American Idol Most Memorable Video Performances, Then and Now

American Idol contestants listen each season to judge Simon Cowell repeat these dreadful words: "OK, look, if you want me to be honest, people won't remember you or that performance." That's when the American Idol audience shouts boo's, mostly from the Idol's family members. Simon Cowell is always right. The most memorable American Idol video performances represent the number one American Idol contestant challenge: when do you make it your own and when do you leave it alone?

As American Idol Season 8 moves into the next Top 11 contestant performances, what can these AI Season 8 contestants learn from past American Idol Icons and their performances? The Top 11 American Idol Season 8 performers are: Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Lil Rounds, Kris Allen, Matt Giraud, Scott MacIntyre, Michael Sarver, Megan Joy, and Anoop Desai. Adam Lambert seems to have a handle on the number one contestant challenge and Adam is my American Idol fave prediction for winning Season 8.

Some former American Idol contestants also figured it out. Jordin Sparks sang You'll Never Walk Alone and Katherine McPhee sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow with just their beautiful voices - that's all they needed. Yet, Chris Daughtry sang I Walk the Line and David Cook sang Billie Jean using their own arrangements and the songs were as good or better than the originals! Another memorable American Idol performance was Michael Johns singing Light My Fire after he made it through AI Hollywood Week with an "out of the park" version of Bohemian Rhapsody. These were totally memorable moments for all five American Idol contestants.

What makes an American Idol performance forgettable? American Idol fans do not care that you danced around the house with Grandma when you were little to a song America never thought was popular. American Idol fans do not care that your Mom picked her favorite song from the 1960s because you were not born yet. American Idol fans do not care that your favorite genre is NOT Grand Ole' Opry, therefore it is acceptable to screw up the country song. Showing up on American Idol in a bikini may give you five days of fame, but it won't make you an American Idol Icon. The reality TV show is about singing and dressing for respectable stage presence! DUH!

What makes an American Idol performance memorable? True music fans like all genres of music and expect their favorite American Idol singer/songwriters to pull it off no matter what. Look what Opera singer Paul Potts did when he won Britain's Got Talent. Don't get on stage and whine because you never got into Elvis Presley music so you cannot perform those songs very good. Many of the American Idol fans voting for you during Elvis week ARE fans and expect more of their winning American Idol!

Here are my Top 5 American Idol Most Memorable Video Performances by American Idol Icons, Then and Now:

American Idol Icon Number 1: Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood is nominated for a 2009 Dove Award in the country Gospel music category for her performance of How Great Thou Art from the CD How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites Live From the Grand Ole Opry. American Idol Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood won the Country Recorded Song of the Year Dove Award in 2006 for Jesus Take The Wheel. Click here to read more about American Idol fave Chris Sligh nominated for the 40^th Annual Gospel Music Awards in April.

Then: Carrie Underwood singing MacArthur Park on American Idol Season 4

Then: Carrie Underwood video clips of other memorable American Idol performances

Now: Carrie Underwood singing How Great Thou Art at the Grand Ole' Opry

American Idol Icon Number 2: Jennifer Hudson

Then: Jennifer Hudson singing I Have Nothing on American Idol Season 3

Now: Jennifer Hudson singing And I Am Telling You at the Clive Davis Grammy party. The song is from Jennifer Hudson's 2007 Academy Award winning performance in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls. What are the chances of a first-time actress winning an Oscar for a musical? Way to go Jennifer Hudson!

American Idol Icon Number 3: Daughtry

Then: Chris Daughtry singing I Walk the Line on American Idol Season 5

Now: Daughtry singing Feels Like Tonight

American Idol Icon Number 4: Kelly Clarkson

Then: Kelly Clarkson singing A Moment Like This on American Idol Season 1

Now: Kelly Clarkson singing Because of You live at the 2006 Grammy Awards

American Idol Icon Number 5: David Cook

Then: David Cook singing Billie Jean on American Idol Season 7

Now: David Cook singing Light On from the official music video

Other American Idol Most Memorable Video Performances, Then and Now

Angels - David Archuleta at Las Vegas American Idol Summer Tour 2008
Bohemian Rhapsody - Constantine Maroulis
Always on My Mind - Fantasia Barrino
Sweet Home Alabama - Ruben Studdard
Solitaire - Clay Aiken
Islands in the Stream - Carrie Underwood and Kenny Rogers
Apologize - One Republic and David Archuleta
Hallelujah - Jason Castro
Dream On - Michael Johns
Let It Be - Brooke White
Super Bowl 2008 National Anthem - Jordin Sparks
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - David Archuleta
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Clay Aiken
National Anthem at Utah JAZZ Game - David Archuleta
Summertime - Fantasia Barrino