I'm a fan (and you should be too) because...David is classy, immensely (and multi-) talented, he has integrity, a great work ethic, is intelligent, sensitive, grounded and kind. Besides all these things, he can bring the house down with his vocals and musicianship. He's a real professional who knows how to connect with his audience, and make you feel like he's performing just for you.

David's voice is unique, raw and powerful, and he can hit a high glory note and hold it forever, and then descend into his growly, low range with what appears to be no effort. His voice is always infused with emotion and sexuality, as is his whole demeanor when he performs. He could be an actor (and probably win an Oscar) because he always plays a role in all his performances. Not that he's faking the emotion of whatever song he sings (far from it--he seems incapable of faking anything he doesn't feel), just that he brings more than just his voice--he performs his music. Simon was so wrong when he accused David (way back after "Happy Together") of having "not much" charisma. This boy has truckloads of it.

I love David's humility (which success doesn't seem to be affecting--if anything he's more humble now than he ever was), his willingness to give and receive love, the fact he cares about his fans and is close to his family, his gratitude to his fans for putting him where he is today (I have never seen anyone so effusively grateful, always thanking his fans, sometimes to the point of tears), his goofiness and silly (never mean-spirited) sense of humor, the fact he's a word nerd and can speak and write with intelligence, eloquence, and sensitivity; and finally, I love the fact that he wears his heart on his sleeve and is a self-admitted cryer. (You'll be able to tell looking through my pictures that I'm a huge soggy Cookie fan). I adore men who are not afraid to show their emotions--to me that shows a real man with a lot of courage. Machismo isn't masculinity--it's poseurism.

David Cook will not be forgotten. He's here to stay, and he's here to bring rock music out of the doldrums it's been languishing in since the mid-to-late 1990s (some say it's been hibernating even longer than that). I know that's a daunting task and an overwhelming amount of responsibility to burden a 25 year old man with, but I know he can and will do it. It may take some time, but he will.

David is going to be very important in the music industry (and possibly the film industry as well--he has a theater background and has stated he wants to act). In 50 years, he will still be remembered and counted up there with the greats--Bon Jovi, U2, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Elvis, The Who--long, long after everyone has forgotten that he first got launched from a cheesy little reality show called American Idol.