I am quite happy to announce Melanie Amaro has won The X-Factor! Watching her entire journey on the show has been one of the highlights and looking back and thinking about it, I believe she deserves it!
I didn’t love the X-Factor finale as much as I normally enjoy the American Idol one. This just didn’t have enough of the contestants being featured.
I was happy to see a few of my other favorites last night though including Astro, Lakoda Rayne and Drew, who I hope will also have careers as well as Chris Rene and the runner-up, Josh Krajcik who truly deserved his second place finish. I have a strong feeling he will end up being successful and I look forward to seeing how his career progresses in the future.
It will be interesting to see what steps Melanie Amaro takes next. I read she already has four different recording companies interested in her and plans to sign something by today. I am hoping she ends up making an exciting mainstream record that shows off her beautiful voice and heads more in the pop direction. One of the best parts of last night was watching her video montage and seeing how far she has come and of course, her fabulous performance of Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas”
Another great part of the finale was watching Drew take the stage with her idol Justin Bieber; you could just feel her excitement!
All in all, I enjoyed the X-Factor and I think the show will just get bigger & better next season! Next up in January..American Idol!
Before I even get to the finale, I have to comment on Nicole’s horrendous hairstyle. I can’t believe she actually let someone style her hair like that before going on national television, it was terrible!
For the first X-Factor finale, I have to say I was impressed. All three contestants deserved to be there and I truly believe these were the top 3 out of the bunch. All of them bring something interesting and special to their performances and it will be interesting to see what happens tonight. If we are just basing this completely on vocals, then Melanie Amaro deserves to be “The X-Factor” She has given solid performances week after week and has held her own on that stage. If anyone is going to steal her crown, it might be Chris Rene, not because he has the best vocals but due to his adorable personality, incredible journey and strong performing skills. He’s clearly talented when it comes to writing his own music and brings the right amount of emotion to each performance without going over board or being cheesy.
Josh Krajcik also did wonderful through out the show, and I hope he has a lasting career. He has a beautiful, soulful voice that controls the room when he sings. His performances were not my favorite last night, but he has done incredibly well through out the show and obviously has a strong fan base!
My two favorite performances last night were Chris singing with Avril Lavigne and Melanie singing “Listen” from Dreamgirls…I am excited for the show tonight and can’t wait to see what happens!
Before I talk about last night’s episode of The X Factor, I must put my two cents in about last week….
Did Rachel and/or Simon think she was going to win?! What was with all the drama? Falling to the floor?! Yes, I understand she is 13, but come on. It’s partly Simon’s fault that she went home and partly the hair/fashion people. They made her look like a “little person” and not a 13 year old girl. And people were mad at Nicole for sending it to deadlock, but, as you all know, I think every show should have been like that.
With that being said, I think she deserved to go home and Marcus deserved to stay. I don’t understand how he has been in the bottom two, three times!
Now, getting to this week. FINALLY, America is the ultimate decider of who goes home…not the judges. (It should have been this way the entire time.) The first song each contestant sang was picked by America, and the second by his/her mentor. Honestly, I don’t know who should go home this week. Obviously, I loved my two favorites (Marcus and Melanie) but I also LOVED LOVED Chris and Josh.
If Melanie Amaro doesn’t win, then I give up. She has it all, especially an amazing voice. She blew “Hero” by Mariah Carey out of the box. Her second song was amazing too.
Marcus, as always, sings with his heart and did a great job. I still think he deserves to be in the finals, next week.
Chris was absolutely amazing. I thought his first performance of “Fly” by Sugar Ray was amazing. The judges (Simon) didn’t like it, but we all know his opinion doesn’t really matter. Chris’s second song was great too. He has the heart and passion to win, and after tonight, I think he can pull it off.
Last, but certainly not least, is Josh. All of the people who love the rockers on Idol also love Josh. I’m not a huge fan of the rockers, but tonight, Josh blew me away. BOTH songs were impeccable. I still want him to shave his face and trim his hair, though.
I am posting my favorite song that each contestant sang:
Marcus Canty singing Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love to You”
Chris Rene Singing “No One” by Alicia Keys (one of my favorite songs of all time)
Melanie Amaro perfecting “Feelin Good”
Josh Krajcik’s rendition of “Come Together” by The Beatles
Tonight is going to be tough! We’ll see what happens! I’m excited!
