Idol Chatter

It was Glocksen’s first full solo performance on national TV, singing the 1997 hit single “All by Myself” by Celine Dion. It was a daring song choice, the judges said, since it requires a wide vocal range.

The 22-year-old Naperville native, who donned a small leather jacket and black hair with dark red streaks, even impressed herself. When asked by show host Ryan Seacrest what her confidence level was before her performance, she gauged it at a “6.” But she said her performance was worth a “12.”

Of course, one person disagreed.

“There’s a different side to you ... but I don’t think you hit that right note,” said judge Simon Cowell, who was less than impressed by Glocksen. “I just don’t think you hit it.”

Glocksen met some impressive competition Wednesday night, where the women scored much better with the panel than the men who competed Tuesday night. That’s particularly important for Glocksen since two women and two men will be eliminated by voters at 7 p.m. today on Fox.

It’s hard to gauge how the TV audience will react to the performances. But based on Jackson and Abdul’s reaction, Glocksen might be safe from elimination for now.

“I loved what you did, Gina,” said Jackson, who was smiling after her solo. “That was a big song to go with your big old voice. I was surprised.”

Though the song starts out soft and involves little fan interaction – unlike other performances earlier in the night – Glocksen came to a dramatic finish, capping off a high note with the audience roaring. The bold song matched Glocksen’s flamboyant personality.

“It was the right song for you,” Abdul said.

Even Glocksen showed a little frustration with Cowell’s analysis, whom she claimed to have a crush on in earlier episodes.

“Whether I was off or on, I think I did good,” she said in response to Seacrest’s questions.

Regardless, Glocksen’s fate is in the hands of voters. An estimated 30 million viewers watched Tuesday’s episode and the ratings should be similar for Wednesday. Glocksen, a dental assistant in Worth, said in an interview with The Sun on Friday that she is more comfortable with the audience’s judgment than the panel’s.

“Because only a few people are making the decision,” she said. “It’s much better now.”

Feb. 22, 2007