We asked, you voted. VFTW readers voted for the 20 American Idol performances that best embody the VFTW spirit. Whether you consider that the worst performances ever or the best performances ever, here's what you selected as the 20 most Vote for the Worst worthy Idol performances from seasons 1-9.

20. Danny Noriega - Tainted Love

Season seven of American Idol started out with a bunch of plants on Idol. But one contestant was unabashedly over the top. Danny Noriega had 2 mediocre performances, but then sashayed out with this VFTW gem that had us laughing and voting.

19. Camile Velasco - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Season three saw American Idol;s auditions go to Hawaii. And one of the beneficiaries of the Hawaiian vote was Camile Velasco. Her masterpiece of VFTW vocals was "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" during Elton John week. Watch as she slurs so many phrases together that the entire song sounds like a one really long, painful word.

18. Haeley Vaughn - The Climb

Haeley Vaughn was truly robbed. She was sent home after only 2 performances during season nine, and we'll always wonder what could've been. "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" was screechy, but this song took her lisp and over-the-top smile to a new level of VFTW greatness.

17. Jon Peter Lewis - A Little Less Conversation

The very first VFTW victory was when the site voted for Jon Peter Lewis during American Idol 3's wildcard round. Jennifer Hudson knocked a performance out of the park, other singers sang well. But Jon Peter Lewis came out, acted a fool, and still won the popular vote to get into the top 12 with our help.

16. Scott Savol - Dance with my Father

Scott Savol made VFTW famous during season four, and his performance of "Dance with my Father" was the one that people really couldn't stomach. Simon told him to pack his bags, America thought he was done for, but he somehow made it into the top 3 the next night and Constantine Maroulis went home.

15. Janay Castine - Hit Em Up Style

Janay Castine was an awesome semifinalist from season 4 who somehow lasted 3 weeks into the competition. The piece de resistance for Janaybot was her performance of "Hit Em Up Style." Between her scared faces, pointing, and strange outfit, Janay made us love her and want to go shopping with Miss Paula and Mikalah.

14. Rodesia Eaves - Daydream Believer

Only one performance from Idol's inaugural season made it on the list, and it was Rodesia's wonderful rendition of "Daydream Believer." You can tell she had never heard the song before in her life and was probably forced to sing it by the show. Her melismatic rendition was so classic that even 8 years later we can't forget it.

13. Taylor Hicks - Play that Funky Music

The only winner on this list is season five's champion, Hicks. Taylor made some strange song choices such as "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", but this performance was the best representation of just how VFTW he could be. He laid on the floor, he wore a colorful shirt, and we couldn't ask for much more.

12. Jasmine Trias - It's Raining Men

Jasmine was the second Hawaiian contestant on season three. Unlike Camile, Jasmine lasted even further into the competition. And on the final four's disco night, she butchered this song by singing it completely off key. All she needed to do was cry, and suddenly the following night she was in the top two while fan favorite LaToya London was sent packing.

11. Tim Urban - Apologize

Tim Urban became the longest running VFTW pick ever during season nine, and he captured our heart right off the bat with this off key masterpiece. Many contestants have had a terrible falsetto during the history of Idol, but no one quite matches Tim's terrible way of singing. He sounded like a dying puppy as he hit the high notes and stared at the camera with a scared look as if he knew how terrible he sounded.

10. Megan Joy - Rockin Robin

Megan Joy was one of the few saving graces during the finals of season eight. After losing picks like Nick Mitchell and Tatiana Del Toro, we thought no one would match up. But then Megan picked "Rockin Robin", danced around in a way that made us love her (and America hate her) and then screamed "CAW CAW" at the end. That caw became a battle cry for VFTW.

9. John Stevens - Crocodile Rock

Season three is the most represented season on this list, with 4 performances. Season 3's Elton John week is also the most represented, with both Camile and John's performances making the list. Back when we compiled this list years ago, John took the #1 spot with this masterpiece, but recently he's fallen to #9. The awkwardness of the performance combined with his voice breaking into the falsetto make it a classic.

8. Kristy Lee Cook - Eight Days a Week

Kristy Lee Cook came into season eight as a plant, but then "Eight Days a Week" happened. Kristy wanted to prove to Simon that she could sing country and sound good. She proved one of the two during Beatles week, and it wasn't that she could sound good. Kristy rearranged the song into something so terrible, it haunted her for the rest of the competition. As she sang the bridge's notes barely above a whisper, she must've been thinking how she was ruining her time on Idol. But she was completely entertaining us.

7. Juanita Barber - What About the Children

Juanita Barber was our pick for the best semifinalist ever by VFTW standards, and VFTW readers clearly agree that her performance belongs on our list. Her singing was memorable, but what she did after the performance is what made her a true legend. You have to watch to completely enjoy it. No one else has sassed the judges in as memorable a fashion since.

6. Kevin Covais - Part Time Lover

Season five's Chicken Little was a favorite VFTW contestant for his un-Idol like looks, funny lisp, and odd song choices. Nothing encapsulated all of this better than his performance during Stevie Wonder week doing "Part Time Lover." The whole thing is ridiculous... ridiculously VFTW.

5. Bobby Bennett - Copacabana

Season five also saw one contestant who had no screen time prior to the semifinals winning us over in an instant. Bobby Bennet had perhaps the best song choice in the history of the show with "Copacabana" because the judges stared at him like he was crazy and America promptly voted him out the next night. But we'll always have that one performance to love forever.

4. Danny Gokey - Dream On

Danny Gokey went into season eight as a sure-fire top 2 contender. Despite overly pimping out his dead wife all season, he was still headed for the top... until rock and roll night. VFTW had just picked him as our choice and people were angry. But once they heard Danny's rendition of "Dream On", he relinquished his top 2 spot and made everyone laugh at him. Adding "doo doo doo" into the song was one thing, but the scream at the end made this performance infamous.

3. Sanjaya Malakar - Bathwater

Sanjaya Malakar was perhaps the best known VFTW contestant of all time, and the ponyhawk was his most famous hairstyle. Sanjaya rocked the ponyhawk for "Bathwater", his performance for 'Song That Gwen Stefani Likes' week. After surviving this week, everyone knew Sanjaya was a force to be reckoned with and VFTW helped Sanjaya make it all the way to the top 7.

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2. Nick Mitchell as Normund Gentle - And I Am Telling You

Nick Mitchell joined American Idol as a joke, and boy are we happy he did. Nick's alter ego Normund Gentle loved to sing this Dreamgirls classic, and he made a mockery of the show in the process. The best ever semifinals performance took place, with Normund name checking Doogie Howser, humping the Idol logo, falling on the stage, and hitting one delicious bum note. Nick and Normund stole our hearts, and we were heartbroken to see him leave us the following night.

1. Sanjaya Malakar - You Really Got Me

It was #1 the last time we did this list, and it's still our reigning champ. Sanjaya Malakar had many memorable performances, but "You Really Got Me" is truly the #1 VFTW performance of all time. Sanjaya went into the week as the contestant going home. He had been meek and mild for weeks, making his shy shtick something that we loved. But suddenly he switched it up on us, grew the hugest pair of balls we'd ever seen, and came out to rock Idol like no contestant ever has since. His rockin rendition of "You Really Got Me" was made even better by a crying girl in the audience, manic running, strange hand motions, and lots and lots of screaming. Listen up future contestants. If you want the VFTW vote, there's no better performance to mimic than Sanjaya's "You Really Got Me." It was everything we love, especially Sanjaya's huge ego. Congratulations, Sanjaya. Your legacy will live on.

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