Check out this interview with David Cook from ABC News Radio. The same reporter, who interviewed Archie also asks Cook some interesting questions.
Listen to the interview:
- David Cook - ABC News Radio
Not included in the recorded portion of the interview is some information about the upcoming tour:
“I just think there’s something inherently fun about throwing in some surprises during the set, and we only have one record out, so there’s not gonna be that many surprises if we don’t throw in some covers. So we’ve talked about throwing in some covers and throwing in some stuff from pre-Idol, maybe some Kings stuff, maybe some Analog Heart stuff, so we’ll have plenty to play.”
David says he couldn’t be happier with how the record turned out, and that he made an eclectic album to show that he can do different things. He wrote the songs keeping in mind that he’ll be playing them live later. He plans to go out on tour with a “big bombastic live show.”
He called the songwriting experience humbling. Writing with experienced songwriters like Raine Maida taught him to write songs in a more honest and direct way.
David tells the story behind the little “smile” on Leno while he was singing “Light On”–a song, that immediately grabbed David when he first heard it a few weeks after the finale.
David wants to name the next record, Another Idol Record - Two and a Half Stars Heh. He says his fans are “amazing.”
HAHAHA.
Of course we are, David. Hee.
LMAO…He told Simon Fuller that…
“Kings stuff”, yes please, I love Neal’s writing. Vera and Stuck under Wheels, thank you.
LMFAO. Love it. Happy DC day, everyone. :)
BWAH. He’s funny.
Really? I’ve never heard that before LOL haha
Well Simon is his manager, there is another guy, but it’s funnier for me to think it’s Simon.
A good interview, clearly the interviewer knows a bit more about David Cook and can ask some good questions. It’s one of the good thing about him that he has this clear sense of where he is and aso this nice touch self-deprecating humour.
One thing he said that struck me - he chose the band mates not for being the best technically but more for being able to hang out with them. I hear a few of the live performances of the band and thought that the band could be better, especially the drummer, also the guitar bit although I realise why Neal was chosen, his role would be more than just being a guitarist.
Hmmmm…I think Neal and Kyle are two of the better instrumentalists in the band. No offense to Andy and Joey, but they just don’t stand out as much. That’s an awesome guitar work from Neal on LO.
From what I understand Neal is the only one who played on the album. (Others were chosen later.) He recorded the guitar tracks. I don’t know enough about music to judge any of their work critically, but I would venture to guess that unless Neal was a first rate guitarist RCA would not have let him anywhere near the studio with an instrument in hand.
Andy and Joey aren’t that prominent, so it’s too early to tell. It is the solo bits that makes me think that the band could be better. Of course I’m judging by the standard of some of the great bands, the great drummers and guitarists, Kyle came across a bit manic but not that great technically, and Neal is no Slash (unfair comparison of course, but great band needs outstanding guitarist). I think I should add that Neal is good enough for the job just in case anyone thinks I thought him sub-par, I simply like a great guitarist in my favorite bands. I am just a big fan of great guitarists (Joe Satriani is one of my favorites).
Hmm, IMO that’s not really what he said, though, contextually. He said it was very important to him that the bandmates were people he could hang with and not just the best technical musicians, and luckily he found people like that who were also technically sound. Whatever the criteria, this band has a palpable chemistry when they perform together, at least that’s my impression from video footage. I imagine the people who have seen them play live would back that up. It takes more than just a collection of great musicians to make for a great live rock band…you have to have that elusive X factor, that chemistry, so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. That’s what makes a band a BAND.
Also, for the record, I think Kyle has some chops, and the band sounds pretty tight to my ears, all things considered. I’d have been disappointed if they came off like a manufactured poseur band, and I didn’t have that impression, thankfully.
I think the operative word here is “best”. He thinks they are technically sound, but being the “best” is not the criteria. I just thought the drummer could be better.
I’m reading Carrie Underwood blogged last night and encouraged people to buy David’s album. Very nice of her, and I think this is the first time she actually mentions a fellow Idol album.
Speculations: 1. He likes blondes. She’s blonde. Hee. 2. I think they struck a friendship. He’s been seen going to 2 concerts already.
