The 12 Defining Performances from Reality TV (the 2015 Edition)

By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com

It is hard to believe that we are five weeks away from 2015 ending!

Every time this year, Jake’s Take looks back at the most impeccable and memorable moments from all aspects of pop culture.

Today, I decided to look at the 12 Defining Performances from Reality TV!

12. Jordan Smith: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (The Voice USA: Season Nine)

Team Adam’s resident powerhouse kicks off this countdown with a haunting cover of this hymn. It was a huge risk for him to pay without the band and do the first part of the song a cappella, but Jordan’s brilliant vocals gave both the viewers and coaches chills as he was one of the lucky artists to receive a rare four-coach standing ovation at the end of the performance.

11. Seann Miley Moore: “A Song For You” (The X Factor UK: Season 12)

I never felt that no one could do Leon Russell’s “A Song For You” after Elliott Yamin revitalized the song on American Idol nine years ago. Then came Seann Miley Moore! The former X Factor UK front runner took the song to new heights when he presented his cover as a gift to the judges after the warm welcome he received during the Wembley auditions. His velvet vocals not only melted judges Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez Versini’s hearts, but also gained him an international following!

10 .Sarah Potenza: “Wasted Love” (The Voice USA: Season Eight)

Team Blake’s resident rocker delivered a fiery cover of Season Seven runner-up Matt McAndrew’s breakout hit, “Wasted Love,” during the Season Eight Knockout Rounds. As Matt watched alongside Sarah’s family, the Providence singer-songwriter gave a raw vocal performance that blew the coaches away and captivated the Universal Studios Hollywood audience.

9. India Carney: “Big White Room” (The Voice USA: Season Eight)

India Carney cemented her spot as a Season Eight frontrunner when she covered this powerful Jessie J track. Her impeccable vocal gymnastics impressed not only Coach Christina and the audience, but to the millions of Voice fans watching around the country. India’s unbelievable falsetto gave me chills and proved that she has a bright future in the music industry!

8. 4^th Impact: “Bang Bang” (The X Factor UK: Season 12)

It was the audition seen around the world! Filipino girl group 4^th Power (now 4^th Impact) stole the Season 12 audition rounds with their show stopping cover of Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj’s “Bang Bang.” Their dynamite vocals and outstanding choreography not only got the Wembley Arena audience on their feet, but had judges Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora and future mentor Cheryl Fernandez Versini dancing in their seats.

7. Clark Beckham: “Georgia On My Mind” (American Idol XIV)

During the past season of American Idol, there was only one contestant that captivated me all throughout the entire season: Nashville-based singer-songwriter Clark Beckham. His bluesy vocals gave me chills all throughout the season. However, his best performance was when he sang Ray Charles’ tribute to the Peach State and possibly the late music icon’s signature song. Even as American Idol ends next year, I will always remember this impeccable performance.

6. The CraigLewis Band: “Try A Little Tenderness” (America’s Got Talent: Season 10)

Atlanta best friends Zuri Craig and Jeffrey Lewis took soul music to a whole new level when they appeared on the tenth anniversary season of America’s Got Talent. Their take on Otis Redding’s soul anthem perfectly showcased their velvet vocals and took the Radio City Music Hall audience to church.

5. Sharon Irving: “Glory” (America’s Got Talent: Season 10)

Sharon Irving is definitely one of my all-time favorite performers from America’s Got Talent. I became an instant fan after she sang Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” and received Mel B’s Golden Buzzer during the auditions. Her inspirational cover of the Academy Award-winning song: “Glory” was filled with so much passion that not only did she make America proud, but I believe that Sharon’s grandparents (who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) were smiling down on her from heaven.

4. Samantha Johnson: “California Dreamin’” (America’s Got Talent: Season 10)

Another strong singer that appeared during America’s Got Talent’s tenth anniversary was Samantha Johnson! Her best performance was her take of Sia’s re-imagined cover of the classic the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’.”  From the first note, I knew that this was going to be an impressive performance. The vocal range that she showcased gave me chills and wished that I was back on the West Coast.

3. Kimberly Nichole: “House of the Rising Sun” (The Voice USA: Season Eight)

For me, it was really hard to pinpoint Team Christina powerhouse Kimberly Nichole’s best performance from Season Eight. However, I decided on her knockout cover of The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” I was impressed on how Kimberly owned the stage with her outstanding vocals and sassy personality…add the fact that both Pharrell and Xtina were extremely into her performance makes Kimberly’s cover of the Animals’ signature song- an instant classic for The Voice Hall of Fame.

2. Cor Glanaethwy: “The Prayer” (Britain’s Got Talent: Season Nine)

I hope that you packed your passports because the final entries in this countdown will take us around the world. Up first, we will head across the pond where a Welsh choir of over 160-plus members impressed the worldwide audience with an intriguing take of Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion’s “The Prayer.” Instead of singing in English and Italian, the group beautifully sang in their native tongue as well as Italian and took the Quest for Camelot track to new heights during the Britain’s Got Talent Semifinals. I hope that Cor Glanaethwy inspires other choirs around the world to audition for their country’s version of Got Talent.

1. Gerphil-Geraldine Flores: “The Impossible Dream” (Asia’s Got Talent: Season One)

As we leave the ITV Studios in London, we travel to Singapore where my number one pick is about ready to take the stage. Gerphil-Geraldine Flores’s life was changed forever the minute that her musical hero, iconic music producer David Foster, chose her to be his Golden Buzzer act. At the Asia’s Got Talent finale, Mr. Foster’s Golden Girl showcased that achieving “The Impossible Dream” can be possible. Her operatic vocals gave me a strong case of the “Goosies” and the decrescendo of the entire piece left me in happy tears. I strongly believe that Gerphil-Geraldine Flores has the brightest future in the music industry and I cannot wait for her American debut.

I do not own the clips that are showcased throughout this article, they belong to the following:

1. “America’s Got Talent” & “The Voice USA” are owned by NBC
2. “American Idol” is owned by FOX & 19 Entertainment.
3. “Asia’s Got Talent” is owned by AXN
4. “Britain’s Got Talent” & “The X Factor UK” are properties of iTV & SYCO Entertainment.