American Idol (season 3)
| American Idol | |
|---|---|
| Season 3 | |
| Broadcast from | January 19, 2004 – May 26, 2004 |
| Judges | Simon Cowell Paula Abdul Randy Jackson |
| Host(s) | Ryan Seacrest |
| Broadcaster | Fox Broadcasting Company |
| Finals venue | Kodak Theatre |
| Winner: Fantasia Barrino |
|
 Fantasia Barrino in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World.
|
|
| Origin | High Point, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Song | "I Believe" |
| Genre(s) | R&B, pop, soul |
| Runner-up | |
| Diana DeGarmo | |
| Chronology | |
| ◄ 2004 ► | |
The third season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% (1.3 million votes); the vote total (65 million votes) was the highest recorded vote total in the show's history until the May 23, 2007 finale of American Idol 6. This season also featured Jennifer Hudson, who would subsequently win the 2006 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The third season is the first season where both the winner and the runner-up ended up in the bottom 2 or 3 prior to the finale, being followed by season 8. It is the first (and so far only) season to have a finale with two female contestants, while the second, seventh and eighth seasons had a finale with two male contestants. It is also the first season where a Wild Card contestant is eliminated in the first episode of the finals, who is Leah LaBelle, with Jasmine Murray following suit in season 8. It is the first season to have a gender imbalance among the finalists, followed by season 8, each having eight finalists of the dominant gender. Season 3 has eight female finalists, whereas season 8 has eight male finalists.
Contents |
[edit] Auditions
Auditions were held in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, and Honolulu.
The early part of the season became well-known for the introduction of William Hung, a University of California, Berkeley student, who became popular following his rendition of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs". His performance as well as his attitude facing judge Simon Cowell's criticisms (which was a stark contrast to other contestants' confrontational, angry reactions) made him instantly popular, and landed him a record deal with Koch Records.[1]
During the audition round in Houston, Texas, auditioner Jonathan Rey threw a cup of water at Simon, who moments earlier commented that he was terrible and "there's not a song in the world you could sing." Security quickly escorted Jonathan out, and Houston police questioned him, but released him after Simon decided against pressing assault charges on him. The entire incident was caught on tape and was broadcast.
Hollywood rounds contestant Taryn Southern later appeared on the Project My World series and wrote and performed the 2007 "Hott4Hill" viral video.
[edit] Semifinals
This is the first time that two contestants who previously tried out for American Idol (Matthew Metzger and Lisa Leuschner) made it to the top 3 of their semifinals group. Both contestants were eliminated during Hollywood round in the previous season.
[edit] Semifinal Group 1
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "I've Got the Music in Me" | Kiki Dee | Advanced |
| 2 | Marque Lynche | "Wind Beneath My Wings" | Bette Midler | Eliminated |
| 3 | Ashley Thomas | "Crazy" | Willie Nelson | Eliminated |
| 4 | Katie Webber | "Orange Colored Sky" | Nat King Cole | Wild Card |
| 5 | Erskine Walcott | "Open Arms" | Journey | Eliminated |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | "Imagine" | John Lennon | Wild Card |
| 7 | Matthew Metzger | "Walking in Memphis" | Marc Cohn | Top 3/Wild Card |
| 8 | Fantasia Barrino | "Something to Talk About" | Bonnie Raitt | Advanced |
[edit] Semifinal Group 2
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Rogers | "What You Won't Do for Love" | Bobby Caldwell | Advanced |
