Raise your hand if you remember Patrick Forston (it's okay if you don't, since I didn't). The gospel/soul singer tried his best on Idol's second season, where he appeared in Group 1 of the semifinals and performed "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton. While Patrick's vocals seemed to gain a good response from Paula and Randy, it was the issue of style that made this performance especially memorable. Watch the ordeal below:
While Simon probably had a point, it's ironic thinking about how Ruben Studdard was able to actually win the same season wearing similar outfits from time to time. Even though Patrick's vocals were a little too similar to Toni's, it's fair to say his clothes are what set him apart, and the fact that Papa Forston was willing to come forth and defend his son against the evil Season 2 Simon was definiyely respectable.
There was a little more competition than usual, but Season 7's Chikezie Eze was comfortably the preferred 10th-place finalist of all nine season in the latest round of IDOL LIVE's 2010 edition of the poll of the week champion series.
Chikezie took in nine votes, good for 34% of all votes cast, which was above Didi Benami's six votes (23%) and Michael Sarver's four votes (15%). Neither Chris Sligh (Season 6) nor Julia DeMato (Season 2) received any votes.
In the next round, readers will be asked which 9th-place finalist is their favorite of all nine seasons. Voting will be open for six days.
EJay Day 0 (0%)
Julia DeMato 0 (0%)
Amy Adams 1 (3%)
Jessica Sierra 5 (19%)
Lisa Tucker 1 (3%)
Chris Sligh 0 (0%) Chikezie 9 (34%)
Michael Sarver 4 (15%)
Didi Benami 6 (23%)
Rickey Smith was somewhat overshadowed on Idol's second season by more powerful vocalists like Ruben Studdard and more controversial personalities like Corey Clark, but he still managed to deliver some memorable performances during his time on the show. In case you're having a hard time remembering some of them, watch his version of "I've Done Enough Dyin' Today" during Top 10 week's Country Rock theme below:
Although it wasn't a masterpiece and didn't give most "the chills" as it did Paula, this performance showed that Rickey's vocals were not one-dimensional and that he could offer audiences more than just a first-rate impression of Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor.
Back on Idol's second season, Trenyce was a serious contender for the title but was upstaged by more personable finalists like Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Still, she was able to put together some strong showings, including her performance of Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" during Top 8 (Billboard No. 1s) week. Watch the performance below:
Simon might have called it "cabaret," but fans liked it enough to keep Trenyce around for a few more weeks.
Julia DeMato had a storied journey on Season 2 of Idol before she was eliminated prematurely in 10th place, but it was good that she went out on a positive note with her rendition of Faith Hill's "Breathe." Watch the performance below:
Julia earned praise for her performance, especially considering how far she came from some of her earlier efforts on the show. And even her one time rival Kimberly Caldwell shed some tears after her friend was eliminated. Even though it wouldn't stand up to many performances that would come in subsequent seasons, Julia did well for herself here.
Ruben Studdard, Idol's very own "velvet teddy bear" from its second season, was known for his slow and soulful ballads more so than he was his uptempo numbers, and his performance of "A Whole New World" from Disney's Aladdin during Top 11 week's "Movie Night" theme. Watch the performance below:
Despite being early on in the season and lacking the punch that Ruben delivered in later performances like "Superstar" and "A House Is Not a Home," this performance did a lot to position him as an early favorite in the competition.
Josh Gracin, who placed fourth on Idol's second season, is often overlooked as one of the most successful finalists to come from the show. But before he could make a scene on the country radio charts, he sang country songs like Garth Brooks' "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Goes Up)" during the Country/Rock theme in Top 10 week:
It's easy to see this was far from Josh's most impressive performance while on the show, but the American public saw something in him to allow him six more weeks on Idol.
In results that could be seen only as an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for Season 7, voters in IDOL LIVE's poll of the week chose that season's "Idols Live!" tour as their favorite.
It was nothing short of a slaughter in last week's poll, with 243 votes going to the tour for the season of the Davids in 2008. That's a ridiculous 94% total take of the 256 votes cast in all. None of the other tours got so much as an honorable mention.
In this week's edition of the poll of the week, readers are asked which lead-off single of Carrie Underwood's is their favorite. Voting will be open for exactly one week.
Season 1 (2002) 1 (0%) Season 2 (2003) 1 (0%) Season 3 (2004) 1 (0%) Season 4 (2005) 2 (0%) Season 5 (2006) 3 (1%) Season 6 (2007) 2 (0%) Season 7 (2008) 243 (94%) Season 8 (2009) 3 (1%)
Idol's second season was the birthplace of the series' controversy, as early favorite Frenchie Davis was disqualified for topless photos before the semifinals round. But the even bigger scandal came Top 9 week, when it was revealed that finalist Corey Clark had a criminal past he had failed to inform producers of. Therefore, his performance of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" in the country/rock themed week was the last one he gave while on the Idol stage. Watch the performance below:
Corey was not the weakest contestant, but his past surely came back to haunt him in a devastating way. The manner in which he handled the events afterward was even more disrespectful, and for that he will forever be a member of the "fallen idols" camp.