I still like the first spec, though; it’s more gossipy.
Aww, I’ve always liked her, and thought she was a bit misunderstood =).
I’m super impressed by this Andrea Dresdale’s interview. She really does her homework, and asks thoughtful and probing questions in a way that is totally respectful. I found the question she asked about Adam being a muse for David really interesting– and his response that they don’t really talk about it particularly revealing. Part of this seems just a typical a guy thing– you can’t cry and say too much touchy feeling stuff to each other in person, because it’s more of an unspoken love. But mainly, I think it’s just that this shit is just really f-ing hard to talk about. How beautiful that DC has found this outlet in his songwriting to be bare and honest and to convey to his brother the words and emotions he can’t say directly. It really is therapy for him… and I gotta say, as a listener, it’s therapy for me too, because he puts into song the words and emotions that I want to but cannot express either. Okay, will stop now cuz I’m tearing up again.
I would have loved for David to have hooked up with Carrie. The camera’s would not love it. That much prettiness together would break the camera’s. Seriously would be toooooooo much beautiful for one camera.
I almost missed him saying they are also *opening the Disney/American Idol ride* at the end of the interview. I wonder if there will be vids on that one? I hope their is also footage of him in Iraq.
I’ve suspected for a bit Carrie and David have become friends. He’s mentioned her a few times as someone that’s helped him out and given advice, he attended 2 of her shows that we know of..and did anyone else take note he thanks a ‘Carrie’ in his liner notes?
Nice, intelligent, thoughtful, calm, well-done interview! Loved that one. Good questions.
sma11ie, you’re the best…
Yep. Ditto. Same here…
And thanks mj for the part about what will they play on tour! YAY!
As for how does this band sound, are they good musicians, etc. I think they sound really good together. I’ve heard some really good bands and some really bad ones. A LOT of bands. And orchestras and guys with guitars. These guys GOT IT, IMO. And they will keep getting better the more they play together. I hope. I’m really looking forward to hearing & seeing them LIVE. David Cook singing LIVE is especially WIN. With this band, and Neal & Andy there now…owwwwwwwwwww just kill me now!
Loved this interview.
That is my favorite quote. LOL
…and you’re well-entitled. Nevertheless, I think the band must be allowed to grow, regardless of how they sound now. They bands we admire and may compare this one to probably did not, in any way, sound that “together” when they first started out. No band. Time will tell.
No kidding. Hehehehe. I’m thinking maybe they’ll do a duet together, or something. Singing-head Carrie would probably sound beautiful with some acoustic David-guitar. Yeah, I’ll say.
Silly boy. LOL. Guess he’s been eating up those reviews.
What a great interview. Did anyone else catch David saying that fame is fleeting and he doesn’t think he’s going to be another Rolling Stones or Aerosmith? Boy, I hope we can make him eat those words some day.
As for how the band sounds, I’m willing to bet that you didn’t hear Guns N’ Roses playing together a month after they met each other, so it’s not a fair comparison. And I doubt that the record shows the full extent of Neal’s talent, any more than it shows everything David can do.
I need to grab some coffee and a bagel and listen to the interview, but I had to comment on that comment :) Someone’s been devouring the reviews like a fangirl!
I don’t think you can help but read your reviews, even if you tell yourself they don’t mean anything. He probably read the reviews of Archie’s album, as well, and realized that two-and-a-half stars seems the norm for somebody out of Idol. Bad reviews hurt, no matter who you are or what you do, so in typical David Cook fashion, he chooses to make a joke about it. (There is a particular publication that delights in giving one star reviews to romance novels, so a few of us were joking about creating the “We’re #1!” club to make fun of it. Rather than, you know, slitting our wrists because we got one-star reviews. Bad reviews are just part of the biz…)
Aww, thanks kathrynTX. DC generates good vibes all around :)
Yeah, that was interesting. I think he’s alluding to the longevity of those bands’ celebrity/fame, rather than the longevity in the business of creating music. I think it’s the latter which DC aspires to, and the former that he could do without? Perhaps the go-go-go of the past few months post-Idol has made him realize that the intense scrutiny of being in the limelight isn’t something he wants to endure for decades. The fame/celebrity stuff is great for the medium term so he can position himself for a long career in creating music that he’ll settle into, not unlike his Idol Raine Maida. And I love that he talks about striking while the iron is hot on his fame to further causes– guy’s got his priorities straight :).
