By my count, former Idol contestants released at least 30 videos in 2013.
Here are my picks for the top five, 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.
The is the first blog in a series looking back at the best of 2013. Coming up are best Idol albums of 2013 and best Idol songs of 2013.
If you’d like to look back at my picks for the best Idol videos from 2012, head here.
Now, my picks for the year’s top videos … and feel free to comment below if you disagree.
5. David Archuleta, “Don’t Run Away”
What do you do when you need a music video for a new single and you’re off serving a two-year mission with your church? You get artist/fan Kylie Malchus from your hometown of Murray, Utah, to create an animated video out of 500 of her drawings. Pretty impressive, I’d say.
4. Carrie Underwood, “Two Black Cadillacs”
Early last year, Carrie said her “Blown Away” album featured some darker moments. She wasn’t lying. The video for “Two Black Cadillacs” makes taking a Louisville slugger to a cheating boyfriend’s souped-up four-wheel drive look pretty tame by comparison.
3. Kelly Clarkson — “People Like Us”
Kelly Clarkson plays a rebel and non-conformist. Totally out of character, right? The result: We get some special effects and a chase scene to accompany a great tune. The song is from Kelly’s Greatest Hits album — Chapter One. Yeah, you gotta like Kelly’s confidence.
2. Casey Abrams — “Get Out”
Of the 30 videos I just watched, this one brought the biggest smile to my face as Casey plays a guy obsessed with a lovely young lady. Don’t miss the scene where Casey takes out his frustration on a papier mache heart. The song is from Casey’s underrated debut album, which made my 2012 best Idol albums list.
1. Mandisa — “Overcomer”
You can’t beat this combination of uplifting song and uplifting video. The video features those who have overcome, including Congresswoman Gabby Gifford, Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, former Olympian Scott Hamilton and Biggest Loser runner-up Hannah Curlee. And kudos to Mandisa, who finished just ninth back in Season 5 but will be up for three Grammys in 2014.
The rest
Allison Iraheta and Halo Circus — “Gone”
Candice Glover — “Cried”
Carrie Underwood, “See You Again”
Casey Abrams — “Stuck in London”
Colton Dixon — “Never Gone”
Crystal Bowersox — “Dead Weight”
Daughtry — “Waiting for Superman”
David Archuleta — “Forevermore”
DeAndre (Brackensick) — “Her Crazy”
Erika Van Pelt — “Listen, Learn, Then Delete”
Fantasia — “Lose to Win”
Fantasia — “Without Me”
Granville Automatic — “Never On a Sunday”
Granville Automatic — “Glorietta”
HeeJun (Han) — “Bring the Love Back”
Hollie Cavanagh — “Outer Limit”
Jessica Sanchez — “Tonight”
Kellie Pickler — “Someone Somewhere Tonight”
Kelly Clarkson — “Tie It Up”
Kendall Beard — “Drinkin'”
Leah LaBelle — “Lolita”
Phillip Phillips — “Gone, Gone, Gone
Phillip Phillips — “Where We Came From”
Stefano Langone — “Yes to Love”
Vonzell Solomon — “Half a Heart”
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