Now that it is official that Paula Abdul will not be returning to Idol for its ninth installment, it is a good time to look back at some of the judge's most memorable moments on the show. Therefore, IDOL LIVE is counting down Paula's Top 5 most memorable moments from the show (not including her off-show antics. There are too many of those to include here and could fill up their own alternative countdown).
5) Arm in a sling and a broken nose
Paula is no stranger to injury, but when she showed up to critique the Top 7 finalists (including Jennifer Hudson) in Season 3 wearing a sling, everyone had questions about what was the cause. It turned out that Paula's thumb suffered a freak manicure accident, and so she had to keep her thumb from coming into contact with anything or she would be sent into "excruciating pain."
This was not the only time Paula hurt herself during the Idol season. Just two days before the sixth season's finale, Paula tripped on her dog and broke her nose. Oh Paula...
4) A moth, a melon and a fortune cookie
Idol's fifth season was full of bad jokes (i.e. Taylor Hicks' victory), but the worst one possibly came on Top 24 results night when Paula was asked by Ryan Seacrest to give advice to Kevin Covais and Jose "Sway" Penala, one of whom was about to be eliminated from the show. As usual, Paula did not disappoint:
Even though it came early on in this season, this one-liner has stuck with Paula to this day and symbolizes that poorly-placed humor sticks out like a sore thumb on this show.
3) Performing like it's the first time
When Paula took to the Idol stage for the first time in the series' existence to perform her new single "(I'm Just) Here For the Music," the excitement was through the roof. When it came time for the actual performance, however, many considered it to be a let-down:
Sure, Paula's choreography is unsurpassed and still seems to be top-notch after all these years, but her lip-synching was not the right kind of example to set for the finalists considering they were receiving feedback from her on their singing among other things. Still, this performance is one for the Idol history books.
2) The affair of the century
Although accusations of an affair between Paula and Season 2 disqualified contestant Corey Clark were still two years away, the decision to include a sketch of Paula having a dinner date with Simon Cowell, complete with sexual tension and suggestive undertones.
The big, fat kiss that topped off the scene was the icing on the cake. It's pretty certain, however, that something like this would never have happened in any season after this.
1) Seeing the future!
This will forever and always be known as the most memorable moment of Paula's Idol career. As you all remember, things got hectic on Top 5 night in Season 7 as the judges were asked to write down comments for each of the Top 5 finalists' performances and deliver them all at once. Paula was noticeably caught up in the impromptu change in procedure and gave us all this gem:
Now, say what you will about Paula and her crazy antics, but you can't deny this was hilarious. It might not be her most proud moment, but to Idol fans it is without a doubt her most memorable one. Once again Paula, thanks for all the fun you've given us over the past seven years and good luck in your future endeavors.
Clay Aiken is unquestionably the glory note king of the Idol franchise, but when it comes to fast-paced selections, he does not retain his same powerful singing mantra. Just refresh your memory by watching his performance of "Everlasting Love" during Top 9 week's disco theme:
As usual, Clay's up-tempo singing style pleased Randy, Paula and the guest judge of the week (this week, Verdeen White of the group Earth, Wind & Fire), but left Simon unimpressed. In fact, he used the "T word" to describe his reaction to the performance. Even though it was not his greatest moment, Disco Week was a good indicator for Clay of what genre was not the best choice for him.
Carmen Rasmusen may not have been met with the same magnitude of a career in the country music realm like Carrie Underwood, but she similarly took on 80's rock back on her season of Idol when she performed "Call Me" by Blondie on Top 8 week for the Billboard #1 Hits theme. Watch the performance below:
Unlike Carrie, Carmen fell flat on her face with her attempt at the genre. In fact, Simon called it a combination of "dreadful" and "awful," which was still a big sting back in Season 2. Still, Carmen's performance remains one of the most memorable from her season.
Charles Grigsby did not last very long in the second season of Idol thanks to an extra strong field of male competition, and his rendition of Marvin Gaye's classic "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You" was one of his two showings for the American public while in the finals. Refresh your memory of the performance below:
The performance, which came during the Motown theme of Top 12 week, was very underwhelming and was seen as more of a karaoke offering than a serious effort by a real contender.
Still, Idol was in its early stage at this point, and Charles was a better vocalist than a few of his peers in Season 2, but could not get his act together in time to show what he could really do. For this, Charles' performance is worthy of a revisiting.
IDOL LIVE is the place to stay up to date with the most current news on past, present and possibly future American Idol contestants, in addition to discussing the show in real-time as it happens.
