The end of American Idol Season 11 is nigh, which means it’s time for the Idoloonie Nation to reflect on the always accessible “Top 25 Performances of All-Time” lists in their brains, then ask the question: “Who gets added from the latest crop of singers, and who gets cut?”
I limited my countdown to competitive performances on live shows — meaning semifinals, finals, and wild cards count; exit performances, auditions, and Hollywood Week do not — and still ended up with two or three dozen amazing moments left on the outside looking in. (Oh how “This Ain’t a Love Song,” “A House Is Not a Home,” and “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right” forced me to consider making this a Top 30 list!) I also decided on allowing only one performance per contestant in the Top 25 (because, really, I couldn’t justify a list that was all Fantasia-Kelly-Cookie-Haley-Kradison). But, hey, no one said this exercise would be easy, right?
So check out my 25 Best Idol Performances list below, then hit the comments and tell me what I got right, what I got wrong, who got snubbed, and who never should’ve made my list in the first place. Then get to work and post your own Top 25!
And for all my American Idol news, interviews, and recaps, follow me on Twitter @MichaelSlezakTV. (p.s. I’ll be live-blogging tonight’s Season 11 performance finale, so join me at TVLine for all the good fun!) Follow @MichaelSlezakTV
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25. Pia Toscano, “All in Love Is Fair” (Season 10)
24. Clay Aiken, “Solitaire” (Season 2)
23. Jessica Sanchez, “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” (Season 11)
22. Jason Castro, “Hallelujah” (Season 7)
21. Allison Iraheta, “I Can't Make You Love Me” (Season 8)
20. Kendra Chantelle, “Georgia on My Mind” (Season 10 — Wild Card)
19. Jordin Sparks, “I Who Have Nothing” (Season 6)
18. Crystal Bowersox, “Me and Bobby McGee” (Season 9)
17. Chris Daughtry, “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” (Season 5)
I’ve watched every season, and for me the the ones that I still remeber year after year are
Michael Johns- “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right”, Siobhan Magnus- “Paint It Black” and Chikezie- “She’s A Woman”
Chikezie’s She’s a Woman was pretty damn good. Jacob Lusk’s You’re All I Need rocked. Kris Allen’s She Works Hard was incredible. Pretty much anything Crystal did. Brooke White’s Love is a Battlefield was impressive. Elise’s One and Only was sublime. Adam’s Ring of Fire was amazing. Siobhan’s Paint it Black was darkly beautiful. And on, and on and on.
I cannot believe I forgot about “One And Only”. I have it on repeat! I agree with pretty much everything you said, except I would choose “Tracks Of My Tears” over “Ring Of Fire” and I’ve erased Jacob Lusk from my memory. And is it me, or is everyone forgetting “What Is And What Should Never Be”?
This probably doesn’t matter but the website Whatnottosing.com currently has Crystal Bowersox and Melinda Doolittle pretty much tied for the best overall number of performances (Mindy slightly edges Crystal out). Both had 14 performances ranked 4 stars or better.
I’d definitely throw a James Durbin tune in there: “Maybe I’m Amazed” or “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” I always tend to look back more fondly on songs that made me realize how good the contestant was for the first time. Even though, “Mad World” was indeed Adam Lambert’s best performance, I jumped onto the bandwagon when I heard “Tracks of My Tears.”
1. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For- David Cook
2. Tracks of My Tears – Adam Lambert
3. Ain’t No Sunshine – Kris Allen
4. Bette Davis Eyes- Jessie Langseth
5. Alone- Alison Iraheta
6. Crying- Carrie Underwood
7. In A Dream- Bo Bice
8. Treat Her Like A Lady- Lee DeWyze
9. If You Don’t Know Me By Now – LaToya London
10. Up to the Mountain – Crystal Bowersox
11. Georgia On My Mind- Kendra Chantelle
12. Rhiannon- Didi Benami
13. What Is and What Should Never Be- Haley Reinhart
14. If I Can Dream- Elliot Yamin
15. Higher Ground- Chris Daughtry
16. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? – James Durbin
17. No One- Elise Testone
18. The Scientist- Katelyn Epperly
19. Ready for Love- Joshua Ledet
20. House of the Rising Sun- Siobhan Magnus
21. Daydream- Jason Castro
22. Stand By Me- David Archuleta
23. You’ve Got a Friend- Scott McCreery
24. The Show Must Go On- Skylar Laine
25. Have a Nice Day- Melinda Doolittle
I’m not really married to the order of this. These were the ones I came up with off the top of my head.
