David was having his pictures taken and people were coming up and hugging him. Then this camera came up to him, and I saw a guy holding a card that said, "I'm going to Disney World!" The first time he said it, David screamed, "I'm going to Disney World, and I'm taking them all with me!" and he pointed at the theater. They made him do it again, though. Dang. The camera crew leaves, and I notice that pretty much just the pit is left. I scoop up some confetti and stuff it in my pockets. I look back up at David who's looking up at the ceiling and laughing. Then he began jumping around the stage and screaming. I've never seen such pure happiness from anyone. He didn't care who was watching. He just leaped up in the air and then he started to dance a little, then went back to jumping and shouting. People had their picture taken with them. Then the stage managers told us we had to leave. I yelled back, "DAVIIIID!" and everyone else started to yell his name. He blew us all a kiss and started jumping around again.

Because Mr. Cook refused to follow the unspoken guidelines for the competition, he emerged as the most original and savvy male finalist in the show’s history. The cornerstone of his victory was his iconoclastic rock version earlier in the season of “Billie Jean,” the magic song that catapulted Michael Jackson to new heights of popularity 25 years ago.

Mr. Cook has a strong, flexible voice; when he sings rock, its scuffed edges echo Sam Cooke filtered through Steve Perry. Stylistically he occupies the same broad pop-to-rock territory as Bryan Adams, one of several star guests at Wednesday’s finale, but Mr. Cook is a better singer.