Nobody can accuse this season of X Factor of being predictable, that’s for sure. After her first audition, which essentially introduced the world to X Factor USA in Fox’s promo package, I would never have thought that Stacy Francis would have been lucky to make it as far as she did. Similarly, after her stunning judges houses performance, I never would have imagined Drew not making it to the finale.
Even though CrazyPaula and the voices in Steve Jones’ head sometimes make it difficult for us to remember, this show is ultimately about the contestants. Thus, it’s only fitting that I offer the remaining contenders tips on how to avoid the pitfalls that did in their competition this season.
Tip #1: Keep it simple- Let the image of the ten inTENsity members sobbing on a giant sectional sofa eating Doritos and Häagen-Dazs be a lesson to the rest of the contestants left. America likes simplicity. Sure, taking risks with staging and arrangements can be effective very sporadically, but don’t try anything too unfamiliar. America just wasn’t ready for a ten-person singing group on a show like this. It was too ‘out there’ for them. When you’re established like Lady Gaga, you can get away with performing a song that talks about dancing in a club as a heavy-handed religious allegory. Until then, keep it simple.
Tip #2: SING. I know this seems obvious, but America can only connect to contestants on a singing competition if they actually, you know, sing. Even though The Stereo Hogzz were pretty good, they ultimately had one singer and four backup lackeys. America didn’t buy it. It’s the same reason why judge Nicole Scherzinger’s group, The Pussycat Dolls, fizzled so quickly. I would wager that America would rather hear five group members sing somewhat decently than one good singer and four randoms dancing frenetically.
Tip #3: Be Forthcoming. On one level, we all know that these shows are staged within an inch of their life by producers and network executives. Besides actually altering the vote, which is illegal, the powers that be do everything in their hand to create the facade that they want America to see. However, I think America is a little smarter than that. They appreciate a rare glimpse of authenticity in the midst of all the crazy production value and scripted feuding. If Stacy Francis had just been honest about her past experience, and mentioned it in interviews, I think she would have gone a lot further. Instead, she tried to downplay it, which made people think that she had something to hide, even if she didn’t. Conversely, I think Melanie revealing her true accent probably did nothing but win her favor and make her more likable.
Tip #4: Have a personality. At the end of the day, I don’t really believe that anyone can be an introverted pop star, at least in today’s day and age. Sure, some performers are naturally gregarious, but others, like Rihanna, who was painfully shy at the onset of her career, have had to come out of their shell a lot to connect with the public. Even contestants like LeRoy Bell, who may not be bright and bubbly, can showcase their personality by having a sense of humor about the whole experience. It’s important to project something to the audience other than ‘I like to sing’, because that’s just not enough to win you votes.
Tip #5: Don’t Talk Back. This is perhaps the most important tip of all. America really doesn’t like contestants who talk back to the judges. It’s natural as a contestant to want to express how you feel about the criticism, or rebut a judge’s claim about something you don’t agree with, but when it comes to televised singing competitions, SILENCE IS GOLDEN. For the few weeks leading up to her elimination, Drew engaged in a dialogue with the judges when she disagreed with their comments, and ultimately, I think that’s what got her eliminated. Even though I think it’s ludicrous to call Drew rude (it would be like calling Rachel Crowe a cold-blooded mercenary), I can’t tell you how many comments I read online saying just that whenever she politely responded to the judges. Talking back really is a lose-lose situation. Your audience has been introduced to the ‘esteemed panel of experts’ and talking back to them makes you seem confrontational, egotistical, and ungrateful all in one swoop. I think many viewers would think nothing of a little talking back, but even alienating a small portion of your fanbase is dangerous.
If you had to advise any of the remaining finalists, what would you tell them? How should they avoid past pitfalls that their fallen competitors didn’t? Whether you agree or not, please share your insights in the comments, or tweet me at twitter.com/alifazal with feedback and ideas for future columns!
