{alltv} 'American Idol': How does Haley Reinhart's 'Piece of My Heart' stack up against other Idols?

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

{alltv} 'American Idol': How does Haley Reinhart's 'Piece of My Heart' stack up against other Idols?

When taking on "Piece of My Heart," on "American Idol," you aren't just putting yourself up against Janis Joplin (and Dusty Springfield, Erma Franklin and Faith Hill), you're singing a tune that's been in heavy rotation on the series since Season 1.

But Haley Reinhart was up to for the challenge during the Top 9 performance night -- and the judges loved it. Jennifer Lopez called her a "contender," Steven Tyler dubbed it "beautiful" and Randy Jackson praised the little touches she put on the iconic tune.

But how does it compare to the Idols that sang it before her? In addition to Haley, we've gather clips of Carrie Underwood, Asia'h Epperson and Crystal Bowersox.

(Nikki McKibbin, who was the first to sing "Piece" in Season 1, is regrettably absent. The only video we could find is on some Eastern European version of YouTube and we don't know the proper translation for "embed code.")

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHF7HaLougQ&feature=player_embedded

Haley Reinhart
This latest "Piece" is a straight-forward salute to Joplin, with Reinhart playing up her comparisons to the artist to raspy goodness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMMi6Y5X2-8&feature=player_embedded

Carrie Underwood
The season 4 victor is clearly taking her country cues from Faith Hill's version here, but Underwood's semifinals "Piece" might be our favorite -- mostly because she can do no wrong in our eyes. (Even in double denim!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnIXG7lJjtU&feature=player_embedded

Asia'h Epperson
We may not endorse apostrophes in first names, but Epperson's playful take on the tune was cute -- just not good enough to get her past the Season 7 top 24.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB2HD7CnUI8&feature=player_embedded

Crystal Bowersox
The most Joplin-y of all "American Idol" contestants, the Season 9 runner-up sang "Piece" for her original audition. All traces of it seem to have vanished from the Internet, but this club performance before her "Idol" days should give you an idea of how well she does it.