It may be because they've got more people but -even with Louis Walsh standing in for Simon Cowell - X Factor USA is way better so far this year than X Factor UK. They're like two completely different programmes at times. So, well done to the production team and maybe they can come and sort out the series over here. This was either a long, long show or there have been a record number of genuinely decent acts going through to bootcamp. I counted thirteen at least and there's a clip for each in this post, for which a huge thank you to MJ on MJSBlog, without whom no-one here in the UK would have a clue as the Series hasn't even started to be shown!
So here's my take on what you've already gathered is a pretty fine selection.
Simon's not around. Is it a prank? asks LA. Louis? Who the hell is Louis?! LA clearly hasn't been following X Factor for long in other countries. You do kinda feel sorry for the stand-in, though, with the so much less well fitting clothes and, despite an effort to modernise his new hair, he is very grey. Louis looks anxious to please and, once more with feeling, tells them how many million records Westlife and Boyzone sold. Luckily, no-one asks who Westlife and Boyzone are.
The first act is a strange looking All American throwback who looks more suited to the 50s movie scene than a singer. He says Yes Sir a lot. He surprisingly does a rap number making it up as he goes and it's OK if you like that sort of thing and millions do. I just don't think I want to see him week after week in the live shows and, judging by Britney's body language, her 'yes' was probably a mental 'no'.
CeCe Frey is attractive and confident. You almost are willing her to be good as you can sense the audience losing interest in her. They're not over fond of this type. To begin with she's dreadfully off-tune and I'm fearing the worst but if you can get your mind into the same key as she's singing in and ignore the backing track then she's very good. I'm sure they'll get that sorted out at bootcamp and she's a good package with a refreshingly feisty but not overbearing style and certainly interesting.
Vino Alan is an older guy who has a stange shape head and chin and a whole load of scribbling on his head which is enough to put me off but I'll try and remain impartial. His voice is excellent, very soulful and he belts out Trouble very well, every note spot on. He's going to stand out against a lot in this series and could be around a while if no-one else crops up with a similar voice.
My complimentary remarks about the producers nearly got retracted when this 'act' comes on. The banter from Deangelo Wallace beforehand is much as we get elsewhere and you dread what he's going to be like in front of the judges. As it happens he's pretty reasonable, behaviour-wise. He can't sing, though, and in normal weeks the hand would have gone up, a quick vote, maybe a bit of argument and he'd be on his way home. For some obscure reason we get shown the judges just getting up and walking off while he carries on. To give the guy some credit, he does make an effort, standing there all on his own with a ruddy great audience staring at him and not exactly winning their affection with great singing cannot, I don't care how self-confident or annoying he is, is worthy of some credit.
Now if that wasn't spectacle enough, you now get the guy wandering off and, apparently still has the radio mic and that is still connected as there's a guy running after him with the receiver. Some admin girl calls the cops and he gets arrested, claiming that he took the mic to get something out of the show. Sorry, but I don't buy any of that at all. Unless we're not shown something, and I suppose that is entirely possible as many acts do two performances, retakes and the like too, of which we only see clips from one if at all, then this was a set-up for our entertainment and he'll have been paid a bit for his trouble too.
Tate Stevens looks and sounds the part, with his big white stetson, print shirt and blue jeans. Totally natural, apart from the hat, I imagine that's how he gets out of bed most mornings. Howdy says LA. Well, what else could he say? I usually rap, says Tate. I like this guy already. Great sense of humour, totally natural and boy can he sing well too. I wonder whether this is another set-up and we'll discover that he's already a recording artist that sold millions in the 60s but has since been forgotten. No. the audience love him - he's their kinda man, I suppose, and he just has this immense likeability factor about him and a cool radio crooning voice. Not really what I'd want to see win X Factor as we've had a few of those already but he could be pleasantly reliable material if needed for the genre.
Now we're back at the Cow Palace. Weird name. San Francisco, too. Not the sort of name you expect for a grand, well fairly grand, building in San Francisco but there you go. Simon Cowell returns so that's no more Louis.
Citizen is a group of five reasonably good-looking mid-twenties guys. Some have decent voices but they seem to come from somewhere in the 70s with tedious dance moves and an instantly forgettable performance. They get through, though.
First of the kids. Diamond White could be a brand of toothpaste but is also the name of a 13 year old girl on the stage, smiling. Simon insists that she doesn't sing Adele and the expression on her face is as if that was precisely what she was going to do. I get the feeling there have been one great big load of people doing Adele numbers that we don't get to see. Probably just as well. She sings This Is Man's World which really should be her sort of song on any count. She's pretty good, gets those low notes that most girls wobble round but the top ones are tinny and she really doesn't make them either. For all that she's got something and, although she gets through I almost wish she hadn't and had had a few years to mature as she's definitely got some star quality but just seems a bit too early. She could get a bit annoying but probably not as much as Rachel last year.