Whatever he calls it, I’m buying what he’s selling. After this record, he has me as a fan of his music 4 life :).
This is my feeling as well. I think they all have skills, first of all. So if they have a chance to grow as musicans they could be fun to watch because they already have this really great band vibe. I dunno, for me, there’s always been this kind of mystical quality about being a band…. Like musical soulmates, if you will. The best ones find that kind of chemistry and can’t ever replicate it with outside projects when they fight like old married couples and break up. Take Velvet Revolver, for instance. I’m in the camp that always felt like it was GnR plus STP rather than a new entity, Slash and pals oh yeah and Scott Weiland, and while the music they produced was at times kickass, and I’m a huge Weiland fan in general, I just couldn’t get into the band. If that makes sense. It might not, because I am frackin TIRED today.
Also, they should totally name the band 2 1/2 Stars.
Yep. It’s clear that David has a good realistic view of where he stands now, career-wise. He’s got incredible visibility, a huge fanbase as a result of AI, and also a big fat AI albatross. That’s why this first, post-AI album would never be able to garner 4 stars. The rock purists would dismiss it out of hand no matter what he did with it and much of the general AI audience would find it too hard-edged, used to the covers he was required to sing on the show. All things considered, I think he put out a near perfect first post-AI recording. It gives people a taste of who David Cook really is, sans covers, and lays a nice foundation on which to build a career by.
Loved the interview. Nice to hear some intelligent questions from an interviewer who had obviously done her homework on David. Thanks for sharing this here.
Bahahaha. That would be awesome. But if David accounts for 1 of the stars, then does that make the remaining four each 3/8 of a star? Kind of an awkward number. Or maybe DC will be Eta Carinae and the fractions are what happens to the mass after it ‘plodes (not remotely scientifically based– but I guess I can say that DC defies the laws of astrophysics?). Oy, I am delirious and not making sense. Can’t wait for reports of the concert tonight. So jealous!
DCO will have someone live blogging the show tonight:
LIVE BLOG FROM THE HARD ROCK CAFE TONIGHT
NOVEMBER 18, 2008, 2:50 PM
If you missed your chance to get a free ticket to attend tonight’s performance and album signing at The Hard Rock Cafe in New York City you don’t have worry anymore. Now you can experience all the excitement from the comfort of your own computer (anywhere in the world!).
Just come back to DavidCookOfficial.com and follow the live blog courtesy of your Web Nerds. You’ll be able to read constant updates of what’s going on at the venue so if you play the record in the background it will almost feel like being there.
The show starts at 6:30pm EST so clear your schedule!
Thanks, web nerds, but we really need streaming video!!
The interview was great with good intelligent questions for a change rather than “fluff.” I am always amazed how David Cook is at ease responding to interviews. He always comes off as a very astute and is obviously an intelligent person and never is at a loss for words.
He is a dream to interview and a “natural.” Frankly, he’s a fantastic representative/spokesperson for American Idol. He will never embarrass them as I am sure some have in the past.
I think it’s great Carrie promoted his album. He went to a couple of her shows too and I am sure they talked quite a bit about the whole Idol bubble Experience, both being winners. I know that Jordin Sparks also wanted David Cook to win. Well, let’s face it, David Cook is a chick magnet. The camera LOVES him and we sure loved looking at “Yo face.” Now about Carrie being “blond” and he likes blonds. Well, he likes Mandy Moore and she usually is a brunette lol. I think he likes a pretty face and what guy wouldn’t like that. It’s always interesting to see him on TV and see a female host or whatever grinning. Oh, I know that look too well (secret cougars).
So I am looking forward to buying Cook’s next album - American Idol 2-1/2 Stars. Love that guy.