There’s dozens of sites that list the best American Idol performances. Most are flat out wrong by the way. The MullerOver editorial team has pored through hundreds of hours of video to get the final, definitive list of the best Reality TV singing performances, period.
Editors’ Note: Since this posting, there has been countless comments on message boards around the Internet with agreement or disdain. We’ve gathered some of the videos that viewers said we should have included, and posted them here.
Please take a moment to post your comments and suggestions at the bottom of the page.
#10 – Clay Aiken
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
American Idol
You knew Clay Aiken would make it. This is his second performance of Don’t Let the Sun that season.
#9 – Bianca Ryan
And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going
America’s Got Talent
She’s only 11 years old and sings like Whitney or Mariah. Bianca won the debut season of America’s Got Talent before she was a teenager.
#8 – Kelly Clarkson
Stuff Like That There
American Idol
The original American Idol still is considered the most talented by many around the world. We believe “Stuff Like That There” best shows her range, voice and playfulness.
#7 – Anthony Callea
The Prayer
Australian Idol
The only performer to make the list from the Southern Hemisphere, Anthony Callea has shown he’s got the talent to represent all of Australia.
#6 – Bo Bice
Vehicle
American Idol
Bo Bice oozes cool. It was difficult for the editors to choose from his other performances Remedy, Spinning Wheel and the iconic Freebird. In the end, Vehicle was the driving song of his time on Idol.
#5 – Susan Boyle
I Dreamed a Dream
Britain’s Got Talent
The audition that shocked the world. YouTube isn’t allowing this video to be embedded, so we switched to Daily Motion for this video.
#4 – Paul Potts
Nessun Dorma
Britain’s Got Talent
The only opera song to make the list, but truly a stunning performance. Paul was the original Susan Boyle, and thrilled the audience who had already written him off
#3 – Kurt Nilson
Beautiful Day
World Idol
If I was Bono, I’d be a little worried watching this performance. All the talent without the weird glasses. The lovable plumber from Norway, Kurt Nilson, went onto win World Idol in it’s only season to date.
#2 – Danyl Johnson
With a Little Help from my Friends
The X Factor
It’s the performance that Simon Cowell said was the best first audition he’s ever seen. Danyl Johnson is a born performer waiting for an audience. Now that he’s got one, watch out.
#1 – Carrie Underwood
Alone
American Idol
The performance by which all others are measured. You can see Carrie Underwood transform from a contestant to superstar on stage. Simon Cowell correctly predicted after this performance that she’d be the top selling Idol winner of all time.
A great list, these shows certainly have uncovered some amazing voices!
I’d have shifted Callea up higher, that performance truly had the Oz Idol audience and the viewers at home spellbound.
So glad you’ve got Anthony Callea in there – that performance had everyone in raptures.
A pretty good and fair list. Thanks for putting the best from the Southern hemisphere on the list: Anthony Callea. Being from Australia he doesn’t get the exposure in USA and Europe that the others have had, but we’re grateful you found him.
I’d put his performance of the prayer above Susan Boyle and certainly Paul Potts, but that’s personal preference.
Heather, Al, Lea and Jon – thanks for finding the list in Australia. Based on other comments we’ve received, Anthony Callea is somewhat of a secret in the United States, but all who’ve heard him are amazed by his talent. One commenter said she listened to his songs for four hours straight after hearing about him on this list.
Anthony Callea !!
my God, what a voice. for him to come as the runner up in 2004, that was a totally slap in the face. absoloutely not fair.
he has amazing talent and still a huge future in music.
i love his voice – absoloutely brilliant !
I’ve listened to all these songs and there’s no way Carrie Underwood’s ‘Alone’ is #1, not even close to it.
Thanks Chris for your comments regarding Anthony Callea from Australia. I’m so glad that some people in the US have found him through your top ten list.
He’s certainly up there with the best of them!
This list is laughable. You include 3 countries (barely) and claim these are the best reality singing performances of all time. Hardly.
Please do some research next before publishing a list like this. This list barely scratches the surface of singing competitions in the world.
Its far too American centric.
As someone who watches singing competition shows from many countries throughout the world I can tell you a legit list of the best probably wouldn’t include most if any of those American Idol performances on it.
Even as a huge Carrie fan I would never put “Alone” at the top of a list that is supposed to be all encompassing.
Off the top of my head I can come up with a better list that this.
Damn right! Carrie is the standard everyone is measured by. She’s the most successful.
Susan Boyle is an exceptionally talented lady who’s been subjected to considerable pressure in the media. IMHO she deserves all of the success that she is having.
Susan Boyle’s presentation of “I Dreamed a Dream” touched my soul…. She was wonderful….
Susan Boyle’s initial appearance on the talent show fired public imagination when her modest stage introduction and thick speaking accent left audience, viewers and judges alike unprepared for the power and expression of her mezzo-soprano voice. Before she had finished the song’s opening phrase a standing ovation for Boyle had erupted.*