David Cook — “I’m Alive” and “All I Really Need is You” — MP3 Video

Tuesday, April 29, 2008, 08:41 PM | American Idol 7, David Cook

David Cook American Idol Top 5

David Cook performs “I’m Alive” and “All I Really Need is You” by Neil Diamond on American Idol Top 5

Simon said that David Cook’s second song was brilliant.

Still can’t get over the Paula Abdul flub.

1-866-IDOLS 02 or 07

Listen to the audio of David Cook:

I’m Alive

All I Really Need is You

David Cook Top 5 – “Studio Single” – MP3 on iTunes
David Cook Top 5 – “First Performance Video” on iTunes
David Cook Top 5 – “Second Performance Video” on iTunes

David Cook on Amazon.com

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Direct link to MP3 and video clip:

David Cook – Top 5 – I’m Alive
David Cook – Top 5 – All I Really Need is You
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David Cook fan thread on Rickey Forums

142 Comments for David Cook — “I’m Alive” and “All I Really Need is You” — MP3 Video

1

Lookin’ good, DC. Lookin’ good. YUMMMMMMMMM!

imelda103 on April 29, 2008 at 9:37 pm
2

David C is only one who has consistently delivered!

Manny on April 29, 2008 at 9:41 pm
3

oh my GOD.

DCook, just… nnngh.
I worship his stylists, and him even more if he’s the one choosing those clothes. And omg, the hair. And THE VOICE. And the SCRUFF.
*dead*

trendy on April 29, 2008 at 9:41 pm
4

DC is starting to sound the same on every song just like DA.

raysfan on April 29, 2008 at 9:42 pm
5

The second song was SO good.

hessilou on April 29, 2008 at 9:43 pm
6

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again and again and agaaaaaaain, he is invasively sexy. I just don’t get how he gets even more so each week. It’s mind-boggling, alas!

Jodi on April 29, 2008 at 9:44 pm
7

The first one was only meh for me.

hessilou on April 29, 2008 at 9:45 pm
8

First song was good by AI standards, but awful by DC standards. Way too rushed. Also, Cookie, after this long in the show, why haven’t you realized yet that you CANNOT SING IN YOUR LOWER REGISTER?

Second song was the best of the night by a MILE. Which, not hard, because tonight was horrible. Still, great arrangement and fantastic vocals. I sense another iTunes #1 coming up. Cookie, you are the only person on this show who is still trying. Can we just give him the crown now and get this farce of a show over with? (Sorry, still extremely pissed at Paula’s flub. What. The. Hell.)

Demisquirrel on April 29, 2008 at 9:48 pm
9

The 2nd song is not only my favorite DC song so far – it may be my favorite song right now. period.

[clinks bourbon glasses with Mrs. Robinson]

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 9:48 pm
10

Both DC songs were the same booooring style he does week after week. Nothing new here.

Indomass on April 29, 2008 at 9:48 pm
11

Where’s Jodi?

Suh-hhhhexay!

I don’t even know what he sang tonight. Did the Cap’n even sing? All I saw was red; black; Les Paul; and a semi-emo near-faux-hawk.

But the blatant pimpage: even *I* had to laugh.

laff on April 29, 2008 at 9:49 pm
12

re Paula – huge blunder. Credibility shot. Why didn’t simon or randy stop her?!?!?

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 9:51 pm
13

(Raises glass)
Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
and you, Ann11
(takes a sip)

hessilou on April 29, 2008 at 9:52 pm
14

Paula’s blunder was just her usual confusion coming out. It was odd, but completely explainable in non-conspiracy terms.

laff on April 29, 2008 at 9:53 pm
15

EXCOOOOOSE ME – LAFF! Blatant pimpage? Simon didn’t like the first – and the 2nd was more brilliant than he realizes.

No hyperbole, no kidding.

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 9:54 pm
16

ann11 (is you name annie levin?), he said “above average” fopr the first, brill for the second, and Paula said … “I feel like I’m already looking at the American Idol”.

OPA!

laff on April 29, 2008 at 9:56 pm
17

First of all he gave Neil Diamond goose bumps! Hello! This guy knows someone good/great when he hears them. First song was great! Sorry Simon. My husband while listening and watching first song who never says a thing about Idol said if this guy doesn’t win something is wrong!
Second song absolutely amazing.
And like I said in an earlier thread of DC’s tomorrow or next day #1 on itunes.
Bet me!

candle602 on April 29, 2008 at 10:03 pm
18

PS Paula was right. Next American Idol!!

I know my husband said. LOL

candle602 on April 29, 2008 at 10:05 pm
19

Just got my child in bed and am off to vote for the next hour.

Talk later

candle602 on April 29, 2008 at 10:06 pm
20

The second song was better than the first one, but I liked more last week performance. Sorry.

anastasia on April 29, 2008 at 10:06 pm
21

Laff – “her usual confusion”?!?! [passes Laff a large, full glass of bourbon] – you need this more than I do.

[Laff takes a sip. I fill her glass again, and then top off Mrs. Robinson and Hessilou's.]

Okay, let’s talk. Critiquing a song – NEGATIVELY and in DETAIL – BEFORE IT’S SUNG is, imo, SERIOUS S–T for AI. If this doesn’t make big news, I’ll be VERY surprised.

Credibility shot.

More bourbon?

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 10:07 pm
22

“All I saw was red; black; Les Paul; and a semi-emo near-faux-hawk.”

ugh. exactly. i kinda melted right from the beginning when he walked out with the others on-stage.

…and the les paul- i guess i just have a thing for boys with guitars, because every time he breaks that out, he just oozes sex appeal to me. :X

trendy on April 29, 2008 at 10:09 pm
23

I want to deal with the important stuff first:

Rickey!!! that screencap is awesome!!!

Now, that we got that out of our way – I haven’t watched the show yet. Was I’m Alive the first song? (it was on my DC song list for tonight).

And Jodi, you’re right, he does become more sexy every week. It’s crazy. Just look at pictures of him from the beginning of the show, or a month ago, it’s amazing to see the changes.

Shimrit_fs on April 29, 2008 at 10:12 pm
24

Amen, trendy, amen. There’s just something about guitar boys!

And that haircut! Woo boy! lol

And what is with the negativity in this thread tonight? *Shoos all the people out*

dreamr on April 29, 2008 at 10:13 pm
25

Both were interesting tonight. He definitely has just been sounding the same and that isn’t good. It’s consistent but who wants a CD where everything is the same?

-ewgs
http://www.xanga.com/ewgs
idol judging

ewgs on April 29, 2008 at 10:15 pm
26

DC is just getting better each week. He’s in a different league from the rest. What more can I say…

SuziWong on April 29, 2008 at 10:17 pm
27

ann11, yes, her usual confusion. I’m sure Paula watched the feed of the dress rehearsal from her trailer (if she wasn’t in the studio), and took notes. Sure, they should judge the actual performance, but … ehh.

Clearly, the show is at least partially scripted. For the first time EVER, I actually kind of enjoyed Syesha tonight, and found it so farking obvious that Simon was bummed that she did okay. Why else would he throw her under the bus like that. okay, the tumbler o’ bourbon is making me a little too chatty.

Should we worry for DC’s safety? Archie was so hideous tonight that I have no words, yet I know he’s safe. ugh.

laff on April 29, 2008 at 10:19 pm
28

Thanks for the top-off, Ann11.

Ugh…in LA, so I will have to wait a couple more hours to fully enjoy the hotness that is David C.

(Still at work and getting sloshed on the faux bourbon.)

hessilou on April 29, 2008 at 10:20 pm
29

Shimrit, dear, although DC might be getting sexier as the weeks go by – in an objective, empirical, measurable way – I kind of liked him better when I didn’t think he was all that great looking, and yet I was completely sucked in by the sexy. I couldn’t explain the immense FORCE that was drawing me to him like some gravitational pull from lord knows where. It was … other-worldly.

laff on April 29, 2008 at 10:27 pm
30

Hey everyone…I know DialIdol is not the end-all be-all regarding votes, but right now Syesha is more than 1 full point ahead of DC!!! I hope everyone that loves him is voting like crazy right now!! My only consolation is that Syesha and DC are both about 10 points ahead of DA (not that I dislike DA, but his stalkers…I mean fans…have really just turned me off to him).

uktwirl on April 29, 2008 at 10:27 pm
31

Hessilou, Shimrit – no need to wait – DC’s already on YouTube!

