American Idol 10th Anniversary – Eleven Favorite Performances (VIDEO)

By On 06/12/2012 · 146 Comments · In American Idol

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In celebration of American Idol’s 10th anniversary (which was yesterday, but better late than never!) I give you my own personal favorite performances from each season.  These are my favs, what are yours?

Season 1 – Kelly Clarkson – Stuff Like That There – Top 6 Big Band

Kelly brought the house down with her rendition of “Stuff Like That There” for Big Band night. Kelly was well on her way to sealing the deal for her win.

Season 2 – Kimberley Locke and Frenchie Davis – Hollywood Week – Band of Gold.

This Kimberley Locke – Frenchie Davis duet was actually a group number for Hollywood Week. Kim and Frenchie said that none of the other girls wanted to sing with them because they were skeerd. I would be too, as the ladies pretty much blew the roof off the joint.

Season 3 – Fantasia – Summertime – Top 8 Movie Soundtracks & Top 2 Final

Without a doubt, the performance of the season. She performed it on Top 8 and then reprised the song for the Final 2.

Season 4 – Bo Bice – Top 3 – In A Dream – Top 3

Bo took a risk singing “In A Dream” a capella, but it paid off. The performance became one of the seasons major moments and helped propel him into the final.

Season 5 – Elliott Yamin – Moody’s Mood for Love – Top 20

The best thing about Elliott’s “Moody’s Mood For Love” was how it came out of nowhere. It’s rare for a contestant to kill so thoroughly with a song that’s so difficult and obscure. Elliott demonstrated his musicality and vocal chops with this performance. The you tube is the reprise he did on Top 3 results night.

Season 6 – Blake Lewis – You Give Love a Bad Name 

Blake took a huge risk when he reworked the Bon Jovi classic ‘You Give Love a Bad Name” but it totally worked and paved the way for Idols like David Cook and Kris Allen to re-arrange the songs they sang. Gamechanger.

Season 7 – David Cook – Always Be My Baby – Top 6 Mariah Carey

David Cook slowed up and re-arranged a Mariah Carey song, lending the tune a new poignancy and power.  He sang the hell out of it. And his brother, who was ill with brain cancer (and would succumb to the disease a year later) was in the audience.  David became emotional afterward after the judges effusively praised his performance.  It was pretty damn perfect all around.

Season 8 – Adam Lambert – Mad World – Top 8 Year They Were Born

Too bad Ken Warwick couldn’t keep his show running on time. Those watching via DVR missed the last performance of the night, which was Adam’s powerful version of the Gary Jules arrangement of Mad World.  Thank God for You Tube!  Adam’s rendition was and remains deeply moving.

Click to watch

Season 9 – Crystal Bowersox – Up To The Mountain – Final 2 – Winner’s Single

In Season 9, the Top 2 got covers as winner’s singles.  Crystal covered Patti Griffin’s “Up to The Mountain” and it was righteous, people, righteous. She totally killed it.  It was Simon Cowell’s last American Idol critique ever, and things get a little misty.

Season 10 – Casey Abrams – Your Song – Top 11 Your Song

I love this performance because Casey came back a week after being eliminated and saved humbled. He got back to basics, stripped away the pretense. But most importantly, he allowed himself to be vulnerable. A moving performance of one my favorite songs of all time.

Season 11 – Elise Testone – Whole Lotta Love – Top 9 Their Personal Idols

Elise showed us why she was the QUEEN of Season 11 with this amazing performance of Led Zepplin’s “Whole Lotta Love”.  She took the stage and owned it. Rocker girl. Artist.  Perfection.

 

 
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  • Anonymous

    I loved that one too, the problem with Adam was that he had so many amazing performances and each stood out for a different reason, it made choosing my favorite really hard. But born to be wild was just crazy and his range was really displayed in this performances. 

  • fuzzywuzzy

    lol I don’t understand anyone telling MJ what HER FAVORITE performances “should be”. 

  • merkureye

    Elise’s “Whole Lotta Love” was epic in S11, end of story.  Definitely up there with Carrie’s “Alone” in S4. 

    Carrie got a lot of praise for Alone but I believe “God Bless the Broken Road” was really the first glimpse of her star power.  That rendition was simply beautiful (as was Carrie).  Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus commented on CMT’s Backstory that their popularity spiked after Underwood covered GBTBR on AI.

