on AOL on 9/24 not 8/24, right?

I am confident that David Cook will knock this one out of the park. I’ll definitely buy songs from him; not my first choice on idol (that was David A.), but Cook always had his back, so he definitely gets my monetary support! (Which is pretty painless for me, considering that I like his voice and style as well.) :wink_wp:

You’re right – it shouldn’t matter who writes a song, as long as it comes out of the gate swinging. Here’s hoping that one of the main criticisms lobbed at David A and CRUSH will now become moot… one doesn’t have to pen a song to make it their own… Good luck to David Cook, and much success to both the David’s in their debuts! :bye_tb:

This press release is a masterpiece.

Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s kind of hard imagining a Cornell song being a big Top 40 hit, but I guess weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll see

I couldn’t imagine a song with the lyrics ‘magic rainbow’ being a top 40 hit LOL

When he said it would be out “mid October” perhaps that will be the radio impact date since it’s obviously not the iTunes date.

I’m also intrigued about DCO being the #1 fan community. I wonder how many members it racked up.

Oh man, I think I’m in shock right now. I tried so hard not to pysch myself out too much by expecting Light On news today so I wouldn’t get disappointed if we didn’t, but man oh man, now that we do I can’t even process. And there is so much info in that PR right there I don’t even know where to begin. It answers so many questions but now I have more!

I’m a bit ignorant on these things, but does “released to radio this week” mean tomorrow? Are radio-adds usually Wednesdays? Is this “release” different from the impact date someone mentioned above? I learned from the smart people here that iTunes/album releases are usually on Tuesdays, but I forget what y’all said about radio. And can someone refresh my memory about the whole bit where labels time radio and single releases such that they reach maximum potential for charting on the Billboard Hot 100? I’m just worried for Cook, cuz debuting on AOL doesn’t sound like it’s going to reach that big of an audience outside of his established fanbase, and who knows how many spins it will get on regular radio this first week? Even though TOML charted on #3 on Hot 100 almostly entirely on the strength of sales (and that AOL debut that I didn’t know about), that’s different because it was played on AI to 35 million people. An internet debut and 6 days of a little radio play is just not the same kind of exposure. Will Cook fans from AI who are not diehard internet sleuthers even know the song is out? Crush did well– how many days after the radio debut did it drop in iTunes? I really hope that in addition to this AOL exclusive tomorrow, we’ll have Cook on at least a couple big radio stations debuting Light On as well– z100 seemed to have worked out well for Archie– I liked that it was both on the radio and posted online after. Yikes, just re-read and boy do I sound paranoid! Okay, I’ll stop here and qualify everything by saying, paranoia aside, I’m SO EXCITED to hear the song!

Yay for the 9/30 Itunes debut. I actually found 99 cents. Sorry, KLC. :wink_wp:

Yah-fuckin-hoo!!! Don’t have a clue as to how to hear the single, but I’m sure someone will hook me up here, or at the official site. Hope I can buy the single at our I tunes store here…heard you can buy DA’s single.

Doesn’t matter a whit that he didn’t write it…A CC-penned song gives him some needed post-AI cred.

Go DC! Go! I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!

When he said it would be out à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“mid Octoberà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  perhaps that will be the radio impact date since ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s obviously not the iTunes date.

I’m not sure I understand what an impact date is exactly (since it seemed many radio stations were playing Crush before its impact date).
But the press release does say it’ll be released to radio this week… Plus I think they should want to get it out there for the public to hear as soon as possible, no?

PS – just out of curiousity, is there any specific reason why Archie fans write CRUSH in caps lock? I’ve only noticed it today, and it made me wonder.

I actually found 99 cents. Sorry, KLC.

Gwen,

You are too funny. That is all. :lol_tb:

The press release on the official page is just great….reads beautifully.

He’ll have six days of sales plus 7 days of streaming and radio to try for the Hot 100 covering next week. Not much chance to build up radio beforehand, as the earliest that it will hit radio is tomorrow, I would think. On the other hand, for many of the stations, he’s already had one successful song, so it may be that he’ll get a bit more play out of the gate than we’re assuming. Still, he’ll need big sales to do well on that first Hot 100.

Not worried at all about PR…I think DC is savvy enough, and his people, to know how to release a single.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m also intrigued about DCO being the #1 fan community. I wonder how many members it racked up.

DCO currently has something like 5,500 members. I don’t know if that makes it the biggest fan community though.

Yay single! I second the request to know at what time the song will be available on AOL. I’d hat e to be stuck at work and not able to hear it.

I too would like to see David do some radio shows to premiere the single. It helps to know right away that there’s a station that does have the song and it gets knowledge of the song out into a wider audience.

Billboard.com has an article about the single.

DCO currently has something like 5,500 members. I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t know if that makes it the biggest fan community though.

Where is that info from? I joined well over a week ago and my member number is around the 7,000.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m also intrigued about DCO being the #1 fan community. I wonder how many members it racked up.

I don’t think that means that it has the most fans. Daughtry’s site I think has 60,000 registered fans. It may mean that it has the most activity right now.

I’m not worried one bit about how this song will be promoted. I trust RCA and I think they know what they are doing. Now that the press release is out, it will be circulated around to various media outlets. I know we can’t ultimately predict the song’s success, but I think the label has done an excellent job with David so far.

Gosh, I’m really out of the loop because I haven’t heard of Popeater and I don’t know what butt rock is.(though it is a very funny term) I do know that Hinder’s song Get Stoned made me gag.

