Came back here in 2023 to watch THE GREATEST American Idol performance ever! Emotions were stirred when it was performed by David Cook and it still has the same effect every time!
@DavidRoberts-nt8fn I wholeheartedly agree with you! I remember seeing this when it first aired and I was absolutely blown away by his vocals on this song. This was definitely a stand out performance and STILL my most favorite performance from AI.
To this day I believe that Simon's (idiotic) comments influenced many in the AI fandom to overlook how utterly stunning this performance truly was, and it is probably the most underrated performance in the history of the show. It brings tears to my eyes watching it this many years later, and the poignancy of choosing that particular song, the lyrics perfectly encapsulating the moment he was experiencing and David pouring his heart into his incredible vocal, just made it all come together. It drew everyone in that stadium in.
Simon would never ever get a Collective Soul song or anything that was actual decent relevant current music that wasn't the schockyist of pop songs. He's made his entire career on that.
Absolutely agree! Some of the worst comments I have ever heard from a so called “expert”. This song is one of the best songs written in the last 30 years
8 yrs later... STILL standing in his TRUTH w integrity ... David Cook nailed that crown w this song and has gone on with his sytle swagger & class ... making hearts remember music w smiles all over the world! ~ My 4EverIdol
Gaaa... I cant love him anymore than I already do. Mad cookie love here. After this performance and his win I cried everytime this song played on my i pod. got teary eyed watching it again. He had so many "moments" in season 7 and this is definitely one of them.
He has more character in his pinky finger that most people have in their whole body. He is truly an amazing individual, inside and out. He is the total package, whether an American Idol or not. I love this man!
Every time I watch this performance I tear up. David puts so much passion into this song. A sign of a true musician when you are moved to tears with just a guitar and an awesome voice!
thing is, the original is a masterpiece and truly unique to Collective Soul. I absolutely love it. Somehow, Cook's version is probably just as good. Incredible really.
everytime i watch this video and see david crying, i cry with him. it is so heartfelt and that is why i truely love david cook. i love you cookie. i am an eternal fan :)
I just have to say... because it's a fun story for me and 100% true. I hadn't watched a single episode of American Idol in my life up until the day I happened to be walking passed the T.V. and my wife was watching Idol and David Cook was performing "Little Sparrow" and I said to Brooke right then and there...... That guy'll win!..... idk how to describe it but there's just something very special about David Cook.
David Cook has the ability to make everyone like every song that he sings :) I don't know most of the songs that he performed or I knew some but didn't care.. But when he sang them.. OMG! The songs just touched my soul!
David cook won American Idol because he shows his vulnerability and sensitivity every time he performs. He is a very powerful perfomer. You can really feel what he is feeling. It is an amazing experience.
It's hard to understand this moment in context if you weren't following AI7. The Davids were required to do more songs, more group numbers, more restricted themes, more judges' and producers' choices than any Idols before or since. This final 2 min performance and last song choice - his for once, with no strings attached - was huge. At this moment of enormous excitement and stress, Cook elected to fly in the face of advice and tradition and avoid a repeated performance. The rocker elected to do a quiet ballad, and an arrangement that starts with him alone with an acoustic guitar - no band to hide in. He delivers it perfectly. Guts - unbelievable guts, Mr. Cook. For me, one of the most perfect moments of TV ever.
I love this comment, and I love that David chose this song. You can tell by his emotions at the end how important it was to him to sing this particular song in this particular moment, that somehow encapsulated everything he had experienced over the months of the competition. And his performance is brilliant. Understated and beautiful. The standing ovation he receives at the end proves that he had connected to the entire crowd.
Add in that DC knew his brother was still fighting his brain cancer & yes, 'the establishment' was exhausting them all... and it's no surprise how tired David became of so much. I'm glad he just released a new album and is touring Europe with Kris in October of '21, as well as some of the states.
I still love after all these years. Sad that he wasn't able to show the world his talent in his own music. But maybe he has a different calling in life but still he gave us this forever. And he'll be forever remember as one of the best idol winner :D
David's an artist... with a true gift. I love that the audience showed him so much heartfelt love at the end of this song and that he felt that (before Randy et all opened their yaps). It's got to be so hard, wanting to give the public what they want but not losing your own identity as an artist in the process. One of the reasons I love his newest album of 2021 is that it's a great variety mix and I'm finding myself liking things I might not have if they weren't from David. I love the artist, therefore I open myself to his process. And that I happened to love 3 of the songs right from the start didn't hurt either. ;)
Such an underrated performance. I don't think we'll ever see a finale quite like David Cook vs. David Archuleta. Both were amazing that night. What a beautiful way for David Cook to end his Idol journey and begin his rise to greatness :). I've watched American Idol from the first season, and this is still one of the best performances ever on Idol.
the best of his performance in Idol ...he poured his heart out singing this song ,delivered with his heart and soul the wonderful message to everyone and what did Simon says? not the right song for the night? who is still competing?he had proven himself already a long time ago...
