May 29, 2008

D. Cook gets Sirius

David_cook_and_sirius_hits_1_morn_2 He's going to be on "Sirius Hits 1 Morning Mashup" from 6 to 11 a.m. our time Friday. The synopsis:

David Cook will make a guest appearance tomorrow on The SIRIUS Hits 1 Morning Mash Up and open up about what he thinks about Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, describe his experience winning this season’s American Idol and share behind the scene stories about his relationship with fellow contestants.

David Cook floods Billboard charts

Cookwin1 His post-"Idol" career is off to a crazy start. The Blue Springs native has 14 songs on two Billboard charts: the Hot 100, where he has four songs in the Top 25; and the Hot Digital chart, where he has three songs in the Top 10. His "Idol" coronation anthem, "The Time of My Life," was the best-selling digital song last week with more than 236,000 downloads.

May 22, 2008

David Cook and the "American Idols" tour add second Sprint show


You'll get two chances to see David Cook and the nine "American Idol" runners-up at Sprint Center. Ticketmaster now lists two shows -- Aug. 29 and 30. That's a Friday and a Saturday. Until Cook won Originally, only one show had been planned.

Tickets are $40 to $69 here.

From Sprint Center's site:

Second American Idols Live! Concert Added Sprint Center

Tickets for Aug. 30 Show On Sale Now

19 Entertainment Founder/CEO and creator of American Idol Simon Fuller and AEG Live, announced that due to overwhelming fan demand, a second concert date has been added at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Tickets for the second concert are on sale now at ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Outlets or charge by phone at (816) 931-3330.

Tickets will be available at Sprint Center Box Office on May 19 pending availability.

...fans may purchase tickets to see the top 10 contestants from "American Idol" Season 7 perform at Sprint Center including: Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Chikezie Eze, David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado.

For more ticket and tour info, fans can visit ticketmaster.com, poptarts.com, americanidol.com and idols.aeglive.com.

| David Frese, The Star

'Idol': Epilogue and prologue

Cookwin2 LOS ANGELES -- The "American Idol" finale wasn't a big story in this town, especially on Wednesday, when the Lakers and Spurs launched their own version of a heavyweight fight.

So on the TV news later, there was cursory attention to the  big news in Kansas City: David Cook won the seventh "Idol" title in history on Wednesday. He won in a blowout that was unexpected.

It wasn't big news in this town, but many in Kansas City will enjoy his success, now and whenever he has a hit song or album or whenever he shows up on Letterman or Leno or when he parlays his "Idol" stature into other forms of peripheral fame (see below).

Take out of his story whatever you wish, whether it's nothing at all or a vague sense of civic pride or the low-grade thrill you get from knowing someone who is famous or the fleeting jolt you get from hearing Ryan Seacrest  or Jay Leno say "Kansas City."

Or take from it something more: A guy who grew up here and took the path that thousands of others have taken -- the thankless, low-wage path into music --  bought a Lotto ticket and won, and his victory was no fluke. His performance with ZZ Top on Wednesday confirmed that: He can hang with the big boys.

David Cook is as worthy of fame and popularity as so many others who have become famous in other ways. And he didn't inherit his prize; he earned it. Winning "Idol" is kind of like winning March Madness. The goal is to survive and move on.

This tournament, however, is much longer and rife with more traps and sink holes. One week you're singing the Beatles, the next you're learning some Andrew Lloyd Webber. The rules change constantly and contestants are subject to a variety of perils. Flukes don't win (well, Taylor Hicks might qualify).

David Cook's reality-TV title isn't going to fix the sewers or schools in Kansas City. It won't solve the light-rail issue or the city's budget problems. It won't lower gas prices. Nor will it cure the cancer that is debilitating his older brother. His success won't do anything for Kansas City that Carrie Underwood's hasn't done for -- quick, where is she from? -- Muskogee, Oklahoma.

