X Factor Finale News Round Up!

By On 12/23/2011 · 20 Comments · In X Factor

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Check out post-show interviews with the winner, Melanie Amaro and runners-up Josh Krajcik and Chris Rene. Plus, Simon Cowell on the winner and more.

After her win, Melanie Amaro tweeted, “Thank you all sooo much for all your love and votes and dedication, i really appreciate u all, my dream has come true #IHaveTheBestFans”

‘The X Factor’ winner on that final song, and the secret hand-gesture with the runner-up – Your duet with Josh was really sweet. At the end, you each pointed two fingers at your eyes and then at each other. What was that about?You know, we always have this thing from the beginning, from boot camp. We’d say to each other, “You know, we’re going to in the two.” We always used to say it — well, he used to say it to me. After a while, it just sort of caught on, and I used to say it back to him. [Making the same two-fingered hand gesture] “We’re going to be in the final two.” “We’re going to be in the final two.” Entertainment Weekly

‘X Factor’s’ Melanie Amaro: ‘I’ve Come So Far From Where I Was’ (Video) – “At this moment, I feel as if I’ve worked so hard and I’ve come so far from where I was,” Amaro, 19, tells reporters. “From this moment, I have to continue to work hard and make my dreams come true – my dream has already come true – but I have to continue to do my best.” Video at THR

‘X Factor’s’ Simon Cowell on Cutting Melanie Amaro: ‘I Royally Screwed Up’ (Video) – Yet, Simon, who owns half of the TV production and music publishing house, Syco, says that he’s definitely going to try and keep the other top contestants from the show in the family.
“You’re not going to let Astro go,” he says. “You’re not going let Chris go, Josh go. I mean that’s madness,” though he adds, “But, [Melanie] is the priority.” – See the Video at THR

‘X Factor’s’ Josh Krajcik Sets His Sights on a Grammy – Watch the video at THR

THR

‘The X Factor’ on the scene: Dear lord, that woman is trapped inside that giant holiday bauble! – And the winner is… In the final ad break, the PAs handed out tiny LED blinky lights that wrapped around our fingers with elastic. Bill polled the audience for who they thought would win, and Melanie had a slight edge. We came back from the break, the final 2 and their mentors took to the stage, Josh couldn’t stop giggling, Simon looked like he was going to throw up, and, boom, Melanie Amaro is your new, um, I mean, Melanie Amaro has the X Factor! – Entertainment Weekly

‘The X Factor’: The runners-up talk about the future, and duetting with the winner – It was nice to see Josh and Melanie do that duet at the end. Had you prepared a duet had you made it to that stage? Oh yeah. Every one of us, every way, we rehearsed that. So it was me and Josh. It was me and Melanie. It was Josh and Melanie. It was the exact same song. [sings] “Like dolphins can swim.” It’s so beautiful. Lovely. – Entertainment Weekly

‘The X Factor’ winner’s mentor says champ is ‘someone who can sell records all over the world’ – Have you thought about a creative team for her record? We’ve got three labels that want to sign her. So I have to make a decision in the next 24 hours Why do you think she lasted longer than Drew or Rachel? She’s got that star ability, and she’s tough. She was not the easiest person to work with. If she didn’t like something, she’d tell you. But I like that. I like that from an artists. You know, she’s got guts. She’s got steel. And right up until the last second, she was always concerned about her performance, and then the light switch went on every time. – Entertainment Weekly

 
  • Anonymous

    Simon’s show….Simon’s girl won. No surprise in that. Plus it is now easy to see why all the girls better than Melanie got voted off before the finale. I used to defend Simon but no more!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cathy-Knott/563794735 Cathy Knott

    IMO Melanie was the best singer and she deserved to win.  If Melanie had been on American Idol, she would have been voted off in the first four weeks of the competition…not because she isn’t talented but because the AI audience do not. like big voiced women.  I will wager a bet that another WGWG from the south will win American Idol this coming year.   

  • Mateja Praznik

    Simon was a mentor on seven seasons of XF UK, and he won only twice: season 1 (Steve Brookstein, lol) and season 3 (Leona Lewis). So no, I don’t think it was a foregone conclusion that someone from Simon ‘s category would win. I just think Simon and TPTB played their cards right.

