Canadian Idol: Top 24 Pave Way For Potential

As we're supposed to wind down to Canadian Idol's top 22 contestants, the show starts with a better vibe. Knowing in advance that you don't have to sit through an hour of horrible singers is more than relieving. Show five proved to be yet another slight improvement on the pain scale. And it turns out the judges had a trick up their sleeves: the top 22 turned out to be a top 24. Very exciting.

 

Mookie Morris started the night off on the right tone. His unique version of The Guess Who's "These Eyes" was really enjoyable. His raw, grainy voice makes him a keeper in my books. The judges thought so, too.

Omar Lunan sure made up for the judges previously ragging on him for showing a lack of emotion. He came out sombre and melancholy for a heart-to-heart with the panel. Lunan's brother was killed last year, and last night's performance was a tribute to him. As much as telling this story when his ass was on the line may have seemed like a cop-out, his performance proved he was real.

Oliver Pigott did a satisfying interpretation of Rihanna's "Umbrella." But I have to admit that it took me some time to realize he picked it from a provided list of songs. For a while, I thought his choice was just plain weird.

The judges finally picked up on how unworthy Kristine Lankinen is of being in this competition. After giving her a free chance on Monday, Lankinen's Tuesday performance proved what I already knew: yuck.

I feel bad for criticizing Vincent Vorkpor. It really is cool that he came all the way from Liberia, a country that has suffered severe violence and persecution, to persevere and end up on Canadian Idol. But Vorkpor wasn't a top 24 choice.

There was a long list of contestants who forgot their lyrics, including Nicholaus Gordon (again), Katelyn Dawn and even Adam Castelli. It's pretty amateur, if you ask me.

After the judges deliberated, they chose 15 males and nine females, veering from the even gender split of the past. Eight of the contenders are from Ontario. Here are the top 24:

Lindsay Barr, 26, Halifax, NS (singer, writer, art student)
Lisa Bell, 27, Winnipeg, MB (coffee shop manager)
Marie-Pierre Bellerose, 25, Quebec City, QC (bartender)
Adam Castelli, 26, Hamilton, ON (carpenter, singer/songwriter)
Paul Clifford, 26, Port Moody, BC (bartender)
Jesse Cottam, 23, Calgary, AB (music teacher, musician)
Katelyn Dawn, 19, Winnipeg, MB (singer/songwriter)
Mark Day, 20, Portugal Cove, NL (student, respite care worker)
Shaun Francisco, 25, Vancouver, BC (coffee shop barista)
Martin Kerr, 25, Edmonton, AB (singer/songwriter)
Omar Lunan, 29, Scarborough, ON (registered massage therapist)
Mitch MacDonald, 22, Port Hood, NS (carpenter, musician)
Gary Morissette, 21, Fruitvale, BC (musician, construction worker)
Mookie Morris, 18, Toronto, ON (musician)
Tetiana Ostapowych, 25, Toronto, ON (singer/songwriter, server)
Oliver Pigott, 27, Toronto, ON (singer/songwriter)
Sebastian Pigott, 25, Toronto, ON (actor, writer)
Lindsay Robins, 21, Montreal, QC (singer/songwriter)
Jessica Sheppard, 22, Toronto, ON (visual manager)
Earl Stevenson, 23, Lloydminster, AB (swamper for backhoe operator)
Katherine St-Laurent, 17, Otterburn Park, QC (student)
Theo Tams, 22, Lethbridge, AB (student)
Amberly Thiessen, 19, Seven Persons, AB (student)
Drew Wright, 28, Collingwood, ON (musician, house painter)