Cornell to Cook: "Billie Jean" Is Not Yours, Son!

76. Jeeze, of course they will all sing songs done by someone else tonight. But the problem is that people think that David Cook has been coming up with his own arrangements (I know now that Chris Cornell was credited on the show, but I don't think many people heard that Ryan said that in the mosh pit of screaming teen girls). I think the blame rests with the judges who have been praising him for his originality since "Hello," when all of his songs since that time have been based on obscure rock covers. If warranted, they need to praise the performance and not the originality and creativity (which has been shown does not exist).

Posted at 1:49PM on Apr 1st 2008 by prat52c

77. Note for note? I listened to both versions and I don't think so.

Anyway, Idol is all covers. No one is performing original material so I don't see what the problem is. Just my opinion but I like the way Cook sang it better. His voice is incredible and he's exciting to watch.

Posted at 1:50PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Jenny

78. Ooooh thanks Star! Someone obviously can't sense sarcasm. WOW!

Posted at 1:44PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Jeeze

79. Antonio, open your eyes and look around. The world CAN be a positive place. People who aren't familiar with certain artists aren't going to know to buy his CD's until we know about whether we will like the music or not. It doesn't matter if David Cook only sold one CD in the past...the fact is that he has an audience now that loves to hear him sing and that wants to listen to more from him! Even if David does sing another cover (White Stripes did you say?) of a Dolly Parton song...most of us will not care. We think he is very talented and very awesome. He has a lot of fans. You are welcome to your negative opinions...but be prepared...that negativity and defensiveness will eventually be a very bad thing for your health. Try some St. Johns Wart or Kava tea.

Posted at 1:49PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Melissa K

80. Who the hell is Chris Cornell?

lol that wasn't meant to rhyme

Posted at 2:31PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Esther

81. I'll go ahead and admit, I never heard the name Chris Cornell until David did this song and I consider myself pretty diverse in my music.. all the way from Big Head Todd and the Monsters to Tori Amos to Deep Forest and too many others to mention. Chris Cornell??? nope!! David Cook.. my 19 year old daughter and I were watching and both had eargasms right in the living room and everytime I watch the video on youtube.. you go guy!!

Posted at 1:55PM on Apr 1st 2008 by star

82. prat52c, good point. I think your absolutely right! The judges made a mistake by saying it was original . Although, it was a little different from Chris Cornell's version, it was pretty similar. I don't understand why Chris Cornell is getting so bent out of shape about it and why some of the people on here are being so harsh. Every single one of the contestants for as long as this show has been on the air have sang these songs exactly (maybe not as well) as the originals and none of them have made such a big deal when the judges liked it. No one said that this song had never been covered like this before. I think they meant that instead of choing the obvious Michael Jackson version, he chose to do a rock version which was different and original (from other contestants). I guarantee you that most of the other contestants would have never done a different version of an original...they haven't.

Posted at 2:00PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Jeeze

83. Chris who? What a whiner! He covers a Michael Jackson song, then complains that he's not being given credit? David Cook sang it well and the show even credited Cornell with the arrangement. He's damn lucky David covered his cover. Otherwise, nobody would be talking about Chris Cornell. Quit your bitchin and cash the checks!

Posted at 2:14PM on Apr 1st 2008 by RH

84. TMZ COPIED TWO OTHER VERSIONS OF THIS STORY AND I DON'T THINK THEY WERE CLEAR ENOUGH IN GIVING CREDIT TO THE ORIGINALS!!!!!!
You guys know what... that was NOT TMZ's arrangement.... they STOLE it from someone else!! Actually they STOLE it from two different sources!! And I realize that they gave credit to the sources, but I think that people are giving THEM credit for the arrangement. OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! *GASP* Can you imagine!! Absolutely ridiculous, I think that they need to make sure that credit is CLEARLY given because right now I think peoples views on their report are skewed!! They need to go back through and email each and every person that has read this article to MAKE SURE that the people who have read it KNOW that it was in fact NOT their arrangement!!! I guess it is a very good interpretation of the originals, and they did a pretty good job copying everything to a T down to the slightest nuances. They were very clever in the wording of the title as well. They just need to make VERY sure that proper credit is given, because I bet you that the fans of those they took the arrangements from are very very protective and are probably going to be VERY angry that TMZ would have taken the credit for it when they merely copied it. Man... they're in trouble now.

Hey POT!!! Meet KETTLE!!! *wink* How about you stop doing covers of everyone else's articles and do some of your own! Oh wait... you do that with most of your stories don't you?? That's kind of the name of your game isn't it. Taking other people's stories and twisting them to suit your needs and then taking credit for some 'breaking story'. Hmm... hypocrite much?? Have I made my point?

Posted at 2:19PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Appauled!!

85. David Cook is a copycat emo queer. T
hose of you who diss Chris Cornell:
Between his solo, sound garden and audio slave project he has sold an over an estimated 20 million albums worldwide and they have won 5 grammy's. How can you stupid retards compare his accomplishments to David Cook?

Stupid retards!

Posted at 2:19PM on Apr 1st 2008 by Beef Cake

86. First of all, it's not about who wrote the song. Everybody knows that Michael Jackson wrote Billie Jean. It's about the arrangement that David Cook used and he, himself, didn't acknowledge it when he was praised for being "creative and original". He used Chris Cornell's arrangement. It's just like Vanilla ice stealing Queen's "Underpressure." without giving credit. He says it's a little different by one note. Queen and David Bowie and the rest of the world knew it wasn't. We all knew it was "Underpressure".

The only one who came up with an original arrrangement was Chikese. We miss you, Chikese!!!!

Posted at 2:22PM on Apr 1st 2008 by TM

87. You have to be kidding if you don't know who Chris Cornell is. Not only is he not a "nobody" he is a a very famous musician. Soundgarden AudioSlave you had to have heard of them they sell millions of records ..This Idol ripoff artist not only ripped off the song but the facial expressions and mannerisms of the artists involved. Chris Cornell is not in need of publicity.

Posted at 2:48PM on Apr 1st 2008 by comicsgirl

88. What some of you people are not paying attention to is the fact that Chris Cornell arrange and performed on his latest CD a cover of Billie Jean, which in turn, Cook sort of took credit for when Randy, Paula and Simon suggested that his was an "original" version. I had play back my DVR to even HEAR Ryan mention that it was Chris Cornell's version. Obviously, the judges didn't hear it either. The point is, when they were giving Cook kudos for being "original", he had every opporunity to give credit where it was due; instead, he gave his usual smirk.

Posted at 2:47PM on Apr 1st 2008 by divajulia

89. And these folks are famous because.... they sing karaoke.

Posted at 12:17PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by qak

90. Cook tried to say it was his by not on the first night correcting judges when they said it was so original. Judges told him how original he was being and Cook never said anything. Viewers who never heard of Cornells version were left to think he made it up himself. It was not until the next night that we found out it was Cornells version, and this ws after the voting. Dont get me wrong, i hate when judges say you need to make the song your own, . I dont think these kids can not only lern the lyrics in a week but make a new version of a song. Come on.

The only person actuall original and lets giver her props, Christy Lee Cook -- 8 Days a week. Now we know no one has ever come up with that version before.

Posted at 2:39PM on Apr 1st 2008 by BORAT