I’m Alive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4IMYEKjqFg

All I Need Is You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sJPeFyW0Pc

And Paula’s FLUB (via Mjblog)
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=3289d38e-af4c-425b-a7a8-22845d5af037

And darn – where’d Mrs. Robinson go? Off to seduce DC I bet!

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 10:36 pm
32

For all you David Cook fans!

Visit my friendster David Cook Fanpage!

http://profiles.friendster.com/ilovedavidcook

Feel free to add urself, comment on the photos, add and upload ur favorite David Cook photo!

DAVID COOK FOR THE WIN!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:37 pm
33

To ALL COOKIES!

Visit my friendster David Cook Fanpage!

http://profiles.friendster.com/ilovedavidcook

Feel free to add urself, comment on the photos, add and upload ur favorite David Cook photo!

DAVID COOK will be THE NEXT AMERICAN IDOL

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:38 pm
34

Laff – re worrying about DC – according to DialIdol – Syesha is FIRST. DC 2nd. DA 3rd. Brook and JC pretty much tied for 4 & 5.

Rickey – does this mean Syesha has fans?!?!

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 10:38 pm
35

For all you David Cook fans!

Visit my friendster David Cook Fanpage!

Add my david cook fanpage email

i_love_david_cook@yahoo.com

Feel free to add urself, comment on the photos, add and upload ur favorite David Cook photo!

DAVID COOK FOR THE WIN!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:39 pm
36

just saw your post, uktwirl, and laff – remember when Simon said he didn’t have any charisma? Bet you laughed as hard as I did.

ann11 on April 29, 2008 at 10:40 pm
37

That was fast… the videos already up in YOUTUBE!

Thanks for the information ann11

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:41 pm
38

AWESOME performance from David Cook!

Lets vote for David Cook! Dont be complacent guys!

1-866-IDOLS-02 or 07

Lets support DAVID COOK ALL THE WAY!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:43 pm
39

I think that the show was a bit boring tonight outside of Paula. I did like DC’s performance, but I don’t know, just not much different from many others he’s had. DA was good too, but again, not anything that stands out from what he’s done previously. They were both reliably and predictably good, but just nothing to get that excited about.

Once again, I think that Jason and Brooke were fairly awful. But will one of them go home?

Syesha, who I’ve never really cared much about one way or the other, was the only one that stood out for me tonight.

laureldj on April 29, 2008 at 10:44 pm
40

Laff – re worrying about DC – according to DialIdol – Syesha is FIRST. DC 2nd. DA 3rd. Brook and JC pretty much tied for 4 & 5.

OMG! SYESHA HAS FANS? HEHEHE!

COOKIES! LETS MAKE DAVID COOK THE TOP VOTE GETTER AGAIN! LETS NOT BE COMPLACENT!

Dial 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 07

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:46 pm
41

laff – I disagree. Simon definitely did not throw Syesha under a bus – in fact, his comment helped her out more than anything else. Viewers are now scared that she’s going to leave after a fabulous performance, a la Carly, so they’re going to vote extra hard for her tonight. If he had just called it good, their votes would probably be going to Jason, who many felt sorry for, or Brooke, who stank up her first song to an unbelievable degree but was actually decent on her second.

Demisquirrel on April 29, 2008 at 10:48 pm
42

I think we should call and vote for David Cook!

Paula said something about I THINK IM LOOKING AT THE AMERICAN IDOL!

I think they are setting this up as the David Cook win! Too bad David A had to fade away after a strong start!

Thats what you call VERSATILITY!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:50 pm
43

Indeed SYESHA did stood out tonight!

I think shes a force to be reckoned with!

I hope Jason wont be eliminated.

The one that HAS TO GO is BROOKE!

BROOKE HAS TO GO!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:52 pm
44

Ann, thank you for caring so much for my well being!
(but the show starts in 10 minutes, so I think I might be able to wait. And then I can go and rewatch 388823 times on YouTube).

And also, Syesha had made it to the final 5, so as much as we talk about her not having a fan base, she made it through 10 voting rounds (even if barely) so someone MUST be voting for her. I kinda want her to be bottom 2 again but not leaving because then she’d have the AI survivor record all to herself, and she earned it.

On the other hand, my life will be just fine without Jason. I think that at that point they all pretty much sound the same (re: anyone who complains DC sounds the same now. I recall the judges on Larry King saying that he knows who he is, and I agree) so I want to eliminate the person who’s “the same” bores me the most right now.

And no emotional meltdown for Brooke? how disappointing. I didn’t think SHE would be the most unexpected of the night.

Shimrit_fs on April 29, 2008 at 10:52 pm
45

Okay people stop drinking the f-ing burbon and start voting. I am voting between my sips of wine.

Come on how can anyone say David Cook was and is anything but great!!
Paula may be on the oxy again, however, she is not so blind as to see the best ever!
David Cook #1 on itunes tomorrow or next day however darn long it takes Rickey to get the info.

candle602 on April 29, 2008 at 10:52 pm
46

Jason’s performance is weak!

But I hope he’s good for another week

Syesha changed her hairstyle and her style in singing too…

She has a strong voice, but lack personality!

Jason, if not voted off, has to do something to surprised everyone next week…

Say changing his hairstyle perhaps…

The COOK ROCKS and SIZZLING HOT Tonight!

DAVID COOK FOR THE WIN!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:54 pm
47

Oh, and I forgot the best thing about tonight’s show: we’re done with the themes/mentors!!!

DC was put tonight it a really difficult position: he’s branded as the one who takes risks, and anything but taking a risk tonight (regardless of the performance itself, even) would be a disappointment. So with someone like Neil Diamond as a theme, a theme that while might not be the best idea, but we’ve all assumed that was pretty much a theme that should work easily for DC, choosing any known song of Neil Diamond would have been considered as a safe choice.

And would have also made him a target for some random rock band who covered a well known Diamond song at some point.

By choosing those two songs he got away from the cover of a cover arguments, and was brave and original, again.

But since next week is probably (hopefully) going to be a lot less limiting, I predict he’ll get back to fully rocking-awesome mode again.

(I think he handled all the theme shows really well though).

Shimrit_fs on April 29, 2008 at 10:57 pm
48

Dialidol at the moment shows DA in the yellow! Enter DA threads at your own risk LOL!!!!!

imelda103 on April 29, 2008 at 10:57 pm
49

For the first time, David A. is out of the top 2!

He’s been sitting comfortably up there in the No. 1 position…

Until David Cook swept everyone off their feet (including the No. 1 position from David A) and stole the thunder from David A.

Now, David A is No. 3 (for now based on DialIdol) behind a strong performance from David Cook and surprisingly Syesha!

Lets VOTE FOR DAVID COOK!

1-866-IDOLS-02 or 07

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 10:58 pm
50

Personally, I think the songs left a lot to be desired.

I can’t say I’m at all familiar with Neil Diamond songs…other than “I’m A Believer” and (once Jason began singing it) “Forever In Blue Jeans” (Jacob Hoggard auditioned with that song for Canadian Idol 2, but duuuude did Jason’s sound different than Jacob’s!). Oh, and “Sweet Caroline” sounded familiar, too. But overall, I thought the songs were really blah. :look:

I pray we get a better theme next week.

dreamr on April 29, 2008 at 10:59 pm
51

imelda

Im not planning to enter any DA threads because im a CERTIFIED DAVID COOK FAN!

No need to cross borders and fight! Im MATURE ENOUGH! Hahahaha!

Im sure most of the David Cook fans are also mature enough to VOTE FOR DAVID COOK!

Hell, were even MATURE enuf to BUY OUR OWN tickets and BUY DAVID COOK’S ALBUM when it will be released in the future!

David COOK for the WIN!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 11:03 pm
52

Okay, IMO, Seshya was very good.
Now for David Cook. Most awesome, most brilliant, most talented, most sexy, and best performer EVER, on AI. I love this guy. No one ever compares to him.
Don’t even compare him to that David Archuleta.
Good god, how can anyone even compare the two.
David Cook is a thousand miles above them all!

candle602 on April 29, 2008 at 11:05 pm
53

Jason Castro is at the bottom of the DialIdol standing…

David Cook is at No 2 with 15.32%

Syesha (surprisingly) is No 1 with 17.16%

3rd is David A… If theyre getting the bottom 3 this week, David A will be in the bottom 3!

