“Light On” should Shine Gold upon David Cook
By Erika Blake
The Entertainment Hotline Reporter
David Cook’s first single “Light On” from his yet untitled up and coming solo album has smashed onto the internet with a bold declaration that this season’s champion isn’t your typical Idol winner; in fact he’s far from it. Cook already has the mass fan appeal to rank him up with Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood for being profitable as a singer. Cook however has something that even they did not; he has a complete and full sense of self and yet is humble enough to trust those around him to make crucial decisions for him that will launch him from being a good singer to a great one.
For anyone who was fortunate enough to catch this year’s Idols on tour, the power and passion that Cook pours into his new single shouldn’t come to any surprise. The song “Light On” is 100% David Cook and is a natural progression of transforming a talented bar singer into a mega-star.
Fans that got their hands on David Cook’s independent album “Analog Heart” are already well aware of his style of rock music. Cook won’t be headlining with Megadeth or any other hard rock bands any time soon; anyone who thought that hard rock would be his genre of choice from his Idols days will be in for disappointment. His sound falls more in line with many great middle of the road rock bands who appeal to the masses such as U2, Aerosmith, Nickleback, and Bon Jovi. There’s a reason that he was able to take on singing songs from 2 of those bands and do them justice while on Idol, it’s because they were his own inspiration for inventing his own sound. His own songs always contain complicated guitar work, vast vocal range, intriguing lyrics, and soul soaring rock/pop blended music.
If you look over the songs from his career “Light On” is the perfect next step progression, and instead of going backward by lingering on the raw sound from his “Analog Heart” days, Cook has taken full advantage of having Grammy winning producer Rob Cavalo (Green Day and Kid Rock) at his side to tweak his natural ability and give his sound rich and full depth. If you tried to compare “Light On” to his pre-Idol work you wouldn’t be able to do so. Having full on professional recording studios and backup musicians at his disposal has taken David’s unrefined sound and elevated his vocals & guitar work into a polished professional.
The lyrics themselves for “Light On” could be interpreted as the male breaking up w/ a woman and then asking her to pine for him while he’s gone, but knowing Cook’s story and knowing that he’s one of the good guys, I’m more inclined to believe that this is a song that’s dedicated to his family and all of the people who supported him over the past year. This song is his goodbye note to them as he’s embarking on a new stage in his life. 
Doesn’t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know I’m leaving
Cook seems to be saying that he knows that maybe his songs will never take the place of his being there with those who he loves back home, but that he has to leave and explore this next step in his life.
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
The larger chorus that he belts acknowledges that there’s a sense of normalcy and warmth back home with his family and friends; by knowing that things will stay the same back home will help to give him the strength he needs as he heads off on his own.
For a man who openly shared his personal joy to the packed crowd at the Jobing.com arena in Phoenix on the opening night of the AI tour back in July that he had received word that day that his brother Adam’s tumor had stopped growing, it’s not a stretch to believe that his family and friends would be the people who he’d dedicate his first solo single to.
Unlike most of his independent solo songs, “Light On” offers new layers of depth in its music by adding piano accompaniment to go along with guitars and percussion. When I first listened to the song I couldn’t help but think back to when I saw David perform in Phoenix on the IDOL tour, his covers of all of the songs that he performed on tour along with “Time of my Life” would’ve perfectly acted as warm up songs for “Light On.” Cooks re-interpretations of “Hello” and Chris Cornell’s cover of “Billy Jean” were performed with the same power and passion that pours into his new single. And all of the songs performed together offer the same spine tingling energy that makes David’s music such a pleasure to listen to.
The new single takes his signature sound that he worked so hard on “American Idol” to present to the world and lifts it up to a new heightened level. His vocals have never sounded more pitch perfect, professional, and filled with jubilation. Requiring zero noticeable backup singer accompaniments for the single, Cook sings with pure joy and mixes up his vocals throughout the song to prevent it from ever getting boring. Like any of his covers from Idol you only need to hear a single snippet of the song and immediately recognize his voice. Another Cook trademark you can understand every word that he sings as he enunciates each word in the song, even when he’s wailing.
Cook promised this summer while on tour that his album will cause the hairs on people’s arms to stand up; mission accomplished, every nerve in my body lit up with excitement when I first heard the single and the many times afterwards. If this first single from his album that’s scheduled for release on November 18th is any indication of what we can expect from the entire album, I’m thinking Cook’s music might possibly be the perfect conduit for solving the nation’s energy crisis from the huge amounts of electricity that his songs will generate from his fans when they finally get to hear the completed product.
“Light On” is available for online at PopEater previewing and is hitting radio stations this week. The single goes on sale on iTunes on September 30th. “Light On” David, I’m sure it will lead your new song to gold.
