There's a reason why you had to watch "American Idol" live. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times when “American Idol” competitive performances were beyond compare.
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00:00♪ Piece by piece, you've assured my faith that a man can be kind ♪
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times
00:10when American Idol competitive performances were beyond compare.
00:14♪ River, rain, my home ♪
00:22Number 20.
00:23Tamyra Gray.
00:24A House is Not a Home by Dionne Warwick.
00:27Back in Season 1, the show was still finding its footing,
00:30but what it did find was some major talent.
00:32Fourth place finisher Tamyra Gray covered this classic heartbreak track
00:36for Burt Bacharach night, and some fans say it should have won her the whole show.
00:41♪ And a house is not a home when the two of us are far apart ♪
00:49Gray had range, and A House is Not a Home showcased all of it.
00:53From those soaring high notes to those low growls,
00:56she made the song her own.
00:58♪ Don't let one mistake keep us apart ♪
01:05The judges were practically tripping over themselves to compliment her,
01:09and among longtime fans, it still ranks among the very best performances the show has ever seen.
01:14Number 19.
01:16Elliot Yamine.
01:17A Song for You by Leon Russell.
01:19The prompt was love songs.
01:20Elliot Yamine's deeply romantic and smooth rendition of A Song for You
01:24was the clear winner of the night.
01:26♪ We're alone now and I'm singing this song to you ♪
01:34Taking on the Leon Russell song made famous by Donnie Hathaway,
01:38Ray Charles, and others, Yamine left it all on stage.
01:41It was so good, Paula Abdul was in tears afterward.
01:45While Simon Cowell wasn't crying, he was just as impressed.
01:48The famously tough judge even called the performance a vocal masterclass.
01:53Tonight, in parts, that was like a vocal masterclass.
01:57It was superb.
02:01The husky-voiced R&B singer may have come in third
02:04on the hotly contested fifth season of the show,
02:06but this was a first-rate performance.
02:09Number 18.
02:10Trent Harmon.
02:11Chandelier by Sia.
02:12This 2014 single was a huge hit, but it's not a track for beginners.
02:17After reaching the top four,
02:19Trent Harmon decided it was time to pull out all the stops.
02:22Chandelier tested his versatility and falsetto.
02:35Needless to say, he passed that test with flying colors.
02:39Judge Harry Connick Jr. complimented his technique,
02:42noting his ability to feel every lyric despite the acrobatics the song calls for.
02:46There have been a lot of great singers on American Idol,
02:49but the way Harmon disappeared into the song
02:52proves that first-class performers are hard to come by.
03:05Harmon ended up winning the entire season.
03:08Number 17.
03:09Bo Bice.
03:10In a Dream by Badlands.
03:12Season four's final two became a showdown between rock and country.
03:16Bo Bice brought good old-fashioned rock and roll to the Idol stage.
03:31Always a risk-taker,
03:33Bice decided to present this rock song by Badlands a cappella.
03:37Singing without a band is a lot harder than it looks.
03:40The judges commended his bravery, but even more than that,
03:43they were ecstatic about the performance.
03:45He absolutely destroyed this number.
03:47Bice had the entire studio in the palm of his hand that night.
04:03Not only did his risk make him stand out,
04:05but it also reminded everyone that Carrie Underwood's win wasn't a sure thing.
04:10Number 16.
04:11David Cook.
04:12Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.
04:14The top ten of season seven were tasked with picking a song from their birth year.
04:18Contestant David Cook chose Billie Jean by none other than Michael Jackson himself.
04:23Instead of competing with the funk-infused beats of the king of pop,
04:27Cook reinterpreted the song as an acoustic rock ballad.
04:30Simon Cowell was worried about the choice until he heard the song on performance night.
04:46By the end, Cook was launching into a massive, full-throated scream.
04:50The audience was screaming right along with him.
05:01All three judges were blown away by his vocal skill,
05:05his audacity, and his amazing control.
05:07They predicted right there that he could win the whole season.
05:10Several weeks later, he did.
05:13Number 15.
05:14Catherine McPhee.
05:15Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz.
05:17Near the end of season five, Catherine McPhee delivered a gentle and
05:21devastating rendition of this classic movie song.
05:30The runner-up dialed back her usual showy style for this one.
05:38Instead of Broadway-level dramatics,
05:40she relied on what Paula Abdul called her natural gifts.
05:44Her Over the Rainbow showcased her incredible skill,
05:47strong belt, wide range, and ability to tell a story through song.
06:00Given that Over the Rainbow has been done to death,
06:06it's hard to overstate just what an accomplishment it is that you
06:09don't even think of Judy Garland when you hear her sing it.
06:13Number 14.
06:14Melinda Doolittle.
06:15My Funny Valentine from Babes in Arms.
06:18Slow, seductive, and full of jazz inflections, Melinda Doolittle's
06:22version of this American songbook standard was earning applause halfway through.
