Sometimes the best performances by American Idol contestants aren’t on American Idol. They’ve all got talent, personality, and charisma, but they’re also young and inexperienced performers facing the weekly grind of a nationally-televised competition. Maybe their on-show performances suffered from a case of nerves, a difficult theme, or even just the glitches of live TV. But when the contestants later turn up on other shows, we get a better glimpse at what made us love them, and sometimes when the pressure’s off – they soar.

Here’s a list of the best performances by American Idol contestants on other programs, along with a description of what made these performances so special.

Tim Urban on The Late Show with David Letterman

When he was finally voted off, young-and-smiley Tim Urban wasn’t even allowed to sing his final song (because the show was running long). But then five days later he popped up on David Letterman’s show for his first post-Idol performance. And 21-year-old “Teflon Tim” had already endured a wild run on the show.  He’d actually been cut during Hollywood week, but was then called back as a last-minute replacement, where the judges then torched him with excruciating critiques.

On Letterman – looking cool (and relaxed) – he sang an acoustic Elvis Presley ballad, “I Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Gently plucking his guitar, it was soft, simple, and tender, rising to a heartful climax that could thrill teenaged girls just as much as his dreamy hair. And before the performance there was some funny banter between the talk show’s befuddled 63-year-old host, who asked him point blank: “Now, why is Ryan Seacrest on the show?”

Andrew Garcia on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

Andrew Garcia never found his niche, but two days after being voted off the show, he appeared in front of one of his former judges to launch the next phase of his career.  Wearing tennis shoes and blue jeans, Andrew danced for Ellen – even doing a breakdancing move. (“When were you going to throw that in…?” Ellen asked.) Ellen, who’d been a big fan, warmed up Andrew with some complements – and then Andrew made a stunning return to his roots, where it all started.  He sang the Maroon 5 song “Sunday Morning”, which he’d sung at the first audition which had gotten him onto American Idol.

With its jazzy, acoustic chords, the song felt intimate and emotional, with Andrew finally showing the openness that the judges said had been lacking during his season. Behind the thick glasses lurked the sentimental hipness of singer-songwriter, as he sang a  love song about waking up to a new morning, accompanied only by his own guitar (and a single grand piano behind him). And  he’d finally – finally – chosen the perfect song… about taking a leisurely drive with the one you love.

Siobhan Magnus on The Late Show with David Letterman

David Letterman actually proclaimed that Siobhan was “Our American Idol,” after the 20-year-old with the big voice got voted off after only reaching the Top 6. Siobhan had been hit-or-miss throughout the season, sometimes awing the judges with her banshee-like vibrato, and other times putting them to sleep with over-syrupy ballads. But everyone had agreed that her break-out performance was “Paint it Black,” which came early during a night of uneven performances during “Rolling Stones” week.

A week after being voted off the show, Siobhan pulled out her diva-like masterpiece on Letterman’s show (wearing a ridiculously large necklace and patterned stockings which Letterman first mistook for the world’s largest tattoo.) Starting with a crazy waltz tempo – and faux violins in the background – Siobhan bit into the simple melody, her deep voice rising up through an arpeggio, then taking the melody higher and higher, into a perfect crescendo that lasts nearly 20 seconds.  As the band muttered menacingly “Paint it, paint it, Paint it black…” she hit the banshee-like note, and then held it in a scary vibrato (which even made Letterman’s guitar player break into a huge smile, and then point approvingly).  A spontaneous roar of applause from the audience drowned out the last line of the song – an insanely sweet return to the song’s soft beginning.

And in that moment she reminded everybody of just how exciting the American Idol contestants can be…