The Top 12 Performances of American Idol 7
14. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by David Cook
13. "And So It Goes" by David Archuleta
12. "Hello" by David Cook
What is great about this performance is that it gave everyone a glimpse of what David Cook could do: take a popular tune, and then turn into something else. If "Hello" didn't already impress you, the best of David Cook was yet to come.
11. “She’s A Woman” by Chikezie
True, I hated Chikezie in the Top 24 and refused to give him anything else but a Top 12 finish, but I have to admit that this performance was one of the best of the season.
Take a banjo and an African-American man singing a bluegrass version of a Beatles song, and you get a one-way ticket to the Summer Tour.
10. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" by David Archuleta
Sadly, this came too late, but it was enough to convince all 3 judges in the Finale that maybe, just maybe, David Archuleta could win it all on the last night of Idol.
9. "Daydream" by Jason Castro
With zero exposure during the Auditions and Hollywood Week, Jason Castro did what only Bo Bice was able to do once before. He took his blue eyes, dreadlocks and guitar on the American Idol stage, sang "Daydream" and become an instant contender. That's how great this was.
8. "Here You Come Again" by Carly Smithson
My only biased selection on this list, but this is my favorite performance of the entire season. Carly Smithson transformed this Dolly Parton hit and made it her own. Unfortunately, Simon Cowell couldn't give a f#ck.
7. "Let It Be" by Brooke White
Brooke White at her best: on the piano singing her heart out. Afterwards she put on her shoes and shed some tears during the judge's comments. One of the most memorable moments of the season.
6. "Over the Rainbow" by Jason Castro
One word: ukulele. The second of Jason's iTunes hits, he was also able to propel Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Over the Rainbow" to the iTunes Top 10 on the strength of this performance.
5. "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right" by Michael Johns
I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world who can't get this song by Michael Johns out my head. I can hear it while I'm walking, on the bus, on the subway. I mean, this is insanely good. I'm even hearing it as I write this. "Tell me sexy lovin' lines..." I love it!
4. "Hallelujah" by Jason Castro
The famous "bum note" in the end aside, Jason Castro accomplished something that even the 2 Davids could not do: bump another artist's single to the top of the iTunes charts. Two days after this performance, Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" was at #2 on iTunes all because of Jason Castro. Amazing.
3. "Imagine" by David Archuleta
One of the greatest American Idol performances of all time, "Imagine" convinced everyone that David Archuleta was the one to beat. So strong was this, that even if David had a couple of missteps in the Top 12, everyone was willing to forgive because they knew he was capable of greatness.
2. "Billie Jean" by David Cook
Unfortunately, this performance is a bit tainted because Randy Jackson proclaimed at the end that David Cook was an original, when in fact David covered the version by Chris Cornell. Everyone then assumed that David Cook had originated this version of "Billie Jean" angering Chris Cornell's fans.
However, this doesn't take away from how good this performance is. After David Archuleta flubbed his lines in "We Can Work It Out" and a poor song choice with "You're The Voice" -- David Cook took command of the driver's seat with "Billie Jean" and never looked back.
1. "Always Be My Baby" by David Cook
The biggest hit of the season. Just a no-frills radio-friendly pop song from start to finish. Almost too good for American Idol. But David Cook brought us there... and yes, we are all better because of it.
That's it. Discuss!