Looking back at season 7 of American Idol, it's easy to see which contestants doomed themselves due to poor song choices.  I don't know what possessed Chikezie to follow up his rousing rendition of The Beatles' "I've Just Seen a Face" with the snooze-inducing Luther Vandross ballad "If Only for One Night," but it ended up getting him kicked off the show.  There were rumors that Carly Smithson's belting of "Jesus Christ Superstar" offended enough religious people to lead to her ouster, and we all remember the cries heard around the world when David Archuleta slaughtered Chris Brown's "With You."  Song choice plays an important role on American Idol, dooming some contestants and catapulting others to instant stardom.

To get fans ready for American Idol's big return on January 13, we've compiled a list of all the songs the top 12 contestants sang in season 7.  Let's cross our fingers and hope that no one in season 8 attempts to recreate Kristy Lee Cook's horrifying rendition of "Eight Days a Week."

12th Place:  David Hernandez

Week 1 - 1960s:  "In the Midnight Hour" (Wilson Pickett)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (The Temptations)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (Pandora's Box)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "I Saw Her Standing There" (The Beatles)


11th Place:  Amanda Overmyer

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Van Morrison)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "Carry On Wayward Son" (Kansas)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "I Hate Myself for Loving You" (Joan Jett)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "You Can't Do That" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "Back in the U.S.S.R." (The Beatles)


10th Place:  Chikezie Eze

Week 1 - 1960s:  "More Today Than Yesterday" (The Spiral Starecase)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "I Believe to My Soul" (Donny Hathaway)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "All the Woman That I Need" (Luther Vandross)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "She's a Woman" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "I've Just Seen a Face" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "If Only for One Night" (Luther Vandross)


9th Place:  Ramiele Malubay

Week 1 - 1960s:  "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (Dusty Springfield)
Week 2 - 1970s:   "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Thelma Houston) 
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Phil Collins)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "In My Life" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "I Should Have Known Better" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "Alone" (Heart)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" (Dolly Parton)


8th Place:  Michael Johns

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Light My Fire" (The Doors)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "Go Your Own Way" (Fleetwood Mac)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (Simple Minds)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "Across the Universe" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "A Day in the Life" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions" (Queen)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "It's All Wrong But It's All Right" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "Dream On" (Aerosmith)


7th Place:  Kristy Lee Cook

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Rescue Me" (Fontella Bass)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "You're No Good" (Linda Ronstadt)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Faithfully" (Journey)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "Eight Days a Week" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Coat of Many Colors" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "Anyway" (Martina McBride)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "Forever" (Mariah Carey)


6th Place:  Carly Smithson

Week 1 - 1960s:  "The Shadow of Your Smile" (Tony Bennett)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "Crazy on You" (Heart)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "I Drove All Night" (Cyndi Lauper)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "Come Together" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "Blackbird" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Here You Come Again" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "The Show Must Go On" (Queen)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "Without You" (Mariah Carey)
Week 10 - Andrew Lloyd Webber:  "Superstar" (Jesus Christ Superstar)


5th Place:  Brooke White

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Happy Together" (The Turtles)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "You're So Vain" (Carly Simon)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Love Is a Battlefield" (Pat Benatar)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "Let It Be" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "Here Comes the Sun" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "Every Breath You Take" (The Police)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Jolene" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "You've Got a Friend" (Carole King)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "Hero" (Mariah Carey)
Week 10 - Andrew Lloyd Webber:  "You Must Love Me" (Evita)
Week 11 - Neil Diamond:  "I'm a Believer" (The Monkees), "I Am...I Said" (Neil Diamond)


4th Place:  Jason Castro

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Daydream" (The Lovin' Spoonful)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" (Andy Gibb)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Hallelujah" (Jeff Buckley)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "If I Fell" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "Michelle" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "Fragile" (Sting)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Travelin' Thru" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "Over the Rainbow" (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "I Don't Wanna Cry" (Mariah Carey)
Week 10 - Andrew Lloyd Webber:  "Memory" (Cats)
Week 11 - Neil Diamond:  "Forever in Blue Jeans" (Neil Diamond), "September Morn" (Neil Diamond)
Week 12 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:  "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley & The Wailers), "Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds)


3rd Place:  Syesha Mercado

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Tobacco Road" (The Nashville Teens)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "Me and Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Saving All My Love for You" (Whitney Houston)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "Got to Get You into My Life" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "Yesterday" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "If I Were Your Woman" (Stephanie Mills)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "I Believe" (Fantasia)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "Vanishing" (Mariah Carey)
Week 10 - Andrew Lloyd Webber:  "One Rock & Roll Too Many" (Starlight Express)
Week 11 - Neil Diamond:  "Hello Again" (Neil Diamond), "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" (Neil Diamond)
Week 12 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:  "Proud Mary" (Creedence Clearwater Revival), "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)
Week 13 - Judges' Choice:  "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys)
Contestants' Choice:  "Fever" (Peggy Lee)
Producers' Choice:  "Hit Me Up" (Gia Farrell)


2nd Place:  David Archuleta

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Shop Around" (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "Imagine" (John Lennon)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Another Day in Paradise" (Phil Collins)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "We Can Work It Out" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "The Long and Winding Road" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "You're the Voice" (John Farnham)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Smoky Mountain Memories" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "Angels" (Robbie Williams)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "When You Believe" (Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston)
Week 10 - Andrew Lloyd Webber:  "Think of Me" (The Phantom of the Opera)
Week 11 - Neil Diamond:  "Sweet Caroline" (Neil Diamond), "America" (Neil Diamond)
Week 12 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:  "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King), "Love Me Tender" (Elvis Presley)
Week 13 - Judges' Choice:  "And So It Goes" (Billy Joel)
Contestants' Choice:  "With You" (Chris Brown)
Producers' Choice:  "Longer" (Dan Fogelberg)
Week 14 - Clive Davis' Choice:  "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Elton John)
Contestants' Choice from Idol Songwriting Contest:  "In This Moment" (written by Ryan Gillmor)
Contestants' Choice:  "Imagine" (John Lennon)


WINNER:  David Cook

Week 1 - 1960s:  "Happy Together" (The Turtles)
Week 2 - 1970s:  "All Right Now" (Free)
Week 3 - 1980s:  "Hello" (Lionel Richie)
Week 4 - Lennon/McCartney Songbook:  "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)
Week 5 - The Beatles:  "Day Tripper" (The Beatles)
Week 6 - Year They Were Born:  "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)
Week 7 - Dolly Parton:  "Little Sparrow" (Dolly Parton)
Week 8 - Inspirational Songs:  "Innocent" (Our Lady Peace)
Week 9 - Mariah Carey:  "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey)
Week 10 - Andrew Lloyd Webber:  "The Music of the Night" (The Phantom of the Opera)
Week 11 - Neil Diamond:  "I'm Alive" (Neil Diamond), "All I Really Need Is You" (Neil Diamond)
Week 12 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:  "Hungry Like the Wolf" (Duran Duran), "Baba O'Riley" (The Who)
Week 13 - Judges' Choice:  "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Roberta Flack)
Contestants' Choice:  "Dare You to Move" (Switchfoot)
Producers' Choice:  "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (Aerosmith)
Week 14 - Clive Davis' Choice:  "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2)
Contestants' Choice from Idol Songwriting Contest:  "Dream Big" (written by Emily Shackelton)
Contestants' Choice:  "The World I Know" (Collective Soul)
Winner's Single:  "The Time of My Life"


- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of FOX)