MANILA, Philippines - It’s an irrefutable fact of ‘Idol’ life — those ‘coronation’ songs really suck. From Kelly to Carrie, Fantasia to Jessica, we round up the lesser evil — the five best ‘American Idol’ coronation songs.
When Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini dueled in the season one finals with the one-two punch of stinkers A Moment Like This and Before Your Love, we thought it couldn’t get any worse. But time has been kind to A Moment Like This, at least compared to the stinkers of seasons to come. It was the song that proved just what a star Kelly Clarkson could be, taking a lackluster song and polishing it to gold with sheer lung power. A star is born.
When Flying Without Wings became the weapon of the cage match for the season two finale, most of us (read: Asians) knew it as a Westlife single from a few years ago. But Ruben Studdard, infusing heart and soul into the song, made it something bigger. For his Motown-ready rendition of this saccharine concoction, he more than lived up to that “Velvet Teddy Bear” tag.
Eventual winner Fantasia and runner-up Diana De Garmo did their own versions of the song, co-written by first season Idol finalist Tamyra Gray, during the finale. Diana did a serviceable rendition of it. Fantasia? Brought it to the rafters. Transcending the limits of an Idol coronation song, the fiery belter brought it to church.
Jordin Sparks might be one of the more underrated Idols. Although she’s far from the holy triumvirate (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and if we’re counting finalists, Jennifer Hudson), she has a way of making lackluster songs sound good, as proven by hit songs like Tattoo and No Air. She first displayed this skill on this song. While beat-boxing co-finalist Blake Lewis flailed around the stage, Jordin Sparks made it a showcase of her voice and that youthful exuberance.
David Cook made a name for himself on Idol with imaginative takes on Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and Mariah Carey’s Always Be My Baby. On this song, he played it straight and came up with Idol’s best-selling coronation song ever.