The Top 20 Singing Show Performances of 2014

(photo: AP)

Another year, another season of American Idol. And another TWO seasons of The Voice. 2014 is coming to a close, but before Idol Season 14 starts up on Jan. 7 and The Voice returns for an eighth season on Feb. 23 (yes, already!), it’s time to look back at the best singing show performances of the year.

While 2014 marked the two lowest-selling Idol-winner albums ever (sorry, Candice Glover and Caleb Johnson), and The Voice continued to catch flak for, well, never selling any albums (sorry, Tessanne Chin), both shows — along with a couple basic-cable programs and even the little-seen Rising Star — had their share of impressive performances. Buy these contestants’ albums already, people! Or at least donate to their Kickstarters.

So, here are my Reality Rocks picks for the top 20 singing competition performances of 2014. Please note that, for the sake of variety and semi-brevity, I did not load up this list with multiple performances by the same singers. But I enthusiastically encourage you to hit up YouTube or Hulu and binge-watch anything and everything by Matt McAndrew, Josh Kaufman, Jesse Kinch, Alex Preston, Jena Irene, and Caleb Johnson. All of those contestants could have filled year-end lists all by themselves.

Happy new year!

20. Blonde Electra, “Kids in America” (The X Factor U.K.)

The American X Factor was canceled at the start of 2014, but Simon Cowell kept it going across the pond, where the show has always been bigger, brasher, and just plain better. (The X Factor U.K. Season 11 also aired this year in the States on the UHF-like cable channel AXS TV, which is, I think, Channel 8719 on the Time Warner dial.) Those Brits sure love their camp, and no one camped it up more than these crazy, ravey sisters, Ruby and Jazzy King, who just happen to be the sisters-in-law of Cher’s son, Elijah Blue Allman, and claim to have been raised in a cult. Blonde Electra, with their wacky antics, could have been the female Jedward. But sadly, they were the first act eliminated in this year’s live shows. I guess the Brits don’t love camp that much.

19. MK Nobilette, “All of Me” (American Idol)

Everyone’s already forgotten about poor MK; if they remember her at all, it’s because she was the first openly gay contestant to complete in the Idol semifinals. The 10th-placer didn’t even join the American Idol Live! concert tour, so her 15 minutes of fame got cut down to more like four minutes. But let’s not forget her promising start. Believe it or not, back when she first competed in the top 31 Rush Week, I had her pegged as a shoo-in for the finale.

18. Sebastian Bach, “Bad Romance” (Sing Your Face Off)

For years, I longed for the day when this ex-Skid Row mouthpiece (known for his star turns on CMT’s Gone Country 2, VH1’s Supergroup and Celebrity Fit Club, and MTV’s Celebrity Rap Superstar) would don Lady Gaga drag on national TV. So thank you, ABC (and guest judge RuPaul!), for making my dream come true in 2014.

17. Malaya Watson, “Ain’t No Way”

It was hard to believe that his teen had never had a boyfriend, never had her heart broken. Apparently she’s as fantastic an actress as she is a singer. This band-camp geek girl dug deep for her mature cover of Aretha Franklin’s heartache ballad, delivering a passionate, dynamic, can’t-look-away performance. Said judge Jennifer Lopez: “It’s like you’re blossoming into this star before our very eyes. You’re the same little crazy girl that walked in, but you’re gaining poise and realizing your position. You’re going to be such a huge star. You’re going to run away with this competition.” I think if Malaya had auditioned just a couple seasons later, when she was just a little more grown-up, she could have gone farther than eighth place.

16. “Shade: The Rusical” (RuPaul’s Drag Race)

Season 6 of Drag Race was a very Idolicious one. American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert judged the season premiere; original Idol judge Paula Abdul guest-judged one episode; and among the competing queens were not one but two Idol alums (Season 7 American Idol finalist Danny Noriega, aka Adore Delano, and Season 1 Australian Idol fourth-placer Courtney Act). And on one Drag Race episode this year, the two ex-Idols didn’t lip-synch for their lives — they saaaaang for their lives, taking on the dual roles of Bad Penny and Good Penny in the show’s off-off-off-off-off-off-Broadway smash, Shade: The Rusical. Neither of these queens sashayed away with a victory on their respective Idol seasons years ago, but they both delivered Tony-winning performances in their kinky boots during this challenge, and both of them later made it to the Season 6 Drag Race finale.

