Three days ago, David Cook began recording his first single. He revealed to ABC News Radio that he’s the type to just hole up and write songs by himself; had never co-written songs with anyone before. It’s been a cool experience, he said, to be able to attack the songs from another standpoint. Working with other songwriters also allowed him to reveal more of himself and delving into some aspects of his life and his experiences that he would never have felt comfortable sharing a year ago. Despite being a solo artist, David hopes that his album will have a band feel to it. His old bandmate from Midwest Kings, Neal Tiemann, will be recording with him at least, so it’ll feel like the old band days, at least!

As for the American Idol Tour, David Cook’s having the time of his life. “I love it,” he says. “Every city has its own kind of stamp, every city has its own vibe.” The highlight of the tour so far is playing golf in Portland with Michael Johns.

And speaking of tours, David also mentioned that his concert date in Manila hasn’t been confirmed yet. Looks like we’ll have to try not to get too excited as we sit tight and wait for more updates!

David Archuleta’s new single, Crush, made its worldwide debut about two weeks ago on August 1. Sources say that Archie was shaking when it was first aired - nervous, I suppose, because as late as the night before the producers were still adding some finishing touches to the song. Crush was made available on iTunes two days ago and I can see why it’s doing so well. Complex arrangement, catchy melody, not to mention that David Archuleta’s voice sounds richer and more mature. Listen to it yourself on the YouTube video below!

According to someone from Television without Pity:

Yeah, his (David Cook) day didn’t start out the best because of everything that happened at the hotel, which I am not allowed to go in detail about. All I can say is that people need to learn where to draw the privacy line, and know the difference between being a fan, and a creeper.

Also, another report about a creepy David Archuleta fan carrying a spine-tingling sign:

There was a girl (late teens/early 20s) at the buses yesterday who had a sign that said on one side:

I killed 12 million people after the American Idol finale.

The other side said:

I’m looking for my last victim. Have you seen this man? With a picture of David Cook.

Even some of the Archie fans (and there were a shit load of ‘em) were telling her how f’d up her sign was.

After that, David Archuleta started appearing with police backup.

If this keeps up, I’m afraid the more sane fans won’t be seeing much of the Idols since they’ll be too freaked out to hold autograph signings and meet-and-greets. Idol fans, please start behaving respectably! They might be performers, but they’re also people who are entitled to privacy and time away from the limelight.

GeorgieRules from the Idol Forums was at the American Idol concert in Toronto and she has pictures and a very review to show for it! Actually, she decided not to review the show because she figured it would be redundant - she agrees with everyone that this is the best Idol concert so far. All the performers were amazing to see live and Ramiele, whose mic got cut off in the middle of her performance, handled the technical problems like a real pro.

Most of GeorgieRules’ photos are of the Idols signing autographs right after the show.

They all came out in good timing it did feel like forever tho…. but I only needed the 4 so I just watched and waited as other fans met Kristy and Carly and the rest then Syesha and Chikezie came out!!! I was so excited!!! Syesha is soooooo beautiful and cute she was posing and full of smiles!! then Chikezie came over and I yelled “I love you Chikezie!!!!!” and he looked all around and then he saw me and he pointed to me… hes said he loved me too haha I was excited! then Archie came over. everyone went insane I had hands, pictures and t-shirts in my face he almost missed my book…. but I really stuck my hand out and he got it!!! he marked my book up cuz ppl were just going right insane for him! and his dad was with him as well the whole time! then came over Michael Johns he was the best! him, Kristy and Brooke I found were the most interactive trying their best to hug, take pictures and sign every1’s stuff…. they took their time to mingle and just try and make every1 happy!

Looks like David Cook is not the only American Idol finalist who’ll be serenading the Philippines after the Idol Tour. Apparently, Filipino contestant Ramiele Malubay will be holding a concert in Manila this December together with best friend and Idol semi-finalist Danny Noriega. (Hey, this Danny guy…he’s pretty cute. Why did I never notice him before?) There is no set date nor venue for Ramiele’s homecoming concert yet, but her official website is holding a poll for Philippine-based fans so they can choose among several proposed venues. Rumor also has it that unlike the David Cook concert, Ramiele’s concert will be a two-evening affair!

We’ll be telling you more about Ramiele’s homecoming as the days go bay. Stay tuned!

Source

I couldn’t believe my ears when I first found out about it, but it is in fact true. DAVID COOK IS COMING TO MANILA!

In a radio interview with ChumFM, the 2008 American Idol spoke about the release of his album in November and his plans for the year 2009. And the first item on the agenda for 2009 is a concert in the Philippines! According to the interview, the Philippine concert is his first major booking after the excitement of the American Idol tour dies. Don’t believe me? Listen to the interview yourself!

Save January 27, 2009 for the David Cook concert in Manila! No word about where it will be or how much tickets will cost, but I’m sure we’ll find out real soon.

Not all of us American Idol Season 8 fans live in the US, and not everyone who lives in the US will get the chance to see our Idols perform live. So for those who won’t be able to attend any of the tour shows, I thought you might want to see the songs they’re serenading America with. I found the official setlist by hopping around forums and I placed them there, safely hidden behind the cut since there are some of you lucky ones who WILL see the show and would like to be pleasantly surprised.

