Top 10 Most Memorable American Idol Auditions

For many, American Idol is about auditions. Tens of thousands have gone through, but ten stand out as especially memorable to our editors.

And for this post, our IT staff spent the night putting together a live poll to get your interest as well. Please take a moment to vote so we can determine the final order of “most memorable” of all time.

She Bangs

Perhaps the most iconic audition in American Idol history. William Hung is the first to realize that there’s two paths to American Idol stardom and riches – singing really, really good, and singing really, really bad.

I Am Your Brother

It’s one of those original American Idol songs that you can’t get out of your head. Take off the pimp Halloween costume, and Renaldo is everyone’s brother and best friend forever.

The Letter

This is one of the best auditions on American Idol, and Daughtry has become one of the biggest rock singers in the 2000s. Showing that he can often be very wrong, Simon said of Daughtry, “I’m not sure I’m looking at a stand-alone star.”

Got Your Money

Can you dig it!? Never has a contestant been so unintelligible and so entertaining at the same time. The presence of Gene Simmons from Kiss makes this audition even more memorable.

Express Yourself

Kelly is the first American Idol, and arguably still the most talented. Somehow, in this audition she took the place of Randy as a judge.

In My Dreams

He believed his singing “could do a lot for this country.” Derek was called by Simon as the “worst singer in America”.

Pants on the Ground

It’s the performance that started a national craze. From Brett Favre to politicians on the floor of the chamber, people worldwide were humming pants on the ground for weeks. Although he’s too old for the competition, Platt just wanted to get his message out to kids everywhere. “Get it up!”

A Change is Gonna Come

He made gray hair cool. Taylor Hicks’ unusual style and full body ticks made this one of the more memorable auditions. Despite all the original doubts of the judges, Taylor went on to win Season Five.

Tearing up my Heart

Kenneth Briggs and his new best friend, Jonathan Jayne, become two of the most memorable of Season 6, and even made cameo appearances at the finale. Strangely, this clip has Japanese subtitles.

Like a Virgin

The very definition of an American Idol train wreck. Keith brings self delusion to a whole new level and almost makes Madonna’s version sound good. Simon trumped his criticism of Derek Stillings by calling Keith the “worst singer in the world.”