Idolator

I'm not sure I can deal with how meta-contextual it is to cover someone's cover of something. Having said that, I do secretly hope that Kris Allen is the real life version of James Van Der Beek's character from 'The Rules Of Attraction,' and this is a real first step in that direction.

@ampersandparade: it's the new 'idol' way -- his cover of 'heartless' was via the fray; david cook did the chris cornell version of 'billie jean.'

@Maura: Barf. I thought the whole point of a cover was to show a new side to the song, and to display your masterful ability at composition by completely turning something old into something new (a la Doveman's 'Footloose' soundtrack reworking). And I like acoustic and folksy-pop, but I'm not buying anything by way of the Fray.

De lurking. I decided to wade into the shallow end to start.

I am not sure that just covering a song acoustically really makes it a totally new interpretation.

I read an interview with Jack White that made me rethink the idea of cover songs. He looks at cover songs as a sort of oral musical history, were you pass down songs and musical ideas through the generations.

I actually like David Cook. Despite the "Billie Jean" debacle. I think he is an underrated idol winner. Not a lot of radio success, but he is slogging his way through an 130 date and counting tour. He has a pretty tight band made up of pre idol band mates.

They put together a nice cover of Cutting Crews "Died In Your Arms"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdJ8Y9_WzZg