On June 28, 2011, Cook released his second major-label studio album, entitled "This Loud Morning". Produced by Matt Serletic, the album consists of 14 tracks penned by Cook along with co-writers David Hodges, Ryan Tedder, Kevin Griffin and Marti Frederiksen, among others. The album title comes from a line in the song “Rapid Eye Movement” – “Give me one more quiet night, before this loud morning gets it right, and does me in.”
On May 10, 2012, Cook debuted a new, independently released single, The Last Song I’ll Write for You, on American Idol. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Cook denied this was written with his former record company in mind, despite the fact it was his first new song after losing his recording contract with RCA. He insisted it was a break-up song that came together very quickly.
Early Music Career: David Cook formed a band with his friend Bobby Kerr while at high school. The band was initially named Red Eye, later Axium. He wrote his first song titled “Red Hot” when he was fifteen. He was encouraged by Evan Sula-Goff of 8stops7 to make an album when he went to Cook’s school to judge a contest, Mr. Jaguar, where David Cook and his band performed Guns N’ Roses’ “Paradise City”. The band had some success when one of their songs, “Hold”, was selected to be played in movie theaters across the country, and they were named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country by “Got Milk?” contest as well as the best Kansas City band in 2004.
Axium however broke up in 2006 and David Cook moved to Tulsa where he joined Midwest Kings, a band he once opened for. Members of that band Andy Skib and Neal Tiemann later became part of David Cook’s post-Idol band The Anthemic. He recorded and self-released a solo album Analog Heart in 2006, which sold well regionally.He worked as a bartender prior to appearing on Idol.
In 2006, after obtaining a degree in graphic arts, Cook had to decide whether he wanted to be a musician or a graphic designer. “I gave myself every opportunity not to do music,” he says, “but it was always there. I couldn’t ignore it.” He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was in the early stages of recording his second album when his younger brother Andrew asked Cook to accompany him to Omaha and lend moral support while he tried out for American Idol. Andrew didn’t make the cut, but he encouraged a very reluctant David to try out. After Cook made it through the early auditions, he reportedly told his brother he’d drop out if Andrew didn’t want him to go through with it. “He threatened to beat my ass if I didn’t, so it’s entirely his fault that all this happened to me,” Cook says with a smile.
One week after being declared the winner with a record-breaking 56 percent of the nearly 100 million votes cast, Cook rewrote chart history when 11 of his songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart — the highest number of new entries in a single week by an artist since the Beatles in 1964. Topping the list was “The Time of My Life,” which debuted at No. 3, making it the highest new entry on the Hot 100 of 2008.
Cook’s self-titled major-label debut was released on November 18, 2008. His debut album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association for America (RIAA) for sales exceeding one-million units in January 2009.
In January 2009, Cook announced he would be embarking on a national tour in February. The Declaration Tour began on February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida, and was originally set to end in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25, 2009. Due to strong ticket sales, the tour was extended several times, finally wrapping up on December 1, 2009 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina, after 154 concerts in the U.S. and Canada. During 2009 Cook also took his show overseas to the Philippines, and performed for troops in Iraq with the USO.
On April 30, 2013, Cook released a new single, “Laying Me Low”, through XIX Recordings, the record label of American Idol creator Simon Fuller. The song was written by David Cook, Chris Reardon, and Andy Waldeck.
Hello
David Cook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been alone with you
Inside my mind
And in my dreams I've kissed your lips
A thousand times
I sometimes see you
Passing outside my door
Is it me you're looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in ????8?your smile
You're all I've ever wanted
And my arms are open wide
'Cause you know just what to say
And you know just what to do
And I want to tell you so much
I love you
I long to see the sunlight in your hair
And tell you time and time again
How much I care
Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow
Hello!
I've just got to let you know
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely?
Or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying I love you
Hello!
Is it me you're looking for?
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely?
Or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying I love you
The lyrics of David Cook's cover version of Lionel Richie's song Hello are a heart-wrenching story of unrequited love and longing for someone who seems just out of reach. The singer of the song has been alone with his/her love interest inside their mind and has even dreamt of kissing their lips a thousand times. The person sometimes sees the object of their affection passing by their door and can't help but wonder if they are being looked for.
The singer goes on to describe how he/she can see the love in the other's eyes and smile and feels that they are all he/she has ever wanted. The singer's arms are open wide, ready to embrace the love interest who they feel knows just what to say and what to do. The singer's love is overflowing; he/she wants to tell the other person so much that they love him/her.
The chorus of the song is a desperate plea to the other person to let the singer know if they are looking for him/her. The singer wonders where the other person is and what they are doing. The singer asks whether the love interest is feeling lonely or whether someone is loving them, hoping to find a clue as to how to win their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been alone with you Inside my mind
David Cook feels a strong connection to someone, and even though they are not physically together, he thinks about them all the time.
And in my dreams I've kissed your lips A thousand times
Although they have not shared a romantic relationship, David has imagined kissing this person many times in his dreams.
I sometimes see you Passing outside my door
David catches glimpses of this person in his everyday life, but they have not yet connected on a deeper level.
Hello! Is it me you're looking for?
David wonders if this person is also thinking about him, and trying to reach out to him in some way.
I can see it in your eyes I can see it in your smile
David feels like he can read this person's emotions without them having to say anything, and he senses that they also have feelings for him.
You're all I've ever wanted And my arms are open wide
David has been searching for someone like this person his whole life, and he is ready to embrace them fully.
'Cause you know just what to say And you know just what to do And I want to tell you so much I love you
David is impressed by how well this person understands him and what he needs, and he wants to confess his love to them.
I long to see the sunlight in your hair And tell you time and time again How much I care
David has specific images of this person that he daydreams about, and he wants to repeat over and over how much he cares for them.
Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow Hello! I've just got to let you know
David's emotions are so strong that he feels like he cannot keep them inside any longer, and he needs to express them in some way to this person.
'Cause I wonder where you are And I wonder what you do Are you somewhere feeling lonely? Or is someone loving you?
David is concerned about this person's well-being, and wonders if they are also struggling with loneliness or if they are already in a relationship.
Tell me how to win your heart For I haven't got a clue But let me start by saying I love you
David is unsure of how to proceed with this person, but he starts by telling them how he feels and asking them to give him a chance to win their heart.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ketfoen
One of the best performances to ever come out of Idols 👍👍
@Bartrim
I remember this season had an Australian in it so I was cheering for my fellow countryman. On this episode the Aussie guy performed “Don’t You” by Simple Minds and I was cheering because he had the best performance of the night… Then David came out next and blew everyone away with this.
@user-gp7od9tb8n
The best cover of the song Hello ever. From the first time he sang it on American Idol until now. When I hear the song Hello Lionel Richie I immediately think of David Cook's version
@virtual_viking8908
I vividly remember this performance and thinking when it was done "This guy is gonna win the whole thing".
I used to be really good at predicting winners early on at that time. 👍
@camillecress8606
Me too
@S_Lancaster_222
I come back & watch this video ALL the time~ he was hot then & he’s still hot traveling the world 🌎 making amazing music!!
@RoseAnnMatira-so3ib
Samedt.
@flyingzone356
One word - AMAZING.
@ricktravers6364
Great voice!
@mickeyh1212
I love all David's performances!!!! Very unique!!