06:31She has a strong belt and a way with phrasing that only truly accomplished
06:42singers can manage, but it's the way she dips into her lower register that
06:46really sets her apart from the crowd.
06:48And this was only the top 20 round.
06:50It doesn't feel like a performance.
06:52It feels like a challenge.
06:54Don't baby don't change a hair for me.
06:59She threw down the gauntlet and dared the competition to do it better.
07:03Considering Doolittle was one of season six's very best talents,
07:06most of them didn't have a chance.
07:08Number 13.
07:10Casey James.
07:11Jealous Guy by John Lennon.
07:13As the cast of season nine was whittled down,
07:15the judges wanted to see more vulnerability from its contestants.
07:19Casey James chose to cover John Lennon's introspective solo effort, Jealous Guy.
07:34He took to the stage with only his guitar and a cello player for backup.
07:38It was a bare bones production as far as idol staging goes.
07:42From the choice of song to his grounded, confident stage presence,
07:46James gave us exactly what we were looking for.
07:49I didn't mean to hurt you.
07:56Sorry that I made you cry.
08:00Few contestants ever have this much confidence and genuine gravitas so early in the season.
08:06His smoky, bluesy vocal stylings proved that he wasn't just a talented musician.
08:11He was a professional.
08:13Number 12.
08:14Maddie Poppy.
08:15God Only Knows by The Beach Boys.
08:17The week's prompt saw the competitors dedicating a song to their mothers
08:21to coincide with Mother's Day.
08:23Maddie Poppy's connection with her mom was evident throughout the song.
08:26The season 16 winner's lilting coup of a voice
08:30made a classic Beach Boys tune sound like a lullaby.
08:34God only knows what I'd be without you.
08:43As it goes on, the band layers in more instruments and voices until the music swells.
08:48But Poppy never overdoes it.
08:50Between her mother wiping her tears away and Poppy's own shudder of emotion at the end of
08:54the song, it's hard to believe that there was a dry eye in the house that night.
08:58God only knows what I'd be without you.
09:10Number 11.
09:11Joshua Ledette.
09:12It's a Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown.
09:15This song was a natural choice for this season 11 contestant.
09:18He had a growl of a voice that could electrify an audience just like James Brown's could.
09:23But he didn't just rest on the similarities.
09:26Backed by a brass band, Joshua Ledette brought his own flair to every syllable of every lyric.
09:41To watch this performance was to watch a singer constantly trying to top himself.
09:45Just when we thought he couldn't go any further, he blew the roof off the place at the climax.
09:57The entire room, audience, judges, and maybe even a few fans at home,
10:06were on their feet by the end.
10:08Number 10.
10:09Carrie Underwood.
10:10Alone by Heart.
10:12When season 4's country diva decided to do a song totally outside her wheelhouse,
10:17it paid off in dividends.
10:26With her blonde hair done up in retro curls and her big eyes looking right into the camera,
10:31Carrie Underwood belts out that immortal chorus with undeniable power.
10:36The performance was so good, it prompted the show's toughest judge, Simon Cowell,
10:40to make a game-changing prediction.
10:43Not only will you win this show, you will sell more records than any other previous Idol winner.
10:48Underwood would prove he was right to believe in her by eventually winning the season.
10:56Her take on alone was one of the big reasons why she emerged victorious.
11:07Also, shout out to the backup vocalist who's singing that harmony like the rent is due tomorrow.
11:18Number 9.
11:19Clay Aiken.
11:20Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel.
11:23You know it's serious when they bring out a whole choir.
11:31During the season 2 finals, eventual runner-up Clay Aiken completely blows everyone away with
11:37this gospel-inspired rendition of the classic Simon and Garfunkel tune.
11:41It's the last time he'll perform for votes,
11:43and you can feel just how much he wants to win through his velvety smooth vocals.
11:54Now, some may say that standing ovations are given a little too freely nowadays,
12:02but when Aiken hits that impressive last note, he more than earns his.
12:16Just ask judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
12:20This is your personal best, Clay.
12:22Thank you very much.
12:23Number 8.
12:24LaPortia Renee.
12:25No More Drama by Mary J. Blige.
12:27Few artists can channel their own pain and passion into a relatively short performance slot,
12:33quite like this season 15 runner-up.
12:42LaPortia Renee was forthcoming about her private struggles while on the show.
12:46Her rendition of Mary J. Blige's empowering tune,
12:49No More Drama, is a prime example of why she connected with audiences so deeply.
13:02She rips through the anthem with fire and strength,
13:05commanding the stage like a seasoned professional.
13:08As soon as it's over, Renee, the judges, and even Ryan Seacrest are overcome with emotion.
13:14It goes without saying, but so are we.
13:24Number 7.
13:25Gina Irene.
13:27Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley.
13:29This then-teenage chanteuse was almost an early out in season 13.
13:39When she failed to earn enough public votes to advance past the semifinals,
13:43she was saved in the wildcard round.
