Ramblings Intérieurs

I’m taking a break from serious stuffs, relax and write about another contestant from the most popular reality show-singing contest of this time, American Idol!

70. David Cook

Coming from someone who listens to alternative rock, I knew this guy would be the rocker to beat in American Idol Season 7.

Although I was rooting for David Archuleta on the earlier part of AI, I was amazed by David Cook’s version of “HappyTogether” on the first week of the show.

And as the reality show progressed, I was able to hear one of the best performances in American Idol history. This is because David does not just perform a song, he makes it his own. As I have pointed out time and again, making a song your own is what makes a singer an artist. Damn great artist. David Cook.

I will be listing my favorite performances of David Cook below:

71. Happy Together by The Turtles

Now, who would be able to make a song like “Happy Together” sound rock? Only David Cook. I also agreed with Simon that I haven’t heard that song sung like that before.

72. Hello by Lionel Richie

“This is the bomb!”

With all apologies to the dawg, Randy Jackson, I still feel that this is the song that made David Cook a household name not only in America but the whole world. It was an “emo” version of the song but it still sounded so damn good.

72. Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles

David Cook made me realized that there’s still a lot of Beatles song that I haven’t heard and appreciated yet. This is one of them. This song also tugged my heart because it speaks of “all the lonely people.”

73. Day Tripper by The Beatles

Another song by The Beatles that I didn’t know existed and when David Cook sang it, my admiration for Beatles became stronger.

74. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

I wasn’t able to catch this performance but my friend Edwin told me that he’s rooting for Michael Johns (who’s eliminated already) and David Cook because of his version of this Michael Jackson classic. I wasn’t able to watch the particular episode
because I was on training and I thought I already saw what the contestants are capable but David Cook proved me wrong. When I heard an mp3 of the song, I was “Wow” and it became my LSS (until now). Way to go for David Cook!

75. Little Sparrow by Dolly Parton

I don’t have the slightest idea of what the song was and I haven’t heard it before in my life but when David Cook sang it, I immediately liked it!

76. Innocent by Our Lady Peace

This is another performance that I wasn’t able to catch but when I downloaded the song, I immediately had it in my “Favorites” song in my reliable Nokia 5200. I am a fan of “Our Lady Peace” and David Cook’s version rocks!

77. Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey

This is another surprise from David Cook. What could he possibly sing from Mariah Carey’s long list of hits? Sure, Mariah Carey had a lot of hits but can David pull it off? Well he did and it was another stellar performance. But I guess I’m becoming too much a fan. Just listen to the song and be the judge.

Next week will be “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” week and this is David Cook’s week. I’m definitely watching it.

As a final note, I am rooting for a David-David (David Archuleta vs. David Cook) showdown but I guess you know who I’m rooting for

P.S. If you want to listen to the songs performed by David Cook in AI, just visit my Multiply site at http://rolly07.multiply.com/music/item/28/David_Cooks_Best

Since Idol fever is starting to build up this first month of 2008, I might as well list three “Idols” in my list.

19. American Idol

Is there a person in the world who has TV and haven’t watched an episode of American Idol? I bet there’s few if not no one. American Idol is a phenomenal TV show that it’s success won’t be repeated in the next 10 or 20 years. It is one of the highest-rating TV programs in the U.S. national television and only eclipsed by Super Bowl and the Oscars (Academy Awards). It is also broadcasted in more than 100 nations all over the world and many countries with versions of their own. I don’t know with you but American Idol is one of the reasons for TV addicts like me why I am lucky and happy to be living in this lifetime.

20. Philippine Idol

A lot of people weren’t able to catch and apreciate how beutiful our own version of Idol went (I am talking about the first season and not “Pinoy Idol”). The host, Ryan Agoncillo, alone equalled his American counterpart, Ryan Seacrest. What more with judge Ryan Cayabyab? I still feel strongly that Mr. C as  Mr. Ryan Cayabyab is fondly called is a better judge than the famous but acerbic AI judge Simon Cowell. Francis Magalona was a mistake (no offense to the Master Rapper) but Mamita (Pilita Corrales) was more entertaining than Paula Abdul as a judge.

Of course, Philippine Idol had it’s own share of problems, specially technical glitches and poor ratings. I have blogged about Philippine Idol a lot of times here (my blog was was even used by ABC 5 for it’s TV AD for PI) and most of it were about the negative things that happened in  but still I enjoyed it and I was really happy with the result.

I am not comparing the Philippine Idol TV show with the American Idol TV show because obviously American Idol is way, way more successful and American Idol is the original and it’s TV ratings was unprecedented. I’m just trying to point out one thing: It could have been better if it was given one more chance. Philippine Idol was fun while it lasted. It’s just sad that only a select few where able to enjoy and appreciate Philippine Idol. But just like American Idol, Philippine Idol will also be one of the reason why I am lucky and happy to be living in this lifetime (and one of the few who was able to see the beauty of it).

21. Mau Marcelo

Of course, the first “Philippine Idol” should be in my list. I am adding her to my list not because she won the title but because I believe that among the 12 finalists of PI, she deserves the tiltle “Philippine Idol.”

Oh, and the more important reason why I added her to my list of 2008 list is because Mau Marcelo winning proved that Filipinos are intelligent voters. We have learned. I hope. =)