Top 10 Best American Idol Performances
Out of every performance of every season of American Idol, which is the best of all time?
I started it off with ten of my favorites, and I really want to know what everybody else thinks are the best performances.
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Mad World - Adam Lambert
Such a beautiful performance. No wonder he got the first standing ovation from Simon. I still remember the look on Simon's face when they announced Kris Allen won. Simon couldn't believe it. Poor Kris has been trying to overcome it ever since.
Adam sang this song with so much emotion. His beautiful voice gave me chills. I was speechless when he finished, and so was Simon Cowell, apparently. Simon had no words but gave a standing ovation! It was evidently the first time Simon had done that, and this was Season 8. That speaks volumes right there!
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Bridge Over Troubled Water - Clay Aiken
It looks like nobody is going to match Clay's level of talent in 15 seasons. Some had more commercial success (Carrie), and some found their niche (Adam), but for sheer versatility and beauty, no one can touch Clay.
Not only were the vocals incredible, but it was also spectacular in a way that can't be explained in words. Clay brought the house down with this performance, and there's no denying that.
There have been so many wonderful performances on Idol that it's hard to pick just one. However, Clay's Bridge Over Troubled Water stands out as the best of the best.
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Bennie and the Jets - Haley Reinhart
This performance was simply fantastic and so fun to watch. I watch it many times a day because her rendition was, in my opinion, better than Elton John's. She is awesome.
Haley's defining performance! She was sexy in this. No one should ever try to sing this song again. She set the bar that high. Loved it so much!
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Alone - Carrie Underwood
Although she'd been the fan favorite, as well as the judges' favorite, for a while before this performance, Carrie needed to prove that she could be a versatile performer and vocalist. That's exactly why she picked this song, and she did exactly what she intended to do.
The only American Idol performance that gave me shivers (and still does). I think Carrie launched herself into the finals with that performance.
Simon was 100% right! I absolutely love her!
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House of the Rising Sun - Haley Reinhart
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Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Katharine McPhee
Katharine started off the performance in a cappella. The first part alone had a big vocal range and riffs that she nailed perfectly. Then she went on with the rest of the performance, which she knocked out of the park.
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She Bangs - William Hung
Admit it, his singing is the most entertaining. Not to mention, he is confident in what he does, and he doesn't act robotic or stiff when he performs. Charisma? He's got it!
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Pants on the Ground - Larry Platt
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Bathwater - Sanjaya Malakar
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(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman - Kelly Clarkson
Starting off the song in a soulful voice, in a low range, was difficult enough to do, but it sounded amazing. Then came the chorus, where she belted out the big notes like she had been performing her entire life. The bridge led up to a pitch-perfect, beautifully sounding G6 whistle note, straight into the final chorus, where she belted it out again with some chilling riffs. This led to the end of the performance and a massive audience reaction, including an obsessive fan running on the stage to congratulate her.
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Takin' It to the Streets - Taylor Hicks
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No Sex Allowed - Milo Turk
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Oops!... I Did It Again - Rhonetta Johnson
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I'll Stand by You - Pia Toscano
Pia inspired me to be a performer with this touching performance. She has an amazing, powerful voice, and she doesn't just have talent - she has soul and heart. I admire her so much.
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Dream On - Caleb Johnson
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The Greatest Love of All - Tamika Bush
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Summertime - Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia proved that a little can go a very long way. Sitting on the stage, Fantasia gave a classy and unforgettable performance, which was both compelling and moving.
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Heartless - Kris Allen
Not the best, but the most game-changing performance in the history of the show. Kris appeared on the stage as the underdog. Two minutes later, he was the favorite to win the show. A brilliant move at the perfect time.
I love Kris's version of this song!
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Hip-Hop Nanny - Christopher Noll
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Imagine - David Archuleta
Randy called it one of the best performances he's ever heard, and Simon called him the one to beat after this performance of the John Lennon classic. He took a simple song with a limited range and turned it into a vocal masterclass. He had sung the song many times before, practicing it as a kid, and it all paid off when he performed it on the Idol stage.
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Who You Are - Angie Miller
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I Will Always Love You - Jessica Sanchez
It wasn't just a perfect vocal performance. It was also a memorable moment on American Idol that people will remember for many years. Jessica is awesome! Good job, Jessica!
Jessica Sanchez is AWESOME! I'm sure she will do AMAZING things in the future. She is extremely talented. This song was her best performance. I wish I could sing like her.
I wonder why it isn't number 1 or 2. She sang it perfectly, and the song has many views on YouTube. She made thousands of people cry for Whitney again.
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Lovesong - Candice Glover
Goosebumps from this lovable performance.
Excuse me, but why is this not higher?
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Ain't No Sunshine - Kris Allen
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Dream On - Danny Gokey
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You Give Love a Bad Name - Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis's You Give Love a Bad Name showed that he really wanted to win, and he just let it come out. It was awesome. I also loved Hayley Reinhart's House of the Rising Sun and Lee DeWyze's Hey Jude.
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People Get Ready - Crystal Bowersox
Checked all these out, and this one is the best and most heartfelt. I think Haley Reinhart's version of Blue should be on this list, and Jacob's God Bless the Child.