I Am Beautiful is just so BLAND. You Set Me Free, and Kree Harrison's song All Cried Out, were both MUCH better.

20. MATT CARDLE – WHEN WE COLLIDE

X Factor 7 (2010)

Score: 5.29 (9 Calum Sandé/Jonjo, 8.5 Liam ---------------- 2 Juranamo, 0 152chris/Michael!)

Sorry, I can't access the official video for this. I just noticed these results have been all-male so far with the exception of Candice. We are headed toward a female-dominated top half at the expense of NICE GUYS like Matt Cardle. For shame! So this was another random song choice, a cover of “Many Of Horror” by Biffy Clyro. I can’t tell you how obsessed I was with that masterpiece of a song earlier in 2010. Matt’s version, title changed to “When We Collide”, was worth it just to see the original re-enter the UK chart and peak in the top ten. The alternative was Rebecca Ferguson covering Duffy’s “Distant Dreamer”, which I don’t remember. That could have been amusing for Duffy’s original to chart just weeks after her second album was released and flopped massively. But Matt fared quite well with three weeks at #1, better than the winner before or after him.

 

19. DAVID COOK – THE TIME OF MY LIFE

American Idol 7 (2008)

Score: 5.59 (10 Riser, 8.5 Insomnio ---------------- 0 Silver Rocket/Michael!)

Now you’ve really disappointed me, Buzzjack. Here is a song that, like few other winner’s singles, transcended its reality-show status to become a million-seller and airplay staple in its home country. In fact I still hear “The Time Of My Life” on the radio more than most songs from 2008. For the second time, American Idol held a songwriting competition to create a song for the winner, and this was so successful it may as well be the male counterpart to “A Moment Like This”. An original song with lyrics that really make a connection. Look no further than its chart positions and sales figures, a massive improvement from the previous year’s contest winner “This Is My Now”. Its 19 weeks in Billboard’s top 50 was an Idol best until Phillip Phillips broke the record in 2012-13. But if you don’t like the song enough to score it high, none of these statistics will change anyone’s mind. Not to worry, there’s more injustice to come.

18. WILL YOUNG – ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Pop Idol 1 (2002)

Score: 5.78 (9.5 Cameron, 8 Mike Sugafan/Aaron. ---------------- 2 Liam, 1 Michael!)

Up next is the UK’s highest-selling single of the 21st century, and by far the biggest name to appear so far on the countdown. “Anything Is Possible” was the original track on Will Young’s debut single, a double A-side with a cover of “Evergreen” by (surprise!) Westlife. Not sure if any of us were actually following the charts back then but most of us are surely aware that this is the most recent single to sell a million copies in a week. If only pop bars had existed 12 years ago! I hope it happens again in our lifetime. Pop Idol set the mold for just about every singing competition that followed it around the world, so is it fair to say without Will Young’s success we might not be having this rate right now??

 

17. SAM BAILEY – SKYSCRAPER

X Factor 10 (2013)

Score: 5.83 (11 Calum Sandé, 9 Mike Sugafan ---------------- 3 Silver Rocket, 0 Juranamo)

This finished significantly higher than I thought it would in the rate, but I wonder how Calum feels about 17th. Sam Bailey finishes just one place shy of the top half, only two months after her X Factor win. According to Wikipedia, “Skyscraper” would have been the winner’s single for Union J had they won the year before. The original may as well have been Demi’s follow-up to “Heart Attack” after someone auditioned with the song last year and boosted it far higher on iTunes than “Made in the USA” could ever dream. It was brought back for the final to be performed by Sam while Nicholas McDonald sang “Superman” by Five For Fighting. Sam’s first performance was not very convincing but the second time, at the end of the final, she nailed it. Unfortunately, her recorded version is the lowest-selling Christmas #1 (referring to overall sales) in a very very long time. Or maybe ever.

 

16 songs down, 16 to go!

Sam FAR too high, such a bland cover of a gorgeous song. :(

:drama: :drama: :drama: :drama: :drama:

 

By far the best winner's single ever. The original is rancid.

Ooooh GA doing well!

Girls Aloud, Kelly or Leona ftw.

No.28 I didn't like him when he was on X-Factor. Basically, i hated him. But i changed my mind when i listened his new songs. I really like all of them. He has nice material. But Shontelle was totally robbed by his impressive sales...I don't like his version. He sounds like he struggles to sing this song..

No.27 So, i gave many points to it.. It's a guilty pleasure for me. The song is listenable and i like their version. I don't care about the low score. The matter is that i like it..

No.26 Ok, this is not good. The original version was one of my favourite songs in 1998. But this one is uninteresting. I haven't heard any other song from him yet..

No.25 He has nice voice. The title is a little bit annoying (Do i make you proud..? I don't care!) but the song is listenable. It reminds me a little bit of 90's. It should be higher.

No.24 Candice has nice voice. And this ballad is beautiful. It's not the best track that i'ever heard but it's still better than the last No1.s in U.k..

No.23 "Beautiful Day" was one of my favourite tracks in 2000. I used to listen it almost every hour that year. But his version is not good. Nobody could beat "Bono's version..End of story..

