David Cook
Billie Jean
Again, I have to give David Cook credit for acknowledging the cover version he's basing his performance on (Chris Cornell's), or at least for having Ryan Seacrest do it for him. I'm not familiar with the cover, but then I bet most of the audience isn't either and to them it'll be the memorable, inventive song of the night. Regardless, David nails it; a confident, heartfelt performance that probably just made him the frontrunner.
— by James Poniewozik