Crush went to itunes 2 weeks after its debut on radio. For the person that wanted to know. Streaming media counts for about roughly 5% of the billboard tally.

Gwen,

You are too funny. That is all.

I kid, I kid, of course.

I joined well over a week ago and my member number is around the 7,000

Should I be proud or embarrassed that my number is in the 300s?

I’m a little bummed that he didn’t have a hand in writing the single, but I’m going to trust that RCA/19/Cavallo/David himself know what’s in his best interests for his first real (yes, IMO) single The press release is brilliant, IMO. I’m also thrilled that Idol and Daughtry weren’t mentioned.

I’ve been a bundle of anxious/excited nerves since we got the lyrics. It’s hard being this invested in someone. I’ve never been through this before. Guess I’ll be staying up late again tonite. I wonder if it will be midnight, and which time zone? Questions, questions… ack

I know we canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t ultimately predict the songà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s success, but I think the label has done an excellent job with David so far.

They’ve certainly done an excellent job with holding my interest over the past few days.

I have faith in Cookie, but we’ll see…..

OK, so, is the thing on AOL just going to be something to listen to, or something we can purchase? If it’s something to purchase, can I put it in my iPod? I have to wait for the iTunes date to put it on my iPod, that’s the point, right?

(Middle-aged mom trying to figure out this new-fangled technology…)

OK, so, is the thing on AOL just going to be something to listen to, or something we can purchase? If ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s something to purchase, can I put it in my iPod? I have to wait for the iTunes date to put it on my iPod, thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the point, right?

AOL popeater will be for previewing/listening purposes. You will be able to download it on 9/30 from i-tunes. I hope that helps.

Where is that info from? I joined well over a week ago and my member number is around the 7,000.

That’s my estimate based on the number of pages of profiles under “fanzone” x 20 (the number of fans on every page). Maybe your number is higher because some numbers were lost to unconfirmed accounts?

I’m curious to see what kinds of stations the song will be released to.

Jolene made me curious, so I just this second joined to see what number they are up to. I’m not sure I can tell from what I have so far, but I think I may be 9342. That was the number attached to my “login for the first time” link. Of course, that number may also be something else entirely…

Did some snooping, and the number seems to be close to 9,500 as of now.
I checked, and those are all really fan numbers, each one corresponds with a fan profile, so I think that represents the number of fans who signed up.
If Daughtry has 60,000, I’d say we’re off to a really good start. There is no single out yet and no real promotion, so David hasn’t even began gaining new post Idol fans yet.
Oh, and according to my profile I’ve joined on the 18th, so less than a week… LOL, it feels like I’ve been there forever.

ETA: smartcookie, that sounds about right!

I am not a huge fan of Hinder or Puddle Of Mud either BUT if Cook has as many hits out as they have had in the past and this song follows suit, then, THAT would work for me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puddle_of_Mudd

See – maybe it is a yuck but they yucked it up all the way to the bank at first, hopefully Cook will keep it going and do much better with his own stuff in the future, but like Crush this is his foot in the door?

Having said that, hereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hoping the song is more Cornell (Soundgarden, Audioslaveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’YAY!) than Brian Howes (Hinder, Puddle of Muddà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’YUCK). Please, say no to the Butt Rock, David! But, thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s just me.

It is most definitely not just you. I had the exact same yay-yuck reaction as you did. Geesh Dave, find a way to make this even MORE nerve racking, will ya?

lol @ “butt rock” :laugh_tb:

Mystery solved. Chris Cornell wrote the lyrics. Well, Cook is def getting the gold star treatment. Top producer, songwriters, so it would actually be surprising if the single didn’t do well. Cookie had a big fan base from the show and TOML broadened the appeal so it’s hard to see this failing.

I actually like some of Hinder’s and Puddle of Mudd’s stuff (and Nickelback and Daughtry) maybe I should slink off now into a corner and hide, LOL. That being said, I also like Soundgarden. I’m hoping Light On is more of an upbeat rock, yet radio-friendly song (since its following on the heels of Rainbows an all) but even if its not, I’m hoping for something more along the lines of an I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For than an I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.

It turns out those super-sleuthing Cook fans who found the Howes-Cornell connection to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Light Onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  over the weekend were right on the money.

I think that’s really cool. It’s amazing what people on the internet can ferret out. I’m sure the promo department that wants to keep things secret views us as the evil Borg collective, but I see it as team work!

Are radio-adds usually Wednesdays?

Mondays for AC/HAC/AAA and Country. Tuesday for anybody else.

Is this à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“releaseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  different from the impact date someone mentioned above?

“Release” is when the song is sent to the stations typicaly about two weeks before the “add”/”impact” date. “Add”/”impact” means when the promo department plans to try to get all the stations to play the song (to rack up those big numbers). Some promo departments follow slighty different strategies. Some go for the big adds on “impact” day. Others try to get lots of stations to play it before the “impact” day so they can say the song was at “Nth place on the charts” on the impact day. A highly anticipated song can go for release and adds on the same day. Other promo departments might use a more “organic” approach. Hey, they are the professionals and will pick the strategy they think will work.

And can someone refresh my memory about the whole bit where labels time radio and single releases such that they reach maximum potential for charting on the Billboard Hot 100?

