Leadoff Performances

[back to top] Leadoff Performances

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# Episode / Theme Slot Performance Approval Rating σ Result
126
Year You Were Born / Divas
1/10
Straight Up0003Straight Up
64
 
24 2Safe
127
Open / One-Hit Wonders
1/10
Power Of Love 20003The Power Of Love
50
 
22 4Bottom Group
128
Now and Then
1/8
Diamonds0003Diamonds
43
 
25 2Safe
129
Jimmy's / Judges' / Producers' Choice
1/9
Perfect0003Perfect
28
 
14 2Safe
130
Finale
1/6
Angel0003Angel
44
 
18 7Eliminated
131
This Is Me
1/13
Aw Naw0003Aw Naw
30
 
11 2Safe
132
Home
1/12
Suddenly I See0003Suddenly I See
41
 
18 4Bottom Group
133
Songs from the Cinema
1/11
Come Together0003Come Together
26
 
13 4Bottom Group
134
Billboard Top 10
1/10
Perfect0003Perfect
18
 
12 7Eliminated
135
I'm With The Band
1/9
Dont Speak0003Don't Speak
58
 
19 2Safe
136
Audition Songs
1/12
Blue Eyed Lie0003Blue Eyed LieOriginal Song performance
89
 
16 2Safe
137
80's
1/12
I Love Rock and Roll0003I Love Rock and Roll
45
 
25 2Safe
138
Competitors' Picks
1/10
Family Tree0003Family Tree
70
 
18 2Safe
139
Country / Rock
1/12
Barracuda0003Barracuda
76
 
18 2Safe
140
America's Requests
1/12
Sweater Weather0003Sweater Weather
46
 
18 2Safe
141
Breakups and Makeups
1/12
You Give Love A Bad Name0003You Give Love A Bad Name
41
 
19 2Safe
142
Randy's / Judges' / Hometown Choice
1/9
Never Tear Us Apart0003Never Tear Us Apart
37
 
18 2Safe
143
Finale
1/6
Dog Days Are Over0003Dog Days Are Over
47
 
19 7Eliminated
144
Audition Songs
1/12
Love Runs Out0003Love Runs Out
32
 
16 7Eliminated
145
Get The Party Started
1/12
Burn0003Burn
30
 
14 2Safe
146
Songs from the Cinema
1/11
Love You I Do0003Love You I Do
45
 
16 7Eliminated
147
1980s
1/9
You Make My Dreams0003You Make My Dreams
13
 
12 4Bottom Group
148
Kelly Clarkson
1/9
Catch My Breath0003Catch My Breath
39
 
15 2Safe
149
Billboard Hits
1/8
Poker Face0003Poker Face
44
 
23 2Safe
150
American Classics
1/14
Why Do Fools Fall In Love?0003Why Do Fools Fall In Love?
33
 
19 2Safe

[back to top] Summary

Say you're a contestant on American Idol, and you're standing backstage a few hours before show time when the producers walk up to you and say, "Congratulations, Fred, you're singing first tonight!" Assuming your name is really Fred, your response should be to (choose one):

  1. Thank them profusely for the coveted honor of leading off the show.
  2. Throw up on their shoes.
  3. Hide in the wardrobe room and don't come out until the second commercial break.

Well, we can rule out A. As we and our friends at USA Today noted, the leadoff spot hasn't been terribly friendly to contestants over the years. Just 15 (of 282) first singers have have turned in a five-star performance, while 87 have been sent home (including 54 of 190 finalists, the highest ratio of any slot by far.) Through AI6, four of the six leadoff singers in a Final 3 episode have been voted off, and five of six in the Finales (where so far only Ruben Studdard has sung first and lived to tell about it.)

The challenges of performing first are obvious. Many late-arriving viewers miss the performance entirely, and those who do see it have upwards of an hour to forget about it before the voting begins. Plus, singing in front of a "cold" audience is rarely a treat; that's why opening acts were invented. Certainly the producers are aware of this too, so if they were ever intent on getting rid of a contestant – and we are not saying we suspect them of anything (cough-cough) – the leadoff spot is the obvious place to put him or her.

So if you ever find yourself opening the show on Idol, do whatever it takes to make it as memorable of a performance as you can. And don't forget to apologize to the producers afterwards for their shoes.

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