Follow Zap2it:
American Idol Box Set
'American Idol' Season 3: Fantasia Barrino vs. Diana DeGarmo
Twitter
Google
The Season 10 premiere of "American Idol" is less than a week away and to make the days go by a bit faster, Zap2it decided to take a stroll down memory lane and re-evaluate the previous nine seasons. Each day leading up to the premiere on Wednesday, Jan. 19, we will post a retrospective on each season. We're breaking it down into four categories: Best Performance, Worst Performance, Most Underrated Idol and most Overrated Idol. At the end, we will decide how the season stacks up against the rest, rating it as great, good, or not-so-good.
We've looked back at Season 1 (yay Kelly!) and Season 2 (aww, Clay and Ruben!) and now it's time to take a look back at the black hole of "American Idol." And don't even try to act like that's not a true statement in the year where Fantasia beat Diana DeGarmo.
Season 2 contestants in order of elimination:
Leah LaBelle
Matthew Rogers
Amy Adams
Camile Velasco
Jon Peter Lewis
Jennifer Hudson
John Stevens
George Huff
LaToya London
Jasmine Trias
Diana DeGarmo
Fantasia Barrino (winner)
Best Performance: Jennifer Hudson, "Circle of Life"
It was a crying shame Jennifer Hudson went home so early in Season 3, and we are not saying this as a Johnny-come-lately because she's gone on to such success recently. She was a tie for our favorite that season (with LaToya London) and we thought "Circle of Life" was amazing. It was a soaring, chill-inducing performance. We don't care how much anybody (even Simon) loved "Summertime" -- we didn't, and still don't, like Fantasia's voice at all. Our honorable mention for Best Performance is LaToya London's "Don't Rain on My Parade."
Worst Performance: Jon Peter Lewis, "Jailhouse Rock"
How can we choose just one? This was easily the worst group of finalists ever on "Idol." Diana DeGarmo's "A Broken Wing," Amy Adams "Dancing in the Streets," just about everyone on Elton John week (save the aforementioned "Circle of Life"), just about everything Jon Peter Lewis did, the idea of a Gloria Estefan week, it goes on and on. But we'll give this dubious honor to JPL's "Jailhouse Rock."
Most Underrated Idol: Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London
We repeat -- it's a crying shame these immensely talented women finished 7th and 4th, respectively. They should've been dueling in the finals.
Most Overrated Idol: Fantasia Barrino
We still can't believe she won and that anybody liked the sound of her voice. To us, nails on a chalkboard. She was awful, like the poor man's Macy Gray. Sorry, Fantasia fans. We just don't see it.
How the season stacks up: Not-so-good.
Even though some argued that last year's Season 9 was the weakest ever, we disagree. It was Season 3.
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: FOX
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Our Partners
Still trying to burn this season out of my memory. *Cringe*
Turns out I was the big loser this season for watching this.
Who is "we"? Is this article written b a group of people? Fantasia was my favorite Idol winner and still is. Season three was also my favorite season. I dont' watch any longer but if they had another Fantaisa I might.
Season 3 was the only season I watched and that was plenty for me. I watched because I was afraid I was missing out (yeah, turned out I was wrong).
I loved the voices of Amy Adams and Diana Degarmo but I felt both were better suited for Broadway (which is where Diana is now).
I thoroughly enjoyed Latoya London's singing and stage presence and if I remember correctly, it was her performance of Orange Colored Sky that gave me goosebumps.
You all need new ears. Season Three was GREAT despite the fact that it didn't come down to the Dueling Divas of London, Hudson and Barrino as it should have.
Barrino was excellent during the show, particularly on "Summertime" but Hudson's "Weekend in New England" was the chiller for me over "Circle of Life" because it allowed her to go out on a high note (so to speak).
Jennifer Hudson's Circle of Life was a lifeless bellowing peppered with screeching sounds.
Hudson lost for a reason and not matter how much of a foundation she's standing on that was built by Jennifer Holliday she's not achieving success with radio airplay and album/singles sales for a reason.
Her voice is loud. That's it.
America heard her and didn't vote for her because she doesn't sing in a well that your ear will find it pleasant. Sure she belt of a decent/inferior 'And I Am Telling You" but that doesn't make her career or past performances any better.
Re-watch that clip. It's crap.
Andrea: What you said about Fantasia is 100% 100% on the dot!!She is waaaaaaay overrated. Why she still gets standing ovations is beyond me!!! Her voice is horrible. What is her deal???
I thought Diana was robbed. She has a terrific voice and her follow up album was very good.
The winners of these things always seem to be people who cannot sing but who "put a song over" or "have a lot of soul" or have some other gimmick other than a voice.
To me Fantasia sounds like scraping chalk on a blackboard. I do not understand the attraction of these shrieking "gospel" type singers.
yall must be crazey fantasia is the best american idol winner that there would ever be so yall really need to get use to it cause she is a legend in the making
I vote Diana Degarmo as the most overrated, irritating and stuck up finalists to ever be on idol (with Kathrine McPhee being a close second, though at least McPhee had some beautiful moments, i.e. Black Horse and a Cherry Tree).
I thought Fantasia deserved to win, but I do wish Latoya and JHud had been in the final three.
One thing for sure: Diana D. was the worst finalist in all of Idol history. And Jasmine #3??? Please.
I think JHud is a very good singer now, but she has improved a lot since Idol.