Chaska Herald - American Idol: Top 10 all-time best performances - Comments

After such a bummer night

Mollee Francisco — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:20:21 -0600

After such a bummer night for the ladies, I had to go back and revisit Melinda Doolittle's "I Got Rhythm" performance from last season. How I miss that girl.

I'm also adding a couple of performances to the Idol Hall of Fame here including Lakisha Jones "This Ain't A Love Song" as seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XrdkfttRGU
and Jason Castro's "Hallelujah" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4s9iq5fYY8&feature=related
(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

(No subject)

valerieflames — Fri, 18 May 2007 16:10:57 -0500

Oooh, now that I think about

ChicChick — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:10:48 -0500

Oooh, now that I think about it, I really loved Kelly Clarkson's performance of Celine Dion's "I Surrender." I don't think there were as many stand-out performances in Season 1 as there were in subsequent seasons, but this one would be in my top 10 list.

Obviously this list is

Mollee Francisco — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 10:04:35 -0500

Obviously this list is subjective, as any top 10 list would be. This is my top 10 list. And I would invite you to submit your favorite performances, as others have. It has been fun to see what performances really grabbed people over the years. The wide variety of responses seems to speak to Idol's appeal.

As for me, I never felt particularly moved by Elliot Yamin so, though clearly others did, you won't find him on my list (I was in a Taylor Hicks fog). As for Clay Aiken, I can honestly say that I saw only one of his performances from Season 2 (and no, it wasn't the beloved "Bridge Over Troubled Water"). That's why you won't find him on my list. There's also no Kelly Clarkson here. Again, I only picked up the show wholeheartedly in Season 3.

I'd love to go back and watch the first two seasons. Does anyone know why they aren't being released on DVD?

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Best Performances of WHAT??

Ging — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 00:35:17 -0500

Best Performances of WHAT?? is What I want to know ?? Not Singing Performance...I have never seen, and will not believe, a list of Singing Performances without Elliott Yamin and Clay Aiken given very high honors !!

Not a valid top 10 list of

momsrule — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:01:34 -0500

Not a valid top 10 list of AI performances in my opinion.

Although I don't care for Clay Aiken that much, he should be on there with "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

What about Elliott Yamin's "A Song For You". That song was excellent and should be on the list also.

More Idol favorites came in

Mollee Francisco — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:34:47 -0500

More Idol favorites came in over the weekend. Reader Jan sent in five of her top performances:

Clay Aiken - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Clay took a classic song that almost every person in this country has heard and made it sound like a completely different absolutely beautiful and uplifting song. From the moment I heard his version, it's only version that I can hear in my head which is really really hard to do. When you take a classic song and redefine it as the definitive version that is art.

Jennifer Hudson - Circle of Life
Her version of Circle of Life is unbelievable. It's so stunning that I feel like it literally made my jaw drop. I felt the same thing X 10 when I saw Dreamgirls. Also, she performed "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" on the show as good or better than LaKisha. LaKisha imitated her performance in Dreamgirls. It was great but the inflection was an obvious imitation.

Anwar Robinson - What a Wonderful World
Anwar gave this classic song a new arrangement that I like better than the original for me. I still love the original and hear both as separate entities in my head but I remember Anwar's name because of this performance.

Taylor Hicks - Takin' It To The Streets
This performance shook me out of my stupor. What a great, soulful live performance. I have a recording of Michael McDonald performing this live on Austin City Limits and it's great but it didn't hit me in the gut like Taylor's performance.

I see someone already commented on the acapella song that Bo Bice perfomed. Great.
Bo Bice - Whipping Post
Great live performance. I still remember it.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

That was a striking

Mollee Francisco — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:53:47 -0500

That was a striking performance by Bo. I tried to keep from loading the list too heavily with Fantasia or Taylor. They gave so many great performances (in my humble opinion).
(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

"By far my favorite

Mollee Francisco — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:50:04 -0500

"By far my favorite performance of all time on Idol is Taylor Hicks
performing "You are so beautiful". It was as good if not better then the
original. He really puts his soul into the music. What a performer."

--Received this email earlier today.

P.S. As noted, I didn't catch much of Season 2 at all. I'm not sure I would have included Clay Aiken on my list, but having not seen any of the performances recommended by gkw44, I haven't had a chance to rate them. Maybe I'll try to YouTube them.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

You list the Top 10 best

gkw44 — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:15:30 -0500

You list the Top 10 best performances and you leave off Clay Aiken with Solitaire and/or Bridge Over Troubled Waters?

Not a very valid top 10 list without it.

Trouble performed by Taylor

judyt — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 23:21:08 -0500

Trouble performed by Taylor Hicks was my all time favorite. It played over and over on my cd player and touches me still to this day as much as it did the first time he sang it. He really did show his vocals as he had planned to do that night with it and I feel it was really a defining point for him with some fans who may have been swaying....I was hooked from the beginning. Great observation!!

Judy Trueblood

Let the Music Move Your Soul!

I loved Bo Bice's acapella

LindaK — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:30:22 -0500

I loved Bo Bice's acapella version of In A Dream. I listen to it all the time. It would be great if he would record it. As for Taylor, I love everything he sings. He sings from his soul.

Taylor Hicks (5) In The

sabrini — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:22:09 -0500

Taylor Hicks (5) In The Ghetto

"Shum mer tam" makes me run

Quicksilver — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:24:31 -0500

"Shum mer tam" makes me run away and cover my ears. Enunciate girl, I know you can do it.

American Idol: Top 10 all-time best performances

Mollee Francisco — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:19:06 -0500

With Season 6 rounding the bend for the final stretch, it seemed a good time to review the all-time best Idol performances. So, I offer to you my Top 10 as well as a few honorable mentions (with their respective YouTube video links).