Im looking forward to the show tomorrow!

Exciting!

David A is at 10.5% Brooke is at 8.5%

HE MIGHT EVEN BE IN THE BOTTOM 2!

DAVID COOK for the WIN!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 11:07 pm
54

I agree with you candle602!

DAVID COOK IS THE BEST!

dennies_siongco on April 29, 2008 at 11:08 pm
55

David Cook is a thousand miles above them all!

<<<<<<<<<<<<

lol… that made me laugh! That’s exacally how I feel!!!!!

He’s in a league of his own.

hellomyeggo on April 29, 2008 at 11:09 pm
56

Okay now that voting is over for me…can I just say that I wish he would play me like he plays his guitar??? LOL!!! He was ten kinds of hot tonight….wow!!!

Also, I’ve noticed some rumblings here and on some other threads after tonight’s performance saying that DC is starting to sound the same…..to which my reply is: Music of the Night! How quickly they forget! The fact is DC can work wonders with just about any song (including the sap that is Lionel Richie and Neil Diamond). He can sing rock, he can sing theater, he can sing uptempo, he can sing ballads, and he makes rational women melt into quivering puddles of adoration!! He has the word “star” written all over him!!

uktwirl on April 29, 2008 at 11:16 pm
57

I’m a huge DC fan, but I have to admit that I wasn’t in love with his 1st song (liked it but didn’t love it). However, his 2nd performance was amazing – I predict that this will be a top-seller on iTunes this week.

And OMG – can the judges lighten up on Syesha? I thought she sang really well tonight, but the judges never give her a break.

OK, I realize Paula flubbed the “script”… but she got one thing right tonight- David Cook is the next American Idol. DCFTMFW!!!

meddie on April 29, 2008 at 11:22 pm
58

Was it ever mentioned if BOTH of DC’s songs will be available on iTunes? I hope so. If not both, I hope he does All I Really Need is You for the studio version of the week. Which one do you guys prefer?

imelda103 on April 29, 2008 at 11:33 pm
59

Imelda – I assume it will be two songs, just on the same “album”. (which is the studio single on iTunes). Videos aren’t gathered into albums, so it has two spots there.

Shimrit_fs on April 29, 2008 at 11:37 pm
60

OK, just watched the second song. Ahhhh!

(my favorite point of the night is still DC presenting his VT).

Shimrit_fs on April 29, 2008 at 11:41 pm
61

Thanks, Shimrit_fs!

imelda103 on April 29, 2008 at 11:42 pm
62

David was super cute and super funny tonight. I was so jostled after Paula’s oddness that I had to re-watch the performances after the show to actually absorb anything. I really liked Cookie’s second song, and once again, I cannot wait 24 hours for the iTunes!

David Cook makes me happy. I do miss his dorky hairdo, though, with the bangs off his forehead. So cute.

anubha on April 30, 2008 at 12:21 am
63

That’s funny…

When Archu sings ballad, he’s been blamed for being ballad’ish’ all the time.

But when he did two straight uptempo song, he still being blame boring and robotic.

So ironic haha…

What the heck, just give David Cook the crown and America will be happy for that.

inasina on April 30, 2008 at 12:31 am
64

Did you all notice that Simon said he changed the arrangement of song #2? I’m stunned that Simon knew the original to know that! I’d never heard it before, so I wouldn’t know that he made it current by changing it up. Anyway, it was great.

btw, nice touch with the little fake strand woven in for the extra long dangly side-bang.

laff on April 30, 2008 at 12:38 am
65

My favorite part of the night was when Paula was trying to pin her negative comments about Jason’s second performance on Cook. He just had the hugest grin on his face. You could tell he was thinking, “Riiight, Paula, whatever. Like anyone’s actually going to believe that.”

Demisquirrel on April 30, 2008 at 12:48 am
66

yeah, demisquirrel, that was ridiculously lame. Remember how I just said that Jason was charmless and awful? Well, I meant that about David Cook … who was fabulous tonight! Comedy gold.

laff on April 30, 2008 at 1:02 am
67

David Cook’s song “All I Really Need Is You” was the best of the night and will become another hit. Cook’s new arrangement of this song will be an iTune favorite just like “Always Be My Baby”.

On the downside, in my opinion, it would have been better for him to lose the guitar and move around on stage a bit more for “All I Really Need Is You”. He is now a front man and does not need the guitar all the time.

I am looking forward to Rickey’s iTune morning stats.

Well done David Cook.

Lovegoodmusic on April 30, 2008 at 1:08 am
68

I agree with Lovegoodmusic post #67.

He needed to just lose the guitar on the second song, move around, try to grab a girl on the audience and just sing to her right when he’s about to end the song. Much more sexy haha

I do like this hair especially when the light gives it a tint of red. so HOTT!!!

fannatic on April 30, 2008 at 1:25 am
69

I think I listened to “All I Need Is You” way too many times, and I’m totally distracted from what I need to do (working). I got to the addiction point in which I don’t care about working, but only think that if I go to sleep now, result show and iTunes studio version will arrive faster.

OK – I still don’t really understand how after 7 seasons of being relatively emotionally detached I have this ridiculous crush, but, come on. David Cook, how can I not have one. Woah.

And on a more serious note, I think that what gets me about him is that a really went through a huge process from the auditions to the status he is in now, which is what I like seeing in that kind of show, and hardly ever get to.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 1:37 am
70

Oh, and I also forgot to mention the AC on his jacket (which I assume is new)… he takes his brother(s) with him on stage every time he sings.

By the way, did he look like he was holding back? his reactions to the judges in the end were pretty muted.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 1:46 am
71

Shimrit – I think his reaction was a combination of exhaustion and apathy. After all the shit that went down tonight, can you blame him? Cookie’s smart enough to know when he’s being overpimped – AINIY was the best song of the night by far, but it certainly wasn’t HIS best performance or arrangement. So of course he’s not going to act overly pleased about praise that he knew was exaggerated. Also, Cook and Castro are roomies and he’s probably closest to Castro out of the remaining contestants, so I’m guessing that he was a little bit pissed off on his friend’s behalf.

Demisquirrel on April 30, 2008 at 2:46 am
72

I totally agree there. I still read on all kind of places, even about tonight’s show, that he comes across as arrogant, which, again, I don’t get, I don’t get where that comes from.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 2:51 am
73

Demisq – I agree – I think it might have been awkward for DC. Though his 2nd song WAS brilliant, it was so obviously the polar opposite of Jason’s critique.

I also got a bad feeling after Paula dissed Jason and lost credibility and THEN crowned DC the next AI. Bad timing for her to anoint DC. I wonder if it hurt DC’s votes tonight – with some turned off, or not voting because they didn’t think he needed it, or someone else needed it more.

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 3:08 am
74

DC Fans – I think you’ll love this. You might want to skip the contestant review and go right to her feelings on DC:

http://tvfan.ew.com/shows/American+Idol/recap/604

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 3:11 am
75

Ann, I read that earlier, I was cracking so loudly my roommate came to see if everything was alright.

She doesn’t watch AI at all, but she’s big on DC after a saturday morning in which my iTunes was playing random AI songs from this season, and every single time DC came up she jumped and said, “ooh! I really like this!” and then, “really? it’s the same guy? wow, he’s really good.”

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 3:51 am
76

Oh, and Ann, as one of the other reviews I read this evening said about the Jason thing followed by Paula crowning DC: well, she already shown tonight that she can predict the future.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 3:53 am
77

Seriously, after watching tonight I get the feeling that David Cook’s not even in the same competition as the rest of the people anymore. He turned in his two weakest performances of the season save for ‘Innocent’, and he was STILL the best of the night by far. The only person he’s competing with right now is himself – Archie’s completely worn himself out into stagnation, Syesha’s gone Broadway, Jason’s being systematically torn apart by the system, and Brooke’s reached the final stages of her breakdown. Of course, it’s possible that I have just fantastically jinxed myself and he will be booted tomorrow, but at this point it’s not even a contest anymore. I’m not tuning in to see if Cook outperforms his competitors; right now, the only thing I’m interested in on AI is what new arrangement he’ll pull out of his sleeve.