13:45Soon, she proved herself to be one of the strongest performers of the season.
13:49Accompanying herself at the piano, she delivers a measured and powerful
13:53interpretation of Elvis Presley's timeless song, Can't Help Falling in Love.
14:07Visible chills strike judge Jennifer Lopez as she listens.
14:11After the performance is over, Lopez actually walks on stage and gives Irene a kiss and hug.
14:18Haunting, elegant, and unforgettable, it's clear that the contestants
14:21set the new standard for all future interpretations of the song.
14:36Number 6.
14:37Jennifer Hudson.
14:38Circle of Life from The Lion King.
14:40Season 3 saw some amazing singers controversially be sent home long before their time.
14:46Powerhouse Jennifer Hudson was one of them.
14:48There is more to see than can never be seen, more to do than can ever be done.
14:57She hit her stride during the Top 9 with a powerful cover of Circle of Life from The Lion King.
15:03It's so good she even blew away the song's composer,
15:06guest mentor Elton John himself, during rehearsals.
15:09Her elimination a few weeks later and the landing of the season's Black women in the bottom three
15:15prompted John to call out the show's voters.
15:28But given her career since finishing in 7th place on Idol,
15:31it's safe to say Hudson has had the last laugh.
15:34If this performance proves anything, it's that she was always destined for stardom.
15:40Number 5.
15:57Hayley Reinhart.
15:58The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals.
16:01From week to week, this Season 10 finalist surprised us all with her versatility and technique.
16:09Idol audiences could always expect Hayley Reinhart to own the stage.
16:18Her take on House of the Rising Sun is no exception.
16:21While the arrangement is taken from The Animals version,
16:24Reinhart's raspy delivery and varied approach to the classic folk song make it unmistakably hers.
16:40Whether she's wailing on a high note or cooing a low one,
16:44every moment and choice feels perfectly measured.
16:47Even the judges, whom many felt were sometimes unnecessarily hard on her,
16:51couldn't deny the greatness of this particular performance.
17:01Number 4.
17:02Kelly Clarkson.
17:03You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin.
17:06Arguably the most successful of all the show's winners,
17:10Clarkson's vocal prowess is fully on display throughout the first season.
17:24Still, when it comes to picking the best performance from her winning run on the show,
17:27Natural Woman is the easy answer.
17:30It requires some real courage to take on an Aretha Franklin classic,
17:34but Clarkson performs like a pro in her iconic bowler hat and tie.
17:47Also, who knew she could hit a whistle tone like that?
17:57If her 20 plus years in the industry are any indication,
18:01Kelly Clarkson really has fulfilled the show's original premise to find the next superstar.
18:14Number 3.
18:15Adam Lambert.
18:16Mad World by Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules.
18:19We could always count on season 8's eventual runner-up to bring the drama,
18:24and bring it he did on multiple occasions.
18:31For that year's Year They Were Born theme,
18:38Lambert chose the 1982 Tears for Fear song, Mad World.
18:54However, he opted for the haunting, stripped down cover of the song,
18:57featured in the 2001 film Donnie Darko.
19:00If you ask us, the choice is the right one,
19:03as it allows him to better show off his incredible vocal range.
19:11Lambert's theater background is evident throughout the performance.
19:14He doesn't just sing the song, he feels every word of it.
19:30Even the notoriously critical Simon Cowell gives him a standing ovation.
19:35Number 2.
19:36Candice Glover.
19:37Love Song by The Cure.
19:39This season 12 champion was known for her big voice and big heart.
19:43No one could nail a ballad like Candice Glover.
19:54Still, nobody could have predicted the heights she would reach with her take on Love Song,
19:58originally recorded by The Cure and covered by Adele.
20:09Ten seconds in, Glover puts her stamp on the song.
20:12She takes gorgeous liberties with notes and phrasing like a seasoned jazz vocalist,
20:17and brings the classic to new impressive heights.
20:20You make me feel like I am fun again.
20:28It's so impressive that judge Mariah Carey cruelly walks on stage afterwards,
20:32and pelts Glover with a handful of celebratory glitter.
20:36Honestly, that might be up there with winning a Grammy.
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21:02Number 1.
21:04Fantasia Barrino.
21:05Summertime from Corgi and Bess.
21:07American Idol has seen its fair share of barn burners,
21:11but no one brought the house down like Fantasia Barrino.
21:25Her performance of Summertime from Corgi and Bess
21:29truly epitomizes everything that makes the show so great.
21:32From the floor of the stage,
21:34she blew the rest of the competition out of the water with sheer lung power and effortless vibrato.
21:50It's a truly magical moment, and we're all really lucky it happened.
21:54Fantasia was ultimately declared the winner of Season 3,
21:57and treated us to an encore of this performance on finale night,
22:01receiving an even bigger ovation.
22:04What do you look for in a perfect American Idol performance?
22:23Let us know in the comments.
22:34Do you agree with our picks?
22:38Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo,
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