  • Anonymous

    Kris Allen “Heartless” Season 8 is the best performance ever for me. 
    P2 “Home” from Season 11 is growing on me.

  • http://twitter.com/dam744 Damien Roberts

    S1-Tamyra Gray: A House is Not a Home

    S2-Ruben Studdard: Superstar

    S3-Fantasia: Summertime 

    S4-Carrie Underwood: Cryin’

    S5-Elliott Yamin: A Song for You

    S6-Jordin Sparks: Walk Alone

    S7-Brooke White: Let it Be

    S8-Kris Allen: Falling Slowly/Adam Lambert: Mad World

    S9-Michael Lynch: This Womans Work

    S10-Haley Reinhart: House of the Rising Sun

    S11-Joshua Ledet: Mans Mans Mans World

  • supersonic

    Season 1: Didn’t watch

    Season 2: Didn’t really watch this season, either, but I was a Ruben fan so his stuff.

    Season 3: “Summertime” – Fantasia.  She cried at the end and so did I.

    Season 4: “In A Dream” – Bo Bice.  The first time I ever voted was after this performance.  I was also wondering that someone would do an acapella performance during the competition and Bo delivered.

    Season 5: Don’t really have a favorite performance from this season.

    Season 6: Barely watched this season.

    Season 7: “She’s A Woman” – Chikezie.  From the beginning when it was all bluegrassy, I was into it.  Then, he just lost his mind and it was awesome.  Even Seacrest tried to get some of the awesome by touching him.  Too bad Chikezie didn’t hang around long after that.  I know he had some other stuff up his sleeve.  Too bad.

    Season 8: “Heartless” – Kris Allen.  Didn’t know he had that in him.  Made me sit up and take notice.  That was the performance that got him the competition.

    Season 9: “People Get Ready” – Crystal Bowersox.  She got emotional and broke down and could barely finish the song.  When people cry, I end up crying.  So, I was in tears after that.  She felt it.  She felt everything she did that season.  She should’ve won.

    Season 10: Don’t really have a favorite.

    Season 11: Can I say anything by Joshua Ledet?  Well, I’ll just single out “When A Man Loves A Woman” (made me sit up and take notice; he also lost his mind toward the end of the song); “Ready for Love”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Runaway Baby”, “I Knew You Were Waiting For Me” (his duet with Jessica) and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”.

  • http://twitter.com/whiskey401 Whiskey

    Wow, So many great performances from the early years. My standout favorites

    S1:  Kelly Clarkson, A Natural Woman, Tamayra Gray, A House Is Not A Home
    S2:  Ruben Studdard, Superstar, Clay Aiken, Bridge Over Trouble Water (Best Final Two Ever)
    S3:  Fantasia, Summertime, I Believe
    S4:  Bo Bice, In A Dream, Whipping Post,  Nadia Turner,Try a Little Tenderness (The Fiercest Female Idol Ever)
    S5:  Daughtry, Hemmorage, I Walk The Line,  Elliott Yamin, A Song For You, (Best All Around Season)
    S6:  Jordin Sparks, “I Who Have Nothing” “Broken Wing”, Melinda Doolittle, My     Funny Valentine, Blake, You Give Love A Bad Name.
    S7:  Didn’t watch it much
    S8:  Adam Lambert, ALL OF HIS PERFORMANCES- Ring Of Fire O_O (My first thought- Am I watching Idol? Kris Allen- Ain’t No Sunshine
    S9: Adam mentor episodes, WWFM result Show. Didn’t watch much else.
    S10:Casey Abrams & Haley Reinhart “Moanin’”
    S11: Jessica Sanchez, And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, Joshua- When A Man Loves A Woman

  • Anonymous

    I’m a little late but lists like this are fun! Great idea MJ! 

