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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 10, 2009 7:47:53 GMT -5
FINAL FOUR PERFORMANCES: Kelly Clarkson's "Stuff Like That There" Fantasia Barrino's "Summertime" Jordin Sparks's "I (Who Have Nothing)" Adam Lambert's "Mad World"
Kelly Clarkson - 1 Fantasia Barrino - 1 Jordin Sparks - 1 Adam Lambert - 1
Season 1 - 1 Season 2 - 0 Season 3 - 1 Season 4 - 0 Season 5 - 0 Season 6 - 1 Season 7 - 0 Season 8 - 1
Men - 1 Women - 3
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 10, 2009 7:52:53 GMT -5
Note: Adam is the only remaining male. He is the only remaining non-winner. "Mad World" is the sole remaining performance from Round 4's Wildcard.
Note: Kelly & Jordin never went to the bottom 3. Adam was bottom 2'd during top 5 week, 3 weeks after "Mad World". Fantasia went bottom 2 twice - one week after "Summertime" and then 3 weeks after that.
Note: 4 performances, 4 contestents.
Note: 3 of the final 4 evoked tears - 1 evoked jazz-hands-fun.
Note: Though "Stuff Like That There" recieved the type of praise you'd expect for a final 4er, Quentin Tarentino said he wanted funky Fantasia back after "Summertime", Simon told Jordin he wanted to jump off a bridge after "I (Who Have Nothing)" and only Simon could speak after Adam's "Mad World".
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 10, 2009 7:56:33 GMT -5
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 12, 2009 15:20:15 GMT -5
BUMP - PM ME YOUR VOTES
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 13, 2009 21:22:19 GMT -5
The distance between #1 and #4 is so small...
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 14, 2009 20:47:04 GMT -5
Only about 48 hours left
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 14, 2009 21:04:06 GMT -5
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Crazytowel
3x Platinum Member
No Me Gusta!
Joined: April 2009
Posts: 3,462
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Post by Crazytowel on Jul 15, 2009 3:21:12 GMT -5
Do we need to vote again or is this just for people who haven't voted yet
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 15, 2009 8:46:20 GMT -5
No, just for people who haven't voted yet :)
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 16, 2009 11:59:41 GMT -5
11 hours left to get your final votes in!!
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 17, 2009 8:56:40 GMT -5
Votes are in and your top 4 is decided - the winner is final! I am waiting to pick up my computer from the apple store so results will have to wait until later today/early tomorrow. Keep checking for results!
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 17, 2009 13:15:54 GMT -5
In the meantime before I get my computer back to announce results...
PREDICTIONS?????????
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 8:41:21 GMT -5
INITIAL ROUND VOTE COUNT 1-2 Don't Cry Out Loud, Diana DeGarmo 1-2 Alone, Carrie Underwood 3 Mad World, Adam Lambert 4-5 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 4-5 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 6 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 7-8 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 7-8 Heartless, Kris Allen 9 Hallelujah, Jason Castro 10-13 Superstar, Ruben Studdard 10-13 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Katherine McPhee 10-13 Tracks of my Tears, Adam Lambert 10-13 Papa was a Rolling Stone, Allison Iraheta 14-16 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 14-16 Come Together, Carly Smithson 14-16 Ain't No Sunshine, Kris Allen 17 I Surrender, Kelly Clarkson 18-19 A House is Not a Home, Tamyra Gray 18-19 Without You, Kelly Clarkson 20-21 Total Eclipse of the Heart, Jessica Sierra 20-21 Someone to Watch Over Me, Katherine McPhee 22-26 Walk on By, Kelly Clarkson 22-26 Bohemian Rhapsody, Constantine Maroulis 22-26 Crying, Carrie Underwood 22-26 You Give Love a Bad Name, Blake Lewis 22-26 Ring of Fire, Adam Lambert 27-29 Somewhere, Latoya London 27-29 Moody's Mood for Love, Elliott Yamin 27-29 Hello, David Cook 30-34 Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Clay Aiken 30-34 All By Myself, Latoya London 30-34 These Foolish Things, Paris Bennett 30-34 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin 30-34 You'll Never Walk Alone, Jordin Sparks 35-36 Don't Play That Song, Kelly Clarkson 35-36 Hemorrhage (In my Hands), Chris Daughtry 37 Let's Hear it for the Boy, Trenyce 38-40 Respect, Kelly Clarkson 38-40 Making Love (Out of Nothing at All), Carrie Underwood 38-40 Always be my Baby, David Cook 41-43 Love is a Battlefield, Carrie Underwood 41-43 Let it Be, Brooke White 41-43 Black or White, Adam Lambert 44-45 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Kimberly Locke 44-45 My Funny Valentine, Melinda Doolittle 46-49 Proud Mary, Trenyce 46-49 Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Clay Aiken 46-49 Circle of Life, Jennifer Hudson 46-49 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Jason Castro 50-52 In a Dream, Bo Bice 50-52 Nutbush City Limits, Melinda Doolittle 50-52 Billie Jean, David Cook 53 I Don't Hurt Anymore, Mandisa 54-56 Let's Stay Together, Trenyce 54-56 Something to Talk About, Fantasia Barrino 54-56 A Broken Wing, Jordin Sparks 57-62 Solitaire, Clay Aiken 57-62 I Have Nothing, Jennifer Hudson 57-62 No More Tears, Diana DeGarmo 57-62 Since You've Been Gone, Melinda Doolittle 57-62 Time of the Season, Blake Lewis 57-62 Papa was a Rolling Stone, David Hernandez 63-64 Call Me, Carmen Rasmusen 63-64 So Small, Matt Giraud
ROUND 2 VOTE COUNT 1 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 2-3 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 2-3 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 4 Papa was a Rolling Stone, Allison Iraheta 5 Without You, Kelly Clarkson 6 Hallelujah, Jason Castro 7-9 Come Together, Carly Smithson 7-9 Tracks of my Tears, Adam Lambert 7-9 Heartless, Kris Allen 10-11 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 10-11 Moody's Mood for Love, Elliott Yamin 12 I Surrender, Kelly Clarkson 13 Mad World, Adam Lambert 14-15 Alone, Carrie Underwood 14-15 Billie Jean, David Cook 16 Let it Be, Brooke White 17 Respect, Kelly Clarkson 18 Don't Cry Out Loud, Diana DeGarmo 19-21 Hemorrhage (In my Hands), Chris Daughtry 19-21 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 19-21 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin 22 Ain't No Sunshine, Kris Allen 23-25 In a Dream, Bo Bice 23-25 My Funny Valentine, Melinda Doolittle 23-25 Papa was a Rolling Stone, David Hernandez 26-28 Something to Talk About, Fantasia Barrino 26-28 Making Love (Out of Nothing at All), Carrie Underwood 26-28 Always be my Baby, David Cook 29 Someone to Watch Over Me, Katherine McPhee 30-33 I Have Nothing, Jennifer Hudson 30-33 Total Eclipse of the Heart, Jessica Sierra 30-33 A Broken Wing, Jordin Sparks 30-33 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Jason Castro 34 A House is Not a Home, Tamyra Gray 35-36 Love is a Battlefield, Carrie Underwood 35-36 Hello, David Cook 37 Don't Play That Song, Kelly Clarkson 38 You Give Love a Bad Name, Blake Lewis 39 Crying, Carrie Underwood 40 All By Myself, Latoya London
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 8:48:55 GMT -5
