Idol Chatter 4-1-08: Is David Cook a Big, Fat Phony?
Let's just come out and say it: DAVID COOK IS DOING COVERS AND GETTING UNDUE CREDIT FOR BEING BRAVE AND COMPLETELY ORIGINAL!
By Clyde Collins
Unlike David Cook, I give plenty of credit to my sources.
I owe a great deal to Chris Harris of MTV.com, and his quality article, "American Idol" Dark Horse David Cook: Is It Fair For Him To Cover Other Covers?
YouTube yielded this lovely faux duet: David Cook & Chris Cornell. The two versions are pretty close...
I'm sorry, folks, but it's true. I know it won't matter to a bunch of you Cookites, but it bothers the $@#(*#$ out of me.
I've been saying from day one that there's something completely phony about this guy. He's just another Daughtry. And the SAME THING HAPPENED WITH DAUGHTRY! He had to come out the next night and make sure everyone knew he didn't come up with the arrangement of whatever song he'd oozed through the night before.
Think Cocky Cook will do the same?
It's true that Seacrest noted that it was Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean" before Cook sang...but I didn't hear it. The only reason I know it happened is because it was mentioned in Harris' article. It must've been quick or inaudible or something.
I wouldn't have minded it that much, had the judges not spent the next 5 minutes after his performance bowing to him and telling America he's the greatest innovator in music history. It's. Just. Not. True.
Maybe Randy misspoke when he called Cook "the most bold contestant we've ever had" that night? "The most BALD" would've been a far more accurate description. I think Phil Stacey had more hair.
And, for the record, I'm convinced that David Cook hasn't given in and shaved his head for one of TWO possible reasons: 1) He's in love with himself and can't bear to part with what remains of carefully-sculpted locks, or 2) Chris Daughtry beat him to being the Bald Rocker, too.
Anyway, this wasn't the only week he's pulled off the same stunt. Read on.
Everyone on Idol does covers. That's fine. But when we start complimenting someone on arrangements, we've got to give credit where it's due. Vocals? That's one thing. But if the singer did not come up with the arrangement, they shouldn't be celebrated as a hero, and, certainly, they aren't deserving of such compliments as making "music magic."
Right, Julie? ;)
Now, now...wait. It's unfair to pick on the compliments of fans who probably didn't know any better. Ms. Heart wrote that comment after watching the performance, in the afterglow of her undying love for Cook.
How COULD anyone have known it was a cover, unless they were intimately familiar with the original cover as arranged by Mr. Cornell? A co-worker first pointed it out to me. It wasn't until then that the already-sour taste in my mouth over David Cook made complete sense.
Derivative is one thing.
Same-y? Fine. Pretty much all of them are, in some way, every season.
But inspired? Creative? Courageous?
There are good performances on American Idol, but it's becoming obvious that the judges and/or producers are pushing David Cook HARD. I don't see what he'd bring to the music world, and his voice is good enough...
...but part of enjoying a rock performance is an emotional connection with what the singer's saying. It's that FEELING.
How can I truly ever become a fan of David Cook if I don't think he's genuine?
Say the worst-case scenario comes true, and David Cook wins Season 7. Fast-forward 2 years. What has he added to the music world? Does anyone still care? Or have they all gotten past the hype and flocked to the real innovators, the musicians with honest, unique voices and an innate sense for hooks and arrangements?
I'm thinking producers are looking at a possible Cook win as something that might make Idol seem more "legit" to the types who usually hate on it. The problem with that is that those same people already hate and resent that Chris Daughtry happened. It's not going to be much different this time around, either.
People will say he DOESN'T rock.
They'll say he's FAKE.
They'll say...the same thing I've been saying all season.
Every time one of these faux-rockers shows up on Idol, we have to sit through the judges telling us how they're a "breath of fresh air" and "very brave" to take on such a unique and innovative arrangement.
And EVERY TIME, it comes back to bite them in the Ace Young!
From Harris' article:
"...Cook's take on the track was actually former Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell's version. Cornell's cover appeared on his sophomore solo album, Carry On, which was released last year."
This much we knew. But it continues!
"Ultimately, I think Cook deserves credit for being smart and aware of new or different versions of songs — different than the ones people are familiar with. I don't know if he should get credit for being brave, but he should get credit for being smart and singing these songs well."
Agreed. Shrewd song choice, Mr. Cook. It worked. You fooled the world, once again. But they'll see you for what you are, sooner or later.
"Just three weeks ago, a Seattle band came out against Cook, claiming he'd ripped off their rockin' cover of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." Doxology said they recorded their version of the track more than a year ago and even had it available on iTunes and their MySpace page. According to the band's manager, the cover was what Doxology is best known for, but the guys didn't sue Cook — they merely asked for recognition."
They won't get it. But David Cook will certainly take all the recognition for his AMAZINGLY ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENT!
Come on...
As Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak notes:
"Even prior to that claim, several "Idol" fans took to the message boards to cry foul over Cook's cover of Lionel Richie's "Hello," one they claimed was very similar to Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd's solo take on the track."
