David Cook has made his mark this season on American Idol because he rearranges songs so they sound current and edgy. I recently called him "cover artist extraordinaire".

On Beatles night, he performed "Day Tripper" the way Whitesnake covered it and "Eleanor Rigby the way Doxology covered it, then he performed "Billie Jean" the way Chris Cornell covered it. He does covers of cool covers, so when I found out tonight was Neil Diamond night, I would have bet the house on David Cook singing "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon", Urge Overkill style.

Urge Overkill covered Neil Diamond's "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" for Pulp Fiction. David Cook didn't sing it.

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My wife doesn't watch sports, so that makes American Idol the one show the entire family watches together. It's not music I would ever listen to outside of the competition, but for some reason this is the only reality show I enjoy. Maybe it's the singing, maybe it's Simon, I dunno... but for some reason I follow American Idol.

This season, I have a favourite competitor. Week after week David Cook gives the best performance. He has a knack for putting the best spin on songs, even if the arrangement isn't a David Cook original. Last week he covered Our Lady Peace and earlier in the competition he covered Chris Cornell's awesome cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". Last night, he made a Mariah Carey song sound pretty damn cool.

You've never heard Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" sound like this.

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When American Idol aired last night, I was busy dodging balls. It has since come to my attention that contestant David Cook, previously written about here and my personal favourite in the competition, performed a song from the Our Lady Peace catalogue calling OLP his "favourite band".

I've always had difficulty gauging the popularity of Canadian bands south of the border. I hear Americans don't get The Tragically Hip, but I know they seem to really like Nickelback. Toronto's Our Lady Peace, a band I've seen live a couple of times, is a band I always assumed was a way bigger deal here in the great white north than in the USA. I'm rather shocked (and pleasantly surprised) to hear Raine Maida and the boys rank #1 on David Cook's hit list.

I used to be a rather big OLP fan. Naveed, the album, is one of my favourites, and "Naveed", the song, is still an iPod staple. Clumsy was a solid disc as well, with the wonderful "4am", but after that I sort of morphed from huge Our Lady Peace fan to OLP appreciator, if you know what I mean.

Here's David Cook singing Our Lady Peace's "Innocent". Too bad he didn't hit us up with something earlier. A little "Starseed" would have been cool.

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If you caught American Idol on Tuesday night, you saw David Cook sing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". It was the best performance of the night and he received a great deal of praise for the arrangement and modern spin on the Thriller classic. The praise was well deserved, but it was directed at the wrong guy.

David Cook's cover of "Billie Jean" was actually a cover of Chris Cornell's cover of "Billie Jean". The arrangement and style was identical to Chris Cornell's, found on his recent solo album Carry On. I found it interesting that Cook didn't mention Cornell's version as he received praise from the judges and few seem to be acknowledging the fact Cook wasn't being that creative with the song.

And it's not like Cornell's cover was obscure. It was a hit, receiving plenty of airplay on our local modern rock station and I even put it on SLS17.

Here's David Cook's performance of "Billie Jean". Enjoy it, just make sure you track down Chris Cornell's version, too. Without Cornell's cover, Cook would have sung something else on Tuesday night.

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A little birdy told me Canadian Idol was airing tonight. I followed American Idol and I love this country, so naturally I'd follow Canadian Idol, right?

Wrong again. I can't watch Canadian Idol. I can't stand Ben Mulroney and seeing and hearing him drives me bonkers. He's my Mary Hart with the delivery that strikes every nerve in my body. If there's a show with him on it, I'm not watching.

Ben Mulroney makes Ryan Seacrest seem like Laurence Olivier. He's a horrible broadcaster, so bad I don't even like writing about it. Watching Canadian Idol simply isn't an option for me.

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I completely missed the final American Idol performances on Tuesday night, because I was busy sweeping a double header. Since I missed that, I didn't bother watching last night, but I taped the finale just to browse at a later time.

At 10pm I flipped on the telly and saw AI was in overtime, so I watched to see who won this thing. Originally I liked Sundance Head, but he fizzled early. Then I backed LaKisha, but she finished fourth. All the while Jordin was getting better and better and I started to think she could win this thing. She did.