ROUND 3 VOTE COUNT 1 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 2 I Surrender, Kelly Clarkson 3-4 Without You, Kelly Clarkson 3-4 Mad World, Adam Lambert 5-6 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 5-6 Alone, Carrie Underwood 7-8 Moody's Mood for Love, Elliott Yamin 7-8 Let it Be, Brooke White 9-10 Hemorrhage (In my Hands), Chris Daughtry 9-10 Ain't No Sunshine, Kris Allen 11 Come Together, Carly Smithson 12-13 Someone to Watch Over Me, Katherine McPhee 12-13 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 14 Heartless, Kris Allen 15 Making Love (Out of Nothing at All), Carrie Underwood 16 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin 17-18 Respect, Kelly Clarkson 17-18 Papa was a Rolling Stone, Allison Iraheta 19-21 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 19-21 Hallelujah, Jason Castro 19-21 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Jason Castro 22-23 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 22-23 You Give Love a Bad Name, Blake Lewis 24 All By Myself, Latoya London
ROUND 4 VOTE COUNT 1 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 2 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 3 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 4 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 5 Without You, Kelly Clarkson 6-7 I Surrender, Kelly Clarkson 6-7 Ain't No Sunshine, Kris Allen 8 Moody's Mood for Love 9-10 Alone, Carrie Underwood 9-10 Hallelujah, Jason Castro 11 Making Love (Out of Nothing at All), Carrie Underwood 12 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 13 Let it Be, Brooke White 14 Respect, Kelly Clarkson 15-17 Someone to Watch Over Me, Katherine McPhee 15-17 Come Together, Carly Smithson 15-17 Mad World, Adam Lambert 18 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin 19 Heartless, Kris Allen 20 Somewhere Over the Rainbow
ROUND 4 WILDCARD VOTE COUNT 1 Mad World, Adam Lambert 2 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin 3 Let it Be, Brooke White 4 Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Jason Castro
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 8:54:15 GMT -5
ROUND 5 VOTE COUNT 1-2 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 1-2 Mad World, Adam Lambert 3 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 4-5 Moody's Mood for Love, Elliott Yamin 4-5 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin 6 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 7-8 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 7-8 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 9 Hallelujah, Jason Castro 10 Alone, Carrie Underwood 11-12 Without You, Kelly Clarkson 11-12 Let it Be, Brooke White
ROUND 6 VOTE COUNT 1-2 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 1-2 Mad World, Adam Lambert 3 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 4-5 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 4-5 Moody's Mood for Love, Elliott Yamin 6 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 7-8 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 7-8 Hallelujah, Jason Castro 9 A Song for You, Elliott Yamin
ROUND 7 VOTE COUNT 1 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 2-3 A Natural Woman, Kelly Clarkson 2-3 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 4 I Walk the Line, Chris Daughtry 5 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 6 Mad World, Adam Lambert
ROUND 8 VOTE COUNT 1 Stuff Like That There, Kelly Clarkson 2 Summertime, Fantasia Barrino 3 I (Who Have Nothing), Jordin Sparks 4 Mad World, Adam Lambert
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 8:54:53 GMT -5
64 - Call Me - Carmen Rasmusen Carmen Rasmusen’s Idol journey was surprising, considering she wasn’t originally included in Season 2’s semifinals. She was invited back for the wildcard show however and received Simon’s vote to advance to the top 12. Despite her wildcard position, she was a strong vote-getter for the beginning of the finals, avoiding the bottom 3 for the first 3 weeks. For top 9 week however, Carmen was thrown into the bottom 2 but was saved by Corey Clarke’s disqualification. She knew she needed to come back strong to escape eliminination and for “#1 Songs” week, Carmen sang Blondie’s 1980 hit, “Call Me”. Though she was generally a country singer with a small range, Call Me highlighted a bit of unknown style of Carmen’s. The judges unanimously were thrown off by her song choice and agreed that it didn’t work but it did the job for America – when Idol combined the votes of Top 8 & Top 9 week, Carmen was in the top 5, safe from elimination. Carmen was voted out two weeks later, in 6th place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItU4Z2QJBdI63 - Proud Mary - Trenyce Trenyce played the role of the big-voiced R&B diva during Season 2, singing songs by Whitney Houston & Al Green. Though she did a good job in the votes for a while, like Carmen, she started to sink after breaking the top 10. She was in and out of the bottom 3 and for top 5 week, needed to up the anty, as her only remaining competitors were all frontrunners. Trenyce started “Proud Mary” slow but did Tina justice, growling her way through Ike & Tina’s signature hit. Randy, Paula & Neil Sedaka were all impressed by her voice and her confidence but Simon compared it to a drag act. The odd critique may have sealed Trenyce’s fate, as she suffered elimination the next night. Her results show was the most dramatic of the season however, with Trenyce facing off against long-time frontrunner and eventual winner, Ruben Studdard in the bottom 2. Proud Mary is 1 of 2 performances in the top 64 that was performed on the contestant’s elimination week. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOC7M9XqxCc62 - Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Clay Aiken Season 2 was definitely the season of the misfits – the top 3 all were very unconventional pop stars, most of all, the runner-up, Clay Aiken. After shocking the judges during the audition rounds and his semifinal performance of Journey’s “Open Arms”, America still wasn’t on board (faced undeniably tough competition from Ruben & Kim Locke). When invited back for the wildcard show, Clay sang “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with extreme control and poise, pushing all 3 judges to a new level of fandom. Simon even said that his…unique…look would probably help him be more memorable, in addition to his clear and strong vocal abilities. Clay got the America’s pick slot on wildcard night, advancing to the top 12. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhgoSRIxgB8&feature=related 61 - Ring of Fire - Adam Lambert Adam Lambert went into Top 11 week as the far-and-away frontrunner of Season 8. Both of his live performances leading up to top 11 week were rock-bent with big sky-high screeches and he had already covered Queen & Cher by the time he reached the semifinals. He was clearly the most…”alternative” and exciting contestant of the year but going into Country week, America wondered how this glam-rocker could survive. Adam sang Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” but with a middle-eastern flair that stumped mentor Randy Travis and all 4 judges. Simon even called the performance “absolute indulgent rubbish”. Though odd and unexpected, Adam gave a vocal performance that was clean, dramatic and intense, from the opening sex-mumblings to the final soaring runs. It was possibly the most polarizing Idol performance ever, igniting his fans and haters alike. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkcxaMN3NRk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2FSarcaCynicWitticist&feature=player_profilepage