Nice catch on Katelyn Epperly’s The Scientist. That would make my Top 25 over anything any of the other females did that entire season, including Crystal and Siobhan.
I love that you have 5 season 9 contestants on your list. I saw the Tour concert that year, and………… it really was awesome. They were all really great live. It kind of took me by surprise just how good it was. I know alot of people like to trash S9, but……… there was a lot of talent there. Liked seeing Katelyn Epperly on your list. She deserved to go further than she did. And, of course, my ultimate favorite (out of anyone, on or off Idol), Siobhan Magnus.
Comment by VioletFlameMusic – May 23, 2012 08:26 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Hmm. Apparently you are a big fan of the later seasons, which are terrible.
“Stuttering” “Steal Away” “Turn the Beat around” > Most underrated songs of Jessica. But I like her here the most when she is smiling while singing! Shows her vocal range and versatility!
How in the name of everything holy does Fantasia’s “Summertime” keep ending up at the top of every list? Bleah!
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My favorite performances off the top of my head – in NO particular order – except for the first one…
Haley Reinhart – “What is and What Should Never Be”. Greatest Thing EVER!
Haley and Casey Abrams – “Moanin’”
Allison Ihraheta – “Cry Baby” (exit performance) and “Give in to Me”.
Allison and Adam Lambert – “Slow Ride”
Adam Lambert – “Mad World”, “Whole Lotta Love”, and his finale night performance with KISS.
Kelly Clarkson – “Stuff Like That There”
Kris Allen – “Heartless”, and “She Works Hard for the Money”.
Melinda Doolittle – “I’m a Woman” and “Nutbush City Limits”
Lee DeWyze – “Simple Man”
Crystal Bowersox – “You Can’t Always Get What you Want”, and “Give Me One Reason”.
Stefano Langone – “Lately”
Casey James – Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” (hey, Mick Fleetwood loaned him his guitar), “Jealous Guy”, and “It’s All Over Now”.
Chris Daughtry – “Hemmorhage in my Hands”
Phillip Phillips – “Hard to Handle”, “Midnight Hour”, and “Volcano”
Elise Testone – “Whole Lotta Love” and “Vienna”
David Cook – “The World I Know”, “The Music of the Night”, and his performance of “Sharp Dressed Man” with ZZ Top.
Hollie Cavanaugh – “The Climb” (exit performance)
Joshua Ledet – “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World”, “Runaway Baby”, “When A Man Loves A Woman”, “To Love Somebody”.
Comment by darcy's evil twin – May 22, 2012 05:01 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I forgot about Melinda’s Nutbush City. Thanks for the reminder. Love Melinda <3
Comment by Lisa (@KittyKay3) – May 22, 2012 05:03 PM PDT Reply To This Post
You’re welcome! You go to store on Friday, you go to church on Sunday. they call it Nutbush!
Comment by darcy's evil twin – May 22, 2012 05:19 PM PDT Reply To This Post
And I would include Siobhan Magnus’ “Paint it Black” and “Wicked Game” (at that point I thought she’d win the whole thing), Big Mike What’s His Name’s “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing” and Skylar Laine’s “Stay With Me”.
Comment by darcy's evil twin – May 22, 2012 05:41 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Hmm Skylar’s “Stay With Me” above Elise’s “Whole Lotta Love”?? (and Carrie Underwood’s Alone)???? For reals??????? Do you how mad hard half the stuff Elise did WLL is? How perfectly she carried that off?? Skylar’s was a solid performance nothing more. And putting her at #16 with that insane performance just ridiculous.
No – no “over the Rainbow”. Not even Judy Garland herself singing “Over the Rainbow”. Not even if she comes back from the dead. However, Katherine McPhee’s “To Love Somebody” was very good.
Comment by darcy's evil twin – May 22, 2012 05:17 PM PDT Reply To This Post
“Do you how mad hard half the stuff Elise did WLL is?”
Speaking as someone who has been trying to sing “Whole Lotta Love” since Elise did it and has only just recently been able to do the scream without sounding like a dying cat, YES. I do know.
I agree with you about Elise being beneath Skylar. Absolutely ridiculous if we’re speaking strictly vocals as opposed to screaming and seizuring on stage. And I thought Michael said The Show Must Go On was the performance of the season? LOL. Either way, Elise and Joshua easily top the list for best performances on Season 11. The Top 5 best performances were probably from just those two.