She gets four yesses. Oh my goodness, she remarks. Oh my God, says her mother.
Ally Brooke comes on with a trilby, looking interesting. Quite mature for her age. She's OK, in some places excellent, in others quite weak. I'm not sure how much further she'll go but Simon is very complimentary. She does rather go on at the end when most people would have quit while they were winning.
Brandan Hassan we only get a glimpse of. He does Trouble too and is younger, more marketable and maybe even sounds better than the guy before who did that. Cheerful young guy who could well finish up in band that they put together. I just have that feeling.
Very brief shot of Norman Hamilton who seems pretty strong and gets straight through.
Another blink-and-you-missed-it audition from what sounded like a brilliant girl group called Sister C. They look great, sound fabulous and are quite unique. watch out for them if they don't crash and burn en route.
Another brief clip of Jeremiah and Josh. Good grief, they must have had some good Old Testament loving parents. Good start to their original number but we don't get a great deal to judge by. Britney loves them, or one of them for sure, and gets delightfully embarrassed when Simon picks up the I'd like you to wake me up in the morning remark she made and runs with it!
First large lady of the series, I think. You just know Panda's going to be good. There she stands in her old flip-flops and not exactly flattering dress that looks like it's seen better days. She's simply so glad to be there and sings her heart out. Absolutely great, honest, straight performance. She can sing and you can imagine her on an album, just as long as they didn't put her picture on it. Obviously through and I love the way she was taken aback but all the praise. She gets all breathless off-stage and an ambulance carts her off with her hoping that Simon doesn't see me like this. Too late, Mrs. Sorry. However good she may be, and the Overs group is already looking quite fascinating, I don't see her coping with all the week by week specialisms and dancing etc. Still, Josh did pretty well last year.
I think they try to save what they believe is the best till the end. Jessica Espinoza is, indeed, excellent. She has a strong, slightly husky voice that cracks on certain notes in a pleasing way and she can sure get the emotions across in a very difficult Pink song, Nobody Knows. She's one of the best this episode and, whilst there is no self-confidence showing and she's had a tough life, I can see that changing.
What a good selection and show that was (or will be for UK fans!) Something to look forward to. Take note UK producers. That's the way to do it.
So here's my take on what you've already gathered is a pretty fine selection.
Simon's not around. Is it a prank? asks LA. Louis? Who the hell is Louis?! LA clearly hasn't been following X Factor for long in other countries. You do kinda feel sorry for the stand-in, though, with the so much less well fitting clothes and, despite an effort to modernise his new hair, he is very grey. Louis looks anxious to please and, once more with feeling, tells them how many million records Westlife and Boyzone sold. Luckily, no-one asks who Westlife and Boyzone are.
The first act is a strange looking All American throwback who looks more suited to the 50s movie scene than a singer. He says Yes Sir a lot. He surprisingly does a rap number making it up as he goes and it's OK if you like that sort of thing and millions do. I just don't think I want to see him week after week in the live shows and, judging by Britney's body language, her 'yes' was probably a mental 'no'.
CeCe Frey is attractive and confident. You almost are willing her to be good as you can sense the audience losing interest in her. They're not over fond of this type. To begin with she's dreadfully off-tune and I'm fearing the worst but if you can get your mind into the same key as she's singing in and ignore the backing track then she's very good. I'm sure they'll get that sorted out at bootcamp and she's a good package with a refreshingly feisty but not overbearing style and certainly interesting.
Vino Alan is an older guy who has a stange shape head and chin and a whole load of scribbling on his head which is enough to put me off but I'll try and remain impartial. His voice is excellent, very soulful and he belts out Trouble very well, every note spot on. He's going to stand out against a lot in this series and could be around a while if no-one else crops up with a similar voice.
My complimentary remarks about the producers nearly got retracted when this 'act' comes on. The banter from Deangelo Wallace beforehand is much as we get elsewhere and you dread what he's going to be like in front of the judges. As it happens he's pretty reasonable, behaviour-wise. He can't sing, though, and in normal weeks the hand would have gone up, a quick vote, maybe a bit of argument and he'd be on his way home. For some obscure reason we get shown the judges just getting up and walking off while he carries on. To give the guy some credit, he does make an effort, standing there all on his own with a ruddy great audience staring at him and not exactly winning their affection with great singing cannot, I don't care how self-confident or annoying he is, is worthy of some credit.
