This was the first time, for me, that I really noticed Chris Daughtry. And even though he used Live's arrangement of the song, it was really one of the first times on Idol that any contestant took a classic song and fused their own vision into it. As Simon said, Chris was the first artist on the show who refused to compromise and yes, for that, he should be applauded.
I have to admit something to all of you. While I love Carrie Underwood's voice and her post-idol music, I think she has to be one of the boring performers that has ever graced Idol's stage. Note to Carrie: you are allowed to do more than sway your hips back and forth, that is why they make stages so big. With that said, there is no denying how remarkable her performance of the Heart classic was. It was the first time she stepped out of her country shell and really proved that she could be (and now is) a major crossover artist. Of course, I had to ignore the outfit and the hair for her to make it on this list.
After his performance of the little known Badlands song, I thought it was all over for Carrie. Everything that Carrie lacked, (originality, personality) Bo possessed. And on this night he showed that he was in it to win by paying homage to the audition round and giving the band a night off. It's tough enough to sing an obscure song, but to sing it completely raw shows how talented and gutsy he really was. While we all know he didn't win, I still believe that risk paid off and it ultimately paved the way for future contestants.
When it came down to the final three in season one, the judges chose one of the toughest songs for the original idol and she did exactly what she needed to do to get rid of Sideshow Bob: she nailed it. She showed that she can hang with real diva's like Mariah, Celine and Whitney. Now knowing that Kelly's real talents lay in the pop-rock category; this performance is all the more impressive.
Tamyra has the distinct pleasure of being the first Idol contestant to make Paula cry with her rendition of the Burt Bacharach song. And it was much deserved. Not only were the tears flowing from Paula, but the compliments were plentiful from Simon. The typically difficult to please judge said it was one of the best performances he has ever seen on TV. It still baffles me that this beat her out - one of the greatest idol injustices.
This is one of my favorite moments in Idol history. Here comes this girl who has had little to no camera time up to this point and she walks onto the stage and before she even hit note one, you just knew she was going to nail it. She exuded confidence and for the first time in season three, she got me thinking that someone other than Fantasia may win this.
I think Jennifer's Oscar win has led people to forget that her idol journey was not always the smoothest. With no prior voice training, she tended to shout and at times she was a little pitchy, Dawg. However, when it came time for Elton John night, she put together her first Oscar worthy performance. With conviction in her eyes, she hit every note and proved that she not only belonged in the competition, but that she could keep up with super-diva's Fantasia and LaToya.
In the battle of the David's in season seven, it was Archuleta who got my attention first with his flawless rendition of the John Lennon classic. His pure and innocent voice along with his ability to show such emotion on a song that probably came out when his parents were in diapers, is just plain impressive. On the down side, that emotion probably stems from his desperation to get out from under his dad's tyranny, but it was impressive nonetheless. (I also had to put him on this list so we wouldn't have this debacle again).
Fantasia was right, her lips are big, but her talent is bigger. And during season three, that talent was never showcased better than when she took on Summertime, a song that she apparently had never heard prior. The only down side to the performance is Quentin Tarantino as a guest judge. I am pretty sure his judging is the reason Idol refrained from the use of future guest judges. Regardless, that night we were in the Church of 'Tasia and every viewer was just lucky to be part of the congregation.
And, drum roll please, the number one Idol performance of all time is...
Elliott admitted that he had been waiting his whole life to sing this song on a stage like American Idol's and his performance proved that. He sang it without a single note out tune and with the kind of passion you don't often see on that stage. The performance was not only the stand out in season five, which is, in my opinion, the best season of Idol by a mile, but it is the standard to which all future contestants should be held to.
Well, well, well. Where do I start? First, I think the fact that you are in love with Elliott Yamin colors your opinion of his performance but, hey, that's what love is meant to be. As for the others, I mostly agree with you, but perhaps not in the same order.
ReplyDeleteI believe the first year contestants were real trailblazers and didn't have some of the same benefits future contestants did such as a live (and better) band. So I would put Tamyra's and Kelly's performances as one and two. And Simon agrees, so there.
I was never a huge fan of Fantasia but I agree she knocked that song out of the ballpark as did the other "Divas" that year.
I am also partial to Daughtry so I would have placed his performance higher. And I think I would have found room for Reuben singing Superstar (maybe I would have replaced LaToya with him).
The one think I will give you credit for is I listened to each song that you listed (I have to be in "Idol" shape, don't I?), I changed my opinion on Bo Bice. He was much better than I ever remember him and his a cappella version is really remarkable. So kudos to you for making me re-listen and for giving him the status on this very important blog.
Jennifer Hudson singing the Circle Of Life, wow. What else can be said? How in the hell did she end up off the show so soon with pipes like that. And Archie, if the guy wasn't 16 and had Jordin Sparks not won the year before, he would have won on that song alone.
Good work and, as always, great writing. You're almost as good as I am. Keep it up, maybe you'll have a better year than Iverson -- which wouldn't be very hard. 11 points? His age and injuries are catching up. Better find a new player to stalk pretty soon.
What, no Clay Aiken?
ReplyDeleteI like your writing and mostly like your choices, I too like your father might have put them in a little different order but thanks for putting them on your blog as I got to listen to them and I always love that. Why do you love Allen Iverson so much?
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Mom