After watching this most important announcement, we hit the tape and started watching the two hours that preceded this moment. That's when I watched my favourite guilty pleasure rock out with "Never Again". That's when I realized, I no longer have to feel guilty about this. Enough with this Catholic guilt! There's absolutely nothing wrong with me enjoying Kelly Clarkson, is there?

If "Never Again" was sung by Bif Naked, Edge 102 would be playing it ad nauseam.

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Last Tuesday, I went out after my run to celebrate the conclusion of my Learn to Run clinic. At about 11pm that night, I decided to record the West coast feed of American Idol to watch when I had an hour of chill time. That's right kids, I own something called a VCR and I record programs onto a VHS cassette tape. Maybe I'll take a picture and show you this relic from a previous age, but I digress...

It was a busy week, and this free hour never materialized. Finally, on Monday night, I decided to throw in last week's AI. What I saw was some TLC show about a family with 12 kids. Taryn, it seems, recorded over LaKisha, Melinda, Jordin and Blake and I never got to see the Bee Gees ep. Please, save your tears for LaKisha, I noticed she was no longer with us last night. Why, America? Was she really so bad?

Each contestant sang three songs last night, and I think I've got all three finalists figured out. Blake is the cool, current dude who would probably have the most commercial appeal of the three. I thought he was pretty cool, even though I was jealous that I could never pull off wearing a vest like that. Or could I? Hmmm....

Melinda is always good, but I've yet to sip the Melinda kool-aid. I dunno, I can't help but think of how much cooler Tina Turner was than Melinda is. Still, Melinda deserves to be in the finals and if she's voted out there could be riots in Necklessville.

Finally, we have young Jordin, who looks like she could play for the Argos. She can also sing, which probably makes this the tightest final three I can recall. Based on Jordin's songs last night, I think it's time for her to depart to give us a neat little Blake ~ Melinda smack down next week.

I miss LaKisha.

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Welcome back, LaKisha. You were missed. You were my favourite from the start, but you seemed to lose your way in recent weeks. Last night, your performance of Bon Jovi's "This Ain’t a Love Song” was the best of the bunch.

LaKisha, go get Blake and put him in front of the Idol PC. Blake, that reworked version of “You Give Love a Bad Name” required stones, but you pulled it off. It was so cool, I almost forgot I was watching AI. Now go get Jordin, if you don't mind.

Jordin, what happened? I though you might win this thing. Last week, I had you pegged as the best of the final six but last night you brutally murdered “Living On a Prayer”. Do you realize what that song means to me? Do you understand how many mix tapes I made with that song on it? You're young, you're fun, but you're going home.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. LaKisha Jones
2. Blake Lewis
3. Melinda Doolittle

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Jordin Sparks
2. Phil Stacey
3. Chris Richardson

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During the Idol Gives Back special last night, The Simpsons made an appearance. Homer, Marge and Lisa were judging Simon Cowell's rendition of the Pussycat Dolls' "Don't Cha". Bart shows up at the end to steal the sequence with his Brian Dunkleman jab.

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After several successful seasons which have enabled Fox to essentially print money, American Idol has decided to use their power to raise awareness about poverty in Africa and at home in the United States. This is all good but why do I feel so cynical about it? When Seacrest celebrates the big $5 million dollar donation from News Corp, why do I scream at the TV that $5 mill from them is like me throwing a homeless guy a toonie. Why am I so jaded?

Oh yeah, the final six sang on AI last night, too. They sang songs from the masters of our time, everyone from John Lennon to Fantasia. Here's how I've ranked them.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Jordin Sparks
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. LaKisha Jones

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Phil Stacey
2. Chris Richardson
3. Blake Lewis

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I really don't know these country artists that were featured on AI last night. I had to ask Taryn who the heck Martina McBride was and why she deserved to follow in the footsteps of the great Kenny Rogers. Other than the Bonnie Raitt tune, I was out of my element.

Although I missed Latin week, I'm guessing country week was an upgrade. The usual suspects were solid and the weakerthans were weaker.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Melinda Doolittle
2. Jordin Sparks
3. LaKisha Jones

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Sanjaya Malakar
2. Chris Richardson
3. Phil Stacey

I have a great idea. I'm almost afraid to write about it because someone might steal it. Why don't you Americans vote for the worst. Think about it, you could vote for Sanjaya Malakar because it will be fun to keep him around. Heck, he might even win this thing, and then Simon and the gang will just look silly. Spread the word!