    Season 1: Tamyra Gray “A House Is Not A Home” (The first indication that this show could be great)

    Season 2: Clay Aiken “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (This swayed my vote in the finale)

    Season 3: Jennifer Hudson “Circle Of Life” (Elton was mentoring, blew him away)

    Season 4: Bo Bice “In A Dream” (Another turning point for the show)

    Season 5: Taylor Hicks “Try A Little Tenderness” (Taylor was, and still is, an electrifying performer)

    Season 6: Blake Lewis “You Give Love A Bad Name” (An artist in his element)

    Season 7: David Cook “Billie Jean” 

    Season 8: Kris Allen “Heartless” (Most creative rework of a song and actual improvement on the original)

    Season 9: Crystal Bowersox “Black Velvet”

    Season 10: (Drawing a blank)

    Season 11: Joshua Ledet “It’s a Man’s World”

  • Anonymous

    I haven’t watched Idol consistently, but my favorites for the seasons I payed attention to are:

    S5: Chris Daughtry - Hemorrhage
    S8: Adam Lambert – Ring of Fire (close call with Black or White/Born to be Wild). Also LOVED Allison’s Time after Time (w. Cyndi Lauper) 
    S10: Haley Rienhart–House of the Rising Sun
    S11: Hollie Cavanagh- Bleeding Love.  I really enjoyed most of Skyler’s performences even though she’s so far from what I usually like

  • Anonymous

    I loved Adam’s “Black and White”. He made me love that song.

  • Anonymous

    I’m in complete agreement with MJ on Seasons 1 and 4. All the others seasons for me are totally different. Some seasons, I can NOT pick just one. Season 3, nothing stood out to me at all. 
    S2–Superstar–Ruben

    S5-Black Horse–Kat; Walk The Line–Chris; Try A Little Tenderness, Levon, Trouble–Taylor; I Believe to My Soul–Elliott (this list could go on and on)

    S6-My Funny Valentine–Melinda; You Give Love a Bad Name–Blake; I Who Have Nothing–Jordin

    S7-It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right–Michael hands down no question (but there are eleventy others I love from that season by Michael, Brooke, the Davids, chikezie etc. I won’t list them all.)

    S8-PYT–Danny; Heartless, Falling Slowly, Ain’t No Sunshine–Kris; Let’s Get It On–Matt

    S9-The Boxer, Beast Of Burden, That’s Life, Treat Her Like A Lady, Simple Man, Everybody Hurts, Hey Jude–Lee; Me and Bobby McGee, Up to the Mountain–Crystal

    S10-Maggie May, Folsom Prison Blues–Paul McDonald; Nature Boy, A Little Help From My Friends–Casey

    S11-Hard To Handle, Volcano, Fat Bottomed Girls, Home, Still Rainin, The Stone, Time of The Season, Superstition, Movin Out, U Got It Bad, Beggin–Phil (yes, I really love them all. He’s been my soundtrack for weeks now); Bleeding Love and The Climb–Hollie; Vienna and Whole Lotta Love–Elise; Runaway Baby–Josh

    Yeah, I can’t pick just one for most seasons. 5, 7 and 11 are my favorite seasons by far.

  • sdmama

    It is fun visiting the memory lane, reading everybody’s favorites. I forgot about Blake Lewis. He did have a moment! Thanks for reminding me.  Many of your favorites are mine, too.

    On the other hand, I realize that I was not paying attention to season 1, 3, 4, and 6, because I can’t remember any performance from that season (except for the Blake’s Give Love a Bad Name). I guess I need to find somebody to really like to pay attention. For that, I thank Clay, Daughtry and Taylor, David and David, Adam and Kris,  and Phillip. I have favorites from all of these guys. Oh, eek, no girls. This is embarrassing.  I can’t remember Kelly because I was not really watching the first season,  and I am not a country or gospel/urban music.  My girl favorites like Karen and Alexis tend to get eliminated early. I wonder what that means.     

  • Anonymous

    I didn’t watch Season 1 or 2 at all, and only watched the others intermittently until season 7, but these performances stick in my mind.
    Bo Bice-In A Dream, Melinda Dolittle-My Funny Valentine,
    Season 7 had so many great performances but Carly Smithson -Jesus Christ Superstar and Brooke White–Let It Be were memorable.
    David Cook- Billie Jean and The World I Know were incredible (and just about everything else he sang).
    Season 8 is my absolute favorite due to Kris, Adam and Allison’s great performances. Kris-Ain’t No Sunshine and Heartless (won him the competition), Adam-Mad World and Whole Lotta Love and Allison-Cry Baby, Someone to Watch Over Me and the Slow Ride Duet. I didn’t include Kris’ Falling Slowly because I don’t think vocally that was a great performance, but it remains my favorite studio recording ever.
    Season 9 is a black hole for me.
    Season 10-Haley Rolling In the Deep because that was the first time I thought she could and should win the whole thing.
    Season 11- Hollie-Bleeding Love, Colton- Love the Way You Lie. I enjoyed Skylar but I don’t remember any of her performances.

