All-Time Top 10

In our Idol discussions last week, my friend Matt referenced a non-existent "Matt Peters Top 10 Idol Performances Ever" list.  That got me thinking about what my top 10 performances would be and, because I have had some rare free time this week, I have decided to work up my own best and worst lists complete (when possible) with YouTube links.

All-Time Top 5 Idol Most Memorable (Not in a Good Way) Performances

5.  Casey Carlson - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (The Police)

4.  Kevin Covais – “Part Time Lover” (Stevie Wonder)

3.  Danny Noriega - "Tainted Love" (Soft Cell)

2.  Kristy Lee Cook - "Eight Days a Week" (The Beatles)

1.  Sanjaya Malakar - "You Really Got Me" (The Kinks)

Okay so before we get into the 10 best, here is the judging criteria I used.  I started with a list of about 18 performances that were memorable to me.  In cutting songs off the list, I tried to keep it to one performance per contestant.  For example, I would also liked to have included "Over the Rainbow" by Jason Castro and "Always be my Baby" by David Cook, but since they already appeared on the list, those performances were axed.  Also, because I have watched the show since the beginning,  where I could I tried to include as many seasons of the show as possible.  On the original list were "Hemorrhage" by Chris Daughtry and "A Song for You" by Elliot Yamin, which I technically liked better than Guarini and Doolittle, but in the interest of representing as many of the Idol seasons as possible, Guarini and Doolittlemade it.  David Archuletta also got axed because of this... poor kid.  Season 2 is the only one not represented because I didn't want to hear people complain that I put Clay Aiken on my Top 10 list, lol.

All-Time Top 10 Idol Performances

10. Justin Guarini - "Get Here" (Oleta Adams)

• I know he was creepy and kind of looked like Sideshow Bob, but his voice was like velvet and he was my very first American Idol boyfriend.  I believe he also recorded a studio version of this song that I had and listened to over and over again back in my illegal downloading days.
  

9.  Melinda Doolittle - "I'm a Woman" (Peggy Lee)

• Oh Melinda.  So sweet, so shy, so talented.  I still believe Jordin Sparks deserved to win that season of Idol, but Melinda should have been there with her in the finale over Blake Lewis.

8.  Paris Bennet - "Fever" (Peggy Lee)

• One of my favorite songs of all time, I was floored that a 16 year old girl could pull it off without making it sound like it came right off a Kidz Bop album.
  

7.  Fantasia Barrino - "I Believe"

• Hated her with a passion the entire season.  Still do.  Love this song, it still gives me goosebumps every time I hear her (not others) perform it.
  

6.  Carrie Underwood - "Alone" (Heart)

• I know this is not usually people's favorite Carrie Idol performance, but I put it on my list because this was the first time I took Carrie Underwood seriously and really understood why every loved her so much.  Wasn't on that bandwagon before.  Still never voted for her, but at least I understood.  FYI - Allison's rendition of this song makes my top 5 list for Season 8.
  

5.  Adam Lambert - "Mad World" (Tears for Fears)

• Oh Adam, how do I love thee?  This performance was heartbreakingly chilling.  Obviously, as with any clips from this season, the quality of this video is wretched.
  

4.  Katherine McPhee - "Over the Rainbow" (Judy Garland)

• Oh Katherine, how do I hate thee?  She was a whiny, bitchy princess who thought she walked on water.  I couldn't stand her.  But she was remarkably talented, arguably the best (technical) female singer the show has ever seen, and this performance gave me chills at the time and still gives me chills now.
  

3.  David Cook - "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)

• This pick is somewhat controversial.  Most people would put "Hello" or "Always be my Baby"  or "Billie Jean" in place as their David Cook pick but I loved this performance because Cook was a contestant I paid absolutely no attention to until he sang this song.  It started a love affair that carried him through the entire season in my opinion.
  

2.  Bo Bice - In a Dream (Badlands)

• Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Bo Bice is still the only contestant to perform an entire song A Capella on the live shows.  This one took place in the Top 3 week of his season and, in my opinion, sealed his fate in the final 2.  I remember being mesmerized and when I sat down to make this list, this was the first performance to pop into my head.
  

1.  Jason Castro - "Hallelujah" (Jeff Buckley)

• While Adam Lambert is certainly making a run at the title, Jason Castro is my favorite Idol ever.  He was original, bringing a style to Idol that it had never seen before.  His awkward interviews were almost uncomfortable to watch but were also hilarious.  Also, he had gorgeous eyes and a smile that made your knees weak, lol.  Was he the best technical singer?  Certainly not.  But what he lacked in vocal talent he made up for in originality (in my opinion).  This has always been one of my favorite songs and I think he is the only Idol that could have done it justice in a way that I could get on board with.

So, what did you think?  I expect that everyone else's top 10 lists would look dramatically different, ha ha.  If you get some time, put some thought into your list.  Wikipedia is very helpful for jogging your memory :)

Also, I just backdate posted my thoughts/predictions for this week since internet issues prevented me from doing so earlier this week.  If you wanted to be added to the email group that gets them Wednesday morning, let me know.  (That's mostly for you, Carol, lol)

Happy Easter, everyone!