But, seriously, I have been more than entertained by The X Factor this season. I have absolutely loved the whole documentary feel to the auditions thus far, the play between the judges, everything. I've also been really intrigued by the talent this season
Now, read here: I didn't say I've been blown away by the talent... because, I haven't, aside from a select few contestants. On another talent search show, I'd find this problematic... but The X Factor doesn't trump itself up to find the best vocalist, the person with the most talent, any of that. To me, the show unabashedly goes after the biggest star it can find. Like the other shows, it doesn't always succeed (quick, name the season 1 winner. I'll wait.), but they don't only put the best singers through. It's more than that. And I've found that incredibly entertaining thus far.
But the show is now live. So all that changes.
Since I haven't been blogging so far about the show, I'm going to set up this post as a 'before and after' type thing.
The Over 25s
Vino Alan
Before: I like his passion and his sound... but I'm not really feeling him for this competition. How is he relevant?
Tonight: Didn't quite work for me. Vino doesn't look like a star. Vino didn't act like a star. Vino didn't sound like a star. Troublesome performance.
Jason Brock
Before: I don't know if it's his look or the way he carries himself, but he strikes me as something of a novelty act. I've liked him so far, but again... how is he relevant?
Tonight: Oh my lord was that fun. Sure, it was stuff trainwrecks are made of, but that was extremely entertaining (though for the record, it wasn't a trainwreck... and was far from the worst of the night).
David Correy
Before: Just going to copy and paste, because it applies to him as well: I like his passion and his sound... but I'm not really feeling him for this competition. How is he relevant?
Tonight: Definitely the best of the three thus far. I do agree with Simon that David came off a bit desperate which was kind of jarring at this point in the competition, but not too too bad. Something to build on.
Tate Stevens
Before: I do enjoy me some country. I do. But not so much Tate Stevens. I don't get a star vibe from him at all, unfortunately. I see him has cannon fodder, to be blunt.
Tonight: Yeah, cannon fodder. That was a good, solid performance... but on this show, that was sleep inducing.
The Teens
Beatrice Miller
Before: I feel like Beatrice is both too young for this competition, but too old for her category. Her judge's house performance was WELL beyond her years... but her attitude in the holding room hint that she's not quite ready for this show. I dunno, something about it rubbed me the wrong way. It'll be interesting to see how Britney handles her.
Tonight: "I Won't Give Up" - What a strange song choice. In theory, I liked it, but it didn't quite all add up in the end. Maybe it's the punk-rock look. Or the giant video of her in the background. The song also didn't really sit in Beatrice's voice well. Weird stuff.
Arin Ray
Before: Frankly... I'm indifferent. He keeps talking about how he was in a group last year, and how he wants to step out on his own... but really, that's what it seems like. On a much smaller scale, he really does remind me of one of the more backup members of a boyband trying a solo career.
Tonight: "Keep Me Hanging On" - This is almost the same thing as Paige's performance: all the elements are there, but the vocals. I know I talked about how this isn't a show about vocals, but they still have to be up to par, and that just wasn't the case. There also seemed to be sound issues, which didn't do anything to help. Unfortunate.
Carly Rose Sonenclar
Before: Easily the best of the four in this group, due largely to her stage seasoning (which they haven't mentioned on the show, not shockingly). My only concern is that she comes across TOO strong, too old for her age.
Tonight: Personally... I really, really liked this performance. I loved the vocals, and I loved the song choice... though I can see the criticism that she didn't quite connect with the song.
Diamond White
Before: It seems to me that if Diamond had a bit more training, she'd be spectacular. Now, though, I'm not quite sure she's ready...
Tonight: "Hey Soul Sister" - WAY too much going on. It doesn't seem to me that Diamond is too comfortable with the whole thing. Messy.
The Young Adults
CeCe Frey
Before: Really, I admire the way she walks the line between obnoxiously off-putting and fierce (and I hate that description... but it is exactly how I'd describe her). I love her vocals, but how she reacted to criticism at Demi's house was a bit troubling.
