David Cook Wants To "Make The Hair On The Back Of Your Neck Stand Up"

In a conference call with the press last Friday, American Idol winner David Cook said he just wants to make a "solid record" that will "make the hair on the back of your neck stand up."

Cook is anxious to get started on his new album and says that its release can’t be soon enough. This will be Cook’s first album under a major label, but he is no stranger to recording. He already has five self-made independent albums under his belt. Four of those were recorded with his band Axiom. In 2006 Cook recorded his own album of new music. That album, Analog Heart, became the subject of controversy midway through the competition, when someone made the album available for sale on Amazon, and it quickly became a number one download.

Cook, who says he didn’t have anything to do with the album suddenly showing up on Amazon, had it pulled as quickly as possible to keep all things equal during the competition. Cook was hard at work on a second independent solo album when American Idol turned his life upside down.

Cook only meant to accompany his younger brother, Andrew, who was auditioning for Idol in Omaha, Nebraska. However, while waiting in line, Cook was cornered by Idol cameras and producers who had him audition. With no thought of becoming the next American Idol winner, or even getting on the show, Cook sang Bon Jovi’s "Livin’ On A Prayer" for the judges, who sent him through to Hollywood. The rest, of course, is Idol history.

In an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Cook said he never had any thought of auditioning for Idol, because he considered himself to already be on the right track on his own. Now he hopes the national exposure from the show will lead to a successful recording career, but he says he is well aware that it is no guarantee. Says Cook about his upcoming post-Idol, "Even if it doesn’t do well commercially, at least I can say I put out a record that I’m proud of. That’s the goal right now. Hopefully, if I can do that, the success would follow.”

Article Author: Sherry Lipp

Sherry writes mostly music and dvd reviews and on occasion she gets to do an interview. She plays the guitar, enjoys playing with her dog Pepsi and she and her husband are currently in the process of internationally adopting from Poland.

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