David Cook Turns in Best American Idol Performance Yet

I have to admit, David Cook didn't make much of an impression on me when "American Idol" started this year. He seemed like just another bland rocker - perhaps a Michael Johns wannabe.

So why is it now that M.J. is gone and David Cook remains? Simple - Cook is transforming himself before our eyes into a contender.

He's doing it by taking chances, picking the best songs, and infusing each one with originality and personality. (Just think of what he did with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and Lionel Richie's "Hello" on previous shows.)

And the cool onstage persona and artfully messed hair doesn't hurt, either.

His April 15, 2008, appearance on "American Idol" was yet another in a series of outstanding performances. As one of the Final Seven, once more he's had an incredible night, this time singing Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby."

In a word: amazing.

If you didn't know this was a Mariah Carey song, you'd swear it was some undiscovered alt-rock gem. Cook took it over and made it spellbinding. He has an incredible knack for choosing just the right songs and tweaking them to make them sound new. His phrasing and timing are perfect; he had a great moment at the end of the song before singing the final line, where he waited for a moment. Not only did he get some great audience reaction, he also made sure everyone would be listening to his last notes.

In addition to his singing ability, Cook continues to display the coolest onstage presence of any of this year's contenders. Tonight, he wore black jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt, untucked, topped with a gray vest and black skinny tie. And of course, the hair and the stubble.

Cook is completely assured on stage, with nary a false move. Everything he does seems just right. He has a way of looking into the camera makes it seem as though he's singing right to you. Yet his confidence never seems phony or egotistical. That's a happy medium that's eluding some of the other contestants.

It added up to goosebumps for me, and enthusiastic, prolonged applause from the audience. Randy said it was the most brilliant performance yet; Paula said the song could be in a movie soundtrack right now. Even Simon was happy with it, calling it "a breath of fresh air," "original" and "daring."

David Cook: the next American Idol? I think it's very likely.