A Song For You Elliott Yamin

[kingkhan2894]

Probably the best performance in the show's history

[goucho1169]

OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING

[jraehol]

He moves Paula...but not her face.

[gunnasveins]

Best job on this song ever..... X factor guy did good..  and Buble of course (not to mention the original).. but this is stellar.

[MizzYoli]

ugh, I got a headache just from reading the comments! I mean really! Leon Russell may have wrote the song, Karen Carpenter sung it. BUT, Donny Hathaway version is the one people know! Therefore Making his version more popular! I remember this season David Foster was very rude!

[kaitbcful]

iwas 7 when he was on american idol and then he was kicked off and i cried and cried

[Swansoni333]

the poople understand that this was the greatest Ai vocalist ever

[Amrilmaen]

This is the greatest vocal ever in AI

No body can sing greater than this after

[gisadoxinha]

Def the best performance EVER!!!!

[gurl132]

good singer but nowhere near doing this song justice! no where near! a brilliant jazz song turned pop with flat vocals.. uninspiring.

[Misstergemini2003]

Amazing!!!!!!! Brings Chills!!!!!!!

[10handsdown]

I love Elliott Yamin, hope he is still doing well. He should have won fact!!!!!

[LittleMegRose]

Probably THE best American Idol performance to date.

[Bobbipens]

This still gives me chills. Elliott, you just gotta record an album like THIS!!!

Love you!!

[dramarhiannon]

Elliott got shafted in the Final 3 performance. Everyone knew Taylor Hicks was going to make it to the finals because the contingency of his insane voters were so high, Taylor was never in the bottom 2. But the producers decided they wanted Kat McPhee up there with Hicks, hence they showcased the hell out of her in the final 3 performance, with a cover of "Over The Rainbow" that was more than DOUBLE the length of the throwaway song Paula chose for Elliott.

[dramarhiannon]

@dramarhiannon or Create a video response Had Elliott made it to the finals, he would have beaten Taylor Hicks, because all of the 1st time viewers would have voted for Elliott in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, the producers were too afraid of a finale without sex appeal.

[184lisa]

This is song from LEON RUSSELL! Danny´s version is a cover....Anyway...he sings very good.

[Glitter2197s]

what race is he?

[Adida10000]

@Glitter2197s jewish :)

[mikeymolly1]

@Adida10000 Judaism is not a race.

[Adida10000]

@Glitter2197s his father Shaul Yamin, is a Jewish Israeli of Iraqi Jewish descent

and his mother Claudette Goldberg Yamin is a Jewish American of Ashkenazi descent.

[zackysting]

@MysteryDman he did this before Kris.

[Krysia176]

WHERE is Elliott lately???? So many of us are waiting for more from him...he is sooo damn talented.!!!!! We need another show at the Ramshead in Annapolis, MD

[ChuckEpicNorris]

@All aspiring musicians: this is a great example why you SHOULDNT go on Idol,Voice, Got talent, or even x-factor. PPl don't know what they want.

[erevase]

love Elliott !

[mscatwallace]

Elliot is amazing! I still get chills each time I hear him croon this song!

[shaaronie]

OMG! I never thought I would say this but I like this version even better than Donny's!

[mscatwallace]

@shaaronie I love Elliot but I could never go that far. It's close but Donny had such a rawness that could never be duplicated.

[MysteryDman]

wow he sang the same thing as Kris Allen.

[WFUDeac10]

Okay seriously American Idol Leon Russell wrote this song!

[newbee26]

@WFUDeac10 Thank you--that bothered me too...

[StacyOh1717]

@WFUDeac10 yeah but i think randy referred to donny because elliott covered his version. the russell version is a rock song.

[atrickpay11]

what's with that comment by seacrest...that's he's mr. mcphee? were they dating at the time?

[atrickpay11]

i think if he had his look with the longer hair/faux hawk in his music videos he would have won...i don't think his style was that good here..looks kind of industrial new jersey.

[AshleighGrace94]

Love it if you could take a listen to my own cover of this classic song.

[coloursnspice]

when was this? i love that he honoured donny by singing it properly. great job.

I love donny

[Octopop2010]

his tie is HUGE

but holy crap he's good

he won right?

[openpluguser]

@Octopop2010 3rd place... sooooooo not fair !!!

[Octopop2010]

his tie is HUGE

[farvin111]

why didn't he win? forget taylor hicks, elliott should never have been eliminated

[cassiacameron]

Awww his little mum there cheering for him. His biggest fan. Adorable ... ♥♥ R.I.P ♥♥

[frokii]

ellloooott is BEST 

[lotusesprit1981]

I agree with the first comment..it may be the best performance ever on American Idol

[haha3811]

He Can Sing So Good (:

[corey0o]

His tie is so ridiculous

.