David Cook is my favorite Idol winner by far. He has a beautiful voice and sang this song to perfection showing so much feeling. Yes, Simon did retract what he said the next night, saying it sounded different when he got home and watched on on tv.
I absolutely loved this performance-It's one of that goes into every playlist/cd whatever...breathtaking. I love the way he sings BLOWS in the begining and KNOW ant the end.
All I can say is thank God David didn't follow Simon's line of advice. To me, this was the perfect song for David to do, without question. And it is my favorite song of his. It would have been a crime for him not to sing it and give the world his beautiful version.
The Best Male Winner!!! No doubt!!! David is third in my winners list! Just after Kelly and Carrie! David is one of the few REAL artists that has been on the show! What Paula said was right on point!
Still after all these years, the absolute best & most beautiful version of this song that I have ever heard.. thank you again & again for this David Cook
SIMON APOLOGIZED (FIRST TIME EVER) THE NEXT NIGHT, FOR HIS COMMENTS AFTER THIS SONG. My favorite song that he sang on Idol - I still love to hear him sing it live - takes your breath away!
It's been two years now since David Cook was on American Idol and I still come back here and watch these performances over and over again. He is what a Rockstar should be like. :]
ladymadonna512....Amen to your synopsis. Dead on. I would also add that there are maybe 10 songs that I actually go back and watch from Idol...but this is one of them.
@Snoopaloop1981 the song jumps for me.. this is from someone who has had many hardships in my life and still going through some right now. this song hits me and i love it.
I'm tearing up because he's so amazing. I almost forgot how I loved him, supported him, bragged about him and sang with his songs. OMG~ ~~ Nostalgic! It's been almost three yrs.
David Cook is the best...I love the last part so much..Nice one in 1:09.You are such a true man DC..Haaa..Simon!Hahaha,the man is so successful right now,his songs are top hits and his debut album is officially Platinum...
love everything about this. his passion and emotional depth, his tender side. love the fact that he goes beyond everyone's expectations. one of a kind artist, amazing talent and person. absolutely phenomenal!
well the great thing about music is that it doesnt have to appeal to only musicians. if david turned the song into something of his own and made it emotionally connect to himself and many people watching, then this was a success.
This is the most brilliant performance ever on Idol. It still is a thrill to watch. Over the past two years, David has become an even more dynamic and exciting artist to watch. Can't wait for his next album and tour.
David nails the AI Crown ..ya know the one he owns! Hands down David Cook is the most talented male American Idol ever... he has progressed over 4 years to become a rare accomplished musician, songwriter , platinum selling artist; he is a brilliant speaker and commands the stage and his audience w humorous banter. And in his huge heart he is a Rocken Humble Hunk!! May his journey go ON and ON!!
Being a collective soul fan, this was a brilliant david cook performance and song choice. Love love his version and all his originals. Him and Kelly will always be my favorite AIs ever. 4:12
This is one of my favorite performances from him... scratch that every single one of his performances were amazing! I love this guy he is just amazing and he seems so humble and I really hope this fame doesn't change him and I doubt it will.
Sighhhh...tonight is Season 11 Idol finale. But there will never be a season as exciting as Season 7 for me! This song just did me in! (and apparently many many others, in spite of Simon's usual crappy comments. He completely missed what we David Cook fans felt during this performance). He had me in tears. Love U David!!
David was by far the most talented performer to win American Idol. This was a masterpiece, as are most of his renditions.
Came back here in 2023 to watch THE GREATEST American Idol performance ever! Emotions were stirred when it was performed by David Cook and it still has the same effect every time!
@DavidRoberts-nt8fn I wholeheartedly agree with you! I remember seeing this when it first aired and I was absolutely blown away by his vocals on this song. This was definitely a stand out performance and STILL my most favorite performance from AI.
