Home : American Idol : Did David Cook Rip-Off "Eleanor Rigby"?

Did David Cook Rip-Off "Eleanor Rigby"?

Posted Mar 12th 2008 2:22PM by TMZ Staff

David Cook was on fire with his rendition of the Beatles classic "Eleanor Rigby" on "Idol" last night -- but a Seattle band claims he swiped the arrangement from them.


The band DOXOLOGY recorded their version of the track a year and a half ago, putting it up on iTunes and on the band's MySpace page. The band's manager tells TMZ the song is what they're best known for and have played it at nearly 200 shows.

Click to hear!The manager says the band has no intention of suing, but they're trying to get in touch with the show -- they want some props.

"Idol" tells TMZ the contestants pick their song and present their ideas for the arrangement to the show's musical department and work with them on it.

Welcome to Hollywood.



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136. I have listened to the Godheads version - it is not the same PLUS - they are not even a part of this issue.... the song that David Cook sang did not sound like Godhead, it sounds like Doxology. if you are going to argue, at least argue about the right stuff. Geez.

Posted at 10:50PM on Mar 12th 2008 by LRS & ARP

137. Well...personally I don't think they sounded much alike. Where Doxology was a little more toned down...David rocked it out. They also used more what sounded like brass in the instruments. They both just sounded like individual takes on a Beatles song...David's rocked a little more. I wonder if every band who does this song will think it is their arrangement????

Posted at 10:50PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Looliegirl

138. Whatever. He already made it to TOP 11... Sorry Doxology....

Posted at 10:54PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Gaz

139. Doxology is probably just embarrassed because Cook sang it better than their lead singer...

Posted at 9:20AM on Mar 13th 2008 by monster

140. SOME OF YOU HAVE TO CLEAN OUT YOUR EARS. DOXOLOGY'S LEAD SINGER CLEARY DOES A WAY BETTER JOB ON VOCALS THAN THIS DAVE GUY HE IS GOOD BUT NOT AS GOOD & THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM HEARING ANY OF THEM.

Posted at 12:30AM on Mar 13th 2008 by l SPENCE

141. Why am I not surprised? He ripped off Incubus' version of "Hello" last week. Tear this ripoff artist down, TMZ.

Posted at 8:04PM on Mar 13th 2008 by afraidofpop

142. Godhead did a gothy version of this 10 years ago. I never head of Doxology, maybe they copied the arrangement from Godhead

Posted at 11:38PM on Mar 12th 2008 by jumbojim

143. Does anyone know who was kicked off tonight?

Posted at 11:51PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Ms. Kitty

144. I think David Cook did a great version of it...a lot better sounding than DOXOLOGY. I went to their MY SPACE site & heard how they did the song...just wasn't as good as what David did.

Posted at 11:04AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Willow

145. To the people who are saying that this is all the publicity doxology
is going to get bite your tongues or you will later. There are few
people in the world with the talent this group has. they should get
recognition for the arrangement because to many bands work hard for
years and then stuff like this happens. again note this is about the
arrangement of the song. This group rocks compared to all the crap
music thats out today. how many of you that are writting negative
comments have any talent? and if so where is it being displayed.
Doxology is DOXOLOGY and they do not want to be maroon 5 they have so
much more SOUL!!!!! & Dave did rock it but its not about him its
about whoever does the musical arrangments for the show this is
nothing negative on Dave. They do much bigger shows than these
highschool shows that someone is commenting on I've never heard of
them playing for High schools but I have heard of them doing big
shows like NYC Amsterjam opening for the Red HOT CHILLI PEPPERS,
SNOOP DOGG AND OTHERS. THEY OPENED FOR BLAKE LEWIS'S RECORD RELEASE
PARTY AND THEY GOT RAVE REVIEWS PERSONALLY I LIKED THEM BETTER. SO
CHECK THERE MYSPACE PAGE AGAIN CAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU MISSED
ALOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:44AM on Mar 13th 2008 by lola

146. All you AI brown nossers make me sick!!!! Most of the music in the mainstream sucks!!!!!!!!!& for people to leave such negative comments on REAL musicians even sicker!!!! (This goes to the one who posted that on thier myspace they are reaching to thier fans for support, stupid! Thats what fans are for) At least they have a fan base to reach out to.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 1:00AM on Mar 13th 2008 by lola

147. While the two version sound alike, Doxology is smart to say they don't want to sue. I'm guessing that they didn't license the song properly before they covered it, and are not paying the necessary royalties. Sony is really strict about licensing their music, and it may well be that Doxology could be in a whole heap of trouble. Be careful when you wish for fame. :-)

Posted at 12:52AM on Mar 13th 2008 by Mike Lamour

148. I once saw Doxology play this song live and they are a fantastic band. They will likely be a huge success when all is said and done. I haven't yet listened to their latest, but their 5 song LP from a couple of years ago is far better than most anything I've heard on the radio lately.

Sheesh, there's plenty of fame to go around. Let Doxology and this Cook kid both get rich and famous.

Posted at 3:15PM on Mar 14th 2008 by factotum

149. the hardening of "Eleanor Rigby" happened in 1978 when first wave of punk band Jimi LaLumia & the Psychotic Frogs cranked out the triple xxx heavy cover version before anyone else
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cipi4ezTrQ

Posted at 1:01AM on Mar 13th 2008 by fab

150. His rendition of "Hello" sounded awfully familiar to me and so I got out my "Me First and the Gimeee Gimmees" CD and yep, pretty much the same arrangement. Sad that he gets props for originality on national tv when really its these small bands that originated the arrangements.

Posted at 11:05AM on Mar 13th 2008 by Jay-C

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