Tonight: Again with the too much going on. CeCe has a great voice... so let's have her going all over the stage and dancing and rolling around. Build up to that, don't go to that right off the bat. Kind of a mess, I would say.
Jannel Garcia
Before: I saw sassy Ms Garcia live in the Providence auditions, and it really struck me as a star-making performance. And her performances on the show have definitely lived up to that first impression for me.
Tonight: "Home Sweet Home" - To start, Jannel seemed a little unsure of the lyrics or something, but quickly settled in. I won't pretend like this was a perfect performance (the vocals wavered a bit towards the end), but easily the most complete performance of the night.
Willie Jones
Before: I really don't get Willie Jones. My reasoning was touched on previously on the show: is he country? Is he R&B? It's fine if he can do both... but he's not really strong enough in either genre, based on what I've seen. Can he form a weird hybrid genre?
Tonight: Yeah, I didn't get it. He's given a country song, and he still can't really settle into the genre. Pick something!
Paige Thomas
Before: I really enjoyed her first audition... but it's seemed that with each "round" before this, she's cracked more and more each time. Troublesome.
Tonight: "What Is Love?" - RIDICULOUS. But, I have the exact same concern. I'm all for weird performances, and this could certainly be called weird... but the vocals just were not there. Looked like a star performance, but she sounded absolutely terrified. Maybe by the spikes on her head.
The Groups
Emblem3
Before: I'm assuming I feel exactly like everyone else with these three: I'm fine with their talent, but they are completely obnoxious
Tonight: I have the same reaction to this performance that I did for their first one: good stuff, tons to build on... and they didn't come off like obnoxious little punks! Still time, though....
1432 (formerly LYLAS)
Before: I don't really remember these girls when they were solo. That said, their group performance at Simon's house was rather eye-opening... I'm excited to see where they go.
Tonight: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Holy trainwreck. Some of the solo lines sounded really good... but other than that? Nothing else about that was good. Ouch. It all really seemed like 5 soloists trying to be a group. Not so much.
Lyric 145
Before: I saw the two guys audition in Providence, and they were rather obnoxious. But add in that third member, and they absolutely sparkled at Simon's house. As long as they don't revert to obnoxiousness, they could be something special.
Tonight: Alright, so, I don't know if that was super awesome or that was an annoying trainwreck. 50/50, perhaps. Entertaining enough, I do suppose.
Sister C
Before: I don't get the appeal of these three. They kind of seem like clones. I know Simon talked about how their voices fit well together, but I don't feel that in the slightest. I enjoyed their performance at Simon's house more than I did any of their previous ones... but I wasn't crazy about it.
Tonight: "Hell on Wheels" - I really don't feel these three when they sing in harmony. But when they sing their solos, I enjoy them so much more, especially the brunette.
I don't feel like writing up some complicated conclusion, I've written enough. So, I'll just get to my predictions.
Predictions
Winner of the Night
In my (biased) opinion... Jannel Garcia. I could understand the argument for Emblem3, but I'll go with Jannel. But I'm biased.
Watch Out
They didn't really confirm on the show tonight, but I'm pretty sure one act from each category is going home... so I'll give who I believe is safe, and who I believe will go home.
Teens:
Safe: Carly Rose Sonenclar. Based on her body of work, definitely safe.
In trouble: Arin Ray. I don't even remember much about his performance, just an hour or so later.
Young Adults:
Safe: Jannel Garcia. Are you surprised?
In trouble: Willie Jones. I would say Paige, but she was at least strong to start...
Over 25s:
Safe: David Correy. Came out the best tonight... but a pretty close category, if you ask me.In trouble: Tate Stevens. So wrong for this competition.
Groups:
Safe: Emblem3. No contest, really.
In trouble: Sister C. I would say the unfortunately re-named 1432, but then Simon would admit he was wrong so soon...
