By popular demand…
David Cook’s “Time of My Life” was used as a montage at the opening ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. It was broadcast on NBC last night.
Rickey has the clip HERE.
Time of My Life - Beijing Olympics
Published August 9th, 2008 in American Idol, Video and David Cook.
David Cook
Yeah I know the song is high on the charts and it is good for him .IMO it is also PR for AI or 19 big time and sorry I would rather have PR for Daivd C own song from his cd not AI one .
It does show AI or 19 have major influenece or money to get a nice Pr gig like this to promote thier New “guy” .
This is so much more meaningful to me than the song’s inclusion on SYTYCD - Because it’s NBC, not FOX. Supposedly 19 doesn’t have pull in what gets used on another network’s broadcast.
I don’t think I’m being naive in thinking the song got the honor based on its own merit, and not due to any outside influence. I actually think it’s a perfect song for any accomplishment/winning moment/feel good montage. Yeah it’s riddled with cliches, but so what? It still manages to move me every time I hear it used in the right context. This is one such occasion.
PS - I wonder if they’ll use it more than once during the Olympics coverage, and what this might mean as far as sales go.
Oh I thought they played TOML in the stadium in China after the opening ceremonies…it was NBC that used it in its recap…still good for cookie though…
Thier probably is a good chance it got thier on its own merits.The above post did not mean to insult just very cyincle when it comes to the influenece of AI/19 to get thier favorite contestants played/pr.
I guess TOML will always be associated with competiting in something and winning after coming up from behind. I took to that song because David Cook sang it shortly after winning. I remember his face, his shock, his emotions, his tears and then his joy. You felt joy for him too and shared in that joy. I remember how he gathered all the competitors to share the stage with him. I don’t think anyone has every done that before. What a class act.
Thanks for the link, mj!
Oh man, the way you described that moment, I just had the sudden urge to go watch it again. I haven’t seen it since the week of the finale… Is it completely ridiculous that I got tears in my eyes again after watching it just now? Aw man, I’m a sap, but I can’t help loving this song, even just for it’s symbolism in this moment -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h616-b0pKPw
Why, Magic Rainbow, Why?
In short, I should not like this song, but I do. Sure a lot of it is the D Cook story on Idol, but part of its widespread appeal I think has to do with us, not him. I wouldn’t bet that the NBC or ESPN sports producers are necessarily drawing on warm memories of the big shaggy guy who sang “Hello.”
Pop songs are so mysterious. The lyrics for this one contain some real clunkers: besides the infamous magic rainbow, “I’ll taste every moment and live it out loud?”
But then a bunch of other factors kick in. The waltz-like tune is perfect for kind of putting your arms around someone’s shoulder and swaying, or a montage of highlights.
Cook does his thing of knowing how to make the song feels like it rises, fall, and tells a bit of a story. His voice is inherently charming when he goes back and forth between masculine and big and softer and more vulnerable.
Some of the effect is pure accident: Cook said in one of the interviews that he was exhausted when they recorded the track, but that ironically, that gave his voice a little more roughness and feeling then it might have had otherwise.
What else? Struggling here. I am not a big fan of the Counting Crows-like back-up singing “na na na na na” or the tinkly introductory notes. The percussion on the track is appealing. I think they almost inadvertently created something good with how the song exits, slowing down in a way that’s sort of accidentally perfect for ending a show.
But in the end, the answer may have little to do with logic or production values, “Watch all the bitterness burn,” “the time to be more than a name or a face in the crowd,” “face to the sun,” . . . David just sells that stuff.
And people feel that way, or they want to. The song becomes one of those pop moments into which a wide range of folks can project a broad range of warm, good feelings.
Montages of games and achievements, ceremonies, graduations, weddings . . . It may just go on being one of those tunes that people love for inarticulate reasons.
Wow, crazy! And to think I missed this because I left to walk the dogs before the show went completely off the air. DAMMIT. So, thank you Rickey and MJ!!!
Thanks, Jolene, for posting DC singing TOML at the AI7 Finale! Saved me from digging out my tape. It was great and touching to re-live the moment — and to think of all the finalists being out on tour together now.
Last night, while I was watching the end of the coverage of the Olympics opening ceremony — what a nice shock of recognition to hear DC’s familiar voice raised in what was such an appropriate song for the occasion.
And thanks to MJ for posting the clip from last night!