Some labels like to go for number 1 on the Hot 100 (*cough* Def Jam *cough*). So what they do is they supress downloads until the song has high enough spins on the radio to make it easier to get to the top of the Hot 100 when the song is released to iTunes (with lots of pent up demand). They label will play games like not announcing when the song will go to iTunes (until airplay is significant) and/or pulling a song of iTunes for a while. This can cost them sales because people will download the song illegally, but they hope that later having the number one song will help to boost sales to compensate. Kid Rock’s recent hit song was an interesting case in that it could have probably gotten number 1 on the Hot 100, but he refuses to sell individual tracks.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just worried for Cook, cuz debuting on AOL doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sound like ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going to reach that big of an audience outside of his established fanbase, and who knows how many spins it will get on regular radio this first week?

I wouldn’t worry about it. It all depends on what else is going on as to rank on the Hot 100 (unless you crush the competition…no pun intended). The fourth quarter of the year sees lots of big releases and there are going to be lots of highly anticipated songs released in the coming weeks to promote those albums. Cook is playing with the big boys now (e.g. Nickelback who seems to have the same release schedule as Cook (new single on Sept 30 and album on Nov 18)), so that’s where the competive focus for him should be. Besides, why worry? There is nothing any of us can do about it.

Crush went to itunes 2 weeks after its debut on radio.

Just a hair shorter than that. The Zoo premiered it on August 1st and it went to iTunes on August 12th.

Just want to add my YAY! for all the single news. And since we have the lyrics we can all sing along and memorize the song that much quicker

I hope it’s a midnight debut. I think I remember ToML going up the same night as the finale?

Well, it will be interesting to see if this is mutally beneficial to Cornell and Cook, or if Cornell will be slagged as a sellout. I don’t follow music chat enough to know how that community received the news of Cornell working with Timbaland. I know Cornell’s new album is out next month, so I would imagine he’s hoping to widen his audience by his association with less grunge/rock names. I also have to assume that he didn’t think it would hurt him to be involved with Cook, despite his back-handed compliments during the ‘covergate’ mess.
I have a lot of faith in this guy’s talent:look what Dave did with a minute and a half and dopey song themes on AI.

This is how to see your number, I think. MY PROFILE–>see all my xx friends, and you get the buddylist, http://www.davidcookofficial.com/buddylist/xxx, xxx is your number.

What if I tell you guys mine is 43…

What if I tell you guys mine is 43à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

Geez, and I thought I was bad at 128. :laugh_tb:

Oh, I forgot I DO LOVE this song by Puddle Of Mud but not so many others – I am trying to encourage myself that Cook will be just fine and this song is pretty special. My big strong husband crys when he watches it because he went thru that with his ex and his son. I cant wait for tomorrow to hear Cooks first song!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGmrL2h8lrE

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just worried for Cook, cuz debuting on AOL doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sound like ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going to reach that big of an audience outside of his established fanbase, and who knows how many spins it will get on regular radio this first week?

I’ve found out about tons of songs through AOL. That’s actually how I first discovered Bleeding Love so I’m not concerned. If it first starts getting play on a major station like Z100 or KISS then great but I think AOL has a pretty large audience especially since pretty much anyone can go to the AOL music site and not just AOL subscribers. Maybe I’m wrong but I would imagine debuting on something like KIIS would only really expose it to the West Coast people except if you make the effort to listen on the website.

sumidol, LOL, that’s the Puddle of Mudd song I like too :lol_wp:

Elisa, is that method of finding out your number accurate? Because I thought I was in the mid-100′s but that’s showing me up as 43! I mean, I know I moved fast to join, but I don’t think I was quite that speedy!

I guess it is, you can change the number to see other people.

43? Really? How did you steal my number…

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just worried for Cook, cuz debuting on AOL doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sound like ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s going to reach that big of an audience outside of his established fanbase, and who knows how many spins it will get on regular radio this first week?

I wouldn’t worry too much – as I posted earlier on DCO, I think this is a really good place to premiere the single. According to Billboard, streaming a single or album on the homepage of AOL music will expose you to 19.1 million unique visitors in the course of a month. An exclusive premiere on radio, even on a monster station like Z100 or KIIS, will only catch listeners from that particular metro market plus the die-hard fans who seek out the stream on the station’s website. I think the AOL premiere has the potential to reach a much broader audience than a single-station premiere.

(But certainly we want the track picked-up widely by radio across multiple formats as quickly as possible)!

For what’s worth DCO has more than 9000 members.

I think the AOL release is great news. Many many more people will listen to it and probably start requesting to radios. One week from now on Itunes seems fine too, maybe not enough time to get many audience on radio but it will still be hot for those who can listen to it on AOL.

Another thing regarding Nickelback’s single beeing released on itunes that date too, it probably will help. I can see many Nickelback’s fan liking Light On (I know I’ve never listen to the song but I’m expecting it to be pop/rock). Plus, what if when you buy Nickelback’s single they recommend you Light On? It could happen. I dunno, but sounds like good marketing to me. Maybe Light On won’t reach #1 on BillBoard, but it can sell good.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t follow music chat enough to know how that community received the news of Cornell working with Timbaland.

Not well. You can do a search for the first single released (“Long Gone”) on google or YouTube and read all the comments. Cornell performed that one on the Projekt Revolution tour but tended to change it up a lot and make it rock.

I know Cornellà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s new album is out next month, so I would imagine heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s hoping to widen his audience by his association with less grunge/rock names.

His solo albums tend to not sell very well so it seems he might be in a throw-whatever-crap-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks mode.

