Favourite American Idol Seasons: #8

I have decided to overrun this little American Idol project for eight more days. I know that this is getting a bit thin, but it is not like I have any other interesting stuffs to share. Well, I originally planned to post a Top 100 Albums list even before the holiday. Unfortunately, I still have a truckload of interesting albums (that I suppose are likely to make the list) left unheard on my computer drive. That list might need to be postponed until the next holiday, I guess.

But for now, while the theme of American Idol is still fresh, let us have fun for eight more days.

#8 – Season 3

The least watchable American Idol season ever. Do not get me wrong, this season do boast three of the show’s most competent finalists (I bet you can name them within one guess). But folks, we have some problems here.

First of all, the holy trinity happens to consist of three black R&B divas with big voices. I do not have anything against black people, nor R&B music in general, much less accomplished vocalists with big voices. The problem is, let us face it, the show gets a bit dry when it is lacking in diversity.

Other contestants do not help that much as well. Diana DeGarmo is essentially a mini-diva in every sense of the word. Jasmine Trias, despite being a total opposite of vocal powerhouse, somehow pulled out her song choices from the diva songbook. Even the sassy Amy Adams introduced herself to the voters on the first week by belting out The Power Of Love.

When we are not treated with these karaoke of Whitney classics, though, the show is even more painful. The bottom half of the talent pool is made up of the show’s most incompetent finalists. Oh, the horror!

John Stevens virtually have no clue on what to do with his unique voice, because all his deep bass voice did during the show is to accentuate how boring a (non-)singer he is. Jon Peter Lewis is more bearable, but the only context of which his performances are appropriate is when you regard them as semi-entertaining masquerades.

Matt Rogers and Camile Velasco are pure fodders who would not have made it on any other seasons. And do not even get me started on Leah LaBelle.

Only two of the finalists provide occasional worthy offerings that are not Whitney-lites – George Huff and Amy Adams. Even these contestants did not manage to put much impression, particularly the latter, which brings us to the next issue. Although the talent level is at all-time low, things could have gotten better as the more inferior contestants leave, right?

Yes. But only if they really left before all the good ones are gone, mind you.

At ninth place, Amy Adams – our only hope for significant stylistic diversity – is eliminated. After the Final Seven week, we already lost Jennifer Hudson while John Stevens is still alive to bore us for another week. Quality performance gets increasingly scarce as LaToya London left us at fourth place.

To be fair, Jasmine Trias had some decent performances. But when the third best singer in America that year can be described as “merely decent”, you know that something is seriously wrong. And it all led up to the most anti-climatic finale ever: Fantasia vs Diana.

If you ever wonder why the show’s format is radically revised for Season 4 and onwards, now you know the answer.

But well, let us give credit to Season 3 where it deserves. After all, the holy trinity are darn outstanding vocalists who can lit the stage on fire. Diana DeGarmo had a couple of memorable moments during her run.

Even for Jasmine Trias, provided if she did not overstay, we can openly appreciate her nice smooth vocal to entertain us for a week or two before its blandness start to show. And of course, Jon Peter Lewis is still a semi-entertaining masquerade of a contestant.

Best Night

Only when John Stevens left that the show is finally free from major trainwrecks. Only before LaToya London left that we have a chance to witness enough showstoppers from anyone not named Fantasia Barrino.

Throughout the whole season, only two nights qualify for these two simple requirements. One of them is the cheesy disco theme, which is an auto-disqualification for the best night nominee.

We are left with only one contender, take it or leave it: Final 5 – Big Band.

It was the night when LaToya delivered a back-to-back twin of outstanding performances. Fantasia and George delivered some of their best performances (Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Cheek To Cheek respectively), while Jasmine is also decent enough during the whole night. Diana DeGarmo is not at her prime, but she was still far from messy.

But well, the two LaToya numbers alone would suffice to justify this as the best night from the third season.

Ranking of Finalists

01. Fantasia Barrino (Best performance: I Believe)
02. LaToya London (Best performance: Don’t Rain On My Parade)
03. Jennifer Hudson (Best performance: Circle Of Life)
04. Diana DeGarmo (Best performance: Don’t Cry Out Loud)
05. George Huff (Best performance: Take Me To The Pilot)
06. Amy Adams (Best performance: Sin Wagon)
07. Jasmine Trias (Best performance: Inseparable)
08. Jon Peter Lewis (Best performance: Jailhouse Rock)
09. Matt Rogers (Best performance: Hard To Handle)
10. Camile Velasco (Best performance: Desperado)
11. John Stevens (Best performance: King Of The Road)
12. Leah LaBelle (Best performance: Let’s Stay Together)

Honorable semi-finalists: Suzy Vulaca, Lisa Leuschner, Katie Webber

Top 10 Performances

01. Don’t Rain On My Parade by LaToya London
02. I Believe by Fantasia Barrino
03. Summertime by Fantasia Barrino
04. Too Close For Comfort by LaToya London
05. Don’t Cry Out Loud by Diana DeGarmo
06. Somewhere by LaToya London
07. Circle Of Life by Jennifer Hudson
08. All By Myself by LaToya London
09. A Broken Wing by Diana DeGarmo
10. Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Fantasia Barrino