AI12 ALGORITHM-BASED POWER RANKINGS, WITH EMPHASIS ON SONG CHOICE

So for the first official post of AI12, we're going to analyze the forward momentum of the contestants with a heavy emphasis on song choice/creativity. In other words, do an old song? Get docked off. Do a song that has been done a bajillion times on the Idol stage? Get docked off. Performing the song well is only one part of the equation. 

TOP 10 PRE-IDOL/X FACTOR MUSIC, TOP 10 POST IDOL/X FACTOR MUSIC

So we've always wondered about the sort of under the radar music that everyone loves pre-singing competition shows and post-singing shows. Through the help of youtube and past spoilers, I've re-surfaced these videos, and made my ranking of the top 10 pre Idol/X Factor and top 10 post Idol/X Factor music. Enjoy.

EPOCH 4 (MORE WGWGS): THE CONCEPT OF "PIGGYBACKING" AND WHY IT MATTERS POST-IDOL

So as mentioned, Epoch 3 was a trainwreck: WGWG infestation led to massive flops, and Idol went zig with soft, coffeehouse rock while the world went zag with electropop and hip hop. There couldn't have been a greater clash in styles ever since the Jackie Chan met Chris Tucker in Rush Hour. So what did Epoch 4 have in store for us?

Well, let's just say Idol didn't learn its lesson (if you can already tell from the title above). Take a look after the jump:

EPOCH 3 (THE WGWG ERA): THE CONCEPT OF "PIGGYBACKING" AND WHY IT MATTERS POST-IDOL

This deals with 2008-2010, or AI7-AI9, and when Idol allowed its instruments and unleashed KrisAllenty LeeDeWyzeDavid Cook, er I mean, Kristy Lee Cook, on us, we got our WGWG era--the WGWGs started happening. And it's continuing to this day.

We'll see, er, what caused Idol's harm in the mainstream, below the jump:

EPOCH 2 (IDOL'S GOLDEN YEARS): THE CONCEPT OF "PIGGYBACKING" AND WHY IT MATTERS POST-IDOL

Continuing on to 2005-2007, or AI4-AI6, when Idol unleashed its rockers and had their contestants pull their weight (we won't be hearing that after this).

This is a continuation of my last article, the first epoch.

IDOLMETRICS: THE FINAL BATTLE: JESSICA VS PHILLIP.

Now, let's focus on the two remaining contestants duking it out to become the winner. Ladies first, so Jessica:

IDOLMETRICS: AI11 CONTESTANTS, #3-13: HOW THEY FARED STATISTICALLY

In a continuation from the last Idolmetrics post, this shows the how the contestants gained the score they did.

IDOLMETRICS: SONG CREATIVITY/SINGING MOMENTUM, WEEK BY WEEK

As you've most likely read from my previous mathematics (or some would say Idolmetrics) studies, these calculations are based on song creativity and how well the contestant sings their song. If they sing a song that's been done a ton on Idol, they get docked points because their score is then compared to the average of that song. If they do a new song, the contestant receives a straight up score (that explains why Phil Phillips routinely ranks high; he needs to put less effort to produce the same amount of impact as a Joshua Ledet or Jessica Sanchez, given how often they choose songs that have been done many times). The numbers are scaled and added to each other each week to give a composite of the contestant's momentum below.

IDOL SONGS DONE ON TOUR (AKA HAVE THEY CLEARED THESE SONGS FOR THE SHOW?)

Didn't know where to put this, but I think an interesting theme would be:

Decade done by Past Idol Contestants On Tour
Separate it to:
1960s and before
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s and beyond

IDOL: AVOIDING SONGS 1990s AND BEYOND LIKE THE PLAGUE

EDITOR'S NOTE: NEWEST ARTICLE FOR TODAY. COMPARING IDOL'S SONGS IN 11 SEASONS WITH THE SONGS DONE ON THE SING OFF, THE VOICE, AND THE X FACTOR US. I'M LOOKING FOR HOW MANY SONGS '90s AND BEYOND THAT THESE SHOWS HAVE DONE, COMPARED TO IDOL.

I'll also keep this for posterity, because it's an interesting topic: Songs done on The Voice in two seasons that never been done on Idol for 11 seasons. And there's a ton of them--I think one of those random websites said that the Voice has a pretty high current song rating, and we know how Idol's fossils goes. And given that both are in the US, one would think if it's done on the Voice, it should be on Idol, because there aren't any real clearance issues, right? I'm also going to include the audition songs, and put an asterisk on the ones that weren't done on the finals, but were done elsewhere.

IDOL'S CLEARED SONG LIST

Possible theme weeks: (6 or more songs cleared for an artist)
IN RED HAVE BEEN USED FOR THEME NIGHTS ALREADY

The Rolling Stones (115)
Sam Cooke (86)
Frank Sinatra (77)
The Beatles (75)
Elvis Presley (70)
Nickelback (59)

EXTENSIVE LISTING OF THE TOP 24 IN AMERICAN IDOL 11, WITH VIDEOS AND SONG LISTING

THE TOP 24 OF AMERICAN IDOL