I'm a fan (and you should be too) because...
There has never been an American Idol contestant as incredibly talented as David Roland Cook.
From the moment he opened his mouth during the auditions, to the exhilarated tears he cried minutes after he took the Idol crown, David has time and time again astounded me with his tender heart, endearing personality, giving nature, impressive work ethic, boundless intelligence, genuine love for and diligent attention to us (his fans), and of course, his phenomenal musical ability, in all aspects of the word. David is just plain BEAUTIFUL, inside and out. This man has no limitations to what he can do (and has been doing) for the musical and philanthropic world.
There were many times during Idol where he touched my heart and tickled my soul. Performances like "Eleanor Rigby," "Billie Jean," "Always Be My Baby," "Little Sparrow," "Music of the Night," "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," "The World I Know," and even the solo bit in the group number "Shout to the Lord" left me absolutely breathless. David's stage presence is impeccable; he is extremely confident and self-assured when performing. He all but permeates the atmosphere with his glowing aura. But even more importantly, his CONNECTION with the audience still sends shivers down my spine. He has a remarkable knowledge of cameras, knowing exactly when to intensify his facial expressions and sing with mind-boggling intimacy so that those close-ups can capture all of him in a single moment. David, for lack of a better term, is brilliant. He takes bold risks that no other musician would dare to attempt in a million lifetimes.
And now, here he is, 7 months after winning American Idol and still kicking. David has more than proved his staying power with his groundbreaking self-titled debut album, in which he was (in his own words) "heavily involved." The album is phenomenal. It stretches the boundaries in the best way, with eclectic pieces ranging from a radio-made powerhouse ("Light On"), an introspective self-reflection on his rocket from obscurity to world-wide fame ("Life On the Moon"), a grungy, heavy metal butt-thumper ("Bar-ba-sol"), an ethereally beautiful love ballad ("Avalanche"), to a two-part tribute to his cancer-stricken brother, the heart-shattering question "Permanent" and its encouragingly hopeful answer "A Daily AntheM." Just take one listen to this gem and you'll know what I mean.
So why am I a fan, you ask? David Cook has unmistakable talent, charisma, charm, an electric personality, wonderfully human flaws, raw emotions, and draws me in by just being HIMSELF. I've stepped into this roller-coaster called the David Cook Ride, and I'm never looking back.