[sunnyFL19501]

@corey0o who cares about the tie, with a voice like that!!!!

[MrBarcaAjax]

Watch Pyke !!!! He's amazing :).

[89preta]

nosaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaa!

[1997joutube]

Pyke - A song for you.

Dutch X Factor, is better.

[DancingAnisiA]

I've heard ALL the versions of all other singers...but he is definetely the BEST!!! He should have won American Idol..!

[Just4Fun624]

the judges were so much better before, steven and jennifer have no idea what their doing.

[MusiicalJack]

To think after this masterpiece performance, he lost to Taylor Freaking Hicks.

[moonpie99]

I quit watching this show when he lost, I knew it was bullshit! This guy was 100 percent better than the rest.

[dannysworld12]

fucking awesome. He was my favorite back then too, im hella glad he's still making music. Bring Donny's music back Elliot!!!

[Sarttimi]

elllllllioooooot <3 years later and i stilllll always come back to this version. im pissed that the studio version is no longer on youtube! or at least i cant find it.. :(

[DaViDcOokRoX115]

@Sarttimi its on his first album-track eleven its still on itunes

[tatjana1707]

I heard christina's version,beyonce's version,whitney's version and THIS ONE is the best!

[gunnasveins]

Randy?? Foster was right here... much more umpf here...:))

[EchoCannon89]

this guy david foster is such a douche, he wrote some good songs but please

[mlkidd9]

fuck you randy. please get this piece of crap off the judges panel.

[jojoxx1231]

The BEST performance of Season 5.

[taratova]

Elliott is better than what the music industry hypes to become big stars today. Elliott is no hype , Elliott Yamin is pure talent.

[lilkush909]

hes so cute

[viperman375]

Leon Russel wrote it.

[libugan098]

I dont like how Paula talks.....

[NubmerSeven]

The Donny Hathaway version is a cover, the song was writen by Leon Russel. Great great song..

[kevcas73]

@NubmerSeven thank you too nuber and solemoose for making a point that did not need to be made since Elliott never says that Donnie wrote the song.

a vocal master class..........indeed.

[iteachbio]

Absolutely the best American Idol contestant ever.....HE WAS ROBBED!!!!!!!!!!! The only one that came close was Melinda Doolittle, who was also ROBBED!!!!!!

[gunnasveins]

@iteachbio This is just like from my own mouth!!!!! (fingers) Two robbed big! time!!!!

[solemoose]

Good job Elliott, except for your music trivia. Donny Hathaway did a great version of this song, and was a good songwriter himself, but this isn't one of 'em. Leon Russell. Remember the name Elliott- learn your music history man, and give credit where credit is due. Music Appreciation 101.

[kevcas73]

@solemoose he liked Donny's version and it was Donny's signature song so what is issue? He never said Donny wrote the song????? Did you listen or what? Listen twice, type once.........

[McBane10]

@solemoose dude he was doing the Donny Hathaway version. Listen to elliott talk, he sounds really intelligent, im sure he knows its a Leon Russell song.

[DaViDcOokRoX115]

easily one of the best male vocalists ever on idol

[oustud10]

How about we honor the writer Leon Russell, a legend!

[shaineandrahel]

he looks like Tumnus, the fawn from Narnia.

[acekombat2k5]

randy is retarded

[whb786]

Paula is and always will be a horrible judge. She's just an airhead, who doesn't know how to put a coherent sentence together.

[UBZUKI]

one of the SPECIAL stand out moments of ANY AMERICAN IDOL SERIES along with...David Archuleta singing ''THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD'' AND ''IMAGINE'', BO BICE SINGING ACCAPELLA In one of the final shows from his particular series, ADAM LAMBERT singing ''THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS'' And almost anything by CHRISTINE BOWERSOXX...these guys did it for me...quality.

[DaViDcOokRoX115]

@UBZUKI its crystal not christine

[pmc53]

boi u BETTA sing it

[tehbignoob]

randy jackson is such a tard

[jgolf1446]

He looks kind of like Aaron Rodgers.. He should of put the championship belt on when he got done.... That would've been sweet

[treebee69]

HE IS SO DAMN CUTE AND TALENTED BEYOND BELIEF!!

[treebee69]

44 are brainwashed by non-sense to think bad music is good.

[taratova]

What cracks me up is David Foster tells Elliott , don't sing remember remember and then David at the end says to Elliott he sings really really well.

[walisii]

The guitarist is sick!!

[iteeismel]

i love him. i still think he should have won 4:12-4:14 gives me chills everytime.

[McBane10]

@iteeismel ?