I had heard that this song was played for the ending montage/recap and really wanted to see/hear it! I should have known I could count on MJ to post a link! Thank you once again MJ for all you do!!!
maturin, I think you did a wonderful job of articulating why people are so drawn to TTOML! I also don’t think anyone else could have pulled it off like DC has! I’ve gone back and forth with this song, but at this point I hope to hear it in this context for yrs. to come. :)
I love it! I haven’t been watching any Olympics, not even opening ceremonies. So thanks for that clip. I like the analysis, maturin. All I know is I like this silly-ass song and I even sing along, dammit. I like the live version from the Tonight Show. And I have watched the video of David winning countless times! I just love it, the feelings it evokes in me, him being overwhelmed is so touching, when he gets everyone else up on the walkway stage thingy with him…it is just so darn…cute? Beautiful? I just love it. I think Magic Rainbows is perfect for the Olympics. Sorry but it’s true, those sappy lyrics could apply to the athletes, fer shure. Love David and his Magic Rainbows!
Jolene, IMO you can sap all you want. That was absolutely one wonderful moment and all that followed couldn’t have been planned by the best writers, right down to Andrew saying, “That’s my brother!” at the end.
I really love the song. Still. Every time I hear it when they play it on TV for someone’s “moment”, it still brings me to tears. I just watched the finale again from Jolene’s link, and again I was tearing up. The words “….this is the time of my life” just fits so many people’s struggles and journeys to achieve their dreams. It fit great with the closing ceremony of the Olympics. Hope they keep playing it throughout the Olympics. I love David and his Magic Rainbows also!
I’m like others here who everytime I hear that song, my mind brings me back to the emotion on that AI stage when David won. I think it was the perfect song for NBC to use for the closing minutes last night, and I think they will be using it again and again as athletes are shown living their dreams at the Olympics.
And totally off topic (please forgive me MJ), but I think it was so classy of NBC to dedicate their coverage last night to Jim McKay, late of ABC Sports. Hearing that song and then seeing Jim’s picture really brought the chills last night.
I guess I shut off the TV just before this clip. How nice for David.
I’m most glad they had Jim McKay’s picture at the end. I really appreciated his Olympic reporting. What a great guy.
WOW…does DC have naked pics of some bigwig at NBC….Just Kidding Peeps!!! LOL
Seriously though, “Majik Rainbowz” has now been used by SYTYCD, Americas Got Talent and now the Olympics all in the last 2 weeks. Not bad for a throw away coronation song from AI.
Congrats DC!!!
Not bad at all! I have to say, my favorite use was in the ESPYs, but I guess that was over two weeks ago? LOL
That was the first time the thought of the Olympics crossed my mind. Of course I thought no way, it Magic Rainbowz, y’know?
Well, and here we are.
Oh, one final note - I LOVED how they slickly edited out the actual magic rainbow line. It was seamless, really.
Nice job at de-rainbowing the song, NBC! \o/
The lyrics from the little Rainbow that could fit perfectly for the Olympics! My how that Rainbow has grown!
Congrats again David!
TOML being used in that capacity exactly one year after David auditioned in Omaha gives me chills.
I have no shame admitting my magic rainbow love and I’m thrilled to see it doing so well. Given the shelf life of coronation songs I wonder if 19/RCA could have predicted this. I haven’t actually watched his win since it aired but just did now and I’m a sappy mess. Cookie breaking down when his name being called sinks in, putting his arm around Archie and sharing that moment, Simon beaming and hugging Paula, Andrew mouthing to the camera “that’s my brother”. Best.finale.ever. The only other win that tugged at my heart like this was Kelly’s.
Gosh, just reading all of these postshas now got me teary eyed.I happen to like ‘Magic Rainbow’. Well actually it has steadily grown on me. How could it not? It represents, for me, everything about David Cook’s journey to fulfill his dream. Every time I hear it I think of the struggling bartender who “rose from the ashes” and realized a dream come true. As sappy as it is, it will always bring back all the wonderful ‘David Cook’ moments for me.
And YAY!! for TOML being played for the Olympics!
I was also glad NBC added the tribute to Jim McKay. He WAS the Olympics to me.
The thing I actually like about TOML is that it talks so much about enjoying the experience while it’s happening (living in the moment, IOW), which is something Cook said from the very beginning of AI, and I thought was endearing and mature then, too.
It may be a sappy song, but there is a time and a place for sappy songs, and the Olympics is one of them. (So is the AI finale.) Sometimes you just want to swell with pride and tear up a little. TOML is perfect for that.
I liked it on SYTYCD, too, btw. Mark and Courtney made it romantic and made it work in a different way, I thought. Although it was kind of funny that the SYTYCD finale feaured TOML, No Air AND Imagine, just to stuff SYTYCD full of AI connections.
I must say big thanks to MJ and Rickey. Rickey was showing the opening ceremonies last night on the video screen during the cellcast of the concert last night. I didn’t know they had used TOML till this morning. Earlier when I checked i-Tunes about an hour ago, it was sitting at #31. Now, it has moved up to #24.
