'billie Jean' Released For Karaoke

Ok so I'm a little into karaoke...

(Full disclosure: I'm a state champ at karaoke here in Utah and last year placed 12th in the nationals, highest of any contestant who was performing rock - man, those judges just love the pop/r&b guys with their vocal runs... not important. I don't know if karaoke is something you brag about or are a little ashamed to admit, lol, but my point is I like to do it, take it fairly seriously, and I'm at least 'ok' at it...)

So my friend who runs a karaoke show that I go to sing at from time to time asked me last week if I had ever heard of a version of 'Billie Jean' that was done by Chris Cornell. Lol, yeah, I've heard of it. That's the same version made famous by David Cook, for those who don't know (and I doubt there's anyone on this site who doesn't already know that, lol).

So after I got done pumping my fist in the air and yelling 'Oh HECK yeah!' (I didn't use the word 'heck' though ) I asked him when he was getting it and literally couldn't wait to give a it a try.

Well it came in, and I gave it a try. I'm happy to report the music is fairly close to the same as David Cook's version (the only good version, in my opinion. Nothing against Chris Cornell, and I'm happy he wrote it, but it was David who made this song a masterpiece). The key is the same, however the words are different and there are some slight variations in the music, but still very close, nothing that would throw you off if you were singing along.

Very, very happy about this being available for karaoke.
I know there probably aren't that many people in this site that would care, but at least you guys would understand how excited I was that they finally came out with a (sorta) David Cook song to perform for karaoke. As an added bonus, I found out I'm pretty good at it, lol (you never know til you try), so I'm really excited about this. Now they just need to come out with a karaoke version of 'Hello'. And 'Always Be My Baby'. And 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'. And 'The World I Know'. And 'All I Really Need Is You'.... and all his other Idol songs. And all his other songs (would *love* to have a karaoke version of 'Lie', for example).

Anyway, very happy and thought I would share.

Anyone See The New American Idol Commercial?

Hey everyone, I don't know if this has been mentioned yet (or whether this is the right section to mention it) but there's a killer new American Idol promo featuring David Cook on which 'Light On' is playing. Here's an article which has a video of it lower on the page:

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/american-i...ol-g-24904.aspx

The promo is actually really well done, 'Light On' is playing acoustically/instrumentally in the background as they do a retrospective of Cook looking back at his first audition, some of the highest spots during the competition (featuring a clip from the night he did 'Billie Jean' and ending with him stepping out on stage with a huge audience and lights, jumping into the chorus of 'Light On', with the message "Dreams Begin Again" as the promo for the new season.

I had heard that he was doing a promo spot for the new season but I didn't expect it to be this cool, this long and well-done, and this exciting. I think the prominent placement of 'Light On' in the spot will only help the single.

As for the next season of AI, I dunno.... I'll probably watch it just for entertainment but it's hard to believe a new contestant will come to light on that show that would ever be half the star David Cook is. I don't generally follow many of the American Idol contestants or become a fan after they are off the show, whether I like them or not. To date the only American Idol purchases of albums I have made are Daughtry, David Cook, and (weirdly enough) Bucky Covington. (Bucky is such a weird choice as I don't like country and also didn't think much of Bucky during the show, but when his album came out a girl friend of mine told me it was good - I gave it a listen online and actually liked it. So that's my weird Bucky story).

But the important thing about this promo isn't the new Idol season (I'm sure that Idol will do just fine, like it always does) but I think this prominent showcasing of both David Cook and his new single can only bolster his album and single sales.

The Intricate Message/interpretation Of 'permanent'

Ok, so first off I'm new here, and hopefully this is the right place to post this...

To place this in context I'm a male hard rock fan who typically doesn't much care for American Idol albums (with the exception of Daughtry which was excellent). Yet I find myself obsessed with the softest song on the album, and even though I'm a good singer and the vocals aren't that difficult I cannot sing this song because it literally emotionally is too powerful and I'm left in tears every single time (I can get to the line "oh god is there some way for me to take his place" and I lose it). I'm not the crying type, believe me, but this song just wrenches me.

Ironically it's not my favorite song off the album (that would be Lie, followed closely by Declaration and Come Back to Me), yet I am left stunned by the raw emotional brilliance of this beautiful piece of art, and I can't stop thinking about this song (maybe overthinking it). I wanted to share my opinion/interpretation and see if anyone agrees, disagrees, or gets something completely different out of this than I do.

First, this song is deeply, deeply personal. I'm a little in awe of how completely emotionally honest this song is, and I can't think of another song where the artist has so courageously and unflinchingly shared something so intimate, personal and painful. I don't think 'Permanent' would make for a good radio single (at least not one of the early singles) as it is beautiful and evocative but only makes sense in the context of knowing who David Cook is and about Adam's illness, etc. So I doubt that someone who doesn't know who David is and who randomly hears this song on the radio would really 'get' it.

