I’ve been waiting for The X Factor to start kicking in for me. I was rather bowled over by the first episode. Then I got cranky. The episodes at the judges’ house were beyond boring. But now? I’m excited again. Mostly because the judges have to stand behind their picks and are fighting. I’m rubbing my hands together in glee at the true hatred flowing between Simon and Nicole. And not because I think that Simon is always right or anything (as you shall see in this post) but because Nicole has been a general pea in my mattress since the beginning. I have so much to say! Let’s gush!
First of all, the main picture to this little ditty is of Josh Krajcik. My radar stood out for him a long time ago, if you’ve been playing along. He has the misfortune of having Nicole as a mentor. And sorry to keep harping on about it, but he so needs a stylist. However, I don’t care about any of that anymore; he’s just electric. He can take a song, as Nicole picked for him this week. It was very slow and possibly boring, and turn it into mesmerizing gold. Even if the producers stick swarmy ridiculous dancers around him. He’s my guy and I’m sticking with him!
L.A. Reid’s final four: He’s got the rappers.
You know, I just don’t get rap. It’s fast and confusing. I can appreciate most forms of music, and in a way I see that it takes talent to do rap successfully. Hey! I’m from Detroit! We love our Eminem. We have no idea what he’s saying, or if he’s secretly putting messages into his lyrics to go out and rob a 7-11; but he’s our hometown buoy. Having said that, I was so confused about L.A. being spot on in his choice of Phillip Lomax. I loved this guy! He was the polar opposite of the rest of L.A.’s picks! But then it almost seemed like he was sandbagged this week. That was just a horrible song choice that was not Phillip’s style. He’s a crooner and LA has him sing “I’m a Believer?” And not only that, but surround him with the worst awful Cheese fest ever? (Hmmm. Now I’m craving a slice of Brie.) Only Dean Martin could have half way pulled that one off!
Sigh. My favorite of this category bites the dust.
And two asides: Nicole called Chris Rene’s performance “strong?” Look, he’s got a great back story. So do you. So do I. Everyone has one. That doesn’t mean that a weak and wavery voice should get these kind of props. Nicole is so clueless. I was just telling a friend tonight that I’m actively starting to hate her.
And the other aside: If Nicole and Pauler dance and cry and sway one more time … I may need a Xanax. It is just a TV show. Not the End of Time.
Pauler’s Final Four: I don’t know. I called my sister during this part, as all the groups are lame. My one crushing thought: Pauler was the first judge Simon chose to be on this show. Why did she settle for the weakest category? If I was her, I would have hoisted this load off on Nicole and taken the “Over 30’s.”
Out of the corner of my eye though. I was watching just for you. And I’m not surprised The Brewer Boys are gone. If I had my way, I’d nix all of the groups. In my perfect world I would just have Pauler sit there and smooch Simon and be weird for the rest of the season. C’mon! Wouldn’t that be fun?
Nicole’s Final Four: I said last time that Dexter was a bad pick. I know we all love a hard luck story. I’m on board. But, it is a singing competition and Dexter simply can’t do it. So I’m glad he’s gone. Sorry, but it just makes sense.
And how great is all this bitching back and forth between Nicole and Simon? He just attacked her as a mentor! (And frankly I agreed with him.) Her song choices were abysmal. Her team is weak, except for Josh. (She lucked out there.) Simon’s right: She’s horrid. Maybe he’ll vote her off the island, if there’s a season two of this show. I can dream, can’t I?
Simon’s Final Five: It’s good to be the executive producer! Simon got to rescue Melanie last week after he mistakenly booted her, thus giving him the edge of having five girls on his team. Or was it an edge in that he had to eliminate two this week?
Look at it any way you want. Simon has the most talent behind him. After getting rid of “Flotsam and Jetsam” this week. (Also known as Tiah and Simone.)
You and I need to have a cup of tea and discuss what Simon was ever seeing in these two. Just take their performances of last night into account! Simone was like a bad version of Appolonia (not an easy feat) and Tiah was so off key with that Eurythmics tune that I was cringing. She’s tone deaf, I swear. And I just do not understand why Simon couldn’t hear that! Pauler commented on it every time. Geez. I’m just glad I don’t have to watch him defend her anymore. It’s a relief.
So! Two and a half hours later, we had our final twelve. What a marathon. I’m exhausted! Let’s see what happens next week, when America gets to chime in with their votes.
Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on Oct 26, 2011 @ 13:50 EST5EDT
I personally thought LA Reid was horrible. His song choices were so far off the mark. I can stand behind Nicole because she is not a big enough star to mentor. She was a horrible judge on the sing off.