I just had the chance to read Jen’s post and I think this might be our biggest disagreement of the singing season yet! I agree with Jen on Melanie Amaro, she was terrific and did a beautiful rendition of that song but I also absolutely loved Drew. I thought she gave Billy Jean a unique and interesting perspective and her vocals were spot on. I think Simon should have let her come out of the chair, since she seemed to want too, but he was right, it made you concentrate on her beautiful voice and not the glitz and glamor going on around her. I would like to see her doing something more up tempo next week though to show the judges and viewers that she has the pipes for it.
Marcus Canty was the most entertaining of the night. His combination of singing, dancing and overall performance was fun to watch but I don’t think his vocals were by any means perfect, he was out of breath towards the end but he is certainly the whole package.
I actually enjoyed Astro’s performance. I thought it was cool how he put an interesting twist on “Black or White” and it even seemed like Paris Jackson was digging it when they showed her face! I have a feeling though, some people might be getting sick of his same routine week after week.
I was not impressed this week with Rachel Crow. I could almost tell she didn’t love the song choice and it showed in her performance. I don’t think Simon did her any favors this week. For the first time, her singing sounded amature and I was aware of her age. I am actually surprised he went with that song choice for her, I would have gone with something else like “Smile” or “ABC”
Same goes with Josh Krajcik who I normally love. He just seemed really uncomfortable on stage and there was way to much going on around him that it made it impossible to focus on the vocals, which is why I respect Simon’s choice to do the opposite with Drew.
I always find Chris Rene entertaining but this was not my favorite performance of his this week. The whole thing just seemed a little weird.
Another two acts will go home tonight and now it’s getting tougher. Next week each contestant will sing two sings and I think that will make a big impact as we head closer to the finals!
Last night, The X Factor was a very powerful show. Each contestant dedicated a song to someone they were thankful for in his/her life. Each singer had a compelling story, and, although I know I am thankful for my parents and everything they have done for me, I really enjoyed the people who thanked other people, besides their parents. Chris Rene’s story stood out the most for me.
Chris thanked and honored the counselor from his rehab center, who ultimately, saved his life. Even his mother was most thankful for him. Also, Drew dedicated her song to her best friend in the entire world who has loved her through thick and thin. Now, getting down the performances, these two were not my favorite.
Marcus Canty, Melanie Amaro, and Josh Krajcik were, once again, the best performances of the night. Marcus’s pefromance was like none other. He hits it out of the park every week, and last night was one of his best performances because there was a real purpose to his singing. Melanie Amaro FINALLY showed some heart and vulnerability. Her accent came out (which I love…she sounds like Riahanna!) and the tears were flowing. I think she needed last night to open up to the judges, her fans, and the voters. Josh, as always, was outstanding. I thought it was so touching he sang for his daughter. He is the ultimate rocker and, every week, he has sung his heart out and has done an awesome job. He is one of the front runners! Needless to say, I picked up the phone right away and voted for all three of these contenstants, numerous times.
I liked Astro’s originality, but last week put a bad taste in my mouth. Also, I know rap is his thing, but I would like to hear him utter some type of muscial melody.
LeRoy Bell, who I forgot to mention last week, was great, but I also think his performances are forgettable. He has a great voice and always sings beautifully, but I don’t think he is going to win.
Rachel Crow actually gave a performance that didn’t make her look like a child. She sang really well and even sounded a little bit older. Her story was also a tear jerker for those viewers who…you know…shed the tears watching X Factor.
Last, but certainly not least, there was Lakoda Rayne. This country rock group did another great job last night. They are starting to find their genre and picking appropriate songs. I also think they are starting to get to know each other as people, as well as singers, and are learning to play off of each other’s voices and personalities. I really hope they don’t go home tonight, not only because they are slowly turning into a good group, but I would also feel bad for Paula!!
I’m not sure why there are two people going home tonight, but the decision is going to be tough. I wonder if the judges are going to decide who goes home. I still don’t understand why they do that!!
