# "American Idol" Sure-thing Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017 "2006-03-12T04:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/1 "2006-03-12T04:39:03Z")
One of my husband and my favourite pastimes is thinking of songs that we think would guarantee you a spot on “American Idol” if you nail them in auditions. My top contender at this point is “Sara Smile” by Hall & Oates. You nail the first part of that song, where Daryl effortlessly sings all over the scale, and you’re in, in my opinion. Other selections for “American Idol” sure-things? My criteria would be it has to have a challenging vocal lead, not be too obscure, and not be way over-done on AI already (so that pretty much kicks all Whitney, Mariah, and Celine out of the running. 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/2 "2006-03-12T07:14:33Z")
That is a very good question, and one of the problems with the singers as the show progresses…a lot of those kids don’t seem to have a clue what to sing. As far as an audition that would wow the judges? Probably something by Queen, as Freddie had a pretty incredible range. Or take some standard and put your own spin on it…it has been done with Over The Rainbow or some Motown hits. I think some of the girls should reach back to Billie Holiday or Patsy Kline and do a newer version…and the guys could take a Sinatra or Hank Williams song and do their version. I think the trick is to do a song that has been out there for ages, but make it seem new and fresh…in other words, go back - go way back - and surprise people with your version of a song they already like. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/3 "2006-03-12T14:40:02Z")
Unchained Melody, because it’s hard to sing well and because it’s one of Simon’s favorite songs. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/4 "2006-03-12T17:32:57Z")
As one of Simon’s favourite songs, I would be sorely tempted to sing it particularly badly. 😃 Re-visiting a classic would probably be a good bet too, **DMark**. I have noticed that these kids seem to have extremely limited song choices; I think pulling an old favourite out and making it new would get you a pass just out of gratitude from the judges for not having to hear “My Heart Will Go On” one more time. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/5 "2006-03-12T18:48:13Z")
Anything where a black guy or girl gets to do the wavering voice thing for 5 minutes? I’m just sayin’, every performance like that I’ve seen on Idol has had all 3 judges impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/6 "2006-03-13T01:15:35Z")
On the opposite end, I’d like to see auditioners immediately disqualified if they attempt a song by a former “American Idol” winner (or runner-up). It just seems tacky to me. All those people howling “Since U Been Gone”… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/7 "2006-03-13T03:15:04Z")
It seems that a sure-fire technique, at least last year, is to do a Stevie Wonder impersonation. After that, try a Ray Charles song. hh ---
**Author:** ![Amazingrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Amazingrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazingrace)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-sure-thing-songs/348017/8 "2006-03-13T03:30:38Z")
I was watching with my parents the other week, when bald-man-that-I-love-but-can’t-remember-his-name sang “Hemmorage” and I came up with this theory: [ul] [li]Sing a rock song where the frontman is a frontman, and not a singer.[/li]The lead singer of Fuel does not have a polished voice, but bald-man does. It’s a surefire way to sound better than the real thing. [li]Don’t touch Barbara, Celine, or Stevie.[/li]Just… don’t. They have very distinctive voices and you will always be compared to the original. [li]Sing something originally sung by someone of the opposite gender.[/li]You’ll seem like “you’re doin’ your own thing dawg!” and you’ll avoid the aforementioned comparisons of death. [/ul]