American Idol 2023 Winner Iam Tongi – Every Performance Ranked
Season 21 of American Idol felt like a rollercoaster – between idolized mentors, shocking eliminations and a not-so-unexpected win, all coming to an end by crowning Iam Tongi as this season’s Idol.
Whether you voted for Tongi, gave your votes to another fan-favorite, or have boycotted voting ever since the David vs. David upset of 2008, you simply can’t deny Tongi’s pure talent. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and rank our latest Idol’s performances from worst to best.
American Idol Winner Iam Tongi: ‘Back in studio with new music’
14. “The Sound Of Silence” by Disturbed – Hollywood Week
After a duet with fellow contestant Oliver Steele and a solo performance that you’ll find a bit higher on the list, Tongi did his final performance of Hollywood Week.
Accompanied by his signature, cherished guitar, the singer lent his unique yet smooth voice to this classic by Disturbed, and the only reason it lands at the bottom of the list is because Tongi just got better from there!
13. “Cool Down” by Kolohe Kai – Finale
Tongi stuck to his roots during the finale with this Hawaiin classic, and even threw in a few sexy notes that were definitely on fire and hit the spot!
Short but sweet, as “Iam” as this performance was, it lands in 13th place because his 12 previous performances were even better, and make it clear why he became this season’s winner.
12. “Guardian” by Alanis Morisseette – Top 8
Donning a leafy green lei during this Top 8 performance, Tongi reminded America that he was more than just his usual upbeat, beachy vibes when he sang this gorgeous Alanis Morisette ballad.
Tongi’s voice flowed through this song, strong from start to finish as he played his guitar alongside some background music.
11. “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Iam Tongi – Finale
In this new age of contestants singing originals on the show, Tongi dedicated his song “I’ll Be Seeing You” to his late father, who passed mere months before he auditioned for the show.
“I’ll be seeing you wherever I go,” Tongi emotionally sang to conclude his time on American Idol before ultimately taking home the crown. The recorded version of the song eventually notched a couple of No. 1s on Billboard.
10. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt – Hollywood Week
After being mentored by Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, Tongi hit the Hollywood Week stage for the first time with a song that’s been sung on this show more times than anyone can count.
But Tongi managed to make his performance memorable thanks to the signature sound of his guitar and his soothing voice that Luke Bryan can’t help but call “perfect.”
9. “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong – Top 10
This song perfectly captures Tongi’s uplifting vibe, marking the first time he hit the Idol stage with a ukulele.
The performance remained a ballad until the end when Tongi notably switched it up and added in some Hawaiian flavor.
8. “Making Memories Of Us” by Keith Urban – Finale
The Season 21 finale was home to another emotional performance from Tongi, who put his spin on the country croon “Making Memories of Us” by former Idol judge Keith Urban.
Everything about this performance sounded, looked and felt like a winning one.
7. “Lava” by Lava – Top 5
Disney Night is always my favorite night on any reality competition, and it’s even better when Pixar is involved!
Rightfully, in honor of his Hawaiin roots, Tongi took the more obscure route, swapping his guitar for a ukulele when he sang a lesser-known Disney song from the fan-favorite Pixar short Lava.
6. “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA – Top 20
It was no surprise when Tongi stripped down this ABBA classic and turned it into his own.
Tongi’s voice shined in each chorus, while his guitar felt like an entity of its own as he played against the background vocals.
5. “Monsters” by James Blunt – Audition
When America was introduced to Tongi during the auditions, no one could have predicted he would be the one to take home the title.
His audition had an element of surprise after taking a moment to breathe before dedicating it to his late father and blowing the judges away, driving Lionel Richie to tears. The clip eventually went viral, amassing millions of views across platforms.
4. “Father And Son” from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – Top 5
Between Tongi’s undeniable love for his father and Disney having a new Guardians of the Galaxy movie in theaters, it made perfect sense for him to sing this Cat Stevens song remembered from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
As the audience waved their phone lights, Tongi gave yet another emotional performance for his father.
3. “Stuck On You” by Lionel Richie – Top 12
It may have only been the Top 12, but it didn’t get any better than when Tongi performed “Stuck On You” by judge Lionel Richie.
Tongi kept the start of the song recognizable before quickly jumping into the beat he was best known for, paired with his guitar, and earning a hug from Richie.
2. “Don’t Let Go” by Spawnbreezie – Top 26 Hawaii Round
Tongi’s Top 26 performance acted as a homecoming when the contestants competed on a stage in Hawaii.
One of Tongi’s most memorable performances, this one combines the best of all he has to offer. It’s no wonder he sang this one again as the confetti shot off in celebration of his Idol victory.
1. “Bring It On Home To Me” by Sam Cooke – Top 12
It seems a little ironic that Tongi vowed to play his father’s guitar throughout the show, and it’s the one performance he didn’t that I felt deserved the number one spot.
Tongi’s voice crushed this oldie that he toned down, turning it into more of a pop ballad than the jazzy R&B tune Sam Cooke originally sang. The best way to describe this one is: soulful and raw.
