American Idol winner David Cook is not too pleased with being dissed by season 13 champ Caleb Johnson. In interviews following his 2014 win, Caleb has stated repeatedly that he’s the first “real rocker” to win American Idol. He’s even directly insulted former winner David Cook by saying he only did “pop rock stuff” and there was no comparison between the two of them.
In a recent interview with Yahoo Music, Caleb Johnson once again smugly said that he was the only “real rocker” to be an American Idol winner.
“David Cook…he’s like pop rock,” Caleb said. “He never really did stuff like Zeppelin or Rush. He was more so. like…Alternative?”
Well, David would like to argue that Caleb is dead wrong that he doesn’t qualify as a “real rocker” in the music world. In fact, he decided he was going to prove the exact opposite was true at a recent concert captured on video.
David doesn’t specifically mention Caleb’s name, but it is obvious who he is talking about when he says he “read somewhere that somebody said that I wasn’t really rock.” The concert crowd obviously thinks anyone who would say David isn’t rock is ridiculous, considering how loud they booed that statement.
“I read that. So, we’re going to do this next song in an attempt to prove him wrong,” David said, before launching into a seriously rocking cover of “Rock ‘n’ Roll/Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin.
We would say that David Cook made his point loud and clear with that performance. How about it Caleb, you think David might be a “real rocker” now?
Caleb spoke the truth, but David Cook is probably laughing his a$$ off at Caleb’s “POWDER PUFF” album! On the show Harry nicknamed Caleb “THE PUNCHER”; now he’s the “POWDER PUFF”! LOL
Caleb is not only insulting, but also very uninformed. David Cook has done several hard rock covers, both on Idol, and afterwards, and this includes not only Led Zepplin, but also Van Halen, Nine Inch Nails, Kings X, as well as rearranged several songs of other genres into rock songs. In addition, some of the songs on his albums have been harder rock.
I hope Caleb learns to think before he speaks. It is one thing to make a
general statement. When you single out one artist that is just being
mean, hurtful and obnoxious! David Cook was mentor on American Idol and
helped all of the contestants including him. Caleb should look to David
Cook for example of someone that has ‘Never’ talked bad about another
artist on any Social Media. Humility & Kindness along with Talent
go along way for one’s career.
After David won Idol and did interviews, without prompting, he thanked
Chris Daughtry and Bo Bice for paving the way for a rocker to be
successful on the show. David is humble, classy, and immensely talented.
I can’t say the same for Caleb who, if he had an ounce of class, would
be thanking David.
IMHO Caleb’s got a big mouth for someone who hasn’t proven himself as a recording artist yet. David is so incredibly gracious and classy and Caleb (to me) came across the complete opposite this past season.
Rock is not a narrow genre. Just because David Cook doesn’t do hard rock or heavy metal doesn’t mean he’s not a “real rocker.”
Exactly right Deen!
I second that Deen!
To add to that:
There’s no era of rock that’s any more or less authentic than any other era.
I second that as well. Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and the Comets are just as much real rockers as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue, Nirvana, and Daughtry are.
David Cook is a talented ARTIST, also smart and classy. Caleb seems more like a wannabe bombastic showman and hasn’t shown much class. Has he ever said anything complimentary and appreciative of David? David Cook has done a lot for the Idol franchise (during and after Season 7) and Caleb should show some respect for that.
I shall never understand why some new Idols slag the old ones. Odds are you end up offending a potential fan and customer. You aren’t likely to gain many new fans by claiming to be the first at something (especially 13 seasons in), but you are likely going to turn off some.
8/19/14 – Bo Bice adds his comment about the issue today:
>>Bo Bice @OfficialBoBice 7m
Amazing what some folks will say after a few months of shimmer isn’t it @thedavidcook U R not only rock, Ur a rockin spirit brother.
This is the kind of support that Johnson and his “Team” are alienating with his “PR Plan”
Bo Bice didn’t win as Chris Daughtry didn’t also. As for David Cook I look at him like Jena Irene. Both “CAN” do Caleb’s harder style “ROCK” but both should stick to the softer rock style as it’s not their FORTE’! Further Caleb has been made to do the softer (as reflected on his album) because the harder style rock (that is Caleb’s FORTE’) isn’t as popular. Much like Obama sought out the Latino vote to get him the election (more Latino voters).