The sad thing was right after “Georgia On My Mind- Kendra Chantelle” top 25 best she got dumped in favor of someone who just had a poor sing for your life by any standards!
No kidding. Thank goodness they pretty much went with contestants that could actually SING this season.
I would include Lauren Turner’s “Steal Away” and “Seven Day Fool” in my list of great performances. Still love Lauren Turner and Kendra Chantelle.
Comment by darcy's evil twin – May 22, 2012 05:36 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Certainly Siobhan has got to be there no? Skylar but no Siobhan?
This list is kinda rough–just off the top of my head. I opted not to do one performance per singer.
1. Haley Reinhart–House of the Rising Sun
2. Elise Testone–Whole Lotta Love
3. Kris Allen–Heartless
4. Crystal Bowersox–People Get Ready
5. Kelly Clarkson–Stuff Like That There
6. Jennifer Hudson–Circle of Life
7. Adam Lambert–Tracks of My Tears
8. Fantasia Barrino–Summertime
9. David Cook–Billie Jean
10. Melinda Doolittle–My Funny Valentine
11. Tamyra Gray–A House is Not a Home
12. David Cook–Always Be My Baby
13. Skylar Laine–Stay With Me
14. Adam Lambert–Mad World
15. Allison Iraheta–I Can’t Make You Love Me
16. Carly Smithson–Here You Come Again
17. Elliot Yamin–A Song For You
18. Chris Daughtry–I Walk The Line
19. Elise Testone–Vienna
20. LaKisha Jones–This Ain’t A Love Song
21. Joshua Ledet–Runaway Baby
22. Crystal Bowersox–As Long As I Can See The Light
23. Kris Allen–She Works Hard For the Money
24. Jessica Sanchez–You Are So Beautiful
25. Allison Iraheta–Papa Was A Rolling Stone
And for fun, favorite contestants of all time:
1. Melinda Doolittle
2. Crystal Bowersox
3. Allison Iraheta
4. Haley Reinhart
5. Skylar Laine
6. David Cook
7. Kris Allen
8. Kelly Clarkson
9. Fantasia Barrino
10. Jennifer Hudson (yes, even though people didn’t like her as a contestant, I always loved J. Hud)
11. Elliot Yamin
12. Carly Smithson
13. Chris Daughtry
14. Elise Testone
15. Adam Lambert
Ah, well played. I can’t believe I left those two out. They’d probably go in here somewhere, I’m just not sure where. WIAWSNB would probably be just outside the top 10, and BATJ a little below that. I don’t really know. These lists are hard to do haha. Brooke White’s “Let it Be” is pretty high up for me as well.
I know I disagreed with the order of more than a few performances, but somehow I’m just stuck on Elise’s Whole Lotta Love not even cracking the Top 10 on your list.
Joshua Ledet is even more overhyped than Lauren Alaina was in my opinion. He’s fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but for me he might barely scrape the Top 15 on top performances ever. No way his “Man’s World” is better than Adam, Haley, David, etc.
Sorry to be blunt but there are things about his voice that are just plain awful (his falsetto especially, but I find his grunting grating and unsuited for his voice, unlike some others).
Just listening to the new Haley album, definitely digging it! Good stuff.
Just hope they get some of these some radio play, definitely deserved. If Adele and Amy Winehouse can get on pop radio these days so should this.
“Free” is actually getting more AirPlay than ever. I really like “free”, especially the middle to end. But im not 100% convinced it was the best first single choice. Though I’m not sure what song I would choose if not free… What are your thoughts on what her second single should be?
Her album is a gem though. One of the freshest, well produced albums to come from an idol contestant!
Yeah it really is, having listened to it all now, I can say there isn’t a single song I feel like hitting next track over and that is a pretty darn rare thing for any album.
Yeah whether it should have been Free or not I don’t know.
Anyway it’s hard to say now, maybe something from “Oh My!”, “Liar”, “Undone”, “Wonderland” or “Let’s Run Away”? I think one of those, but if you don’t go for that set for the single then maybe “Hit the Ground Runnin’” or maybe “Spiderwebs”.
Actually maybe I’d go with Hit the Ground Running then maybe Wonderland and Liar. Oh My has B.o.B and maybe could work big but then again, not sure, that one could go either way.
What? No Katharine Mcphee “Over the Rainbow” or “Someone to Watch Over Me” One would definitely be on my top 25. And what about “A House is Not a Home” by Tamyra Gray? That would definitely be in my top 25. Paris Bennet “Midnight Train to Georgia” is another one that is so much better than any Kris what’s his name performance! I agree with many of the others, but would put Crystal’s “Me and Bobby McGee” much higher.
