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‘American Idol’: A cheat sheet to the top 24

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It took a near breakdown from judge Jennifer Lopez and lots of crocodile tears from ousted hopefuls, but “American Idol” has finally settled on its top 24 contestants.

Though the crop includes a diverse breadth of talent -- from country and soul crooners, to powerhouse divas -- it goes without saying the show remains, at its truest form, a competition to find a pop star.

Now that the judges have made their final decisions before the fate of the contestants is handed over to America, we wanted to make some snap judgments of our own.

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After hearing so many voices come through the double doors hoping to go before the judges, it became easier to pull vocal references from some of today’s pop stars (using the word ‘pop star’ incredibly loosely here) and shove the new class into a music box (Hey, a major label is going to do it when they sign any of them, so why don’t we just save them some time?)

On the off chance any of our readers don’t plan to watch “Idol” for the rest of the season (or ever), or you don’t start your “Idol” experience until the live shows begin next week, here’s a quick cheat sheet so you know exactly what you’re getting -- vocally -- from the contestants.

After the jump, check out the entire line up of contestants – and whose vocal style each resembled based on what they offered on the show thus far:

Name: Casey Abrams
Age: 20
Sounds Like: Taylor Hicks

Name: Jovany Barreto
Age: 23
Sounds Like: Marc Anthony

Name: Jordan Dorsey
Age: 21
Sounds Like: John Legend

Name: James Durbin
Age: 22
Sounds Like: Adam Lambert

Name: Clint Jun Gamboa
Age: 26
Sounds Like: Bruno Mars

Name: Tim Halperin
Age: 23
Sounds Like: The Fray’s Issac Slade

Name: Stefano Langone
Age: 21
Sounds Like: Stevie Wonder

Name: Brett Loewenstern
Age: 17
Sounds Like: Clay Aiken

Name: Jacob Lusk
Age: 23
Sounds Like: Phil Perry or Luther Vandross

Name: Scott McCreery
Age: 17
Sounds Like: Trace Adkins

Name: Paul McDonald
Age: 26
Sounds Like: Jason Mraz

Name: Robbie Rosen
Age: 17
Sounds Like: Jon B

Name: Naima Adedapo
Age: 26
Sounds Like: Goapele

Name: Lauren Alaina
Age: 16
Sounds Like: LeAnn Rimes

Name: Kendra Chantelle
Age: 27
Sounds Like: Sara Bareilles

Name: Ashthon Jones
Age: 24
Sounds Like: Melanie Fiona

Name: Thia Megia
Age: 16
Sounds Like: Norah Jones

Name: Haley Reinhart
Age: 20
Sounds Like: Duffy

Name: Karen Rodriguez
Age: 21
Sounds Like: Jennifer Lopez

Name: Pia Toscano
Age: 22
Sounds Like: Christina Aguilera

Name: Lauren Turner
Age: 24
Sounds Like: Katy Perry

Name: Tatynisa Wilson
Age: 20
Sounds Like: Keyshia Cole

Name: Julie Zorrilla
Age: 20
Sounds Like: ‘Glee’s’ Lea Michele

Name: Rachel Zevita
Age: 23
Sounds Like: Pink

Feel free to argue your picks. Hear someone else in any of them? Think they are incomparable? Sound off below.

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy

twitter.com/GerrickKennedy

(Top) Top 24: top row from left, Kendra Chantelle, Jovani Barreto, Lauren Turner, Casey Abrams, Tatynisa Wilson, James Durbin, Karen Rodriguez, Jacob Lusk, Lauren Alaina, Thia Megia, Scott McCreery, Brett Loewenstern, Pia Toscano and Jordan Dorsey. Bottom row from left,: Rachel Zevita, Stefano Langone, Paul McDonald, Julie Zorrilla, Tim Halperin, Haley Reinhart, Clint Jun Gamboa, Robbie Rosen, Naima Adedapo and Ashthon Jones.

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All photos: Michael Becker / Fox

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