I asked him if anyone had contacted him about the passing of Michael Jackson due to his memorable rendition of “Billie Jean” on Idol, and he said that they had. David does admit, however, that his success with that performance was a bit of “dumb luck!” As far as Michael Jackson goes, David said that he thinks that Quincy Jones put it best when he said that a great musician comes along once in a lifetime, but an artist like Michael Jackson only comes along once.

For you Cook fans, there are two more fantastic Billie Jean videos posted. One from the AI tour :

‘Billie Jean’  on AI tour @Evansville, IN

Wow, that *is* a great version. I’ve seen many videos that were taken of that performance and others during the Season 7 AI tour but that’s one of the best.

Here’s another version of DC singing CC’s version of Billie Jean, which is the version *I* prefer over the original worldwide phenomenon. The latter is quite good as well, but for obvious reasons for me (I wasn’t born yet when original BJ came out), sounds much less “current”, like May said.

ETA: Oops, wordnerdarchie beat me to the link.

“Billie Jean” on AI tour @Evansville, IN

and one more from Aspen Colorado on Saturday:

Aspen “Billie Jean”

IMHO – I know that one ;p

Sometimes it takes me forever to read a post trying to decipher these codes.

YMMV- what does this mean?

Your mileage may vary, i.e. you may have a different opinion.

(I think that usually goes without saying. I always stick with the tried-and-true “IMHO.”)

I like Johnny Cash’s cover of ‘It Ain’t Me, Babe,’  better then Dylan’s original and am deeply moved by his take on Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt.’ 

Oh man, I can never miss an opportunity to link to this brilliant cover of Trent Reznor’s nihilistic addict’s lament. In Mr. Cash’s hands the song depicted the stark reality of a man facing his own mortality in the twilight years of his life.

One other note about Cook’s Billie Jean…few guys do worked over by a chick who is bad news like David Cook. I mean, it’s kinda his forte (so many great original Cook tunes with variations on this theme), so it was kind of fitting that he brought that whole vibe out of Billie Jean. In lesser hands it could come off either whiny or self indulgent, but there’s something about Cookie doing these tunes that make them sympathetic and rather than pathetic.

If Michael hadn’t added those dance moves, the glove, etc., maybe he would have never caught on. I am over simplifying it, but you know what I mean.

I think the dance moves helped grab some people’s attention but in the end, I think the music, the voice and the artistry also spoke for itself. I was also looking back at those performances when Michael was 11, and I can’t think of any other child performer at that age with the same kind of voice, stage presence and personality. Regarding Cook’s BJ vs Michaels’s. Love both versions but they sound like two different songs so I can’t compare. However, I listen to Cook’s more, because that style of music fits my current taste and I love Cook’s voice in it. For that same reason, I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of young people preferred Cook’s version to MJs. Doesn’t make it better, just more current.

As far as icons and legends go, well everyone starts out somewhere but if I had to go back to the Jackson 5 I would have never thought anyone from the lot would ever become legend.

YMMV, but I knew MJ had IT from the minute I laid eyes on him when the Jackson 5 and 11 year old Michael debuted on Ed Sullivan. That memory is still vivid to me nearly 40 years later.

Though I was never a fan, MJ was talented and I did like a few of his songs and I could have done without the famous crotch grab but as MJ got weirder, I just tuned him out.

Sometimes covers are better than the original. It is a matter of taste & it depends how old the song is. Making it modern, adding a touch of this and that and suddenly it’s a totally different vibe.

As far as icons and legends go, well everyone starts out somewhere but if I had to go back to the Jackson 5 I would have never thought anyone from the lot would ever become legend. It was Motown and that’s all to me and there were plenty of people who have come and gone and nobody cares about them but it was good music in it’s day. If Michael hadn’t added those dance moves, the glove, etc., maybe he would have never caught on. I am over simplifying it, but you know what I mean.

As far as people doing covers. I love that because I’m familiar with it and there is nothing better than a real good singer doing a cover really well but adding to it. Some people have made careers on doing covers really well.

I can see it now. Vegas will soon have MJ impersonator acts side by side with Elvis impersonators.