Profiles of the Top 44

The kids are taping their shows this weekend.   Here are a few Song Spoilers:

  • According to a source, Bucky Covington will be singing either the Elvis tune “Suspicious Minds” or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man.
  • According to Taylor Hicks’s brother, Taylor will be performing Elton John’s “Levon”
  • Sway is rumored to be singing “On Bended Knee” by Boyz 2 Men.
  • According to Paris Bennett’s fans, she’ll be performing the AI  Motown  staple “Heatwave”   Somebody who may have attended the taping is now saying that Paris performed Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia”…

If anybody out there is attending these tapings, I would be forever in your debt if you shot me an email with some spoilers!   Thank you!

Also, the AI Season 5 launch party  is tonight.   Constantine Maroulis, who finished 6th place last year,  is scheduled to perform.

Profiles of the Top 44 and the Almost-Top 44 Part 1

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Gina Glocksen,  21 years old, Napier,  IL. Auditioned in Chicago.   1st room cut before the Top 44

,  21 years old, Napier,  IL. Auditioned in Chicago.   1st room cut before the Top 44If you recall, she was  the dental hygienist by day and rocker by night who  claimed to have a crush on Simon.   I thought she performed really well in Hollywood.   Prior to Idol, she performed in an all-girl band,  Catfight

 

 

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Brooke Barrettsmith, 23, Spring Grove IL.   Auditioned in Chicago.   Top 44

Brooke  auditioned with her sister Leah who was cut in the 2nd round in Hollywood.   I wrote about Brooke and her sister here.   Since her name began floating around the net on various spoiler lists, Brooke has amassed a bit of a following.   Prior to Idol, she, her sister and brothers played in a Christian Rock band.  

Here is her MySpace, where you can hear some of her and her sister Leah music.   The tunes have a real rock edge.   A friend posted  all about Brooke in her blog.   She’s posted some handy links and down-loadable music.   Two message boards–Brooke Barrettsmith online  and  Brooke Barrettsmith Fans.   Here’s a  fan-site  and a Yahoo group  dedicated to both Brooke and sister Leah.  

 

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Bobby Bullard aka Bluu, 28, Pflugerville, TX Auditioned in Denver. Top 44

Bluu’s MySpace  features some smooth R&B tunes.

 

 

 

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April Walsh, 28, Laguna Niguel CA. Auditioned in Denver.   Top 44

She impressed me when she sang a Bjork song for her initial audition.   She posts at Television Without Pity and loves Bjork.   It all good.   Here is her MySpace

 

 

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Jennifer Sieminski,  20,  Greenville, NC. Auditioned in Chicago. 1st room cut before the Top 44

After listening to the tunes on her MySpace I  can’t believe  she was cut.   I highly recommend checking her out.   She got a sweet indie/folk vocal style and does a kick ass cover of   Blind Melon …No Rain.
 

 

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Brianna Taylor, 18,  Warwick, PA. Auditioned in Boston. Top 44

Brianna  had a ton of friends posting comments on this blog.   One of those  friends says that “She’s the kind of person that can stop you in your tracks with her singing and her presence, a contemporary Etta James, the new Alicia Keys.”    From the short little snippet we got to hear in the Boston preview at the end of the Austin episode, Im really disappointed we didnt get to hear more.   Here is her MySpace.