  • Anonymous

    Listen up, everybody! In honor of “American Idol’s” 10th birthday, here is a list of all the seasons, ranked in order of power based on how many contestants from each season charted on Billboard. I have already posted a similar list before, but this has been updated to yesterday. (I posted this in another comment section, but nobody noticed it; I guess that thread is dead.)
    1st place: Season 5 (nine charting finalists)
    2nd place: Season 3 (eight charting finalists)
    3rd place: Seasons 6, 7, and 10 (tie; seven charting finalists each)
    4th place: Season 8 (six charting finalists)
    5th place: Seasons 1 and 2 (tie; five charting finalists each)
    6th place: Season 9 (four charting finalists)
    7th place: Season 4 (three charting finalists; four if you count Mario Vasquez, who was voted into the Top 12 but then dropped out)
    8th place: Season 11 (two charting finalists, but I have a feeling there will be plenty of other success stories from this season)
    They say winning isn’t everything, but it sure helps. Every single winner and runner-up in the show’s history has made the Billboard chart.
    Also, fronting a band can be a good move sometimes: three Idol alums charted with bands (Chris Daughtry with Daughtry, Carly Smithson with We Are The Fallen, and Paul McDonald with The Grand Magnolias).

  • Anonymous

    Also, for anyone who’s curious, here’s the list of specifically who charted from those seasons (in order of power):
    Season 5: Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliot Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Paris Bennett, Kellie Pickler, Ace Young, Bucky Covington, Mandisa
    Season 3: Fantasia, Diana DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias, LaToya London, George Huff, John Stevens, Jennifer Hudson, Leah LaBelle
    Season 6: Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Chris Richardson, Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh
    Season 7: David Cook, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns
    Season 10: Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Haley Reinhart, James Durbin, Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald, Pia Toscano
    Season 8: Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Matt Giraud, Michael Sarver
    Season 1: Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Tamyra Gray, RJ Helton, Jim Verraros
    Season 2: Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberly Locke, Josh Gracin, Kimberly Caldwell
    Season 9: Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox, Casey James, Michael Lynche
    Season 4: Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis, (Mario Vasquez)
    Season 11: Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez
    Surprised by anybody? Shocked not to see someone?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Williams/100000265789468 John Williams

    ….well, I guess it’s good it’s apparently limited to Haley fans. I’m guilty of being a Haley fan….and sorta guilty of thinking there must be something wrong with anyone who doesn’t appreicate her.

    Sorry about that guys.

  • Anonymous

    I am not a big fan of Adam, but one of my faves of all seasons is his take on Whole Lotta Love.
    Daughtry’s Hemorrhage was pretty fantastic too.

  • Anonymous

    haha. well at least you admit it.  :D

  • Reflects On Life

    I’ll go by “which are the videos I still watch on YT”

    1. Christina Christian – Ain’t No Sunshine (Idols most underrated artist, her Sade-like sultriness remains unmatched), Tamyra – House is Not a Home, Kelly – Natural Woman. 

    2. Clay – Solitaire.  I thought Clay was “coming out” with that song – moved me to tears. 

    3. The 4 divas was truly fantastic. Fantasia – I Believe (while everyone else breaks down trying to sing after having won, Fanny channeled that emotion into a grammy-worthy performance).  Latoya – Don’t Rain on My Parade, JHud – Circle of Life, Diane – Don’t Cry Out Loud.

    4. zip

    5. Elliot – Moody’s Mood for Love

    6. Melinda – My Funny Valentine

    7. Brooke – Let it Be, Yellow

    8. Kris – She Works Hard For the Money (Idol’s most musically inventive rearrangement ever proved why Kris is Idol’s most musically intelligent artist ever), Adam – TOMT, Alison – Alone, Anoop – Always on My Mind (ties with Solitaire as Idol’s most moving Idol performance ever, felt like he was singing it to his murdered friend).