YES – to “A House is not a Home” by Tamyra Gray. forgot that one.
Comment by darcy's evil twin – May 23, 2012 07:35 AM PDT Reply To This Post
I would include Katelyn Epperly – The scientist Michael Johns – Its alright but its all wrong Paris Bennet – Work it out Kristy Lee Cook – gd bless the usa Mandisa – Cry Vonzell – Ill never love this way again Lil Rounds- Be without you Siobhan- Wicked games but overall great list!!
NO, NO, NO!!!! Umm, Bridge Over Troubled Water season 2 finale????? That should have been #1, no questions. I still go back and watch that on Youtube on a regular basis. And I know you are a huge Fantasia fan, but that song wouldn’t have even cracked my top 10, probably not my top 25, since she’s just not my taste at all.
So what happened to Slezak’s conviction that “Show Must Go On” was the performance of the season. Looks like he went with Stay With ME as Skylar’s best performance. Also, I don’t agree with your Cook selection. billy Jean and Hello were his stand out momente.
Some missing moments I really loved were anything by Carly Smithson (where is Carly Smithson Michael?), Lily Scott doing Fixing A Hole, Brooke White – “Love Is A BattleField, Didi Benami “Play With Fire”
Not fair to do the one performance per singer thing. That’s like Idol saying it has to be six girls and six guys. Mine is pretty season 7-11 heavy as I didn’t really watch regularly til season 7 (Cook, Castro, Smithson and White are blamed for me loving Idol)
1. HOTRS – Haley Reinhart
2. WHole Lot Of Love – Elise Testone
3. Fixing A Hole – Lily Scott
4. BlackBird – Carly Smithson
5. Play With Fire – Did Benami
6. Billy Jean – David Cook
7. Crazy Little Thing called Love – Joshua Ledet
8. PAint It Black – Siobahn Magnus
9. Ring Of Fire – Adam Lambert
10. Benny and The JEts – Haley Reinhart
11. Love is A Battlefield – Brooke White
12. Crazy On You – Carly Smithson
13. Little Sparrow – David Cook
14I walk The Line – Chris Daughtry
15 What Is and SHould Never Be – HAley Reinhart
16. katelynn Epperly – Oh Darling
17. David Cook – Elenor Rigby
18. Daydream – Jason Castro
19 Blue – Haley Reinhart
20 the Scientist – Kately Epperly
21. Mad World – Adam Lambert
22 When A man Loves A woman – Joshua Ledet
23. This is A Man’s Man’s World – Joshua Ledet
24. Vienna – Elise Testone
25 Moving Out – Philip Philips
Sorry but House of the Rising Sun is #1 for me. It was simply vocal, emotional, and performance perfection in every sense. Summertime is overrated, and A Man’s World should not be #3. More like #10.
It’s just my opinion, but am I the only one who thinks Adam Lambert and ‘Mad World’ are overrated? I don’t watch Idol, but I started watching Michael’s recap by chance and watched many of performances he mentioned. Not a fan of any of contestants, but I don’t get and have been wondering about his hype the most. Some of Youtube videos I watched had very passionate comments about him, and the performances weren’t even from his season. I would understand Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry or Jennifer Hudson. Personally, I liked his ‘Tracks of My Tears’ better, but I didn’t find him “better” than other contestants of Idol. Many of Idol contestants seem to be good singers and/or performers like him in their own way to me. By the way, the videos kind of makes me sad about some um…. singers on radio, but I do admit that I still listen to many of those song b/c they are fun to listen to. Well, I will say he is better than them. And, before you say anything, I do listen to songs that are sung by people who can sing quite well. I am not a music critique and just listen to songs casually like on Pandora and other radios.
Comment by a casual observer – May 23, 2012 05:59 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I agree a bit, it was good but it wasn’t THE end of the world.
Hailey’s Rolling in the Deep…. did it before every female singer wanted to be Adele, had to get permission from Adele personally to even sing it, then the judges drove the bus over her for singing a song no-one knew. she put her own touch on it and that rendition stuck with me, and I felt she was vindicated when it became a huge hit. I agree HOTRS was a defining moment but Rolling was my personal favorite.
Yeah I can’t believe Randy was such a tool over that. Right after she sang it it totally exploded beyond all belief on the charts (actually I think it quickly bumped off JLos new single or album of something, maybe that is what got JLo on board with TPTB hah and had her go from giving Haley some support to full on, cold-hearted bus driver).