Kirsten and ladymadonna, you guys rock! Thanks for all the info/insight and alleviating my fears about the AOL audience. I feel better now, and as much as it’s fun to know more about the charts and stuff, there’s so much we can’t control besides supporting DC as much as we can, so I’m going to stop worrying, and just look forward to enjoying the music. That and send negative vibes to Nickelback and other such unworthy (IMO) competitors haha. GO DAVID COOK!

Re AOL debut.

Rolling out on AOL made Billboard’s list of the “Best Ways for Your Music to Get Attention.”

The full article is on their subscription site, but relevant portions were quoted re the Cook debut on DCookOff

http://www.davidcookofficial.com/blog/maximum-exposure-the-100-best-ways-your-music-get-attention

Says AOL music had 19.1 million unique visitors in July. In an era where radio play is very fragmented, it looks as if AOL may reach more people in a brief period then even a large market radio statio.

As with many things web, the track record is so short that I would think how that translates to sales is unproven. Of course, separate from AOL, Cook did have an amazing run on iTunes so far this year.

As noted in ladymadonna’s comments on davidcookofficial.com, TOML & Cook together also had many of the other promotional opportunities mentioned on Billboard’s list, eg appearing on AI (of course), on Oprah, on the morning shows, and getting placed in a big Superbowl type event (the Olympics) , plus EW and Rolling Stone articles. Will this attention help lift his rock single (with Cornell/Hinder-dude writing it, it’s gonna be a rock single)?

We’re about to find out.

Oops! Sorry, elisad, I must have fat-fingered the keyboard, I’m not 43 but 41 :redface_wp:

Also, according to a fan on D-C.o who got a response back from one of the DCO folks, the song will be available to listen to on the DCO webpage beginning Thursday.

Also, secretly I liked Puddle o’Mudd’s “She Hates Me,” although I loathe Hinder and Puddle’s video for the decent single “Blurry” made me want to tear my eyes out.

But I love Cornell’s work on everything from Soundgarden to Audioslave to Temple of the Dog. So it’s all awash.

I guess I’ll need to hear it to form an opinion.

Also, during Idol, the amount of fan doubt upon news of Cook’s choices was inverse to the quality of the actual performance. The worse/weirder the news sounded, the more awesome the actual joint turned out to be. I’m just sayin.

I don’t know if DC’s site has the most fans yet or not. It did say this:

“After only five days, it was already the #1 artist site within the entire SonyBMG community.”

Your number also shows up when you click “message me” on your profile.
If anyone’s curious, David is only user 8 on his website, “moderator”, “admin” and “member” joined before him. LOL

LATEST NEWS FROM DAVID COOK

SURPRISE UPDATE

Due to high demand for Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s new single, AOL will be premiering it TODAY!!! You, as DavidCookOfficial.com newsletter subscribers are the first to know. Hear it as soon as it goes live on AOL by checking DavidCookOfficial.com for the link. We expect it to be live in the next few hours. Spread the word!

According to an email from DavidCookOfficial.com, “Due to high demand for David’s new single, AOL will be premiering it TODAY!!! Hear it as soon as it goes live on AOL by checking DavidCookOfficial.com for the link. We expect it to be live in the next few hours. Spread the word!”

SQUEEE!!!

Geez, and I thought I was bad at 128.

I guess I was slow to register. Mine is 405 :sad_wp:

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Due to high demand for Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s new single, AOL will be premiering it TODAY!!! Hear it as soon as it goes live on AOL by checking DavidCookOfficial.com for the link. We expect it to be live in the next few hours. Spread the word!à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

These people are going to be the death of me….

This just in…

LATEST NEWS FROM DAVID COOK

SURPRISE UPDATE

Due to high demand for Davidà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s new single, AOL will be premiering it TODAY!!! You, as DavidCookOfficial.com newsletter subscribers are the first to know. Hear it as soon as it goes live on AOL by checking DavidCookOfficial.com for the link. We expect it to be live in the next few hours. Spread the word!

OK – I just did. Not if it’s in the right place MJ but thought I should share. :=)

I LOVE this!
I hope we’ll be able to stream it from outside the US… if not, PLEASE MJ or someone can you help out?!?

Thanks!

I love how you’re all “spreading the word”. LOL!
I am freaking OUT! It’s impossible. Today? Aaaaaaack!
Can’t form coherent thought. Sorry for all the flailing.

ETA:

I hope weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll be able to stream it from outside the USà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ if not, PLEASE MJ or someone can you help out?!?

Thea, IIRC you can stream from outside the US. That’s how I first heard TOML right after the finale.
If I’m proven wrong, I’m sure it won’t take a nanosecond for someone to give us another outlet, but I’m hoping we can listen just like everyone else, on the official release site.

Let’s hope so…else it’s going to be A Long Night.

they’re killing me here. killing me! in a good way! still, there goes all my productivity for the day. I am betting it comes out while I am stuck in a meeting somewhere

Did you see that? I just ploded.
:jittery_tb:

For the record, Jolene, I’m enjoying the flailing. I’m just sayin’….

How did they know that there was enough interest to move the debut up? Were some of y’all bombing aol, demanding info as to when the debut would be? ‘Fess up!

The man is trying to kill us. :laugh_tb:

Is DCO not working for anyone else? Eeep, the thought of missing the moment THE single goes up? Just NO.

ETA: Yup, appearantly we crashed DCO. Well what did they think was going to happen? Silly web nerds!

There goes DCO They should know better than to lure all 9000 fans on at once!