But David Cook's prime-time success proves something that ought to hearten anyone who cares about music specifically or fame in general. It proves that an anonymous guy who knocked around the KC music scene for years has enough talent to step on the national stage and persuade many millions of people that he deserves a chance. Even if everyone who voted for him voted 20 times each, that means nearly 3 million people supported him. Sometimes all you need is a break, some exposure.

Tonight, another Kansas City band gets some national spotlight: The Republic Tigers are scheduled to perform on "Late Night With David Letterman" (10:30 p.m. on Channel 5). The Tigers got their gig through hard work and through their label, which found them through MySpace. A Letterman gig isn't an "Idol" title. But it has to be earned, too. So tune in. They also deserve praise and applause and recognition.

More on last night's show on Aaron Barnhart's TV Blog: tvbarn.com.

Now, for those who are still interested, a look at Wednesday's scene in Los Angeles:

Continue reading "'Idol': Epilogue and prologue" »

May 21, 2008

Photo gallery | Scenes from Cook's victory

Idol6

Continue reading "Photo gallery | Scenes from Cook's victory" »

'Idol' finale: Cook in a landslide

Cookwin1 LOS ANGELES --  It wasn't even close.

Wednesday night, when "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest announced  Tuesday night's vote total -- 97.5 million -- and the winning margin (12 million ), things  looked brighter for David Archuleta, the teen idol wiith a man's voice.

Instead, David Cook, 25, a native of  Blue Springs, received nearly 55 million of those votes (a whopping 56 percent), easily winning the title of "American Idol" for Season 7. The results were not shocking, but in some quarters they were unexpected.

Tuesday night, the "Idol" judges, especially Simon Cowell, effusively praised Archuleta for his three finale performances. Cowell even declared him the winner "by a knockout." Their praise for Cook was much more measured and reserved.

Wednesday night, asked for a final comment to the two finalists, Cowell apologized to Cook for what he said may have seemed like a show of disrespect on Tuesday. Whether it was or not, his comments had no affect on the resuilts, unless they inspired Cook fans to vote.

The "Idol" process is a lot like old-school Chicago politics: Vote hard, fast and often. Conventional wisdom seemed to believe that procedure favored Archuleta and his younger (and more technologically savvy) fans. Instead, the process rewarded the contestant who, all season long, showed more consistancy and diversity than any of his fellow contestants.

In his very brief press conference after the show, Cook joked: "Simon's apology came too late for the votes." But he also said, "I don't know if it was warranted. I thought it was an opinion, nothing more. Nor did I feel disrespected."

Asked what went through his head when he heard his name called: "That my music teacher Mrs. Gentry made me sing in the Christmas pageant in second grade. Now I'm here. The ride has been pretty nuts."

His journey was made more emotionally difficult by the illness of his older brother, Adam, who has terminal cancer. Cook kept his personal story out of the "Idol" process as much as he could, but a few times, including Tuesday and Wednesday night, his emotions overcame him.

As the winner of “American Idol,” Cook gets a $1 million recording contract and will be under the management and tutelage of 19 Entertainment, the management team founded by Simon Fuller, who invented the “Idol” concept. He will also record "Time of Your Life," the winner of the "Idol" inspirational-song writiing contest, which he performed last night after he was declared the winner.

Cook auditioned for the shoiw in Omaha in August 2007 --- "at 5 a.m. in the rain," he recalled after the show. His intent. he said, was to accompany his younger brother, Andrew, who also auditioned. Andrew persuaded his older brother to audition, too. Nine months later, David Cook is the last man standing.

Early on in the season, he was labeled one of several "rockers" on the show, which tends to reward vocalists who sing in the contemporary R&B style, like last year's winner, Jordin Sparks. Cook has benefited from the success of Chris Daughtry, who finished fourth in the "Idol" competition two years ago. Daughtry favors a style of music similar to Cook's: mainstream modern rock. His first album "Daughtry" has now sold 4 million copies.