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 8:57:58 GMT -5
60 – Solitaire - Clay Aiken After Clay’s aforementioned performance of DLTSGDOM, he enjoyed one of Idol’s smoothest rides ever. He sang mostly power-ballads, never went to the bottom 3 or 2 and despite criticism for playing it safe and becoming one-sided, Claymates stayed strong. But as Kimberly Locke began an intense attempt at breaking up the inevitable Clay-Ruben finale, Clay got down to business. On what was arguably Season 2’s best night, Clay delivered the night’s best performance. He sang “Solitaire” and delivered an emotional connection that was a deep contrast to the predictable empty big notes we were getting used to. The performance earned praise from all judges and America alike, keeping him afloat as his biggest competition sunk to the bottom 2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezewktwS-KI 59 - Black or White - Adam Lambert Adam Lambert entered the Season 8 finals as one of three or four heavyweights with potential to leave the rest in the dust. During Michael Jackson week, most of the 13 contestants struggled to find their own voice amongst Jackson’s classic style. And while a few were able to show originality, it was Lambert’s “Black or White” that stunned the judges and audiences alike. MJ’s somewhat-civil rights anthem was taken to a new place by Glambert, punching every line with Adam’s signature intensity. Paula said that Adam was Idol’s bravest contestant ever and Simon said that his performance was in a completely other league from his competitors. BOW transformed Adam from one of the season’s most promising singers to its above-and-beyond performer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7y2nuxqpBo&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2FSarcaCynicWitticist&feature=player_profilepage 58 - Bridge over Troubled Waters - Clay Aiken We may as well have skipped the first 10 weeks of the Season 2 finals, as the Ruben-Clay matchup that was more-or-less promised by the end of the wildcard round delivered with only 1 major hic-up along the way. While the finale was arguably the most intense matchup in Idol’s history, there was a frontrunner: Clay Aiken. Clay’s fanbase (Claymates) seemed too large, loyal and rabid to let him lose and Ruben’s was seemingly unsteady, as he had visited the bottom 2 only 3 weeks earlier. Clay’s seemingly inevitable fate as the second American Idol was sealed by his performance of “Bridge over Troubled Waters”. Accompanied by the Idol choir, Clay delivered his best performance on Idol with extreme power and a soaring final note. The performance was welcomed by a standing O from Randy & Paula and Simon said that he thought this performance could win him the competition. America (and I) was shocked by Ruben’s victory the next night but many Idol viewers still argue that Clay was Season 2’s best. www.youtube.com/watch?v=blEEIsGC3zA 57 - Let’s Stay Together - Trenyce Before the wildcard night on Season 2, Ruben & Kimberly Locke already seemed destined to crush their competition (little did we know that Clay Aiken was going to come out of nowhere and steal their spotlight). Another contestant that gave the assumed frontrunners was wildcard contestant Trenyce. After failing in her initial semifinal performance with a Bonnie Raitt song, she picked an R&B classic, “Let’s Stay Together” and though she had a strong instrument, Simon wasn’t completely impressed. Paula gave Trenyce a wildcard slot in the top 12 and she ultimately placed 5th during Season 2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECbQmeM4g1M 56 - These Foolish Things - Paris Bennett Paris Bennett is one of Idol’s most bizarre contestants. At 17 years old, she was bubbly and had the voice of minney mouse on helium…and yet, on stage, she was mature beyond her years as a performer and a vocalist. Her unexpected jazz expertise and old soul lean made Paris an early favorite but after plummeting to the bottom 3 and following it up with an on-pitch vocal but S&M outfit, she needed a quick makeover. Lucky for her, top 7 week was American Standards and Paris sang “These Foolish Things” with class, style and control. All 3 judges loved the performance and even thought she could make a full length-album of jazz standards. She only had a few weeks left in the competition, but TFT definitely gave her one last momentum-boost. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aB-onf7XPQ 55 - Time of the Season - Blake Lewis In a season where girls were absolutely dominating, one male contestant was trying to use his originality and creativity to break the Jordin-Melinda-Lakisha trifecta. His top 11 performance of “Time of the Season” was resisted by American Idol producers but loved by judges and the audience. His sexy beat-boxing take on the 60s classic was re-invented for the 00s and though overshadowed by Jordin that night, Blake proved that you didn’t need a big belting voice to be successful on Idol – you need to be able to make each theme week fit for you and whether it was the British Invasion or Diana Ross, Blake’s performances were definitely authentically Blake Lewis. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KvXVT2UzCQ 54 - So Small - Matt Giraud Lakisha Jones had scared all S7 contestants out of singing any Carrie Underwood songs but by Grand Ole Opry week of Season 8, Matt Giraud was ready to challenge Idol’s country queen, singing her #1 hit, “So Small”. Matt was determined to transform this country hit into a soul-bearing ballad and he was quite successful. Performing in the coveted pimp-slot, Matt made everyone, including Simon, focus on his vocals. Cowell said that Matt hadn’t been given enough credit for his vocals and him & Randy both agreed that he was beginning to challenge the frontrunners, particularly the similarly soulful Danny Gokey (who also covered a Carrie Underwood that night, albeit less successfully). www.rickey.org/?p=13002 53 - Since You’ve Been Gone - Melinda Doolittle Season 6 is often considered Idol’s weakest year but we were still introduced to some incredible talent and shining moments, many of which from back-up singer Melinda Doolittle. After a strong but subdued string of performances in the audition rounds, Melinda splashed onto the live stage, singing Aretha Franklin’s “Since You’ve Been Gone”. After a slew of disappointing guys and a few promising chicks, Melinda hit the ground running, already ready for the top 3. Melinda’s natural talent would carry her through to the next round where she’d build on her budding success. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEwW8mw0ZiM 52 - No More Tears - Diana DeGarmo Season 3 is most definitely the season of the divas. Fantasia, Latoya & J-Hud were dominating the stage while a few younger girls were chomping at their heels. All of a sudden, the dynamic of the season changed and as the aforementioned divas found themselves repeatedly in trouble, Diana DeGarmo made a smooth and loud run for the finale. Her performance of Donna Summer’s “No More Tears” on top 4 night was enough to propel her above Fantasia & Latoya in the votes and built a momentum that bought her an undeniable position in the final 2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNdqV9pC5Vk 51 – Somewhere - Latoya London As stated above, Latoya was one of three girls that seemed invincible during Season 3. But after a shocking bottom 3 visit during top 10 week and an underwhelming Elton John cover the next, Latoya needed to rebuild the momentum that she had earlier in the competition. On one of Idol’s best nights ever (top 8 week – Songs from the Movies), Latoya sang “Somewhere”. She took the pimp slot from J-Hud (I Am Changing) and Fantasia (Summertime) to belt her way to the top. The judges loved it and audiences felt that Latoya had returned to form and was ready to keep charging to the end. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWCQ8lwj4L4