| 2 | Briana Ramirez-Rial | "Don't Know Why" | Norah Jones | Eliminated |
| 3 | Noel Roman | "This I Promise You" | *NSYNC | Eliminated |
| 4 | Kara Master | "I'm Outta Love" | Anastacia | Eliminated |
| 5 | Lisa Leuschner | "Sweet Thing" | Chaka Khan | Top 3/Eliminated |
| 6 | Jesus Roman | "Back at One" | Brian McKnight | Eliminated |
| 7 | Camile Velasco | "One Last Cry" | Brian McKnight | Advanced |
| 8 | Marisa Joy | "Some Kind of Wonderful" | Grand Funk Railroad | Eliminated |
[edit] Semifinal Group 3
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elizabeth LeTendre | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Whitney Houston | Wild Card |
| 2 | Eric Yoder | "In the Still of the Night" | The Five Satins | Eliminated |
| 3 | Amy Adams | "The Power of Love" | Celine Dion | Advanced |
| 4 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Tiny Dancer" | Elton John | Top 3/Wild Card |
| 5 | Charly Lowry | "Chain of Fools" | Aretha Franklin | Eliminated |
| 6 | Jonah Moananu | "I Wish" | Carl Thomas | Eliminated |
| 7 | Leah LaBelle | "I Have Nothing" | Whitney Houston | Wild Card |
| 8 | La Toya London | "All By Myself" | Eric Carmen | Advanced |
[edit] Semifinal Group 4
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzy Vulaca | "Un-Break My Heart" | Toni Braxton | Wild Card |
| 2 | John Preator | "That's What Love Is All About" | Michael Bolton | Eliminated |
| 3 | Heather Piccinini | "New Attitude" | Patti LaBelle | Eliminated |
| 4 | John Stevens | "She's Always a Woman" | Billy Joel | Advanced |
| 5 | Jasmine Trias | "Run to You" | Whitney Houston | Advanced |
| 6 | George Huff | "Always and Forever" | Heatwave | Top 3/Wild Card |
| 7 | Lisa Wilson | "Come to My Window" | Melissa Etheridge | Eliminated |
| 8 | Tiara Purifoy | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" | Whitney Houston | Eliminated |
[edit] Wild Card
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Peter Lewis | "A Little Less Conversation" | Elvis Presley | Public Vote |
| 2 | Elizabeth LeTendre | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" | Roberta Flack | Eliminated |
| 3 | Katie Webber | "So Emotional" | Whitney Houston | Eliminated |
| 4 | George Huff | "Lean on Me" | Bill Withers | Simon's Choice |
| 5 | Suzy Vulaca | "I Will Survive" | Gloria Gaynor | Eliminated |
| 6 | Matthew Metzger | "When I See You Smile" | Bad English | Eliminated |
| 7 | Leah LaBelle | "Let's Stay Together" | Al Green | Paula's Choice |
| 8 | Jennifer Hudson | "I Believe in You and Me" | Whitney Houston | Randy's Choice |
[edit] Finals
[edit] Top 12 (Soul)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Toya London | "Ain't Nobody" | Chaka Khan | Safe |
| 2 | Amy Adams | "You Make Me Feel Brand New" | The Stylistics | Bottom 3 |
| 3 | Matthew Rogers | "Hard to Handle" | Otis Redding | Safe |
| 4 | Camile Velasco | "Son of a Preacher Man" | Dusty Springfield | Safe |
| 5 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Drift Away" | Dobie Gray | Safe |
| 6 | Fantasia Barrino | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" | Stevie Wonder | Safe |
| 7 | George Huff | "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" | Otis Redding | Safe |
| 8 | Jennifer Hudson | "Baby, I Love You" | Aretha Franklin | Bottom 2 |
| 9 | John Stevens | "Lately" | Stevie Wonder | Safe |
| 10 | Leah LaBelle | "You Keep Me Hangin' On" | The Supremes | Eliminated |
| 11 | Jasmine Trias | "Inseparable" | Natalie Cole | Safe |
| 12 | Diana DeGarmo | "Think" | Aretha Franklin | Safe |
[edit] Top 11 (Country)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "A Broken Wing" | Martina McBride | Bottom 3 |
| 2 | George Huff | "I Can Love You Like That" | John Michael Montgomery | Safe |
| 3 | Fantasia Barrino | "Always on My Mind" | Willie Nelson | Safe |
| 4 | John Stevens | "King of the Road" | Roger Miller | Safe |
