» David Cook: You Had Me at "Hello" Options

[TWoP Bayliss]

This is neither a fan club nor a support group, it's a discussion website about television. This thread is about David Cook -- not what's going on with your junk, or lecturing everybody that disagrees with you about how amazing he is. Get a blog. If you are interested in starting a fan club on this thread about how much fun we're all having talking about how great David is, you need to take it somewhere else. This thread is for David. Not for fandom, not for shilling your CafePress merchandise, not for bullying people with different opinions or misusing the FTC/TP or dogpiling on them, not for discussing other boards, and not for fandom grudges. David.

If you want to make a wiki about David, or a list of words that he has once said, go do that. If you want to "squee" and talk about your ovaries, go do that. If you want to wax philosophical about things that have reminded you of David, no matter how strained or ludicrous the connection, or how commonplace those things are, feel free. But do it somewhere else. If your post mentions your age or how silly you feel being so very much in love with David, contains the terms "squee" or "Mavid" or "DC=42," arranges off-board forums, communities, IRL stalking, RPS and shipping, or lists of random crap, reconsider. If your post otherwise attempts to sandbag the thread into a de facto fan forum, you're breaking the rules. Break them in this thread, and you'll be banned from the site. Thanks.

From TWoP Gadget: Just because this thread is in "Old American Idol" and not in the current season -- doesn't mean the rules have changed. This is not a place for a virtual pissing match between fans and non-fans.

This post has been edited by TWoP Gadget: Oct 12, 2008 @ 12:04 pm.

[StillCookin]

David is better than CBTM, and I would rather he stayed a smaller act playing $20 shows than blow up on the basis of that song. Not that I think that song is enough to get him playing arenas. But I just don't want his reputation built on it.

While CBTM is far from my favorite on his album, it is not as out of place as this post makes it sound. Many Cook fans adore the song, many list it as their favorite. I suspect the main reason some are so against the song is because David didn't write it - which is all but irrelevant for the song's success. Artistic merit can be argued - some will say David's own co-writes are no better than CBTM. I don't, but you know - it's all commercial pop-rock in the end.

Not to put too fine a point on it but Freakin Archie has a single out that he co-wrote on. Freakin A people. Seriously.

Yeah, and that single is a flop. What does it matter who wrote it if almost no one gets to hear it?

If David wanted to remain a $20 a gig bar singer with complete control over his music, well, he wouldn't have gone on Idol. Idol is into making music with wide-spread, commercial appeal.

Exactly. What's more, David is a new artist, he is not established yet, far from it. He is not guaranteed 5 more albums. He needs to make money and sell records and singles now to get carte blanche later in his career. He needs to "pay his dues" if you will, and the only way to keep moving records is by having a big successful single. I hope CBTM is that for him because I'd rather have him be successful with a song that isn't my ultimate favorite, than flop with a song I love to death.

Just MHO and all that.

This post has been edited by StillCookin: Feb 22, 2009 @ 6:14 pm.

[howmanywords]

Maybe big fans are just more invested and are more focused on Cook gaining rock cred or songwriters cred or whatever, but when I listened to his CD Come Back To Me was the one that screamed 'big hit'. To average listeners and radio program directors they aren't going to care who wrote a certain song. A record label who's main goal is to make money and score radio hits for their label will absolutely look at a songs selling potential first before looking at writing credits (see Kelly). Z100, the biggest Top40 station in the country I heard both LO and TOML on so I can't imagine they won't be all over this.

If David wanted to remain a $20 a gig bar singer with complete control over his music, well, he wouldn't have gone on Idol. Idol is into making music with wide-spread, commercial appeal.

Heh not to mention as long as he's lining Simon Fuller and RCA's pockets I think they might have a say in whether or not he should be a $20 a gig singer. This music industry is murder to break into and I think anyone who gets a shot at making a lot of money and getting some hit songs to their name should count their blessings, and should be willing to make some sacrifices. As a Michael Johns fan I wish he would have been allowed that opportunity and gave up some creative freedom if he had to.

[superconnected]

I get the concern about CBTM not being written by him, or having him pigeon-holed into that type of song, but look at it this way: there's a 100% chance of the next single (unless there is no next single, which could happen but isn't likely) being written by him, hee. Unless you don't want to count Bar-Ba-Sol* being written by him, but at least he has a writing credit.

I think that it's possible that if CBTM hits it big, radio (esp. Top40) will be more willing to embrace the edgier, louder songs like Declaration or Heroes or whatever, which you could say are more in line with the kind of music David might want to make. It's not like he's aching to bust out some death-metal or something; there's different levels of rock versus pop, but the whole album, with the exception of BBS, is pop/rock. And then getting one of those to land well could position him better with the label.

* FYI, there's a rumor going around that there's a plan to dual-release Bar-Ba-Sol and Come Back To Me, with BBS heading to rock radio. Not sure how true it is (it's from a fan report of something Dave said at a show, so take it with a huuuuge grain of salt), but if it is, I think it's a great idea. BBS could flop spectacularly on rock or alt., and it may very well, but it can flop quietly there, if CBTM starts kicking ass on Pop. My dream scenario is both of those songs doing well (because come on, Bar-Ba-Sol is a great rock radio song, it's a long shot but it could happen) and then everyone's happy, I think.