Her live performance even had some cool things no on the studio version. Another thing to look for to see who has it, look at the expressions of the backup singers while a contestant is singing, on that RITD (and a few others) check out when Haley does that one part and the one backup singer just kind shakes her head like whoa good grief are you kidding me and then smiles, now THAT tells the real story not Randy and his fake Nigel notes and all that junk.
This sad truth becomes evident–and it pains me to say it as I like Slezak and like his writing, but he doesn’t have great musical taste! There is NO WAY Joshua (“doesn’t sing so much as throws up”) Ledet deserves to be on the list, anywhere. And Kimberly Locke’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” was MUCH better than Alison (doesn’t sing so much as bellows and hisses) Ireheta. And Haley(her clumsiness) Reinhart, MAYBE #25.
Tone? Phrasing? Range? Emotion? HOW???????????? (I know I’m an American Idol blasphemer–but I don’t even like Kelly Clarkson that much. Melinda Doolittle is the bar by which all performances are judged).
Are you for real? Haley had no unique special tone? No range?? Did you hear her in Moanin’ among others?? Never any emotion? She had ten times the range of the last two winners that is for sure! Did you see all the times when the backup singers shook there heads and smiled like oh damn can you believe she just did that??
According to whatnottosing.com the best 25 performances are:
1 Stuff Like That There
Kelly Clarkson AI 1
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2 Billie Jean
David Cook AI7
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3 Summertime
Fantasia Barrino AI3
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4 In A Dream
Bo Bice AI4
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5 Mad World
Adam Lambert AI8
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6 House Of The Rising Sun
Haley Reinhart AI10
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7 Build Me Up Buttercup
Clay Aiken AI2
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8 Imagine
David Archuleta AI7
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9 I’ll Stand By You
Pia Toscano AI10
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10 Whole Lotta Love
Elise Testone AI11
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11 A House Is Not A Home
Tamyra Gray AI1
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12 Solitaire
Clay Aiken AI2
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13 All By Myself
LaToya London AI3
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14 Hemorrhage (In My Hands)
Chris Daughtry AI5
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15 My Funny Valentine
Melinda Doolittle AI6
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16 Will You Love Me Tomorrow
James Durbin AI10
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17 I Will Always Love You
Jessica Sanchez AI11
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18 New York State Of Mind
Kimberley Locke AI2
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19 Don’t Rain On My Parade
LaToya London AI3
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20 When A Man Loves A Woman
Joshua Ledet AI11
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21 Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Clay Aiken AI2
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22 A Whole New World
Ruben Studdard AI2
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23 Whipping Post
Bo Bice AI4
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24 You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
Nadia Turner AI4
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25 Bohemian Rhapsody
Constantine Maroulis AI4
Jessica definitely have a lot of WOW moments on idol. Her viral IWALY performance, Stuttering, And I’m Telling You especially the one in the finale. Common Slezak!!!
Everyone has their own opinion and I have watched all 11 seasons. David Cook singing
“The World I know” I don’t remember a moment from any other contestant to top that.
I object!
I think, “I (Who Have Nothing)” by Haley Reinhart is better than Jordin Sparks’ Version.
Well, thanks for giving us this ‘coz I knew that still, Joshua – Haley – Fantasia – Jessica – Kelly – Adam are the best contestants of all time.
But not as famous as the others.
Oops! Kelly is still the most famous of them all.
We a group of 100 plus stay up to watch AI and we’ve been following all season except for season one…the consensus is very few of the contestanats really stand out…they r all very much alike but in all we were wowed by Adam lambert although he didn’t win…Joshua Ledet was phenomenal we don’t know why he’s so hated…Jessica Sanchez we believe didn’t reach her full potential but was a joy to watch… Pia for wateva reason was booted out even when it was so obvious she stood tall amongst her peers…so much for travesty of justice…we hope u guys vote right this time around…vote talent over sentiments… Most of the past winners are at best mediocres…AI Fan Base in The City of Lagos Nigeria
Comment by Don Himself – January 29, 2013 04:09 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Mcphee with “Somewhere over the rainbow” or Aretha’s “Think” totally got snobbed. Jessica Sanchez should’ve totally ranked WAY higher and if I had to choose a Carrie performance I would have chosed “(Making Love) Out Of Nothing At All”.
I’m also surprised not to see Phillip Phillips, but I’m not sure what song could have made it in the list. (Probably “Superstitious” was my favorite).
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