The star looks very different today: Jack Blocker makes 'American Idol' history with live shows' first-ever Bowie cover
David Bowie and his estate have been notoriously choosy when it comes to clearing his catalog, let alone a classic like "Space Oddity" for a show like 'Idol.' So... did Blocker pull it off?
Sunday was what host Ryan Seacrest called "the most magical night of the year" on American Idol Season 22, as the top five sang two songs each from Disney films. And when I found out that maverick singer-songwriter Jack Blocker was covering the almighty and untouchable David Bowie, I thought maybe he was doing something from Jim Henson's Labyrinth. But, no, Jack was taking on one of the most Bowie songs that ever Bowie'd: "Space Oddity," from the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny soundtrack. (Seemingly every song ever has been in some Disney movie, so the contestants played it a little fast and loose with this week's theme.)
"Space Oddity" was a brave and bold choice — Bowie and his estate have been notoriously choosy when it comes to clearing songs, and the only time Bowie was covered on a live Idol show (as opposed to during the auditions, like Julia Davos's "Life on Mars" this season) was when "WGWGs" David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Phillip Phillips, and Nick Fradiani performed a tribute medley on the Fox farewell finale in 2016. But that obviously wasn't a competitive episode; those guys were already crowned champions who didn't need any votes.
So, Jack's performance had the potential to backfire spectacularly and have Bowie fans crying blasphemy and sacrilege — but if he pulled it off, there was potential for magic, and not just the Disney kind.
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