Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Going head to head with the Grammys Sunday night, American Idol presented its largest group of Hollywood-bound singers yet.

If I counted right, 14 singers earned golden tickets over the course of the two-hour episode, the last of Idol’s audition episodes for Season 19.

Next Sunday and Monday, the Hollywood Week episodes begin airing. And Idol has already teased footage of an ambulance rushing to the assistance of an unlucky contestant.

As for Sunday, we not only got to meet a lot of new faces, but Idol staged reunions with two standouts from its recent past.

Zach D’Onofrio returned for a second shot at Idol fame, accompanied by Catie “I Got a Boyfriend; I Can’t Believe It” Turner.

They were adorable performing together, and Zach is Hollywood bound.

Meanwhile, Francisco Martin from last season got a chance to tell everyone that he’s released new music; kudos to Idol for giving him that chance (which would never happen on The Voice).

Unfortunately, his presence didn’t help brother Kiko, who left the audition room without a golden ticket.

Who was most impressive Sunday night?

Here are my picks for the five singers to watch.

1. Madison Watkins, 25, Fayetteville, Ark.
Audition song: “Your Little Girl,” an original
Why: Easily my favorite audition from Sunday’s episode, the girl nicknamed “moo-moo” because she’s from Arkansas marched into the audition room and with a great original and showed off great vocals. Even better than I expected after listening to the impressive music she’s already released.
Best line: Lionel — “A lot of people walk into this door with great personality, and they don’t deliver with vocals. You gave a package of sunshine.”

2. Ava August, 15, Orange County, Calif.
Audition song: “Neighbor Boy,” an original
Why: Yep, it wasn’t announced on the show, but that was an original Ava performed too. Though she still would have landed in this spot with a cover because of those vocals that certainly don’t sound like they’re coming out of a 15-year-old. In this case, an incredibly talented 15-year-old who’s already released original music. The only thing I didn’t like about the audition is the way Idol aired it, mixed in with the one immediately below.
Best line: Lionel — “You’ve got an old soul sound that comes out very fresh.”

3. Liv Grace Blue, 17, Studio City, Calif.
Audition song: “I Kissed a Girl”
Why: At first, I wasn’t so sure about Liv’s acoustic cover of the Katy Perry hit. But when she hit the chorus, pure magic. Katy even said she saw a bit of herself in Liv.
Best line: Liv, when her mother crashed the audition room and began jumping and dancing in celebration after her daughter received a golden ticket: “What are you doing in here, mom? Oh my god, mom!”

Deshawn Goncalves, 19, Cleveland, Ohio
Audition song: “Everything Must Change” by Nina Simone
Why: Without doubt, the best vocal we heard from a male singer on Sunday’s show. The performance was way too frill-filled for my taste. But Deshawn showed great vocal power — had to he was playing the piano so loudly — and that ending was really special.
Best line: Katy: “There’s a purity. There’s a light about you. When you’re just singing, it’s like you’re an angel.”

Wyatt Pike, 19, Park City, Utah
Audition song: “Best for You,” an original
Why: The show is loaded with talented female singer-songwriters, but not quite as many males of that ilk. Wyatt’s one of the best we’ve seen to this point. He just needs to learn to keep his eyes open when he’s singing something that means that much to him. But that voice is very easy on the ears.
Best line: Lione — “You are a Park City James Taylor, your own version.”