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 9:01:31 GMT -5
50 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Kimberly Locke Just like her competitors Ruben & Clay, Kimberly Locke didn’t look like the ideal American Idol contestant when entering the semifinals…but it didn’t matter. Her audition and especially her duet with Frenchie during Hollywood week propelled K-Locke into the frontrunner zone. After seeing how well it worked the first time, Kim reprised “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from her initial audition to sparkling results. Her large, swooping, belting rendition of the Wizard of Oz classic earned high praise from Randy & Paula while Simon feared that while she was a great singer, she wasn’t showing personality. America didn’t’ care, voting her into the top 12 (even against Clay) and while she hit a few bumps during the beginning of the finals, Kim surged on to the top 3. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBXpNeK2Hz4 49 - You’ll Never Walk Alone - Jordin Sparks Jordin Sparks had a very Kelly Clarkson-like run on Idol: she started out in the middle of the pack while similar-sounding women blasted into frontrunner status. After a couple of momentum building performances, it was top 6 week where the judges and America alike seemed to have adopted Jordin as the new Idol-to-be (just like Kelly with SLTT). Jordin sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on Idol Gives Back week. Randy said it was one of the all-time best Idol performances, Paula said only she could sing that song and Simon called it simply fantastic. Building off of her country week performance the week before, Jordin was surely the new frontrunner and wouldn’t look back. www.youtube.com/watch?v=u80bu4_r9Dg 48 - I Don’t Hurt Anymore - Mandisa After big-voiced, big-bodied Frenchie was disqualified during Season 2, we welcomed Frenchie’s second coming during Idol’s 5th season in the form of Mandisa. Her audition rendition of “Fallin” and semifinal performance of “I’m Every Woman” proved that no one could out-decibel this R&B/gospel crooner. For 50s week, with 11 contestants remaining, Mandisa opened the show with “I Don’t Hurt Anymore”. Despite initial advice from mentor Barry Manilow, Mandisa started low and slow before she built to a magnificent belt at the end. The judges were impressed, Simon even saying that it was sexy. It was arguably Mandisa’s final hoorah on the show, before getting cut two weeks later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTptUUrT3Qs 47 - Circle of Life - Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson was grossly overshadowed by Fantasia & Latoya for the semifinals and first 3 weeks of the finals. She was criticized for shouting and didn’t have that ‘it’ factor possessed by her 2 closest competitors. During Elton John week, Jennifer chose “Circle of Life” from The Lion King soundtrack. Despite overperforming in the past, J-Hud absolutely slayed the disney classic, lifting the track from its African roots to Idol-bombast-heaven. The judges all agreed that this was a new Jennifer. In one performance, she had gone from the most likely eliminatee to the one to beat…for a very short time of course. www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0dxMx1ZaNM 46 - Walk on By - Kelly Clarkson After big band week, Kelly Clarkson was clearly the one to beat and loved by everyone. For the Burt Bacharach-themed top 5 week, Kelly struggled with song choice, first selecting “Anyone Who Had a Heart” before switching to the Dionne Warwick tune “Walk on By” and nailed every line. She sang with undeniable conviction and extreme force. While Randy & Paula both thought she would’ve done better with AWHAH, Simon didn’t speak much about this performance, but instead thanked Kelly for entering the competition and predicted that she’d be a huge star. His prediction has come very very true. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX8PSsHiLE8 45 – Superstar - Ruben Studdard Season 2 was pretty easy for Ruben Studdard. Despite a small hiccup during top 5 week (that bottom 2 appearance may have been the driving force behind his surprising victory), Ruben coasted along with high praise from all 3 judges. Though the critiques were almost always positive, he can definitely single out his performance of “Superstar” during the semifinals as his shining moment. With a teddy-bear image and smooth, smooth R&B voice, Ruben won over the hearts of viewers and judges alike. The judges praised him not only for his warm vocals but also for his endearing personality. Pulse has singled out this performance as the defining moment of Season 2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=06O9zwAHOA0 44 - Bohemian Rhapsody - Constantine Maroulis The birth of Rock on Idol will probably be attributed to the 1-2 punch of Bo Bice & Constantine Maroulis on Season 4. Though very different, they were direct competition for each other and while Bo pulled out an untouchable lead during the semifinals, Constantine waited until a few weeks into the finals to use the big guns. After a surprisingly strong take on “My Funny Valentine” the week before, Constantine took a daring risk, performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” for Year you were Born week. His theater expertise and dramatic rock stylings allowed Maroulis to master the Queen classic from the small opening notes, haunting crescendo and all-out-rock towards the end. Randy gave him only a 7/10 for singing but Paula said he was now the one to beat and Simon merely uttered that it was astonishing. That week, his fierce competitor slid into the bottom 2 for the first time, making Constantine one of two that hadn’t yet taken the plunge. Ultimately, Constantine was eliminated 2 weeks later, while Bo continued to the finale but this performance will always be the one that took Bice to task. www.youtube.com/watch?v=thnPiKouk5Q 43 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Katherine McPhee Katherine McPhee had most definitely hit a rough patch by the time she made the top 3. After Top 7 weeks, she got dissed by Simon for her Whitney interpretation, slammed for her repetitive Phil Collins cover and more-or-less blamed for Chris Daughtry’s elimination (much like Trias for Latoyas and McKibbin for Tamyra’s). To prove that she deserved a top 2 spot, she needed to absolutely slay at least one of her 3 performances that week. Though “I Believe I Can Fly” was boring and showy and her third performance that night was ‘a step back’ according to Simon, her middle performance dazzled her critics right back into fandom. Simon chose “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for Kat and it turned out to fit her