I've been trying to nail down exactly why this song affects me so strongly, and here's what I've come up with so far (see if you agree or disagree):

"Is this the moment where I look you in the eye?
Forgive my broken promise that you’ll never see me cry"

This is the setup for everything that comes before, and foreshadowing for the ending. The beautiful, unrushed and spare piano accompanying sets a stark but pretty canvas on which David's voice comes through clearly, allowing every nuance of emotion to shine through, and obviously is the perfect counterpoint to accent David's vocals as they will soar unrestrained as the song progresses. But of course this song isn't about his vocals at all - the fact that they are oustanding is simply a natural consequence of the purity of the truth and emotion he is channeling. These first words are quiet, thoughtful, self-reflecting and filled with pain.

"And everything, it will surely change even if I tell you I won’t go away today
Will you think that you’re all alone
When no one’s there to hold your hand?"

This part of the song just evokes for me the image of David completely torn. On the one hand the world has opened up for him, his greatest dreams are becoming a reality, and the world is rightly celebrating his artistry, but on the other he will be pulled physically away from his brother's side by the demands of this newfound success - touring, playing dates all over the world, but nevertheless there is this deep resonating pain over the thought that with all of these good things he is still so conflicted about not being able to stay with his brother as much as he would like. In fact it almost sounds like he's saying if his brother asked he would stay anyway, but that as a grown up person he knows that whether he is able to stay in the short term eventually life will intercede and he will have to go.

"And all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary rest your head
I’m permanent"

Almost a plea and a reassurance at the same time, filled with anguish but love at the same time. As if to say "please know that you are in my heart always, whether I can be here or not, and that regardless of temporary distractions my love for you is abiding and permanent"


"I know he’s living in hell every single day
And so I ask oh god is there some way for me to take his place"

The words speak far more eloquently than I can, but this for me is one of the powerful lines of the song. Maybe I'm allergic, but for some reason my eyes get watery at this point

But seriously, look at the beautiful sentiment expressed here: He's not asking for it to just go away, he's making an earnest plea that if this must happen to someone, to let it happen to him and not to his brother. And these are not just words; you can honestly feel that he means it with every ounce of his soul.

"And when they say it’s all touch and go I wish I could make it go away"

Filled with pain and feeling helpless in the face of his brother's illness, this line isn't just a continuation of the theme before, it betrays the inner demons that David is wrestling with in this whole situation, and that is pivotal to what comes next, which is I think the most brilliant and heart-wrenching aspect of the song:


"But still you say
Will you think that you’re all alone when no one’s there to hold your hand?
When all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary, rest your head
I’m permanent"

Notice that the voice changes on the line "but still you say" - maybe I'm crazy but I think this is no longer David talking, but rather Adam talking back to David, using the exact same words, in a total reverse, as if Adam is now conversely trying to comfort his brother (and the nobleness of spirit and pure love one brother can have for another just absolutely wrenches me and rings so true). It's as if Adam has seen the pain and helplessness David is wrestling with and ignoring his own suffering is reaching out to comfort his brother, to reassure his brother that even if he is torn away and no longer there to physically hold his brother's hand that the love will endure no matter what distances in space and time may be forced on the two brothers by things neither of them can control.

"I’m permanent"

An affirmation of the love the two brothers and their family share and that nothing in this universe or any other will ever sunder that, no matter what.

"Is the moment where I look you in the eye?
Forgive my promise that you’ll never see me cry"

Again the lyrics speak for themselves here far more eloquently than I ever could (true throughout the whole song, and I hope I haven't cheapened how exquisite and deep this song is by my ramblings). I'm left physically shaken by the end of the song, so much emotion is channeled through David's voice and this spare, beautiful arrangement.

And then, even as the song ends, the brilliance of this piece just continues, as the next song in the album is the perfect counterpoint, and thematically it is a natural progression as 'A Daily AntheM' picks right up where this song leaves off with a joyful anthemic tribute to life, love, rising up and overcoming, and which is also of course about his brother and celebrating the life and love that family shares. David takes us on an emotional rollercoaster on 'Permanent' then soars into 'A Daily AntheM'. Both songs are perfectly placed for the end of the album, and as brilliant as 'Permanent' is, following it with 'A Daily AntheM' is inspired.

So, sorry for the really really ridiculously long post, but I have been thinking about this for a while and I just wanted to get some opinions from other fans of David Cook (and this forum seemed like a good place to find a few fans of Cook )

- Daniel