VAidolFan09: How did Cook prove himself to be the ‘rightful’  winner?

By winning. The rightful winner wins every year, because the rightful winner is whoever gets the most votes (assuming there’s no vote fraud/irregularity). It’s the outcome that the people casting the majority of the votes wanted.

I realize that’s not what the original poster meant, but it’s the answer.

Furthermore, I don’t think you can fairly say that David A was the ‘chosen one’  by the time the season ended. TPTB had completely shifted their focus to Cook and clearly wanted him to win.

Not at all. I don’t think it’s worth the time to cite chapter and verse why Cook was not the chosen one by the end — others can jump in and do that if they’re still reading and so inclined — but the chapter and verse is there for the citing.

I’m with you CathyMK. Seems like this happens when the ‘chosen one’  doesn’t win. David Cook proved he was the rightful winner. Hope Kris can to.

How did Cook prove himself to be the “rightful” winner? By selling more records? That doesn’t prove much, I don’t see why people still insist on all that “rightful” winner stuff. If anything David A’s fans can still make a case as to why he should have been the winner. After a year I would have thought that all the “rightful” winner stuff would be over. Let them have their careers.

saga: Would it be right to say that the big acoustic bands on top 40 are mraz, john major, king of leon, the fray and paramore?

No, because Kings of Leon, Paramore, and for the most part John Mayer are not acoustic bands. Not so sure about Jason Mraz and the Fray because I don’t know their music so well — they might be primarily or wholly acoustic (allowing for electric bass, though, given that it’s very often used in otherwise acoustic bands).

And I don’t think Danny signed with Sony because 19 told him to; there were 2 labels bidding for him (Mark Bright’s label presumably one) in August.
Kudos to Danny for landing the big contract with RCA Nashville and getting Mark Bright as his producer like he wanted. Quite the feat, IMO.
Taking your time to make a business decision is sometimes the smart thing to do.

I’m not sure if we’ll ever get the whole picture but I tend to think there were two different mainstream country labels negotiating for Danny, as Danny said he was not inclined to sign with Mark’s company, Word, because he wanted a mainstream platform and Word is known for CCM/gospel. He said that he and Mark had discussed finding an “alternate” arrangement to work together, as in fact has become the case. Danny also spoke about meeting with multiple “big labels,” which (no offense meant to them) may not describe Word.

It’s not too clear what two companies were negotiating in August. Depending on how things work across the four country labels under Sony Nashville, it may be that Danny met with more than one and contract discussions were opened with two–possibly Arista (Carrie’s label) and RCA Nashville, for example. Or it could have been someone totally outside Sony Nashville, such as Warner which is the parent company over Word but has separate arms for mainstream country.

Whatever the case, it all seems to be coming together really well for Danny thus far. He’s getting both the major mainstream label support and the top producer he wanted.

Lurking; but just had to comment on this; not true.
Mark Bright approached Danny early on -he wanted him for his own record label. Danny was actually talking to 3 labels at one time.
Danny expressed interest in an interview about working with Mark Bright a good month before even signing. He loves Rascall Flatts and Carrie Underwood, so I’m sure he knew who Mark Bright (produced them) was even before Mark approached him.
And I don’t think Danny signed with Sony because 19 told him to; there were 2 labels bidding for him (Mark Bright’s label presumably one) in August.
Kudos to Danny for landing the big contract with RCA Nashville and getting Mark Bright as his producer like he wanted. Quite the feat, IMO.
Taking your time to make a business decision is sometimes the smart thing to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPm-nlZuJfU

Gorgeous! But quite a jolt when it cuts off. Hope there’s a full version coming soon. Here’s acoustic Living on a Prayer from tonite. Also gorgeous.

This is a much better video of Cook doing a full version of Livin’ on the Prayer acoustically. From his homecoming in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzFiNyr7xb4

Oops, I didn’t realize someone had already posted this. Sorry for the repetition.

http://www.youtube.com/ItzMeRenee#play/uploads/10/Oa1ii61_h4w

http://www.youtube.com/ItzMeRenee

I don’t get involved in fan wars much, but I agree Adam and Kris have yet to prove themselves. I am sure they will be there by this time next year. I would love to see Jason and Anthony also appear on the list.

Interesting perspective, as I would not have put Jennifer Hudson at #1.

Looks like Z100 is giving it good support. But I don’t think it will do as well as Tattoo. That song was more suited to Top 40 radio and I think LLYD will do better on HAC.

I think Kris is in a difficult genre to begin with, imo Alison will have it much easier with her (electronic) rock/pop. Would it be right to say that the big acoustic bands on top 40 are mraz, john major, king of leon, the fray and paramore?

KOL, the fray and paramore all have a much rawer sound than Kris has ever had, more alt rock and edgy. Infusing a more alt rock sound seem to be impossible for an AI alum that needs to debute fast (see Cook and Daughtry). John Mayer and Mraz are incredible talented musicians, in a league where I don’t think Kris is yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZIN6ccxWf8

The first week’s sales always indicate the size of the devoted Idol fanbase. iTunes sales this week show Kris not putting up the big numbers.

I don’t think anyone was predicting a flop for Cook. The problem with LO was that it never became a big Top 40 hit. To become a multi plat artist you need big radio hits that cross genres.

However Cook always had a big supportive Idol fan base. Kris obviously doesn’t have that so he REALLY needs his single to be a big hit.