Demisquirrel on April 30, 2008 at 4:11 am
78

Same here, I just want to hear him perform. I only agree about half what you said though, I think only the first song was one of the weakest performances, and honestly, it is mostly because he was only allowed to sing like 20 seconds of it. It was on my DC Neil Diamond songlist, and it could have been great if it had a longer stretch.

I did, however, agree with Simon on the second song, I think it was absolutely beautiful. But maybe it’s also because I actually know the original version (and love it, especially the lyrics), and I thought he did an amazing job making it sound current, like Simon said.

Both, you’re right on this, were not in the levels of let’s say, Billie Jean, but what I love about DC is that he challenges himself every week, and if everyone were saying that his thing was taking familiar songs and perform them with a twist, he decided to take songs no one knows (except me, but I’m a human jukebox, and I’m Israeli where we love any artist who is Jewish) and still have people enjoy them.

I do hope that as we leave mentorland, we get a more wide theme next week that will allow him to do something more fun and wowish. You can’t really do a BJ with any Diamond song.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 5:11 am
79

Okay, I don’t get it. Simon says of all the 5 contestants that David’s first song was “above average.” To everyone else, he gave negative comments: old-fashioned, amatuerish, karaoke, etc. With David Cook’s 2nd performance, he said that the song was “brillant” and that DC made it sound like it was written this year (current). The fact that DC chose two unknown songs (not Diamond’s signature songs) is risky but he was the only one to pull it off. He made it sound like “today’s” music. Neil Diamond has that rough low register that very few singers can do like him. DC was able to capture that low register and in my opinion, it was very good–the best “low” register voice from him for this season. I loved it. It was my favorite of all the 1st go-round. I am old enough to be very familiar with Neil Diamond and I’ve been to his concerts. DC sounded like Diamond (which is very hard to do and why Neil has managed to stay in the business for 40 years) and DC made it sound modern so as not to do karaoke. The second song is BEAUTIFL and even Neil said “it gave him the chills.” I have no doubt that when people listen to it–they will not associate it as “Neil Diamond’s song” but “YET ANOTHER HIT BY DAVID COOK.” It was obvious to me that of all the contestants Neil thought DC was the best of the lot and again Neil said that David took a risk and that it was gutsy not to choose one of Neil’s better known songs.

When I think of Neil Diamond, I think of all the songs the other contestants sang (but not one came close to being better, modern, etc., and since I love Neil Diamond, who’s had a career of over 40 years, you better be sooooooooo much better if you plan to sing his well-known “top-hits” songs. On July 4th, “Coming to America” is played because it’s iconic and patriotic. If all else fails–win the crowd over and pull a KLC patriotic song. It’s a sign of desperation; however you better do as good a job or better to pull it off. I was praying DC would not choose that song because you can’t touch that song. It’s Neil Diamond’s song and will forever be that. In my opinion Neil Diamond’s version of that song should replace the National Anthem.

Love you DAVID COOK. Of all the contestants on all past Idols and today’s seasons–you stand out.

reinharv on April 30, 2008 at 6:14 am
80

Second song is just have HIT written all over it, if it’s gonna be released in the radio, I think it would be played every hour!

Seriously, I never followed idols, before but if they will release all david’s performance in one album and studio version in a double cd of this songs, I will buy it, I think it will be number one in all idolised countries, his songs just connects, perfect song choices, and perfect renditions!

David Cook, whether you win or not, you are the now known by the whole world as a great singer and performance artist!

The idol crown is just an icing in the cake that you already have!!!

David Cook, hit-maker!

idoliseDJ on April 30, 2008 at 7:08 am
81

David Cook is still my favorite, and I want to marry him. He is a musical genius and a musical wizard. I don’t understand why God made my future husband 25 years younger than me, but I’ll go with it. Squirrelly loves David Cook! I melt every time I see him on tv, and I can’t explain the hold he has on me. I would truly marry this man if he asked me, and he’s younger than my daughter. I’m so overwhelmed with excitement every time I see him, it’s like watching the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. He did a great job again totally changing up the music to fit his grunge rock style (loved both songs, although the songs were not recognizable to me). I cannot believe how versatile and smart he is. He will have trouble topping his song “Music of the Night” because it was so perfect, but he can’t do wrong because he’s just OOOOoooohhhh so right!!!

David A. and Syesha were pretty good. I hope Syesha gets to stay another week, because I would much rather watch her than Brooke (omg, could Brooke go home already???). Everyone is too hard on Jason, his style is not as loud and big, but he is still doing a good job. He deserves more respect from the judges. Give Paula a lttle break since Ryan decided to change up the show and get the judges opinions after all of the first performances instead of at the end of the 2nd performance as he originally stated. Paula may not be a rocket scientist, but she knows music. Jason is not going to win AI. Brooke f&#ked up both times she stopped during her performances and then argued with the judges. Syesha is improving. Brooke is not improving (go home Brooke).

David Cook is my American Idol, and my future husband! Go David Cook!

Squirrelly on April 30, 2008 at 9:03 am
82

I really enjoyed the 2nd song and can’t wait for the full studio version. I also look forward to the studio version of “I’m Alive” because I think the main problem with the performance was it was so stinking short. There wasn’t time to build that kind of song in 1 minute.

ewgs – I heard the same silly story about “who wants to buy a CD that sounds all the same” with Daughtry in S5 – last I checked, Daughtry was the #1 selling album of 2007, so I guess either (1) all the songs don’t sound the same, or (2) there are a lot of people who want to buy a CD that sounds the same.

Daisy on April 30, 2008 at 9:03 am
83

I don’t know how anyone could say that all of David Cook’s music sounds the same. You can’t get any different than “Music of the Night” sung straight. David Cook is undeniably the most versatile artist ever on American Idol.

If there are any artists out there that are good but need some attention, get David Cook to do a cover on one of your songs. He’ll sell your cds for you! Everything David Cook touches turns to gold.

My only question is, does David Cook like older women? He’s driving me crazy!!!

Squirrelly on April 30, 2008 at 9:24 am
84

BTW, I don’t think that “Innocent” was a weak song. David Cook is just able to sing anything, and some songs are more exciting than others. He still did a bang up job on Innocent. I never thought I’d go goo goo over a broadway tune, but “Music of the Night” turned me over and baked me till all the filling came out. I’m done! David Cook needs to rescue me. He’s driving me nuts. Squirrelly needs David Cook!

Squirrelly on April 30, 2008 at 9:27 am
85

David Cook is now officially HOTTER THAN HELL! Now, that’s HOT!!!

By the way, I think he’ll even make Top 3, or he’s expected to. Producers have already contacted his home town, preparing for the homecoming show.

GwendolynD on April 30, 2008 at 9:56 am
86

I got to say that the second song is terrific. He is very very good. Wow!!!!!! I’m so excited.

aoi-bara on April 30, 2008 at 9:56 am
87

Cook is really good. Great voice and feel for the song. Great delivery and connects with the camera and audience. He’s the most polished and professional of this year’s crop by far.

David Cook and Syesha should be the last 2. Seriously.

Spriggzoid on April 30, 2008 at 10:18 am
88

I find it hilarious when anyone says DC sounds the same – um, Hello, Little Sparrow, Music of the Night, Billie Jean?

Especially when everyone else literally does sound the same (and that’s not a negative, it’s just their style is their style is their style).

I thought DC had a great night, especially in terms of stage presence/performance, which has grown leagues above everyone else. It really is like watching a real concert with him – while the others still seem in reality show mode to me. DC even rocked the outfit – with that jacket and red & black boots.

The thing is, it’s all relative now for DC – if anyone else had come out and rocked I’m Alive like that, people would have been floored. And the second song? Beautiful genius.

Finally – methinks Rita Wilson is a DC fan. Watch her nodding her head (right behind Simon) during his positive review (the 2nd one).

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 10:22 am
89

Ann – I noticed it too. And thought the same thing.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 10:54 am
90

And one more thing that I thought about last night… I keep hearing that it’s better for DC not to the win the show, so it doesn’t get stuck with TPTB and doesn’t have to do an album there, and he’s better off doing a Daughtry and then go do his own thing. So what I don’t get – Daughtry IS signed by 19e. What difference does it make if you sign there as a 5th place or a winner? I would have rather to win at that point. Also applies to the branding someone as an AI winner. So. What. I really don’t buy the “will not be taken seriously in the rock world”. If he does good music he’ll be taken seriously. Regardless of what TV show he was on. And in fact, him winning is even better for both the show and the branding thing, just because it will be something very different winning than the kind of singers/musical styles which brought the show its reputation as such to begin with.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 11:15 am
91

Shimrit_fs ~
I agree. I think most of the comments about “not winning is better” are made out of ignorance. Daughtry is signed with 19e and he was accepted just fine. And when Carrie won, TPTB shipped her off to Nashville to work with the greats of the Country music world. TPTB suddenly won’t figure out how to do that with someone who sings rock? It’s silliness.