Here are my favorite performances:
Marcus Canty singing Boyz II Men’s “A Song for Mama”
Melanie Amaro singing “The World’s Greatest” by R. Kelly
Josh Krajcik singing “Wild Horses” by The Rolling Stones
As happy as I am that Stacy Francis went home, I am just as mad that Astro acted like a baby. This entire time, he has been poised and mature, and with one setback, he turned into a sore loser. I understand he was upset, after all, he is 15 years old. But, on the other hand, when he came out to do his final performance, he contemplated not even trying. He had a bad attitude and I’m glad his mentor called him out. In the end, he sang, but not with the pizzazz and dedication he always has.
Simon was the deciding factor. He had to base his decision on the performances he had just seen, and also, who actually had the potential to win it all. He picked Astro over Stacy, which was the best choice. Stacy sang “Amazing Grace” and sang not one line, not two lines, but the ENTIRE song out of tune. It was worse than terrible and she 100% deserved to go home.
Because of Thanksgiving, next week, the X Factor is going to air on Tuesday night, instead of Wednesday, and the results show will be on Wednesday night.
Top 9!
Jen
P.S. Did everyone catch when LeRoy messed up in the opening act?
Here is the top 10 singing “We Will Rock You” by Queen
I am having a hard time understanding this show…although I love it. I’m not quite sure why the judges decide, out of the bottom two, who goes home. I thought that is why America votes! One point for American Idol.
As far as the performances went last night, the stars stood out from the ordinaries. The ones who blew me away were Astro, Marcus Canty, Lakoda Rayne, Chris Rene, and Josh Krajcik.
Lakoda Rayne, who I have liked since day one, wasn’t that great the past few weeks and made it through last week by the skin of their teeth. This week, on the other hand, they rocked the house and I loved it. They deserve to stay around one more week!
I have been hearing mixed opinions about Astro. The older viewers are sick of the rap thing, but it’s hard not to admit that this kid is A-MAZING! He is original, dedicated, and driven to be a star.
I am not a huge fan of Chris Rene, but tonight he blew me away. Maybe it’s because I love Bob Marley! Who knows…
The two performances that brought the house down were Marcus and Josh. They should have a bye into next week. They were true rock performances and, after tonight, both of them are the ones to beat!
Although I love Melanie Amaro, her rock song didn’t do it for me. Rachel Crowe is way to “kid-y” for me. L.A. hit the nail on the head with Drew. I don’t know what Simon is thinking! The girl has an incredible voice, but she does the same thing every week! I’m surprised at Simon. He would rip her apart if she had a different mentor.
Stacy Francis needs to leave…like now. She should have gone last week! She gets worse and worse every week, so I have a message to America: Get it right this week!
Here are a few of my favorite clips from last night:
Astro’s performance of “I’ll Be Missing You” by the Police
Marcus Canty’s version of “Another Piece of My Heart” by Janice Joplin
Josh Karjcik singing “The Pretender” by the Foo Fighters
Last night was the first time “The X-Factor” went live and it was certainly interesting from the moment it started, which appeared like an exact replica of American Idol, even mimicking how the judges were introduced minus Ryan Seacrest. Since this was the first time we saw the X Factor Host, Steve Jones live, I can certainly now say this guy is seriously pale in comparison to Ryan Seacrest. He actually comes across obnoxious, bored and extremely annoying. If this show lasts another season, they should replace him pronto!
The boys went first and overall I think L.A Reid did a great job with this group, but he also has a lot to work with. All of them were pretty good, but my personal favorites from the group are Astro, the 14-year-old rapper and Marcus Canty, who really reminds me of young Usher.
Chris Rene also did a pretty decent job, but I didn’t love the song choice. He however, is really likeable and I said from the beginning which I believe now even more, he is going to have a huge amount of fans. Philip Lomax pulled the short end of the stick on this one, his song choice (not picked by him) was terrible & cheesy, and it almost seemed like L.A Reid set him up to leave. Out of the 4 boys, he was the weakest link though and L.A Reid did end up picking him to go home.
