Friday, November 12, 2010

Idol 1 - David Cook

1. David Cook
Season 7, Winner

Seriously, this feels surreal. We are finally here! My favorite American Idol ever - and this doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you, I’m pretty sure - David Cook. Yay!

Season 7’s winner who, arguably, defined the popular phrase “making the song your own” as he reworked pop favorites into new and fantastic gems. Oh, and he's the ONLY Idol I got to vote for - I was in New York when the last 6 weeks of that season happened, so I was able to vote for him. Technically, I helped him win - along with millions of people. Haha.

To be perfectly honest, if you had told me during the earlier rounds of Season 7 that David Cook would be my favorite Idol finalist EVER, I would've slapped you and called you a liar! Haha. Well, of course, I wouldn't have slapped you, but you know what I mean. I thought David's audition was decent - a little mediocre maybe. Same with his Hollywood stuff. Basically, I wasn't really feeling the hype about him at all.

The semifinals started and I really still wasn't into what David was "Cookin". Ha! Ok, lame joke. Moving on. To me, he seemed like a second rate Daughtry, which is saying a lot, considering Chris wasn't one of my favorites of his season. Frankly, I didn't even want David Cook in the Top 12 at that point. I mean, I figured he would possibly make the Final 12 - maybe Top 8 - but I seriously wasn't looking forward to having to hear him each week.

Then suddenly, he had me at Hello. Haha. Really. That to me was a serious game-changer for Cook as he was able to show his potential as a true artist and not just an amazing vocalist. It was a risk that paid off really well. I mean, that moment turned him into a serious contender, possibly giving the other David - Archuleta, not Hernandez. Ha! - a run for his money. It was that good!

So early into the Finals, I was already looking forward to him and he just delivered one good performance after the other every single week. I thought his first three weeks of the Finals, he was consistently either the best or second best of the night. But if I'm being honest - even with a string of great performances - I just knew that there was no way anyone was taking the crown from David Archuleta. I mean, everybody loved that cute kid.

I remember that I even made a comment in my old - now, non existing - blog after the Top 10 week that it was so ridiculous how David Cook has no shot at the title, even though he's consistently great. Of course, I got criticized for that because the Archuleta fans were mad that I was, to some extent, insulting their kid, and the Cook fans were somehow disappointed that I was writing him off. Ha! But, at that point, I definitely wanted Cook to win. He really deserved it.

He - out of all of the contestants - seemed to be the one that had mastered consistency and originality. I don't necessarily mean "original" as in he arranged his own performances and I know that he used some arrangements from other musicians. But, the fact that he wasn't okay with going the predictable route during a themed week and that he obviously was able to stuck with whatever the theme was - but brought it into his own world of music - was very admirable of him.

Needless to say, he truly kept me on the edge of my seat. True, he was skilled at doing covers of covers like, say, Eleanor Rigby and Billie Jean, but he was also able to prove himself as an amazing artist that can create his own arrangements like Always Be My Baby and Little Sparrow. He even showed his versatility just by singing songs (shockingly) straight-up like The Music of the Night and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. He was nothing short of exceptional. So when the Finale came and he was crowned as the new American Idol, I was grinning like a retard.

To me, David Cook is one of the few - out of all seven seasons - that I feel absolutely deserving of the title during their season, and any other winner would just be wrong. No, I'm not saying that other contestants weren't extremely talented, all I'm saying is that in these particular seasons, one person dominated in a way that screamed American Idol, for whatever reason, and David Cook is absolutely one of them. Sure, people like David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado were amazing talents with amazing voices, but I certainly would not have felt right if either of them had won.

I believe Cook brought the show to a whole another level. He is, by far, the rocker that stands out to me of all the Idol seasons; he was the best, or one of the best almost every night; his performances were so unique and interesting; he is extremely marketable; he's a real musician and songwriter; he was able to adapt to themes, or adapt themes to him. He just had so many of the right things going for him during Season 7, and I was VERY relieved that my initial predictions were wrong. Haha.

I simply don’t know what else I could say about David Cook. I mean, I’ve never had my favorite win American Idol before him, so to see him actually be the winner of Season 7 - and the fact that I voted for him. Haha - was one of the best and happiest moments I’ve ever experienced, as an Idol fantard of course. Seriously. Who knew that the guy with the bright red streak in his hair who sang Livin’ on a Prayer in Omaha would be the actual Season 7 winner, more so become my favorite American Idol EVER? Not me. Suffice it to say, he just truly captivated me in more ways that I could fathom.