No.22 I love "The Climb" but i prefer slightly the version of Cyrus. Joe's version is decent and his voice is very good. He could have a big career if he had great ballads. His management team wasted a talented person. Last but not least, they never released his amazing song "Wide Awake". This should be his debut..But it's too late..

No.21 This song should be higher..Shame that he had issues with the low..He has a nice voice and he didn't take the chance..If he collaborated with a good writer (Diane Warren, Walter Afanasieff, Max Martin etc), he could do great things. He had the potential to be successful..

Edited February 25, 201411 yr by Insomnio

16. KRIS ALLEN – NO BOUNDARIES

American Idol 8 (2009)

Score: 6.00 (10 Nick F1, 9 Liam ---------------- 4 Riser/Tim, 2 Silver Rocket/Michael!)

Despite the success of season 7’s songwriting contest, which produced the aforementioned hit song “The Time Of My Life”, the creation of season 8’s winner’s single was a duty given to Idol judge and accomplished songwriter Kara DioGuardi. Kara’s credentials are very impressive, penning all kinds of 2000s bops from “Spinnin’ Around” to “Ain’t No Other Man”. She also wrote Celine’s “Taking Chances” so it seemed a sensational ballad should come naturally to her. Well, no, in fact the end result was one that defines underwhelming. “No Boundaries” sounded like an attempt to recreate “The Climb” which was a top ten smash at the time. Kara couldn’t even come up with multiple songs for the occasion, so finalists Kris Allen and Adam Lambert both had to perform this on the finale. To keep this from being completely negative, Kara was one of the better Idol judges and put up with far more hate than she deserved. But I might be the only one who thinks that…

 

15. LITTLE MIX – CANNONBALL

X Factor 8 (2011)

Score: 6.11 (10 Liam/Jonjo/AdamAloud/Mike Sugafan, 9 Calum Sandé/Insomnio ---------------- 1 Silver Rocket, -1 Cameron)

Here comes another song that, like “Skyscraper”, scored a new and improved chart peak off the back of an X Factor audition. Taking advantage of this resurgence in familiarity, “Cannonball” was recorded by each of the final three to be the winner’s single regardless of who won the vote. Marcus Collins had the better performance of it, in my opinion, but it was best for all of us that he didn’t win. Little Mix have only improved since their victory and watching them meet their potential has been one of the best things about pop music this decade. As for this song, it snagged a week at #1 before the Military Wives campaign took over for Christmas #1, and here Little Mix finish third out of the five groups in our countdown.

Cannonball :(

Sam's cover of Skyscraper is terribly dull. I went off it very quickly, she just sucked all the emotion out of one of my all time favourite songs. She sings it well, I don't dislike her, there's just very little heart to whatever she sings, her cover is very bland - I have to agree with Joseph. I was very generous with my score actually...

 

Cannonball though :wub: That was very close to my 11 actually.

Sam FAR too high, such a bland cover of a gorgeous song. :(

 

This.

 

The original's great and whilst I don't mind Sam's cover, as the original song is so good, there's no emotion and a lot of shout-singing.

14. REECE MASTIN – GOOD NIGHT

X Factor Australia 3 (2011)

Score: 6.18 (11 Aaron., 9 Calum Sandé ---------------- 4 Silver Rocket, 0 Michael!)

RAISE YOUR GLASS to the most successful song in Australian X Factor history. I of course say that because it bears more than a passing resemblance to Pink’s hit from 2010. Reece Mastin became the first Aussie X Factor contestant to have a number-one single. “Good Night” spent four weeks at #1 in Australia, impressive considering every other winner has had one week or less. Reece single-handedly held LMFAO’s “Sexy And I Know It” to *only* nine weeks at #1 so they otherwise would have had thirteen (!) (because they did return to #1 afterward). Most of Reece's following singles were incredibly front-loaded, which doesn't bode well for his longevity. Two more Aussies are still to come!

 

13. PHILLIP PHILLIPS – HOME

American Idol 12 (2013)

Score: 6.42 (9 Riser/Liam/Jonjo/Insomnio, 8 Leonardo ---------------- 4 Cameron/Michael!, 3 Silver Rocket/Aaron.)

After winning American Idol, Phillip Phillips had the most unconventional trajectory to hit status, for a winner’s single at least. Every other song in this countdown peaked in its first or second week, but “Home” took a full six months, including three separate runs in Billboard’s top 10. Two months after debuting at #10, the track was used as a soundbed for much of the U.S. Summer Olympics broadcast and climbed back to a new peak of #9. That second burst of exposure finally prompted airplay to kick in, and by the end of 2012 the song was truly everywhere, including a new peak of #6. The knock-off Mumford & Sons sound can be off-putting but I warmed to it after like the 30th time.

 

The top 10 is looking to be incredibly shit.

The top 10 is looking to be incredibly shit.

How can it possibly be shit when What You've Done To me and Hallelujah are still in the running?

No.20 I like Cardle's voice but the original is much better. I would have never expected him to have these sales (more than a million). I wish Biffy Clyro had these sales. Great band!!! His first singles were quite good although he flopped so hard.

