2012 The Year in Review

2012 in Review: The best Idol videos

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Former Idol contestants released more than 25 music videos in 2012.

Here are my picks for the five best, followed by all the others I could find.

I’m sure I might have missed a couple. If you know of any others, let me know and I’ll gladly add them.

But I’m pretty sure I won’t change my top five.

For those who like to look back, last year’s top five were: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart; “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson; “The Last Goodbye” by David Cook; “Double Trouble” by Jack and White; and “Can’t Say Goodbye” by Josh Gracin.

Here’s the link to that blog. And here’s the link to the first blog in this series, a look at the best and worst of singing shows from 2012.

Now, this year’s top five …

1. Daughtry: “Outta My Head”

A little James Bond style intrigue never hurts when you’re making a video. In this one, Chris blows off his band members to track down a dark-haired beauty. And just why is he doing that? Because she’s a dark-haired beauty? You have to watch to the end to find out. Oh, having a great song helps the video, too.

2. Adam Lambert: “Never Close Our Eyes”

The Season 8 runner-up went futuristic sci-fi for the second video from his “Trespassing” album. He plays the role of a rebel in a world of conformists. And starts his own mini-revolution. Big surprise, right? Anyway, I’m a sucker for synchronized floor-scrubbing sequences, so this makes the list.

3. Carrie Underwood: “Blown Away”

Before the album launched, Carrie said she’d be tackling some darker material on disc number four, like this title track about an abusive dad. Penned by the “Before He Cheats” song-writing team, it became one of my favorite Carrie songs the first time I heard it. The black-and-white to color is an obvious ode to “The Wizard of Oz.” And I like the way we don’t find out what happened until the final frame as Carrie strolls back up her country lane.

4. Kris Allen: “The Vision of Love”

Great song. Probably better than anything off Kris’ debut album. And a great anti-bullying message nicely conveyed in this video. He didn’t set out to make an anti-bullying video; it just sort of turned out that way, Kris said back in April. “Bullying’s something that’s a big deal. I’m not trying to jump on board or anything, but you can’t talk about it enough. I want to be part of that discussion.” Shame more people didn’t become part of Kris’ solid second album.

5. Bucky Covingon: “Drinking Side of Country”

Bucky wins the prize for most guest stars in a 2012 video. In addition to recording the song with Shooter Jennings, Bucky has female wrestler Mickie James and motorcross freestyle rider ‘Cowboy’ Kenny Bartram make cameos. But the best part comes when he and Shooter are pulled over by a cop. “HELP!!!” texts Bucky. Who comes strolling down the country road? Why it’s Kellie Pickler wearing daisy dukes and flashing a come-hither smile.

The others

Adam Lambert — “Better Than I Know Myself”

Anoop Desai (featuring ADHD) — “Love War”

Bucky Covington — “I Wanna Be That Feeling”

Carrie Underwood — “Good Girl”

Casey Abrams — “Simple Life”

Casey James — “Crying on a Suitcase”

Chris Richardson — “Joy and Pain”

Chris Richardson — “In the Name of Love”

David Archuleta — “I’ll Never Go”

David Archuleta — “Everybody Hurts”

David Archuleta — “Forevermore”

David Archuleta — “Nandio Ako”

Daughtry — “Start of Something Good”

Haley Reinhart — “Free”

Jack and White — “California Dreamin'”

James Durbin — “Stand Up”

Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston — “Celebrate”

Kelly Clarkson — “Dark Side”

Kelly Clarkson — “Catch My Breath”

Kristy Lee Cook — “Airborne Ranger Infantry”

Lauren Alaina — “Georgia Peaches”

Leah LaBelle –“Sexify”

Mandisa — “Somebody’s Angel”

Michael Lynche — “Who’s Gonna Love You More”

Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed — “Now That I’ve Found You”

Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed — “All I’ve Ever Needed”

Phillip Phillips — “Home”

Ruben Studdard — “June 28 (I’m Single)”

Scotty McCreery — “Water Tower Town”

Scotty McCreery — “Christmas Coming Round Again”

Stefano Langone — “I’m on a Roll”

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11 Comments

  1. violet4ever January 8, 2013 at 9:48 pm -  Reply

    Wow – great collection! I’ll watch them all tonight. BTW you missed David Archuleta’s video for Everybody Hurts off his second 2012 album BEGIN. I don’t know if I can post links – you can find the video on theofficialarchuleta Youtube channel.

  2. violet4ever January 8, 2013 at 10:19 pm -  Reply

    Another 2012 David Archuleta music video you are mission is Nandito Ako (the music video, song is from his Philippines album) – you can find the video on the TV5Philippines Youtube channel and I tweeted a link to you. And I was just thinking some people may not know the background behind David Archuleta’s 2012 videos. David Archuleta started a 2-year church mission in South America Mar 28 2012. In the 10 weeks of 2012 before his mission he was leading man and soundtrack singer of a Philippines TV miniseries (including music video Nandito Ako), recorded a Philippines OPM album Forevermore including 3 music videos (2 are above, one not released yet) and then he recorded the US album BEGIN plus some video footage in-studio (seen in Everybody Hurts music video).

  3. Michelle January 8, 2013 at 10:26 pm -  Reply

    Archuleta released 3 videos this year. Two filmed in the Phillipines, I’ll Never Go and Forevermore and one in the USA , Everybody Hurts, which is a tear jerker! Love them all and this is while he is serving his 2year mission in Chile! David was hard at work and made sure his fans were taken care of! My favorite idol FOREVERMORE!

  4. Michelle January 8, 2013 at 10:27 pm -  Reply

    Love Kris’s video too!

  5. Gwen January 9, 2013 at 2:33 am -  Reply

    Everybody Hurts video by David Archuleta is by far the best of 2012 This video touches your heart.
    David is gone on a Mission for 2 years but he made this video and his BEGIN. Cd before he left for his fans. A very specia young man and he will return in 2014. YEAH!!!!!!!

  6. violet4ever January 9, 2013 at 3:02 am -  Reply

    Thanks Mark for adding David Archuleta’s Everybody Hurts and Nandito Ako. 🙂

  7. Pastel (@pastelpastel) January 9, 2013 at 5:14 am -  Reply

    Thanks Mark!!! Appreciate you completing David Archuleta’s Music Video list. Loved his albums (Forevermore) and BEGIN. in 2012, especially the track Broken. Chilling.

  8. Mb January 9, 2013 at 6:01 pm -  Reply

    David Archuleta should have been in your top 5 but still glad you included him,he worked so hard at pleasing his fans by gifting us with these wonderful and amazing videos for 2012!

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