The 10 Best Performances from American Idol's Ninth Season
Whittling down American Idol's ninth season to its best performances isn't a difficult task, because the standout moments hold up and resonate weeks (even months) later. The trick is ranking the best riffs of Crystal Bowersox, the finest croons of Lee DeWyze, and the kitschy caterwauls of Siobhan Magnus. Depending on your criteria for stellar Idol showmanship, any of those could rank at #1, but after much nail-biting and revising, Movieline has ranked the best ten Idol performances in a definitive list. Let's fight.
10. Crystal Bowersox "Long As I Can See the Light"
Creedence Clearwater Revival covers never sounded so invigorated. This early performance of Crystal's was soulful from start to finish, an exhibition of her throwback appeal and undeniable immediacy.
9. Didi Benami "Play with Fire"
Didi took an unnecessary beating from the judges during the season, but her hushed, intimate style is so bankable on 2010 radio. With "Play with Fire," she replaced her lilting coo with a steely holler, making for one of the darkest and most sincere performances of the season. Do forgive her momentary slip-up in verse three.
8. Lee DeWyze "That's Life"
Resident court jester Harry Connick Jr. couldn't even inject much fun into Frank Sinatra week, but Lee DeWyze's assured rendition of "That's Life" elevated the stodgy evening. In fact, this was almost shockingly current.
7. Siobhan Magnus "House of the Rising Sun"
Forget whatever Simon said about "not changing the original song enough." What version of "House of the Rising Sun" does he know? Siobhan Magnus tore through the Animals classic with operatic swagger and rock angst.
6. Lee DeWyze "Treat Her Like a Lady"
Lee's best performance of the season was a dead-ringer for Chris Daughtry, but it was also another current rendition of an old, old song. Perhaps Lee's greatest gift is making outdated hits sound new. Katie Stevens and Andrew Garcia could've used some of that magic.
Pages: 1 2
Subscribe to the new Movieline on YouTube
Comments
So you're not counting Hollywood Week, eh? I would included the oft cited Andrew Garcia's "Straight Up", and Bowersox's "Natural Woman".
I have a rule with Idol contestants: If the song you want to sing was made famous by a "Stevie", any Stevie (Wonder, Nicks, Ray Vaughan) back the fuck up! You can't improve on this. (Seriously, if Steve Perry had changed his named just a hair, he wouldn't have a Filipino vocal twin touring around the globe erasing his memory). This rule was iron clad until one Melinda Doolittle had the stones to sing "For Once in My Life" as her opening salvo, and it tore it up! I mean stunned the judges into total silence (until they tried to play it off like she was the 8th devastatingly game changing songstress they've heard that afternoon). I had to admit, what I thought was the Great Wall of singing rules was run through like a flimsy red tape barrier at a Bridal Sale at Filene's. I was chastened, but then I shrugged it off and rebuilt the rule. She was an exception, I said. And for a couple of seasons, I was right. She was the only exception. So you can imagine the tut tutting and headshaking that Seacrest's introduction of Benami's "Rhiannon" provoked. But, oh. She did it. With this tasteful purity of voice and composition, this woman walked right up to my Stevie Wall and with the determination of a girl scout on cookie drive, got me to plunk down for the crooning, the falsettos and the damn thin mints. I was sold, y'all. Sold!
Finally! someone has noticed Didi Benami's Rhiannon as one of the BEST PERFORMANCE of the lackluster 9th season of AI. I totally agree that Didi made it sound like it was written for her, more stripped down and in a haunting yet mellow kinda way. I thought she wont pull it off but she did and it was beautiful. Her live performance of the Rolling Stone classic was so powerful you could actually believe her, I dont know I just think that both Didi and Siobhan has a thing for dark themed song, which I dont condone because it fits them so well and they're far the best performance they've shown on the season. Too bad Didi stumbled her way after Rolling Stone, she could have made Beatles Week more interesting with her take on Black Bird or Across the Universe..
You have it pretty good, but I would put Hallelujah at the #1.
crystal, you got robbed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guarantee this to every one reading this comment, as a matter of fact I'm accepting all bets on this.
I will bet that Crystal and Siobhon will be bigger stars and make way more money than Lee, The fans have made this American Idol the worst voting idol ever. I don't know what the hell they were listening to but hey voters, why waste your money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Siobion, I just seen your video when you sang the house of the rising sun, you are sexy, hot and you have talent beyond the universe, I love you and can't wait for your first album
If she had made it to Beatles Week, she would've gone on to the Top 5. "Blackbird" and "Across the Universe" both would've been stellar.
SIOBHAN's HOUSE OF RISING SUN is so cool.
And Paint it Black's position is correct.
DIDI's Rhiannon is WHAT? one of the best.
glad you placed it here.
These songs is worth the download and
if it's on an album, i would definitely
buy it!!!
One of the most favorite PC software for online free movies offers over 3000 channels from around the world. One may not need a translation here to understand this universal language of sex.