Daisy on April 30, 2008 at 11:41 am
92

hi all
My biggest worry is that no matter how much
we all love David Cook and his amazing talent
and jaw dropping sex appeal – just look at the numbers. If he gets 90 comments, Archuletta
gets 350. I think the massive teen voting base
is just too big to overcome. So I do not think
David Cook will win this, although it should be
called The David Cook show at this point. Did anyone else notice little David last night – when Ryan said “WHO will be your next American Iodl?” Little David leaned forward, just a tad,
and looked UP at David Cook. I was so taken by that – even HE thinks Cook should win it. Bless his little heart. The finale will be very painful to watch.

jharris on April 30, 2008 at 11:56 am
93

shimrit & daisy – agree.

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 11:57 am
94

its funny cause here and in jason’s comments, everybody liked their second song better. i prefer the first from both!
anyway, cook is awesome. i didnt like him in the beginning. i thought – just as simon – that he was just cocky etc, but now, seeing him in the extras and making offs, i can see that he is a nice guy that can really sing! ;D

butterqflyfly on April 30, 2008 at 12:02 pm
95

Earlier today I tried to find David Cook’s lovers thread (the one we are on now) but it wasn’t here. Maybe it was taken down for a while? I don’t know…anyway, I find myself blogging on the results blog too. So maybe people are splitting up their blogs. I don’t know. For me, I need to get back to work. I find myself drawn to defending DC’s honor, but I must stop and go back to work. This hold he has on me…can’t explain…DC must rescue me! I want to have little David Cookies and Shirley Squirrlies!

Squirrelly on April 30, 2008 at 12:18 pm
96

Seriously folks, David Cook has a magnetism that can’t be explained, very similar to other rock legends. He’s my man!

Squirrelly on April 30, 2008 at 12:19 pm
97

jharris – i saw DA look at DC, too. sweet kid.

DC so owns/rocks the stage like no one else at this point. Over-all performer – singer, song-writer, musician, stage presence. Especially with Michael Johns & Carly out, he’s single-handedly saving AI’s arse.

Though would like to see the DA of Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” or “Imagine” back to join DC for the finals.

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 12:54 pm
98

ann11–I agree with what you said. I would like to see David A. come back strong, and give David Cook SOME competition. No one else really can even come close. David A. is good, but some of his best work was earlier in the competition. David Cook has consistently offered great performances, no matter what the music or style. IMO David Cook can’t be beat. You all have to give me a little room here, because I haven’t been so taken with a performer on tv in a while…I’m thinking maybe never. David Cook’s hold on me is unexplainable, and I don’t want it to stop. He keeps getting better and better, and how comes he looks so good? I want some DC!

Squirrelly on April 30, 2008 at 1:11 pm
99

Jut remembered something: week after next
I think the 3 top each reprise two of their
songs from the season. I am certain DC will
do Hello and Billie Jean. Oh to see those again
live. wow.

Please don’t let it be miss theatrical faker standing between the Davids in the top 3. This show is making me nuts and is going to cause me to get fired if I don’t get moving.

jharris on April 30, 2008 at 1:12 pm
100

99 – they don’t have to reprise on top 3…it’s three songs, and one is singer’s choice. i kind of want david to pick something new and cool

if he makes it to Finale…that’s when they reprise a song. (Billie Jean is my bet.)

Last night DC was so obviously better than everyone it was ridiculous The first song was over too fast but it was great to see Rawkstar DC back with the Les Paul and everything

The second song, wow, just wow. The falsetto part near the end just KILLED me. I really hope this one is the studio song.

And he looked great, too, mm mmm thank you stylists!

michelle on April 30, 2008 at 1:16 pm
101

But yeah, the judges need to quit with the overpimping. It can backfire. Hearing Paula call DC the next Idol after she just revealed her critique is even more worthless than we thought…not helping DC.

michelle on April 30, 2008 at 1:17 pm
102

92 – don’t judge the voting public (or even the online ai community) by rickey’s comment counts in every poll i’ve seen DC and even Jason are preferred over DA.

michelle on April 30, 2008 at 1:19 pm
103

I really don’t want Cook to reprise Billie Jean. BJ wasn’t just his greatest performance – it was one of the highest-rated performance of all time on AI and it was what propelled him to the front of the pack. I think it’ll be impossible for him to match that level of excitement, especially because a lot of people will have already heard it before and will be comparing it to his first rendition. Also, redoing Billie Jean means he’ll have to risk blowing open Covergate again.
Personally, I’d rather see him do ‘Hello’. It’s still one of my favorites and it was his first stand-out performance. Plus, he sang it in the semis, so enough time’s passed that the audience won’t be immediately reminded of the original version. I’m also speaking from a very selfish point of view, as I want the studio version of Hello so bad that it’s not even funny.

Demisquirrel on April 30, 2008 at 1:23 pm
104

#91:
I think it’s a little harsh to say the comments are out of “ignorance.” I know in my case, at least, it’s simply looking at the track records (and albums) of Idol winners.

In the past, it has seemed like maybe the winners (and the runners-up as well) already had certain songs and/or songwriters chosen for their albums, regardless of what genre of music they were doing. I think the fact that there are so many Idol alumni around the world who have the same songs on their albums lends itself to this:

- Clay Aiken & Casey Donovan “Shine”
- Michelle McManus & Diana DeGarmo “Emotional”
- Clay Aiken & Mark Rhodes “Measure Of A Man”
- Hind Laroussi & Casey Donovan “Something Beautiful”
- Anthony Callea & Ola Svensson “Rain”

And I’m sure there are more that I haven’t heard of! lol

I do have to give you the point for Carrie Underwood’s album, however. Her debut album was awesome. But I’m not sure if there had ever been a country Idol winner before her…

–

#92:
Actually, the numbers here at Rickey’s, I think (I could be wrong, since I don’t really go in those threads, but just going by what I see on the ‘common’ threads) the DA fans are more…talkative. You see them posting over and over and over…whereas the DC fans tend to be more…reserved? Not sure that’s the proper word, but we just don’t seem to post as much.

I would post much more than I do if Rickey’s site didn’t take me sooooo long to load each page. Gah. lol

dreamr on April 30, 2008 at 1:47 pm
105

Dreamer
I know they are massively more talkative -
they are also massively more into voting.
I adore DC and vote 6 or 7 times. Those teens
will vote 200 times. I hope the real star
wins but there are other factors and just
between you and me (anyone else?) I really
don’t want to see the amazing and talented
David Cook having confetti rained on him. On the other hand, little David is already tonque tied and deer in the headlights – if he wins, I might have to hit the off button.

jharris on April 30, 2008 at 1:59 pm
106

I actually agree, I think Hello would be a better choice, because it was where it started for many people, but not as heave a trademark as BJ, and also it was his own arrangement. I’ve got a feeling he would try to avoid the cover of a cover thing for the remaining of a season. Which, as we
discussed before, is completely unfair because nobody really expect any of the other four to come up with anything, but whatever.

And I also agree with that that I don’t know who will win, but I just pointed out that I would love to see him winning, and I don’t think it should be an issue of a “is he better with or without it”. And I would like to see David A giving a fight, as well as the others, because in the end of the day I watch AI because I love musical competitions, and the better they are, the happier I am. It’s great that I can root for someone (a huge improvement to previous seasons) but it’s not the most important thing for me.
————————–

Which brings me to this. And it’s really long, but I’ve been wanting to write it for a long time, and even it’s not just a DC thing, here just feels the safest for me to put it out there. I read a lot of comments about last night and the show this season in general and I seriously feel like I’m watching a different show than anybody else. Maybe it’s because I’m not a born-and-raised American and therefore has a different musical take on things, and maybe it’s because I probably watched more musical competitions than anyone else on this blog.

