When I happened to catch a brief clip of Cook's performance of "Eleanor Rigby," I reacted the same way as when I first heard Springsteen's "Born to Run" in 1975--I stopped and stared (at the TV this time instead of the radio). Cook's voice, like Springsteen's, can save lives with its passion, yearning, power, and vulnerability. Cook also shares with Springsteen an ability to energize and thrill a crowd with his performance, probably due in part to years of experience playing in clubs (hey, just like Springsteen did!)

Other striking similarities? Cook is 25, and Springsteen was in his mid- to late 20s when he first hit it big. Cook also writes his own songs like Springsteen, meaning he can have as long and varied a career has he wants. Cook makes black leather jackets look good, just like the Boss. Early on, some critics claimed Springsteen sounded too much like Bob Dylan, which I never saw. Hmmm...people have tried to lay the "copycat" title at Cook's feet too--again, I don't see it.

So that's my opening argument. I'm NOT saying that David Cook is this generation's Bruce Springsteen (although, he's got potential!) I'm just making a few observations here.

Demetri, darlin' you're preaching to one of the preachers. I can compare Springsteen to Cook precisely because I GOT Springsteen's talent, charisma, from one listen to one song on the radio (no videos back then either!) I waited a year to see him perform live and still count that first concert in 1976 as the single best night of my life. Springsteen's got talent, determination, and a rebel spirit and conviction that believes rock 'n roll is life. Cook's got that too. His pre-Idol music and current Idol performances show this. 'What can David Cook do?' He can perform music and excite, energize, and inspire folks who haven't been inspired or excited by any musical artist in a very long time. I see in Cook the same promise I saw in Springsteen years before he became rock music icon.
Also, I'm not sure how you can dismiss AI contestants so completely when you admittedly have never watched an episode.

I guess I'm naive in thinking that one might actually LISTEN to a performer before actually forming an opinion and throwing said person out the window like a dirty tissue. I'm silly, I know, but that's how I was raised. Actually Cook has written quite a lot of good songs of his own. FYI: On AI, they don't get to perform their own music. It's one of AI's little rules, which, of course, I don't blame you for not knowing since you have never watched the show and should never, ever, lower yourself to do so. If you want to hear some of Cook's pre-AI music (not YOU personally; I know the last thing you want to do is listen to the man sing), here's a link: //www.davidcooktheamericanidol.com/music/ Why does David Cook remind me of Springsteen'? He's an exciting, committed, great young rock performer and songwriter, who with a bit of AI exposure caused fans to make his 2006 "Analog Heart" recording one of iTunes and Amazon's most popular music downloads (until AI pulled it from sale--Hey, no fair being original, popular, making $ without us, D. Cook!) When U2 was inducted into the RandR Hall of Fame, Bono said they couldn't have made it in today's music. I'm starting to see his point.