It’s no secret that I thought America Idol voters did the right thing by handing the season 7 crown to David Cook last May. After all, I reasoned at the time, the show needed a champ who’d be ready from Day One to lead the Billboard charts, and remind the nation of the show’s pop-cultural relevance at a time when its star-making power and ratings mojo were both being question.
Well, based on Cook’s debut single*, "Light On," a straight-up-the-middle midtempo rocker, the dude is poised to be part of a balanced, mainstream rock diet alongside artists like 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, and Staind. Cook’s got the genre’s appropriately earnest, slightly tormented delivery down pat, although if I’m being honest, my favorite part of the vocal actually arrives at the 2:50 mark, when he reins in the growl for a minute and shows off the beautiful tone that…ugh, never mind, I’m starting to sound like Paula. Anyhow, while this musical genre is admittedly not a staple of my iPod, it’s hard to deny the hook concocted by A-list co-writer Chris Cornell and Brian Howes. After two listens, the "Light On" chorus got caught in my head like butter in the crannies of an English muffin.
Which isn’t to say the track is perfect. The lyrics, about a guy who’s hitting the road and leaving a loved one behind, feel more like a logjam of carefully focus-grouped words than anything deeply meaningful. The bridge is bombastic almost to the breaking point (of Cook’s vocal). And a little part of me — the part that grew up listening to my sisters blast "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" and "Born on the Bayou" and "Lola" on the record player — wishes some of today’s rocker dudes realized that not everything needs to be so unrelentingly serious. (As Lexi Featherston once said, "Whatever happened to FUN?")But the bottom line is: "Light On" is probably going to be a major hit. And if Cook does the right thing and records a cover of Mariah Carey’s "Always Be My Baby," I may not be able to resist the urge to download his disc when it drops in November.
What do you think of "Light On"? And how about it’s commercial prospects? Let’s hear it in the comments section below, and — here’s an idea, fellow Idol addicts — let’s keep the conversation civilized!
* I will not acknowledge the winning Idol single foisted on Mr. Cook by the pabulum-loving folks at 19 Entertainment.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
David Cook discussing his "cougar" following.
Chris Cornell responding to David Cook’s cover of his version of "Billie Jean."
Jordin Sparks defending her "promise ring" comments at this year’s VMAs.
The 10 Worst Idol performances ever.
Comments (1-30) of 983 Add your comment
I would suck David Cook’s balls off.
I know this will be a major hit.
I still can’t get that chorus out of my head, and that’s because I’ve been streaming JHud’s new album all day. Yet, there it is: “Try to leave the LIGHT on when I’m GONE…” Yeah, it’s those stubborn ones that make th hits.
This is perfect for getting him noticed by the non-Idol crowd. Yes, there are such people.
Personally though, I’m itching to hear the entire album.
Ironically, before I read the first comment, I was going to applaud the recent trend of PopWatch bloggers reminding their commenters to be civil. Maybe one day, Slezak. Speaking of civil, mucho kudos to your treatment of the Clay Aiken “revelation.” It was honest and penetrating without becoming an O’Donnell-esque View-rant. It should serve as a primer for those who tend to comment with vendettas.
It does seem like it will hit, though I HATE these Staid/Hinder/Nickelback type songs with a passion. That stupid chorus did stick with me too. Not buying this song but I will give his album a listen when it comes out. I like the guy.
Love it.
I am enraptured by this. I don’t “listen” to it, I experience it on a very viceral level.
My 3 and 7 year old love it, my 60 year old mother loves it, my husband ranks it right up there with music from Classic Rock Bands like Led Zepplin.
I see nothing but Platnium and Grammy written all over Mr. Cook and Light On!!
It’s trite and hard on the ears and that’s being charitable.
Also, it’d be great it Cook’s image team didn’t completely transform him into Boy George (see YouTube vid intro pic). Although his eyebrows are a follicular force with which to be reckoned.
Eh, not impressed. I’m surprised how badly Cook oversings this one. It sounds like what it is: a song Chris Cornell rejected because it had that tragic yet corny vibe that all those Nickelback and Daughtry songs do.
It reminds me of 1989.
I think it’s fantastic. Is it the greatest song of all time? Probably not, but it has become my favorite song, and I cannot stop listening to it. It’s positively addictive. And yes, it will be a hit–and as such, I think this was the perfect song to introduce David to the post-Idol crowd. I don’t think every song on his album will sound like this one… but I do think this will generate plenty of interest in his album.