perfectly. Though possibly oversung, the performance wreaked of heart and joy. Perched on the stage ala Fantasia’s “Summertime”, Kat truly had a moment. The next night, she defeated Elliott Yamin for a spot in the Season 5 finale. www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8Kxwtc8giA42 - Let’s Here it for the Boy - Vonzell Solomon I have to be honest, I was a bit surprised that the one Vonzell performance to make it into the top 64 wasn’t “I Have Nothing”, “Best of my Love”, “I’m Every Woman” or “Chain of Fools” but rather, this tune from Year you were Born night. When I re-watched it however, I remembered how energetic and fun Vonzell always was and how natural and easy she sang (can we get another diva like her? Syesha & Lil just didn’t seem to fill that void). The judges all agreed that this was the right song and that she continued to surprise them, now a potential frontrunner amongst the seeming demise of once-one-to-beats Nadia & Bo. After a bottom 3 appearance the week before, Vonzell charged into the week’s top 5 and eventually to 3rd place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TluCejPmoI 41 - Nutbush City Limits - Melinda Doolittle Melinda admitted after her elimination that she felt she really needed to bring it for top 3 week, as she had been disappointed by slight complacency for the few weeks before. It was clear that while she was consistently one of the best singers, she hadn’t achieved true greatness since the semifinals and she was ready to reach it once more. The producers chose “Nutbush City Limits” by Ike & Tina Turner and Melinda freakin ran with it. She grabbed the mic stand like a true rockstar and gave us all the power, energy and grit that she could, receiving the “brilliant” praise from Simon. Like Paris’s “These Foolish Things”, the judges urged her to make an album with a sound like NCL. Randy said Melinda won round 2 while Simon called it a tie (probably just so he wouldn’t cal every round for Mindy Doo). At the end of the night, Simon said he just hoped Melinda would make it but unfortunately, was out-voted (texted) by Jordin & Blake. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gOgtCgphBc
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 9:03:53 GMT -5
40 - I Have Nothing - Jennifer Hudson After J-Hud’s momentum-leaping performance of Elton John’s “Circle of Life”, Jennifer was more than ready to tackle another loud-mouthed diva for Songs from the Movies week. Few of us would describe J-Hud as shy and neither would she – she chose “I Have Nothing” because she considered herself a big singer like the original, Whitney Houston. And a big singer, she is. Her performance of the tune from The Bodyguard was roaring, powerful and staggeringly effortless. Quentin Tarentino even said that “Hudson takes on Houston and wins!” but warned her that she couldn’t fall back into the pre-COL zone. Simon gave a subliminal warning to Fantasia & Latoya that there was a new frontrunner diva in town but America was taken aback. One week later, she ended up in the bottom 3 with her 2 closest competitors and was eliminated in possibly the most bizarre results night in Idol history. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxfpCHUZIHY 39 - In a Dream - Bo Bice Bo Bice’s rocker credibility was in question as he moved on to the final 3. Not only a contestant on America’s “cookie-cutter-pop-singer” show, he had now sung honkey-tonk tunes like “I Don’t Wanna Be”, “Heaven” and “For the Love of Money”. Once it came down to Bo, Carrie & Vonzell however, Bo got serious and took it straight to the soul. He took a daring risk and ditched the band, singing “In a Dream” a capella as the show’s 5th number that night. While this easily could’ve failed if Bo didn’t command the stage and keep us captivated with just his voice, he excelled, giving what was unquestionably, a true idol moment. Clive Davis, who sat on the panel that night, told Bo that they’d make a wonderful album together and the other 3 judges agreed that the performance was pure magic. The momentum from this performance gave Bo an unexpected edge against Carrie Underwood but in the end, Bo was Season 4’s runner-up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmeS3v_w4Kk 38 - Papa was a Rolling Stone - David Hernandez The season 8 semifinals saw its share of surprises. While original frontrunner David Archuleta continued his zooming pace to the finale, once-leaders Michael Johns & Carly Smithson faltered and unsuspecting underdogs threatened the grand prize. One of those surprises was David Hernandez. Though we already knew he could sing, his performance style was amateurish and he didn’t seem contemporary. For 70s week (week 2) of the semifinals, David chose “Papa was a Rolling Stone”. Coupled with some huge soaring glory notes, Hernandez showed maturity on stage and controlled the song instead of inserting runs into every line. The judges and America took notice and although this performance locked up his spot in the top 12, he was eliminated week 1 of the finals. www.youtube.com/watch?v=w47_voQmXJ0 37 – Crying - Carrie Underwood As the Season 4 contestants were whittled down to 3, Carrie was locked in a fierce battle with southern-rocker Bo Bice. It was looking like a potential Ruben-Clay battle to the end and top 3 week was surely contributing to the close race. As Clive Davis entered the equation, the record-exec handed Carrie a Roy Orbison track called “Crying”. She handled the non-country song with care, inserting more emotion into the song than was familiar. Clive appreciated her passion for the song and while Paula & Randy agreed that she “brought it” with that performance, Simon still felt it was a touch mechanical and even called Round 1 of the performance night in favor of Bo Bice. Carrie looked disappointed but fired up, ready to take on Bo for Round 2…results of that battle later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGiraeYe7Jc 36 - Total Eclipse of the Heart - Jessica Sierra Top 11 week of Season 4 was definitely night of the country-girls-gone-rocker-chicks. We’ll get to Carrie’s Heart cover later but it was Jessica Sierra’s #1 hits performance that closed the show. Jessica said she had been waiting a long time to sing “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and after her performance, we could see why. She was invested in the song, matching the grit and passion of the original. After a visit to the bottom 3 the week before, Jessica surely needed a momentum boost and this was it. Randy & Paula called it brilliant and Simon pointed out that while the guys seemed to be dominating it was Jessica & Carrie that were the best of the night. Unfortunately, the momentum surge only lasted for this week, as she was eliminated one week later. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoW7TugAM2A&feature=related
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 9:04:36 GMT -5