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I completely missed American Idol on Tuesday night because of another commitment. I forgot to tape it but I caught enough during the results show last night to understand this was for the best.

I've never been a Latin music fan. Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony are two of my least favourite musicians. If the entire genre fell off the face of the earth I'd be a happier dude.

If I'm going to miss a week, I'm glad it was this one. There's only one other genre I don't dig, and that's country. I wonder what next week's theme is...

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With Tony Bennett in the house, the Idol wannabes had to sing old American standards. Yawn.

Sanjaya Malakar still sucked, Haley Scarnato continued to disrobe, Phil Stacey remained disturbingly bald and LaKisha is still my fave.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. LaKisha Jones
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Jordin Sparks

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Sanjaya Malakar
2. Haley Scarnato
3. Phil Stacey

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It was a challenge catching the performances last night. I had the running clinic and the Leaf game, but thank goodness for west coast feeds. If I don't get my Sanjaya fix, I'm just no good.

From what I saw, there's nothing too exciting to report except for the fact I thought Phil Stacey sounds like Corey Hart, and that's always a good thing. I'm hoping the theme next week is 80s Cancon and he gets to cover "Never Surrender". Gina could do Lee Aaron and you know that would be cool.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Melinda Doolittle
2. LaKisha Jones
3. Gina Glocksen

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Sanjaya Malakar
2. Haley Scarnato
3. Chris Richardson

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I hated the performances last week because I disliked the Diana Ross songs they featured. This week we got cool 60s British invasion tunes, and it was a whole lot better.

Song selection is everything as far as I'm concerned. We got a number of gems last night and the result was an entertaining collection of songs. Even that Sanjaya Malakar managed to sound respectable... sorta.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Melinda Doolittle
2. Jordin Sparks
3. Blake Lewis

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Phil Stacey
2. Chris Richardson
3. Sanjaya Malakar

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The reason I refer to American Idol as my guilty pleasure is because I feel guilty watching such cheese. As cheesy as AI is, nothing is as cheesy as the crap they throw at you during the results show.

I missed Wednesday night's results show because I was at the Raptors game, but I heard about the Ford commercial that had the contestants singing Modest Mouse's "Float On". Here's a hilarious write up about the bit.

Last night, however, a line was crossed when Ford Motors sponsored a commercial featuring the finalists’ douche-chill-inducing Kids Incorporated-inspired music video rendition of Modest Mouse’s hit song "Float On", featuring Zombie dances and trashy convertible Mustang 5.0’s that are orange. Now, I realize that this song - and the album from whence it came - outgrew Modest Mouse’s long-held punk rock ethos long ago, but this - this was like the modern musical equivalent of the Kennedy Assassination, Watergate and and Jack Nicholson getting killed at the end of Easy Rider, all happening in front of us, at the same time, set to the soundtrack of Avril Lavigne covering ABBA’s "Dancing Queen". In short, sensory rape.

Here's the sensory rape. Lord, it's bad. Consider yourself warned...

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I think this is the weakest final 12 we've ever had on AI. Of course, forcing them to sing Diana Ross songs doesn't help matters much. I know she's "legendary", but I find her music super boring.

The one song I didn't mind was by Billie Holiday, but maybe that's because Lisa Simpson sang it on The Simpsons Sing the Blues.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. LaKisha Jones
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Jordin Sparks

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Sanjaya Malakar
2. Chris Richardson
3. Brandon Rogers

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There might be six females better than every male left standing in American Idol. The Wednesday night shows have actually been fun to watch. Imagine that?

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. LaKisha Jones
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Jordin Sparks

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Haley Scarnato
2. Antonella Barba
3. Sabrina Sloan

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"Jeremy" is my least favourite song on Ten. That's not to say I don't like "Jeremy", it's just that Ten is one of my favourite albums of all time and "Jeremy" was my least favourite of the bunch. Even if you're a luke-warm "Jeremy" fan, hearing Sundance Head sing it would truly make you appreciate the effort from Eddie Vedder and the boys. I knew Eddie Vedder. He was a friend of mine. And Sundance, you're no Eddie Vedder.

