It’s back… American Idol 2008 made its triumphant seventh season premiere. And as always, we heard the ever-unbearable warbling and screaming that accompanies the audition episodes. Oh the humanity!

But, American Idol fans endure, and here are the top contenders from the January 15 episode — the Hollywood finalists from Philadelphia.

In all, 29 Philadelphia auditioners made it through to the American Idol 7 Hollywood round, but these were the contestants identified by name:

• Joey Catalano – lost over 200 pounds; sang Maroon 5 “Sunday Morning”
• Melanie Nyema, 26, Los Angeles, CA – Taylor Hicks’ backup singer; sang “Unwritten,” by Natasha Bedingfield
• Junot Joyner, Bowie, MD — sang “The Blues” by Elton John
• Jose Candelaria, Bayonne, NJ – sang “Unbreak My Heart”
• Jonathan Baines, 17, Smyrna, DE
• Angela Martin, 26, Chicago – daughter with Retts Syndrome; sang “Signed Sealed Delivered,” by Stevie Wonder
• Kristy Lee Cook, 23, Selma, OR – trains for cage fighting and had to sell horse to audition for American Idol; sang “Amazing Grace”
• Beth Stalker, 28, Grand Blanc, MI — stay at home mom, singer by night; sang “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”
• Chris Watson, 20, Dover, DE — sange “Follow Me,” by Uncle Kracker
• Brooke White, 24, Van Nuys, CA – nanny; sang Corinne Bailey Ray, “Like a Star”