Here we have the greatest of the great. Idol performances that were spectacular and remain just as amazing now as when they first were sung. There are a few conditions to appearing on this list: The song had to be sung by a Top 12 finalist (so no Frenchie) and it had to happen in the semifinals or later in the competition (so no "Get Here" for Justin Guarini since his truly amazing performance of it was at auditions). Also, songs that have been sung many times are harder to get on the list, since comparing can be challengeing (Who gave the best performance of "I'm Every Woman": Mandisa, Trenyce, or Vonzell?), so the performance will have to truly stick out to make it onto the list. Also, once a particular song is on the list, it can only appear once. So, unless someone tops Kelly's "Natural Woman," no other rendition of it will appear. Without further ado...
Singer |
Song |
Theme Week |
RJ Helton |
"Lately" |
Wildcard |
Kelly Clarkson |
"Natural Woman" |
60s |
Christina Christian |
"Ain't No Sunshine" |
70s |
Kelly Clarkson |
"Stuff Like That There" |
Big Band |
Tamyra Gray |
"A House is Not a Home" |
Burt Bacharach/Love Songs |
Ruben Studdard |
"Superstar" |
Semi-Finals |
Trenyce |
"Let's Stay Together" |
Wildcard |
Ruben Studdard |
"Sweet Home Alabama" |
Country-Rock Week |
Kimberley Locke |
"New York State of Mind" |
Billy Joel Songs |
Clay Aiken |
"Build Me Up Buttercup" |
60s/Neil Sedaka |
Clay Aiken |
"Solitaire" |
60s/Neil Sedaka |
Kimberley Locke |
"Band of Gold" |
Top 3 (Random) |
Clay Aiken |
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" |
Top 2 (Random) |
LaToya London |
"All By Myself" |
Semi-Finals |
LaToya London |
"Ain't Nobody" |
Soul Week |
Jasmine Trias |
"Inseparable" |
Soul Week |
Amy Adams |
"Sin Wagon" |
Country |
Jennifer Hudson |
"Circle of Life" |
Elton John Songs |
Fantasia Barrino |
"Summertime" |
Songs from Movies |
Diana DeGarmo |
"No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" |
Disco |
Bo Bice |
"Whipping Post" |
Semi-Finals |
Mikalah Gordon |
"God Bless the Child" |
Semi-Finals |
Nadia Turner |
"Try a Little Tenderness" |
Semi-Finals |
Nadia Turner |
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" |
60s |
Carrie Underwood |
"Alone" |
Number Ones |
Vonzell Solomon |
"The Best of My Love" |
Number Ones |
Jessica Sierra |
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" |
Number Ones |
Nikko Smith |
"One Hand, One Heart" |
Songs from Musicals |
Constantine Maroulis |
"Bohemium Rhapsody" |
Songs from Year of Birth |
Carrie Underwood |
"Crying" |
Top 3 (Clive Pick) |
Bo Bice |
"In a Dream" |
Top 3 (Contestant Pick) |
Vonzell Solomon |
"Chain of Fools" |
Top 3 (Contestant Pick) |
Mandisa |
"Never" |
Semi-Finals |
Lisa Tucker |
"I Am Changing" |
Semi-Finals |
Chris Daughtry |
"Hemorrhage (In My Hands)" |
Semi-Finals |
Melissa McGhee |
"What About Love?" |
Semi-Finals |
Elliott Yamin |
"Somebody to Love" |
Queen Week |
Katharine McPhee |
"Someone to Watch Over Me" |
Standards |
Katharine McPhee |
"Black Horse and Cherry Tree" |
Songs from Current Billboard Chart |
Taylor Hicks |
"In the Ghetto |
Elvis Songs |
Katharine McPhee |
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" |
Judge's Pick (Simon) |
LaKisha Jones |
"And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going)" |
Semi-Finals |
Chris Richardson |
"Geek in the Pink" |
Semi-Finals |
Melinda Doolittle |
"My Funny Valentine" |
Semi-Finals |
Melinda Doolittle |
"I'm a Woman" |
Semi-Finals |
Jordin Sparks |
"I, Who Have Nothing" |
British Invasion Week |
Sanjaya Malakar |
"You Really Got Me" |
British Invasion Week |
Gina Glocksen |
"I'll Stand By You" |
Music That Influenced |
Phil Stacey |
"Blaze of Glory" |
Bon Jovi Week |
Blake Lewis |
"You Give Love a Bad Name" |
Bon Jovi Week |
Melinda Doolittle |
"Have a Nice Day" |
Bon Jovi Week |
Melinda Doolittle |
"Nut Bush City Limits |
Top 3 (Producer Pick) |