Ryan Seacrest: (Introduction) Chris Daughtry, ladies and gentlemen. (Cheers) Chris, let's talk about the song choices. Last week you did "Walk The Line". That... was that Live's version.
Chris: That was Live, yeah. That was ah... it's one of my favorite bands, ah... I wanted to take there version and do somethin' with it.
Ryan Seacrest: You worship them actually, don't you? ... Kind of?
Chris: (Slightly hesitant) Yeah, um, we don't need to know that though! (Ryan laughs) They are... they are one of my favorite bands. I respect them a great deal, so...
Ryan Seacrest: As we move forward, is it gonna be hard for you to pick... like, let's say we do 'Love Songs'? I can't picture you doing that romantic Celine Dion. (Some audience laughter) Or something from that genre.
Chris: I got some o' that up my sleeve. I think I'll surprise everybody with that.
Ryan Seacrest: I can't wait for the Titanic theme from Chris Daughtry! (Cheers) All right, let's see what he's doin' tonight. He's about to rock you. Watch this...
Intro clip... Chris: Tonight I'm gonna be performing "What If" by the band Creed. It's probably one of my favorite rock songs of the 21st century and the album sold over 11 million copies. It's probably the heaviest song I've done on the season so far.
Chris sings...
¯ I can't find the rhyme in all my reason ¯ Lost sense of time and all seasons ¯ Feel I've been beaten down ¯ By the words of men who have no grounds ¯ I can't sleep beneath the trees of wisdom ¯ When your ax has cut the roots that feed them ¯ Forked tongues in bitter mouths ¯ Can drive a man to bleed from inside out ¯ What if you did? ¯ What if you lied? ¯ What if I avenge? ¯ What if eye for an eye? ¯ What if your words could be judged like a crime? ¯ What if ¯ What if ¯ What if ¯ What if ¯ What if I ¯ What if ¯ What if ¯ What if ¯ What if I-i-i ¯
(Cheers and applause)
Randy Jackson: Yo man. So you know what? Check it out. I like the song, I mean... it wasn't my favorite song that you've done. I like the song choice for you because we can tell the kind of records you wanna make, and I think you know exactly the you gonna make. But I think you were sharp most of that song. It wasn't your best vocal tonight, I dunno what happened. (Audience groans)
Chris: All right.
Paula Abdul: I'm not... Chris I'm not trying to... I'm not tryin' to stutter, but... what if, what if, what if, 20 times what if I said I'm one of your biggest fans. (Paula smiles, Chris bows and the audience cheers)
Simon Cowell: Chris, um, for the first time I'm gonna be negative with you, because again I think that was indulgent...
Chris: This'll be the second time. (Laughter from the audience, Paula claps)
Simon Cowell: All right, the second time, whatever. Okay. But you know, there is a line you don't cross. Okay, Creed would not be seen dead on this show. The show is "American Idol", you've got to start showing, in my opinion, a different side to you. I... I think you've gone too far with that song tonight. (Audience boos and jeers) Okay, it's stands out, but I'm just saying I think you've got to start showing at this point, another side. You can't keep doing this week after week after week. I don't believe that.
Ryan Seacrest: (Joining Chris on stage) All right, it's up to you to decide. (Gives out the voting numbers) Good luck, okay man.