We are at the Top 10 mark now, and this is usually when the true contest starts. Everyone of the top 10 has to have a game plan in place that will take them to that crowning moment at the end of this season. One good thing to do would be to look at the past 11 winners and think of the lessons that can be learned from each of their journeys. I thought it might be fun to see what each of us think they could learn from each of the champs. Here is what I think they could learn from the 11 former American Idol champs.
Kelly Clarkson: Song choice! Kelly showed that if you pick the right songs for you each week and ones you know you can slay, then it will get you noticed. Kelly wasn't the most beautiful(not that she isn't good looking, but not a normal beauty as most people see them.) She wasn't the most charismatic(although lovable), but even with all that she set the standard of what a winner was. She picked a lot of songs that didn't look good on paper, and then made people stand up and pay attention when she did them.
Ruben Studdard: Just sing! Ruben was humble and lovable, but he was not the atypical "Idol". But Ruben did what a winner has to do. He didn't sweat the small stuff. He just came out week after week and soothed the audience with his silky vocals.
Fantasia Barrino: Be a performer! I think Fantasia when she sat on the floor for her rendition of "Summetime" showed what performing is all about. It's not always about a big light show, dancers, marching bands, etc. Sometimes it just means setting a mood. Fantasia showed how to do that.
Carrie Underwood: Be versatile! Carrie was the country girl whose most remembered performance was when she blew the roof off the place with a rock song. Carrie showed she could sing anything, any style.
Taylor Hicks: Be charismatic! Taylor was in a talent packed year, and yet, with his unique style and his buddy and pal Ryan and their back and forth, made his Soul Patrol a major Idol force.
Jordin Sparks: Keep plugging away! There were others with much more experience. Others who were more charismatic. Some would say even others who could sing much better. Jordin was the little engine that could. She performed better and better each week and people fell in love.
David Cook: Make songs your own! People still talk about Billie Jean. And what about Music of the Night? Two themes that would have sunked others, made David the winner because he just found ways to make those styles his own.
Kris Allen: Stay with what you know! Kris beat the person(Adam) who I believe was the best performer ever on Idol. How'd he do it? I think because Kris was smart enough to know he wasn't going to out sing and out perform Adam. A certain other contestant that year tried to do that and it blew up on him. Kris stayed true to what he did best, taking songs and doing them in his own alternative pop style and making people take notice.
Lee Dewyze: Keep a low profile and then go for it! Lee was smart, very smart. He didn't take any big chances. He listened to what the judges were saying. He kept his ears open to what was working and what wasn't. If something was working he stayed with it. If he felt he needed something big because so and so outshined him, he did that. Maybe the best "played" of any winner.
Scotty McCreery: Stay in your wheelhouse! How many times have we heard this said on the show. Scotty is the epitome of that phrase because he did exactly that. Doing Elton John songs? Scotty found out Elton did a country album. Doing Rock? Scotty does Rock-A-Billy. Give a Stevie Wonder classic a country make-over? Done! Scotty knew what he was doing worked, so why change it? As young as he was, he was very smart!
Phillip Phillips: Be true to yourself! They tried to dress him different. Phillip said thanks anyway. They tried to get him to do different songs. Phillip wouldn't change the song he wanted to do. Phillip knew who he was and played the carefree guy who was "too cool for school" and the audience ate it up. Of course when he won and broke down in tears we realized that the guy who didn't seem to even care if he won wanted it just as bad as the 10 that proceeded him.
Of course they all could sing, but most of the people in the final 10(12, 13) can do that. That's why they are there. If any of this year's ten want to win it all, my advice is to take a look at how the 11 previous winners did it.