This post has been edited by superconnected: Feb 22, 2009 @ 7:27 pm.

[dannymoon]

Wow, superconnected, that's some news right there. I'll take my enormous grain of salt but it's exciting if true. It's smart actually, but do singers/bands actually do this? Duel-release different songs for different formats at once? I hadn't noticed such things, but I don't listen to enough radio either. I suppose it's a good way to receive what you hope is good success with one single, while trying out the other with another genre/audience, just to see the results without it being a total failure if that one risky single doesn't pay off on radio. I would love BBS to be tested in the rock waters. It's a terrific track (best on the CD IMO) and I agree it's a great rock radio song. I know rock radio has very little intention of allowing anything from the AI circle near their playlist, but I would be VERY curious to see what would happen nonetheless.

This post has been edited by dannymoon: Feb 22, 2009 @ 8:08 pm.

[SummerDaze]

I was disappointed when the news first came out about Come Back To Me being single #2 cause I think there were better bets if they were trying to hit on Top 40, but I've made peace with the idea that they're gonna market David as a HAC format star in the same vein as Lifehouse, O.A.R., The Fray, and Gavin Rossdale. I don't think in any way that CBTM will hit on Top 40 radio. Of course I'd love to be proven wrong...

I do like it a lot more than LO and think it can do better than that song. The only worry is, will they give the second single as much "push" as the first one, especially since it won't be combined with the initial huge album/artist push David got for his launch? Cause I don't think LO got as high as it has now on the charts w/o a LOT of help. I'm thinking of Archuleta's situation where his second single is (imo) a lot better song than the first, but it's kind of fizzling on radio cause there's no big push behind it.

dannymoon, I think they did a similar dual release dealio with Daughtry...one track to top 40 and one to rock. I wouldn't be surprised if they do end up doing this since they're basically following the Daughtry playbook for David.

[NancyGirl]

I'm thinking of Archuleta's situation where his second single is (imo) a lot better song than the first, but it's kind of fizzling on radio cause there's no big push behind it.

Despite chatter to the contrary, Archie's second single was pushed. Its actually getting a second push as we speak.

The only worry is, will they give the second single as much "push" as the first one, especially since it won't be combined with the initial huge album/artist push David got for his launch?

Second songs, in general, dont get pushed as hard as debut singles. But they shouldn't need to either. We'll see how it does.

I've made peace with the idea that they're gonna market David as a HAC format star in the same vein as Lifehouse, O.A.R., The Fray, and Gavin Rossdale.

ITA. That does seem like the direction they are taking him in.

This post has been edited by NancyGirl: Feb 22, 2009 @ 9:41 pm.

[Song of Roland]

Re a 'push' for the second single, oh, yes, it'll get primo pushing. Dave is golden boy right now, and CBTM will be intro'd on AI fo' sho'. Rumour has it March 17/18. (IMO/YMMV).

[Shant]

If memory serves me correctly when David's CD was first released the second most popular song after Light On for downloads on iTunes Canada was Come Back to Me. Obviously this song strikes a cord quite a few people.

[superconnected]

Your American Idol, ladies and gentlemen, reveals a talent for catching and holding large quantities of grapes in his mouth.

Hee, what a goof. I love these vlogs so much.

This post has been edited by superconnected: Feb 23, 2009 @ 6:38 pm.

[Jadedrejected]

I have not seen this posted but I heard it reported last week that TOML is officially the best selling coronation song.

[CoConspirator]

David is better than CBTM, and I would rather he stayed a smaller act playing $20 shows than blow up on the basis of that song. Not that I think that song is enough to get him playing arenas. But I just don't want his reputation built on it.

I have a feeling DC himself would much rather blow up because of CBTM than have to go back to being a bar act. Just a guess though...

[TropicFruit]

David is better than CBTM, and I would rather he stayed a smaller act playing $20 shows than blow up on the basis of that song. Not that I think that song is enough to get him playing arenas. But I just don't want his reputation built on it.

I'm a big fan of David's but c'mon, his reputation is currently built on the fact that he won a cheesy reality show. Granted it's the most popular reality show on TV with a reputation for having propelled a few acts into pop-rock or country superstardom, but I can't buy into any argument that he's somehow "too good" or "above" some commercial imperative like releasing a hooky/catchy pop rock song to gain more new fans. As a fan of the guy, CBTM may not represent entirely accurately who (I think) Cook is as an artist but it's not like the song is complete dreck either (in fact, even though I don't think it's in the top tier of songs on Cook's album, it's actually not a bad song). Also, let's not forget: The guy freakin' wore a lime green spandex matador suit on national TV all in the name of not having to play $20 shows anymore.

This post has been edited by TropicFruit: Feb 24, 2009 @ 4:34 am.

[soundofchaos]

Bringing over info from David Cook Official. David confirmed that there will be dual releases. Come Back To Me to HAC and Top 40 radio and Bar-Ba-Sol to Rock.

That is Genius. Two opposite songs, two opposite formats, even if they both don't quite take, I applaud the ambition.

[FlickerToAFlame]

I absolutely love Bar-Ba-Sol and wish there were more than one song on the album like it. I'm very happy they're giving it a shot at radio.

[ihateschool]

I'm ecstatic they are releasing Bar-Ba-Sol! That's by far the best song on the album. I hope it's a smash hit.