Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time

Last week, prior to the start of the Top 12, I came up with my list of the Ten Best First Finals Performances over the years. Aside from the fact that it's always fun to make an Idol-related list, I think it's interesting to see how this year's crop matches up against the best performances from the past. Now that the first week of this year's performances have been completed, I would probably include LaKisha and Melinda's debut Top 12 performances on this list.

So, I'm going to continue this exercise with a list of the Ten Best Top 11 Performances of all time. This is a slight change from last week's list, as I have left off Season 1 contenders (since there was only a Top 10 that year). Kelly C. and company will return to the list once we get into the Top 8.

(I should also note that while I consider myself a pretty solid Idol historian, I did have to do a bit of research to find out which songs were sung which week...I've only got so much room in my head!)

1. Carrie Underwood, "Alone"
She may be a country singer through and through, but there's got to be a little bit of 80's rocker lingering inside Carrie Underwood. If not, how to explain this transcendent performance of the great Heart song -- big hair, even bigger voice. Sure, she basically just stood in the middle of the stage and sang, but she sounded so fantastic (blending gorgeously with the very talented back-up singer) nobody would dare complain. This is one of my top 3 favorite Idol performances of all time.

2. Clay Aiken, "Somewhere Out There"
Yes, that last note was a little wonky, but Clay showing his sensitive side on this tune from the beloved film An American Tale only further endeared him to the growing minion of Claymates. This, I believe, was also the debut of Clay's trademarked batting of the eyes...as he crooned and gazed into the camera, you could almost hear 50-year old women across the country shrieking. A Clay classic.

3. Kimberley Locke, "Home"
Kimberley had fumbled big time in the Top 12 and found herself in the Bottom 3 the first week out, so she needed a strong performance to rebound and make herself a contender. And did she ever deliver with this fantastic performance of the Diana Ross song from the musical The Wiz, producing a rich and soulful sound (as well as showing off her newly straightened hair) and holding the final note for what seemed like an eternity. As much as I love Melinda, this, to me, is the definitive Idol version of "Home."


4. Paris Bennett, "Fever"
When we first saw Paris in her initial audition she showed off a preternaturally sophisticated performance style and an impossibly souful, old-school flavor. She brought that back in this spectactular, jazzy performance, effortlessly evoking Billie Holiday and Ella Fitgerald. Paris' strongest performance by a mile.

5. Fantasia, "You Were Always on my Mind"
At this point in the competition during Season 3 people were starting to wonder if Fantasia was a one-trick pony, but this performance shot that notion down right-quick. Feeling every moment of the Willie Nelson classic, this was the first glimpse of the "Summertime" that was soon to come.


6. Katharine McPhee, "Come Rain or Come Shine"
Now that her CD has been released and she is trying to establish herself as a current pop artist she seems to be modeling herself after, of all artists, the Pussycat Dolls, but as far as I'm concerned Katharine is never more of a star than when she is singing old school torch songs, like this Judy Garland gem. Looking sensational and sounding as good as she ever did, Katharine was truly glorious in this performance. Perhaps on her next CD she'll realize where her strengths lie and return to this kind of music.

7. Chris Daughtry, "Walk the Line"
How was Chris going to handle country? That was the question coming into Season 5's Top 11, but he tore into this Johnny Cash tune in a way that seemed modern, relevant, and, most importantly, authentic. Yes, it turns out he was using an arrangement previously recorded by the group Live, but in this performance Chris showed how a real rocker performs on American Idol and still holds on to their musical integrity.

8. Amy Adams, "Sin Wagon"
I had dismissed Amy Adams as a nonentity by the time she came out to close the show in Season 2's Top 11, but she brought the house down with a rousing version of the Dixie Chick's song. Playful and well-sung, I actually prefer Amy's version to the rendition Carrie gave in Season 4.

9. Elliott Yamin, "Teach Me Tonight"
We knew Elliott had a great voice coming into the Top 11 of Season 5, but he really connected with this little-know 60's song, jazzing up his performance style and really connecting with the audience for the first time. As the skillfullness of his vocal runs became abundantly clear, he announced himself as a real contender for the title.

10. Latoya London, "Ain't Going Down"
Josh Gracin had butchered this Garth Brook's mouthful of a song in Season 2, but Latoya redeemed it, giving a sassy and soulful spin to the country tune. At this point in the competition you had to wonder -- is there anything Latoya can't sing?

Ten Best First Finals Performances
Top Semifinal Performances Ever