Maybe some of us should go camp out at Popeater/AOL Music too?

Wait, what?! So we won’t be able to find the song on AOL unless we check DCO? That’s a nice DCO exclusive for the fans, but shouldn’t they just debut it on the main AOL music page for maximum promotion and exposure so people can stumble on it? Am I missing something here? Crap, need to stop obsessing/refreshing here, I have homework due in 2 hours that I’m stuck on!

I got the impression the early listen is an exclusive for fans. I can’t imagine it won’t be visible to regular folks later.

Crap we broke DCO

I’ve got the site up now in a separate window. I have no doubt the high demand probably has done that.

Yes, I too got the impression from reading that email that the early listen is an exclusive for the fans.

Wait, what?! So we wonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be able to find the song on AOL unless we check DCO?

I think it’s just a way to get people to come over to DCO and be there when the song goes live. Look, it worked! Too well, even.
I believe it will be somewhere central enough on AOL, otherwise there’s no point in debuting it there and not on DCO.

ETA: Or, as others wisely said, it makes sense that tomorrow (or midnight tonight) is still when it goes public, and the fans get a few hours head start.

For the record, Jolene, Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m enjoying the flailing. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just sayinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.

Noted, and appreciated. Let the enhanced flailing commence!

How funny that we’re all trying DCO at the same time and we (ruh roh)crashed it. I mean, it’s not funny. But it kind of is.

This leads me to believe that the #1 fan site stuff has to do with number of hits rather than number of subscribers. Just a thought. Press types are good at cooking up any old reason to claim magic statistics like BEST EVAH! and MOST POPULAR IN PERPETUITY THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE! based on an underlyin premise that they alone know.

but come on! the site should be able to take more than 1000 fans online at the same time, right? though, us hitting refresh every 5 sec probably doesn’t help.

there goes my life…

Okay, so “tomorrow” turned out to really mean, “in a few hours,” so that probably really means “in twenty minutes.”

Work, little Web Nerds, work!! Work fast like the wind, work hot like fire, work like we’re all coming after you with pitchforks if you don’t get that site back up soon!

I just closed out the page and tried to reload and got the “too many connections” message.

LMAO, wow, guess those web nerds learned not to underestimate an overeager fan base. To quote Cook, tick, tock, web nerds, tick tock.

So if it shows up on AOL, you’d probably see it here, right? I’ll be F5ing that, just in case. ‘k, now no one crash AOL, y’hear? =)

Enhanced flailing? Oh, my.

All of those warm and friendly words being thrown toward the web nerds earlier this week could be a thing of the past if they don’t get things fixed. (Heh.)

Crap. I’m trying to join, got in, but double clicked something because of the delay and got one of those freaky random passwords. I’m trying to change the password now, got an email with a one time only login button, clicked it, and am now waiting and waiting for my login to load so I can change the dang password.

I am also online over at the aol popeater thing and am getting really tired of Lilo and her apparently girlfriend’s faces.

Lemme in, DCO!

This leads me to believe that the #1 fan site stuff has to do with number of hits rather than number of subscribers.

That would make sense to me. Sites should be about the hits anyways. I lurk that site when there are exclusives (which is turning out to be quite often), but I’m not a member. I plan on supporting DC’s music for a long time, but I’m still waiting for my fangirlyness (and the corresponding insatiable need for internet news) to pass, haha, so I’ve resisted signing up for such things. MJ’s is the only place I’m registered anywhere because in my twisted (embarrassed, yet self-justifying) brain, commenting on a blog does not a fangirl make… right? Okay, back to my problem set, at least until the AOL link shows up here (which I’m sure it will).

So, over 2,000 registered members right now on DCO, and I wonder how much larger that number is with the non registered lurkers, If it’s enough to crash the site.
I do wonder how visible the AOL thing will be for those who won’t get a direct link… That would make a hell of a difference in how many people are exposed to the song.

I’m afraid to press F5. Eeek.

I’m bitin’ my nails and my heart is pounding…SQUEEE!!!!

Okay, DCO seems to be working again. FWIW I’m staying planted on the news page!

This auto-reload tool might be useful for Firefox users:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/115

Don’t feel bad about it sma11ie I’m sure there’s lots of lurkers. I refuse to join MySpace or Facebook just for DC. I did join DCO. I mostly hang on the TWoP thread there. I’ve lurked here for years before getting an account. I don’t think it makes you a bad fangirl.

The site seems to be working again. Hopefully it will not crash when the song goes live.

I wonder if bb is at his com laughing at all of us. The single better be good, Cook!

*WHY* must they make me wait till the 30th to buy it!

Well shit! I can’t get on DCO! Damn it!

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m afraid to press F5. Eeek.

Maybe this is a silly question, but I have to know now that I’m on the news pg. Is
F5 the refresh button?
Thanks!!!

I have been trying to join DCO for over a week but can’t seem to get a password. I followed the directions on the message on the home page and even sent an e-mail (from my main addy) to the webmaster (webnerds) but so far, nothing. I will continue to lurk, no problem, but I was just wondering if anyone else is continuing to have this problem.

BTW, I agree that AOL is a great way to premiere the single. However, a major market launch in addition to that would be even better. It would give him a leg up on airplay, and, quite frankly, as a winner who has performed so well with their shitty coronation song, he deserves it, IMO.

Is F5 the refresh button?

It is.

Anybody got a direct link to the news page?

I have been trying to join DCO for over a week but canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t seem to get a password.

