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 Lee DeWyze.
"Beautiful Day" - May 25, 2010
Courtesy 19 Recordings
Written by U2
"Beautiful Day" was released by U2 in 2000 as the lead single from their album All That You Can't Leave Behind. It was conceived as a return to U2's traditional rock sound. The result reached #1 on the UK pop singles chart and #21 in the US. It received Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group. Lee DeWyze recorded the song for his first single to be released after winning American Idol.
Watch U2 video
"Everybody Hurts" - May 25, 2010
Written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe.
The original recording of "Everybody Hurts" was released as a single from R.E.M.'s album Automatic For the People in 1993. It reached #29 on the pop singles chart in the US but went top 10 in the UK. In later greatest hits liner notes, R.E.M. member Peter Buck said the song is very straightforward, because it was written for teenagers. The song was chosen for a UK all-star charity single to benefit Haiti in 2010. This recording spent two weeks at #1 in the UK and sold nearly 500,000 copies its first week.
Watch R.E.M. video
"Hallelujah" - May 18, 2010
Written by Leonard Cohen
"Hallelujah" was first released in 1984 on Leonard Cohen's album Various Positions. The song gained strong acclaim when Jeff Buckley recorded a cover version for his 1994 album Grace. Rolling Stone listed "Hallelujah" as one of the top 500 songs of all time based on Jeff Buckley's performance. k.d. lang's 2004 cover has resulted in her being asked to sing the song at a number of major events including the 2010 Winter Olympics. Among other well-known covers is Alexandra Burke's version released as her first single after winning X Factor in 2008.
Watch Leonard Cohen live
"Simple Man" - May 18, 2010
Written by Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington
The song "Simple Man" emerged out of a conversation Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant had after Van Zant's grandmother had died. The song was recorded by their band Lynyrd Skynyrd and released in 1973 on the group's debut album. It was not released as a single, but has remained one of the group's best known songs.
Watch Lynyrd Skynyrd live
"Falling Slowly" Duet With Crystal Bowersox - May 11, 2010
Written by Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova
Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova took home an Academy Award for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture in 2008 for "Falling Slowly." It appears in the film Once. Hansard is perhaps best known as the leader of the Irish rock band the Frames. The song was also performed by Kris Allen in 2009 during American Idol's week of movie songs.
Watch Glen Hansard and Marketa Iglova live
"Kiss From a Rose" - May 11, 2010
Written by Seal and Trevor Horn
"Kiss From a Rose" was originally released as a single in 1994 from Seal's album Seal II. It climbed to #20 on the US pop singles chart. The following year the song was included on the soundtrack to the hit film Batman Forever and it then went clear to #1 on the pop singles chart. "Kiss From a Rose" took home Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal.
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"That's Life" - May 4, 2010
Written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon
"That's Life" was written for Frank Sinatra's 1966 album of the same name. It became a #4 hit on the pop singles chart and ranks as one of his signature songs. David Lee Roth brought the song back on to the charts in his 1986 version.
Watch Frank Sinatra
"You're Still the One" - April 27, 2010
Written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain
Released in early 1998, "You're Still the One" became Shania Twain's sixth #1 country hit single in the US and went all the way to #2 on the pop singles chart. It won Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Female Country Vocal while also being nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song was written to address public concerns about the major age difference between Shania Twain and her husband, songwriter and producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange.
Watch Shania Twain video
"The Boxer" - April 20, 2010
Written by Paul Simon
"The Boxer" was released as a single by Simon & Garfunkel as a single in 1969. It followed their #1 smash "Mrs. Robinson" and peaked at #7 on the pop singles chart. One of the most distinctive elements of the song is the guitar picking work by studio guitarist Fred Carter, Jr.
Listen to Simon and Garfunkel
"A Little Less Conversation" - April 13, 2010
Written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange
Elvis Presley first recorded "A Little Less Conversation" in 1968 for the soundtrack to the movie Live a Little, Love a Little. In 2002 DJ Junkie XL remixed the song for a Nike World Cup advertising campaign. The result became a smash hit single around the world hitting #1 in the UK.
Watch Elvis Presley Video