Paula went next with the groups and I can’t believe I am saying this, but she really did a great job with the groups and she looks amazing! All the groups actually showed huge potential and it was sad to see any of them leave, but I think she made the best choice sending The Brewer Boys home, not because they aren’t talented or entertaining but because between the other three groups, there is just not an outlet for them. The biggest surprise for me was InTENsity, who all of a sudden meshed together pretty well! Of course, I am a bit biased since they sang Footloose (one of my favorites) but I think it was a genius move, since that movie is very hot again right now and I think kids, who probably are watching this show will go wild for them!
I think the Stereo Hogzz could end up doing very well in this competition. They are a bit outdated but have great potential. I actually enjoyed their performance. Lakoda Rayne, the other manufactured group did not have the best song choice but they sounded good and really look like a girl group, which I think will go a long way for them. There is nothing really like that out there right now, so this could be a huge chance for them if they keep working at it.
The Over 30′s were an interesting group. Dexter Haygood went first and I am at a loss of words for this performance. He sang a mix of Brittany Spears & Katy Perry, but I think the word “sing” is being used to loosely, since there was no singing involved in this performance. He actually continues to creep me out, but he is entertaining at the same time. Simon said it best when he commented “It’s like the weirdest milkshake in the world. I kind of liked the taste of it. You’re interesting and unpredictable” I think this guy is not all there though and it’s starting to show even more.
LeRoy Bell, the best looking 60-year-old in the world went next, and I am just shocked this guy is not already an established performer. He has a beautiful voice and knows exactly what to do with it. I didn’t love the song, but this guy is a winner regardless of what happens on this show.
Stacey Francis is an interesting one. I have had mixed opinions on her since I found out she was on Broadway, which keeps rubbing me the wrong way (I wonder what she thought of the Footloose performance!) She has a good voice, but I have to agree with Simon on this one. I hated her outfit and the song did her no justice.
Josh Krajcik sang a beautiful understated version of “Forever Young” and I think Nicole nailed it with this song choice for him. He really sounded fantastic and soulful. I think he outshined the rest of his group along with Leroy Bell, those two are the ones to watch.
At the end thankfully, Nicole eliminated Dexter who had no idea what was going on. I think it might be time for him to check back into the institution he came from.
Simon was up last with the girls and I was looking forward to seeing what he did with them, considering a few of his interesting choices. Simon Battle went first, and I get it, she looks like a pop star but there are a lot of really pretty girls out there, who may look the part but have no talent and after this ridiculous performance, she might actually fit into that group. I thought this was terrible and I agreed with everything L.A Reid said about her. Simon keeps defending her but when he goes back and watches this performance, I would have to think he must realize this was terrible,embarrassing and the worst performance of the entire night.
A much slimmer Rachel Crow went next for the girls ( She lost 15 pounds since the audition process!) and she is just adorable, pretty much all personality. Her voice didn’t sound as good as it has in the past, but I think it was a fun performance and showed a funkier side to her. This kid has a tremendous amount of potential and I am excited to see what she does next.
Drew was next up (now only going by her first name) and she gave; in my opinion the best performance of the night. It was smart, sophisticated and really showed her range as a performer. I can’t believe she is only 14. Simon actually said “This is why I wanted to be on American T.V, to find someone like you.” I think she might be the one to beat right now, I am extremely impressed with her vocal ability, and overall, she is one of the most likable & humble contestants.
Tiah Tolliver gave a weird creepy performance that reminded me of a really immature version of thriller. I understand her appeal more than Simone, she is more interesting and has a better voice but I still don’t really get it, and neither do any of the judges besides Simon.
Melanie Amaro closed the show and I am so happy Simon brought her back! She sang Whitney Houston and really did the song justice. She also looked amazing! I have a feeling she will end up being a big fan favorite as well.
Simon ended up letting go of Simone & Tiah, leaving Rachel, Melanie and Drew to advance, which was a wise decision. Next week, America starts voting and there are 5 ways to vote! My gut feeling is that Stacey Francis, depending on how she does could be the first to leave next week, but I guess we shall see!
At first, I wasn’t going to write a civilized response to tonight’s X Factor, but I had a change of heart with Simon’s change of heart. He was one of two judges who made a mistake, and admitted to it. I think the judge that made the BEST decisions was L.A. I went three for four in the boy’s category!! I was happy with his decision about Phillip Lomax.
