David Cook Returns to American Idol, Rocks the Rolling Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash"

David Cook, American Idol Season 7 winner, returned to the American Idol stage Wednesday evening for their Top 12 results show. The contestants had rocked out -- for the most part -- to the songs of the Rolling Stones the night before and, in keeping with the theme of the week, the former American Idol contestant did the same, performing the Stones' classic "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

"Jumpin' Jack Flash" is one of the quintessential songs that help define an artist, a song basically identified with the artist that recorded, sang or performed it (usually first). Not only is the song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" identified with the Rolling Stones, its dated lyrics ("it's a gas, gas, gas...") makes it even moreso, making it difficult for other artists to do it without sounding ridiculous.

But that could not be said of David Cook's performance.

Cook added some power, amped up the sound, added an alternative cadence to his rendition of the lyrics and made a rock song into a hard rock song. And by the time one heard the dated lyrics, they didn't matter. David Cook, who won American Idol Season 7 on the back of his song choices of original arrangements for the themes (think the Beatles' "Day Tripper," which Cook performed a la Whitesnake) and a couple of original arrangements of his own. His super-charged "Jumpin' Jack Flash" was a continuation of the same.

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest asked how he felt afterward. David Cook said he was glad to be back, that he was glad that he didn't have to worry about being sent home, and that he was working on a new album.

David Cook's self-titled first album sold nearly 1.3 million units, peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and produced four powerful singles (including a double single), two of which made the Top 20. The album included the American Idol winner's tune for Season 7, "The Time Of My Life," which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Cook was also named to Billboard's Top Artists of 2009 chart.

Cook also told Ryan Seacrest that he would soon be embarking on a trip to Africa as part of American Idol's humanitarian effort, Idol Gives Back. No stranger to charitable causes, the 27-year-old Texan ultimately helped raise over $136,000 at last year's "Race For Hope" (and that was just the amount raised by his "team"), which supports the National Brain Tumor Society and Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure organization. David Cook's brother, Adam, died on May 2 from his battle with the disease the day before the event.

There is as yet no official release date for David Cook's sophomore album, although, according to Entertainment Weekly, he plans to have the album out for the summer. To hear "U and I," one of the tracks that might be included on the forthcoming effort, check out the live performance video at Cook's official Web site, DavidCookOfficial.com.

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Sources:

"American Idol," Fox Television
AmericanIdol.com
"David Cook," Billboard.com
DavidCookOfficial.com
Popwatch.ew.com