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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91. I really don't know the rules of AI. If the contesants get to help with the arrangements, that doesn't mean it's their original arrangement, does it? It's just the one they want right? I have not heard the gimmegimmes version of hello but it cannot sound as good as David's did anyways, which was perfect. This attempt at a scandal will not stop me from supporting David... he's great. These are cover songs anyways people, chill out. Until a scandal breaks that AI contestants are lipsyching, David has my full support. It's all you baby...

Posted at 6:46PM on Mar 12th 2008 by angmari

92. Chris is an awesome performer. I'm a big Daughtry fan so I love to see rockers on the show. With regard to the song, the other bands version is similar but I would not say it was exact. Anyway, it was Beatles night and he sang it exactly as the Beatles did it would he be ripping off them? I actually like the bands version and I think they should be honored instead of making a stink about it. Why don't they just record it?

Posted at 6:43PM on Mar 12th 2008 by lorraine, staten island

93. Rare Earth also did the song. David's is closer to that version. Some people will do ANYTHING to get their bands name out there.

Posted at 6:41PM on Mar 12th 2008 by hello, it\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

94. I saw Richie Havens do exactly the same arrangement in the early '70's. We all went nuts.

Posted at 10:36AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Woody Kellwe

95. Sorry. I have Daaughtry on the brain. I meant David

Posted at 6:44PM on Mar 12th 2008 by lorraine, staten island

96. Actually, Thrice's version is way better than this crappy doxology version. i was afraid cook's performance would be a ripoff of thrice but it was totally not.

Posted at 6:47PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Steve

97. REALLY..... I love your post. I thought David Cook did an awesome job with the song, better than Doxology's cover. So now they are getting some exposure on the coat tails of AI's "scandals", who can blame them? This is just making David Cook's name (and voice) stay in everyone's mind too. Its all good.

Posted at 6:49PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Jen

98. I want more Amy Winehouse! At least She's interesting!

Posted at 6:50PM on Mar 12th 2008 by spankfreak

99. This band is clearly trying to get their name out there. The music business is tough so I can sympathize but to say they've been ripped off is ridiculous. As 'Really's post shows, this song has been covered hundreds of times. Cook's version is bound to sound like someone else's. Big frickin deal.

If you're good, someone is always going to say, hey that sounds like me. It's not like anyone is going to try to take credit for Kristy Lee Cook's version of '8 Days a Week'.

Posted at 6:53PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Jenny

100. He did the same thing last week.. Incubus did that version of Lionel Richie song years ago for a Holloween show.. They did it live during that show and they did a radio broadcast of it on KROQ.

Posted at 6:54PM on Mar 12th 2008 by ???

101. 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.

We want props for playing a song a thousand bands played before us. Boo hoo....

ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES RULE

Posted at 7:00PM on Mar 12th 2008 by what a joke

102. Our 19, 21 and 23 yr old "kids" are always trying to "enlighten" us geezers about what music talents exist today that can even BEGIN to compare to any of our very FABulous music from 60's & 70's. BUT,after hearing Doxology's rework of "El Rigby" (now many, many, many) times, I had to admit that I actually preferred it over the original! (Sorry, John!) SO, I was totally shocked last night when I heard their EXACT version sung by this other guy on A. Idol! Someone w/ Simon's experience should have picked up on how unlikely it was that this could be quickly composed by an inexperienced singer. I think he was just so surprised because it IS so good! Kudos to those who DO deserve the credit!

So, all you young music fans/artists really need to learn what constitutes intellectual property ( YES, this does include an original composition to existing lyrics!!!) and RESPECT IT! Or else you'll get in big trouble! And your music will all really begin to suck! HAH! Now, be good! Love, Mother

Posted at 8:02PM on Mar 12th 2008 by jp

103. David Cooked rocked the house last night. I seriously hope he wins this season of American Idol!

Mad props to David Cook !!!!!!

Posted at 7:24PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Laura

104. Who is Doxology anyway?

Posted at 7:20PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Too Much Time on My Hands

105. You are all insane. Aussie band THE ZOOT did the best version of this song. Everyone else has copied them. Then again, Aussies are always the best. 1 of the members of Zoot was Rick Springfield! BTW, their version of Eleanor Rigby was McCartney's fave. You Yanks - think you know it all.

Posted at 9:51AM on Mar 13th 2008 by Aussie Craig

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