Ten Best Top 8 Performances of All Time

Yep, it's time again to take a glance backward into Idol history, to choose the Ten Best Top 8 performances of all time. The list is topped by two former winners, and features the most heated battle for the #1 spot yet. In the past the Top 8 round has provided us with some classic performances, including two songs from musicals, four Queen songs, and two songs that have been reprised during the current season of Idol. (As a reminder, performances from the current season are not eligible for on any of these Ten Best lists)

Without further ado...

Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time

1. Fantasia, "Summertime" (Season 3)
This is probably the most acclaimed Idol performance of all time, and with good reason -- it is simply stunning. 'Tasia had already proven by this point in the competition that she had undeniable vocal chops, but when she sat on the stage, singing and feeling the classic Porgy & Bess song like her life depended on it, she took herself and the viewers to another level. Idol has often been criticized for being a glorified karaoke competition, but Fantasia transcended that notion by miles, providing the kind of breathtaking experience only a true artist can. Simply magnificent.

2. Kelly Clarkson, "Natural Woman"
In any other week this performance would have easily grabbed the #1 spot -- this week, however, she just misses out on that top spot thanks to Fantasia's brilliant "Summertime." If Kelly had announced her arrival with "Respect" and continued to impress with "You're All I Need," it was this spectacular showing that she really displayed how much talent there was underneath that endearingly dorky persona. Dressed to kill in a tie and hat, Kelly handled the vocal demands of this song flawlessly, even hitting a Mariah Carey-esque whistle note in the middle, a vocal feat that hasn't been duplicated on the show (or by Kelly) since. Sheer brilliance.

3. Latoya London, "Somewhere"
'Tasia may have stole the show during the Top 8 week in Season 3, but Latoya also showed off some serious chops on this classic from the musical West Side Story. Effortlessly scaling the vocal demands of the song, Latoya soared as she sang "Somehow....some day...somewheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere." It gives me chills to even think about.

4. Paris Bennett, "The Show Must Go On"
With Mandisa having been given the boot the week before, Paris stepped up to fill in the void as the resident diva of Season 5, bringing drama and stellar vocals to this Queen song (which I had never heard before this performance). In so doing, she revealed she was capable of much more than just singing jazzy standards. Hopefully we'll see a little bit of Paris' rocker side on her upcoming album.

5. Constantine Maroulis, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Yes, here's Constantine again -- at this point I guess I really can't deny that he did provide some memorable performances during his tenure on the show. On paper this performance should have been a disaster -- but somehow, Constantine pulled it off, transcending kitsch to give a bonafide showstopping performance. I still don't really want to buy the guy's CD (if he ever releases one), but I've gotta give him his due for this undeniably entertaining performance.

6. Rickey Smith, "Endless Love"
Compare Chris Sligh's massacre of the Lionel Ritchie/Diana Ross duet to Rickey's incredible vocal performance of the song, and there is no question who comes out on top. Rickey scaled the high notes of this song (both Ritchie and Ross') magnificently. While I wasn't Rickey's #1 fan during his time on the show, there is no denying that the tone of his voice, coupled with the beautiful melody of this song, was a match made in heaven. Well, maybe there is denying it, since Rickey was voted off after this performance!

7. Jennifer Hudson, "I Have Nothing"
In a week when Fantasia and Latoya both tore the house down, the third diva, Ms. Hudson, was not far behind, taking a Whitney Houston song and hitting it right out of the park. Momentum was building for the girl, after her astounding "Circle of Life" the week before, and she did not disappoint with this stirring rendition. LaKisha sang the song well this year, but her rendtion doesn't hold a candle to this Oscar winner's.

8. Elliott Yamin, "Somebody to Love"
By this point in the competition Elliott was really starting to find his footing, and he continued to show his funkiness by bringing a soulful, smoky flavor to this Queen song. Not Elliott's strongest of the competition, but an excellent showing nonetheless.

9. Katharine McPhee, "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Season 5)
Supposedly this was the song Mandisa was supposed to sing had she not been kicked off the previous round, but it's hard to imagine anyone else other than Katharine wrapping her golden vocals around the soaring Queen tune. Again, not Katharine's best of the competition, but certainly worthy of a spot on this list.

10. Josh Gracin, "Amazed" (Season 2)
I've become a much bigger fan of Josh Gracin since he left the show than I was when he was on it, but this performance of the Lonestar hit allowed Josh to perform well within his pop/country comfort zone, and, for once, he scored a slam dunk.

Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time