32 Best American Idol Performances of All Time (Including Candice Glover's "Lovesong")

ML- Since the atrocious season 9 I've tried to kick my Idol addiction, to no avail. This week, AI 12 contestant Candice Glover performed The Cure's "Lovesong" and reminded me why staying up-to-date with the reality showcase can be oh so rewarding. Randy proclaims it as one of the best performances of all time, and I agree. 

I scoured YouTube to find the other "best performances of all time" and drafted a list of 32. Someone, somewhere should make a bracket of these -- we're still processing the results from our March Madness bracket competition! For now, enjoy this unranked video playlist of the top Idol vocals from the past 12 years.

Note: Contestants were limited to just one performance in the list, to prevent every single Kris Allen / Kelly Clarkson number from sneaking in. I also tried fitting each winner in there, even though Lee DeWyze's spot should have gone to Andrew Garcia's "Straight Up" cover. 

1. Candice Glover, "Lovesong" (Season 12)

2. Carrie Underwood, "Alone" (Season 4)

3. Kris Allen, "Heartless" (Season 8)

4. Jennifer Hudson, "Circle of Life" (Season 3)

5. David Cook, "Billie Jean" (Season 7)

6. Haley Reinhart, "Bennie and the Jets" (Season 10)

7. Elliott Yamin, "A Song For You" (Season 5)

8. Jordin Sparks, "I Who Have Nothing" (Season 6)

9. Joshua Ledet, "This Is A Man's World" (Season 11)

10. Allison Iraheta, "Cry Baby" (Season 8)

11. Clay Aiken, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Season 2)

12. Crystal Bowersox, "Me and Bobby McGee" (Season 9)

13. Bo Bice, "In a Dream" (Season 4)

14. Melinda Doolittle, "My Funny Valentine"(Season 6)

15. Adam Lambert, "Mad World" (Season 8)

16. Fantasia Barrino, "Summertime" (Season 3)

17. David Archuleta, "Imagine" (Season 7)

18. Tamyra Gray, "A House Is Not A Home" (Season 1)

19. Taylor Hicks, "Trouble" (Season 5)

20. Carly Smithson, "Here You Come Again" (Season 7)

21. Ruben Studdard, "Superstar" (Season 2)

22. Jessica Sanchez, "And I Am Telling You" (Season 11)

23. Jason Castro, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Season 7)

24. Katharine McPhee, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Season 5)

25. Scotty McCreery, "Gone" (Season 10)

26. Kimberly Locke & Frenchie Davis, "Band of Gold" (Season 2)

27. Chris Daughtry, "Renegade" (Season 5)

28. Pia Toscano, "All By Myself" (Season 10)

29. Lee DeWyze, "The Boxer" (Season 9)

30. Phillip Phillips, "U Got It Bad" (Season 11)

31. Blake Lewis, "You Give Love a Bad Name" (Season 6)

32. Kelly Clarkson, "Natural Woman" (Season 1)

Who did I miss? Or did I pick the wrong song for somebody? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to watch American Idol Wednesdays/Thursdays on FOX to catch some of the show's best talent in years.