I had major problems earlier on, but I do think they’re trying to fix it. Some e-mail providers just don’t deliver their confirmation messages. Gmail and Yahoo work well, I actually set up a yahoo account just to log in.

sherryw-

you aren’t alone. I can’t seem to get a password either.

Sherryw – you’re not alone. I’m waiting patiently. As I’m in England, I reckon the pigeon carrying my password has got tired and stopped off in the Azores for a refreshing Gin Sling.

I’m in, fully registered. It’s very slow to move around the site, says there are currently 2393 fans online. you’d think it would be able to handle more.

sherryw, I finally had to get a gmail account to get my DCO password. I don’t know what your email server is, but those of us with Outlook Express had problems.

DCO seems to be down again. They’re doing this to us on purpose, right? Cause they’re such teases. David probably gave them instructions: “Scare ‘em to death. Promise them the song and then pretend the site crashed. Then do it again.” Then he bwahhahhed.

Once again, I am not getting anything done because of this man! Ah, this reminds me of those Tuesdays of yore, waiting waiting waiting for what Cook would do to me next Oh I mean what Cook would sing next. Dang it, I tried to refresh my DCO and now it’s errored out! Sheesh. I was all signed in and everything. Come on, Web Nerds! Get with the program. Well shall try again…and again…AGGGGGGHHHHHH SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK. He’s killing me too! Killing me, do you hear me, Mr. Cook?!? ARGH. :jittery_tb:

Streaming now: http://www.popeater.com/music/article/exclusive-david-cook-turns-the-light-on/185647

I’m imagining all these fans glued to their screens, seeing the same thing I see (“unable to connect to database server”) and silently screaming!! Think I’ll join that pigeon and have a gin sling.

It’s up! http://www.popeater.com/music

Just hit refresh and now waiting, waiting…Darn it all, I went to the blog first (forgetting) it was on the news page and added it to my favorites. Then I got on the news page and hit refresh before adding it to my favorites. I don’t know if this would have worked, but I’ll try anything.

Just wondering….will the web nerds be able to post the link with all of this traffic? Well, they’re probably not called web nerds for nothing…

Gwen,

I along with a few others clicked play on that link, and can’t hear anything. They may be still working on it since it’s still early.

I’m listening right now! WOW! http://www.popeater.com/music :clap_tb:

YAY!!!

It’s awesome!

OMG, I LOVE it!! YES! YES! I’ll leave the damn light on for you.

I like it – the hook is very catchy. I think this will do it for him.

Okay, here’s the link to the news page. Hope this works:

http://www.davidcookofficial.com/news

ETA: I guess this was a little late. LOL!

Epic. Where did I put my glow stick…

Very, very Daughtry. Well if the formula works, why change it. But I thought Crush was generic pap, so maybe this will grow on me as well.

AHHHH, YES!!!! That quiet part toward the end is genius and so beautiful. I think the song really shows off the flexibility of his voice and his passion. Love, love, love it on first hearing. I don’t see how it can help but be huge. I can’t wait to buy it. Please, do that ahead of time, too!

Love it Love it Love it :clap_tb: :jittery_tb: :shock_ee:

MJ, what do you think???

Nice David! I think he has a winner on his hands! :clap_tb:

I LOVE THIS SONG! :clap_tb:

You people are killing me, I’m on the page, clicking the arrow, NOT HEARING ANYTHING!!!!

Nice David! I think he has a winner on his hands!

I agree, ma’am. I’m on my….5th listen.

His site says “Radio will also be releasing the single tonight.”

AHHHH, YES!!!! That quiet part toward the end is genius and so beautiful.

Yes! That part is my favorite!

MJ, what do you think???

Uhm. Gulp.

I was hoping for something along the lines of Jimmy Eat World and the Foo Fighters rather than Hinder or Puddle of Mud. It’s not really my cup of tea, but it should do really well on the intended formats–HAC and AC.

grrrrr! I’m at work and the video won’t load.

I think it’s a winner. It’s got the hook. It’s got passion and tenderness. It’s got killer vocals by the man, David Cook! I see a hit! :thumbup_tb: :clap_tb:

Uh, I like the first verse and the quiet bit at the end. It’s like a less goaty Daughtry song. Sigh. I’ll still buy it, but it leaves me hungrier for a real David song.

I’m sure David would trade me for 4 or 5 million Daughtry fans, so it’s OK. : )

I am all a tingle! Love love wuv it. I am so proud of him. My heart is smiling.
He knocked it out of the park!!! :clap_tb:

I like it a lot. His vocals are hard enough for the rock stations yet the song is melodic enough for top 40. I think he will do extremely well!

Very cool and handsome photo on that site, too. Lips, man.

I don’t know how many listens this makes for me now. The quiet lines at the end, I love. My very first thought was RELIEF! at hearing David’s voice singing a new song. Then, I thought Hmmmmmmmm…kinda Daughtry-ish sounding, the music…except it’s DAVID’S voice and his voice is so so much more expressive, IMO. He’s just a better singer than Chris, although I do like some Daughtry now and again. I fully expected a rock power ballad. I would’ve liked something more along the lines of a Foo Fighter “ballad,” I think. But I am just now, the last few months, listening to anything new and anything other than country! BUT I think it will do well. I like it, I’m liking it more the more I listen. It’s his voice…how much I can hear in his voice. But YMMV, of course! OK maybe I love it now…. :wub_tb:

ETA: It’s “our” David, I do think so. So sorry it’s made you sad, justic. I understand though. Still gonna give the album a listen? I hope?