I’d bet my life on it actually – I managed to watch two different idol shows before AI even started, have been following at least 5 shows around the world pretty religiously since and also other shows here and there, and have been addicted to the Eurovision song contest, which is the longest running televised musical show in the world, and probably the roots for the idea of idol show to begin with (before the days of internet it was used to discover stars, ask Celine Dion who won back in 1988, representing Switzerland and then became the star she is now. Anyhow, these days there are 43 countries participating, each ones hold their competition every year to choose a song for the competition, and while it’s not exactly idol (even many countries send idol winners/participants, and a few countries actually used the idol competition to choose their singer) I follow all those competitions every year, which means I get to see wonders like the Albanian and Maltese song festivals. And I’m serious. And more than once.

Anyway, the point of this very long disclosure is to say that I’ve seen a lot, and maybe that’s why I don’t think that this season, or yesterday’s show in particular is so bad as many people try to claim it is. I actually agree with the judges who claimed it is the most talented season yet. The two things I love about this season is how they really went for a cast that had a lot more variety of musical style than previous seasons and as a result the song choices are, too. I hated most of previous AI editions because as much as I appreciate soul and motown and whatever other musical things people in America like (or TPTB decided they were, because honestly, look at the first seasons, the singers they chose for AI and the songs they had them sing) I can’t stand more than one week of it. And it was a pretty dedicated effort of me to try and keep up with the previous six seasons when most of the song choices made me hate this country (another disclaimer, I might have not grown up here, but I AM an American, and therefore feel entitled to have strong feelings towards this nation). I mean, if you look at other idol shows around the world, there are some song choices that always appear, but in every other freaking idol competition there’s so much other music as well, something that never happened here.

I like people like Daughtry or half the people who were on this season, because they sing music that I would actually listen to on my own accord. It’s not that I don’t appreciate talent and vocals, there have been some amazing vocalists during the years, and I do totally admire DA for example, I think he’s got a massive talent there, but his music? I can’t listen to it. I want him to do well on the show because he’s good, I just wish he would have done it to something I can actually listen to afterwards. But he is very good, nonetheless, and should be there in the top 5, with Syesha, who is actually the reflection of everything AI always represented for me (good voice, annoying musical style, annoying song choices, inability to connect with a crowd or actually make you feel like she means anything of what she sings – that last one is a huge thing for me, by the way). Anyhow, she’s a classic AI, so it makes sense she’s there. And then there is Brooke and Jason, who while not be the best vocalists, but I’m tired of people thinking it’s just a voice competition. It’s a “star” competition. And in the question of who will I buy CDs of, Jason and Brooke win, hands down, over Syesha and probably DA.

True, there are some bad things about this season, but it’s really stuff we can only blame TPTB for. The great cast of participants would have rocked a lot more with a better choice of themes, but given that fact, this is still the season I actually enjoy the most, the first season in which I actually really totally love someone and not only kinda root for someone because he’s the best of the rest kind of thing, and definitely the first season in which I’d actually love to sit down with some of the people there and just talk, they seem a lot more interesting to me than many of the previous bunches.

Just my very very long 2.5 cents.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 2:11 pm
107

Well, all I can say to that is that DC has been doing very well according to both DI and Zabasearch.

dreamr on April 30, 2008 at 2:12 pm
108

paula gave daivd cook the kiss of death remmber when paula told chris daughtry that she would see him in the finale and he gets voted off the next week.

abercrombieco2 on April 30, 2008 at 2:17 pm
109

My #107 reply was to #105. lol

dreamr on April 30, 2008 at 2:17 pm
110

dreamr, if I start to pay attention to anything Paula says, I’ll be in trouble.

Which reminds me of two shorter points:

1. I wish they changed the judging panel already. I love Simon, but it was nice if he had people who can talk in full sentences next to him. We have Paula who can’t say a full sentence even with notes, and Randy, whose notes are just a multiple choice answer: A. Pitchy. B. Just aiiight. C. Hawt, Lava hawt, the bomb. That’s why I love his x-factor judging panel. Sure, they fight there all the time and there’s way too much judging drama, but my God, the joy of sentences that are both grammatically correct and make some kind of sense…

2. If I hear one more “the show is rigged / scripted” after what Paula did last night, I’ll explode. All over the world, judges watch dress rehearsals (usually on monitors) and the show, and usually have their notes down before the actual show. And only for AI it’s wrong? come on. I was surprised to see how people reacted to it. It didn’t come as surprising the slightest to me.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 2:26 pm
111

IMO, even though David Cook is the front runner he will not win this because:

1.) The Top 3 will have DA, DC, and someone else. DC and that Someone else will cause a vote-split. DA’s fans will be united and propel him to the finale. DC will be the shock elimination this year in the Top 3.

2.) Paula gave David Cook the kiss of death last night. Just like Constantine and Daughtry.

3.) David Cook is getting over-hyped.

Indomass on April 30, 2008 at 2:49 pm
112

dreamr ~ I think “ignorance” is the correct term b/c most of the people I have seen saying DCook would be better off winning don’t use facts in their argument. They cite Daughtry as an example, when as others have pointed out, Daughtry is signed by 19e, so I assume the person making the point is ignorant of the fact that Daughtry is signed by 19e. Or, they are ignorant of the fact that TPTB handed Carrie over to the pros in Nashville so that she would be accepted in Country music. Or they point out that Chris outsold Taylor as if his finishing 4th to Taylor’s 1st is the reason behind that (which it isn’t). It’s not meant to be harsh, I’m using “ignorant” in the true sense of the word – unaware (of relevant facts).

Daisy on April 30, 2008 at 2:50 pm
113

Indomass ~ your 1st point makes a huge assumption that in a split vote DCook would lose. Why do you assume that?

The split is exactly why I think DCook COULD win. If there is a split vote between (for example) DCook and Jason and Jason is eliminated, who do you think the remaining votes go to?

It is why I thought Jordin would win if she could make it past the top 3 last season – regardless of whether Blake or Melinda got booted, I figured Jordin would pick up a bigger proportion of the 3rd place contestants’ fans and would then win.

Daisy on April 30, 2008 at 2:53 pm
114

[quote]3.) David Cook is getting over-hyped.[/quote]

Say what? Try David Archuleta. His performances were juvenile in every sense of the word.

Who made Neil Diamond’s songs sound current? Hello?!

Over-hyped my butt!

GwendolynD on April 30, 2008 at 3:24 pm
115

This is how the vote-split will work. If Brooke is eliminated tonight – which I believe she will be – the majority of her votes will go to Jason and Cook. This will catapult Jason into the Top 3, along with Cook and Syesha. That leaves little Archie at the bottom. Mark my words. Archie’s fan base is huge, but it’s stagnant. He started out and will end up with right about the same number of fans.

GwendolynD on April 30, 2008 at 3:27 pm
116

I’m not quite so quick to rule Archie out of the top 2 or 3 – but I agree, Gwendolyn, that I think that he will pick-up fewer of the other fanbases’ leftovers as the other contestants are eliminated.

Daisy on April 30, 2008 at 3:31 pm
117

The only one he MIGHT (and that’s a big MIGHT) inherit votes from is Castro. But, lots of Castro fans are also Cook fans. So….

GwendolynD on April 30, 2008 at 3:39 pm
118

Yeah, I think he has a huge fanbase, but he’s not gathering new fans as he goes, like DC does. I see more chances of Brooke/Jason votes go to DC than to DA. I do see him getting votes of the Syesha camp, once and when she’s out. Not my favorite kind of a contestant, but I gotta give it to her, she’s fighting for it.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 3:40 pm
119

Indeed she is, and I grudgingly admire her for it. I also think Syesha inherited Carly’s votes. People who like big voices, and all that….

GwendolynD on April 30, 2008 at 3:52 pm
120

#110:
“dreamr, if I start to pay attention to anything Paula says, I’ll be in trouble.”

I didn’t mention Paula in any of my posts, so I think you may have been referring to abercrombie here? lol

#112:
I’m quite aware of what ‘ignorant’ means, but thank you.

dreamr on April 30, 2008 at 4:00 pm
121

David Cook is not Daughtry or Constatine. If we’re going to compare seasons, I think Archie would be Daughtry. They both started off their seasons with a spectacular performance, they both gathered a huge fanbase early on, they were both overhyped and overpraised from the beginning, they both kept repeating the same type of songs over and over, and neither of them could match the power of their earlier breakthroughs. Archie’s recent performances have been in massive decline, just like Daughtry’s towards the end of season five. Unlike Daughtry and Archie, Cook’s only been building momentum.

