Idol Chatter & Voice Views

You really didn’t expect to find out who  advanced on The X Factor during Sunday’s episode, did you?

Despite promos that seemed to indicate otherwise, there were no big reveals about who got cut during the second judges’ mansion episode.

But judging from the teaser at the end, we’re in for a 10-hankie show when the tears flow and the results finally are announced, presumably on Tuesday.

Tuesday?

Yeah, baseball is causing a juggling of the show’s schedule again this week. The X Factor will be televised Tuesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, here are grades for the second group of 16 performances at the judges’ mansion — the ones we saw during the Sunday night episode.

Girls

Jazzlyn Little, 16, Cape Coral, Fla.: This is the young lady who struggles terribly with her nerves, but then displayed a big voice once she got on stage in the audition round. She’s singing “I Will Survive,” with an arrangement so different I didn’t recognize the song at first. The big voice is back, but it also goes at little sharp. She’s competing in the toughest group and, based on the fact that her colleagues don’t seem paralyzed by nerves, I think it would be a risk to put her through to the final four.  Grade: B-

Rachel Crow, 13,Boulder, Colorado: The personable young lady is also practical.  She says she likes her fellow contestants, but sees them as the competition, too. You have to admire this girl’s spunk. She certainly doesn’t have Jazzlyn’s problem with nerves. But she’s singing “I Want it That Way” rather than something young and fun that would have suited her better. Simon’s choice? She has a good voice, but that’s not a performance I’d care to hear a second time. She, too, might fall victim to the wealth of talent in this group. Grade: C

Tiah Tolliver, 20, Bremerton, Wash.: The gal who owes Simon her spot at Boot Camp says she feels fortunate to have him as her judge.  She seemed to justify his support with her performance at Boot Camp.  But she’s singing “I Like the Way You Work It,”  and I’m not getting it.  Not at all.  Her look and her performance ability isn’t the problem. The vocal just wasn’t very good. But judging from Simon’s comments after her performance, he still thinks she has that “it” factor he’s looking for.  Grade: C-

Melanie Amaro, 19, Sunrise, Fla.: Hmm.  For the second straight week, the performance ends with one of Simon’s gals. And in this case, a female singer who’s been hyped since the show started.  She’s singing “Will You Be There.”  All you have to do is listen to that voice to now why The X Factor has hyped it so much.  The question is whether she has The X Factor.  I’m not sure.  What I am sure of: That was the best vocal we heard from any of the girls tonight.  Grade: B+

Boys

Brennin Hunt, 26, Nashville, Tenn.: Here’s comes Brennin Hunt, one of the heartthrobs among the boys.  He says he thinks time is running out for him because he’s 26 and he wants to be bigger than Lady Gaga and all the other pop stars out there.  In other words, ignore the Nashville bit; he isn’t a country singer.  He sings “Just Like a Star,” and it’s technically fine. Better, in fact, than most of the male vocals we heard in the first judges’ mansion episodes. But Rihanna hits the nail on the head: He looks and acts like he belonged in a 1990s boy band. Grade: B

Tim Cifers, 30, Willow Springs, N.C.: The country singer among the guys. (Sorry, I don’t count Skyelor Anderson, he’s done so poorly).  Tim says he wants to do well on The X Factor for his children.  He’s singing “Dance with My Father” and turns in a nice country version of the song.  I’d put him through to the finals before any of the four guys we heard sing in the first mansion episode, but I’m pretty sure a country singer won’t be winning the first-ever X Factor crown.  Grade: B-

Marcus Canty, 20, Bowie, Md.: He’s the singer facing the mom-imposed deadline for making it big in the music business. He’s singing “All My Life.”  And I’d forgotten how good he sounds.  He seems to be a pretty good showman too, not to mention fairly confident in his ability.  Nice job, Marcus.  Tonight’s guys are doing much, much better than the quartet we heard from last week.  Grade: B+

