‘The X Factor’ finals recap: did they make it their own?
THE X FACTOR: Top 3 Perform: Melanie Amaro performs on THE X FACTOR Dec. 21 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. THE X FACTOR Finale airs Wed., Dec. 21 and Thurs., Dec. 22 on FOX. CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX.
Loading ...Sure, this show suffered from over-production, annoyingly bickering judges and a host who shouldn’t even be hosting a small-town pageant.
But through all that dreck, they managed to come up with three decent finalists. And I watched this via DVR so I was able to fast forward through much of the dross.
Round one, the trio all showed deference to their celebrity duet partners, as in Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne and R. Kelly. So for me, that didn’t really help us determine their worth as individual artists.
Then we watched them repeat their original audition songs in fully produced form. And each one in their own way proved why they are here tonight.
Josh Krajcik oozes earnest soul. Chris Rene elevates joy and hope after much darkness with a hip-hop edge. Melanie Amaro is full-on diva, a vocalist of supreme power and grace when she truly lets go.
Each has their negatives. Josh is so nice, he doesn’t seem to have enough edge for a scruffy rocker. And he sometimes sounds too much like Joe Cocker. Rene’s vocals are pretty thin at times. And Melanie sometimes seems to be singing on auto-pilot.
So who will win the guaranteed $5 million?
Melanie would seem to have the edge, having the pimp spot and favorite status from day one. But Josh has a strong base of fans, too. And while polls (which may be taken by a group of people not matching the voting base) show Chris lagging behind the other two, his likely younger fans might Facebook him to victory.
I do have to make a prediction. I say Josh wins though actually, I’d like to see Chris win.
THE X FACTOR: Top 3 Perform: Josh Krajcik performs on THE X FACTOR Dec. 21 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. THE X FACTOR Finale airs Wed., Dec. 21 and Thurs., Dec. 22 on FOX. CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX.
1) Josh Krajcik with Alanis Morissette (“Uninvited”) – Alanis dueted with runner-up Crystal Bowersox in the finals in 2009 with “You Oughta Know.” She’s back! Josh and Alanis work together well. “Uninvited” isn’t quite the masterpiece that “You Oughta Know” and Josh isn’t dominant. What do you expect? This is Alanis’ baby! “You kept your identity,” Paula said. Grade: A-minus/B-plus
2) Chris Rene with Avril Lavigne (”Complicated”) – Really? This song was sung by a bratty 16 year girl in 2002. Not a good fit for Chris. Avril swallows him during the duet moments. He at least is having a good time. Nicole should be penalized for saying, “You made it your own.” Grade: B
3) Melanie Amaro with R. Kelly (”I Believe I Can Fly”) – She seemed very nervous in the early going and it never really soars. R. Kelly was overshadowed by Kelly, as L.A. Reid said. Grade: B
The trio then joined Cirque Du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson Immortal” spectacle, which killed a few minutes.
Now each sings their original audition song and solidify why each one is in the finals:
4) Josh (”At Last” Etta James) – A lovely homage to the ailing singer, armed with just an acoustic guitar and his soulful voice. He goes thankfully with no backup dancers and singers. A truly brilliant performance. “You made it your own,” Reid said, and yes, he should be placed in the penalty box for using Paula’s line, too. “You own that stage,” said a slightly less cliched Paula. “You took that massive risk with the guitar. What I liked about it was it’s all about you,” Simon said. Grade: A
THE X FACTOR: Top 3 Perform: Avril Lavigne (L) and Chris Rene perform on THE X FACTOR Dec. 21 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. THE X FACTOR Finale airs Wed., Dec. 21 and Thurs., Dec. 22 on FOX. CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX.
5) Chris (”Young Homie”) – This is the song that got the judges’ attention and it remains incredibly inspiring and catchy. It proves he can write music. “You are magic!” Paula said. “That was your $5 million song,” Simon said. Grade: A
6) Melanie (”Listen” Beyonce) – Melanie doesn’t always connect with the lyrics of the song and can be tentative. But she sings this one practically busting her gut. It still works. “That was a $50 million song,” L.A. raved. “So gorgeous,” Paula said. “I am so so proud,” Simon said. Grade: A
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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157 comments Add your comment
Mercedes S.
December 22nd, 2011
12:58 pm
G – you’re so wrong.
NH
December 22nd, 2011
12:59 pm
Thanks Andy Gump, couldnot have said it better. Hell, I guess Mirah Carey is boooooooooooooring
Deirdre
December 22nd, 2011
1:13 pm
I said “nicer” G…not “better”. It is definitely a nicer show with judges who don’t pick fights with each other, singers who get most of the attention, a host who actually knows what he’s doing and is helpful when someone gets eliminated. Much NICER show!
Jubie
December 22nd, 2011
2:08 pm
If its boring, it ain’t entertainment. If it ain’t entertainment it won’t sell.
Seth T.
December 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm
Looking at Idol as just a general sketch of how the X-Factor non-winner/non top 3 contestants may fare in the future – since there was a similar amount of stage-time for each on a prime-time show -
Just roughly speaking, there may be around an average of 3 non-winners/ or non top 3 contestants per season that we see holding into a higher level/significant music or entertainment related career; with 2nd place usually getting signed, which helps for better success.
We are all aware of exceptions – how well Daughtry, Pickler and several others did, that were not in the top 6 or above. Pia is doing o.k. so far with guest performances at 9th, but that’s not usual.
You need a pro management group to promote/book and handle details, a music attorney and the money from a producer or label to fund recording expenses, put a band on the road, etc.
If you are going to shoot for a National or multi-regional perescence, this takes a pretty good bankroll. Youtube hits of your singing or performances can help advertise your talents, and maybe help you sell albums or get bookings, but they don’t normally produce a stream of income directly.
The free advertising and boot-camp one gets on Idol or X-Factor is a huge plus, worth literally a small fortune in terms of free advertising and connections for the contestant, especially if they survive past the first 2 or 3 voting rounds.
So that gives the major producers/investors a great incentive to try to make some money by signing and promoting — —–but even with that, you see the majority of contestants don’t get much of a deal, and have to forage for a backer themselves, unless they are independently wealthy.
It will soon be on to Idol, The Voice, CMT’s next Superstar, and new artists the Labels are now starting to promote that we never heard of yet – so It’s reasonable to doubt that I will see a number of the X-Factor contestants or groups that finished around the bottom third – on any awards shows or with top 40 hits in 2012 or beyond. Maybe that’s the best way to put it.
Josh
December 27th, 2011
5:30 am
DanJ: Hey you are not alone in that thinking. (that they will do well) But I feel that they will do better with pop than country..(as well, country pop) I really hope they have a deal already. We’ll have to see any announcement in the next 2 weeks..
regcure
December 31st, 2011
2:50 pm
This is EXACTLY why I love my pillow!In 1994, my grandma opened up a featherbed at her home in Kentucky we helped stuff the pillows for us, our parents, and our cousins. She even wrote a little message on the ticking.
I love it, and I don’t think I could ever get rid of it. 