For the record, I totally disagree with the judges. I am not sold on doing big powerful ballads for the finale anymore, it just seems so passe.

I just watched last night's episode in HQ DViX and I've gotta say, I loved loved loved his arrangement on "The World I Know". Maybe it's coz I've heard the original version and I can appreciate what he has done with the song. But honestly, it was so heartfelt that you couldn't help but be moved with it, the lyrics, the melody. If you listen to his performance carefully and with good audio , it really really feels like you're in one of the greatest acoustic rock concert... seriously...


May 23: I've added a post for those interested in downloading "The World I Know" (HQ) in their ipod, iphone. you guys can get it here...

http://www.david-cook.org/iPHONE-USERS-I-H...THIS-t4409.html

When I first heard that song 12 years ago, I teared. Never would I realise that would happen to me again, when DC sang it. I was moved to tears.

I couldn't agree with you more! I LOVE LOVE LOVE his version of The World I Know. I agree with everything you said I couldn't even explain any further because you said it already.

I agree. 200%. The runs he did with the song made me appreciate its message.

The World I Know
by Collective Soul

Has our conscience shown?
Has the sweet breeze blown?
Has all the kindness gone?
Hope still lingers on.
I drink myself of newfound pity
Sitting alone in New York City
And I don't know why.

Are we listening
To hymns of offering?
Have we eyes to see
That love is gathering?
All the words that I've been reading
Have now started the act of bleeding
Into one.

So I walk up on high
And I step to the edge
To see my world below.
And I laugh at myself
As the tears roll down.
'Cause it's the world I know.
It's the world I know.

I am so grateful that David Cook chose to sing The World I Know. It's a song that brings me to tears almost every time I hear it and last night was no exception. He gave an incredible performance and you could tell that it meant a lot to him.

Last week, there was a spoiler that mentioned that he would be singing that song and I'm glad that he eventually did. It really shows who he is as an artist...he took the risk and gave us something new instead of relaxing on an old reliable. David Cook IS the American Idol regardless of what happens tonight.

By far, my favorite song of the night

Brilliant song and brilliantly sung by Cook. I LOVED it.

I really hope that this is the song that has a studio version. Although the U2 song was also good. DC's performance could give U2 a run for its money.

Couldn't agree more. It was just beautiful, and obviously meant alot to him due to him tearing up and the end.

I actually think if I was there, I may have jumped on Simon and punched him in the face
I was so glad cookie stood up to him, i was thinking the same thing - whats the point of doing a song hes already done?
He took the risk, thats what hes all about.

Don't hate me for saying this, but I have to disagree. While it was another awesome performance, I really wish he would have sang "Billie Jean", "Hello" or "Always be my Baby". Randy gave him a standing ovation for "Always be my Baby" and I think that could have been the song that makes him win it. I understand that he didn't want to do a song he sang previously but IMO I think he would have nailed the competition if he did. I'm a little worried that may have hurt his chances of winning.

I'm so glad he sang it, too. And his explanation for why he chose that over doing "Billie Jean" again was awesome. I loved his vulnerability during the performance.

I had a feeling he wouldn't redo a song he already did. He chose this song and wanted to do this song, and it came from the heart. It was so beautiful.

i can understand why you would say that. and him doing any of those three songs would definitely be another stellar performance. but honestly, going into the show last night, i was actually hoping he wouldn't do any of those songs. i just kinda felt that nothing could top the emotion you get when you first saw him perform those songs... the goosebump, jaw-dropping feeling of "Billie Jean"; and the awe and emotion-filled performance of "Always be my Baby".

and honestly, i got all of that "goosebump, jaw-dropping, awe and emotion-filled" emotions in "The World I Know".

so, no i dont hate you for saying that...haha. we just have to agree to disagree.

I was so incredibly upset when he didn't do this song last week. This has to be one of my absolute favorite songs of the 90's. And I think it was actually a perfect way to end the competition for him. And as so many people have pointed out, it showed his vulnerability. He couldn't have done that with Hello or Billy Jean. Maybe with ABMB but we've already seen that with that song so it just wouldn't have been the same. We've seen him perfect those songs, it was nice to see him take a risk, do something different, and show his heart and emotion. I am so proud and happy for him on how he has handled himself in this competition. He's really stayed true to himself and his heart.

I hate to say it but I will anyway...I TOLD YOU SO... I really think "The World I Know" was the one that clinched it... awesome, awesome, awesome... i'm speechless...