15. Elyjuh René, “XO” (The Voice Season 7)

This proud mama’s boy came to his audition with his “momager,” and they were wearing matching shirts. This could have come across as creepy and weird, but instead it was just darn cute. It also could’ve been weird when this brace-faced church singer belted out Beyoncé’s “XO,” but instead it was just awesome. What a performer! Elyjuh was a male Sasha Fierce. A Sasho Fierce, if you will. Elyjuh’s eventual coach, Pharrell Williams, called Elyjuh “anointed” and “one of the most amazing vocalists I’ve heard in a while.” I think new coach Pharrell’s first big mistake of his rookie run was letting Elyjuh slip away in the top 20 round.

14. Taylor John Williams, “Stuck in the Middle With You” (The Voice Season 7)

At first, Taylor just seemed like a cute kid with a cute job (at a Portland doggie-daycare hotel!) and a cute hat. But it turned out Taylor was much deeper than that, and this was the performance that showcased his artsy, dark side. And I liked his dark side. A lot.

13. “Oh No She Betta Don’t” (RuPaul’s Drag Race)

Word to your drag mother: On Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the show fierce femme-cee finalists channeled Salt, Pepa, and maybe even Spinderella for a totally ’90s rap battle supreme, and they pushed it real good. Guest-judged by “pitbull in a skirt” Eve and “the baddest b——” Trina, rap rivals the Ru-Tang Clan and the Panty-Ho’s faced off on the old-skool jam “Oh No She Betta Don’t.” And while several of the ‘round-the-way queens rocked the mic, it was challenge-winner Adore Delano who truly served funky-fresh fish.

12. Anjuli Stars, “Open the Door” (Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project)

No one except me and probably Sara Gilbert watched VH1’s The Linda Perry Project — which is too bad, since it was the musical reality show that most compellingly and realistically depicted the artistic process, and it had some of the best talent I’ve seen on any singing competition. Rapper/singer Anjuli’s choir-backed performance of her original composition on the show’s finale was a tour de force. I hope Linda Perry is able to make something happen for Anjuli and equally worthy Make or Break co-champion Candice Martello, aka Hemming, in the real world. (Watch Anjuli’s full performance here.)

11. Delvin Choice, “Bright Lights” (The Voice Season 6)

Letting down his famous “lobster roll” hairdo, this Starbucks barista cranked up the energy to triple-espresso levels with his dynamite performance of a Gary Clark Jr. song. Delvin brought the funk! He sang the blues! And he tore it up. And that moment when he got in the crowd and started scatting? That was everything. It was “one of the most electric endings of any song,” according to Adam Levine. Sadly, Delvin covered the dreary “I Believe I Can Fly” the following week and was promptly sent home. But he can feel good knowing that he gave one of the best Voice performances, of both seasons, in 2014.

10. Fleur East, “Uptown Funk” (The X Factor U.K.)

This eventual runner-up’s sassy performance was such a sensation overseas, Mark Ronson was forced to rush-release his single, which hadn’t been slated to come out in Britain until January, after Fleur’s version skyrocketed to No. 1 on the U.K. iTunes chart. Hot damn. Fleur almost gave Bruno Mars a run for his money here. Don’t believe me? Just watch.

9. Christina Grimmie, “Hold On, We’re Going Home” (The Voice Season 6)

Christina was aggressively pimped throughout The Voice Season 6, but I never really understood her hype — except when she did this number. Performing a haunting, nuanced piano version of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” — the sort of inventive cover that made her a YouTube star, and something that was apparently all her idea — Christina had her big breakout performance. This was a game-changer. She chose her money-note moments wisely, held back when she needed to (in the past, she too often subscribed to the loud-is-the-new-loud, more-is-more Xtina school of singing), and the result was magic.

8. Majesty Rose, “Happy” (American Idol)

During Rush Week, Majesty’s show-opening performance of Pharrell Williams’s “Happy” was so wonderful, so effervescent, and just so, well, happy. I couldn’t stop smiling during her number, especially when she started bopping around at the end. “That’s how you’re supposed to come out here! Ready for showtime!” exclaimed a delighted Jennifer Lopez. “I feel very fortunate that you have set the tone, because you have done a fantastic job,” said Harry Connick Jr. Majesty indeed set the tone, and the bar, for this episode — but sadly, she crashed and burned soon afterwards, and only made it to ninth place. But for a while, it seemed like she was destined to win the whole season.

7. Jennifer Lopez with Allison Iraheta, Jessica Sanchez, and Pia Toscano, “I Luh Ya Papi” (American Idol)

This is the only non-competitive performance on this list, but it’s definitely a winner. When J.Lo hit the stage on one Idol results show to perform her single “I Luh Ya Papi,” she was totally upstaged by a trio of very familiar-looking ladies with very powerful voices: a sort of Idol supergroup comprising Season 8’s Allison Iraheta, Season 10’s Pia Toscano, and Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez. J.Lo sounded surprisingly solid (although some fans suspected she was lip-synching), but she couldn’t keep up with three of the finest female vocalists in recent Idol memory (who were definitely not lip-synching). The fact that none of these girls won their respective seasons is still a little baffling. And the fact that they were singing backup for Jennifer Lopez was, frankly, a little maddening. But that being said, it was great to see these girls getting some more deserved screentime, as Jenny welcomed them back to the Idol block.