As for Nicole, I was a bad judge of character. I thought she knew good talent when she saw it, but apparently I was wrong. She got Josh and LeRoy 100% right (thank goodness), but dropped the ball on the other two. Dexter Haywood?? I never even heard him SING a note, let a lone sing a note that was on key. He is a loose cannon who is one hott mess and can loose control at any moment. If Nicole thinks she can control that, God bless her!! As for Stacy Francis, I could take her or leave her. I think there was better talent in that group than. Two for four in this category for me.
I was pleasantly surprised at Paula’s decisions. I LOVE that she took InTENsity! I also love that she picked Lakoda Rayne. I thought they were good, but didn’t think Paula was as confident in them as I was. Good for her for making a good choice! I absolutely love The Stereo Hogzz and think they are super genuine and want to take advantage of this opportunity so badly. Last, but certainly not least, is The Brewer Boys!! I love them! Paula is going to do an awesome job with all of these groups, but I think she has her hands full! Another three for four!
Now it’s time for Simon. He actually has a heart!! I love love love that he flew all the way to Melanie Amaro’s house to tell her that he made a TERRIBLE mistake and that she is on his team as the fifth girl. That shows that he is a real man and can admit to his mistakes. I’m glad he righted his wrong….he had to since the other judges weren’t happy either! On another note, he needs to learn how to pronounce Simone’s name….someone needs to tell him her name it not Simone-ey, but Simone (with a long “o”…following the vowel-consonant-e rule, for all you teachers out there). If someone mispronounced his name, he would most certainly correct him/her! I was very surprised he picked Rachel Crow. I read him wrong after the final performance, thinking that he thought she wasn’t ready. Although I don’t think she’s the best, she deserves to be in the competition! In my opinion, Tiah Tolliver is weird and shrieky, even though she made it on to my predictions list. She is my least favorite of the group. Drew is the total package!! I went three for four (five) in this category too!
I am pleased with most of the judge’s picks. Dexter Haygood is the most disappointing contestant and I am still shocked that Nicole picked him. To me, it was a sympathy pick, that will end up biting her in the a$$.
What’s up with the host, Steve Jones? How was he in four different places at once to be a shoulder to cry on?! He hasn’t impacted us viewers at all with any type of personality. Like I said before, he’s no Ryan Seacrest! Apparently, I’m not the only one with this opinion. Read this article!
Next week, we get down to the nitty gritty. The live shows! We’ll finally see all of the talented singers perform live on stage. We will, once again, find out who is good and who is GREAT!
Last night was round 2 of the judge’s house, so we got to see the rest of the performances! I will recap all of them and give my predictions. I just read Jen’s and although we agree on some, mine were a bit different..Can’t wait to see who the judges go with on Tuesday!
Jazzlyn Little was up first for the girls. I loved her when she auditioned but I didn’t think this was her best performance. She is an extremely talented singer, but her nerves got the best of her. I have a feeling Simon would go with someone like Simone over her, just because of the confidence situation.
Brennan Hunt, the good-looking yet cocky singer went up for the boys. Another one I loved when he auditioned but I don’t think he did enough for this performance. I wanted more from him and I didn’t get it. I think with such a talented group, his looks will only take him so far.
The Stereo Hogzz I really like this group! They had it together with the singing & the dancing. I didn’t love the song choice but I doubt they would actually be performing songs like that if they made it. A few of the guys in this group have amazing voices. I
wouldn’t mind seeing them advance, I think with a little coaching they could be really great!
Josh Krajcik: Josh has one of my favorite voices in this show. He has a Joe Cocker thing going on with a voice as clear as a bell. You don’t expect it when you see him, which is what makes it even better. Nicole would just be stupid not to pick him, he is one of the best in this entire competition. I think with a little help, he could be a star.
2 Squar’d: I don’t think this was the right song choice at all for this group, so they got the short end of the stick here, but I just don’t see them advancing. Even though some of their voices are good, the performance was a bit all over the place.
Tim Cifer: Although Tim has a really strong country voice, I don’t think he put enough emotion into his song. The crying almost seemed forced and not real. I think if L.A is putting through a country contestant, it will be Skeylor over him.