CHIKEZIE
- I Believe to my Soul, Ray Charles
- Caught Up, Usher
- So High, John Legend

RAMIELE
- I Want You Back, Jackson 5
- Love Will Lead You Back, Taylor Duane
- If I Never See Your Face Again, Maroon 5 feat. Rihanna

MICHAEL
- We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions, Queen
- It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right, Dolly Parton
- Dream On, Aerosmith

KRISTY
- Squeezin’ the Love Outta You, Carolyn Dawn Johnson (throws t-shirts to the audience)
- God Bless the USA
- Cowgirls, Kerry Harvick

CARLY
- Bring Me to Life, Evanescence
- Crazy On You, Heart
- I Drove All Night, made most famous by Roy Orbison, Cyndi Lauper and Celine Dion

BROOKE
- Let It Be, The Beatles
- 1, 2, 3, 4, Feist
- Yellow, Coldplay

Idol Gives Back segment, narrated by Brooke

GROUP PERFORMANCE - Ramiele, Brooke, Carly and Kristy, eventually joined by Chikezie and Michael
- (Pride) In the Name of Love, U2

INTERMISSION
- Includes a video of the Idols in 70s outfits singing ‘We’re An American Band’ roll2.gif

JASON
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow on the ukelele
- Crazy, Gnarls Barkley
- Daydream, Lovin’ Spoonful

SYESHA
- Umbrella, Rihanna
- If I Ain’t Got You, Alicia Keys
- Listen, Beyonce

DAVID ARCHULETA
- Angels, Robbie Williams
- Apologize, OneRepublic
- Stand By Me, with Beautiful Girls incorporated in it
- When You Say You Love Me, Josh Groban

DAVID COOK
- Hello, Lionel Richie
- Time of my Life
- I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing, Aerosmith
- My Hero, Foo Fighters*
- Billie Jean, Michael Jackson

GROUP PERFORMANCE - Please Don’t Stop the Music, Rihanna

SHOW OVER

Lyss from the Idol Forums took over three hundred pictures of the American Idol show in Columbus, Ohio plus a very short video of MJ bowing to David Cook.

Apparently, David Cook started laughing when Michael brought his guitar onstage and he said,
“We’ve been planning on this for a month and now he finally does it!” David laughs some more then Michael bows before walking off stage. I love it when they interact with each other during the performance!

Under the cuts are some of the photos from Columbus, Ohio. Thank you for the fabulous pictures, Lyss!

While I love seeing photos of the American Idols as they perform in different cities and states, what I truly enjoy seeing is how they behave when they meet their fans after the show. It’s interesting to see what they’re like when they’re not performing; not to mention that they must be exhausted after putting up quite a show. I’m pretty sure that they’d much rather head back to their rooms and get some rest, but they really make the effort to pay attention to their fans.

Karen from the Idol Forums, whose pictures from the Sacramento show I’ll be sharing with you today, describes what it was like waiting for the Idols after the show.

I don’t remember how long it took for all the Idols to come out – maybe about 40 minutes? It was really hard to see because I was near the other end of the gate. Anyway, Kristy was the first to come out and I told her congratulations on the record deal and her engagement and she said thanks and something like “This has definitely been one of the greatest times I’ve ever had in my life” and she looked so happy. Then we got a quick picture taken together. She was the only one I got one with at this time, because everyone else was just rushed.

Then I met Michael again. I told him he was one of my favorites this season and he said thanks, then I asked him for a picture but then he skipped over me. Then I became really annoying and kept on asking him over and over again in my tiny voice to come back so we can get our picture and seriously, I’m like … literally almost down on my knees, I felt (This is the part where you all laugh at “down on my knees” for Michael Johns – hahahahaha!!) but when he was too far away, I just had to drop it.

After Michael, I think it was Cook who came out. I shyly asked him if he liked the poem I wrote for him this afternoon (Yeah, it was some really cheesy, kind of creepy copy-cat deal I quickly penned over the weekend) and he replied “I loved it!” Ramiele was several people standing away from him and he looked over at her and said, “Ram-mama! What’s up?” I couldn’t see how she responded because girl is little and so am I. But yay for Malucook!

Then Jason came to my area. He is such a sweetie. I told him how much I loved his bulletins, blogs, and vblogs on MySpace and he said thanks. Then he mentioned how all of us were in his video for the week.

I think this was the point where Michael and Cook made a dramatic exit with MJ giving Cook a piggyback ride and they ran back to the buses. Yay for Mavid!

Brooke was standing super close to me and she sounded so sweet talking to all the fans. Then Kristy came over and whispered something to her – I guess she told them they had to leave because that’s what they did. So I didn’t meet Brooke either. So sad.

Finally, Archie came to our side but he was stopped by like three of the security guards who chatted with him for a while. Then he just walked along our side and gave everyone a high five, and did the same when he came back and YAY I got to touch his hand!

View the cut for Karen’s Sacramento photos!

Carriebofan from the Idol Forums attended the Portland concert two nights ago and had amazing pictures to show for it! She had eighth row middle seats, just one row behind the catwalk, which explains the awesome angles. As for the lowdown on the Portland show:

As I already mentioned, the concert itself was just awesome!! Some people around us got kind of pissed because we were standing the whole time, but we came to have fun and that’s what we were going to do!! I didn’t want to read the set list beforehand, so that I could be surprised about what songs they were singing. This is the first season that I loved just about everyone, so I truly enjoyed all of the performances. Some of my personal favorites of the night were Michael’s “Dream On”, Carly’s “I Drove All Night” (which was my favorite performance of hers this season), Brooke’s “Let It Be”, Jason’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, and Syesha’s “Listen” (which was just incredible!!). Archie & David C. were my absolute favorites, though, so I was freaking out a bit when it was finally time for them to hit the stage. When Archie came on singing “Angels”, I got the biggest chills. I was honestly stunned by how incredible he sounded live!! Loved all of his other performances, as well. And then David C. blew me away with “Hello” and “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” (two of my favorite performances of his this season, as well). EEEEEEE!! We just had so much FUN!!

Apparently, she took over 500 photos but underneath the cut is about eight of the best ones. Also, don’t miss the video of the dreamy Jason Castro’s performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow at the very bottom. <3