American Idol fans frequently want to know more details about the songs they hear their favorite contestants perform on the show. Check out the details on songs performed during elimination rounds by Casey James.
"Daughters" - May 18, 2010
Written by John Mayer
John Mayer's song "Daughters" was included on his 2003 album Heavier Things. The song admonishes men to cultivate strong relationship with their daughters so they may relate well to men as adults. The song took home a Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Watch John Mayer video
"OK, It's Alright With Me" - May 18, 2010
Written by Eric Hutchinson
"OK, It's Alright With Me" is a song from singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson's breakthrough album Sounds Like This. Positive mentions by gossip blogger Perez Hilton helped Eric Hutchinson's career take off and draw in a strong base of fans.
Watch Eric Hutchinson video
"Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" - Duet With Michael Lynche - May 11, 2010
Written by Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, and Robert John "Mutt" Lange
This song was written for the 1995 film Don Juan DeMarco. The soundtrack album version by Bryan Adams features flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture and spent five weeks at #1 on the US pop singles chart.
Watch Bryan Adams video
"Mrs. Robinson" - May 11, 2010
Written by Paul Simon
"Mrs. Robinson" by Simon and Garfunkel made its first appearance in incomplete form on the soundtrack for the movie The Graduate in which an older married woman, Mrs. Robinson, seduces a recent college graduate. The complete version of the song appeared on the 1968 album Bookends and went to #1 on the pop singles chart.
Watch Simon and Garfunkel live
"Blue Skies" - May 4, 2010
Written by Irving Berlin
"Blue Skies" was composed in 1926 as a last minute addition to the musical Betsy. The show itself was a failure but the song was a hit. Ben Selvin recorded a very popular version in 1927. It was also sung by Al Jolson in the first movie "talkie" The Jazz Singer. Frank Sinatra recorded his well-known interpretation in 1946.
Listen to Frank Sinatra
"Don't" - April 27, 2010
Written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain
"Don't" was released as the second single from Shania Twain's 2004 Greatest Hits collection. It only reached #24 on the country chart and failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on the soundtrack for the 2005 film An Unfinished Life.
Watch Shania Twain video
"Don't Stop" - April 20, 2010
Written by Christine McVie
Christine McVie wrote "Don't Stop" as part of her reflections on her marital separation from Fleetwood Mac bass player John McVie. Bill Clinton used the song as a theme for his successful 1992 presidential campaign.
Watch Fleetwood Mac live
"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" - April 13, 2010
Written by Lloyd Price
R&B singer Lloyd Price recorded and released "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" as a single in 1952. It spent seven weeks at #1 on the R&B chart. That recording sold over a million copies. Among the backing musicians was Fats Domino. Elvis Presley recorded his version in 1956.
Listen to Elvis Presley
"Jealous Guy" - April 6, 2010
Written by John Lennon
The song "Jealous Guy" had its origins in the response to a lecture by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on being a "son of mother nature" while the Beatles were still together as a group. John Lennon wrote the song "Child of Nature" which was not released until the original lyrics were scrapped in favor of those of "Jealous Guy" which was included on John Lennon's 1971 solo album Imagine.
Watch John Lennon video
"Hold On, I'm Comin'" - March 30, 2010
Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter
"Hold On, I'm Comin'" was the title song for Memphis soul duo Sam and Dave's debut Atlantic Records album. It hit #1 on the R&B chart and #21 on the pop chart. The legend behind the song is that the title came up when Isaac Hayes was trying to get his songwriting partner David Porter to finish up in the restroom and get back to songwriting.
Watch Sam and Dave video