Are u sure ? on mine it’s still at #30. *goes to triple check*
Yep. I have the i-tunes feed saved in my bookmarks. I think the feed updates more often. :)
Random:
When I heard the opening strum to TOML, I wanted to shout to all of YOU … “Hey guys, guys — it’s David, it’s David!” Kinda wanted to run into the office and shout at the computer. But alas… you wunta been there.
Why is it that in every Olympics, there’s a country I never heard of. Tuvalu? Nauru? WHAT? I know the map is always changing, but dang. Burkina Faso? Where on God’s green planet is Burkina Faso? Sounds like high-end shoes! Manolo Blanik, Burkina Faso. You feel me.
Did the Chinese turn it out, or what? I didn’t see the whole ceremony, but what I saw had my jaw drop.
Thanks for posting David’s AI win. Really a wonderful, wonderful moment. Unscripted, authentic and touching. David’s behavior during that moment — the joy, the tears and the inclusiveness just made me ADORE that man. He’s a good one. When the camera cuts to Mrs. Cook, I think “ya done good, Mam” cuz David is a stellar human being.
That song is sooo going platinum.
Pam, can u post the link plz ..
Yes :)
You can see it HERE.
Well, I don’t know which link Pam uses, but I have the one Kirsten posted here on her last chart post (Thank you, Kirsten!) and he’s #24 there too:
http://www.windpowersports.com/music/top-songs.php
I guess it’s now a matter of how long this bump lasts and how much of an impact it’ll have overall. I’m mostly curious to see if the use was a one-off or if NBC will feature it more regularly.
ETA: Oops, only now saw Pam updated her link while I was typing. Well, can’t hurt to have another one!
Thanks :)
At that windpowersports site, TOML is up to #13 on the pop-only list.
Your welcome :)
Still don’t like the song but JACKPOT! \o/
Time of My Life seems to be gaining more radio airplay. Heard it today on an AC radio station and heard it last week on Top 40, but it was late at night. It’s actually not a bad song at all and perfect for the Olympics.
I missed this last night but after hearing about it, I knew I could count on mj’s to witness it. Thanks so much!!
It’s actually a really good and sweet song.
And it does fit very well into these “emotional montage” type things.
Speaking of emotional… thank you to whomever posted the link to David’s winning AI moment. OMG. Tears tears tears! And I’m not just talking about David Cook! How wonderful when he brought them all around with him to share in his big moment. Just everything about that night was a big old magic rainbow. And I mean that in the best way possible.
I downloaded that video off of iTunes and they captured Andrew saying “That’s my brother!” with tears in his eyes and looking so proud of his brother. I tell you that brought tears into my eyes. I can’t tell you how many times I play that video on my iPod. Thank god for TiVo too as I saved the winning moment. I added 3 minutes to my Tivo but it wasn’t enough to capture him singing the song. Here he is was disheaveld just on stage because he thought he would hear David Archuleta’s name as the winner so there was not reason to care about the fact that his shirt wasn’t buttoned, hankerchief dangling, cuffs loose, he obviously just threw that stuff back on with little time to prepare. Archie is looking neat, didn’t put back his shirt and has a white T-shirt on his jacket is buttoned, holding his mic. Cook looks at Archie as if you say “are you ready?” Archie giving him that “stop–it” look and then he nervously looks up like he always did when it came to elimination nights–and Ryan announces–what seemed like forever, the words: ….David……….COOK. The instant shock in his eyes. He hugs Archie–looks stunned, just staring forward hugging Archie, then still shocked–asks the crowed to give it up for Archie…..The camera comes back to him and he’s crying, unable to do do anything. Ryan looks awkward. Cook bends over and his body is shaking as he’s crying his heart out totally overwhelmed, trying to compose himself.
The AI vocal coach said that Cook had to practice that song in the theatre while it was empty the previous day–he looked at the empty seats as if there were really people sitting there, he sang with passion as if the theatre was filled, knowing that he would never sing that song for real.
You can’t write a better script than this.
Thanks for the link. Wow, that’s some mega-exposure! Not to mention quite an honor. Good for Cook! I think the song works so well for sporting events because the edginess of Cook’s vocals kind of diffuses the sappiness of the lyrics. It almost sounds like a rock anthem, magic rainbow and all.
I remember that quote from Debra Byrd, but reading it the way you described it right here brought tears to my eyes.
Quick update….NBC used TOML again during a slow mo replay of the stunning American men’s gold medal run in the swim relay. It was literally a photo finish AND broke a world record.
Please read Regie Hamm’s my space entry full circle and you will get a better appreciation for this song and I know it took awhile to grow on me but I love this song more than ever after reading this blog. Bring tissues. There is a link on david-cook.org to the site under toml.