x factor idol

An Update on Fox’s Hit Talent Shows

The top 13 took on big songs this week by having the men cover songs by Stevie Wonder and the girls songs by Whitney Houston. As I hoped in my last blog entry, the three standouts were Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, and Hollie Cavanagh.  Hallelujah!  Also, Billboard.com is officially reporting that Britney Spears is going to be the new judge on The X-Factor!  There is no end in sight for these reality/talent shows!
Let’s look at what happened on Idol this week.  My three favorites from this season shined brightly as expected.  Let’s first look at the girl who stole the night, Jessica Sanchez.  Fun fact about this girl- she is only 16 years old!  WHAT?!  Check out her version of Whitney Houston’s greatest hit, “I Will Always Love You”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ayYNAEs0few#!
She has a maturity about her when she sings that really makes this performance believable despite her youth.  People are blogging, tweeting, and facebooking about this girl and the general consensus seems to be putting her as the favorite to take it all this season.  We all know how I feel about this :)
Joshua Ledet didn’t fail to impress with his energetic performance of “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Trayt-40ytA#!
For me, Joshua performs and sings like a truly seasoned professional.  Randy Jackson pointed out one of my favorite qualities about him: “You can do up-tempos [and] you can do ballads.”  Versatility goes a long way on American Idol as we learned last year when the incredible Pia Toscano was voted off shockingly early.  Many think she pulled out an up-tempo too late and Americans had already made up their minds that she was stuck-in-a-ballad-rut.  This definitely isn’t the case for Joshua Ledet.  
The sweet and unassuming Hollie Cavangh once again displayed her vocal power with Whitney Houston’s “All the Man I Need”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO6SVwCLYRg&feature=player_embedded#!
Its hard to believe such a big voice can be coming from such a soft spoken girl.  I think America is going to find her sweet disposition very charming.  She will go far.
Sadly Jeremy Rosado was voted off this week.  Someone has go, and the judges felt like he was simply missing “swag” as Randy Jackson described it.  Fortunately for Jeremy he has an incredible talent and certainly a bright future ahead.
In other FOX-talent-show news- The X-Factor is taking on Britney Spears as one of their new judges for next season!  I have to say, this is a very interesting choice.  After all, she is notorious for popularizing a stereotype that pop-singers can’t really sing.  She has been the Queen of Lip Syncing for many years not only on television, but reportedly at her own concerts!  However, many would argue that vocals are a very small percentage of her brand.  She is a dancer, an entertainer, and an icon- does she really have to be a great singer?  Apparently not in order to judge the performances of others.  I’m rooting for her, but I think it will be hard to hear her critique someone for singing flat or out of their range when we all know what she is capable of live.  I suppose we can cross that bridge when we get there :)
-J. Burton