Ranking All of Chris Daughtry’s Performances From ‘The Masked Singer’

If you’ve read my blog before, you’d know that I am a huge fan of American Idol (2002 – 2016 and 2018 – present). Well, I’m a fan of seasons one to eleven. Despite the show ruining its own legacy, you can’t deny it had some unbelievably talented people on the show. One of those talented individuals was Chris Daughtry. Instead of ranking his American Idol performances, however, I’m going to rank his performances on The Masked Singer (2019 – present) because Daughtry’s voice has matured a bit since his Idol days. Besides, who doesn’t want to watch a Rottweiler sing pop songs?

You know, sometimes I wonder if the judges are paid to act dumb and pretend that they have no clue who’s singing behind the mask. Daughtry’s voice is so distinct and recognizable, like come on! With all that said, let’s get on with the music!

7. ”Mr. Brightside” by The Killers – Week 9 (eleventh episode)

This one doesn’t have anything to do with Daughtry’s vocal performance. I’m just not a fan of the song. I’ve heard “Mr. Brightside” so many times in movies and TV shows, and it’s annoying. The song sounds like a bunch of rowdy kids pretending to be rockstars and acting all tough, but I ain’t buying it. 

6. ”Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran – Week 6 (seventh episode)

Similar to “Mr. Brightside,” I’m just not a fan of the song. The verses are kind of depressing. Daughtry was singing about breaking his leg, and running away from his brother and his brother’s friends. It wasn’t until he got to the chorus where I was like, “ok, this is decent.” But, I feel like Daughtry never got to shine much on this performance. I just don’t think that Ed Sheeran and Daughtry make a good combination. 

5. ”Maneater” by Hall & Oates – Week 1 (first episode)

I loved seeing Daughtry have fun and move around on stage. I think that’s part of the fun of being on The Masked Singer. No one knows who’s performing, so the contestants get to loosen up and enjoy themselves. Also, I think the song is catchy and it has a good beat. 

4. ”Grenade” by Bruno Mars – Week 7 (eighth episode)

Technically, “Grenade” is a depressing song because the guy is singing about a girl who won’t make the same sacrifices that he’d make for her. But, I freaking love this song because the old Bruno Mars is my childhood. I loved the arrangement and how Daughtry made it more modern (it was released over 10 years ago). Plus, his voice made “Grenade” sound more intense. The fire in the background was a nice touch; some special effects make a performance work. I couldn’t help but sing along with Daughtry during this performance.

3. ”Love Runs Out” by OneRepublic – Week 5 (fifth episode)

First of all, I loved the pounding drums in the background because that really added to that hardcore vibe. But I also loved that Daughtry lowered the key to fit his voice because changing the key of a song can really make a difference. Daughtry was having a good time and grooving along with the back-up dancers, and it was fun to watch. He did little runs, sang some low notes, and went into his falsetto. Basically, he did a little bit of everything.

2. ”Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi – Week 9 (tenth episode)

Here’s the thing, I actually hate “Someone You Loved,” partially because of my older sister (she wouldn’t stop singing it for the longest time). But, Daughtry made me love his version of the song because it was so heartfelt and intimate. Like, he really connected with “Someone You Loved” and that’s what’s important. American Idol always stressed the importance of connecting with your song choice because if you don’t feel the song, how is the audience going to feel it? Daughtry’s voice has the ability to move people with not only his rock edge, but his softer side too. He also changed the key, so there’s that.

1. ”Alive” by Sia – Week 10 (final episode)

This performance literally gave me chills the first time I heard it. When Daughtry hit the chorus, it reminded me why he was one of my favorites on American Idol. Daughtry had that presence and potential to become a great recording artist; he did not disappoint us. I was a bit bummed when I found out “Alive” wasn’t his song, but he recorded his own version of it, which is cool. I still can’t believe the judges had no idea that Daughtry was the Rottweiler, especially after this performance. Like Darren Criss and Jason Mraz, where did they get those guys from?

This was the easiest ranking list I’ve ever had to do so far. Probably because there were only seven performances total. Rewatching the old American Idol seasons had me falling in love with my favorite contestants all over again, including Daughtry, and it sparked a new interest in me to check out his music. But, there you go guys! That’s how I’d rank Daughtry’s performances on The Masked Singer. 

---

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to like it and share it with your friends. I write about music, Disney, TV shows, movies, and whatever suits my interests. If that sounds like your cup of tea, please subscribe to my blog for more content like this! To help me keep this blog going, click here to make a donation or click here to join my Patreon. You can also follow me on social media through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Comment below which Daughtry album I should check out first!

Take care and see ya real soon!

Lana