*POST AUTHOR*
I agree Dawn. Song selection was a big mystery for me.
First “I’m a Believer” and then “Do you really want to hurt me”… my theory is LA was watching Shrek before he picked his contestants’ songs. I really like Chris Rene, but you’re right – his performance was weak. I have the opposite problem with little Jay-Z Jr. – he really, really annoys me, but I love his performance.
My favorite contestant is Drew – I can’t believe that voice belongs to a 14-year-old.
*POST AUTHOR*
Ruby? I could punch that little Astro kid. Cheerfully.
*CRRAACKKK*
Ohhh, not the glasses!!!
. . . . .
I’ll admit: My face was scrunched up the first 20 seconds or so as Josh began to sing. I didn’t immediately recognize the song being offered. And then, my face scrunched up even more for the next 20 seconds trying to figure out where he was going with it.
Then, it dawned on me: Was this going to be a defining performance? Or was he going to fall flat on his face? I had to get through almost the entire 2 minutes in order to come to a conclusion. But, even after the final note, I still wasn’t certain where I stood. I needed to review the video again – despite what the judges blathered.
In the end, it grew on me by leaps and bounds. I discount what the judges say, because too many times I’ve seen them “dis” a performer’s performance that, for me, stood out.
I’ve been on board with Josh since the first I saw him in the opening episodes. Happy to say I’m still completely on board.
Dude’ll go far …
*POST AUTHOR*
Watch out or your face might freeze that way.
I have been watching from the first and I really like the show. I agree it is more interesting now. I don’t think the song that Nicole gave Josh was a great choice but did you hear her say “You ignored every thing I ask you and did what you wanted to do and it was great” (not verbatim but the jest of it). So if the song was great it was his doing not hers. I personally like the song and I love Josh. Drew is awesome and I loved the way she did that song and if you noticed the two stronger girls (Drew & Melonie) did not have all that drama crap dancers going all around them and of course they did not need them. I personally never thought LA would keep Phillip for more than last night to begin with the other 3 are more his type. I agree I just don’t get the groups and mostly the one they call inTensity….how in the world would you market them. I do however like the 4 girls that call themselves Lakoda Rayne. I think you we will be surprised at how they progress that is if Paula can pick the right songs, I see them as a country group and I think they would be great at that. I would have picked the Brewer Boys over inTensity I think the young girls would love them.
By the way Tara I love Emimiem. I worry about his sanity at times but I hate to say I understand what he is saying and although it scares me it is just so real.
I think this show is comin off as WAY cheesier than Idol EVER could be!!!!
It seems like some contestants were set up to fail with stupid songs and really cheesey dancers!!!
Oh and the host…he needs to be placed in a room with an endless loop of Ryan Seacrest moments from AI!!! I understand he’s basically a time keeper, but he’s VERY VERY bad at it!!!! I don’t know WHERE Simon found him, but he needs to go!!!!
I’m a fan of Josh’s too…however I’m STILL mad about what happened to Tiger….picking Dexter over him was the most idiotic thing ever!!!!
OMG Tiah…SERIOUSLY….she made me cringe and wish she wasn’t from the Seattle auditions!!!
I’m not a rap fan….but I kinda like Astro….he’s been growing on me.
Chris Rene is OK, but I don’t see him winning. Marcus was OK, and Phillip just got screwed I think.
These are just random thought, cuz I’m in that kinda mood today!!!
Melanie was a delicious surprise and I could see her actually winning the whole thing.
OK…off to a little “Revenge”
Okay, Josh is my sentimental favorite, as I have said somewhere before. I am beyond judging his talent because I sooooo want to see him. Oh, if anyone with influence is listening, could we pleeeeeeeeease get him to sing “She Believes In Me”? Or Joe Cocker’s version of “You Are So Beautiful”? Can’t help it, I fell in love in the ’70’s, and my heart is stuck on some of those songs.
I told Hubby as I was watching the show that L.A. Reid set up Phillip Lomax to make his top three choices look better. As a matter of fact, I didn’t just tell him. I ranted it at the screen from the TV room in the back of the house so Hubby could hear me in the computer room in the front of the house. [Maybe that’s why he suggested moving the home office into the garage? Hmm …]
Melanie blew me away, but Simon giving in and including her in his final three was something of a surprise. I would like to know the real story behind the “mistake” and returning her to the show. But that would imply we were watching “reality” TV.
I’m losing track of my posts, but I think I have already suggested closing out the groups and sending Paula home from the show early. I’m sure the reason she got the groups was to focus on the choreography. [Danny Kaye in White Christmas comes to mind.]