Now if that wasn't spectacle enough, you now get the guy wandering off and, apparently still has the radio mic and that is still connected as there's a guy running after him with the receiver. Some admin girl calls the cops and he gets arrested, claiming that he took the mic to get something out of the show. Sorry, but I don't buy any of that at all. Unless we're not shown something, and I suppose that is entirely possible as many acts do two performances, retakes and the like too, of which we only see clips from one if at all, then this was a set-up for our entertainment and he'll have been paid a bit for his trouble too.
Tate Stevens looks and sounds the part, with his big white stetson, print shirt and blue jeans. Totally natural, apart from the hat, I imagine that's how he gets out of bed most mornings. Howdy says LA. Well, what else could he say? I usually rap, says Tate. I like this guy already. Great sense of humour, totally natural and boy can he sing well too. I wonder whether this is another set-up and we'll discover that he's already a recording artist that sold millions in the 60s but has since been forgotten. No. the audience love him - he's their kinda man, I suppose, and he just has this immense likeability factor about him and a cool radio crooning voice. Not really what I'd want to see win X Factor as we've had a few of those already but he could be pleasantly reliable material if needed for the genre.
Now we're back at the Cow Palace. Weird name. San Francisco, too. Not the sort of name you expect for a grand, well fairly grand, building in San Francisco but there you go. Simon Cowell returns so that's no more Louis.
Citizen is a group of five reasonably good-looking mid-twenties guys. Some have decent voices but they seem to come from somewhere in the 70s with tedious dance moves and an instantly forgettable performance. They get through, though.
First of the kids. Diamond White could be a brand of toothpaste but is also the name of a 13 year old girl on the stage, smiling. Simon insists that she doesn't sing Adele and the expression on her face is as if that was precisely what she was going to do. I get the feeling there have been one great big load of people doing Adele numbers that we don't get to see. Probably just as well. She sings This Is Man's World which really should be her sort of song on any count. She's pretty good, gets those low notes that most girls wobble round but the top ones are tinny and she really doesn't make them either. For all that she's got something and, although she gets through I almost wish she hadn't and had had a few years to mature as she's definitely got some star quality but just seems a bit too early. She could get a bit annoying but probably not as much as Rachel last year.
She gets four yesses. Oh my goodness, she remarks. Oh my God, says her mother.
Ally Brooke comes on with a trilby, looking interesting. Quite mature for her age. She's OK, in some places excellent, in others quite weak. I'm not sure how much further she'll go but Simon is very complimentary. She does rather go on at the end when most people would have quit while they were winning.
Brandan Hassan we only get a glimpse of. He does Trouble too and is younger, more marketable and maybe even sounds better than the guy before who did that. Cheerful young guy who could well finish up in band that they put together. I just have that feeling.
Very brief shot of Norman Hamilton who seems pretty strong and gets straight through.
Another blink-and-you-missed-it audition from what sounded like a brilliant girl group called Sister C. They look great, sound fabulous and are quite unique. watch out for them if they don't crash and burn en route.
Another brief clip of Jeremiah and Josh. Good grief, they must have had some good Old Testament loving parents. Good start to their original number but we don't get a great deal to judge by. Britney loves them, or one of them for sure, and gets delightfully embarrassed when Simon picks up the I'd like you to wake me up in the morning remark she made and runs with it!
First large lady of the series, I think. You just know Panda's going to be good. There she stands in her old flip-flops and not exactly flattering dress that looks like it's seen better days. She's simply so glad to be there and sings her heart out. Absolutely great, honest, straight performance. She can sing and you can imagine her on an album, just as long as they didn't put her picture on it. Obviously through and I love the way she was taken aback but all the praise. She gets all breathless off-stage and an ambulance carts her off with her hoping that Simon doesn't see me like this. Too late, Mrs. Sorry. However good she may be, and the Overs group is already looking quite fascinating, I don't see her coping with all the week by week specialisms and dancing etc. Still, Josh did pretty well last year.
I think they try to save what they believe is the best till the end. Jessica Espinoza is, indeed, excellent. She has a strong, slightly husky voice that cracks on certain notes in a pleasing way and she can sure get the emotions across in a very difficult Pink song, Nobody Knows. She's one of the best this episode and, whilst there is no self-confidence showing and she's had a tough life, I can see that changing.
What a good selection and show that was (or will be for UK fans!) Something to look forward to. Take note UK producers. That's the way to do it.
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