No.19 This is a nice song. I prefer the original songs than the covers (apart from Alexandra/Little Mix). The average score is too low. It should be much higher. At least, i was the second voter that i gave so many points to this song. I haven't heard any other stuff by him.

No.18 I found this song a little bit boring and dull. Without catchy chorus and nice rhythm. It's not bad though. Will Young has much better songs than this (Jealousy, Evergreen Leave Right Now, Come On). You should choose "Evergreen" instead of this..:)

No.17 Sam Bailey was my favourite contestant on X-Factor last year. "Scycraper" is also one of my favourite songs ever!!! But i adore the version of Demi so much that i couldn't be connected with Sam's. Plus, Demi sang this song because the lyrics mean so many things about her. On the other hand, Sam sang this song because she won X-Factor. There is a big difference here. I prefer the original version because it has soul!!! And i like the fact that Demi struggles to sing this song (As many people believe..).

No.16 His voice is not something special as other finalists. I guess that he won the contest because of his appearance. Adam Lambert was totally robbed here. "No Boundaries" is not bad though.

No.15 Little Mix are not my favourite girl band. Plus, i didn't like them so much when they were on X-Factor. I wanted Amelia Lily to be the winner because i found her more interesting than them. But i changed my mind (like James Arthur) when they released their first album. They have some good songs. I like Cannonball and i prefer their version than the original. Their vocals are great here. Damien Rice sounds boring as hell. Local radio stations play very often his song. Especially "The Blower's Daughter!!! One of my worst nightmares..

Edited February 26, 201411 yr by Insomnio

'Cannonball', 'Home' and 'When We Collide' should have been top 10 contenders :(

12. MICHELLE MCMANUS – ALL THIS TIME

Pop Idol 2 (2003)

Score: 6.47 (10 Cameron/Insomnio, 9 Riser/Calum Sandé ---------------- 3.5 AdamAloud, 0 152chris)

YAY! SHE’S ADORABLE. Michelle’s hand motions during the video *.* If you follow the Sunday chart retros you’ll know that it’s just been ten years since “All This Time” had its three weeks at #1. She sold only a fraction of what Will Young did the series before, and her album was perhaps the biggest rush-release of all, arriving only two months after her television victory. Don’t let this be your fate, Sam. For someone who didn’t have much of a career after the show, Michelle finishes in a very respectable position here with a song that deserves nothing less. Even the harshest voters (well most of them) spared it from a low score.

 

11. DAMI IM – ALIVE

X Factor Australia 5 (2013)

Score: 6.73 (10 Jonjo/Insomnio, 9.5 Liam, 9 Mike Sugafan/Aaron. ---------------- 2 152chris, 0 Michael!)

Up next, and just one place shy of the top ten, is the newest original song to appear in the rate. Dami Im was a strong contender to win X Factor Australia from early on in the live shows. Her performances were usually the highest on iTunes each week, and she delivered in the final with this song “Alive”, which later debuted at #1 on the ARIA charts. Dami became the first Australian X Factor to have a #1 album. In the following weeks, runner-up Taylor Henderson also scored #1s for his album and his potential winner’s single “Borrow My Heart”, both of which have now sold a lot more than Dami’s. It’s too bad for her, but at least she can say she won.

 

Only ten remain!

10. SHAYNE WARD – THAT’S MY GOAL

X Factor 2 (2005)

Score: 6.86 (10 JosephStyles, 9.5 Insomnio/Juranamo, 9 Liam/Pavel/Leonardo ---------------- 2 152chris, 1 Michael!, 0 Silver Rocket)

Kicking off the top ten is the last solo male remaining, Shayne Ward, with the only original song ever used as an X Factor winner’s single. “That’s My Goal” has plenty of other credentials too; including first X Factor Christmas #1, fastest-selling X Factor single and third-fastest-selling single of all time. After a huge success like that it’s anyone’s guess why they’ve stuck to covers ever since. The ultimate, defining moment for this song came in 2010 when Abby and Lisa (‘Ablisa’) sang it for their X Factor audition and they basically end up fighing onstage. A must-watch if you haven’t seen it already!

I like when Simon asks what they’re going to sing and they say “Shayne Ward” as if that’s what the song is called…

 

9. FANTASIA – I BELIEVE

American Idol 3 (2004)

Score: 7.12 (10 Riser/Liam/152chris, 9 Insomnio/Mike Sugafan ---------------- 5 Cameron/Aaron., 2 Michael!)

This was the first and only CD single I ever bought, and in fact I bought it just last year from my best friend who was moving house and getting rid of things. He gave me Fantasia’s first album too! It’s now been ten years since her season of American Idol. It was a time when most winners’ singles were spectacular, before we knew just how bad they could get in later years. So of course “I Believe” was going to be good because that’s just the way it was. But Fantasia made it even better. The song no longer gets any airplay, but it’s been covered by other Idol contestants quite often, including each of the past two seasons. And Fantasia has had at least one top 100 single from all four of her albums, and as recently as last year, so she has done quite well.

Ew. Dami Im far too low. Should have finished top 3! :(