American Idol 2008--Live Thread

americanidol.com ^ | 1-14-08

[Republican Red]

Did David Cook Rip-Off "Eleanor Rigby"?

TMZ

David Cook was on fire with his rendition of the Beatles classic "Eleanor Rigby" on "Idol" last night -- but a Seattle band claims he swiped the arrangement from them.

The band DOXOLOGY recorded their version of the track a year and a half ago, putting it up on iTunes and on the band's MySpace page. The band's manager tells TMZ the song is what they're best known for and have played it at nearly 200 shows.

The manager says the band has no intention of suing, but they're trying to get in touch with the show -- they want some props.

"Idol" tells TMZ the contestants pick their song and present their ideas for the arrangement to the show's musical department and work with them on it.

Welcome to Hollywood

[Miss Didi]

I believe that the Monchichi’s performance was taken from a Stevie Wonder rendition...perhaps it's not against the rules?

[Republican Red]

The band syas on their blog that they’re not mad and don’t plan to sue but they think that proper credit should be given for their arrangement. I listened to their version on their blog and it is quite obvious that Edgar lifted it from them.

[Miss Didi]

He should at least thank them.

[Apple Blossom]

Good call!

I thought Chikezie hit that song out of the park! Loved the jammin’ with the instrumentalists, then he just took over the stage and made it a REAL 2 minute show.

He made the song his own and completely won over the audience. I sure hope he’s around for awhile.

[retrokitten]

OMG. That is awesome because it’s true!

I’ve had a headache all day and here I’ve been foolishly blaming the weather. It’s Kristy Lee’s fault!!

[Miss Didi]

The comments on the blogs have been hysterical...I mean, what was Kristy Lee thinking???

[retrokitten]

Who knows. I can’t imagine it was a well thought out plan.

[EmilyGeiger]

This is my favorite cat pic....

[Lil'freeper]

So here's a question ('cuz I really don't know)...

Given that the rights to the song are owned by whomever owns the Beatles' catalog, it seems that DOXOLOGY would have to receive permission from the owner to perform the song and pay royalties to the owner from their profits. This is done regardless of whatever new arrangement they come up with. So, does this band have any rights to their arrangement of a song they don't own? And how much does an arrangement have to be changed in order to be considered a new one? If David plays the acoustic guitar and the DOXOLOGY plays electric, is that a new arrangement? They're both playing the ~same~ chords and singing the same lyrics... that the Beatles wrote.

So... I know very little about copyright law and I'm just askin' because this seems to come up every year.

[Lil'freeper]

.I mean, what was Kristy Lee thinking???

And what was the band thinking? and the music coach? and whatever production team they've assembled to guide these kids?

And therein lies what bugs me the most.

Remember when the phrase "flyover country" first came into the political scene? It was a sneering, derisive, dismissive description of the American Heartland. What we heard Kristy Lee sing is a symptom of the same sneering, derisive, dismissive attitude. What we heard was what some Hollywood urbanite artist (or worse yet - Kristy Lee, herself) thinks country music sounds or thinks that's how people out in flyover country would play it. How arrogant.

Either that or some dweeb discovered the pre-programmed "country" rhythm on his MIDI keyboard.

Either way, it was just bad.

[mfccinsd]

I wonder what happened between the morning run through and the show?

The recap (and they’re nearly always from the run through, which is hard for anyone who votes largely off of that, since sometimes they’re not much like what we see on the show!) she didn’t sound nearly as off from the band. I’m not sure if she was off, they were off, both were off, but listening to the recap at the end of the show, I looked up because I was so puzzled that it didn’t sound nearly like the train wreck of her performance at night. Still wasn’t great, but I think if it all sounded like the recap portion did, she’d probably be in far less danger of going than she probably is now.

Still an odd (and poor) arrangement, IMO, but it also seems like something went wrong, and beyond nerves, I’d think, between the two. Whereas I could see David A forgetting lyrics as much more pressure, etc. (especially being in the “pimp spot” again!)

Anyway, not that the morning performances matter, but I was surprised at HOW different it struck me. I went back and rewatched because of it!

[Netizen]

Given that the rights to the song are owned by whomever owns the Beatles' catalog, it seems that DOXOLOGY would have to receive permission from the owner to perform the song and pay royalties to the owner from their profits. This is done regardless of whatever new arrangement they come up with. So, does this band have any rights to their arrangement of a song they don't own? And how much does an arrangement have to be changed in order to be considered a new one? If David plays the acoustic guitar and the DOXOLOGY plays electric, is that a new arrangement? They're both playing the ~same~ chords and singing the same lyrics... that the Beatles wrote.

Your post raises some good questions! I was told by band members that bands changed songs so that they wouldn't have to get permission to play them.

[Netizen]

According to Zabasearch:

American Idol Voting Results posted here the morning before voting results shows air for the final 6 shows of the season.
Until then, tid bits of voting results information will be added here after performance shows.
David Hernandez and Kristy Lee Cooke received the fewest phone and text votes after the March 11 performance show.

[retrokitten]

We aren’t 2 hrs. tonight?

[Shelayne]

That is a great photo!

[Republican Red]

Just saw a clip from one of those entertainment magazine shows. It “reported” that David A's dad is well known as a stage dad. The report said that on Star Search the dad harassed a little girl contestant so bad that he was finally banned from the competition.

Rumors are that Archuletta’s dad had young David in tears during rehearsals this week. Poor kid. The pressure must be unbelievable for a 17 year old.

I myself am not a fan of David A. He reminds me too much of an "Eddie Haskell" type. (My, what a lovely outfit your wearing Mr. Cowell!). Still, hate to think the kid is being brow beat into being a performer.

[retrokitten]

I totally agree with everything you said.

[Shelayne]

Rumors are that Archuletta’s dad had young David in tears during rehearsals this week. Poor kid. The pressure must be unbelievable for a 17 year old.

I can believe it. In his video before his performance he had a moment where he just froze up, apologized, and then went on to explain how he was a bit stressed about this Beatle's week because he is not a fan and didn't feel comfortable. Perhaps Daddy is making him miserable. I hope it is not true, but I can easily believe it.

[peggybac]

God, that pic is creepy. I could only imagine what my 2 kitties would do with a head full of mice.