Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Regardless of what happens, you could argue that someone deserving will win Season 2 of The X Factor.

Voters made sure of that last week when they jettisoned the incredibly over-rated Emblem 3 after another night of performances more worthy of $5 than $5 million.

Perhaps hearing L.A. Reid compare them to the Beatles after a horrid performance of “Hey Jude” was the final straw.

Voters finally woke up and realized they were being sold a package of over-hyped goods, a supposed “phenomenon” created by and for the good of The X Factor.

That leaves us with a final three of Carly Rose Sonenclar, Tate Stevens and Fifth Harmony.

And you could make an argument for why any of the three should win the X Factor crown Thursday night.

So let’s get down to the task of ranking the finalists, and evaluating why they might and might not be worthy of that title.

1. Carly Rose Sonenclar (1):
The pros: She’s been in the top spot in these rankings since The X Factor began for a simple reason — she’s got the most vocal talent on the show. She’s just 13, yet has an incredible knack for tackling tough songs and performing them darn near flawlessly. Among the tracks she’s tackled: Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy,” and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

The cons: Her mentor — yep, that would be Britney Spears — has a bizarre concept of what songs a 13-year-old should be able to connect with. And Britney’s song choices could wind up sinking Carly Rose. From having her dress up like a Catholic school girl (hey, Britney did it for “Hit Me One More Time”) to the needlessly complex version of “Imagine,” Britney has been Carly Rose’s biggest obstacle.

2. Fifth Harmony (2):
The pros: They started out as five soloists. Their group has had three different names. No wonder the quintet of Lauren Juaregui, Dinah Jane Hansen, Normani Kordei, Camila Cabello, and Ally Brooke took a while to jell. But jell they have, becoming the most improved act over the course of the X Factor’s second season. They’ve been on fire since performing Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” on Top 8 night.

The cons: They haven’t been regarded as front-runners, so whatever groundswell of support swept them past Emblem 3 might not be enough to overtake Carly Rose or Tate. Just two weeks ago, they were singing against Cece Frey for their X Factor life. And they received harsher critiques — especially from L.A. Reid — than anyone remaining. The other wild card: Will Simon’s undivided attention help or hurt?

3. Tate Stevens (3)
The pros: He’s been solid since the live shows began. He’s shown the ability to touch us with heartfelt ballads and romp around the stage like a good ol’ boy. And how do you root against this guy? He’s trying to pursue his dream instead of paving roads for the rest of his life. He’s constantly singing the praises of his wife. And he’s the dad of a very proud son, for crying out loud.

The cons: If you’re looking for vocal fireworks, look elsewhere. Like in the direction of Carly Rose. And occasionally Fifth Harmony. What we like to call “moments” have largely eluded Tate. And likeable guys who sing pretty well … well, I won’t say they’re a dime a dozen, but there are already plenty of them on the country music charts already.

What does that all mean?

That Wednesday’s performance show actually might be pivotal in determining the outcome.

Check back at 8 p.m. Wednesday for a live blog, complete with song-by-song grades.