Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The X Factor’s final 12 take the stage tonight, but it appears we’re guaranteed a second season of the show.

FOX announced earlier today that it’s ordered a second season of Simon Cowell and company, even if The X Factor has failed to produce Idol-like ratings to date.

We’ll see if that changes over the next few weeks as The X Factor judges and fans whittle down a pretty talented cast of singers.

Meanwhile, did you hear Dexter Haygood’s version of how he left the show?  About bowing out with an agreement after it became clear he wouldn’t be allowed to rock out on the X Factor stage?  If not, head here for that story.

In other news, Miranda Lambert will be playing Hershey, David Cook’s weekend concert in York is a near sellout, Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams will be releasing a holiday single and … wow, it’s been a pretty busy day in music.

Hmm. Simon says this isn’t about the judges anymore.  But I’m wondering if the judges will have the final say on who leaves from among the lowest vote-getters, the way they do on the U.K. version?

Anyway, I’ll be doling out song-by-song grades throughout the evening.  And Steve Jones just said only one act will be eliminated this week.  I’d been wondering, because the show has 11 acts to eliminate and something like eight weeks to do it in.

The performances

The Stereo Hogzz: The groups are probably the most endangered acts on this show, and this quintet gets the dubious distinction of performing in the number one spot. The Stereo Hogzz are providing some impressive choreography, but that vocal on “Rhythm Nation” was very so-so compared to what they’ve done in the past.  I can’t imagine that will be the performance voters will remember at the end of the night. But they get praise from all four judges.  Simon says he doesn’t think there’s a band in the world as good as them.  Huh?  I’m expecting to see much better than that tonight.  Grade: C-.

Chris Rene: OK, L.A. Reid, you must give this guy more up-tempo songs to sing.  That vocal might qualify as one of the worst we’ve heard from the remaining finalists.  He sounds great when he raps.  When he stops rapping, the vocals become very, very mediocre.  Another lackluster performance in spite of the nonsense the judges are spouting.  Grade: C-.

LeRoy Bell: I’ll be rooting for LeRoy, because I think he’s one of the best singers on the show.  The question is whether he’ll get the support he needs from voters to hang around long enough to convince them of that.  So Nicole serves up “I’m Already There,” a Lonestar song for LeRoy.  A country song.  I’m not sure that was the answer because, while the vocals were fine, the performance was a little sleepy.  Too sleepy for the occasion.  Simon and L.A. didn’t like the song choice either.  But LeRoy still sounded better than the first two vocals.  Grade: C.

Rachel Crow: Well, at least Simon is letting Rachel be young and fun, singing “Walking on Sunshine.”  Well, at least I thought that was the name of the song.  Rachel seems to have changed it.  She seems to be butchering the lyrics.  Unless they were changed intentionally.  In which case the whole thing leaves you wondering if she butchered the lyrics.  And the vocal left lots … and I mean lots to be desired.  Yes, L.A., she’s charismatic, but this is a singing competition.  She makes me wish I was watching Caitlin Koch.  Or Tora Woloshin.  Or Simone Battle, for crying out loud.  Grade: D.

Lakoda Rayne: Well, I’ll take “Landslide” over “Come on Eileen.”  Clearly, they’re casting this quartet in the country-pop mold.  Another slightly sleepy performance.  But I thought their harmonies were excellent.  Nice line from Nicole:  “If I was a season, I would want to be you.”  I see potential in this group.  As for L.A. Reid’s comment — country pop is pretty popular these days, just in case you hadn’t noticed Taylor Swift.  Anyway, OK, not great performance by Lakoda Rayne.  Grade: C+

Josh Krajcik: Well, we just saw the most intense performance of the night as Josh took on “Jar of Hearts.”  He brought Nicole to tears while singing.  I still think he’s capable of more vocally, and I’m hoping he does something other than a ballad next week.  But on a night of so-so performances, that was a standout so far. Grade: B.

Melanie Amaro: Love this song.  Not sure I love Melanie singing it because I’ve heard lots of great versions over the years and her version isn’t among them. That said, she once again displays powerhouse vocals capable of winning this show.  I’d like to see her nudged out of her comfort zone in a different direction, lest she become the X Factor’s Pia Toscano.  Simon calls her the contestant to beat.  Hmm. We’ll see.  Grade: B

Astro (aka Brian Bradley): Like the fact that this 14-year-old wrote some of his own lyrics for tonight’s performance.  Like the fact that the performance was upbeat, because there have been too many sleepy ballads tonight.  Still not sure what to make of him in a singing competition.  And I’d still like to see a little more humility.  Grade: C+

InTENsity: Wow, all the visuals, with the stars flashing our way, were a little overwhelming.  I was not impressed with the opening vocals.  But the “Party Rock” hip-hop portion was better than what we saw from Astro just a few moments ago.  I still think this group has the potential to catch on big, certainly bigger than either of the other groups.  Grade: B-

Drew Ryniewicz: LOVED that!  From the opening with Drew lying on the stage to the middle of the song where she went more upbeat than in past performances to that final tender note.  This girl is the X Factor, young and relevant and entirely likeable.  My only concern is the early favorites almost never win these competitions. But at this point, I’m pulling for Drew.  Grade: A.

Marcus Canty: Vocally, this is the young guy I’ve been most impressed by.  Having said that, I’ve afraid L.A.’s fear came true. The performance detracted from the vocal.  I didn’t like that nearly as much as some past Marcus performances.  And a major letdown after the performance we just saw.  Grade: C.

Stacy Francis: Curious that Stacy gets the final performance spot in the opening show.  She was getting criticism this week for not being quite the amateur she made herself out to be.  Do we really expect pure amateurs anymore on these shows?  Especially among the older contestants?  Hey, that was an excellent vocal by Stacy Francis, who might be as good a vocalist as Melanie Amaro.  Things get a little overblown now and then, but that ranks behind Drew as the second-best of the night.  Grade: A-.