35 - Always be my Baby - David Cook David Cook had received momentum boost after momentum boost, avoiding any mis-steps, making every move count until top 8 week. During the inspirational themed week, Cook performed “Innocent” and it was shaky, indulgent and a clear step back from “Billie Jean” and “Little Sparrow”. To regain the ground he had lost and to re-instate himself as Archuleta’s main competition, Cook did what he did best for Mariah Carey week – took a loveable pop hit and turned it into a HAC-friendly pop/emo/rock ballad. David C. sang “Always be my Baby” and turned it on its head. It’s new moody/dark vibe showcased Cook in his two most comfortable elements – sexy cougar-baiting intro and high-soaring glory notes to finish it off. The judges all loved it and agreed that it could easily be a #1 radio hit, just like Mimi’s version twelve years earlier. David Cook was officially back in the race and wouldn’t look back from that point on. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHccueeDFUM 34 - Billie Jean - David Cook Most sincere Idol moments have always come at the most unexpected points. Kelly & Fantasia had their moments with jazz standards, Carrie with an 80s rock hit and Chris Daughtry with a Johnny Cash tune. David Cook, Season 7’s resident CHR/HAC rocker had his with Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. Songs from Year you were Born week was turning to, with the exception of Michael Johns, a huge snoozefest but like Idol usually does, the best was saved for last. David Cook performed Chris Cornell’s version of Billie Jean with every surprising note in tact. He took one of the most beloved pop songs ever and because it was almost unrecognizable, found massive success with it. Paula was on her feet and Simon labeled the performance, “amazing”. It was one of Idol’s most controversial performances however: despite Ryan telling the audience it was Cornell’s version, America couldn’t decide if Cook was the revolutionary he was being pimped as or a sly thief trying to take credit for the creative re-arrangement. Did it matter? www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4pd0asYwas 33 - Don’t Cry Out Loud - Diana DeGarmo Diana DeGarmo was fighting an uphill battle all throughout Season 3. Despite early trips to the bottom 3, she cultivated an ever-growing fanbase that took her to the top 3 while once-leaders Fantasia & Latoya repeatedly stumbled into the bottom. With only Jasmine & Fantasia competing against DD, she knew that her disco performance of “No More Tears” couldn’t give her the title alone. With Clive Davis’s recommendation of “Don’t Cry Out Loud” however, Diana had one last chance to prove she was the biggest belter on the stage. Her performance was sublime. She showed exactly why she had taken hype from her biggest competitor (the Bubo as Ryan affectionately called Fantasia) – her voice was pure and clean and could ride any glory note right to the end. Her performance gave her yet another momentum boost but after falling short on her reprise during the finale, Diana ultimately became Season 3’s runner-up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1jP1qor3ng 32 - A House is not a Home - Tamyra Gray Tamyra Gray had a reputation to uphold. She received unquestionably hype through the first weeks of Season 1 without considerable competition (unless you count Justin Guarinni). But with Kelly Clarkson on the rise, Tamyra knew that she needed to up the anty. For Burt Bacharach week with only 5 contestants left, Tamyra sang “A House is not a Home” and despite not having hearing the original version of the song, she was confident she could make her own…and make it her own, she did. With runs, grunts & a glory note to silence the (few) critics, Tamyra reminded everyone why she was the one to beat. Paula was in tears and Simon called it one of the best live TV performances ever. The performance kept Tamyra out of the bottom for the 5th consecutive week but one week later, received Idol’s original shock-elimination, allowing bottom 3-dweller Nikki McKibbin another week, Justin Guarinni a lucky spot in the finale and Kelly Clarkson a couple victory laps before easily being crowned. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wN4wGxPvpw 31 - Something to Talk About - Fantasia Barrino Fantasia Barrino set the American Idol stage on fire like very very few have been able to do. Before singing a note on live TV, Fantasia’s personality was busting out of the room as she gave Simon a quick shot, told us she loves attention and danced down the stairs to the performance stage. Hoping to distance herself from Macy Gray comparisons, Fantasia sang “Something to Talk About” and just owned it. She oozed confidence and style, while nailing the fun vocal. All 3 judges agreed that her uniqueness and vocal abilities were not the only thing that made her necessary to Idol: she had that ‘It’ factor and was a natural star. It was one of those ‘cancel the rest of the season, we have our winner’ opening performances and despite a couple missteps that landed Tasia in the bottom 2, Fantasia was destined to take Season 3’s crown. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA9ufdGCymI
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 9:06:04 GMT -5
30 - My Funny Valentine - Melinda Doolittle As the 3 judges simply stated, Melinda Doolittle’s performance of “My Funny Valentine” was unbelievable, astounding and incredible. Entering top 10 girls night, Melinda was in stiff competition with fellow R&B singer Lakisha Jones but with this jazzy performance, Melinda set herself apart and became Season 6’s untouchable frontrunner (for a while, at least). Her exquisite phrasing and professional vocal finesse made Melinda one of Idol’s vocal master-class teachers. Like he had stated a week before and during Melinda’s initial audition, Simon refused to get over her meek personality in comparison to her grand talent. Completing her pre-top12 run with “I’m A Woman” the next week, Melinda gave what is arguably the best Idol semifinal run ever. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dpb3vNsTd8 29 - Tracks of my Tears - Adam Lambert Adam Lambert is surely one of Idol’s most controversial figures throughout its 8 seasons and he had taken that controversy to new heights between his performances of “Black or White” and especially “Ring of Fire”. But with Motown week’s performance, Adam decided to give America nothing to focus on but his voice. He sang Smokey Robinson’s “Tracks of my Tears” in a way that not even the songwriter/mentor had heard it himself. Adam stripped down to just a couple instrumentalists sitting right next to him, he greased his hair back in an Elvis-like fashion and sang the entire two-minute snippet in a hushed voice, most of it in an alarmingly strong falsetto. The performance gained Adam an entirely new fanbase that may have been turned off by his…antics in the previous weeks, and punctuated by “Mad World”, Adam became more of a universally liked contestant…did that however, ultimately do him in? www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9g-jDV5K3o 28 - Love is a Battlefield -Carrie Underwood For Year you were Born week, Carrie Underwood chose to sing Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield”, returning to the country-turned-rock formula that worked so famously 3 weeks earlier on “Alone”. She came out much stronger and more confident, moving all over the stage (even into the audience) and inserting grunts and a fun energy that was absent from the moody Heart tune. Despite hitting all the notes, Simon commented that it was like watching a kitten trying to be a tiger. Carrie insisted that she did that performance to destroy the ‘boring’ criticism that had been haunting her. Despite watered-down praise from Randy & Simon, America voted her straight to the top and her odd-ball song choice still remains a fan favorite. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrOo_eH5FM4
