The Vote for the Worst Hall of Fame Top 20 Favorite American Idol Performances Ever

As the seventh season of American Idol has ended, Vote for the Worst has compiled a list of the 20 performances that make us actually take the time to watch Idol. These are not the 20 worst performances, nor are they 20 performances with bad singing. They are our 20 favorite, most entertaining performances that really define what VFTW is all about. Did your favorite make the list? Click "Read more" to see how the members of this site ranked our top 20, watch the performances again that you love, and check out some new ones you may have never seen that are true classics.

20. Brooke White - You Must Love Me

19. Carmen Rasmusen - Can't Fight the Moonlight

18. Josh Gracin - Jive Talkin'

17. Constantine Maroulis - Hard to Handle

16. Jasmine Trias - It's Raining Men

15. Taylor Hicks - Play that Funky Music

14. Sundance Head - Jeremy

13. Janay Castine - Hit Em Up Style

12. Amanda Overmyer - Carry On My Wayward Son

11. David Radford - Crazy Little Thing Called Love

10. Rodesia Eaves - Daydream Believer

9. Mikalah Gordon - Young Hearts Run Free

8. Jon Peter Lewis - A Little Less Conversation

7. Juanita Barber - What About the Children

6. Kristy Lee Cook - Eight Days a Week

5. Bobby Bennett - Copacabana

4. Kevin Covais - Part Time Lover

3. John Stevens - Crocodile Rock

2. Sanjaya Malakar - Bathwater

1. Sanjaya Malakar - You Really Got Me

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Van Dergraaf
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 10:13am
Joined: 07 Mar 2007

Yes! "You Really Got Me" was indeed the greatest performance ever on AI.
You can forget any of the criticisms made by the judges shills or any of the AI tards, because they all miss the most important element of what makes this great and music in general.

SANJAYA ROCKED!!!
Especially when you recall this was British Invasion Week. Contrast this to B-B-Blake's tepid devolution of "Time of the Season" or Nose-Phil-Atu's lifeless "Tobacco Road".

And the Ponyhawk Performance is a fitting #2.

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Gokey rhymes with karaoke.

Both suck.

Krispea86
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 10:21am
Joined: 10 May 2008

Awww! I remember the red head! Haha. When he sang "King of the Road" and messed up on the lyrics big time by repeating it over and over, I knew his days wouldn't last much longer.

As for Sanjaya. That was seriously my first time ever hearing him sing. I missed out on Season 6. All I really ever heard about him was his do in the #2 video. But yeah. Wow. He can't sing.

And look! It's Chicken Little! Did you all hear the news that he's going to be in a movie with Drake Bell and Andrew Caldwell, called "College"? That should be interesting.

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http://www.myspace.com/krispea86

Scott Baio
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 10:56am
Joined: 05 Mar 2008

All are good picks, yes, but there's one entry conspicuously missing from the list that I feel really belongs. That would be a young, pre-breast implants version of Kellie "My God Is She Retarded?" Pickler performing "Bohemian Rhapsody."

The deer-in-the-headlights look, the 80's hair, the fact that the entire song is out of tune, the forced growl during the "rocking out" part of the song, the hokey confrontation of Simon, the freaking shoulder pads, the inexplicable fact that all three judges actually said it was good. Takes ridiculously entertaining to a whole new level. Even Queen is visibly struggling to keep from telling her how awful she is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2il58qHs-4

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http://notbaio.wordpress.com

Requiem
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 12:29pm
Joined: 28 Mar 2008

Yes, all the performances up there were probably some of the worst in VFTW history, but I think the order was a little fucked up. I mean, Sanjaya's rendition of "You Really Got Me" was HORRIBLE (in a VFTW kinda way), but John Stevens' rendition of "Crocodile Rock" still should've stayed at number one. But I'm not the only judge, so what do I know?

sunshine8503
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 12:56pm
Joined: 15 Mar 2007

You Really Got Me is the best thing I have ever seen on television ever. Sanjaya totally embraced his VFTWness and finally had some fun on the stage.

Bathwater is amazing as well. The way he fucked with the fantards and media by doing his hair like that. I knew he loved us then. Also when he finally started to talk back to the judges.

Best contestant ever.

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" they've all failed, which is why they're turning up for American Idol." Simon on all the failed plants this season(Carly,Kristy, and so on)

lame101
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 1:23pm
Joined: 16 Apr 2008

awesome list! glad to see our Papaya on top.

If there were honorary mentions though, I would totally give them to Danny's "Tainted Love" and Castro's "I Shot the Sheriff"....maybe not as entertaining as the top 20, but almost....

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"I was thinking BOB MARLEY!"

FenderBender
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 2:38pm
Joined: 20 Mar 2007

Juanita will always be tops in my book. Not the song, but the reaction afterwards. "I think we need a new judge". Classic. And for the record, Simon was absolutely right when he covered his ears and said that "people will be doing this". I had to turn the volume way down while listening to that because I was getting nautious.

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ROCK TIL DEATH!!!

Revolver7
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 3:35pm
Joined: 22 Apr 2008

Ok .. I actually didn't give Idol more than a cursory glance prior to this year .. that Taylor Hicks dude actually won?

lol .. awesome.
I think Simon got it wrong though .. I've seen better at weddings.

All in all a very entertaining list. I'm having lots of fun "catching up" so to speak.

Van Dergraaf
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 4:21pm
Joined: 07 Mar 2007

Juanita will always be tops in my book. Not the song, but the reaction afterwards.

I also loved when she was introducing her group backstage.
"My mother-in-law, my boyfriend, my aunt."
Mother-in-law & boyfriend?

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Gokey rhymes with karaoke.

Both suck.

CastorTroy
Posted: June 3, 2008 - 4:28pm
Joined: 14 Feb 2008

How could you forget this oldie but goodie??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq44Ap3zF54

For some reason, I always had the hots for her.