Chris Rene, 28, Santa Cruz, Calif.: Here’s the guy with the backstory.  He hauls trash.  We even get to see footage of him hauling trash.  Now he’s trying to stay sober and make it in the music business.  Gee, do you think producers are rooting for him a wee bit?  He’s sing “Every Day People.”  I can hardly hear Chris over that backing track.  OK, The X Factor.  I don’t get it. You couldn’t come up with a better song, a better arrangement to show off this guy’s supposed talent?  Well, you didn’t, and I have to grade what I heard.  And that was awful.  The worst from the guys tonight.  Grade: D+

Groups

The Stereo Hogzz, Houston, Texas: And, finally, we learn what the Stereo Hogzz means.  One member explains they wanted to be on the radio, all the stations, all the time, hogging up your stereo.  They’ll perform “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.”   I feared that would be incredibly corny.  And some of the dance moves were.  But the guy who sang lead vocals displayed a fine voice; it was the type of standout vocal lacking when 4Shore took the stage during the first judges’ mansion episode.   All in all, one of the best group performances we’ve seen.  Grade: B

2 Squar’d, Miami, Fla: OK, so Paula has a R&B girls quartet.  And what song does she pick for them to sing?  Say what? Queen’s Bohemian Rhaposdy?  Say it ain’t so.  But it is.  And the train wreck that follows could have been predicted.  That was beyond cheesy.  Of course, that loud backing track didn’t help.  And the song selection was brutally unfair.  Based on that performance, 2 Squar’d should be headed back to Miami.  Grade: D

Illusion Confusion, Miami, Fla.: Well, I’d love to tell you how well they performed “Let’s Dance,” but in a very weird bit of editing, The X Factor decided to interrupt the performance of David Bowie’s “Let Dance” with interview footage of the three guys.  From what I heard, they seem to lack the standout vocals of The Stereo Hogzz.  But, again, it’s tough to judge since we saw so little of the performance.  Grade: C.

Intensity: Now, for the first time, we hear from a group of 10 contestants merged into a group.  They’re all tweens and teens, ranging from Lauren Ashley, who was very impressive at Boot Camp, to Nick Dean, who absolutely was not.  They’re performing a combination of “That’s Not My Name” and “You Make My Dreams Come True.”  And honestly, it’s hard not to be impressed by their youthful enthusiasm.  Their performance was fun and young and all the things that could eventually translate into dollar signs.  Grade: B

Over 30s

Josh Krajcik, 30, Columbus, Ohio: This is the burrito maker, or so The X Factor tells us, though you know he’s been a singer in his past as well.  He’s singing “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”  Love the soft opening.  And he way he built to some glory notes.  His only problem is that he looks more like a burrito maker than a star.  And if he has to compete with the likes of Brennin for votes from young girls in a live show … well, I’m not sure he’ll carry the day.  But that was a splendid vocal.  Grade: B+.

LeRoy Bell, 60, Seattle, Wash: At 60, LeRoy is the oldest contestant left on The X Factor.  He doesn’t look 60, does he? He’ll be singing “To Make You Feel My Love.”  He has a nice, gravelly, R&B tone to his voice.  And he’s turning in a wonderful  rendition of this song.  Now there’s a guy who knows what he’s singing, compared to 13-year-old Rachel Crow, who we heard from just before him.  I actually thought that vocal was better than Josh’s.  Grade: A-

Tiger Budbill, 42, Seattle, Wash.: He’s a struggling DJ on the verge of losing his home to foreclosure.  And he’s going to break down in tears talking about his last shot, just like Dexter Haygood.  He’s going to sing “Don’t Give Up on Me.”  Tiger’s turning in a decent vocal, but he has the misfortune of following Josh and LeRoy to the Over 30s stage, and they both turned in superior performances.  Tiger’s got decent range.  But if only two Over 30 guys advance, I’m not sure he’s the one with star potential.  Grade: B-

Christa Collins, 32, Los Angeles: We learn that Christa was signed to Disney records when she was 10, but retired at age 16 because she found the business too grueling.  She now calls that “the worst mistake of my life.”  The X Factor is her second chance.  She’s singing “No Surprises” by Radiohead.  I don’t recall seeing this gal during the auditions.  Now I’m wondering why. Because that was a really good performance from a girl who looks and sounds like a potential pop star.  Grade: A-