The End of X Factor For Me

That's right. Tonight marked the end of this season of X Factor US simply because they voted off all the good acts I supported [I stopped watching the UK version last week for the same reason]. Tonight, though, was a real travesty. How in the world could you vote off Drew and keep Marcus? Really? Seriously? Are they that inept?

I was surprised to realize that Drew was only fourteen years old. No wonder she took it as hard as she did, beside being blindsided like she was. No one - and I mean NO ONE - expected Drew to be in the bottom three, let alone GET VOTED OUT of the competition! Ludicrous. As our cousins across the pond say, I'm simply Gutted. Just Gutted.

I agree with Simon; it was his fault. And I think there is surely more to the story. Quite possibly Drew wanted to do more up-beat songs and Simon wouldn't let her. Some of her comments tonight truly showed her young age, but I can't imagine what it's like being thrust into the national lime-light like that, only to have it ripped out from under you. And she did so well with her save me song, too. 

Gutted. Simply Gutted. Now I need to brainstorm a little on what I'll write about on my blog. So much for the X Factor this year.

X Factor US - I Just Don't Know Anymore

So, I started this blog off thinking I would comment consistently on each episode of my favorite TV shows, such as the X Factor, both the US and UK versions. Unfortunately, both shows this year have left me feeling quit disappointed mid way through.

But then I watched Drew's performance this week and I'm wowed back into a fervor. Great job, Drew!

And to top it off, finally we get a little glimmer of hope. We find out that Drew does want to actually come out of her proverbial shell. It's not her after all. It's her wacky judge Simon. So, no wonder. I think - absolutely - Drew needs to do a Avril song. Literally ANY Avril song will do. And she needs to get up and move around. Make a spectacle of herself. Unless, of course, she can't actually dance, in which case she should just stay sitting down while she sings.

At any rate, Drew is the last great hope of the X Factor for me. And it will probably be my last year of watching, too. I have better things to do.  PS. The Astro ship has sailed. His last several performances have left me empty. I just don't know what to say. Flash in the pan I guess.

Good luck next week Drew.

X Factor US S01 E15 & 16 - So Long Stacey!

 I finally found the results show for the X Factor US tonight. Not sure why no one else has it. Sadly, Astro put on a terrible performance and an even worse attitude on top of it. I'll be surprised if he isn't in the bottom two again next week. But, what do you expect from a young kid like that. I guess we don't expect all that much these days.

I also got another practiced Book Cover done. I really like it. Here you go:

Everything in this cover is taken from somewhere else. I started with the background scene of the sky, which was actually a scene of the ocean. Then I grabbed a picture of the church and cut it out using the magnetic lasso; I love that thing! Then I did some shading using the gradient tool. At first this did not work out well at all, and I ended up deleting all the shading and starting over. The second time I started shading the tower, then the edges. I also noticed the bottom of the original cover is much darker, so I added that, and I really liked the outcome. Then I lightened up the shading to a gray and shaded the clouds and parts of the church. I then found the CRIME SCENE tape [didn't use the original POLICE] and figured out how to rotate it [though I doubt if I could do it again without some hunting and pecking] as it was tilted the opposite way. Oh, yeah - and the church was opposite, too. I flipped it when I first started. The words went on beautifully, now that I know how to use the stretcher thing. It makes the words any size I want - I love it. Lastly, I took [accidentally the color I was using for the lettering] the white and splashed a gradient horizontally from left to right. It was perfect! Maybe I'll start dong free book covers for writers to get the practice in. Then again, I'm getting way ahead of myself. So far I've been copying other covers, so I have the ideas ahead of time of what I'm looking for and what I can compare it to. We will see how well I do when I'm working just from a blank canvas.

Anyway, I managed to get a chapter and a half read through on THE PREPARATION today. I'm also slowly incorporating/transferring all my notes, etc into My Notes Keeper. So far this program has been running great with no glitches; I hate glitches. Also did some research on OUR DAUGHTER, studying up on Gnosticism, etc. It's pretty fascinating. I'm currently reading the Gnostic Handbook and taking notes wildly [you got it, in My Notes Keeper].