| 5 | Camile Velasco | "Desperado" | The Eagles | Bottom 2 |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | "No One Else on Earth" | Wynonna Judd | Safe |
| 7 | Jon Peter Lewis | "She Believes in Me" | Kenny Rogers | Safe |
| 8 | Jasmine Trias | "Breathe" | Faith Hill | Safe |
| 9 | Matthew Rogers | "Amazed" | Lonestar | Eliminated |
| 10 | La Toya London | "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" | Garth Brooks | Safe |
| 11 | Amy Adams | "Sin Wagon" | Dixie Chicks | Safe |
[edit] Top 10 (Motown)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camile Velasco | "For Once in My Life" | Stevie Wonder | Safe |
| 2 | Jon Peter Lewis | "This Old Heart of Mine" | The Isley Brothers | Safe |
| 3 | La Toya London | "Ooo Baby Baby" | The Miracles | Bottom 3 |
| 4 | Amy Adams | "Dancing in the Street" | Martha & the Vandellas | Eliminated |
| 5 | John Stevens | "My Girl" | The Temptations | Safe |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave" | Martha & the Vandellas | Bottom 2 |
| 7 | Jasmine Trias | "You're All I Need to Get By" | Marvin Gaye/ Tammi Terrell |
Safe |
| 8 | Diana DeGarmo | "Do You Love Me" | The Contours | Safe |
| 9 | Fantasia Barrino | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | Marvin Gaye | Safe |
| 10 | George Huff | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" | The Temptations | Safe |
| Result Show | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Marvin Gaye/ Tammi Terrell |
[edit] Top 9 (Elton John)
| # | Performer | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantasia Barrino | "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" | Safe |
| 2 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Rocket Man" | Safe |
| 3 | Jasmine Trias | "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | Bottom 2 |
| 4 | John Stevens | "Crocodile Rock" | Safe |
| 5 | Camile Velasco | "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" | Eliminated |
| 6 | George Huff | "Take Me to the Pilot" | Safe |
| 7 | Diana DeGarmo | "I'm Still Standing" | Bottom 3 |
| 8 | La Toya London | "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" | Safe |
| 9 | Jennifer Hudson | "Circle of Life" | Top Voted |
| Result Show | "Bennie and the Jets"/ "Daniel"/ "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"/ "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" |
[edit] Top 8 (Movie Soundtracks)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Movie | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Huff | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" | Phil Collins | "Against All Odds" | Safe |
| 2 | Jennifer Hudson | "I Have Nothing" | Whitney Houston | "The Bodyguard" | Safe |
| 3 | Jon Peter Lewis | "Jailhouse Rock" | Elvis Presley | "Jailhouse Rock" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Diana DeGarmo | "My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion | "Titanic" | Bottom 3 |
| 5 | Fantasia Barrino | "Summertime" | George Gershwin | "Porgy and Bess" | Safe |
| 6 | Jasmine Trias | "When I Fall in Love" | Clive Griffin/ Celine Dion |
"Sleepless in Seattle" | Safe |
| 7 | John Stevens | "As Time Goes By" | Dooley Wilson | "Casablanca" | Bottom 2 |
| 8 | La Toya London | "Somewhere" | Barbra Streisand | "West Side Story" | Safe |
[edit] Top 7 (Barry Manilow)
| # | Performer | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "One Voice" | Safe |
| 2 | George Huff | "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" | Safe |
| 3 | Jennifer Hudson | "Weekend in New England" | Eliminated |
| 4 | Jasmine Trias | "I'll Never Love This Way Again" | Safe |
| 5 | La Toya London | "All The Time" | Bottom 3 |
| 6 | John Stevens | "Mandy" | Safe |
| 7 | Fantasia Barrino | "It's a Miracle" | Bottom 2 |
| Result Show | "Let Freedom Ring"1 |
- Note 1: This song was sung with Barry Manilow.
