Idol Chatter & Voice Views

So, I’ve spent a lot of time over the past two weeks tracking down information on American Idol contestants we haven’t met during the audition episodes.

Let’s just say the show is keeping a boatload of talent in reserve.

Did you know that country singer Chelsea Sorrell, who made it to the top 60 last year, is back? She got a golden ticket in Savannah.

Same for Hollie Cavanagh.  You might remember her as the determined young girl from England who nearly broke down when it appeared she wouldn’t advance during Season 10, then wowed the judges with a second song.

And I bet many of you didn’t know Scott Dangerfield returned for Season 11. He was every bit as impressive as Scotty McCreery in last year’s Milwaukee auditions, but dropped out of the competition to fulfill a student-teaching commitment.

And you might want to meet Meaghan Cooper.  Talk about an interesting background.  It includes surviving a Japanese game show.

You can meet all four of those contestants and many others we’ve caught no more than a glimpse of by heading here, then following the link to their individual pages.  In most cases, you’ll also be able to watch and listen to non-Idol performances.

You’ll also find profiles of all the contestants featured in Idol’s first five audition episodes.

Tonight, Idol lands in Portland, where we’ll meet even more of the contenders for the Season 11 crown.

Brittany Zika, 21, Portland, Oregon, nanny, social media tech:  Hey, Brittany makes me smile. I mean, this looks like it’s heading toward one of those train wreck auditions, but the gal named “tripster the hipster” blows the judges away with her rendition of “The Story.” Proclaims Jennifer Lopez: “One of prettiest voices we’ve heard.” And Randy says she sounds nothing like she looks, referring, I suppose, to those big nerdy glasses.  So Brittany whips off the glasses, whips off her hat, sexes up her hair and makes Steven Tyler wake up.  Then, after getting her golden ticket, she wants to make sure they’re just not playing tricks on the girl who trips.

Ben Purdom, 18, Philadelphia, Pa., cable TV salesman:  OK, if this doesn’t turn out well, we have Ben’s co-workers to blame.  They told him they know talent when they see it and he needed to try out.  Perhaps that’s why they sent him all the way across the country to audition.  He tries Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and another song and can’t quite match Brittany’s vocal talent.  We won’t see him in Hollywood.

Jermaine Jones, 24, Pine Hill, N.J., music teacher: After Ben murders “Born This Way,” Jermaine’s mom tells us her son was born this way — as a singer she means. After all, she did a church service and concert the night before he was born. Now her son, standing 6-foot-8, is auditioning for Idol with “Superstar.” Despite a bad case of the nerves, he advances. Jennifer calls him a “gentle giant.” And his mom is something beyond ecstatic.

Britnee Kellogg, 27, Vancouver, Wash., banker:  This country singer is going to sing “You’re No Good,” dedicated to the ex-husband who pursued a basketball career, then other women, but held her back in pursuing her dream, according to Britnee. “When you have dreams, you make them happen,” Jennifer tells the Hollywood-bound Britnee.

 Sam Gershman, 21, Clarksville, Md., motivational dancer:  Like the occupation listed for Sam, because she sure seems to be motivating Steven Tyler in that tight top. He compliments her on being so “perky. ” Unfortunately, she sings a tortured version of “I’m a Woman” that Randy calls “too Broadway” for Idol.  So apparently that’s the last Steven will be seeing of Sam.

David Weed, 22, Mountain Home, Idaho, fast food worker:  Randy laughs at just the idea of David singing “Tom Sawyer.” And the performance that follows just isn’t up to Idol standards. David gets the drift, saying “they just didn’t seem to like it at all.” Apparently everyone’s been telling him he has a “phenomenal voice.”

Romeo Diahn, 22, Portland, Oregon, shipping clerk: Romeo grew up in war-torn Liberia until his father helped the family immigrate to the U.S. for a better life.  He’s singing “Is This Love.”  Jennifer gives him a “little tiny less,” clearly more impressed with his story than his voice.  The best part of that audition was the friend of Romeo’s who had no idea who Ryan was. He’s going to Hollywood, where I predict he’ll be gone in a heartbeat.

Naomi Gillies, 22, Boston, Mass., student:  She’s going to audition with an Aerosmith song, “Cryin’.”  And it’s a pretty good version of it, though no one should try that Steven Tyler shriek.  Steven said the judges “have been missing that all morning.”  Randy says “you’ve got it.” Guess what, she’s also Hollywood bound.

Ben Harrison, 28, Eugene, Oregon: He sings in rock bands with lots of old guys, but keeps getting dispatched by those bands, because they’re jealous of his young looks, he says. So he tries to prove his ability by singing “Somebody to Love” And it’s a unanimous no from the judges. Guess those old guys know something, huh?  Ben says he didn’t puke or pee his pants, so it was an OK audition.

Jessica Phillips, 25, Brooklyn, N.Y., dental hygienist:  In a touching segment, Jessica tells how her boyfriend of five years, D’Angelo Perry, suffered a major stroke, woke up after a month and a half in the hospital and didn’t know who she was.  Now she’s his caretaker, struggling to help him heal. She says she and her boyfriend met through music, and she’s getting another chance to pursue it after singing Faith Hill’s “Again” and earning a golden ticket to Hollywood.