Constatine, OTOH, had to compete with Bo Bice for the title of resident rocker, and Bice won that hands down. Cook is the only rocker on the show. In fact, I think that Cook shares the most similarities with Bo Bice than any other previous contestants, emerging from relatively unknown into frontrunner status. Which, uh, doesn’t really make me happy because we all know what happened to Bo.

Demisquirrel on April 30, 2008 at 4:14 pm
122

DC’s vids are up on iTunes. I hate that I logged in to say that in the middle of the work day, and that I already bought “All I Really Need” and watched it — times. %-)

Re votes – read somewhere that some of Brooke’s might go to DA, on account of the mormon thing.

Gwendolyn – while I’d agree any hype for DC is not enough, I think Paula’s last night was unnecessary and ill-timed. DC’s music speaks for itself. The judges need to back off from the crowning talk & let the people decide, to avoid a backlash. DC came in 2nd to Syesha last night on DialIdol! [slaps forehead, grabs bourbon]

shimrit – can agree with #106 in the sense that i’ve successfully avoided AI for SIX SEASONS. This is ALL DC’s fault. (Daughtry almost got me, but they voted him off before I was sucked in.) (and enjoy other contestants in the top 24 – but none have really moved me like DC… darn it… :-&

And my computer starts to jam after 100 or so comments, so don’t know if I’ll be around much more on this thread….

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 4:15 pm
123

okay logged in once again – two things:

first – apologies for linking to the wrong “All I Really Need is You” song in the previous thread, which is now closed to comments or I’d apologize over there.

2nd – shout out to Rickey for giving us a nice place to enable our DC habit.

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 4:41 pm
124

Rickey! you are the great enabler to our
DC habit but we aren’t mad at you for it! ha ha

Last night my husband asked me if I wanted to record American Idol and I said, oh no need,
its already being recorded for me. Rickey I love you.

As someone on another site said, “David Cook,
I love thee more than my husband would approve”

jharris on April 30, 2008 at 5:28 pm
125

Dreamr #120 – you’re right, that what happens when I try to post and get work done at the same time.

Ann – you actually bothered to read my Tolstoy-long post! I’m touched!

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 5:30 pm
126

dreamr ~ sorry, didn’t mean to sound condescending – I just thought “ignorant” fit what I was trying to say rather concisely – but since I’ve felt the need to reply twice since using that word it obviously wasn’t as concise as I was hoping for!

Thanks, Rickey, for the thread and the vids, too. I haven’t expressed my appreciation yet today!

Daisy on April 30, 2008 at 6:02 pm
127

First of all I loved both songs. I seriously love David Cook and my kids are older than him. I am also a fan of Neil Diamond. Man did that guy put out songs, decade after decade. If you asked me of all singers in the past 40 years, name my favorite male and female singer (and I can only name one of each), I would have to say Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand. Yes, don’t roll your eyes. I’ve liked many other singers now and then, but they have yet to prove themselves as “the greats.”

Neil has a very unique voice (lower register) and only he can sing some songs. You don’t touch Kentucky Woman, Forever in Blue Jeans, September Morn, Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon, etc. What I mean that if after a few bars you recognize the song and it’s Neil song. YOU NEVER EVER touch “America” which I personally feel should be our national anthem. You can try, but you’ll fail because you can never do it better and your version will never replace Neil’s.

“I’m Alive” is a “SH…T KICKING” that is meant to get the crowd going–because it’s screaming that your alive even after you see all the dispair because there’s a baby born every day and the sun is there to keep you warm. You want to shout it out. David captured the mood and soul of that song–and the meaning it was meant to convey and his lower register was perfection–just like Neil sings this; yet it sounds like it is a new song. I am still reeling from David’s All I Really Need is You. Now I know why Neil Diamond said that it gave him chills. Holy cow–he didn’t have to say that–and he’s been in the business for 4 decades.

“The human voice is the most important instrument at our disposal, yet it is one of the most difficult to understand or define. You either hear it, or you don’t. It either moves you, or it leaves you cold…it is more than just a sound…it is the soul itself.” Neil Diamond, 1974.

David Cook’s voice goes straight to the soul itself. I moves me, it touches my soul and my heart. What more can I say about it?

reinharv on April 30, 2008 at 6:13 pm
128

zabasearch headlines:

“Syesha received the fewest phone and text votes following the April 29 performance show.
David Cook received the most.”

http://www.zabasearch.com/ai_stats.php

This totally conflicts with dialidol but they don’t count text messages–so I don’t tend to rely on that at all anymore.

reinharv on April 30, 2008 at 6:19 pm
129

I have always been a HUGE DC fan – always loved his voice. I want to know how they made his looks over though. He went from being dorky looking at the start of Idol to pretty smokin’ hot. Gotta love those Idol stylists

Kimber on April 30, 2008 at 6:24 pm
130

When you have to do one of those psyc tests and you have to do a word association test and the word “American Idol” is given–the sane, normal, expected, correct response would be “David Cook.”

reinharv on April 30, 2008 at 6:29 pm
131

Shimrit – I’m touched, too – in the head, on account of DC…

reinharv – fitting ND quote in #127, and thanks for the stats in 128 – need to go to Zaba instead of dialidol…

Mrs. Robinson – if you are seducing DC – CUT IT OUT!!

Sorry. Don’t know what came over me, and don’t know where Mrs. Robinson is, but look forward to seeing you all later tonight at the DC-enablers rave. I’ll bring some Red, Red Wine and hopefully Mrs. R. will bring bourbon to serve w/(DC) Love on the Rocks.

Browser. Software. Trying. To. Shut down. Telling me my mind is going to mush and must get back to wwwwwork!

ann11 on April 30, 2008 at 7:11 pm
132

That word again. Work. I have so much to do it’s not funny. OK. Safeway, and then work, and results live blog and actual result show in like a million hours. Blah at West Coast timing.

Shimrit_fs on April 30, 2008 at 7:15 pm
133

I liked David’s performances tonight. I really think vocally he is surpassing all the other guys including the OTHER David. I love Jason but he has limited vocal range and Archuletta sounds the same on every song. I think he’s now the one to beat!

idol08 on April 30, 2008 at 7:30 pm
134

I’m staying in a different country and I’m so sad for not being able to vote for David Cook who totally rock the AI this season. All his songs is so amazingly, extremely, enchantingly good. I hope u voters out there would keep my flame alive by voting more for those who are unfortunate enough not to be able to vote. David Cook fans… Keep Him Alive in AI! Pls. Thanks.

J.c.aCook.Fan on April 30, 2008 at 9:52 pm
135

Rickey – can you still see the iTunes rankings? I’m curious where David’s MOTN is thus far.

I’m Soooooooo bummed that AIRNIY is not available in studio version. Wah!

txdcfan on April 30, 2008 at 10:55 pm
136

I relooked at the results show and felt bad for Brooke. The camera stayed on David Cook for awhile and you can see he has tears in his eyes looking at Brooke broken-hearted singing her final song while she’s crying. David looked so moved and you can tell he wants to just go and hug her and he looks like he’s somewhat angry that Idol made her sing that song in the mood she was in. Finally he ginerly step towards her and touches her back to more or less tell her she’ll be okay or that he’s sorry and feels her pain. Syesha is also crying as her tears are all over her face.

Of course Castro is so pleased with himself that he made it through another week and he is totally oblivious to the pain Brooke is having–in fact he does that every single time–beaming from ear to ear. He is always in his own world. He has never really shown any sympathy or sadness for departing contestants. Archie also doesn’t seem to react to the drama going on around him whenever others are moved to tears around him. I’ve observed this a number of times.

What a great guy David Cook is–he wears his heart on his sleve–just like Dolly Parton said. He’s not afraid to cry and is obviously moved by others crying. He feels everyone’s pain. There is nothing sexier than a man who is not afraid to cry–to expose his vulnerability. That guy is totally sweet. He looks like a rocker and you just don’t expect that emotion to be so transparent–it throws you off totally.

I really don’t know if anyone else noticed this emotion David Cook shows but I’ve noticed it many times. Someone has to go but it’s still hard.

reinharv on May 1, 2008 at 6:21 am
137

Yeah. David Cook the perfect gentleman.