[edit] Top 6 (Gloria Estefan)
| # | Performer | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantasia Barrino | "Get on Your Feet" | Safe |
| 2 | George Huff | "Live for Loving You" | Bottom 2 |
| 3 | La Toya London | "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" | Safe |
| 4 | John Stevens | "Music of My Heart" | Eliminated |
| 5 | Jasmine Trias | "Here We Are" | Bottom 3 |
| 6 | Diana DeGarmo | "Turn the Beat Around" | Safe |
[edit] Top 5 (Big Band)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 2 |
Diana DeGarmo | "Someone to Watch Over Me" "Get Happy" |
Ella Fitzgerald Judy Garland |
Safe |
| 3 4 |
George Huff | "Cheek to Cheek" "What a Wonderful World" |
Fred Astaire Louis Armstrong |
Eliminated |
| 5 6 |
La Toya London | "Too Close for Comfort" "Don't Rain on My Parade" |
Natalie Cole Barbra Streisand |
Safe |
| 7 8 |
Jasmine Trias | "The Way You Look Tonight" "Almost Like Being in Love" |
Tony Bennett Nat King Cole |
Bottom 2 |
| 9 10 |
Fantasia Barrino | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" |
Queen Barbra Streisand |
Safe |
[edit] Top 4 (Disco)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasmine Trias | "Everlasting Love" | Carl Carlton | Safe |
| 2 | La Toya London | "Love You Inside Out" | The Bee Gees | Eliminated |
| 3 | Fantasia Barrino | "Knock on Wood" | Amii Stewart | Bottom 2 |
| 4 | Diana DeGarmo | "This Is It" | Melba Moore | Safe |
| 5 | Jasmine Trias | "It's Raining Men" | The Weather Girls | Safe |
| 6 | La Toya London | "Don't Leave Me This Way" | Thelma Houston | Eliminated |
| 7 | Fantasia Barrino | "Holding Out for a Hero" | Bonnie Tyler | Bottom 2 |
| 8 | Diana DeGarmo | "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" | Donna Summer/ Barbra Streisand |
Safe |
| Result Show | "Bad Girls"/ "Hot Stuff"/ "Heaven Knows"/ "She Works Hard for the Money"/ "Last Dance" |
Donna Summer1 | ||
| Result Show | "Fantasy" | Earth, Wind & Fire2 |
- Note 1: This medley was sung with Donna Summer.
- Note 2: This song was sung with AI2 runner-up Clay Aiken.
[edit] Top 3 (Idols' Choice, Judges' Choice, Clive's Choice)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasmine Trias | "Saving All My Love for You" | Whitney Houston | Eliminated |
| 2 | Fantasia Barrino | "Chain of Fools" | Aretha Franklin | Safe |
| 3 | Diana DeGarmo | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell | Safe |
| 4 | Jasmine Trias | "Mr. Melody" - Paula Abdul | Natalie Cole | Eliminated |
| 5 | Fantasia Barrino | "A Fool in Love" - Simon Cowell | Ike & Tina Turner | Safe |
| 6 | Diana DeGarmo | "Because You Loved Me" - Randy Jackson | Celine Dion | Safe |
| 7 | Jasmine Trias | "All By Myself" | Eric Carmen | Eliminated |
| 8 | Fantasia Barrino | "Greatest Love of All" | Whitney Houston | Safe |
| 9 | Diana DeGarmo | "Don't Cry Out Loud" | Melissa Manchester | Safe |
[edit] Top 2 (Finale)
| # | Performer | Song | Artist | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGarmo | "I Believe" | Tamyra Gray | Runner-Up |
| 2 | Fantasia Barrino | "All My Life" | K-Ci and Jo-Jo | WINNER |
| 3 | Diana DeGarmo | "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" | Donna Summer/ Barbra Streisand |
Runner-Up |
| 4 | Fantasia Barrino | "Summertime" | George Gershwin | WINNER |
| 5 | Diana DeGarmo | "Don't Cry Out Loud" | Melissa Manchester | Runner-Up |
| 6 | Fantasia Barrino | "I Believe" | Tamyra Gray | WINNER |
| Result Show | "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)"1 | Man of La Mancha | ||
| Result Show | "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" | Aretha Franklin/ George Michael |
- Note 1: This song was sung alongside AI1 and AI2 winners Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard.
After a nationwide vote of more than 65 million votes in total--more than the first two seasons combined--Fantasia Barrino won the "American Idol" title beating out Diana DeGarmo. The third season was also shown in Australia on Network Ten about half a week after episodes were shown in the US. Leah LaBelle is the first contestant to advance to the finals via Wild Card then get eliminated in the first week of the finals.