I agree it was one of THE all time best
And if I remember correct… this was his last performance in the finale and clinched him the big win
Love this song because of him. Unreal voice ❤️
Winning on YOUR TERMS - YOU are the GREATEST, David Cook. All these years, and I still come back to this. Beyond words.
2024 and still one of my favourite performances. He showed why he deserved to win. He should be as famous a Kelly Clarkson.
Agreed. What a different show it was back then and DC was great to watch
The best American Idol ever. I can't imagine there will ever be anyone better!!
The last true American Idol winner.
jocone123 TRUE
the best american Idol: David Cook
To this day I believe that Simon's (idiotic) comments influenced many in the AI fandom to overlook how utterly stunning this performance truly was, and it is probably the most underrated performance in the history of the show. It brings tears to my eyes watching it this many years later, and the poignancy of choosing that particular song, the lyrics perfectly encapsulating the moment he was experiencing and David pouring his heart into his incredible vocal, just made it all come together. It drew everyone in that stadium in.
feasible I could not agree more.
Simon would never ever get a Collective Soul song or anything that was actual decent relevant current music that wasn't the schockyist of pop songs. He's made his entire career on that.
Absolutely agree! Some of the worst comments I have ever heard from a so called “expert”. This song is one of the best songs written in the last 30 years
So true. Simon actually apologized to David in the results show, but maybe too little too late
@feasible One thousand percent agree with your comment!!!
Watching this years later, still getting chiils from it. Love you Dave 💕
What a gorgeous voice and my poor baby is so emotional. This performance still kills me.
8 yrs later... STILL standing in his TRUTH w integrity ... David Cook nailed that crown w this song and has gone on with his sytle swagger & class ... making hearts remember music w smiles all over the world! ~ My 4EverIdol
Gaaa... I cant love him anymore than I already do. Mad cookie love here. After this performance and his win I cried everytime this song played on my i pod. got teary eyed watching it again. He had so many "moments" in season 7 and this is definitely one of them.
This was the absolute best cover of any song ever on AI. Brilliant.
+BethanyandJason Mitchelson I agree with you. This is the best performance in AI history. The raw emotion was incredible.
I couldn't agree more.
I come back time and time again!
He has more character in his pinky finger that most people have in their whole body. He is truly an amazing individual, inside and out. He is the total package, whether an American Idol or not. I love this man!
David Cook was my favorite contestant on American Idol. I love this song.
Every time I watch this performance I tear up. David puts so much passion into this song. A sign of a true musician when you are moved to tears with just a guitar and an awesome voice!
this is absolutely incredible. i love collective soul and he for sure does them justice. incredible.
thing is, the original is a masterpiece and truly unique to Collective Soul. I absolutely love it. Somehow, Cook's version is probably just as good. Incredible really.
everytime i watch this video and see david crying, i cry with him. it is so heartfelt and that is why i truely love david cook. i love you cookie. i am an eternal fan :)
I just have to say... because it's a fun story for me and 100% true. I hadn't watched a single episode of American Idol in my life up until the day I happened to be walking passed the T.V. and my wife was watching Idol and David Cook was performing "Little Sparrow" and I said to Brooke right then and there...... That guy'll win!..... idk how to describe it but there's just something very special about David Cook.
Listen, David Cook has been the BEST American Idol ever chosen!! He is amazing...
THE BEST!
MUCH RESPECT FOR SINGING A COLLECTIVE SOUL SONG.
David Cook standing in his TRUTH w Integrity & originality
Just saw him last Friday in Kent. He's now 40 years old. He only gets better
David Cook has the ability to make everyone like every song that he sings :) I don't know most of the songs that he performed or I knew some but didn't care.. But when he sang them.. OMG! The songs just touched my soul!
David cook won American Idol because he shows his vulnerability and sensitivity every time he performs. He is a very powerful perfomer. You can really feel what he is feeling. It is an amazing experience.
It's hard to understand this moment in context if you weren't following AI7. The Davids were required to do more songs, more group numbers, more restricted themes, more judges' and producers' choices than any Idols before or since. This final 2 min performance and last song choice - his for once, with no strings attached - was huge. At this moment of enormous excitement and stress, Cook elected to fly in the face of advice and tradition and avoid a repeated performance. The rocker elected to do a quiet ballad, and an arrangement that starts with him alone with an acoustic guitar - no band to hide in. He delivers it perfectly. Guts - unbelievable guts, Mr. Cook. For me, one of the most perfect moments of TV ever.
