David Cook’s rousing performance of “Billie Jean” on Tuesday night’s American Idol may have brought him to the front of the season 7 pack, so why are Chris Cornell fans furious? Well, it was Cornell’s version of the song, included on his 2007 solo album Carry On, that Cook covered, and though Ryan Seacrest identified it as such in his introduction, the judges went on to praise Cook for his originality in rearranging the Michael Jackson classic. But here’s the million dollar question: What did Cornell himself think of it? EW.com tracked him down and asked him.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you told ahead of time that an Idol contestant was doing your version of “Billie Jean”?
CHRIS CORNELL: No. I had no idea. On my flight back from touring in South Africa, I started receiving messages from my fansite moderator and management [saying] that fans were furious about some American Idol guy who covered my version of “Billie Jean.” It appears the judges had no idea that it was my arrangement and were giving David Cook praise about how brilliant he was in performing the song that way. My fans are very protective and felt David should have volunteered the info [at that point]. Even though he did cover it well, and it was brave of him to try and pull it off.
Were you flattered by the performance?
Very much. It was clear to me [that] he was a big fan as he followed my arrangement down to the T, including the most subtle vocal nuances. I think he did a great job at pulling it off.
Can you tell us a bit about how this cover came to be?
It was a complete reinvention of a song that no one thought would work until they saw me play it in Stockholm acoustically. It received such an enormous reaction that it prompted me to do a studio recording. It ended up on my second solo album, Carry On.
In general, do you find anything disingenuous about Idol contestants doing covers of covers?
This song is a special case, but in general, I don’t think it should be an issue to cover a cover, as long as it’s clear who the creator and/or interpretor of that piece is. I think David’s performance was great and I want to thank all my fans for their dedication!
You’re still THE BEST CHRIS CORNELL! My husband adores you so much that he even write songs inspired by your songs. I hope one day you can read his songs, even sings it! which would be a Miracle. but who knows.
i guess i don’t see what the issue is… it WAS pointed out BEFORE the peformance that it was a cover of chris’s. also, while the judges DID call david brave, i don’t think they said, nor implied it was because HE arranged it. i do think david showed originality and bravery for attempting the performance, even though he didn’t come up with the arrangement himself.
Simon said in an interview this week that he knew where David go the arrangement. He thought David was brilliant for choosing the arrangement which was so unique. “Covering a cover is allowed as long as you pull it off” is what I think he said. I think David Cook rocks the world!
Cornell is a class act. The same kind of thing happened when Daughtry did the cover of Walk the Line. Anyways, David gets kudos from the main man so lets all put it under the bridge where it belongs.
This is clearly a case of folks seeing controversy where they want to — I didn’t get the feel from the judges’ critiques that they thought David did the arrangement himself. The “brave” and “brilliant” were for the risk of choosing that arrangement over the original. Furthermore, I’m a bit surprised that so many Chris Cornell fans watch Idol.
Why wouldn’t Cornell fans watch Idol? I’m a fan of great singers. Cornell is definately one and so are a few of the AI alumni. You, my dear, are a music snob.
correct me if i’m wrong, but didn’t ryan seacrest introduce david’s performance as “chris cornell’s version of billie jean?” if so, i don’t see what the problem is…
Well, Whoa Sadie, I think the reason that Cornell fans shouldn’t be watching Idol is that Idol is an abomination for people that like real music, so Cornell fans should be ashamed of themselves. If I want to see/hear bad karaoke, I’d go to the local bar. Idol, and it’s annoying grip on both society and the weekly TV schedule, prevents good, scripted shows from being seen/created. It, in conjunction with Survivor, have forced us into this Reality TV quarmire that we are stuck in. That said, Go cute girl with the tattoo down your arm!
This is different than when Daughtry covered “Walk the Line”. Daughtry took credit for that arrangement even though it was a cover of a cover. At least this time the correct artist was acknowledged.
It’s not an issue. I think the loudest whiners are the ones who are fans of the former frontrunners. Anything to keep him from reaching the top. Such children!
Thanks, Chris Cornell. And honestly, I hadn’t heard of this guy until now. Now I’m a fan of his AND David Cook! See the bigger picture is all I’m sayin’!
I think Cornell fans are misssing the big picture, here. I was not a fan of his before I saw David Cook do Billie Jean – I just wasn’t familiar with his name or music. But after the show I started checking Cornell out on YouTube and have since bought TONS of his Soundgarden/Audioslave/Temple and solo music. I think AI brought a whole new audience to Chris Cornell. Now he’s got new fans (like me).
never heard of chris before david did the cover but purchased chris’ version yesterday on itunes. chris should actually be thanking david for putting him on the map for introducing him to many new listeners who, previously, had never heard of him.
Gwen, I agree with you 100% The outraged cries come from other contestants’ fans who are watching how week after week David Cook keeps delivering stellar performances and their favourites are failing to live to their expectations.
I didn’t know Chris Cornell until David sang his Billie Jean arrangement. And not only did he acknowledge who was the creator but pulled off a brilliant performance. My respect goes to Chris for his classy reaction to all this and on the other hand, I think it’s a win-win situation for both David and Chris. GO DAVID COOK!
It appears to me, reading alot of these posts, that Cornell has some new-found fans. Excellent! I don’t look at AI as a reality show persay, more like a talent search. Nothing wrong there. I consider myself a bit of a music snob also, and make no bones about it. But the fact that I enjoy both AI and Chris Cornell doesn’t make me feel the least bit ‘ashamed’.
Lighten up, it’s only music.
Good performance, as Chris Cornell acknowledged. I will not take that away from him. However, the problem is the judges. They need to stop calling him “original.” Period. As Cornell said, he used his arranagment to a T. I really think that Randy and Paula believed he came up with the arrangment. They can call him talented all over the place, but he uses other peoples’ arrangments. While it makes him smart, it doesn’t make him original.