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Entertainment Weekly picks Top 10 'Idol' performances

by Liz Finn-Arnold, posted Jan 23rd 2007 9:28AM

FantasiaOver at EW.com, Michael Slezak has compiled a list (with photos and links) of the "Top 10" best performances from the first five seasons of American Idol. And he puts Fantasia's performance of "Summertime" at the top of the list.

This is the type of list I could never put together because there have been way too many good (and bad) performances, and honestly, after awhile they all start to blend together for me. Plus, if I put together this list, I'd get nine million comments telling me I'm stupid for leaving Kellie Pickler off of it.

Of course, the beauty of Idol is that we don't all have to agree. There's a contestant with a sound and style for everyone. I understand that people form an emotional attachment to certain contestants throughout the weeks of nail-biting competition. What I don't understand is why reasonable viewers (meaning anyone over the age of 15) sometimes get so nasty (resorting to namecalling) when defending their favorites.

Slezak, for example, has included Constantine's performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" as #10 on his list. For whatever reason, Constantine annoyed me from day one. So, he'd never make my list. That's just my opinion, not meant to take away from anyone's love of all things Contantine. And please take note that I didn't say Constantine's singing sucked. He simply didn't appeal to me (something about his cocky attitude). That's my opinion. So, agree or disagree, but there's no need to call me names.

How about Slezak's choices? Do you agree he picked the very best performances? Or do you have your own list of favorites? What about the worst? To this day, the most "memorably-bad-performance" by a great contestant that sticks out in my mind is Clay's heinous rendition of "Grease." Ouch, I guess even the very best have a "bad day" now and again.

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Lori Mathews

Ace Young singing "Father Figure" ... definitely top 10! Katharine McPhee's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" ... Clay's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" ... Anything Kelly Clarkson sang .. "RESPECT" ... lots by Carrie Underwood ... Tamyra Gray "House is Not a Home" ... Don't agree with many on your list.

January 24 2007 at 3:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Spurgeon

I hate to burst everyones bubble, but This new guy Sundance is better than anyone I've heard yet...Hands down!

January 24 2007 at 2:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Meghan

Um, so where's ANY Tamyra Gray song? Especially "A House is Not a Home"?? Tamyra is, in my opinion, the original American Idol. She had class and could sing better than anyone I have ever heard. Every song she sang was magic.

And I also loved Taylor's "Something." Very nice. There was one part a little into the song when he sings "something about the way she moves me" and the way he sings "moves" is just awesome.

I agree with basically everything else on the list. Loved Fantasia's "Summertime" and Bo's "In a Dream". Clay's "Solitaire" was very good. Elliot's as much of a dream when is comes to singing as Tamyra.

January 24 2007 at 1:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stephwcoach15

Fantasia was horrible, never should have won! What about Kelly's version of Celine Dion's "I Surrender"? She had basically lost her voice and was still able to belt that one out!!!

January 24 2007 at 1:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lou

JASON SUNDANCE HEAD doesn't need to get a shave! Why is it that we're ALL supposed to be able to look like we want to look until some "hip" blogger or reporter says differently!
Jason can look the way he wants to look! This is America!
OR are you afraid that if he becomes a major celeb the way he looks then big go-tees will be "in" and bare face will be "out"?
As a bearded man I want to see facial hair return as "hip"!

January 24 2007 at 1:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joenelson76

Carrie Underwood's version of "Alone", far and away, the best performance on American Idol ever!

January 24 2007 at 1:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Austyn

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!!!!! I can't believe that fantasia is number one. She definitely is no the best. Where was Carrie Underwood???? She is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 24 2007 at 12:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sara

did u ever relieze that when jennifer hudson was on american idol live she sucked but now all of a sudden shes in a movie where they can totally computerize her she sounds good? that doesnt make any sence.

January 24 2007 at 12:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
UGERS

I AGREE WITH SOME COMMENTS ABOUT FANTASIA AND HER
SCREAMING IT JUST TURNS ME OFF. GIVE ME A LOVELY
SONG BALLAD ANYTIME. BEYONCE DOES THE SAME THING
SCREACHING. BUT IN THE MOVIE DREAMGIRL SHE SINGS
A BALLAD AT THE END WOW WHAT A VOICE. WAKE UP
SINGERS IT SELLS BETTER, STOP GOING CRAZY AND SHOW
YOUR VOICE THE SOFTER ,MORE ROMANTIC WAY PEOPLE LOVE IT.

January 24 2007 at 12:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jamie

My American Top 10 Performances:

1) Clay Aiken -- Bridge Over Troubled Waters
2) Carrie Underwood -- Alone
3) Taylor Hicks -- Trouble
4) Kelly Clarkson -- Respect
5) Clay Aiken -- Solitaire
6) Elliott Yamin -- Moody's Mood For Love
7) Chris Daughtry -- Walk The Line
8) Taylor Hicks -- You Are So Beautiful
9) Bo Bice -- In A Dream
10) Jennifer Hudson -- Circle Of Life

Fantasia doesn't even make my list.

January 24 2007 at 12:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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