ARTS & EVENTS

Hitting a Nostalgic Note: 'American Idol' Also-Sangs

EVERY YEAR, the American Idol machine parades its top 10 contestants on a nationwide tour, just in case we've forgotten those singers who were among the first to be voted off (this season's Michael Sarver, anyone?). The top 10 from season eight -- Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Sarver and Scott MacIntyre -- will sing at the Verizon Center Tuesday night (read Express' interview with "Idol" winner Kris Allen here), but here's a look back at some of our favorite "American Idol" also-rans from seasons past:

1) TAMYRA GRAY (Season 1)
("A House Is Not a Home")

Gray's fourth-place finish in the very first season of "American Idol" certainly didn't hurt her career: she became a regular guest on the TV series "Boston Public" in 2003, she released her debut album, "The Dreamer," in 2004 and she married Color Me Badd singer Sam Watters in 2006. She continues to work in TV and film (most recently, last year's "Rachel Getting Married"), and rumor has it that she'll release another CD in the next year or so.

2) KELLIE PICKLER (Season 5)
("Walking After Midnight")

A little bit ditsy, Pickler was season five's sixth-place finalist. While she's especially memorable for her troubled childhood (her mother left when she was 2, and her father was in and out of jail), her sweet twangy voice shines on her two albums since Idol -- and made her the perfect companion for Taylor Swift's tour this summer. (Also memorable from Pickler's time on Idol: Barry Manilow saying that he'd never heard of the song "Walking After Midnight." Seriously?!)


3) SANJAYA MALAKAR (Season 6)
("You Really Got Me")

There are so many memorable things about Malakar: the faux-hawk, his seventh-place finish above so many other, more talented singers, and of course the girl in the audience who cried during his performance of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me."

Surprisingly, Malakar is still in the entertainment industry; his debut EP and his memoir (both titled "Dancing to the Music in My Head") were both released in January. It would be too easy to make a joke about wishing that the music would just stay in his head, so I'll let that sleeping dog lie.


4) JENNIFER HUDSON (Season 3)
("I Have Nothing")

Knowing what we know now about her career, it's hard to believe that Hudson only placed seventh in Idol's third season. That season was poised to be the battle of the divas (Hudson, LaToya London and winner Fantasia Barrino), but the real battle came after "Idol," when Hudson's poise and talent have made her the true winner among the three.


5) WILLIAM HUNG (Season 3)
("She Bangs")

William Hung never made the "American Idol" top 10 -- in fact, he didn't even make it to the Hollywood round. And yet he's more of a household name than most of the singers who actually performed on the show.

More amazingly, he's released three albums, showing that you don't have to be the best (or even all that good at all) to pursue your dream; all you need is a good attitude and the ability to laugh at yourself -- or just to be at peace with everyone else laughing at you.

» Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW, Tue., Aug. 4, 7 p.m., $42.50 to $68.50; 202-661-5000. (Gallery Place-Chinatown).

Written by Express contributor Catherine Lewis

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COMMENTS (4)

  • The one who will be remembered from season 8 is Adam Lambert.

    By Chris , Posted August 3, 2009 7:22 PM

  • Chris: You are so right. Adam Lambert will, I am certain, be not only "remembered" but idolized for a lonnngggggg time to come. He was (is) the biggest star to come out of Idol. Love that boy!

    By Suzanne , Posted August 4, 2009 6:46 PM

  • I enjoyed reading your article but I must take issue with your statement concerning Jennifer Hudson, Latoya London and Fantasia, as you state that "Hudson's poise and talent have made her the true winner amongst the three".
    Whilst all three are extremely talented, I feel strongly that the public made the right choice in selecting Fantasia as their
    "American Idol". Yes Jennifer left the show far to early and has done very welll since, but Tasia's performances back then and subsequently, have, in my view, cemented her entitlement to be regarded as the greatest talent of them all to emerge from "Idol".
    Indeed, my view was recently endorsed by MTV who produced a "Top Ten" of the greatest "American Idols". They rated London at nine, Hudson at six and of course, Fantasia as the 'slam dunk' number one. They stated that "there has never been a better singer and performer in 'Idol' history than Barrino............Simon Cowell called her the greatest contestant in the entire international history of the show and we are not going to disagree with him.....................and her post-show success (gold and platinum records plus the role of Celie in the Broadway version of "The Color Purple", which drew raves), mean that there's NO ONE WHO COMES CLOSE TO MATCHING BARRINO. SHE'S THE TOTAL PACKAGE".
    For me, an even greater endorsement of Barrino's talent is the fact that so many legends of the music industy rate her so highly. Indeed, Aretha calls her "my child" and Patti Labelle refers to her as "Baby Patti".
    I am not anti Jennifer in any way and she remains my all-time number two "Idol" female contestant. However, the supreme talent to emerge from the show is Fantasia Monique Barrino.

    By Bill Parker , Posted August 5, 2009 3:31 AM

  • While I am glad that Kellie Pickler has found success, I do not agree that she is one of the best "also-rans" even in her own season. Elliott Yamin and Chris Daughtry are maybe two of the most beloved Idol contestants ever. I would take either of them every day of the week and twice on Sunday over KP. Elliott's transformation over a few short months is really what American Idol is all about.

    By Jaime , Posted August 5, 2009 1:10 PM
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