I think that Caleb could have sidestepped the question of labels entirely by saying something like “I really prefer rock from the 70s; that’s the music that feels the most authentic to me and I try to write songs like that. I think Cook was/is more of a 90s/2000s guy.” Same point, even hints at his (apparently sincerely held even if wrongheaded) idea that “his” era is more real, but doesn’t start slapping subgenre labels all over everything just to make him sound better. Of course, that would require tact and serious thoughts about the subject, neither of which I expect from him.
You nailed it! That’s what Caleb is trying to say but the problem is that he’s just not very media savvy.
Leave the politics out.
I second that. My mother taught me that, unless you are very well acquainted with the company you are discussing religion and/or politics with, it is best to leave these topics on the doorstep.
It’s like I mentioned above. Rock is not a narrow genre. Just because David Cook doesn’t do hard rock or heavy metal doesn’t mean he’s not a “real rocker.”
Billboard’s biography of David Cook classifies him as rock-oriented vocalist with a bent toward a commercial post-grunge sound. Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock and hard rock. Post-grunge is derived from grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone.
To follow-up with what Rocker Chick said, I recommend Allmusic .com as a source for learning about various genres and subgenres of music.
Well, compared to the rest of the music in my CD collection, Cook rocks hard!
To give a few examples: Air Supply, Barry Manilow, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, The Carpenters. When lite music stations still played lite music.
I check out some radio forums and can explain the reason why lite music stations have changed to edgier sounds. The lite music format, known, as AC, targets 25-54 year old females. That age group today grew up on MTV. That’s why they play more edgier stuff like Paula Abdul, Madonna, Prince, along side newbies like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.
For an old version of the format, I recommend the following Internet-only stations:
Soft N Easy Net Radio
www. softneasy .com
Lite 99 WLTB-DB
www. lite99online .com
Joy 99.5
www. joy995 .com
I think that David is much more original and creative and musically knowledgeable than both Chris Daughtry and Caleb Johnson.
First, let’s get one thing straight. Caleb never said anything about being hard rock. Second, Caleb’s rock is no more harder than Cook’s
If he had said he is the first one to win with a classic rock sound, it wouldn’t be a problem, without comparisons to others.
It’s also the way he says pop rock, with some distain that also puts me off to him. There’s nothing shameful about taking one’s music in a direction that is commercially viable
That’s exactly right. Caleb isn’t talking about being a hard rocker in the interview, he’s talking about being classic rock. He has this misguided notion that classic rock is more authentic than modern rock.
The question is: How is Caleb’s album sales so far?Will he get that far?He should be careful in whatever he says in the future as he has not proved anything yet in the real world of music.His name may just be one that will soon be forgotten.
He sold a little over 10K in the first week–lowest in Idol winners’ history.
I’ll just say this. I saw the recording of Caleb saying David Cook was “Pop Rock.” And David is one of my favorite artists from Idol. However, this is the media twisting Caleb’s words into something he didn’t mean. I have every song downloaded on iTunes that David did. And, on the show, David was more Rock than anything else. However, his albums are more “Pop Rock.” When Caleb made the “Pop Rock” statement, he meant David’s recording style after the show. Honestly, i would LOVE for David to record an album with a heavier rock side! That being said, I love what David has done thus far as well. As far as Caleb is concerned, his album has a rockish feel to it, with songs like “Devil’s Daughter,” “Testify,” and “Sailing Away.” Caleb’s album, I feel, was screwed by Idol. It was very, very rushed, and his first single, “As Long as You Love Me,” quite frankly sucked. Honestly, it’s just media trying to stir up conflict.
Much of the media doesn’t pay much attention to Idol now.
I think that Caleb could have sidestepped the question of labels
entirely by saying something like “I really prefer rock from the 70s;
that’s the music that feels the most authentic to me and I try to write
songs like that. I think Cook was/is more of a 90s/2000s guy.” Same
point, even hints at his (apparently sincerely held even if wrongheaded)
idea that “his” era is more real, but doesn’t start slapping subgenre
labels all over everything just to make him sound better. Of course,
that would require tact and serious thoughts about the subject, neither
of which I expect from him.