I was moved by David when I heard him sing the song. Collective Soul is one of my all time favorite band. And seeing him sing one of the most beautiful songs of this band nearly made me cry. He had touched each and everyone of us I guess. Whew! Congratulations David you are our American Idol! =)

Most touching performance of the whole season.
WOW COOKIE!

I Was crying when david sang THE WORLD I KNOW because he did it with soooooo mch emotion...all of his songs have deep meaning to me..he touches everybodys heart....I STILL HAVENT FOUND WHAT IM LOOKING FOR???What a very nice version...HANDS DOWN..HE IS BEYOND AMAZING!!!

I agree with all of you who loved his version of "The World I Know"...that song and the way he sang it is a perfect example of how David Cook makes me "feel" the music. Listening to him isn't just hearing a tune or words of a song...it's feeling it...even if you don't think you can relate to the song, the way he sings it makes you think about how you can relate to the words or how you can feel what the song means to him. That's what makes him truly brilliant!

There's only a handful of songs that has moved or almost moved me to tears. One of them is David Cook's The World I Know. It was so heavy and emotional, sad and haunting, moving and sensitive. The whole performance speaks volumes. You can feel the meaning in each line in the lyrics. The message it wants to convey just touches one's heart.

His false in The World I Know is one of the best. When he hit that note in "-RING" in "Love is gathering," it just blew me away. The transition was very fluid and seamless. It was amazing! And the last "KNOW." Wow! That gave me the chills. I just never get tired of listening or watching his The World I Know performance on the AI7 Finals.

Hi! I'm not sure anyone's going to read this old thread, but I agree with you about WIK, Smallville. Just today I found an old video on Access Hollywood's site that they recorded the morning after in their studio -- DC doing WIK with his guitar and a pianist -- he's exhausted, but it's great because he could slow down and sing the whole thing. I bet you'd love it. I think it's about my favorite DC performance of it, because it's professionally recorded but not rushed like all the short AI performances. Just search David Cook on the Access Hollywood site. I haven't seen a link to it around here, but there probably was one back in May.
NEMO Cougar #40N

Thanks NEMOCougar. I actually have that video and MP3. I think I saw that performance before I saw his other guestings on TV where he always sang Time Of My Life. I was actually surprised but very glad he chose The World I Know for Access Hollywood. That acoustic version has a different feel. It was still very moving and sensitive, but at the same time personal.

But what did move me more to tears during his Idol performance of The World I Know, was when I saw him crying after the he sang it. It was very very emotional. So deep.



It was done after the Finale? That's the reason he was wearing the same clothes. Or wasn't he?

I think there was so much in that moment -- the song was special (to him), it was finally over, the huge (7000 people) audience response was overwhelming immediately; it seemed to me many times that what made his performances so special was that in such a brief time (90 seconds or so -- most of the recordings are unbelievably short) he was able to reach an emotional place so strong -- must have been VERY hard to come down from that so fast. Almost surreal.


I got the feeling from watching other bits of video on Access Hollywood (like the car interview) that he'd been up all night (he said as much) and they were one of his first gigs the next morning. I like the personal feel of the acoustic version, too.
NEMO Cougar

For the last few hours I only have the acoustic The World I Know from Access Hollywood as my background music, so that I can concentrate on my work, at the same time checking mails and visiting message boards. The audience's applause in the Finals version kinda distract when I'm in my "alone" mood.

David Cook especially liked the last part - "So I walk up on high and I step to the edge, and see my world below. And I laugh at myself while the tears roll down 'cause it's the world I know...." I'm so moved by these words. There's so much uncertainty in the world today. You don't know what's gonna happen next. You don't know what the future holds. It's out of your hands. Just hoping... hoping for the best.

Just like what David Cook said, it's like stepping at the edge of a precipice, looking down, and taking plunge into the black void. Don't know if you'll hit water or land. But hoping you'll hit land.




Yep! He was up all night. After the Idol party, he was interviewed (was it by Kimberly Caldwell) and was asked if he was wearing the same clothes. And he said yes. And then maybe after that he performed at Access Hollywood.

def. one of my favorite cookie performances - also loved the version he performed on ellen. i think she was amazed too!

I cry every time I hear Cook performed this song.Amazing.

This song is beautiful, I love the words and melody.
And of course, David singing it made it incredible.

This will forever and always be my ALL TIME FAVORITE DC SONG EVER, I even think it almost surpasses analog heart....but thats a tough call....OK equal