This is the Night

“This is the night when we capture forever and all our tomorrows begin.” – Clay Aiken

My all time favorite American Idol moment was in the finale of season two when Clay Aiken sang the song, “This is the Night.” His passion, his voice and his presence were so captivating and I knew at that moment that my life could and would be different. No other AI song has affected me so deeply until last year when Jordin Sparks came out with, “One Step at a Time.” However, I cannot deny the influence that American Idol has had on music overall. Whether you listen to Folk, Country, R&B, Soft or Hard Rock, American Idol has in some way influenced the genre of music that you hear. Think about it; if you turn on the radio at any given time during the day there is a 95% chance that as you scan through the stations you will hear at least one song from an American Idol winner or contestant.
In a recent interview, Adam Lambert said, after taking second place in season 8 that, “It’s not about winning.” His statement couldn’t be truer. Some of the contestants that have taken second (Clay Aiken) and even seventh place (Jennifer Hudson) have gone on to be more successful than the ones who got the AI crown. So I appreciate that the following ten individuals took the American Idol opportunity and ran with it so that my life could be influenced, my heart touched and my soul enlivened. Of course as this is personal opinion your top ten may differ significantly. Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments. Since the number one song was already on the playlist I have added song number two because it captures the essence of the opportunity these AI contestants were given and made the most of.

10. Kimberly Locke(2) – Eighth World Wonder
9. Katharine McPhee (5) – Over It
8. Josh Gracin (2) – Nothin’ to Lose
7. Jennifer Hudson (3) –You Pulled Me Through
6. Kelly Clarkson (1) – A Moment Like This
5. Kelli Pickler (5) – Red High Heels
4. Chris Daughtry (5) – Feels Like Tonight
3. Carrie Underwood (4) – Some Hearts
2. Clay Aiken (2) – This is the night
1. Jordin Sparks (6) – One Step at a Time