Number 2: I Who Have Nothing

And the Oscar for best dramatic performance of Season 10 goes to...

So Haley Reinhart, you just sang your heart out in your performance of the 'Earth Song,' a song which meant a lot to you and your 'song of inspiration' choice for Top 4 week.  Instead of being praised for what was clearly yet another stellar performance, you found yourself mercilessly slammed before a live audience on national TV by two of the Idol judges.  One judge treated you like a dim-witted child who's testing her patience and reproached you for repeatedly ignoring her motherly advice on the importance of choosing the 'right song.’  The other judge went even further, mimicking Simon at his nastiest by stating outright that you just don't have the vocal chops to ‘do the runs’ that the great Michael Jackson did in that song.  And even though you did your best to fend for yourself 'with a little help from your friends' (or at least from a sympathetic third judge), the damage was already done.  So, what’s a poor girl to do after such relentless and uncalled for attack?  Well, you shrug it off and deliver one of the most indelible and moving performances in Idol history with your second song of the night, of course!

At the number 2 spot on my list is 'I Who Have Nothing.'  Haley's rendition of this Ben E. King classic by Leiber and Stoller was magnificent, a powerhouse of a performance supercharged with so much raw emotion and drama that it takes my breath away  every time I watch it.  This was a Broadway-caliber performance accompanied by orchestra, a masterpiece of flawless virtuosity that simply blows the mind, especially in light of the fact that her spirit was just so recently and brutally trampled by JLo and Randy after her first performance of the night.  Haley's rendition of 'I Who Have Nothing' is better than Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks', an epic tour de force which proved beyond a doubt that she has the 'big voice' of a true diva, so go suck on that, Randy!

Like the phoenix of myth and legend, Haley had once again "risen from the ashes" with this performance, receiving her second standing ovation from the judges in as many weeks.  If it were not for her rousing performance of The Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun' the week before, which will be the subject for next week, this would have been number one on my list.  Nevertheless, bravo Haley, bravo!