Yes, stupid Popeater calling it Lights Out still!

LOL @ stupid Popeater calling it “Lights Out”.

i’m with MJ
what have they done to the great artist DAVID COOK?
i can’t find my DAVID in this song. it’s gonna be a sure hit but that’s definitely not my cup of tea.

Just listened to it and I really like it. I can only imagine it will grow on me even more. Can’t wait to be able to purchase it next week If this is a flavor of the album I’m sure I’ll love it (not that I’m especially surprised lol).

ETA: It does seem pop rock to me – which is partly why it is my cup of tea. I think it’s a smart move for a first single. Not going to please everyone but it would be a very boring world if we all had the same opinion.

ETAA: I’ve only listened to it twice and I’m already humming it as I wander around my hotel room in Hartford. I only hum songs when I like them … plus I can totally imagine how I would make the accompanying video ….

I think it’s a decent song–it may grow on me the more I hear it. And it’ll do well on HAC and AC (and probably CHR/Pop). I think maybe I was just expecting something different; something a little less mainstream pop-rock and more rock. In fact, some of my reservations may be because I was expecting something different rather than the quality of the song itself.

See to me it is totally a Cornell song, especially the guitar. My take on this first album is I want him to make songs I can enjoy and that sell a butt frickin load of albums. That gives him more opportunity to create more personal albums when there is a lot less (like an entire career) on the line. So my feeling is work that mass market hook, baby. Work it!

I love it, it does not have the Daughtry goat vibratto that I. Can. Not Stand. Cook just has a better voice IMHO.

I love it. I was too nervous on the 1st listen and had to have two more to get how I felt about it other than “Can’t believe I’m listening to David sing something new”.
I don’t know how many listens I had already, but the last one? I sang along. Hee, it’s a great song to sing along to, try it.

BTW – I actually expected something *less* rockish. Guess the expectations met halfway?

I just gave it a listen. It’s a little…overwrought, I guess, for my taste. But his voice sounds good and I’m sure I’ll be hearing it on the radio a lot.

I love Cookie but I do think Daughtry has a much better voice. Just more smooth. JMHO

But I liked DC’s single, I don’t know if it as catchy as Archie’s single but it’s good.

It’s Daughtryish so it will work.

Excellent! I like it!

The vocal even sounds like Nickelback (or Hinder). lol

LOL @ stupid Popeater calling it à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Lights Outà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ .

I noticed that too. I kind of got a chuckle out of it. lol

I never expected him to come out with anything that would be completely rock. Even listening to his previous stuff, I would never have categorized him as straight-up rock, his music always had mainstream appeal to me.

It just grows on me more each time I listen to it. Its very Nickelback-ish to me (this is meant as a compliment from me) but I can see it not appealing to anyone who is not a fan of their work. But hopefully the millions of people who’ve bought their album and made it go multi-platinum will find David’s music interesting enough to buy.

It does not have the Daughtry goat vibratto that I. Can. Not Stand. Cook just has a better voice IMHO.

I agree. I’ve never gotten the Daughtry vocal comparison. I get that they’re both rock, but that’s it.

By the third time, I was hooked. It took that many times to wash all of his AI performances from my mind. He’s not going to sound like that anymore.

OMG I LOVE IT. Maybe because I am fan of Nickelback and Daughtry I really don’t care if there’s similarities. I think he sounds absolutely amazing though and I love the chorus. And I want to lick that picture.

I want to lick that picture.

:laugh_tb:

To be honest, I thought it would edgier and less pop-rock. Having said that..his people have been very very clever with this first song. It will be a hit…no doubt. It won’t lose him AIO fans, and gain him a bunch of new fans as it is a song that is extremely radio friendly- I’m sure it will be a hit. Off to give it another listen.

I want the album now.

The first time I wasn’t prepared for the screaming vocals so soon toward the beginning of the song. The second time, I wasn’t thrown so I could listen better. Still wish that it wasn’t so “overwrought” as someone else said above but by the third time, I decided I liked it. I think it will do well. I hope it pulls in non AI fans too.

And I want to lick that picture.

His eyes really stand out in that pic too. :wub_tb: Ok, I’d better shut up now. :laugh_tb:

By the third time, I was hooked. It took that many times to wash all of his AI performances from my mind. Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not going to sound like that anymore.

Me too. Although I can’t really compare it to my fave AI song of his *MOTN* which is so vastly different than my fave *pre idol cover* *Creep*. I LUVS me some Cook singin’ Creep. LOL David makes me happy just singing period.

I know many will disagree with me but I have to say I’m DELIGHTED that the first single appears to be so commercial. There’s plenty of time for originality and the building of “cred”, but this isnt possible unless there are good sales. All in all I really like it and his vocals are amazing. Its a thumbs up from me!

i was expecting better. i wanted to like it because i love cook as a person but sorry, i just dont care for this song.

its pretty eh if you ask me. :/

A test of a good song is that you can sing it back to yourself after a couple of listens. I’m hummin’ away now. =o)

I don’t hear Daughtry either. I do hear hair bands and the Eagles though– and, I guess, Cornell.

Hmmm….

That being said, I do like it. Not sure it’s radio-friendly, though.

