What are the chances that two
American Idol winners would come from the same city? Season 5 winner
Taylor Hicks is from Birmingham, Alabama and so is
Ruben Studdard, winner of
Idol's second season. No offense to the noble 'Bamans, but the state never felt like a hot bed of singing talent before. Though Taylor Hicks was the winner of
Idol's fifth season, he wasn't really close to the best singer on the show. That's a completely subjective claim, I know, but it was indicative of the fifth season's quality. When I look at the top 4 finalists from that year, professionalism comes to mind. Those four singers (Taylor Hicks,
Katharine McPhee,
Elliott Yamin and
Chris Daughtry) were more or less polished performers by the time they appeared on Idol. There was no unexpected improvement or meteoric rise by any member of that quartet during the season. While this fact may have lessened the feel-good aspect of Idol, it made for, perhaps, the most talented top 4 in
Idol's history. Taylor Hicks, while not the most talented, is an incredibly good performer, a likable personality who engages any crowd he's put in front of. This was important because, as any cynic like me knows,
American Idol is a popularity contest. Which is why Hicks beat Daughtry, Yamin and McPhee and why
Jordin Sparks beat
Melinda Doolittle.
Format:
The format was unchanged from season four to season five.
Top 12 Finalists:
#12 –
Melissa McGhee
#11 –
Kevin Covais
#10 –
Lisa Tucker
#9 –
Mandisa
#8 –
Bucky Covington
#7 –
Ace Young
#6 –
Kellie Pickler
#5 –
Paris Bennett
#4 – Chris Daughtry
#3 – Elliott Yamin
#2 – Katharine McPhee
#1 – Taylor Hicks
Notable Season 5 Alumni:
Kellie Pickler:
The ditsy but lovable Southern girl finished in sixth, but released the most surprisingly impressive debut album of any female from season 5. The album “Small Town” has sold over 500,000 copies to date. It's unclear just how much Pickler plays up her ditziness in public appearances. She might just be pretty dim.
Elliott Yamin:
Perhaps the best pure singer on American Idol, Yamin was consistently a judges favorite on Idol, and for good reason. He has it all as a singer. What he doesn't necessarily posses are the looks or the charisma of a Taylor Hicks or a Chris Daughtry. While his potential for super fame may be low, as long as his voice stays the way it is, Yamin will be singing somewhere.
Katharine McPhee:
Despite her looks, McPhee was not a case of style over substance. Her voice is powerful and versatile, and her background in theater gave her performances a professional quality. Her debut album disappointed in sales, but McPhee recently finished shooting her first movie and has stayed in the public eye. My hunch is that we'll be hearing from McPhee for years to come.
Taylor Hicks:
The champion of
American Idol's fifth season, Taylor Hicks is known for his off-kilter performance style, vaguely reminiscent of Joe Cocker. He's also got the trademark gray hair, which (I think) makes him look quite regal. He famously advanced to the Hollywood stage in a split decision – Simon didn't think Hicks was all that good. Though he may not have been the best singer on the fifth season, his personality was infectious and his performances unique and engaging. His solo album debut wasn't received that well, and last week it was confirmed that Arista Records had dropped Hicks from their label.
Chris Daughtry:
The biggest male success in Idol history. Instead of going solo and releasing a pop album like so many other alumni, Chris created his own band ("Daughtry") and the subsequent debut record has, to this date, sold over three million copies. There's not much more you can say about the man other than he's a big-time success, and he destroyed winner Taylor Hicks in record sales.
-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)