    9. Idol’s most maligned season held so much promise, so many good performances.  Crystal – Give me one reason (one of 2 songs on Idol that were “pure sex”, like she was in heat for her lover – this is arguably my fav idol solo performance ever), Siobhan – Paint it Black, HOTRS, Wicked Games. Didi - Terrified, Rhiannon, Play with Fire, Lucy – The Story, Lily – Lullaby of Birdland, Katelyn – The Scientist, Casey – Jealous Guy (the goat vibrato really worked in this song), Mike – Womans Work, Ready for Love.  Loved Crystal’s whole run.

    10. Haley & Casey – Moanin’ (my fav idol performance ever), Haley – IWHN (musically giving the judges the finger), Scotty – Gone, Lauren – Anyway, James – the acapella part of WYSLMT. Actually, Haleys entire run, esp the ones the judges gave her flack for – Earth Song, You & I.

    11. Too soon to tell. I could easily list 11 or more favs.  Elise WLL will go down in history as a most perfect blend of vocals, emotion, performance/showmanship, creativity, production/camera-work, and out-of-left-field surprise.  Elise – Vienna (vocal masterclass). Jessica – Stuttering (wish her whole run on AI was more like this.)  Joshua – WAMLAW (the other “pure sex” song – coupled with the poignant vocals, the dropping of the coat was a “panty-dropping” moment).

  • judes

    I’ve only watched from Season 7 – but I’d have 2 categories for each year- defining moments -& personal favourites [sometimes they are the same ]

    Season 7 – My favourite performance- Michael Johns singing Dolly Parton’s Its All Wrong but its Alright- taking a country song & making it his
                 – defining performance- David Cook -Billie Jean [although he really surprised me when he sang the Andrew Lloyd Webber song]

    Season 8 – Favourite -Kris Allen -Falling Slowly [although I did also like Adam's Mad World]
                 – Defining – Kris Allen Heartless- the moment which made everyone stand up & take notice of him as an artist & I believe helped him win the competition 

    Season 9- Favourite – Casey James -Jealous Guy -his voice & guitar were in good balance here
                – Defining -not sure there was one in Season 9 but I do agree Crystal’s Top 2 single was great & having this be Simon’s last critique for AI- could be a defining moment!!

    Season 10 – Favourite – James Durbin-Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow-as it was such a contrast to what he does well – screaming rock!!
                  – Defining moment- the first time I heard Scotty’s voice -I knew he would win!!

    Season 11 – Favourite – Colton singing Lifehouses- Everything as it defines so much who he is[ Although I also liked Elise singing WLL -she made me actually like the song!!]
                   – Defining – when Phillip kept going through with performances that were below his standard. I knew then that he had a very strong voting audience & would win. His single Home was also a defining moment for me as it proved that with the right song he can win over ones like me who were not a fan during the season .

  • Anonymous

    1 – Kelly Clarkson – Stuff Like That There (soo flawless!)
    2 – Didn’t watch
    3 – Jasmine Trias – Inseparable (too bad it was downhill from there)
    4 – Vonzell Solomon – Chain of Fools, Best of My Love (Vonz was so fun to watch)
    5 – Katharine McPhee – Someone to Watch Over Me (understated and lovely), Elliott Yamin – A Song For You
    6 – Jordin Sparks – I Who Have Nothing, Blake Lewis – You Give Love a Bad Name
    7 – David Cook – Billie Jean, Carly Smithson – Come Together
    8 – Ehh no one.
    9 – Crystal Bowersox <3 <3 <3- Long As I Can See The Light (chills), Up To The Mountain (even more chills), Give Me One Reason (absolute pro, showed a lot of sides to her voice), Bobby McGee (even her post-Idol versions are better),  I'm Alright (dang cool change up and tingly Joplin wail), People Get Ready (soft, sublime acapella intro), Saved (effortless bluesy wailing), Natural Woman (breathtaking falsetto), You Cant Always Get What You Want (from pretty, soft down to rocking, growly) ALL OF THEM (Crystal fan, can't you tell? LOL)
    Siobhan Magnus – House of The Rising Sun
    10 – Naima Adedapo – Dancing In The Streets, Jacob Lusk – You're All I Need to Get By, Thia Megia – Daniel, Casey Abrams – Your Song, Lauren Alaina – Candle In The Wind
    11 – Elise Testone – Vienna, One and Only; Hollie Cavanagh – Rolling in the Deep; Skylar Laine – Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You?; Erika Van Pelt – New York State of Mind; Jessica Sanchez – And I Am Telling You 

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