Factoring the X-Factor: Nicole reenacting Sophie’s Choice

So surprisingly, Rachel Crow is out. HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN?

Simply — it was the perfect storm. Rachel screwed up, then the judges, then the audience, and just like the Levis during Katrina, Nicole crumbled.

To summarize: Marcus and Rachel were on the bottom and sang for the Save; Nicole could not decide and opted to go for the lock-down, where the one who had the actual lowest vote count was out. That was, apparently, Rachel — the teenager with an actual claim to the throne.

Let’s trace the debacle backwards:

The most visible screw up was Nicole’s, who is turning to a pathetic mother hen who cannot not love her offspring; so suddenly Paula is the stable one? Is Nicole reenacting Sophie’s Choice? Is this the Holocaust where the loser goes to the chambers? Not to discount the love for Marcus, but Rachel was obviously the one that should have moved on, the one with a real shot, the one whose name was clearly chanted by the audience. But Alas — Nicole was busy bathing in her emotional puddle.

Why was Rachel on the bottom if she is all that?

Because by now the home audience is busy saving rather than voting directly. While Rachel’s performance on Wednesday was fine if less than great, she was hailed by the judges as usual. So no save motions made, and no excitement for that less than stellar night for RC.

Why are the judges not pointing out lacking performances?

Oh — they do, but only politically. After the Chris Rene case where Simon noted the need for fan intervention followed by fans responding leading to the demise of Drew, the male judges are now busy making disparaging comments to Josh who is mentored by Nicole. So they hail the singers on their coalition and trash the lone survivor that is not. When Josh was announced as moving on despite the Simon and L.A poison, Cowell gave his usual smarmy smile that he has when his manipulations are being discovered. And don’t expect much from the female judges at this point — they are now officially mush.

So — who will be the final 2? Probably Melanie and Josh.

Melanie was the strongest on Wednesday. Her dance version of Adele’s Someone Like You was stellar — though not as original as Simon wants us to believe, as Adele herself has such a version that played just the other day in my supermarket. But it is such a strong, current song, and she was great. When You Believe was merely predictable, if safe enough to establish Melanie in the Diva category. She can win because her category is well established.

Josh killed in his version for Something, though L.A the snake made a point of knocking it down. His dance song was decently done, though his backup dancers just made him look static. I kept on thinking of Aretha Franklin who is able to combine soul with dance — he could have gone that way for a better song choice. Josh can win because is a strong singer with exciting interpretations — the most moving performances are his.

Chris Rene had a miracle as a whole. His dance choice was less than interesting — not only too slow for a “dance song”, but it was the same shtick he does every week. His second choice was indeed brilliant — his own song was so repetitively catchy that it felt familiar, it highlighted Chris’ lovely tone, and established him as a Maverick! I doubt he can bring this excitement again — but he may end up in the finals by sheer inertia.

Marcus is great, if not fully ready for prime time. When he “performs”, as in that dance number, his vocals are lacking, and his ballads, truly vulnerable and attractive, come of as less than “triumphant”. We’ll see how he does next week.

As to Rachel — dear Rachel — she will be OK. While her dance song was less than exciting, her Save performance, a repeat of I’d Rather Go Blind, was a reminder of how great she is. Her strength during the Save process and total despair when ousted were so attractive, especially considering Drew’s meltdown and Fundamental rant. Rachel is such a strong little thing!

Rachel Crow is probably the only one that does not need the title — her age and maturity insure a career. So as they say — perhaps it was all for the best; there are no coincidences.

Factoring the X Factor — goodbye one-note one-named!

It started with Michael Jackson interpretations, and ended with the demise of the one-named one-note performers Astro (sometimes spelled Asstro) and Drew (now spelled Blech!)

The big surprise — Drew was sent packing. And — while starting the evening as a fan of Drew, I ended it in the vomit zone.

It was interesting that both Astro and Drew had a decent showing on Wednesday; in fact, I kind of accepted the rap monster as a given. But the one-note-ness of both and the lack of visible danger resulted in fewer votes. Chris Rene, the last one-noter in the bunch, has been declared to be in the danger zone, and thus his Save.

So there it was — Drew and Marcus Canty dueling it out. Marcus was the obvious weakling. While Drew gave a sure performance, he practically gave a farewell one, starting with a de-facto Goodbye intro banter and giving us musically-flat if emotional performance. To me, it was a clear Drew win, But then the gals, Nicole and Paula, chose the dark horse.

Why? Why screw Drew?

For once, her admittedly strong performances were ALL ballads, a one trick pony through and through.

And then there was the opportunity the slide it in to Simon the A-hole (please, please read this as an anal sex reference)

And perhaps it was the sense of the upcoming meltdown. From the moment Drew found out she is in the danger zone, she started displaying signs of an unbalanced personality. So Drew’s sameness is not from sticking to talent, but a mental warning to us all. She chose to say goodbye with a fundamentalist rant. Get the fuck out, psycho!

So now we have Chris Rene, who should go next. Marcus is great but we already have Usher; Melanie is wonderful just like every other strong-voice chanteuse, but she needs a miracle a la Jennifer Hudson to have a career.

Which leaves us with Rachel Crow and Josh Krajcik: both wonderful, versatile, exquisite when balladeer-ing. Rachel doing I’d Rather go Blind was superb, especially considering her age.

But thing is: when Josh has an off night, he is just pale. When Rachel has a weak performance, usually in those happy silly songs, she screws up her pitch and creates a vacuum. Her version of Satisfaction was so horrendous that she and Simon should be sued. How can you turn this subversive icon into Walking in Sunshine?

So I vote for Josh to win; but can see how Rachel’s age will force her win.