I think it’s like I hit upon. Aesthetics plays a role in how hard or soft you classify David Cook. To me, he’s medium rock. He’s not as heavy as the type of rock where it sounds like a monster roaring. (Hate that stuff, by the way.) But, he’s heavier than the classic soft rock (The Carpenters, Bread, Barry Manilow) that I was raised on. For example, the Joy 99.5 station that Music Man mentioned to me. They mostly concentrate on playing classic soft rock but do have some current stuff mixed in. There’s a power ballad that they play by Creed (With Arms Wide Open). Playing that next to James Taylor or Barbra Streisand creates a very glaring contrast.
I very much agree with this.
I liked Caleb on the show too, and I listened to his album on Spotify. To me, it sounds more like Shinedown than any classic rock (one song is even very similar to Shinedown’s “Miracle”). The whole “real rock” thing is played out; just because you don’t perform old school melodic rock doesn’t mean you’re not in the genre — especially when Lorde gets nominated in rock categories these days.
Does anybody know why Caleb thinks As Long As You Love Me is not “pop rock”? The song sounds kinda bubblegummy to me. Fits right into an “angst-fueled tween film” Although David’s songs have a ballady feel to them, they’re less pop than Caleb.
Exactly!
I second that. One of the characteristics of pop rock is light lyrics. Cook’s lyrics have more depth to them.
I was comparing David Cook’s and Daughtry’s music not too long ago. I think that the reason that Daughtry has gotten more spins on HAC, Top40, and AC is because his songs are hookier.
Very true. What Daughtry excels at is making music that has a high marketability factor, which results in more air time. He has a knack for writing catchy songs that get into the mainstream and pull non fans to his side.
That’s why Caleb’s comments lose credibility to me, because his music really isn’t hard core rock either.
I feel that lyrically and musically David’s first post-Idol album is a much stronger album than Caleb’s.
Agree. There are two songs that seem to be a stab at a “Permanent”-esque moment (just strings, piano and voice) but neither have the lyrical weight of “Permanent”.
My favorite of David’s post-Idol, major label albums, is This Loud Morning, his sophomore album. It’s the most ambitious and artistic
Idol album I’ve heard since Kelly Clarkson’s My December record. I would consider it a concept album. The various songs are linked by themes and musical references of each other, so it’s best to listen to the songs in sequence. The best thing about it is the textured production. You have grunge guitars, lush orchestration, exotic/unusual instruments (such as theremin, glockenspiel) and a children’s choir. In addition to This Loud Morning, David and his band also released a digital EP called This Quiet Night, which is acoustic performances of 5 songs
from the album. Both compliment each other quite nicely.
What Cook did wasn’t just to add rock to the show, it was that he was able to rearrange songs that weren’t necessarily rock into rock songs.
Speaking of David, he’s co-written a country song. Here’s a review of it: digitaljournal .com/entertainment/review-david-nail-mesmerizes-on-new-country-single-kiss-you-tonight/article/373531
Good to see him getting media attention for his songwriting abilities.
Like Master Class Lady, I am also only interested in artists with class and good manners.
http:// masterclasslady .com/2014/08/20/a-masterclass-moment-david-cooks-showstopping-response-to-caleb-johnson/
Not a fan of either of these people but noticed the headline while reading something else. Why would Cook care what a doofus like Caleb says? I appreciate what he did but I think he should stop worrying about what others say – especially someone as unimportant as that lame wannabe-rocker caleb dude. He just gave Caleb more cred by making a big deal about it. A bit insecure I guess.
David was always diplomatic about things like this, but when he first
addressed the WGWG label back in 2012, going so far as to say it “p*ssed
him off” (I believe it was in Shirley Halperin’s long video interview
with him after the debut of “Last Song…” on Idol), he’s gotten a bit
more outspoken. I say good for him — especially since he mentored Caleb
this past season and David mentioned that Caleb actually talked with him
quite a bit about D’s time on the show. David even called him a “fellow
rocker” on the show (IIRC, correction welcome if wrong). I can see how
Caleb’s words in the article would annoy David enough to say something,
all things considered.
He’s not going to last. Seriously, David is well-known here in my country with his rock songs. And Caleb should show some respect. He is just a newbie.
Being an ’80s guy, I prefer Cook’s awesome ’80s covers!
I love that David doesn’t feel the need to define himself as a “rocker”,
and instead acknowledges that “we can be more than one thing”.