What? You mean all of Cook's stand-out moments this season weren't really as special and unprecedented as that walking rip-off with a comb-forward would have us believe?
SHOCK! Blasphemy, in some circles.
Then again, Slezak's next point has to hold SOME truth. Right?
"It's not like Cornell's version was a #1 hit. The average 'Idol' viewer at home may not even be aware of that version, so he could have gone ahead and not credited it at all, and I wouldn't be surprised if the judges didn't know that version. The judges give him credit for bravery and innovation when he's just really being smart and savvy and picking interesting versions of the song that really suit his vocal style. What he's doing is really no different than any contestant on the show. David Archuleta picked Stevie Wonder's version of 'We Can Work It Out,' and Carly Smithson picked Celine Dion's version of 'I Drove All Night.' Cook is just picking slightly more creative and interesting versions of his songs. It's hard to make a case that he's doing something unfair. He's just a smart competitor."
The version wasn't a hit. Most people probably don't know it.
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT DAVID COOK DIDN'T COME UP WITH IT! They all but gave him a songwriting credit! Michael Jackson WHO? Chris Cornell WHAT?
He's benefitting from the style and genre he's come to represent. This is a style the mainstream may not be as familiar with as, say, a Whitney Houston, Queen or Celine Dion song. Everyone, even people who HATE the woman, know what Celine's songs sound like. I didn't know that was Stevie Wonder's version of "We Can Work It Out," but it didn't matter. It SUCKED. No one cared. The judges didn't shower Archuleta with rose petals and wash his feet with fine ointments.
They did, however, give Cook a sickening tongue-bath from head to toe.
There's the difference Slezak is trying to downplay.
David Cook, mark my words...you're going down. And when you do, I will dance upon your musical grave.
Those out there who are just starting to hate on him because he's become sort of a frontrunner...know that I am your KING. I've been there long before there was a bandwagon...but, still, we welcome your support in our fight against Baldy McFake.
See you tomorrow, with our usual Idol Chatter column, where the trio reviews and rates the night's performances.
It's some kind of Dolly Parton night, which pretty much guarantees it's going to be horrible.
See you there!
***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
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Comments
ok Clyde, I don't know if this is an april fools joke or what? but come on! David Cook is a smart, creative competitor in this competition. Everyone does covers, you've admitted it yourself, and no they don't always give credit to the original version, but he did give credit to Cornell before he sang-even if you didn't notice. Besides the fact that Cornell actually enjoyed David Cook's performance, if he gives his blessing, why do you feel you have to carry the fight?? David Cook may not pick the most known covers, but that's his genius, he knows the music world and sees the possibility in these lesser known covers and uses it to his advantage, what's the problem with that?? If it came out that one of Brooke's amazing covers was someone else's version would you love her any less?? no i don't think so
Posted by: Julie Heart | April 1, 2008 3:21 PM
Julie, I would absolutely be miserable if Brooke White took credit for being called "original" and "bold" when she had nothing to do with that originality. I'd lose a lot of respect for her, because I didn't think that was part of her character. David Cook...well, I almost expect it, now! This is a show about cover songs, of course. But compliment them on their voices, not their arrangements...if, of course, they have nothing to DO with said arrangements. He's getting a lot of credit for being a unique songsmith, but it's just not true. The judges are probably more to blame, but I suspect that, since this has happened before, the Idol Powers That Be want us NOT to care. And I'd have applauded Cook if, during the big lovefest after the performance, he gave credit to Cornell, again, for putting together "an amazing arrangement." He'd still have been loved by his core fans, but doing something like that might make people like myself, who question how genuine he is, go a little easier on him. No one's said he's got a bad voice. It's that what he's known for at this point is those CRAAAAAZY arrangements he magically "comes up with" every week. Very smart song choices, but the judges should say "good song choice, I love that version," and not, "you're amazing, you're a genius, you're so brave and new!" For the record, I still like you.
Posted by: Clyde Collins | April 1, 2008 3:37 PM
A statement from the man, Chris Cornell, himself (who, by the way Julie, is way hotter than David Cook).
"This is something where they know I came up with this arrangement and reinvented the song. I stuck my neck out being a guy that comes from the indie rock world doing a Michael Jackson song. You can clearly see that the judges are giving this guy credit for it on national television. My fans were like, 'Wait a minute! That's Chris Cornell's moment."'
"Don't get me wrong. He sang it great. But it was literally a note-for-note take on what I came up with. At the end of the day, it's all good. It's a good thing for me. There was a moment when I was sitting there writing this new arrangement thinking, 'Is this a good idea or a bad idea?' Watching the response from the judges was really gratifying. They were signing off on it right there. It was something that worked. It was an idea that went over huge. When I play it live on tour, it brings the house down every time."
"There's a certain amount of credit given to an 'approach' to something and the presentation of something. In a situation where they're just strictly doing someone else's song, if it's not something that's completely recognizable, it can be mistaken. But this is a little bit of an unusual situation, because mine is such a dramatic departure."
Posted by: Shelby | April 1, 2008 4:50 PM