    I don’t know who the better girls voted off before the finale are, but I hope you don’t mean Drew and Rachel? The quirky ones and kids rarely win and Simon knew he can get Melanie to the finish line.

  • Anonymous

    but because the AI audience does not. like women with big voices.

    Which is why Fantasia won.

    AI hasn’t had a legitimate big voiced singer for a few years.  Melanie represents they type of female singers who made the top ten on AI prior to season 8.

  • Anonymous

    All I have to say is thank gawd this show is over.  I thought it was awful.  On to Idol!

  • Anonymous

    AI hasn’t had a legitimate big voiced singer for a few years.  Melanie represents they type of female singers who made the top ten on AI prior to season 8.

    I think Lil Rounds qualified as a big-voiced singer.  She was cast and was considered by many (including Simon Cowell) as a frontrunner.  Until she failed to deliver.  

    Paige Miles was the big-voiced singer for Season 9, but she got sick and basically lost her voice, so we never got to hear it.  Pia Toscano has a huge voice, and never missed a note.

    But there was a definite falling off of the divas from Season 3, and I’ve wondered whether they weren’t being put through in the same numbers, or simply stopped showing up.  

    I do think the audience of American Idol has moved on from the diva-worship.   Maybe because it’s hard to top Fantasia and everyone is going to be compared to her.  

    Perhaps the divas will be more drawn to audition for X-Factor now that Melanie has won.  That’s fine with me.  I’m actually kind of tired of that style of singing.  But Simon enjoys it and if he’s willing to support it, good for him.

  • Anonymous

    If Melanie had been on American Idol, she would have been voted off in
    the first four weeks of the competition…not because she isn’t talented
    but because the AI audience does not. like women with big voices.

    I agree that she wouldn’t have lasted past 4 weeks, but only because she would be competing against other good vocalists instead of people like Chris Rene, and her boring personality wouldn’t have gotten her votes.

  • Anonymous

    I think Melanie would have done well in Idol.  Comparing her to Pia, who placed 9th, Melanie’s can belt out just as well (if not better), is a lot more likeable, and is not as pretty (yes, I think Pia’s looks were a problem for an important Idol voting block: other women). 

  • http://twitter.com/HaleysShindig ShreddingHalien

    I know for me personally as an AI viewer in regards to Melanie, been there done that and seen it done better. I think the reason Idol was so diverse genre wise this past year is because of WGWG and Diva exhaustion. Look at Idol’s Top 4: Two country kids, a bluesy growler and a 80′s throwback singer. The big voiced Diva’s all dropped like flies early in the competition showing the audience really isn’t interested in that style anymore and it wasn’t for lack of trying by the producers. Thia, Karen, Ashton, Pia and Fano were all representative of that genre and all went out early. 

  • Anonymous

    Too bad Scotty isn’t a traditional WGWG and Lee wasn’t from the south…And the idol audience is practically the same as the x factor audience so it’s the same voting audience.

  • http://twitter.com/Hey_Lady_ Amanda

    well its one thing to win a reallity show, it’s another to sell albums…. lets check the itunes singles chart shall we!

    35. Chris Rene- Young Homie
    74- Melanie Amaro- Listen
    129- Chris Rene- Where do we go from here
    150- Josh- At Last
    188- Josh- Hallelujah

    It’s one thing to win a reality show and win temporary money but if you cant sell you’ll go back to where you were before

    Chris seems to be thee real winner

  • Mateja Praznik

    Interesting with all that diversity on Idol I always have a hard time getting interested in anyone. The last Idol winner I really like is Jordin Sparks (season 6).
    Season 7 had a lot of talent, but apart from Archie’s performance of “Imagine”, no one did anything for me.
    Season 8 brought me my all time favorite contestant, Adam. I also liked Allison. The others, again, did nothing for me.
    Season 9 was so bad … Very little talent all around and contestants I couldn’t warm up to.
    Season 10 was a little better. Pia had great pipes, but her song choices were uninspiring. I don’t have a problem if a diva-type singer covers a song by a diva, because if it works, it works.
    Lauren and Scotty had some spark, but country is not my thing and well, I like them, but I’m not a big fan.
    If I had to do a list of my TOP 5 performances of season 10, all 5 songs would be from Haley, but her style of singing doesn’t work for me always. To conclude, I like some people from season 10, but there was nothing really to my taste. And I like more than just diva singers.

