Friday, December 05, 2008,
Alv's track of the week_3 David Cook
This week's track of the week from me is my 2nd most (currently) 'in' artist, David Cook. (1st is But for this week's track of the week, I would like to compare David Cook with someone he's always been compared to - Chris Daughtry. David Cook's 1st 'real' single, (technically, his 1st single is "The Time Of My Life") Light On versus Daughtry's "It's Not Over". Both are quite similar in style. Both rocking, yet sentimental songs. Who deserves the better applause???
Let's take out the 'veteran' 1st. The more experienced Chris Daughtry, whom till date, never fails to captivate me with his voice...and his bald head.
It's been some time since I've heard from Daughtry. And I'm gonna bring it way back...his 1st single, "It's Not Over". He's been on and off the scene. But he never fails 2 impress me with his every song released as a single. In fact, almost every song in his album can be a single, especially Used To, which I don't understand why he don't wanna release it! >.<
The video:
The video begins with a man lying in bed, having a flashback of his past after being released from prison. A woman, supposedly his wife, picks him up after his release, while Daughtry starts singing in a grand room. The couple hug and hold hands along the way. After some time, they stop at a store. As he leaves the car to enter the store, she has a flashback of the time she first heard the news of his arrest. She was pregnant at that time. The guy returns with a stuffed rabbit in his arms. They then arrive at her home, where a young girl, presumably the couple's daughter, is sitting inside. The woman explains something to the girl while the man waits outside. He then enters and gives the toy to his daughter whom he's never met before. After a reluctant moment, the two hug.
The scene soon moves to the man looking for a job, albeit unsuccessful. He walks by and enters several stores, none of which are hiring. He passes by a jewellery store, and his daughter flashes in his memory. He then notices a "Help Wanted" sign and inquires inside the garage. Finally, he gets a job as a car mechanic.
The man again passes by the jewellery store, this time looking at the jewellery but not buying any. One night, as his wife waits for him — visibly upset — he is shown entering the jewellery store. When he finally arrives home, his wife opens the door wondering where he's been, he drops to one knee and presents the ring, proposing to her. The wife is overjoyed, and the video ends with the two embracing.
The GOOD, and the bad:
It's a great video about hope, and that there will always be a lifeline somewhere in your life. In the video, the hope mainly comes from the man's daughter. Whenever he remembers about her daughter, he will gain the sort of 'fire' in him to carry on finding a job. I like the idea of the movie a lot. And this was the 1st song that propelled Daughtry onto the international stage, and quite rightly so. His voice is unique. A little screaming here and there, yes, but it's his style. And despite all that screaming, he still hits the right notes! The lyrics is also quite good, slightly more than decent. :D
I guess the only fault I can find with Daughtry (and it's a huge fault!)...is his dark eyelashes!!! I duno whether it's suppose 2 be his own image, but somehow, it freakily reminds me of a certain talented yet ugly singer, Amy Winehouse (below).
You be the judge...
3.5/5
As for David Cook, hmm let's just start with a little info about David Cook. He was crowned American Idol last week, edging (or rather won by a landslide) over David Archuleta. To me, his '1st' track, Light On, does not have the instant effect that will make girls love David Cook as opposed to David Archuleta's 1st single, Crush. In fact, Light On requires a lot listening to before you could actually like it. At least, that was the case for me. :D
The video:
Bascially the video tells of a teen boy and girl's relationship while Cook sings on stage in the football stadium (nice fresh idea!). The boy works at a diner and one day when a teen girl walks into the diner, they exchanged a few glances (aww, only glances coz the boy is shy :P), but when her boyfriend soon came, the teen boy gets jealous. Again, he did nothing. Soon after, the scene brings us to the girl fighting with her boyfriend in his car and then getting out of it in a moment of spite. He drove away, leaving her stranded there late at night. The teen boy from the diner then shows up on his bike and gives her a ride home and there the love starts! :D
The GOOD, and the bad:
Not too bad a video, definitely better than David Archuleta's video of Crush. Probably coz Archu looks white in the sunlight. Somewhat like a ghost in the day? Hahax dun take it to heart, Archie fans. Well, back to Light On. It's great to see David Cook rocking with his distinctive guitar (coz of the initials 'AC' denoting his brother Adam Cook). The New Paper calls him a 'heartthrob', as so for Archuleta, but obviously heartthrob in their own ways. Archuleta for cuteness, while Cook for his rough rocker, yet kind look. =D Luckily David Cook didn't go for the dark eyelashes, which I would say is a great plus point. Imagine smiling when you look so emo. And Cook has a huge radiant smile too, like me! :D
To me, the video shows love that is really hard to come by, like those that seem impossible, as evident in the supposedly more successful teen girl and the not-so-lucky teen boy. It's really good for us teens ba, I can say. I like this kind of 'stories' ;)
However, he still slightly lags in the vocal department as compared to Daughtry. But what he really lags behind Daughtry is his ability to put up a great song that captures people immediately. The tune doesn't sound captivating, so coupled with his rocker-type voice, it just doesn't fit in well enough. Sorry David Cook, try again. :D I think with time, he'll be a great singer. Probably a meeting with Daughtry will boost him up!
3.2/5
Conclusion:
Both are good videos, but David Cook still lacks that rocking edge that will make him more distinctive, and not be compared to Daughtry. Something that makes him stand out as an artist. Well, his looks definitely wins baldy Daughtry by a mile, but voice wise and the ability to create his own style makes Daughtry win HANDS DOWN. Hence, David Cook: heartthrob? Yes. One of a kind? Maybe not...yet. Nevertheless, I still think David Cook can make it big still, but definitely will NEVER be as huge a star as Daughtry. Sorry Cook, just gotta accept the fact. :D
Current Music Playing: Light On by David Cook
Never really said too much
Afraid it wouldn’t be enough
Just try to keep my spirits up when there’s no point in grievingDoesn’t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place when you know I’m leavingTry 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
And when it’s late at night, you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone
You know we’ve been down that road
What seems a thousand times before
My back to a closing door, and my eyes to the seasons
That roll out underneath my heels
And you don’t know how bad it feels
To leave the only one that I have ever believed in
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
And when it’s late at night, you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone (oh yeah)
Sometimes it feels like we’ve run out of luck
When the signal keeps on breakin' up
When the wires cross in my brain
You’ll start my heart again
When I come along, yeah
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
And when it’s late at night, you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it’s late at night, you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone
Can't keep on loving you
from a distance...
16:19