Commercial, generic Daughtry meets Nickelback meets 3 Doors Down. Where’s the sound that’s undeniably him? Where’s the heartfelt vocal, the interesting arrangement? This is just another autotuned guy belting out the song that’s calculated to make SONY/BMG the most $$. And for the people who insist he needs to do this to be a success, just when will he magically be successful enough to do his own sound? Apparently SONY didn’t think Kelly had earned it after 3 successful albums. I was disappointed when I heard he wouldn’t be doing 1 of his own songs, and this has only increased that feeling.

Okay…that’s it…the song is in my head now and I can’t get it out. I even know a few of the words now.

It’s grown on me and I want it on my ‘pod…NOW!

I had to delurk to comment. I love, love, love Cookie but am so disappointed in this. It is so generic and I probably would not know it is him if I heard it on the radio the first time. It sounds like everything else out there right now–Daughtry, Nickleback, etc.
Anyway, I am sure this is not representative of the whole album and I am also sure it will sell tons which will allow him to make more music.
But will I buy this single, sad to say, probably not.

Not exactly what I was thinking it would sound like. I kind of got chills, though, hearing him singing something new. The chorus is very catchy and I think his vocals are killer.

He needs a radio friendly hit; something too edgy or “rock” maybe wouldn’t catch on as well, so I’m quite happy with this. I’ve listened to it a “few” times in a row now, and already really like it. Go, Cookie! Want album NOW.

I really like the song! It’s amazing…not to mention catchy. :thumbup_tb:

Everyone make sure and vote for the song on AOL. All of a sudden, there are alot of haters voting. I hate when people sabotage a poll.

I’m a big fan of over-wrought rock, lol, so my opinion is that this is wrought just right. I’m also delighted that it’s so commercial. I want him to sell tons so he can make music forever. I just really love it and I’m finding more to like on every listen.

The ending is really interesting, ’cause it leaves me feeling as if the song should just keep going, which it will when I get it on Repeat in my iTunes.

I listened to it again, so I’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 who’s to say they’re wrong. The worst part of the song is the stale production. I guess I expected more from an A level producer.

noctem, Eagles. . .ya know, now that you mention it, I think you’re right-on. And since I’m somebody who loves me some Eagles, that’s good news.

eta: I think the Eagles feeling comes in part from the minor key “Hotel California” vibe at the beginning.

Hm, listened twice, but will reserve judgment until tonight when I’m not so distracted with failing my homework. I’m not cheering yet, but I won’t go so far to say I’m disappointed until I’ve given it a fair chance to grow on me. Wow, except for MJ and CathyMK, looks like most of y’all liked it instantly! I’m not in that camp… okay, I must tend to real life. Regardless, exciting to have new DC music!

Rob Cavallo does not disappoint. “Light ON” is going to be a massive hit!

I hate when people sabotage a poll.

LOL, yeah, and they all suddenly appeared too. If I wasn’t so happy right now with the new single I might be tempted to track down the source for this onpouring of Cook haters.

Oh, who cares, I’ll go sing along to Light On some more.

Eh.. Im going middle of the road on this. Its a decent song… but nothing spectacular. I wouldnt change the channel or anything if it came on… but ehh.. We’ll see…

Hmmmmm…10th listen, I’m ready for acoustic.

noctem, Eagles. . .ya know, now that you mention it, I think youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re right-on. And since Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m somebody who loves me some Eagles, thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s good news.

eta: I think the Eagles feeling comes in part from the minor key à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Hotel Californiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  vibe at the beginning.

Exactly! I hear that too and a little Clapton in the middle.

Love the part when he sings the line “make me stay” at the beginning of the song…he gives it the Cookie treatment.

Yeps…it’s pop rock and he’s gonna kill with it.

I had to delurk to comment. I love, love, love Cookie but am so disappointed in this. It is so generic and I probably would not know it is him if I heard it on the radio the first time. It sounds like everything else out there right nowà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’Daughtry, Nickleback, etc.

WORD!

I think it’s totally awesome! I’ve been listening to it over and over again for the past hour.

I think Cookie could do no wrong in my eyes, though…

Didn’t like the start, the electronic keyboard bit sounded jarring, but it gets better later. Reminded me of some songs (from the 80′s? Can’t quite place it). Again, like Archie’s song, a little too generic and processed, and the vibe is a bit on the wrong side, it would have been much better if it sounded more raw. Overall, not bad, I can live with it as his first single, although I suspect this song might sound better when he sings it live.

I already gushed over the song, but even moreso I think he’s going to sing the crap out of this live.

Hmm.. first let me say.. I love the Cookie voice, but the song isnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t doing it for me. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Overwroughtà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  is a good descriptor of the majority of the song. It doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t mesh with the slowed down part of the song (which is my favorite part of the song). The lyrics arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t grabbing me either.. What does à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“naked lightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  mean?? And à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Shine Onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  why am I not feeling that lyric?

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m still listening to it.. trying to let it grow on me, but ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a rather plain song. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not feeling DCà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s vibe in this song and Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m still preferring the Magic Rainbow song. He had great up and down vocals in TOML that meshed well together.

I hope there are better songs on the album. All of that aside, I appreciate the hard work and long hours DC has put into his recordings. I hope he does well! Just not sure Light On is radio friendly.. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve listened about 15 times and I still canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t sing it back.. other than Light On and Shine On.

Spot on about wanting an acoustic version. I’ve decided I like everything except the bridge. That’s part of where I hear some hair band influence. If they would have just gone from the guitar part to the soft part, it would make the song that much better (but I guess he couldn’t really do that because it’s not his song). However, acoustic and subdued, it would probably sound superb.