There’s a lyric in one of the tracks of his debut album: “All these heroes come and go, but you’re still standing.” Sure, many other people have graced the Idol stage in past seasons, and many more to come this coming January and possibly in the future, but one thing is for certain: there has never been, nor will there ever be another David Cook, and this David Cook is a true American Idol, and someone that will always be standing as the rest of them come and go. Beat that!

Favorite performance(s): It's a predictable choice, but my favorite from Cook is absolutely Billie Jean. Words can't describe how much I love this performance. I was extremely worried when I read the spoilers about this, but his version was just sensational. I saw this performance countless times, and I still get chills every single time, without fail. Hello was another brilliant performance. I didn't know what to expect, but the arrangement was great and it fit him like a glove. Also, I thought he was amazing with The Music of the Night and the hauntingly beautiful Always Be My Baby. His version of Little Sparrow and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face were also really good. Well, he has had so many great performances, but these are just my faves.

Billie Jean


Always Be My Baby


Hello


The Music of the Night


Little Sparrow


The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face


Eleanor Rigby


Permanent (American Idol 8 Finale)


Light On


The end! Well, that wraps it up for my first project, Idol 100. This really feels surreal. Thank you for reading and commenting, guys! I really appreciate it. I guess, this is it! See you on American Idol Season 10.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, I think it's my first time to comment on your blog.
I would just like to agree on this whole post, except for the favorite performance part, though. :) Mine is "All I Really Need is You."
We're like the same. Didn't care much for the audition, but loved him in Hollywood week.
He was also the first contestant who I voted for (legally) because I was in Vegas that time.
Everything you said about Cookie is very much agreeable! All the reasons why he's my favorite American Idol ever, and more.
When he sang "The World I Know" and "ADAM" in his Manila concert, I teared up and get major goosebumps -- until now. :)

He will have my support for a very very long time.

guygonegeek said...

I've been following this Idol 100 for a while now but haven't commented on a single post for I find blogger site commenting scheme a big pain in the rear. I can't help but comment on this one because I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH YOU!

When you posted Kris Allen as you number two yesterday, I got really excited. I knew then that Cook will be your number 1. He really deserved the top slot on your list. He never had a bad week during the round. The quality of his voice is really fantastic and there's always an emotional connection whenever he performs(That Permanent performance at the AI8 finale is a serious shit, man. I cried!!!) He is definitely the best AI winner from the best season.

Good job, man!

DAM THE NATION said...

Anonymous: Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it. Anyway, I also liked All I Really Need Is You but I just can't include all of them. Haha. If I can, I did it already.

And yeah, I also went to his Manila concert and I was just too giddy watching him perform live. His setlist during that concert was perfect.

And just like you, he will have my support until he's there to make good music. :)

DAM THE NATION said...

GuyGoneGeek: It's nice to know that you've been following the Idol 100 also and thanks for commenting even if it was too much effort - I received a couple of suggestions about the commenting scheme to use.

Anyway, since you've mentioned about his Permanent performance on Idol 8 Finale! I posted it as well. :) Thanks

Will said...

Though Cook isn't my favorite Idol, I still think he's an awesome performer. And Dam, congrats on completing your list. Halimaw ka!

DAM THE NATION said...

Will: Thanks! :) I'm not halimaw though. Just an obsessive fantard of the show. Haha.

castnews said...

David Cook Perform at the Ronald McDonald House
http://www.castnews.us/david-cook-perform-at-the-ronald-mcdonald-house-478/

rhaine said...

Cookie got me in Always be my baby. He was the reason why I got addicted to American Idol again because after the third season, I got bored with it and just cared who was the winner. Then along came Cookie and suddenly I'm rushing to go home even though I was 2 hours away. Every Wednesday and Thursday was heaven for me because I got to see Cookie and when I wasn't able to see him here in Manila, it really broke my heart. I love his voice. especially his Indie album.

Although I'd like to ask, is Cookie making another album? I haven't heard from him in a long time. Or maybe I wasn't reading enough news anyway.

On the other hand, I agree with every bit that you said. Cookie is a great artist and I hope someday he can be one of the greats. The ones who can sing just about any song and still have people accept them for who and what they are.

Cookie fan all the way!

Anonymous said...

Awesome! This site is very Pro-David Cook. And please, make him the winner of the DAM NATION. You are gonna grin even more when he gets to be the #1 Idol. So yeah, get ready to Cook some chuletas one more time!

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