I love this comment, and I love that David chose this song. You can tell by his emotions at the end how important it was to him to sing this particular song in this particular moment, that somehow encapsulated everything he had experienced over the months of the competition. And his performance is brilliant. Understated and beautiful. The standing ovation he receives at the end proves that he had connected to the entire crowd.
Thank you for the context.
cougar40n 👌🙏
Add in that DC knew his brother was still fighting his brain cancer & yes, 'the establishment' was exhausting them all... and it's no surprise how tired David became of so much. I'm glad he just released a new album and is touring Europe with Kris in October of '21, as well as some of the states.
I still love after all these years. Sad that he wasn't able to show the world his talent in his own music. But maybe he has a different calling in life but still he gave us this forever. And he'll be forever remember as one of the best idol winner :D
I like the way he made this song his own. His creativity and genuine passion put a refreshing spin on Collective Soul's original song.
David's an artist... with a true gift. I love that the audience showed him so much heartfelt love at the end of this song and that he felt that (before Randy et all opened their yaps). It's got to be so hard, wanting to give the public what they want but not losing your own identity as an artist in the process. One of the reasons I love his newest album of 2021 is that it's a great variety mix and I'm finding myself liking things I might not have if they weren't from David. I love the artist, therefore I open myself to his process. And that I happened to love 3 of the songs right from the start didn't hurt either. ;)
Simon just didn't get that this performance wasn't about the competition for him.
absolutely gorgeous performance.
I love this performance and back then when I watched Idol I was firmly on Team David Cook!
Today is the 2-yr anniversary of this master performance. Congratulations David! Eagerly awaiting your new album.
Such an underrated performance. I don't think we'll ever see a finale quite like David Cook vs. David Archuleta. Both were amazing that night. What a beautiful way for David Cook to end his Idol journey and begin his rise to greatness :). I've watched American Idol from the first season, and this is still one of the best performances ever on Idol.
Nothin but love for my favorite Idol, David Cook! That last note still kills me!
the best of his performance in Idol ...he poured his heart out singing this song ,delivered with his heart and soul the wonderful message to everyone and what did Simon says? not the right song for the night? who is still competing?he had proven himself already a long time ago...
agree with this comment. he is awsome and each week song choices were better and I'm shocked Cowell didn't rag on him constantly
David owns this song now. So amazing.
A true artist opens his heart and soul to the world. IMO David was doing that here during this performance.
David Cook is my favorite Idol winner by far. He has a beautiful voice and sang this song to perfection showing so much feeling. Yes, Simon did retract what he said the next night, saying it sounded different when he got home and watched on on tv.
This is so good and a fantastic cover. Love it even after all these years!
I absolutely loved this performance-It's one of that goes into every playlist/cd whatever...breathtaking. I love the way he sings BLOWS in the begining and KNOW ant the end.
it's 2011 and I'm here again, watching this amazing performance for the nth time!
what have you done to me, David Cook???? I"m a lifer!
All I can say is thank God David didn't follow Simon's line of advice. To me, this was the perfect song for David to do, without question. And it is my favorite song of his. It would have been a crime for him not to sing it and give the world his beautiful version.
David sings TWIK from his soul....this gut wrenching performance made a believer of Simon!
Wow! Wow!
Absolutely perfect!!
A nice sensitive side of David Cook. I still love this performance so much.
The Best Male Winner!!! No doubt!!! David is third in my winners list! Just after Kelly and Carrie! David is one of the few REAL artists that has been on the show! What Paula said was right on point!
Jose Fernando Azcona daughtry. Is better
I thinks this was best performance on the show in any season, flove it
it's the best performance i've seen!... and not even live!
Still after all these years, the absolute best & most beautiful version of this song that I have ever heard.. thank you again & again for this David Cook
I have watched this many times, and I still applaud when Dave
says to Simon "Why do something I've already done?".
One of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard !! :X:X:XX::X:X
i love how he sings this song! he sang this song at one of his concerts in went to. love you david!
David Cook deserved to be the American Idol.
My favourite idol or xfactor performance of all time. Simply outstanding. I wish he would record it on his next album. Superb.
I love this young man, he is beautiful in every way possible...
to this day, I get chills & tears when David sings this. just stunning, heartfelt, truthful, honest. ILY David & always will
I was in tears when he sang this song...so beautiful. Love, love, love this man. I heard him sing this in concert and it was breathtaking.
SIMON APOLOGIZED (FIRST TIME EVER) THE NEXT NIGHT, FOR HIS COMMENTS AFTER THIS SONG.