September 23rd, 2008 - 5:53 pm
Spot on review!Kudos!
September 23rd, 2008 - 5:55 pm
I love this article. You put into wonderful words what we all feel and think
September 23rd, 2008 - 6:29 pm
Thank you for this great review of David’s single. You sure seem to get David Cook. I love the song but after reminding me about one of the reasons why we love David so much I love this song even more. He truly is a gifted person and is sure to go gold and a few grammy’s along the way.
September 23rd, 2008 - 7:24 pm
Erica, this is a fabulous review by someone who ‘just gets him, okay!’ Sure there will be naysayers but most will not be nearly as articulate and detailed as you are in praising David’s work. Like you, I got chills and hairstanding effects. This is a nice bridge between Time of My Life and whatever else he’s going to enchant us with, I’m sure.
September 23rd, 2008 - 7:26 pm
Wow Erika!
Once AGAIN, you’ve said EXACTLY what we’re all thinking and feeling, but much more eloquently than most of us could.
And KUDOS for pointing out the lack of backup vocals. I never even NOTICED but it’s ALL David! No WONDER it’s completely taken over my senses.
Thank you. Oh and even though the LA Times Review is snarky as all get out, even THEY acknowledge it’s gonna be a hit and MAY EVEN GET A GRAMMY NOD.
September 23rd, 2008 - 8:14 pm
Well, I am disappointed… David Cook has done nothing original here. He has broken no new ground, and from the promise heard in Axium and Analog Heart - I’m underwhelmed. He is smothered by the ghost of Chris Cornell… the music even sounds like a rip off of Soundgarden’s Black Hole Sun… if garnering rock cred with this release was his goal - he’s missed the mark. Rock cred has been sold out for commercialty, and faux rock fluff. Yes, it will more than likely sell well, but at what cost?
September 24th, 2008 - 3:34 am
This article speaks volumes. Erika, your so voluble in your review of David’s new single “Light On.” The song is electric isn’t it. Upon hearing it I felt a bolt shoot up my spine.
September 24th, 2008 - 4:21 am
Great review. Thank you. The texture and tone in this man’s voice just give me chills. You put it beautifully when you said: every nerve in my body lit up with excitement when I first heard the single and the many times afterwards. How is it that a voice can make me feel such joy?
September 24th, 2008 - 4:22 am
Wow! You read my mind.
This guy sings with passion and conviction, something I haven’t seen in a while in the world of rock music. This song is the perfect transition from a year of covers on AI7 and from Analog Heart (it’s one of my favorite CDs right now). I know there will be haters, and naysayers but give him a break. This is just the beginning of a great journey. Let us ride along with him, and if you hate him take another trip with another artist, after all, it’s a free country.
RIGHT ON….LIGHT ON!
September 24th, 2008 - 4:34 am
A review that got it right! David has already said that he’s in a different place than where he was with Axium and his Analog Heart release. People really need to get over it and accept his progression into the music that is now “him.” “Light On” is brilliant. It showcases his range, power and versatility and along with his Idol covers and pre-Idol music, proves that HE CAN DO IT ALL. His album can’t come soon enough for me!
September 24th, 2008 - 5:28 am
Sure, we DC fans MIGHT be just a little biased, but, when you get down to the wire, good is good. David Cook is simply good, no matter which way you look at him and he’s getting better by the minute. Your article just stated the facts, ma’am. Thank you.
September 24th, 2008 - 5:55 am
I get tired of hearing people decide whether to bestow “rock cred” on an artist. It’s so juvenile…like being in middle school and deciding who is the “cool” kid. Panning a song because it is designed to appeal to a wide group of people is just snobbery (”My tastes are too sophisticated for such drivel”). Well la-di-da! I thought this song was very true to DC’s style & vibe & in line with his fan’s expectations, so he may not have “rock cred” but he does have “Cook cred” which is more important.
September 24th, 2008 - 1:00 pm
i love this song soooo much when i finaly heard it i was soooo happy that he stayed rock and it kinda reminds me of his early stuff…im soooo glad that idol didnt make him go more pop…during my study hall i listen to this song the entire time i just love it i cant wait for his cd!!!!!
September 24th, 2008 - 1:27 pm
I love this article so much that I want to kiss it!!
September 24th, 2008 - 3:45 pm
fantastic review-took the thoughts right out of my head!
September 24th, 2008 - 5:30 pm
Erika,
What’s with all the analysis of David Cook’s intentions in the lyrics, and bringing his brother into the discussion? David stated on his own website the song was written by Chris Cornell and Brian Howes. The lyrics have nothing to do with David Cook.
