Top 10 Favorite American Idol Performances of 2007

I am sure I will ruffle some feathers with this one! It's unconventional I admit.

This was really tough. My goal was to find the most memorable performances in a season that was a bit lackluster overall. Maybe it wasn’t the contestants fault? Maybe it was a result of too much focus on the mentors? Either way, here are MY favorite performances...starting it off at 10:

10) Sanjaya Malakar – Audition:
I was a big fan of Sanjayas’ in the beginning. He was the kind of contestant we all love. Big potential, shy, great smile! OK it didn’t work out like we expected, but I still loved his audition!



9) Sundance Head – Audition:
Sundance not making the Top 12 was one of the first things wrong with Season 6. His song selections during the Top 24 weren’t great, and his nerves seemed to get the best of him, but come on America! Big mistake letting him fall away to lesser vocalists. This is a singing competition after all!



8) Blake Lewis – You Give Love a Bad Name:
I was never really a fan of Blake’s vocals, but I loved how he contemporized this song. He took a huge risk on this one and it paid off!



7) Taylor Hicks – Finale – Heaven Knows:
Taylor was an early favorite of mine in AI5, but lost some luster for me during the competition, and in the end was not my favorite to win. However, when he came out during this years finale it occurred to me how mediocre this season had been compared to Season 5. His “whiskey tenor” was in great vocal voice! In my opinion, we did not have one single guy this year whose vocals were even close to the depth of either Taylor or Elliott from Season 5.



6) Jordin Sparks – Final 2 - Broken Wing:
A flawless vocal. This performance during the Final Two was even better than the first time she performed it.



5) Hollywood – Chris Sligh, Blake Lewis, Rudy Cardenas, Tom Lowe:
You throw four guys together, a little older than many of the contestants, with professional experience performing in bands and you get THIS in Hollywood. It was a show-stopper!



4) Melinda Doolittle – My Funny Valentine:
I loved this song when Constantine performed it in Season 4. Melinda’s version had a completely different feel. After it was all said and done, this remained my favorite performance of hers.



3) Chris Sligh – Audition – Kiss From a Rose:
I had the same reaction to Chris’ audition as Paula. He gave me goosebumps and he had so much potential, but unfortunately he never quite lived up to it. At least not in the context of this show. He was definitely my favorite going into this year.



2) Jordin Sparks – I Who Have Nothing:
This performance I believe put Jordin in the drivers seat for Season 6. It became her competition to lose. This was the season of the ladies and Jordin showed us the most growth, and this was her turning point for me!



1) Jordin Sparks – This Is My Now:
This is what it’s all about isn’t it? Changing someones life forever? It is for me. I admit it's a bit cheesy. Jordin made it through this song with so much emotion, after winning, it still brings me to tears!



Thoughts?

Melinda with CeCe and BeBe Winans

Melinda Doolittle, No Longer a Backup Singer

The consumate professional, our Melinda Doolittle. She probably peaked too early, because she was perfection from day one. We fickle Americans like to see improvement each week. I have no doubt Melinda will be signed by Clive Davis...she has probably already been snatched up, but we won't hear any announcement about it until after the Finale. Congrats Melinda! You have an amazing future ahead of you!

This remains one of my favorite Melinda Doolittle performances of the whole season. Would love to see her do it again! Hope she brings it on tour!

Melinda - Idol's Choice - I'm A Woman

Melinda - Producer's Choice - Nutbush City Limits

Melinda - Randy's Choice - I Believe In You And Me

Idols Go Home

The Top 3 Idols, as we've seen in the past, get to return to their home towns for the day and see first hand the support they are receiving at home. This season that day was yesterday (Friday). During their home town celebrations they also receive from a home town official one of their song selections. Here are some pictures popping up on the web from those visits.

Jordin returns to Arizona:

Blake returns to Seattle:

Melinda returns to Tenessee:

Melinda Doolittle - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Melinda Doolittle - Love You Inside Out

Melnda Doolittle - Have A Nice Day

Melinda Doolittle - There Will Come A Day

To vote for Melinda, call 1 (877) 436-5702, or 1 (877) 436-5708.

Randy says Melinda has arrived, he doesn't even know what to say anymore; Paula says she's magical; Simon loved it and said it was a vocal master class!

This girl is incapable of singing out of tune! Amazing vocals!

Melinda Doolittle - Trouble Is A Woman

Melinda is one of the only ones in this comp that can hit the low notes...and hit them strong! So many of the contestants drop off when they go low.

Great job Melinda! and Upbeat!

Melinda Doolittle - Sway

Comments and videos will follow a little later tonight...I'm not home.

Update..Simon didn't like it!

Melinda...great vocals...very polished as usual. I still can't figure out what sort of record this girl would do? Even though the judges say Melinda always "feels" her music, how come I don't feel it?

Melinda Doolittle - I've Got Rythm

I don't think there is any disputing this girl can sing! Nice performance! Simon is worried they won't ever find anything to criticize with Melinda...

Melinda Doolittle - Heaven Knows

Blue is one of my favorite colors and Melinda looked great in it! She sings great. I wish she would stop making the funny faces and stuff...otherwise another GREAT performance.

Simon hates the outfit...WHAT?

Melinda Doolittle - As Long As He Needs Me

Another great performance by the Doolittle!

Melinda Doolittle - Home

Not my favorite performance by Melinda, but good enough.