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 9:06:43 GMT -5
27 – Hello - David Cook The third and final David Cook performance on our list was his first breakout moment in Season 7. David had laid low the first 2 weeks of the semifinals, allowing David Archuleta, Michael Johns, Jason Castro, David Hernandez & Chikezie to get a massive head start. But his week-3 performance of Lionel Richie’s cheesy 80s #1 pop hit “Hello” would be enough to turn it all around and thrust him into the group of frontrunners. From the first note, audiences were thrown for a loop, hearing an emo’d version of a ridiculed R&B hit. Though overshadowed by his Michael Jackson cover a few weeks later, his version of Hello is probably his most radio-friendly performance. It is probably the biggest game-changing performance in Idol history – in under two minutes, Cook went from a possible/probable top 12 contestant to Archuleta’s biggest competition. From there on out, Archie couldn’t keep up and David Cook was named the 7th American Idol winner. www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHo5I811n0k 26 - Don’t Play That Song - Kelly Clarkson After leaping up the Season 1 power list with “A Natural Woman”, Kelly Clarkson continued to show her power and range during 1970s week. In a week where Christina Christian attempted a “comeback” and Justin Guarinni received a shocking bottom 2 visit, Kelly maintained and grew with “Don’t Play That Song”. Though her voice was strong, her warm personality was surely coming to light as well. Simon said that despite having a voice comparable to Whitney or Mariah, she wasn’t weighed down by a diva personality and seemed like she’d always stay connected to her fans (sounds about right, no?). Her loyalty to fans paid off – they granted her safety for yet another week. www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXyGEn-XQTc 25 - A Broken Wing - Jordin Sparks Jordin Sparks was facing a hell of a mountain to climb in the form of Melinda Doolittle. Though Mindy-doo took an extraordinary early lead, Jordin was starting to peak at just the right time. Though her British Invasion performance sent viewers into a fiery super-fandom, it was her Martina McBride cover during top 7 week that asserted Jordin as a frighteningly popular match to Melinda. She sang “A Broken Wing” with grace and maturity beyond her then-17 years. She started slow before building to her 13-second glory note, pouring her soul into the country song the whole way through. Simon noted that this was the first time he believed she could win, though the audience’s shrieks and yells barely allowed him to get through his critique. Weather or not it was her first “winning” moment, it wasn’t her last. Jordin ultimately was American Idol 6’s champion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGLzprIjbgE
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 18, 2009 9:07:39 GMT -5
24 - You Give Love a Bad Name - Blake Lewis Alongside the original/unoriginal Daughtry & Cook covers and Glambert’s “Ring of Fire”, Blake Lewis’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” is unquestionably one of Idol’s most controversial moments. It had been weeks since Blake had done anything daring or new like he had promised and this Bon Jovi classic was his perfect opportunity. In the pre-clip, Jon Bon Jovi expressed his concern with Blake’s radical re-arrangement but it was Blake’s undeniable commitment to the performance that made4 it work. His rock-star intensity and even his black-hair-dye made the beat-box-infused 80s hit work perfectly. The momentum from this performance is most likely what took Blake all the way to the finale. Simon said that half the audience would hate it and half would love it…though audience members booed, it’s probably exactly what Blake intended. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KazhPADt88 23 - Papa Was a Rolling Stone - Allison Iraheta Allison Iraheta was in a tough spot before Motown week. Despite maturity and a fun energy, Simon was already working against the red-haired rocker chick and she spent a week in the bottom 3. Now faced with a theme that didn’t mesh with her famously edgier song choices, Allison needed to buckle down and focus. With the help of future-duet partner Adam Lambert, Allison picked “Papa was a Rolling Stone” and after her rough week with the country theme, she was given the pimp slot. Allison got busy on stage, throwing herself into the Motown classic like she hadn’t allowed herself to do yet. Paired with a massive run at the end, Allison had surely given her best performance yet. While Randy & Kara gushed over the youngest contestant in the game, Simon was busy drawing on Paula’s face, giving her the 2nd in a series of many oddly distracted critiques. www.rickey.org/?p=13325 22 - All By Myself - Latoya London Latoya London was a big singer. She sang like a professional with poise and control but most notably and famously, she had a big friggin voice. She demonstrated that quite well on her first live performance with the diva of all diva songs, “All by Myself”. She infused the over-dramatic ballad with extra runs, vibrato and passion. She had Randy & Paula both on their feet by the final note and Simon joined in the fun, calling it superb, outstanding and the obvious best of the group. Latoya continued with her big-voiced performances that would carry her into the final 4 before receiving the elimination that sealed Fantasia’s fate. Like Tamyra before her and Chris Daughtry after, Latoya will be remembered for the 4th place curse…and of course, her helluva diva voice. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNNw-vXSNlI 21 - Hemorrhage (In my Hands) - Chris Daughtry Season 5 is most likely Idol’s best yet. Kellie, Kat, Paris, Taylor, Elliott, Mandisa…they could all sing very well but what set Chris Daughtry apart was his unprecedented understanding of who he was as an artist and where he fit into the current music industry. His modern rock/HAC style made it easy for viewers to imagine singing chart-topping songs and that couldnt've been made clearer but his second live performance where he sang Fuel’s “Hemorrhage (In my Hands)”. Idol hadn’t seen a Billboard-ready contestant like it did with Chris Daughtry and he set the tone for future potential hitmakers like Blake Lewis & David Cook. His ultimate 4th place finish (and therefore Taylor Hick’s victory) would fuel (pun-intended) the importance of marketability and change the landscape of Idol’s voting ground. www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5aAJGRwqIk
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:18:48 GMT -5
20 - Someone to Watch Over Me - Katherine McPhee Even though Chris Daughtry and his radio-savvy performances may be the most memorable moments of Season 5, the entire crop of contestants was best suited for the jazzy standards of the 30s-50s. Katherine McPhee was one of those old souls and she shined on American Standards night. After testing out several different classics, she landed on “Someone to Watch Over Me”. Her poise and class carried the song into the 00s and weather she was inspired by the old-time element or Mr. Holland’s Opus, Katherine delivered the song with a professionalism that made Simon say it made all the other contestants that night look like good amateurs.