My favorite song that he sang on Idol - I still love to hear him sing it live - takes your breath away!
David's performance of this song was absolutely beautiful. This was one of my favorite Idol performances ever.
It's been two years now since David Cook was on American Idol and I still come back here and watch these performances over and over again. He is what a Rockstar should be like. :]
truly a spectacular performance
Stunning...love his raspy voice
ladymadonna512....Amen to your synopsis. Dead on. I would also add that there are maybe 10 songs that I actually go back and watch from Idol...but this is one of them.
@Snoopaloop1981 the song jumps for me.. this is from someone who has had many hardships in my life and still going through some right now. this song hits me and i love it.
I'm tearing up because he's so amazing. I almost forgot how I loved him, supported him, bragged about him and sang with his songs. OMG~ ~~ Nostalgic! It's been almost three yrs.
David Cook is the best...I love the last part so much..Nice one in 1:09.You are such a true man DC..Haaa..Simon!Hahaha,the man is so successful right now,his songs are top hits and his debut album is officially Platinum...
First song I heard him sing and till this day it still gives me goosebumps. Huge fan of David Cook
love everything about this. his passion and emotional depth, his tender side. love the fact that he goes beyond everyone's expectations. one of a kind artist, amazing talent and person. absolutely phenomenal!
Had to come back to watch again, a real artist. The last falsetto? Gets to me every time.
awww he's so sweet. idk why but whenever i see him cry it kind of makes me sad but he just seems so sweet. awww
Two years later and I still can't understand how Simon thought this "utterly wrong". Sheesh. Guess we showed him...
I still love this performance like the first time I heard it! Simply brilliant!
well the great thing about music is that it doesnt have to appeal to only musicians. if david turned the song into something of his own and made it emotionally connect to himself and many people watching, then this was a success.
This is the most brilliant performance ever on Idol. It still is a thrill to watch. Over the past two years, David has become an even more dynamic and exciting artist to watch. Can't wait for his next album and tour.
Thank God for David Cook! There is so much crap out there now so at least I can come to you tube and listen to a true talent with a VOICE!
Gosh, he's amazing. This is why I love him so.
So love this!!! Watching it in 2021 woohoo! This is the only season I watched-one of the best ones I think.
this is one of his best performances. i can just watch this over and over again without getting sick of it. he's soo good!
David nails the AI Crown ..ya know the one he owns! Hands down David Cook is the most talented male American Idol ever... he has progressed over 4 years to become a rare accomplished musician, songwriter , platinum selling artist; he is a brilliant speaker and commands the stage and his audience w humorous banter. And in his huge heart he is a Rocken Humble Hunk!! May his journey go ON and ON!!
My most fav Idol performance of his...it blew me away. And yes, I cried too! Love, love, love DC!
This a damn powerful rendition of this song. David's passion in singing it is a sign of a true artist.
he's my one and only american idol. he's brilliant and has a good heart and always excel in everything he does.
His face at the end of the song hits me every time! I love this song!!
David Nailed the Crown 👑!!
well basically i thought i was the only one who felt emotionally carried away bout how david cook sings this song..
man he's got a powerful voice..
I love that he sang it straight. The national anthem shouldn't be a song to show off on.
Being a collective soul fan, this was a brilliant david cook performance and song choice. Love love his version and all his originals. Him and Kelly will always be my favorite AIs ever.
4:12
Beautiful. I love that David had the guts to sing a new song. TWIK sounded awesome during the Declaration Tour.
He is just a beautiful man.
I'd say that he's the best Rock singer on the competition and will end up being successful in a few years.
Great! Simon retracted later saying he watched it on tv and thought it was great.
amazing performance.. oh and his hair looks perfect.... =) go DC!!
This is the peak of American Idol, it hasn't been any better after this moment.
This is one of my favorite performances from him... scratch that every single one of his performances were amazing! I love this guy he is just amazing and he seems so humble and I really hope this fame doesn't change him and I doubt it will.
Sighhhh...tonight is Season 11 Idol finale. But there will never be a season as exciting as Season 7 for me! This song just did me in! (and apparently many many others, in spite of Simon's usual crappy comments. He completely missed what we David Cook fans felt during this performance). He had me in tears. Love U David!!
love this. seen it like a million times already
HES AMAZING!!!! it pisses me off seeing all the bad comments about him.
the best ever... i watched this vid everyday... i just loved his version :p