Why Melanie Amaro HAS to win the X Factor
First off, can I get a frigging hallelujah? After a season of middling performances and questionable song choices, last night’s X Factor USA semi final finally fulfilled it’s potential. I think last night is a perfect example of how the show is different from other singing competitions and how the elusive ‘X Factor’ can really make or break a performance.
Honestly, I thought all the singers were terrific the whole night. I personally think the Pepsi song choices were pretty awful for all the contestants except Chris Rene, but overall they coped well. However, it was the second half of the show, where the 4 acts, finally free from cumbersome themes and superfluous staging, gave what I believe to be the 4 best performances of the live shows thus far.
That being said, there is really only one outcome that would preserve the credibility of the X Factor brand- and that is Melanie Amaro walking away with the unprecedented 5 million dollar grand prize. Is it because Melanie is a terrific vocalist? Partially. But more importantly, she’s the only act left that has the potential to make the 5 million dollars back many times over as a global superstar.
To be fair, I really like all the remaining acts. Early in the competition, I was behind Marcus Canty completely. Usher, Jay Sean, and Jason DeRulo are some of my favorite artists today, and I felt like no talent show in America had really brought that type of musician to the forefront. However, as the weeks have gone by, Marcus has really lost a lot of his appeal. His voice is pretty decent, but that’s all he really has to offer. We have to remember that this competition is about finding a modern, hip artist, and Marcus is pure throwback in the worst possible way. His dated Boyz II Men/K-Ci and JoJo vibe just isn’t viable in today’s day and age. Today’s R&B stars are smooth and polished. Bruno Mars and Ne-Yo channel old school R&B while being slick and debonaire. Every time Marcus is on stage, there’s a stench of desperation that clogs my throat. From his frenetic dancing to his cheesy facial expressions, he’s all wrong. His last performance in the Semi-finals was probably the best he’s been, but it’s simply too little too late.
In contrast, Josh Krajcik’s appeal lies mostly in the fact that he seems so at ease and comfortable at all times. He really deserves credit for being the most consistent act throughout the season, and his voice is truly hypnotic at times. The fact remains though that Josh simply is not a pop star. This is the wrong platform for him. He’s the type of artist that is well suited for small, intimate venues, where his voice and musicality can shine. He is not the type of artist who deserves a 5 million dollar recording contract. He will never sell out arenas. He will never appeal to younger demographics. Ultimately, he’s terrific, but not current or mainstream enough to be the winner of X Factor.
If anyone was to give Melanie a run for her money, it would be Chris Rene. He, unlike Marcus and Josh, is a perfect illustration of what pop music has to offer today. He can rap, he can dance, and he can skew both pop and R&B with his music. And more importantly, there’s no denying (to me, at least) that the kid has the most charisma and star quality out of the top 4 acts. But as much as I like him, the last few weeks have shown me more than ever that his voice just isn’t good enough. I mean, he seriously has one of the weakest voices I have ever seen on a competition like this. Can you imagine him croaking out a winner’s single with his limited range? Vocal power is truly secondary on a show like X Factor, but it’s still a consideration. Artists like Rihanna and Katy Perry have weak voices in general, but there are still areas of their range where they can belt and soar, even if just a little bit. Chris’ performance of ‘No One’ was touching as hell, and he really does seem to have a keen ear for arranging songs in a fresh, contemporary way, but live performances are not his friend, and if you win a televised singing competition, much of your publicity is going to come from performing live.
So we come back full circle to Melanie. I will say, I still find her boring 97% of the time. But I feel like the show has failed her in this sense. Every time we see her edited packages, she’s morosely talking about her being sent home (which happened like 3 months ago, and has been mentioned every week since), or her not believing in herself, or her lack of confidence, or her uncertainty– you get the picture. This girl is 19 YEARS OLD. I can’t remember the last time I saw her laugh or joke around or simply be a teenager. Perhaps because Rachel and Drew were so young, she seems to have been forced into being the show’s matronly diva for no reason. Her styling is normally appallingly old-fashioned and her song choice isn’t much better. That being said, her last performance on Wednesday night changed everything for me. For the first time on that stage, she looked like a nineteen year old pop star. She was dressed age-appropriately (i.e. not long flowing Desperate Housewives hair and a sequined gown) and FINALLY, her song sounded fresh, modern, and contemporary. I could actually envision that song being a hit with her singing it.
More than anything else, she’s the show’s only hope of producing a global superstar at this point. With some more upbeat catchy material, she could be a star, and there’s no denying the voice. In unscripted moments on camera, she seems fun and lively, so presumably this would blossom post-show. She can be taught to dance and work the stage more. Lastly, she’s the only contestant left whom I could actually see competing with the phalanx for feisty pop divas ruling the roost these days.
Does she have the X Factor? Not yet, but she’s the only act left with a shot in hell of acquiring it.