As a nod to the "Did Clay see the card?" controversy in AI2, Ryan Seacrest was instructed to memorize the winner's name and the vote margin and was given a blank card to hold while reporting the results. However, in a post-show interview with USA Today, Diana DeGarmo admitted that she had figured out that she had not won when the contestants were going over the schedule for the finale and she saw she would be singing "I Believe" (the winner's single) before the results were announced. Realizing that she would not be scheduled to sing a song she would have to sing again minutes later if she were announced as the winner, she correctly deduced that she had lost and Fantasia had won.
At the time of the finale many celebrities voiced their support for Fantasia: Frankie Muniz, Sharon Osbourne, Ray Romano, Amy Yasbeck, Nicole Kidman, Lori Loughlin, Patti LaBelle, Andy Richter, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Holly Robinson Peete, Giuliana Rancic, Toni Braxton, Ben Stiller, Redman (TV Guide), Method Man (TV Guide) Richard Schiff, Kate Hudson (On the Tonight Show), Lea Thompson and Mo'Nique.
Henry Winkler said "You've got incredible judges, Simon speaks the truth, I always agree with him. And Ryan is really good at what he does, but Fantasia," he smiles, "there's something in her that is bigger than anything. We voted for her about 250 times!"
Kelly Clarkson is quoted in the June 14th, 2004 People Magazine as saying she voted for Fantasia: "I just hit redial, redial."
Prior to the results show, the governors of Georgia and North Carolina -- the home states of DeGarmo and Barrino respectively -- announced a friendly bet between them over which state's resident would prevail, each wagering a VIP NASCAR ticket package and a shipment of his state's signature fruit. The bet participants were Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, a Republican, and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, a Democrat.[2]
[edit] Elimination chart
| Did Not Perform | Top 32 | Wild Card | Top 12 |
| Stage: | Semi-Finals | Wild Card |
Finals | ||||||||||||||
| Week: | 2/11 | 2/18 | 2/25 | 3/03 | 3/10 | 3/17 | 3/24 | 3/31 | 4/07 | 4/15* | 4/21 | 4/28 | 5/05 | 5/12 | 5/19 | 5/26 | |
| Place | Contestant | Result | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantasia Barrino | 1st | Bottom 2 | Bottom 2 | Winner | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Diana DeGarmo | 2nd | Bottom 3 | Bottom 3 | Bottom 3 | Runner-Up | |||||||||||
| 3 | Jasmine Trias | 2nd | Bottom 2 | Bottom 3 | Bottom 2 | Elim | |||||||||||
| 4 | La Toya London | 1st | Bottom 3 | Top 3 | Bottom 3 | Elim | |||||||||||
| 5 | George Huff | 3rd | Adv | Top 3 | Bottom 2 | Elim | |||||||||||
| 6 | John Stevens | 1st | Bottom 2 | Elim | |||||||||||||
| 7 | Jennifer Hudson | Elim | Adv | Bottom 2 | Bottom 2 | Top 3 | Elim | ||||||||||
| 8 | Jon Peter Lewis | 3rd | 1st | Elim | |||||||||||||
| 9 | Camile Velasco | 1st | Bottom 2 | Elim | |||||||||||||
| 10 | Amy Adams | 2nd | Bottom 3 | Elim | |||||||||||||
| 11 | Matthew Rogers | 2nd | Elim | ||||||||||||||
| 12 | Leah LaBelle | Elim | Adv | Elim | |||||||||||||
| Wild Card |
Elizabeth LeTendre | Elim | Elim | ||||||||||||||
| Matthew Metzger | 3rd | ||||||||||||||||
| Suzy Vulaca | Elim | ||||||||||||||||
| Katie Webber | Elim | ||||||||||||||||
| Semi- Final 4 |
Heather Piccinni | Elim | |||||||||||||||
| John Preator | |||||||||||||||||
| Tiara Purifoy | |||||||||||||||||
| Lisa Wilson | |||||||||||||||||
| Semi- Final 3 |
Charly Lowry | Elim | |||||||||||||||
| Jonah Moananu | |||||||||||||||||
| Eric Yoder | |||||||||||||||||
| Semi- Final 2 |
Lisa Leuschner | 3rd / Elim |
|||||||||||||||
| Marisa Joy | Elim | ||||||||||||||||
| Kara Master | |||||||||||||||||
| Briana Ramirez-Rial | |||||||||||||||||
| Jesus Roman | |||||||||||||||||
| Noel Roman | |||||||||||||||||
| Semi- Final 1 |
Marque Lynche | Elim | |||||||||||||||
| Ashley Thomas | |||||||||||||||||
| Erskine Walcott | |||||||||||||||||
Paul Anka made an appearance in the Season Finale.
