"American Idol" returned to it's 2-hour format on Wednesday night, covering auditions from two different cities: San Antonio and Long Beach.
We were treated to some unforgettable singers, including a veteran with an incredible story and a little guy with a big voice, as well as our first double flip the bird to the camera moment!
Here are our picks for the 5 can't-miss auditions:
1. Vincent Powell
Returning contestant Vincent Powell made it all the way to the end of Hollywood Week last season, but he had extra incentive to try out this season -- meeting his childhood idol Mariah Carey. Like his idol, Vincent has a terrific voice. Check him out:
2. Cristabel Clack
When Cristabel was introduced, we thought to ourselves that she had a cool Alicia Keys look and vibe. And then she sang "If I Ain't Got You" with the same aplomb and power as Alicia. Keep an eye out for this one, she's pretty special:
3. Stephanie Sanson
Purple-haired teen Stephanie Sanson said she didn't have the typical "American Idol" look, but how about her voice? You might want to turn the speakers down for this one. Good lord. Mariah Carey said she needed to get her pastor on the phone after this one.
4. Matt Farmer
Sob story alert! Matt was a veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq. He then learned the treatment for his condition would render him sterile. But six months later he learned his wife was miraculously pregnant. Matt brought in his miracle and super adorable daughter Cadence in with him, which sealed the deal. Sob story? Check. Cute kid? Check. Golden ticket? What do you think?
5. Mateus Fernandes
We instantly recognized the height-challenged Mateus (he's only 4'9") as a finalist from Season 1 of "The Glee Project." We thought there were rules against contestants competing on other reality shows, but apparently not here. Mateus had been bullied for his short stature all his life but wanted to show off his big voice. He certainly didn't disappoint. Watch:
Bonus: Jesaiah Blair
The Long Beach auditions were held on the Queen Mary, and Jesaiah dressed the part in her sailor outfit. The teen with the strong voice started off well, but things went awry. We've heard of bringing down the house with a performance, but Jesaiah's cleared the decks. Okay, maybe it wasn't her fault:
Which audition was your favorite? Tell toofab in the comments below!