Allow me to be the 123,093rd blogger today to tell you the female singers are way better than the male singers this year. I hardly liked any performances last night. Coming up with three favourites it tough, but here goes nothing.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Blake Lewis
2. Chris Sligh
3. Brandon Rogers

Here were my three least favourite from last night:

1. Sanjaya Malakar
2. Phil Stacey
3. Chris Richardson

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The best four of the twenty remaining AI participants are all female. You can't beat LaKisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle or Stephanie Edwards. The judges seemed to be all over Melinda but I still have LaKisha fever.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. LaKisha Jones
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Sabrina Sloan

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Alaina Alexander
2. Antonella Barba
3. Leslie Hunt

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Better late than never, here's my recap of last night's American Idol. I missed a bunch of the songs and only caught up moments ago.

Let's face it, the guys were much better than they were last week, but the girls have the top four singers overall. A bunch of yesterday's performances were as boring as the Leaf game, but a few were at least half decent.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Blake Lewis
2. Sundance Head
3. Chris Sligh

Here were my three least favourite from last night:

1. Sanjaya Malakar
2. A. J. Tabaldo
3. Nick Pedro

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The twelve guys who sang on on Tuesday couldn't hold a candle to most of the gals who sang on American Idol last night. It was night and day.

In this year's competition, the women are indeed the finer sex. Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Lakisha Jones
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Stephanie Edwards

Here are my three least favourite from last night:

1. Amy Krebs
2. Leslie Hunt
3. Antonella Barba

It's too bad only six females can advance to the final twelve.

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Last night twelve dudes sang on AI. As a whole, they were awful. There are other words I'd use to describe them, like uninspired, mediocre and boring.

The biggest disappointment of the bunch has to be Sundance Head. I was so impressed with his first audition, I posted the video here. It was one of the best idol auditions I had ever heard, but since then he's been horrible. He sounds like a completely different guy now. He's sounding like me.

Here are my three favourites from last night:

1. Phil Stacy
2. Blake Lewis
3. Chris Sligh

Here were my three least favourite from last night:

1. Paul Kim
2. Sanjaya Malakar
3. Sundance Head

And here's hoping the women are better tonight.

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The highlight of yesterday's American Idol was the footage of the contestants viewing a sneak peek of the upcoming Simpsons movie. There was quite a bit of new footage there and some interesting behind the scenes shots. Here it is, if you missed it.

Oh yeah, there was also some singing as they narrowed it down to twelve guys and twelve girls. Rumours on the internets say it's fixed and Brandon Rogers will win. Funny guy Chris Sligh advanced, as did Sundance Head who had an amazing first audition and then stunk up the joint in Hollywood. It seems you can ride a great early audition a long way on AI.

Personally, I like Lakisha Jones. Here's her audition.

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I missed both nights of American Idol this week, but I have an update nonetheless. William Green and Akron Watson are cousins who auditioned back to back. Akron Watson got a ticket to Hollywood, but that ticket's just been revoked.

You see, Akron was busted for marijuana possession back in 2003. Two days before he was scheduled to leave for Hollywood, Idol producers told him to stay in Dallas. His fling with Mary Jane got him disqualified.

Here's the audition of William Green and Akron Watson, who enjoys the green.

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I caught most of American Idol yesterday, but there was a Leafs game on so I may have missed a highlight or two. There wasn't much that was memorable, but there was an audition from Chris Sligh that's worthy of a revisit.

Sligh's a decent enough singer, and he's on to Hollywood, but it's his sense of humour I liked. He's a funny dude, and as you know, the world needs laughter. Here's his audition, complete with funny bits.

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Idol was in New York yesterday and we were pummelled with the crazies. There were a few good auditions, however, including one from Jory Steinberg.

Jory Steinberg is Canadian. She was born and raised in Ottawa and a little Googling reveals she starred in Les Miserable at the age of eleven. Simon seemed to dig her, and did I mention she's Canadian? Here's her audition.

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I watch American Idol. Don't sound so surprised, I admitted I did the Idol thing here. Since my 2007 pledge was to make this blog all about me, I'm no longer hiding the fact I watch AI, or the fact I refer to it as AI. I do, and now I'm going to start writing about it.

Last night we saw auditions from Memphis and there were a few decent ones, but my favourite came from Jason "Sundance" Head. Admittedly, AI is a very cheesy guilty pleasure, but ya gotta admit this kid's good.

No wise cracks, please. I'm out of the AI closet and I ain't ashamed. Leave a comment and reassure me I'm not alone.

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