Well done, David. You’ve done us proud.
I like it as far as pop-rock songs go. Unfortunately, if you’re going to get airplay on rock radio these days, you have to either sound like Nickelback or be completely heavy, like Slipknot or SOAD, so I totally understand why he went this direction for his first single. It has “crossover” written all over it. As for the song being a Chris Cornell reject, well, judging by the lame trip-hop crap he has so far been streaming on his MySpace from his forthcoming album, I’ll take “Light On” anyday.
This song has been stuck in my head since I heard it yesterday, and I really don’t mind. I love the kinda old fashioned 80s rock feel to it. I can’t wait to hear the whole album.
I don’t know if Cornell rejected it but I do know Cornell wrote it. I think it will do very well on radio for a first single. I just want to hear how it fits in with the rest of his record.
I, for one, don’t want a recording of Always Be My Baby. I already have one.
love it! i also agree about the 2:50 mark. his voice sounds amazing there and i hope he uses that gravelly-ness throughout his album….which i can’t wait to hear the rest of!
i like it. its very Daughtry/Nickebackish with a hint of Bryan Adams. It will be a hit.
Thank you for a fair review. It’s not the “greatest song evah”, but it will work well on radio and he needs a hit so that he can continue. I love that 2:50 mark in the song as well. I love just his voice alone. As far as the “tormented delivery” and “seriousness”, he is an emo boy from way before Idol.
I don’t think the song is a Cornell reject. Cornell co-wrote it.
I can’t wait for the album.
“the dude is poised to be part of a balanced, mainstream rock diet alongside artists like 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, and Staind.” – Pre-emptive ugh.
In a way this is hypocritical since I happen to have a decently-sized musical love for (uh, and femcrush on) Kara DioGuardi, but still. Come on.
I think this song is awful, but it gets stuck in your head, so I can imagine hearing it on the radio many many times. Still, I’m giving this round to Archuleta and “Crush.”
“After two listens, the “Light On” chorus got caught in my head like butter in the crannies of an English muffin.” Slezak, get out of my brain!!! (grin) So very true. i have not been able to get it out of my head, and i am totally cool with that. I have love for The Cook and i see nothing but good things ahead for him. I look forward to hearing his own work one day, but i’m enjoying this very much.
rock on Michael!
I think the song is very good. I’m a casual AI watcher, so not really a fan of anybody. I believe it will be a hit as it does sound like everything else that’s playing on the radio, although Cook’s voice is a little better than most.
Me likes Slezak.
Addictive. Not written by Cook so I can forgive him for the lyrics that are tres generic….but he sings his ass off on this song.
Earworm, it is. I want to hear his OWN songwriting, because he can really WRITE — and I like my stuff a little less “produced” than this — and I’m not diggin the faux-so-serious foto. But the song? I fully expect to be sick of it before the beginning of November, because I think it’s going to be a monster hit. Gah, stuck in my head already and I haven’t even heard it on the radio yet….
Cook overdoes it with the wannabe screaming. The song is too rock and has no commercial viability. Archuleta crushes the competition again.
The song is okay. Nothing special. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it. It doesn’t have as good a hook as it needs to have to be a major hit, but I’m sure it will do quite well.
Slezak, I have been salivating for your review of the song since Tuesday afternoon when I first heard it. I’m a huge Cookie fan, but I think I might love you more! Your witty commentary is always spot-on!
P.S. I don’t like this song as well as anything on Analog Heart, but it will be a HUGE hit, just what Cookie needs to launch his career. We can only hope to hear more authentic Cook in the future.
Well, I like 2:50 thru 3:07 a lot b/c I like David Cook’s voice. And I like the song itself quite a bit. But I’m not a fan of the arrangement–He’s just yelling for most of the song.
I liked the song. It’s not what I expected (after Time of My Life, I expected Cook to come out rocking right from the gate) and so it pleasantly surprised. Can’t wait to hear it live. Like so many others here, I found the first part of the last chorus where he sings softly and in a lower register to be the most beautiful part… all the more so because of the higher key of the rest of the song. It sounds pleading, emotional, and it sticks to you.
As for Cornell, there’s no indication that it’s a “reject”… it wouldn’t be the first song that Cornell writes and then admits to not having the range for (Hunger Strike, anyone?).
And–the first two measures are “What About Now?” right?