9. Lindsey Cardinale, ''Standing Right Next to Me'' (season 4)
Listening to Lindsey's note-perfect audition — and the way it left guest judge Gene Simmons flubbing his words — it's hard to believe she'd wind up finishing twelfth, behind the likes of Scott Savol and Mikalah Gordon, no less. And while it's easy to play Thursday-morning critic, if Lindsey's rich, crystal-clear tone had translated to Idol's big stage, she might've crashed the inevitable, season-long Carrie Underwood-Bo Bice party.

Lindsey Cardinale's audition: Watch it on YouTube