The Last Song I'll Write for You

"The Last Song I'll Write for You"
Single by David Cook
Released	May 4, 2012 (2012-05-04)
Recorded	2012
Genre	Pop rock alternative rock [1]
Length	3:31
Label	Analog Heart Music
Songwriter(s)	David Cook Andy Skib Daniel James
Producer(s)	John Fields
David Cook singles chronology
"Fade into Me" (2011) "The Last Song I'll Write for You" (2012) "Laying Me Low" (2013)

"The Last Song I'll Write for You" is a song recorded by American Idol season 7 winner and singer-songwriter David Cook. It was released independently as a single through Cook's imprint Analog Heart Music on May 4, 2012, following his departure from RCA Records.^[2][3]

Content

"The Last Song I'll Write for You" is a mid-tempo rock ballad that draws on elements of both pop rock and alternative rock. Kevin Rutherford of Billboard described the song's style as "adult alternative."^[1] Its lyrics describe a breakup and moving on from a relationship that is no longer healthy, which, given the timing of its release, has led critics to speculate that the song refers to Cook's split from his record label.^[4][5] Cook, however, has dismissed this theory, explaining to Yahoo! Music that the ballad was inspired by "an ex from long, long, long ago."^[5][6]

Background and release

"The Last Song I'll Write for You" was written by Cook, Andy Skib, and Daniel James, and was produced by John Fields.^[7] It was released to digital retailers on May 4, 2012 before Cook premiered the song on the May 10, 2012 episode of the eleventh season of American Idol.^[2][8]

Reception

Commercial performance

The single sold 15,000 copies in its first week of release,^[9] debuting and peaking at number 45 on the Billboard Pop Digital Songs chart.^[10]

Critical reception

Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly says "the slow-burn hook on this self-released breakup ballad is earnestly catchy."^[11]

Chart performance

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[10]	45

References

1. Rutherford, Kevin (11 May 2012). "Hollie Cavanagh's Time Runs Out on 'American Idol'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
2. "The Last Song I'll Write for You - Single by David Cook". iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
3. Halperin, Shirley (May 10, 2012). "'American Idol's' David Cook and RCA Records Part Ways (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter.
4. Franklin, Mark (16 May 2012). "David Cook talks WGWG and life after RCA". Idol Chatter. YD Talk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
5. Parker, Lyndsey (11 May 2012). "David Cook Talks Life After 'Idol' & The "WGWG" Phenomenon". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
6. THR Staff (11 May 2012). "'Idol Hangover': David Cook Talks New Music, Old Label and What the Future Holds (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
7. Shirley Halperin (May 11, 2012). "'Idol Hangover': David Cook Talks New Music, Old Label and What the Future Holds (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
8. Halperin, Shirley (May 3, 2012). "David Cook to Perform on 'American Idol' May 10 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
9. Mansfield, Brian (May 16, 2012). "'Idol' performance boosts J-Lo's sales". USA Today.
10. "Chart Search". Billboard Pop Digital Songs for David Cook. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
11. "David Cook". Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2023-05-09.