[iteeismel]

i love him. i still think he should have won

[BIGVideofreak33]

ELLIOT SHOULD HAVE ONE! PEOPLE ARE NUTS FOR VOTING THE WAY THEY DID!!!

[thaoriginalhalf]

YEP!

[powershot06]

This song will always belong to Karen Carpenter, in my heart.

[toweryman]

David Foster and Andrea Bocelli?? You are prone to receive the greatest advice form 2 incredible artist

[suckemdeeznuts]

He definitely should have won it that year.

[yesniyah]

Still one of my favorite performances ever.

[globetrotternot]

This is astounding; I watch it year after year and as Simon implies, Elliott is brilliant. His voice is so natural - like cream falling off a spoon, honey pouring from a jar, silk in the breeze!! x

[retakulveets]

Actually, this song is by Leon Russell. Donny Hathaway covered it. Leon also wrote THIS MASQUERADE - George Benson had a hit with that one.

[retakulveets]

Sorry, Donny Hathaway did not write this song...Leon Russel wrote it...just a little tidbit for you

[simplyfinesse]

Who's Al? This is a Donnie Hathaway song...

[MsOfira]

what a great talent!

[HeyImAK]

I did'nt mean it like that, don't get upset, and I was addresing the fact that Yamin is a hebrew word

[369874123]

I mean, Yamin is a hebrew name. it means "right", right?

[369874123]

Is he Israely?

[McBane10]

@369874123 no, and he isnt Israeli either.

[369874123]

@McBane10

Don't be stupid, Yamin means right

ימין=Yamin=The right side

Any Hebrew speakers here so suport?

[McBane10]

@369874123 elliott's heritage is iraqi jew. he was born in los angeles. not israeli, so dont call me stupid you moronic butthole licker

[sweetbutdaring]

@McBane10 u dont want them to call you stupid but you call them much worse words. Hypocritical? :P

[aepps20012001]

My favorite AI contestant! He sure did Donny proud!!

[sunnyFL19501]

A MUST SEE live performance ~ Elliott Yamin - A Change is Gonna Come - look it up and you will be amazed!

[totalvicky]

Best male American Idol EVER! No contest!

[rmtmiller]

Karen Carpenter sings it best.

[droolinaround]

Dude, you made it this far but get it right. The song is by Leon Russell.. Donny Hathaway covers it, but the original is Leons.

[Barakx8]

Best "Guy" version of a fabulous song.

[lovemygolden]

I love this!! Elliott is still my all-time favorite Idol Contestant

[MrMusicgal]

OMGGGGGGGGGGGG i love this man hes my american idol and will youngs my english idol! cant ever get over how elliot never won

[CODEMANNH]

@MrMusicgal I am upset he did not win too, he should have.

[treebee69]

@lovemygolden OMG I SO AGREE!!! LOVE HIM XOXOXO

[wendyinky]

My all-time favorite AI performance! Amazing performance!

[Cookoo4Coconutz]

It's kind of upsetting that "Elliott Yamin" comes up before "Elliott Smith" on youtube. Oh well.

[McBane10]

why are they called licks?

[n1ll3r]

@McBane10 it's simply a way to state a phrase, that is often used; it's most commonly used talking about instruments i think, it's the way I learned the term anyway :)

[globetrotternot]

It's 2010 and I've just been watching X-Factor UK; mmm! Made me want to listen to sheer class; will anyone ever surpass Elliott in terms of sheer natural talent? Perhaps not!

[1987macster07]

Check out my acoustic version:  watch?v=IBcT937IoIU

[PianoClubHouse]

My favorite American Idol performance singer & performance of all time! And this is completely off topic, buti gotta give props to the flutes and strings in the back ground they were dope!!! Notably in the beginning where its just strings and piano, and then 3:45 & 4:20.

I get chills everytime I hear this song!

[PianoClubHouse]

My favorite American Idol performance singer & performance of all time!

[JudeSantana]

DAMN!!4:00

[Marisela48]

Elliott did a great job on this song, I just wished he would have given credit where credit is due. Donnie Hathaway did sing this song as many others did, however, LEON RUSSELL wrote the song, not Donnie.

[1987macster07]

Check out my version: watch?v=IBcT937IoIU

[wonderingheights]

I love this, but miss the rawness and the feeling within the song. But, he is an amazing singer!!

[Moniforae]

The depth of his voice is amazing. This was a great performance, but Kenya should have had more than an "Ooooh"... C'mon AI.

[MrNinomali]

yaminian!! love it..lol

[MrNinomali]

yaminian!! i like the he said it..lol

[crunkness2]

Taylor can eat a bag of baby dicks, elliot was perfect this season and lost idk what happened with this season.

