Radio Collector's Afficionado's Resource

There is no doubt that Brooke and Leah Barrettsmith of Spring Grove had the adventure of a lifetime competing on Fox’s megahit TV show American Idol. Before we explore their experiences, here is a short description of how the show works in case you’ve never seen the show.

Before getting a plane ticket to Hollywood, a contestant ought to firstborn endure three days of grueling auditions in one of the major U.S. cities chosen to host the preliminary auditions. The manufacturers of American Idol are well conscious that the success of the show is based on people without talent as well as those who have IT. Many persons tune in just to see the judges ridicule a contestant to the point of tears or to watch the contestant’s angry reaction to being sent packing. For example, in this year’s show two male twins are feature because they are very outspoken when it comes to the judges and verbally protective of each other. Another contestant called “Cowboy” jumped on the judges’ desk to sing share of his song.

The camera is concentered on the expressions of the American Idol judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson as much as on the contestants. Cowell’s scathing remarks are now ritual and crowd-pleasing. Abdul and Jackson regularly criticize Cowell. At times the contestant’s talent is so plainly second rate that all three judges may scarcely incorporate their laughter.

Contestants ought to be U.S. citizens and amidst the ages of 16 and 28. This year 16 year-old contestant Kevin Covais revealed that talent transcends age. At the opposite pole is prematurely gray 28 year-old Kevin Hicks whose distinguishable voice might carry him to the finals.

The top 24 semifinalists are got rid of from public contact much like a secluded jury. The ought to take drug tests. Some contestants have been disqualified for the duration of the show for failing these tests. All contestants must sign a contract that prevents them from using cell phones except for family calls and emergencies and the Internet where they might talk about the show in a chat room. They may not watch TV news shows or listen to radio shows or read the newspapers. TV fans take over the voting on the phone at this point. The judges are consulted and make remarks on performances but they no longer vote at this level.

The “finalists” are the last 12 contestants. The drama heightens after weeks of further eliminations until a single contestant is chosen as the winner

The adventure of Brooke and Leah Barrettsmith begun on a cool day in September, 2005. They arrived at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago at 5:00 am escorted by their father, Rev. Scott Barrettsmith. “We necessitated to be there early sufficient to get a good place in line,” said Brooke. Nearly 20,000 contestants auditioned in Chicago that day. Some of them were from New Orleans because that city was picked as an audition center but it was washed away by Hurricane Katrina.

Contestants were led into the Soldier Field in groups of 300. Brooke and Leah wanted to audition together so they held hands. “Don’t distinguished us!” they said to American Idol employees.

Only 300 hopefuls pulled through the primary day. Brooke and Leah were relieved to be one of them. “There were thousands of altogether lowspirited humans there,” said Scott. The Barrettsmiths expended their nights at a nearby hotel. “We in a literal sense got the last available room,” said Scott.

Days two and three were as hectic as the first. American Idol executive manufacturers told the Barrettsmiths the “needed personality” to move on. “I had no problem showing personality,” said Brooke. Brooke befriended Mandisa, a semifinalist from Tennesse. “I may tell you are a Christian,” said Mandisa. “Girl, let’s pray!” When told that Leah planned to sing a Christian song called “Blessed” the manufacturers said they preferent secular songs. “They did not want to show favoritism,” said Leah. During the audition, though, Leah sang “Blessed” anyway. “I was having trouble with my firstborn selection and just stopped and switched,” said Leah.

“We asked to go into the audition together,” said Brooke. In an strange move the makers permitted that. In an televised consultation Leah said, “I believe in my sister and she believe in me just as much so I love her and we are going to do this together as much as we can.”

For the primary time Brooke and Leah confronted the now widely known and esteemed American Idol judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Brooke led off and sang a short division of her Shoop Shoop song. Then Leah sang. Randy said to Leah, “I like your voice I think you are good. I would say yes to Leah.” Paula Abdul said, “I think you are both gifted and dissimilar in your own ways, so I’m either going to say ‘yes’ to both, or ‘no’. Simon said, “Well, I would say ‘no’ to both of you.” There was a short silence. Then Randy said, “We have a quandary, judges.” Simon said, “I am going to utilize Randy’s ‘yes’ to both of you, so now it is down to Paula.” Paula said, “I love my sister. I love the fact that you are here together supporting each other. I think you both need to work, but you may do that and come back to Hollywood.” Brooke and Leah reacted with happy exclamations and a huge hug. Meanwhile Randy said, “Welcome to Hollywood, sisters, sisters!”

Brooke and Leah told the makers when it comes to the Richardson corn maze. Sensing a good story the manufacturers sent a camera crew to Spring Grove to film the sisters playing in and around the corn maze. “The filming took regarding 10 hours including dinner with the crew,” said Brooke. “All that for a two minute segment.”

In Hollywood

The next stage of auditions begun on December 4th in Hollywood. “About 200 persons out of tens of thousands made it to Hollywood,” said Brooke. Brooke and Leah made the trip without parents or relatives. They expended the original day touring Hollywood with half of the contestants while the other half went through auditions. They wore distinguishable American Idol tags to publicize the show in Los Angeles. They stayed in a hotel, two to a room. “The show did not skimp on the accommodations,” said Leah.

Both were successful in their primary audition. In the second audition Randy said to Leah, “You didn’t fetch it today. It’s the end of the road.”

