Interlude: 15 All-Time Worst Idol Performances

Let’s face it. Everyone’s aware of the selection process of Idol hopefuls since the auditions to Hollywood week up until the announcement of the semifinalists. Heck, the show spends almost two months of good television just to show people who got great potentials and most of the time, the people who are absolutely atrocious and absurd. So why do we still see - and hear - ghastly performances during live shows? Nerves? Song Choice? Illness? Or they’re just plain Tone Deaf? Haha.

Today, I present to you my list of THE all-time worst American Idol Performances. I'd say, hold on to whatever you can hold on to. Haha. This will be really interesting. Enjoy!!

Here's my list of the 15 All-Time Worst Idol Peformances:

15. Love Will Lead You Back

Mikalah Gordon (Season 4)

Arguably, she was one of the most interesting personalities EVER to be on American Idol. Her downfall, however, was that she kept on picking - consecutively - outdated song that didn’t showcase her mediocre, at best, voice. Haha. Moreover, her voice was noticeably cracking throughout the song.

14. New Attitude

Tamyra Gray (Season 1)

She was, beyond doubt, Kelly Clarkson’s greatest rival during Season 1 after giving a string of good-to-great performances. But because of this unbelievably lackluster and almost horrible performance, she was sent home the next day.

13. Hit 'Em Up With Style

Janay Castine (Season 4)

Janay, to me, had a sharpness to her toned voice but not as polished or trained. But what was she thinking with this song choice? Her dancing was strange, her vocals were off, and she had a weird penchant for pointing at the camera and making scared faces.

12. Part Time Lover

Kevin Covais (Season 5)

I wasn’t really sure as to why he lasted the competition that long. I mean, he sure was adorable but this performance was just wrong. I got confused if he was singing the song too high or too low. Oh, and that Chicken Little dance moves. Epic!

11. Eight Days A Week

Kristy Lee Cook (Season 7)

It was not the worst vocal performance of Season 7, but it was undeniably the worst mutilation of a classic song I’ve ever seen/heard. To turn a classic Beatles pop song into hillbilly country ditty is an abomination.

10. Put Your Records On

Antonella Barba (Season 6)

She never delivered any good performance during her run on the show. But among the train wrecks she has provided, this one was, I believe, her worst. It was a hot mess but the last 26 seconds were not all too bad though.

09. It's Raining Men

Jasmine Trias (Season 3)

She had her moments but this one was clearly not one of them. It was really bad! The pitch was all over the place and I didn’t get that performance AT ALL. She cried though, which made LaToya London packed her bags the next day.

08. Stay

Nicole Tranquillo (Season 6)

This performance defied the word PITCHY. Enough said.

07. Bathwater

Sanjaya Malakar (Season 6)

Vocally, it wasn’t terrible. But there’s got to be a Sanjaya entry somewhere as the word “Sanjaya Malakar” and “Worst” do belong in the same sentence. Haha. Oh, and don’t get me started with THE hair!

06. Against All Odds

Paige Miles (Season 9)

If this is a shock to you, then you are probably Helen Keller. Haha. This performance was far worse than Smile, and I thought that was as bad as Paige could sing. I was, unfortunately, wrong. Why does Paige hate Phil Collins? What did he do to her? This was so bad it seemed like revenge.

05. What About The Children

Juanita Barber (Season 2)

"I'm singing to America asking them, What about the children? How's that the wrong song?!" Haha. Juanita, you're unbelievable. Sure, the vocals weren't the worst of all time for an Idol contestant, but her overall attitude was just legendary. Haha. 

04. Hard To Handle

Constantine Maroulis (Season 4)

This performance, to me, didn’t work. It was more of a weird succession of earsplitting noises than music. Maybe he thought that by doing this will make him a certified "rocker" than, say "poser"? Haha. Awful!

03. Copacabana

Bobby Bennett (Season 5)

Overall, it - and he - was a big JOKE. What were the judges thinking when they included him in the semifinals that season?  It was pitchy with uneccesary growling, complete with the oversized suit and an unusual facial expression to boot. He was also too energetic and sassy for my taste. The performance was weird to the highest echelon. Haha.

02. Dream On

Danny Gokey (Season 8)

Up until now, I can still hear the wailing he did that night. It sounded like a dying cat crushed by garbage bags in a stinky dumpster. It was undeniably the worst performance of Season 8 - or probably EVER. It was murder to my ears! Seriously.

01. Crocodile Rock

John Stevens (Season 3)

This was definitely one entertainingly bad performance. I couldn’t believe that he even dared to sing this song as it didn’t fit his style. The dancing was hideous and the red suit didn’t help as well. It was like watching the Muppets sing. Haha. It was painful but funny, nonetheless. Touted by the judges as the worst performance they have ever heard.. and six seasons later they’re still right.

Interlude: 20 All-Time Best Idol Performances