Astro, my boy - it is your contest to lose. Of course, you have to beat Drew for the top seat. Keep your attitude in check and you have a fighting chance. But, please, oh please, pick some better songs. The last few have been terrible!

Drew, keep it coming. And I agree with the judges: up tempo. Let's see you do some real rock. Try Avril next week!

X Factor US Season 1 Episode 14 - Results....

So the results are in. Lacoda Rayne and Stereo Hogzz were in the bottom two. I was shocked that Stacey and Amaro got more votes than Lacoda did. But the public is a strange bunch for sure.  

Drew, step it up. You have to blow us out next week or you will end up like Andrew Garcia. 

I was not surprised to see both groups up there battling it out tonight. They do seem to be the weakest of the acts.

I was certain Stereo Hogzz would be at the bottom and Lacoda just seems to keep disappointing us. In the end, Stereo Hogzz left the stage for good. I guess we'll see what happens next week and let's all hope that Drew can really take the show by storm and do it for us.

X Factor US Season 1 Episode 13

I watched the X Factor US Version Season 1 Episode 13 today. Of course, Drew [who is my favorite] did a consistently dependable job in her performance this week. Unfortunately, as LA Reed picked up on, it is becoming a little stale and she's got to do better, do more - do something that will knock our socks off. The public is fickle. You've got to not only impress, but you've got to outdo even yourself - the bar you already hit. So, come on Drew, don't disappoint.

Astro - While Astro is one of my favorites on the show, there is something about his that is incredibly provocative. He didn't do very well this week, in my opinion, but he still held his own I think. Definitely better than the groups or the other two girls. But, like Drew, he really hit the ground running with that first and second performance, so it's going to be tough to match that, especially tough to exceed it.

I HATE YOUTUBE !! No Embedding !!!

Josh Krajcik - This guy, unfortunately, I have lost interest in. He just reminds me too much of Bob Seger. His performance this week just reminded me of a poor attempt at what Danni hit out of the park on X Factor UK. Watch this and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Chris Rene - Finally, we come to Chris. This was terrible, terrible song selection for him. He should not have done this song. It was simply too forced and came across too mediocre. 

MY PREDICTION:

I think Stacy Francis and The Stereo Hogzz will be in the bottom two. If there is a third, it will be Melanie Amaro to join them. If it were my choice, the Stereo Hogzz would go home, and then I'd send Stacy home. We will see tonight!

X Factor US - Season 1 Episode 12 Live Show Results

I am a big - BIG - fan of the X Factor Show. I started watching the UK version a few years ago and was thrilled when Simon Cowell announced he would be bringing X Factor to the United States. Strangely enough, I quickly lost interest in American Idol this year without Simon on the show - what does that tell you?

But, now we have X Factor US to keep us on the edge of our seats, biting our nails as Steve Jones tells the world who will be performing next week, until there are only two left standing. This week was no different. As I'm sure you know, two groups performed to stay in the show and the bandage group [that was pieced together at the beginning of the show] finally got the boot. At least all the good acts made it through. And, since this is my first X Factor post, let me talk a little about my favorite contestants.

DREW

I absolutely LOVE this girl! I think she has more natural signing talent in her pinky finger than any of the other contestants combined. Simon was right, he is watching a star emerge in front of him! She is the best and deserves to win. I vote Drew to win this year!

ASTRO 

I don't usually care much for rap, but I have to say, this kid [Brian Bradley] has got something special. He had me hook, line and sinker when he performed last week when he did Jump. I didn't think this week was as good with Hip-Hop-Hurray, but he's still in the running.







LAKODA RAYNE

These girls were pieced together at the beginning of the show and they have melded into a spectacular group. I didn't care for this week's performance, but hopefully next week they will hit the ground running. I also think Simon was spot on - they looked terrible in those dresses!

These are my favorites of the show thus far. And if you get a chance and have access to it, you would watch this years X Factor UK version. It is amazing also! My favorite there is Kitty Brucknell. Here is a video of a recent performance she did on the show:

Click here to watch the Youtube Video

All in all, the X Factor franchise is the best kind of entertainment you can have. Stay tuned for more posts and here are my predictions for next week!

BOTTOM TWO FOR NEXT WEEK:  Stereo Hogz and Stacy Francis [We'll See Next Week!]