[PurpleNightButterfly]

his voice is what women love, a strong deep soul voice...no feminine screachy voice, just rich deep tones that just make any girl get shivers...he is my favorite male contestant ever with David Cook

[taratova]

Elliott sang every song great. What was America thinking to not vote him the best . I heard every singer every year and Elliott is by far my favorite.

[VictorUeberbacker]

LOL @ 2.00 WHAT THE HELL WAS HE THINKING??? he knows what to do with his voice, please man, sit down, litterally HAHA

[DshankumMusic]

@VictorUeberbacker lol thats what i was thinking

[GigityGigityBam]

paula shut the fk up

[Cherokee594]

Can anyone explain just how the heck Taylor Hicks won?

[stellartunes]

Great Job, just goes to show you that American Idol is more about image than talent. Check out Ann Nesby from Sounds of Blackness as well,( She sings a recorded version on the Cd, 'Church') but this version is definitely a fave. And winning American Idol doesn't always assure a great career afterwards....I couldn't believe when they eliminated Jennifer Hudson, who I saw first at Disney early on, who then went on to win a Grammy and an Oscar.

[lconeill1949]

Donny Hathaway did not write this song Leon Russell did!!

[lemons82]

@lconeill1949 Well, Aretha did not write Respect, but when you sing it you are still singing her song. If he was inspired by Donny Hathaway's version, then that's who deserves the credit here. Leon can comfort himself with his royalties! lol

[DudeDudeDude857]

I can't believe this guy lost to Taylor Hicks and Katherine McPhee. This performance literally gave me chills.

[amazingdude2]

@DudeDudeDude857

I agree, Eliott got RIPPED . No way is Katherine Mckphee or Grandpa lookin THROW BACK Taylor Hicks a better vocalists, but that's what the masses voted.

[padimukti]

he is amazing, his voice is a golden gift from heaven....

[jerseygirl049]

goosebumps...

[shoeangel101]

loved it!!! :)

[1994KeShaLovesEJ]

;) youre the best !!

[UBZUKI]

ABSOLUTE CLASS. NO QUESTION.

[lennabrown]

I feel in love with him when came out with the song Wait for u!!

[andisueful]

Taylor Hicks is a freak...I can't believe this guy didn't win...he is awsome!!

[22braindamage22]

i loveee elliot yaminn<3

[1nspirator]

Didn't like the arrangement either...but great vocals!

[ezmo24]

DUDE SHOULD HAVE WON

[LAZZZYSPICE]

That man is simply AMAZING. He shoulda won.

[AnnaMaeBullock]

Elliot nailed it! Well done! Donny would be proud.

Leon Russell may have written it but that was merely a rough draft before the masterpiece. Donny Hathaway delivered it to greatness. And although there have numerous covers, it's Donny's version that makes people dig in the crates.

[mskris1983]

SLAPPING him on SITE when I see him for this performance!!!!

[GeffaZeffa90]

This guy.. Todrick halls and David Archuleta n Chris Daughtry the best male vocalist to ever be in a comp show like A.I.. but elliots my favourite hehe

[MALP1231]

In my opinion, THE most talented male singer to ever grace the American Idol stage. Beautiful voice, and very innovative. I honestly don't think that there have been that many great singers on this show...and every year is worse than the last. Most of them can't hold a candle to the likes of the great singers of classic standards...Mel Torme', Vic Damone, Dick Haymes, Tony Bennett, etc. However, Mr. Yasmin is a wonderful exception. I loved his rendition of "Moody's Mood For Love".

[venessatoo]

wow!

[K1w1Fu]

That explains why Idol's no way near as good as before. You go from having Bocelli as a mentor to people like Miley Cyrus, and the contestants are almost left in the dark about their arrangments unlike here!

[Meloman0001]

Kenya is smoking.

[GeeZone777]

Dang. This song made me realize how much i miss Paula.

[coalinga99]

So odd that he got away with saying it was "by Donny Hathaway" did he actually not know who wrote the song? still - great vocal!

[amandastec]

@coalinga99 donny hathaway did write the song..

[coalinga99]

@amandastec

no, it was Leon Russell, check widipedia or whatever

[LadyL718]

He should of won Taylor Hicks what a joke

[BlueEyedSoul1000]

@greeneyefull

Yeah but Donny Hathaway made it legendary!

[mauderated]

Simon chuckling like crazy during Paula's comments is f-hilarious. LOLOLOL

[SassyCandler]

Awesome voice! Can' beleive he didn't win:(

[wooosa22]

HE CAN REALLY SING! Amazing...

[arkhailken]

i am wondering why i don't like this guy during his season. it's a shame, really. he's really good. this is one of the best American idol performances Ever. :)