Some say David Cook has dreamy eyes....
Source: www.kansas.com/entertainment/story/858206.html
BY PHIL ROURA
New York Daily News
Some say David Cook has dreamy eyes. If true, it could be from the lack of sleep he has endured since he snatched "American Idol" from David Archuleta in May of last year.
Ever since then, Cook has been on an extended journey that has carried him on to the Billboard charts with his self-titled debut album.
"I was a big fan of sleep before 'American Idol,' " Cook says with a chuckle. "Now, I'm an even bigger fan. There is little rest. But I've got to tell you something. It's been great."
Now on his "Declaration Tour," the soft-spoken Cook will perform Sunday night at the Cotillion.
Much of the set is expected to center around the CD that already has spawned four singles. The music is what you'd expect from Cook, mostly rocky riffs that meld into each other with little changing from the opening single, "Declaration."
Cook admits as much: "My aim was to put out a record that showcased my talent so I guess all the songs do flow together," he says. "I feel I've managed to [bring a collection together that] is in the same ballpark."
"I tried not to write while I was on ['Idol']. But soon after, I went to work. I wrote or co-wrote most of the 12 tracks and I'm very proud of that."
His rich rock-driven voice and clarity remain intact, and there are messages in his lyrics.
"Heroes," for example, deals with the status of celebrity and how everyone seems to want to know everything there is about an entertainer.
"It would be nice if it were just about the music, but it isn't," Cook says. "People always want to know who you're dating, who you've been with yesterday, instead of just focusing on the songs. I'm lucky because I have an awesome system of friends and family who keep me on a level plane. For whatever reason, they joke about it all and don't let me get a swelled head.
"But the answer is, no, I'm not currently seeing anyone," he adds with a laugh.
As for his "Idol" experience, the bewhiskered belter says he is grateful for the criticism leveled at him by Simon Cowell, who didn't vote for Cook to advance during one of "Idol's" early sessions because Cowell perceived him as being too cocky.
"I went into [the competition for] an opportunity to expose myself musically to a large audience." says the 26-year-old Houston native.
"So my confidence level never really wavered. Maybe that's what got misinterpreted as cocky and arrogant. But I think as the season went on, Cowell saw the work I was putting in, and appreciated it.
"I think for all of his disgruntlement, he is the best of all of the judges," adds Cook. "I don't think I would have done as well if he hadn't gotten on me. I wanted to prove to him that I was sincere."
Cook has no plans for getting back into the studio anytime soon. "I want to nurture this album through the rest of the year and get as many people to hear it as possible," he says. "I'm really, really proud of it, especially that I wrote most of it.
"Eventually, I would like to try acting, as well. But for now, I love where I'm at. I love doing what I do for a living."
If that means going without sleep, well, the guy is at least living his dream.
BY PHIL ROURA
New York Daily News
Some say David Cook has dreamy eyes. If true, it could be from the lack of sleep he has endured since he snatched "American Idol" from David Archuleta in May of last year.
Ever since then, Cook has been on an extended journey that has carried him on to the Billboard charts with his self-titled debut album.
"I was a big fan of sleep before 'American Idol,' " Cook says with a chuckle. "Now, I'm an even bigger fan. There is little rest. But I've got to tell you something. It's been great."
Now on his "Declaration Tour," the soft-spoken Cook will perform Sunday night at the Cotillion.
Much of the set is expected to center around the CD that already has spawned four singles. The music is what you'd expect from Cook, mostly rocky riffs that meld into each other with little changing from the opening single, "Declaration."
Cook admits as much: "My aim was to put out a record that showcased my talent so I guess all the songs do flow together," he says. "I feel I've managed to [bring a collection together that] is in the same ballpark."
"I tried not to write while I was on ['Idol']. But soon after, I went to work. I wrote or co-wrote most of the 12 tracks and I'm very proud of that."
His rich rock-driven voice and clarity remain intact, and there are messages in his lyrics.
"Heroes," for example, deals with the status of celebrity and how everyone seems to want to know everything there is about an entertainer.
"It would be nice if it were just about the music, but it isn't," Cook says. "People always want to know who you're dating, who you've been with yesterday, instead of just focusing on the songs. I'm lucky because I have an awesome system of friends and family who keep me on a level plane. For whatever reason, they joke about it all and don't let me get a swelled head.
"But the answer is, no, I'm not currently seeing anyone," he adds with a laugh.
As for his "Idol" experience, the bewhiskered belter says he is grateful for the criticism leveled at him by Simon Cowell, who didn't vote for Cook to advance during one of "Idol's" early sessions because Cowell perceived him as being too cocky.
"I went into [the competition for] an opportunity to expose myself musically to a large audience." says the 26-year-old Houston native.
"So my confidence level never really wavered. Maybe that's what got misinterpreted as cocky and arrogant. But I think as the season went on, Cowell saw the work I was putting in, and appreciated it.
"I think for all of his disgruntlement, he is the best of all of the judges," adds Cook. "I don't think I would have done as well if he hadn't gotten on me. I wanted to prove to him that I was sincere."
Cook has no plans for getting back into the studio anytime soon. "I want to nurture this album through the rest of the year and get as many people to hear it as possible," he says. "I'm really, really proud of it, especially that I wrote most of it.
"Eventually, I would like to try acting, as well. But for now, I love where I'm at. I love doing what I do for a living."
If that means going without sleep, well, the guy is at least living his dream.