6. Alex Preston, “Always on My Mind” (American Idol)

Alex, my personal favorite contestant of Idol Season 13, had many great moments this year, but Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” allowed him to showcase what he really does best: “a sensitive interpretation with a beautiful tone,” as Harry Connick Jr. put it. This gave me some J.Lo-style goosies — especially when Alex broke out that falsetto at the end. He changed up the song just enough to make it his own, while staying respectful to the classic original. “I feel very lucky to have heard that. It was exactly what it should have been. You’re an artist,” said Harry, obviously the show’s most astute judge.

5. Jesse Kinch, “I Put a Spell on You” (Rising Star)

No one watched this show. More people watched Linda Perry’s show, probably. Let me tell you, you weren’t missing much. It was kind of terrible. But single-guitar-handedly saving the failed ABC series was this David Cassidy-haired, rock ‘n’ blues belter. All of the born-in-the-wrong-decade 20-year-old’s performances were consistently awesome and thoroughly rockin’, but it was his first audition, of a Screamin’ Jay Hawkins barnstormer, that made the strongest impression. Jesse let loose a fiery wail that host Josh Groban called a “beast on a leash,” and he showed he had it all: sex appeal, soul, swag, and a strong set of pipes. Jesse won Rising Star a few weeks later, of course. ABC could have saved everyone a lot of time and just handed Jesse the Capitol Records contract on episode one.

4. Matt McAndrew, “God Only Knows” (The Voice Season 7)

If Matt hadn’t already been my favorite contestant of The Voice Season 7 by the time the Live Playoffs began, he would have totally secured that top spot in my heart just for choosing to do “God Only Knows,” one of the greatest pop songs of all time (and the first/only Beach Boys song ever performed on The Voice). Taking on a tune known for its harmonic blend of multiple perfect brotherly voices was a gutsy move, but Matt did it justice all by himself. I felt gooey inside listening to him sing. Thankfully, America’s voters had as much fondness for Matt, and for Brian Wilson and Pet Sounds, as I do, and they appreciated this sweet and simple performance, voting Matt into the top 12. Matt eventually made it to the top two. God only knows what Season 7 would have been without him.

3. Jena Irene, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (American Idol)

I adored this performance, and not because it made J.Lo cry (and drop an F-bomb on live television, thus resulting in some very glitchy last-minute editing). Jena’s refreshingly cool and modern, Regina Spektorian interpretation of the 1961 Elvis Presley classic was gorgeous, and — to borrow a more G-rated word from J.Lo’s vocabulary — simply “goosies”-inducing. So it was understandable that Jennifer reacted the way she did. “I’ve never in three seasons gotten up to kiss somebody after a performance,” J.Lo exclaimed. “It was so beautiful. I was so moved. Honestly, I can cry right now. It’s crazy. Look at me. I’m shaking. I’m so glad I was here to witness it.” How did Jena, who placed second this season, not get a record deal of her own? That’s a real reason to curse… or cry.

2. Josh Kaufman, “All of Me” (The Voice Season 6)

Josh started off as a dark horse on Season 6, when Adam Levine dropped the likably elfin singer during the Battle Rounds (in favor of the above-mentioned Delvin Choice). But after Josh joined Team Usher, he surged to the top and eventually won. Josh had many great moments, but this was his finest. Flawlessly, gorgeously crooning John Legend’s makeout ballad “All of Me” with a string section behind him, his rendition was arguably better than Legend’s original. When is this guy’s album coming out?

1. Caleb Johnson, “Dazed and Confused” (American Idol)

Oh heck yes. On this year’s Idol top nine show, future champion Caleb made rock history as only the fourth contestant in 13 Idol seasons granted permission to cover Led Zeppelin (following Season 8’s Adam Lambert, Season 10’s Haley Reinhart, and Season 11’s Elise Testone — so Caleb was in great company, there). He belted the Zep version of “Dazed and Confused,” and I was left amazed and enthused. This was rad! This felt authentic and awesome… and even “sexy,” as a hot-and-bothered J.Lo attested. Unfortunately, nothing on Caleb’s rushed-then-quickly-forgotten debut album rocked nearly as hard as this, aside from maybe his Justin Hawkins-penned coronation song. But Caleb is still responsible for one of the most headbanging Idol moments ever, and that totally rocks.

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