J.c.aCook.Fan on May 1, 2008 at 7:08 am
138

The more I listen to “All I Really Need is You” the more I like it! I’ve never boght an Idol CD, but with this guy – I just might! He’s crazy cool! Wow! Pretty Awesome!

manolo on May 1, 2008 at 10:31 am
139

How come DA has more threads than DC? I had to go to yesterday’s thread to post how much I still love David Cook. I noticed that DA’s fans have more time on their hands to post on these.

Squirrelly on May 1, 2008 at 12:49 pm
140

Squirrelly:
Yes, DA has more threads and frankly we are lucky we have more than one, which is all we did have. I think DA fans think that the more they post all over the place–the more people are convinced that DA is the favorite and front-runner with a huge fanbase so they should back him up. They are all over DC iTunes site to leave bad one * star reviews also and we won’t even discuss YouTube. One Archie fan has now posted that DC was seen at a Gay Bar (in all his spare time between doing Ford commericals, meet and greets, rehearsals, mentoring, etc.) to start that negative and very untrue rumor which is in fact slander.

The fact is David Cook has had more votes for three weeks running and has been in the #1 spot and his iTunes sales–I guarantee have been higher and he’s had more #1 hits. DA fans use DialIdol to automatically vote, and also some have three phones going.

It’s interesting that if you were only allowed one vote per telephone number, how this competition would stand now and who would be left standing. DA fans on the average vote 200 times, while some avid DC fans boast they voted 5 times for DC.

I admit there are probably DC fans who go trash DA; however I don’t even go to any of their threads, don’t go to any of DA’s YouTube sites, and never even looked at DA’s iTunes site–because having to endure him once a week on TV is more than I can bare now. Also, I wouldn’t even dream on leaving a negative comment here on rickey–heck even Rickey was attacked twice for that, or attacked if he praised DC once or twice. There are 2 contributing factors–I hate DA’s fans and the other is that after “Imagine” he has become very predicatable and boring as have the rest. David Cook is the only person who doesn’t bore me. I just don’t like DA’s kind of music so why would I even bother to listen to it let alone go seek him out and leave negative comments. If they go to DC’s site–yes I respond–but it’s on DC’s site–not DA’s.

One good thing is that there are fans who have recognized that DC is better and more versitile and have become DC fans.

I was on zabasearch and there is a feature where you can leave a message for the idols, judges, and even producers. There are over 154,000 messages for DA, and 60,000 for DC–but many of the messages for DC are Archie fans saying he sucks, that he should be disqualified because he had a solo album, that he’s a copy-cat, ugly, you name it. I wouldn’t be surprised that they wrote fervently about Analog Heart to the producers and they had to react–while the other contestant’s music was not yanked.

Frankly, this all sickens me and I’ve developed an intense dislike for Archuleta only because of his fans and if they think people are stupid and don’t see that–those people who don’t have a favorite all they have to do is listen to DC’s music to know what’s going on because they can see all the negative comments and because DC’s music and his performances are in a category of it’s own–they can pretty much see how the wind is blowing. It might backfire on Archie fans in the end.

However, David Cook will be picked up by 19E–you can take that to the bank and he will sell more songs and albums than DA ever dreamed of. DC is more marketable; however they will really have their work cut out for them with DA on image, performance, and doing a varity of songs in order to boost his post-Idol sales.

reinharv on May 1, 2008 at 6:26 pm
141

To : reinharv
I couldn’t have agreed more. If an idol has released an album before they’re on AI does not mean that they are already professional singers. If I’m not mistaken AI is suppose to be a show where the find talented people with various background of music regardless you’ve release an album or not. What counts is that you have the personality, voice, commitment and soul to perform for people and be recognized. Ask yourself a question whether you heard of Analog heart before DC join AI or after. I can safely assume that it’s after. Why people are talking bad about him of his own album release? He’s independent and passionate about music to go to the extend of releasing his own album. What’s to dislike? DA’s fan are pissed cause they themselves know that eventually after this DC is gonna , woops wrong… DC WILL BE THE NEXT AMERICAN IDOL and if he don’t the next season idol will see a drastic rating of below average viewers for they realize that AI is more of a popular contest rather than a talent show! Enough said! DA will get his whopping from DC!

J.c.aCook.Fan on May 2, 2008 at 7:22 am
142

J.c.aCook.Fan#141:
Actually, I found something on the net about Archuleta having a website that said he had record contracts but shortly after that site was pulled so nobody got to see it and accuse him as being a professional or a plant. We do know that Archuleta is not unknown to Idol and he had connections to them in the past. Still, who cares? These are musicians who didn’t just wake up and decided to try out for Idol one fine morning. It’s nice to get people on the show who are worthy of being contestants–no more Sanjayas please.

These contestants are getting exposure–and that’s worth its weight in gold only if you can succeed post Idol. Can you appeal to a broad range of people and does your music have mass appeal? Will it sell or will the Idol imagemakers have their work cut out for them to get you to platinum status? Will the winner land up being the brunt of jokes in the years to come regardless of the potential they showed or the fans they had or the votes they got?

It took a year for Jordin to go platinum and frankly–I really believe it’s because of No Air with C. Brown/Jordin combination–a smart move on Idol’s part.

Idol will survive if the wrong person is chosen. It might continue to lose it’s appeal (as it is now it’s 7 season…) and some people will be disgusted with it but if I felt that way, I would have never seen Cook. I watched this year only because there were only re-runs due to writer’s strike. I fast-forwarded a lot let me tell you, but I did spot some potentials early on throughout the crazy auditions, then top 24, then top 12. I spotted David Cook and I never fast-forwarded through his performance after he was top 24. My kids told me “you’ll really like DA.” I watched him and responded “He’s okay, not my style though…” I didn’t vote for anyone except one vote once for MJ. Then David Cook did “Hello” and I thought (hello myself!!!) Then it was his sexy cover of MJ’s Billie Jean in a style by Cornell. Holy Moly that last note!!!! That was pure sex!!!! He looked like a freakin guest for the first time and not a contestant. The rest is history. He hasn’t slowed down since, he has never ever bored me, he is always surprising me….Yes, I doubted him with “What the heck is he going to do with Dolly Parton week??? He does his own arrangement and shows off his falsetto–that was a first and a surprise. Then, I dreaded Mariah Carey week–a girly week and what does he do? Does his own arrangement–a sexy one at that. WOW. Then it was OMG how the heck can he do ALW???? I was in a fit all week with ALW and then hear he’s doing Music of the Night??? What the heck is he going to do with that??? He can’t mess with it (even if he does a great job). He’ll be attacked on all sides for changing it. Surely, he can’t do it straight up??? As he starts singing, I’m sitting down wondering when he’ll start to rock it and then he begins to actually sound like he’s on Broadway. I instinctively stand up, my mouth drops, my daughter calls–I tell her I can’t talk to her now (though she wanted to discuss Cook…) and I get chills when it dawns on me what he’s doing. Do I know that song? Yes, saw it on Broadway? Did he do justice to it? I’ll say he did OMG I am still stunned as to how beautiful and powerful his voice really is. None of the other contestants could have pulled that off but David Cook did. Even people who don’t go to see Broadway, or even heard that song bought David Cook’s version of it. Then I googled and found that he had a 2-year scholarship as a Theatre major. No wonder!!! Is there anything Cook can’t sing????

Then people are starting to worry about the stupid Idol song-writing contest voting for the song that will “ensure victory” for their chosen one. I thought about that and how poor Blake Lewis had to do that terrible song and really did a terrible performance. Should I put in my vote to ensure David Cook gets a good song? I thought about it but I realized there was no song too challenging for him: he’s proven that time and time again.

As far as who WHOOPS whom, it doesn’t matter at this stage–it really doesn’t. The mass voting for both DC & DA more or less cancel eachother out–it’s the casual voters who make the difference at the finale or those who never voted might throw in a vote or two after their performances. Song choice, performance, originality will make a difference. We know David Cook has proven he can make his performance great (in a very sexy way) and we know he can make songs sound like you’ve never heard it before and we know he takes risks and never plays it “safe.”

David Cook will be signed by 19E and everyone knows who he is now both nationally and internationally. It’s what they do after Idol that matters because votes don’t matter anymore and it’s no longer a “popularity” contest after Idol.

reinharv on May 6, 2008 at 5:50 pm