Rachel Crow: At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about her, since she is so young but her performance changed my mind. She executed real talent & emotion. I actually think she will be able to handle the pressure and when you have it, you have it and I really believe that she does.
Illusion Confusion: They really showed this group for about 2 minutes, so I can’t even make a real decision on how I feel about them. I didn’t like the song choice and I would have wanted to see them sing a different song, but I think they might be done.
Tiger Budbill: Tiger is actually poised as well as talented, I just don’t think he is as memorable as some of the other contestants. I just don’t know if he has done enough to go on. He is extremely likeable as a person, but you almost forget about him right after he performs.
Marcus Canty: I love this kid! He sang the love song directly to Rihanna, which was a smart move. He can sing & dance and knows how to play a crowd. He showed just the right amount of emotion without being corny, and I think with the right coaching he truly has star potential. I would be beyond shocked if he didn’t make it to the live shows.
LeRoy Bell: It is hilarious to think that this 60-year-old contestant might be directly competing with 12-year-old Rachel Crow, but I think it will happen. LeRoy ( who looks amazing for his age) is a wonderful singer. He really is a seasoned performer who deserves this chance. I love his style and even though he has actually written songs for many celebrity singers like Elton John, I think this is his time to shine in the spotlight.
Tiah Tolliver: One of Simon’s favorites! I am not sure if it’s because he thinks she is talented or just plain entertaining. I liked this performance a lot better than her audition. She makes crazy facial expressions when she sings and has almost spastic dance moves, but something about her kept me interested.
InTensity: One of the manufactured group from boot camp with 10 tweens! This was a cute performance and a lot of these kids are extremely talented but I felt like I was watching a scene from the Jonas Brothers/Demi Lovato movie Camp Rock where a bunch of kids performed at the camp talent show. I could see them being popular with that kind of audience, but is that the direction this show is going in?
Christa Collins: This was the first time they really showed Christa Collins and I’m surprised. Not only is she unique but one of the most talented among the group. I thought her Disney back story was interesting and I enjoyed watching her perform. I would really like to see her advance.
Chris Rene: Besides having a really emotional story, this guy can sing! He appears so genuine and naturally gifted when he performs, you almost can’t take your eyes off of him. I didn’t like this performance as much as his original audition, but I think a lot of people will be able to relate to him and would be rooting for him during this competition.
Melanie Amaro: Beautiful, beautiful voice! She is beyond talented and confident when she sings. The only worry I have for her is that she does not stand out as much as some of the other girls, even though she actually has the best voice. I think her talent alone should be enough to carry her to the next round, but Simon is very unpredictable when it comes to picking contestants.
On Tuesday night, we will find out the top 16 (it appears) These are my predictions below. I don’t necessary agree with all of these, but I think this is the direction the judges might go in. I am having the hardest time with the girl’s group because of Simon, you just never know what is he thinking!
The Girls (Simon)
Rachel Crow
Drew Ryniewicz (If Simon does not pick her, he is crazy!)
Simone Battle (Would not be my choice but I think Simon loves her)
Tiah Tolliver/Melanie Amaro/Torah Wolshin ( I am just not sure between the 3 of them. I would go with Melanie & Torah over Simone & Tiah but I just don’t know)
The Boys (L.A Reid) I agree with Jen for the most part except I think Phillip Lomax would get picked before Skeylor Anderson. Phillip is just so unique & interesting I see him advancing.
Phillip Lomax
Chris Rene
Marcus Canty
Brian Bradley
Over 30′s (Nicole) I agree with Jen except I think Stacey Francis will be put through over Elaine Gibbs. Stacey has had more screen time then any of the other contestants and I see that is being a sign of advancing. If Nicole picks Dexter over any of the below, I will not be happy. That guy is crazy town!
Stacey Francis
Josh Krajcik
LeRoy Bell
Christa Collins
The Groups (Paula) I think Paula might go with Lakoda Rayne over InTENsity. I would be surprised if both groups went though! I also liked The Answer but I don’t think they will progress.
Stereo Hogzz
Lakoda Rayne
The Brewer Boys
4Shore
So excited to see how the top 16 pans out on Tuesday night!!
