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Tuesday’s American Idol featured the top 10 contestants performing songs from the year they were born. You’ll be happy to know that not a single contestant — they are all far too young — sang anything by the Beatles, for a change!

It was a night of strong performances, but one stole the show.

Born in 1982, David Cook finished out the night with a stunning, brave performance of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Cook slowed the dance track down, rocked it out and created an entirely new vibe for a very familiar song.

Randy Jackson described it as “original,” “bold” and “molten hot.” Paula Abdul was “blown away” while Simon Cowell, acknowledging the risk of changing the song so much, remarked on the singer’s bravery and called David Cook “amazing.”

David Cook might be the new frontrunner on American Idol after this.

Earlier, defying expectations, Kristy Lee Cook finally had a good night!

The cutie chose to perform “God Bless the U.S.A.,” by Lee Greenwood from 1984, adding her familiar country twang. The judges liked it and praised Kristy Lee Cook for picking a both a “poignant” and “respectful” song.

Simon Cowell called it the “most clever” song choice he’d heard in years. We are pretty sure he was actually serious, as well.

The judges also seemed to like David Archuleta but only Cowell seemed to recognize his song (He sang “You’re the Voice” by John Farnham).

They weren’t quite feeling Carly Smithson, although she mastered “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” but they loved Michael Johns, who combined two Queen songs, opening with “We Will Rock You” and finishing with “We Are the Champions.”

But David Cook definitely owned the night.

Randy called him “the most original, the most bold contestant we’ve ever had” and suggested he “might be the one to win the whole lot.”

Could Jackson be right? You tell us. Who do you think had the best – and the worst – performances from Tuesday’s American Idol?

Here’s David Cook doing “Billie Jean” from last night …

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Ke1zCWgI8[/youtube]