Tyler. Non-performance on American Idol On April 29, 2008, contestants on American Idol sang Neil Diamond penned songs. One song they did not perform was "Two-Bit Manchild". Perhaps, as New York suggested, it was too "on-the-nose." Some were "desperate" that David Cook perform it. References 1968 songs 1978 singles Neil Diamond songs Songs written by Neil Diamond Uni Records singles Song recordings produced by Tom Catalano