American Idol Impresses Lionel Richie!

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American Idol Impresses Lionel Richie!

March 7, 2008 09:07:18 by Jennifer_Brown

Seems American Idol contestant David Cook’s version of the 1984 Lionel Richie song Hello didn’t just blow away Randy, Paula, and Simon.

During Thursday’s Top 12 reveal, Idol host Ryan Seacrest hinted to Cook that Lionel Richie himself loved the song. In fact, earlier in the day, Richie told Seacrest during an interview that Cook’s performance blew him away.”

“I’m putting that song out there tomorrow myself with David on it,” Richie said on Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show. “That is a smash record that David did the other night.”

Richie, who has guest-judged on American Idol in the past, released Hello as a single in 1984. The song went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Hello is probably most recognizable by its video, in which Richie is enamored with a blind arts student.

Cook, armed with an electric guitar, put a rocker spin on the mellow ballad, a move which Simon called “brave,” and which impressed all three of the judges, propelling the Blue Springs, Missouricontestant to a spot in the final 12.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Richie said. “David just played it as if it was his song from the beginning as if there was no Lionel Richie involved…he just killed it.”

The top 12 finalists take to the stage on Tuesday, March 11 at 8:00 PM (ET) on FOX.

Photo Courtesy: Reality TV Magazine

Topics: American Idol |

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