It’s a very pretty song, but I find it overproduced. David sings with pure passion and conviction, but it’s Chris Cornell’s style and his song.
Bring on the Cook originals or the co-writes! That’s what I want to hear.
September 24th, 2008 - 10:21 pm
I really wanted to like this single, but I just can’t. David’s uniqueness does not translate in the song. There is nothing separating this release from run of the mill Daughtry or Nickelback release - who he should be trying to separate himself from with a quickness. Aside from writing the song, there is way too much of Chris Cornell’s vibe in it - the music sounds too much like Soundgarden, and if you close your eyes and listen closely, it sounds like Cornell is singing. If I wanted a Chris Cornell record, I would buy one from Chris Cornell. I didn’t expect to hear David lose so much of what makes him special…his fans from the show will buy it in droves… I’m not so sure he will have such an easy sell to the public at large… I’m lowering my previous expectations for the album, and hope there is more authentic and substantive David Cook material in it.
September 25th, 2008 - 1:37 pm
I agree with NYC chick. This song was so overdone that I can hardly hear Cook’s real voice. If you listen to the songs on Analog heart that he wrote and produced, they are raw, but real. His voice shines. There is just too much going on instrumentally for me to dig this tune. For real DC, check out the songs Creep or Truth.
Hope this dude doesn’t get all over-processed and lose what’s unique about him!
September 25th, 2008 - 4:35 pm
Erika, that was a GREAT review, i totally agree with your thoughts. And for all of those who dont like it or dont agree, then its ok. His dad told him: “Even if your pleasing or pissing everybody off, your doing something wrong”, not everybody will like him, but he is ok with it, because he believes in himself and knows what he wants in life.
And all that rant about Cornell and Howes colaboration, so what? David had in his head what he wanted the album to sound like, what kind of message he wanted to convey, and Im sure the decision to let anyone write or colaborate on any song in his album was a very conscious one. Its really the artist, his style, his voice and his talent that transforms a song into a success.
September 26th, 2008 - 7:37 am
Erika,
Best review ever!! What insight, are you David’s Guardian Angel?
Would love to hear his take on your view. The world is a better place with this “gifted Soul” who has shared so much of his heart with us.( Such a rare find in our impersonal world)You so get David you did not miss a beat in all of you assessments.Thank You !!! David so deserves all of this… We will be Cooked for ever!
September 30th, 2008 - 7:42 pm
As I wrote on davidcookofficial last night. David has always said that he knows who he is. Have faith in David and keep that faith alive. Faith precedes the miracle and the miracle comes on Nov 18/08.
Luv ya Cooooook
September 30th, 2008 - 8:37 pm
I have been waiting for someone to tie David’s past into the present and show readers that he has come full circle into a true recording artist. Good job on a great artical! He has the passion for his craft like no other and it shows in everthing he does. “Light On” is a wonderful exibition of who he is and gives us a show of his vocal range and strength. We are all holding our breath for the possibility of one more single to emerge before the album comes out in November. Kudos to Ericka on a fabulous (as usual) review and to David for giving us an insight into things to come.
Join us at http://www.cougarslovecook for the latest news, videos, photos, store and forum.
October 1st, 2008 - 9:56 pm
Yes, that is what I thought too, that the song is about living family and friends to start on a new journey. We all know how close he is to his brothers. As a Mom with 2 grown up kids, I felt tears of joy for David. He has found his wings and we all pray and hope that he soars high but still would be able to keep his feet on the ground. Of course even if the lyrics are Chris Cornell’s they are most likely words that David can identify with. “You know we’ve been down that road”, maybe meant when he has to move to Tulsa, worked at a bar and at the same time explore sing in a band and who knows his family probably showed a little objection and would probably prefer him to get a job as a graphic artist. It brings tears to my eyes. It seems to me that he is reminding his family that they will all be in his heart forever. He is such a sweet, caring person. His smile on the photo where he hugs Lindsay Rose makes me feel like I am looking into the man’s caring and loving heart. I pray that he finds a woman who would genuinely care for him as a person.
October 2nd, 2008 - 6:53 am
I have to agree with the naysayers on this one and I’m a big DC fan - just ask my friends who have to hear my constantly rattle on about his latest goings on. I give this single 4 out of 5 stars - which isn’t bad - but I have to admit I’m giving him a boost just because I like him so. The first time I heard the song I could have sworn Cornell was singing right along with him. I enjoy Soundgarden but c’mon, this is supposed to be about Cook. Decent song, decent lyrics - not too wordy like some of his Analog Heart songs - but overall I’m disappointed. All this said, I’m not ready to give up on David yet - he’s so refreshingly real in this world of fakes.