Neil Sedaka

And you made some changes on it.

Well, of course, it's more sophisticated.

And when you have a ballad hit, it's a career move.

It's a much better career vehicle.

And when you're doing it as a jazz piece, you...

automatically change some of the chords to make them sound like a standard, like you're listening to a Dinah Washington record.

Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down.

Well, you know, I wanted to be tough, but my son said, Dad, you know, there are 30 million people watching.

Be careful of what you say.

And, you know, I think that it's very difficult.

These kids are on in front of millions and millions of people.

It's a very difficult thing.

But I must tell you how I got on.

Everyone was saying, O'Neill, you must be a celebrity judge.

I said, oh, there are so many people trying to get on.

And my publishers called and said, perhaps if you called personally to the show, you have a better chance.

And I picked up the telephone, spoke to a Susan Slama on the staff.

I said, hi, this is Neil Sedaka.

I watch the show.

I'd love to be on as a celebrity judge.