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:20:14 GMT -5
19 - Come Together - Carly Smithson Carly Smithson had a tough Idol journey. She entered the semifinals as the female frontrunner but despite massive hype due to her former record contract, she failed to live up to expectations and was constantly put down by Simon Cowell. As the finals began, Brooke White & Amanda Overmyer began to steal the feminine spotlight so for Beatles night, Carly brought out a proven hit – she had sang “Come Together” at the bar in Ireland every week to happy audiences and she got a similarly warm reaction on the Idol stage. Her natural rock force and energy finally allowed Carly to relax and match the unfairly high expectations set upon her. Like Katherine & Jordin before her and Alexis after, Carly received a Kelly Clarkson comparison from Simon but her reaction was worrisome. Carly continually relied too much on Simon’s critique and her over-enthusiastic relief after his positive remarks was the first sign. No matter the tension she was holding however, her Come Together cover was inspired and a cut above the rest.
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:21:05 GMT -5
18 – Heartless - Kris Allen Though pimpage for Fantasia, Carrie & Daughtry was clearly unnecessary, after Taylor Hick’s win, the Idol judges knew they had to force their favorites down our throats if they wanted their picks to win. It worked in Season 6 and Season 7…but not so much in Season 8. Adam Lambert & Danny Gokey repeatedly were highlighted as the favorites as heart-throb Kris Allen continued to slip under the radar with promising covers of Donna Summers, Garth Brooks, Michael Jackson and The Beatles. When it came down to only Kris and the two aforementioned producers/judges favorites, Kris intentionally pumped up the intensity. He performed an acoustic cover of Kanye West’s current pop/hip hop hit “Heartless”, much like The Fray did months earlier. Kris’s commitment to the heartbreak in the song and way-out-of-the-box song choice proved an outstanding combination that Simon Cowell admitted might push him to the finale…and push him to the finale, Heartless did! Kris ultimately was crowned the 8th American Idol winner over far-and-away favorite Glambert and it might have all been thanks to the biggest rapper in the world. www.rickey.org/?p=15863
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:21:40 GMT -5
17 – Respect - Kelly Clarkson Just like Kris had been overshadowed by Danny & Adam, the original dark horse-turned champion was being overshadowed by an equally big-mouthed R&B singer and a Justin Timberlake wannabe pop performer. Simon even admitted that before her semifinal performance, he didn’t remember Kelly Clarkson from the initial audition rounds. Her vocals during her cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” screamed that she was a star and yet still, praise was muted. Randy only muttered that it was “very very very very good”, Paula was happy she reprised the classic hit from Hollywood and Simon said that she had a good voice. Really…that’s it? Her beamingly down-to-earth personality and out-of-this-world vocal chops seemed too good for the brushed off reaction from Mr. Cowell. She wasn’t done yet though…Kelly proved time and time again that she was a true star.
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:24:34 GMT -5
16 - Making Love (Out of Nothing at All) - Carrie Underwood After losing Round 1 of final 3 week to Bo Bice (at least on Simon’s count), Carrie came back fighting with Air Supply’s “Making Love (Out of Nothing at All)”. Attempting rock once more after Alone & Love is a Battlefield, Carrie mastered her second home. A 12-second glory note (followed by a 5-second closer) capped off an exceptionally mature and confident performance. Paula said it was unbelievable and Simon told her she was having a very good night (the only contestant with 2 performances from the same night on our list!) but hinted at the fact that Bo took Round 2 as well. Simon must have been having an off night though (he did, after all, say that she was straining with that massive glory note…was he pulling his famous reverse-psychology bit?) as she sailed on to the finale and shortly after, to the Season 4 crown.
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:25:12 GMT -5
15 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Jason Castro Jason Castro was coming into Idol Gives Back week following a 4-week-slump of lazy, uninspired performances that were starting to weigh down his sparkling originality. He, like many Idol greats, was able to achieve a true Idol moment however with a truly unexpected cover. Jason sat on a stool and sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and it was pure magic. The originally outlandish diva song fit the laid-back Castro like a glove, as he threw himself into the Wizard of Oz tune, much like he did with Hallelujah and Daydream, weeks before. Randy gave Jason words of praise (for the only time all season), Paula loved it and Simon said it was fantastic.
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Post by when the pawn... on Jul 19, 2009 19:25:32 GMT -5
14- Ain’t No Sunshine - Kris Allen Like Brooke White in Season 7, Kris Allen could play 2 instruments. After showing his skills on the guitar for Remember the Time and How Sweet it is, Kris’s moodier pick of “Ain’t No Sunshine” for Top Downloads week deserved a performance sitting at the keyboards. Kris’s current re-arrangement was the first of many that proved he wasn’t just Season 8’s resident heartthrob, he was also ready to top the CHR radio charts. His voice on the Bill Withers classic was stronger and more emotional than ever before and though he was sitting at the keys, his presence on stage was starting to look more and more promising. His eventual victory was greatly aided by this performance, which he reprised for the finale performance show – his rendition that night won him Round 1 according to Simon, even up against Adam’s Mad World. www.rickey.org/?p=13607
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