* During the week of April 15, the week got delayed for White House press conference on Tuesday, April 13, 2004. The performance show was moved to Wednesday, April 14. Jon Peter Lewis was sent home on Thursday, April 15.
[edit] Releases
[edit] Major releases
- American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics
- "I Believe" (Fantasia Barrino)
- "Dreams" (Diana DeGarmo)
- Free Yourself (Fantasia Barrino)
- Blue Skies (Diana DeGarmo)
- My Christmas EP! (George Huff)
- "Come Fly with Me" (John Stevens)
- Red (John Stevens)
- "Love Ko To" (Jasmine Trias)
- Jasmine Trias (Jasmine Trias)
- Love & Life (La Toya London)
- "Appreciate/Every Part of Me/All By Myself" (La Toya London)
- Miracles (George Huff)
- Fantasia (Fantasia Barrino)
- Stories from Hollywood (Jon Peter Lewis)
- "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (Jennifer Hudson)
- "Spotlight" (Jennifer Hudson)
- "Jennifer Hudson" (Jennifer Hudson)
- "All Dressed in Love" (Jennifer Hudson)
[edit] Minor or independent releases
(This list does not include pre-Idol releases)
- Love, Lipstick and Poetry (Kiira Bivens)
- Love, Lana (Lana Phillips)
- Sing Me Home (Lisa Leuschner)
- Str8up Band (Dina Lopez)
- I'll Be Seeing You (John Preator)
- This Is Next Time (Alan Ritchson)
- Sun Shiney Day (Lisa Wilson)
- "If I Go Away" / "Man Like Me" (single) (Jon Peter Lewis)
- Just Like Magic (Donnie Williams)
- Reality (Lisa Leuschner)
Sources: Idolsmusic.com, CD Baby
[edit] Controversy
Viewers raised many complaints when, during the semifinals Wild Card round, four of the contestants were inexplicably eliminated on the spot without having had the chance to sing and compete first, leaving only eight out of twelve contestants eligible for selection.
Both Jennifer Hudson and La Toya London, part of final twelve, were eliminated, despite high praises from the judges. After Hudson was eliminated, Sir Elton John, who was a guest judge for that season criticized the vote as 'incredibly racist' in a press conference.[3]
The elimination of both Hudson and London has been pointed out as a classic demonstration of vote-splitting in the American Idol vote, in which the presence of similar choices reduces the votes for each of the similar choices. Hudson, London and Barrino (who would eventually go on to win the competition) were female, African-American, highly praised singers—all appealing to the same demographic bloc of voters. All three of these previously popular singers ended up in the "bottom three" the night Hudson was eliminated—the three having the lowest individual vote counts.[4]
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ Go, Jesamyn., He's a loser, baby, MSNBC.com, 2004-02-24, Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
- ^ San Diego Union-Tribune: Governors place bets on 'American Idol' winner, May 25, 2004
- ^ Elton John Says 'American Idol' Vote Is 'Racist', Reuters via Yahoo.com, 2004-04-28, Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
- ^ American Idol voting, Votefair.org, Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
[edit] External links
- Official American Idol Contestants Website
- American Idol (Season 3) at the Internet Movie Database
- American Idol (Season 3) at TV.com
| Preceded by Season 2 (2003) |
American Idol Season 3 (2004) |
Succeeded by Season 4 (2005) |
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