Leah was amazed by the action. “What you see on television is not always the way it in truth happened,” said Leah. “They do a lot of editing to make the show more dramatic. When I was singing, for example, it appeared that the audience was bored and quiet on TV. Actually the audience was cheering and clapping while I sang. They were yelling ‘let her through!’ ” At another point you see Leah looking startled on TV as altho she was reacting to the negative decision. “That shot was wholly taken at another time and edited into the space,” said Leah.

The show puts the contestants into little groups for one segment. “I don’t recognise why they make us sing with a group,” said Leah. “It actually has not one thing to do with why we are there. I think they are attempting to put a lot of stress on the contestants for the TV cameras. They are very strict. You better not be a minute late for a meeting. They treat you like dogs.”

Brooke backed up Leah’s concerns. “They love the crying and the drama. They love to frighten you,” said Brooke. “Sometimes the judges are completely acting. They seemed to be faking.”

“I think they are pushing for a guy to win this year,” said Brooke. “They are concentered on guy talent.”

American Idol rules say that a contestant can not be signed professionally. The show makes the contestants sign a contract that restricts their professional action for one full year. “We are locked up until August,” said Brooke.

Leah will soon be moving to Nashville to proceed her singing career. “I will be doing more mainstream music,” said Leah.

Brooke is committed to remaining in the Christian music scene. “Christian music is much more applicable now,” said Brooke. “My career has taken a turn for the better. God used American Idol to modify me. I am now even more into music ministry.”

American Idol Am Shower Radio

The Sangean waterproof H201 radio allows you may take delight in your morning news, your favored radio show, stock and financial news, or your local ball games. Unlike other shower radios, most of which are just water resistant; the Sangean H201 is made with JIS7 standard, which is waterproof. This radio issubmersible and meets waterproofing standards that are equivalent to marineradios. It is so versatile that you may take pleasure in your radio programs while showering, take it on a fishing trip, take it to the beach, and never be scared of water or sand damaging your radio. If you get caught in the rain, it doesn’tmatter. If you drop it off your boat while fishing, this radio will float. This radio has a piercing audio that sounds great, magnificent reception quality, exceedingly portable, and runs on two “D” cell batteries that will last a long time without having to change them. The push-button controls and waterproof speaker are impervious to any wet environments. Built with a sturdy, white cabinet, this radio has 5 digital presets for each band (AM/FM). You may easilylock into your favored stations without relying on inaccurate dial tuning. Other outstanding features include set time (1 to 120 minutes), LED flashlight, batterylevel indicator, big LCD read out clock, emergency buzzer, plus other features. Who could ask for much more…If you are looking for a top of the line,all around radio look no further.

American Idol Am Shower Radio Picture

American Idol Am Shower Radio Image

American Idol Am Shower Radio Pic

American Idol Am Shower Radio Photo

Most helpful client reviews

150 of 153 humans found the following review helpful.
Great Product
By Steven F. Griffee
I expended a lot of time reviewing other waterproof shower radios, and this one seemed to have a lot of client satisfaction. I’ve been using this radio for with regards to 4 weeks now. Such a huge betterment of the former radio I was using. The sound quality is very good and the signal reception is excellant. I use it in the basement bathroom and even tucked away in the shower in the basement, it manages to pull in the stations I had trouble receiving with the former radio. Very nice.

83 of 83 people found the following review helpful.
Best ever shower radio!
By Maro Riofrancos
Bought this to replace a Sony shower radio I’ve had for years. I was astonished at the divergence in quality. The sound is superb, it sounds like you have a factor hifi in the bathroom. I use it mostly, but not only, to listen to the news, and the voice quality is amazingly clear. The volume may be set very deafening with no distortion. One great little feature that is not described well in the listing is that the FM antenna in the back swings around to become a pretty and very solid semi-circular handle for the radio, so you may carry it around the house very easily. FM reception is outstanding, AM so-so, but that’s inevitable and due to my location.

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful.
Sangean Shower Radio
By Mark in Minn
Overall I am satisfied with this buy and would buy it again. This is the 2nd Sangean radio I’ve purchased and both have met or exceeded my expected values but they are not cheap. You gorgeous much get what you compensate for.

This radio has a solid feel, not one thing flimsy in regards to it and I like the way that the handle rotates down to hide in the back. This radio has good sound for the size, no complaints, but it is not great. This is not a boom box so you are not going to listen it all over the backyard but it fills a room nicely. It is great for the bathroom and may be heard over the shower.

I like the digital controls with the station presets. It would be nice to have more than 5 per band but for me that is a minor fault.

The radio has reasonable reception even with the antenna stowed away. When the antenna is extended the reception is very good. Note, the antenna is not the telescoping type but is a wire that is stowed near the battery compartment when not in use. In a heap of ways this is less commodious but on the other hand it is requiring little effort to hide the extended antenna. For use in the bath or bedroom I personally like this style antenna better than the telescoping type.

The built in single white LED flashlight is somewhat bright and will come in handy in an emergency or camping. There is also an alarm siren that emits a deafening sound but … why? Perhaps to annoy the cat.

The radio has a clock, a commodious timer, and an automati off sleep timer but no built in alarm clock. This isn’t actually a travel radio but for car camping trips I plan on bringing it and an alarm clock would potentially be utile but that is a minor fault.

For me this is a nice portable that is good for Bath, bedroom, kitchen, and listening to ball games in the garage.

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