Ryan Seacrest: (Intro part 1) Queen has supplied the soundtrack, Chris Daughtry's supplyin' the next song. Let's do it!
Chris: (To camera) Tonight I'll be singing "Innuendo". It's kind of an obscure song. It just felt like it was the right song for me and come to find out they never sing the song live.
Chris: (To Brian May in rehearsal) So I'm the first here huh?
Brian May: Yeah.
Chris: I'm gonna belt it out today... ¯ Oh, yes, we'll keep on tryin' ¯
Brian: (Piece to camera with Roger Taylor) A very brave choice of song. Chris is great. I mean, I was warned, my daughter said "he's awesome". He is, he's incredible. What a voice... And he has a real rock sensibility. I mean what can you say?
Roger: That worked for me. It was good.
Brian: Fabulous.
Ryan Seacrest: (Intro part 2) A hard one, but can he do it? With the title track from the '91 album "Innuendo"... Make some noise for Chris Daughtry!
Chris sings...
¯ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh ¯ While we live our lives according to race, colour or creed ¯ While we rule by blind madness and pure greed ¯ Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion ¯ Through the eons, and on and on ¯ Ohh yes we'll keep on tryin' ¯ We'll tread that fine line ¯ Oh-oh-oo-oo ¯ Ooh yeah we'll keep on tryin' ¯ Just passin' our time ¯ Oh yes we'll keep on tryin' ¯ We'll tread that fine line ¯ Oh-oh-oo-oo ¯ Ooh yeah we'll keep on tryin' ¯ Till the end of time ¯ Till the end of time ¯ Till the end of ti-iiii-i-i-ime ¯
(Cheers and applause)
Randy Jackson: Wow.
Paula Abdul: Wow.
Randy Jackson: A'ight so you man. Chris man, you know man look, I've been one of your fans since day one right. I love the whole real rocker thing. I think you represent this whole alternative rock thing. Dude, I've got to say man I was expectin' big things from you tonight. Dude, you definitely did not disappoint. You delivered baby! (Cheers)
Chris: Whoo!
Randy Jackson: Hot tonight. Ye-ah! Yeah!
Paula Abdul: You scared me there. You faked me out.
Randy Jackson: Yeah!
Paula Abdul: (Laughs) Chris, I mean that last... you know, that was like what? A high C? What did you...?
Chris: (Shakes his head) I don't know. (Laughter)
Paula Abdul: Let me... Chris, the reason... the band's probably never performed it live is because they probably don't want to and only you probably could, and there've been more times that you have superseded even when the band performs... That's why you should look back at the package and watch how they are in admiration over your performance. (Audience applause, Simon puffs his cheeks out)
Simon Cowell: Ah, Chris, they don't perform that song live because it's not a very good song.
Paula Abdul: Oh stop!
Randy Jackson: It's not the greatest song.
Simon Cowell: It's not. Chris... look, hang on, hang on. Look, okay, I will grant you the best vocal tonight, the best believable vocal tonight.
Chris: That's cool, right.
Simon Cowell: I'm just disappointed Chris... What? Chris: That's cool, right. (Smiles)
Simon Cowell: That's fine. (Laughter) But, I just think it's a shame that you didn't decide to entertain the audience at home with one of the great Queen songs, because you could have had a moment tonight. And it was to me... once again, the song was too indulgent.
Paula Abdul: I think he definitely had a moment tonight.
Simon Cowell: I don't.
Randy Jackson: (To Chris) No, I think, forget the song, you were good.
Chris: Thank you. Thank you.
Ryan Seacrest: (Joining Chris center stage) So, Randy... brings up a point then. Watching at home... you were very excited clearly by what he did, as you were screaming at Chris "Yeah".
Randy Jackson: I thought he was hot.
Ryan Seacrest: But what do we look for at home, voting for him or voting for the song.
Randy Jackson: Look for voting for him. Forget the song. I don't think half of these kids know what the songs... what they're gonna sing...
Paula Abdul: It's about talent!
Randy Jackson: The last two weeks it's all been bad songs, so...
Paula Abdul: Talent.
Randy Jackson: ...sing it! No matter what it is, just sing it!
Chris: Thank you.
Ryan Seacrest: All right, if you wanna vote for Chris (Gives out the voting numbers) Thank you Chris.
Chris: (Shaking hands with Ryan) Thank you.
Ryan Seacrest: Appreciate it my man.
Chris: Thank you.