Idol Countdown: #6-4

So I've realized writing about the best Idol performances isn't nearly as fun as ripping on all the crappy people who they put into the top 24+ every year. But alas, I'm basically halfway through so this labor of love let's continue to the amazing end.

#6: Tamyra Gray - House Is Not A Home




We'll ignore Tamyra's choice of rocking an oh so popular Maternity-shirt-with-bell-sleeves look (as that was apparently all the rage at the turn of the millennium). This was, by far, the best idol performance of Season 1. Granted, that's kind of like being the world's tallest midget, or the least gay dude on Gossip Girl, or...the best performer on Season 1 of Idol. But whatever, Tamyra is great.

I also think Tamyra needs a spot here as she totally deserved to win season 1, sorry Kelly, but got jobbed in the first ever surprise elimination. That, coincidentally, was also the first time I uttered the phrase, "Way to go, AMERICA" (it was not, unfortunately, the last. Way to go, Bush administration). In conclusion, Tamyra was awesome and it's a shame a quick wikipedia search let's me know her most recent credits include the role of "singing guest #2" in Rachel Getting Married. LAME.

#5: Elliott Yamin - A Song For You



At last, a gentleman on my countdown! I have to say I am biased towards the ladies, as I once said to my friend Luar, "If a female singer is really really good, she can make your nipples hard". But I also think it has to do with the type of male singers they put on this show. There are very few guys who are just great singers. There are "rockers" whom I admit I don't enjoy as much as others (the reason Daughtry and Bo Bice aren't on this list). There are the gimmicky guys like Blake Lewis or Taylor Hicks. And from the batch of good guy singers, they tend not to have the big singing "moments" that the ladies have.

But Elliott is great. He's not a classic idol belter. He has a wonderful soul voice, one that I still find hard to believe when it comes from that body. Also, I really love this performance because I KNOW I could never sing it. His riffs, and his perfect-for-soul-music tone are just beyond what almost all people can do. He's terrific.


#4: Melinda Doolittle - My Funny Valentine



This is probably the single-best piece of technical singing that's ever been performed on idol. Every note is in tune, in a song that practically begs you to go flat. All of Melinda's runs are perfectly executed and never over-done. Her tone is perfect, even when she's hitting notes in the top of her range they never sound screechy. There is absolutely NOTHING to critique about this performance. God damn it, Melinda. Why did you have to look like Shrek?


So that's it for this part of the countdown. Next week we'll get to the top 3 idol performances ever!!1