The auditions have always been one of the most famous parts of American Idol. They serve as a wonderful mixture of being sincere and hilarious, and they often prove more memorable and unforgettable than the competition itself. Whereas some American Idol winners have been forgotten over the years, everyone still remembers the iconic audition of William Hung.
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Some auditions were shockingly good and gaveeveryone a good idea of who had serious talent and a serious chance of winning the competition.Meanwhile, the bad onesproved endearingly hilarious, and many have gone viral.
William Hung
Perhaps the greatest American Idol audition of all time is that of William Hung, one of the show's most memorable contestants. Of course, it's not good in a quality way, as Hung makes for a less-than-stellar singer. But this audition became a bonafide cultural phenomenon.
It went viral in the early days of the internet, made William Hung a household name, and even launched his brief musical career. People couldn't go anywhere in the winter of 2004 without seeing some type of reference to Hung or his iconic audition. From that point on, Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" will forever be associated with this timeless bit of entertainment.
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Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson's audition actually wasn't aired during season one of American Idol, and it was only subsequently released following her historic win. Clarkson performed Madonna's "Express Yourself" while auditioning in Dallas, and it obviously proved a great success.
She sounded terrific,but most importantly, the audition proved a ton of fun to watch. Clarkson proved her joyful personality by playing along with Randy, and it's clear that the judges had immediately fallen for her. With this great audition, American Idol guaranteed its first winner.
Carrie Underwood
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A humble and quiet Carrie Underwood auditioned with "I Can't Make You Love Me," and aside from some poor audio quality,it proves one of the most fascinating to watch. Underwood's charming personality made her instantly likable, and her great voice obviously proved her as a potential victor.
Simon called the performance "very good," while Randy complimented her "great voice." This audition showed a winner in prime form, and it gave Americans someone to fall in love with. To this day, she remains the most popular American Idol winner in terms of Instagram followers.
Fantasia Barino
The eventual winner of the third season, Fantasia Barino was just19 years old when she auditioned for American Idol. Barino performed Lauryn Hill's "Killing Me Softly" and Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" to great success, and while Paula had some slight criticism regarding her pitch, Simon complimented her "great [and] distinct voice."
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The audition did indeed showcase Fantasia's distinct voice, and it helped put her apart from the competition. It was obvious from these two performances that she would be a singer to watch going forward, as she proved beautiful, confident, and performative.
Larry Platt
Veteran Larry Platt from Atlanta, Georgia provided American Idol with one of its most unforgettableauditions by performing an original song called "Pants on the Ground." It is nothing but entertaining, and it's clear that both Platt and the judges are having a great time with it.
No one takes it very seriously -- it's just a great bit of fun that had the judges and viewers at home howling with laughter. It's a perfect representation of the unique breed of lighthearted entertainment that American Idol auditionsprovided.
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James Lewis
The so-called "Worst American Idol Audition in History,"James Lewis's audition will forever remain hilarious. Everything about the audition is legendary, from James's enormous yellow suit to his unintentionally hilarious voice and repeated singing of "Let my peeeeople gooooooo."
Both Paula and Randy are left in hysterics, and Simon can only stare in bewilderment. Everyone feels bad for laughing at this audition,but it nevertheless remains one of theshow's most memorable and iconic disasters.
Adam Lambert
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Adam Lambert is undeniably one of the best acts to come from the show, and it all started with his incredible audition. Lambert performed Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," a very difficult song and a bold choice. But the audition was pulled off expertly, as Lambert appeared confident and wowed the judges with his amazing voice.
It was obvious from the get-go that Lambert had a strong and performativepersonality, and the audition made him an instant favorite for millions of viewers. And while he wouldn't win the season, he has arguably proven more popular than Kris Allen, proving the devoted fanbase that he accumulated from this very audition.
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks made American Idol history by winning season 6 at just 17 years old, making her the show's youngest winner. It was obvious from her audition that Sparks was something special, as she appeared polite and friendly.
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She performed Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" and earned strong praise from the judges, all of whom were obviously enraptured by her voice and bubbly personality. The audition shows American Idol at its most heartwarming, transfixing viewers with the power offriendlinessand a great piece of art.
Renaldo Lapuz
Renaldo Lapuz's audition showcases the wild unpredictability of the American Idol auditions. He appeared in a luxurious white suit, cape, and feather hat, and the bizarre outfit instantly made Lapuz an unforgettable American Idol legend.
The original song "I Am Your Brother" is also fantastically memorable, as is the judges' playful response to his enthusiastic belting. At one point, Paula, Ryan, and Randy join Lapuz for a refrain, proving the sheer magnetic joy that a playful performance can elicit. This is American Idoland reality TV at its most endearing.
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Douglas Davidson
27-year-old Douglas Davidson from Austin, Texas, gave an auditionthat perfectly visualizes the human fear response. This is an exercise in spotting nervousness, as Davidson is sweaty and out of breath and constantly stumbles over lyrics, often sounding like he is about to vomit.
Paula enjoys the audition for what it is, but Simon couldn't look any less impressed. The audition, complete with Simon's utter befuddlement and the eventual escortingof Davidson out of the room, makes for great entertainment.It's auditions like this that prove the show's delectable draw.
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