    I kinda like what Melanie sang on the X Factor. Yes, a lot of Mariah and Whitney and other divas. But, just like Scotty and Lauren mostly sang country on AI, Simon gave Melanie songs that fit her.

    Yahoo:
    Live On The ‘X Factor’ Finale Red Carpet – Interview with Simon
    http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/reality-rocks/live-x-factor-finale-red-carpet-151427949.html

  • http://www.facebook.com/judy.charette1 Judy Charette

    I thought Josh, was so warm and soulful last night. He is the 1 I will be waiting for new music.

  • Anonymous

    In Season 7 a Diva made it to #3, so at least as of 2008, big voiced singers were still having some success.  And she was pretty nice to look at, too.

    Syesha Mercado with Listen, live on American Idol Tour.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqPEF7GY-S4

  • Anonymous

    Chris seems to be thee real winner

    It’s too early to make that proclamation.  Both Javier and Dia sold over 100K of their Voice coronation singles the week of the finale, but only 10K copies of their post Voice albums.  And speaking of Javier and Dia’s single from the Voice, if the chart stays the same, neither Melanie or Chris are going to come close to selling anywhere near 100K copies of their highest ranking songs.  None of the chart placements are that impressive, when we’ve seen Voice and Idol contestants taking up so many slots on the Itunes 100 the day after their respective finales.

  • Anonymous

    Amanda,
    You are comparing apples to oranges I think.  The renditions Josh did were not meant to belong on an itunes singles chart.  They were renditions of old classics.  Not the same at all.  In addition, you have no idea how many of those itunes sales for Chris are sympathy purchases….I mean after all…that IS what xfactor was promoting about him…..his backstory.  So the numbers you are using don’t really mean anything…except that perhaps Chris has a hit on his hands…that would be cool for him. 

  • Mateja Praznik
  • Anonymous

    I think the AI audience just does not like particular singers with big voices.  Some have an older vibe, which may account for them not getting votes.  But a big voiced 19 year old?  I dunno; it’s possible one could always have won.

  • http://twitter.com/tinawinabina Tinawina

    Jordin won S6, she had a big voice.
    As mentioned previously, Syesha made it to 3rd place S7.
    Lil Rounds started with a fanbase S8 but choked.
    S9 had Crystal, who was definitely gospel tinged and knew her way around a glory note.
    S10 had multiple big voiced females but they were all the same style of pagent-y. They got dumped in favor of 2 girls with more personality.

    I think a big voiced female who was relatable and likeable could at least make it to the finals on AI. Now would that have been Melanie? maybe, depending on her edit. But she would have needed to have been presented differently IMO.

  • Anonymous

    I think that the AI audience does kind of veered away even on the WGWG spectrum (e.g. Paul, maybe Tim, even possibly James but then again we didn’t see much instrument playing this season) and moving in the different genres. Even though Scotty is technically WGWG (he is a “white guy” WITH guitar sometimes, especially around the critical Top 5 up), he is still very different from the past winners because of his country (traditional, I might add) style which means there is still hope for non-Pop Rock and non-Diva style singers to stay far or even win in AI.  

    Will Melanie stay in the competition longer if she was on AI (especially in IMO a good season like S10)? Possibly. IMO she is more personable to me than Pia (possibly because Melanie looks more amateur to me than Pia is) and she does have her “personality moments” than Pia (may it be manufactured or not) like the way she was an outcast when she was young because she came from a different place, and she has as much a voice as Pia is (personally like Melanie’s voice than Pia), so I guess she might last a bit longer than Pia did (but then again, Pia’s elimination was a “surprise”, but I didn’t personally see her winning last year).

    Anyway, with the increasing trend of having more girl finalists in the Top 5 (2 last year but it looks like no one can really derail the Scotty train), we might see an “improvement” in the voting next year in terms of having other genres (and yes, gender) the “fair chance” of getting the AI crown.