Continue reading "'Idol' finale: Cook in a landslide" »

'Idol" final: Dulling me softly with his songs

CookguitDavid Cook kept rock alive on "Idol" last night. The judges liked the over-emoting balladeer more, though.

LOS ANGELES -- You can't bring cell phones into the Nokia Theater during "American Idol." You can for other events, but not this one. If you forgot or, like me, didn't know, the sensitive metal detectors will expose you and you'll be pulled out of line and sent to a holding pen so you can wait for the guy who takes the cell phones away.

A former Idol contestant tried to sneak his cell phone in. It was the guy from this season with the skunk stripe in his hair. He sang "Moon River."

As he was hanging out in front of the theater long before show time, he seemed a little miffed that he wasn't getting much attention. He seemed even  more miffed after he tried to get in the theater with his cell phone and they sent him to the holding pen. He cut to the front of the holding-pen line, but before anyone could object, it was discovered that he didn't even have a ticket to get in. "I need a ticket?" he asked. Sorry but your skunk stripe isn't going to get you in. So he had to leave the theater, walk to will-call and then return, knowing he would be sent back to the holding pen.

The theater has a procedure for confiscating cell phones. The phone custodian takes the phone from you, gives you one of those generic tickets you get for bingo raffles or for rides at parking-lot carnivals and then tosses your cell-phone in a box with all the other hostage cell phones (and there are many dozens). They are available for repossession after the show.

Continue reading "'Idol" final: Dulling me softly with his songs" »

May 20, 2008

'Idol': What's next for David Cook?

Dcook_2Wednesday night, David Cook or David Archuleta will be crowned “American Idol.” On Thursday, both will face the first days of their careers in popular music.

They will pursue stardom in different directions, but Cook, a native of Blue Springs, and Archuleta will face similar decisions about their career destinations and how they intend to get there.

The winner of “American Idol” gets a $1 million recording contract and will be beholden to 19 Entertainment, the highly successful management team founded by Simon Fuller, who invented the “Idol” concept. But in the volatile music industry, even an “Idol” title and all its rewards guarantee nothing.

The career of 2006 “Idol” winner Taylor Hicks is proof of that. He has been in limbo since he parted with his label, J Records, this year. Last week, he signed on to play the role of Teen Angel in a Broadway revival of “Grease.”

Continue reading "'Idol': What's next for David Cook?" »

May 17, 2008

'Idol': Vegas likes David C.

According to a post in the LA Times, David Cook is the overall favorite to win the "American Idol" title this year. However, another source says David Archuleta is a slight favorite.

May 14, 2008

'Idol' finale: Between a rocker and a soft place

ByeAin't got her: Syesha sings her farewell song, but she's not saying good bye, she's saying, "See you later."

This is finals week, and despite all the pressure and chaos they have faced since last week (a mind-blowing trip home; three songs to memorize and sing, including two picked by other people), the Final 3 contestants get no break. Once again, the producers make them stumble through another elimination-day dance routine.

The opening song this week is not bad: "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," a disco tune by McFadden & Whitehead. But it's not the slightest bit cool for one contestant, Little D (and the D doesn't stand for "Disco"). He looks like he is about to take a final exam on a book he hasn't read.

Vocally, the performance is good. Syesha and D. Cook sound soulful. Visually, it's more rank amateur theater. Little D tries his best, sneaking peeks at Syesha to see what he's supposed to do. His feet say "OK," but his arms say: "Let me off this bus." D. Cook looks awkward, too, like he just wants to get through it with as little camera time as possible.

Next, we get the weekly Ford commercial. Now that the show is down to three contestants, these commercials aren't as dynamic as they were when 12 or 10 or 8 -people were flying through them. This week's song selection doesn't help: "How Far is Heaven," by Los Lonely Boys. The choreographer is apparently completely out of ideas. At one point, D. Cook stands in front of several vehicles waving his arms, like some local car dealer in a late-night cable commercial.

Continue reading "'Idol' finale: Between a rocker and a soft place" »

Blog powered by TypePad

.

  • .