A full breakdown of this week’s “The X Factor” performance show is due shortly, but in the meantime, it is imperative to look at some of the highlights of a very strong, very newsworthy edition of the show.
Notably, Antonio “LA” Reid, one of the most successful record executives in the business, again showed an odd lack of popular music knowledge. Two weeks ago, he could not identify Christina Aguilera’s hit “Ain’t No Other Man.” This week, he criticized teenage contestant Drew for singing a song designed for “40 year olds.”
What song was it, you ask? “Skyscraper,” the most recent hit performed by nineteen-year-old Disney alum Demi Lovato (and originally co-written and performed by a 24-year-old).
That is not to say Reid was wrong to criticize the song choice–the vocals are far too big for someone like Drew–but the fact that he couldn’t comprehend why a fourteen-year-old would feel comfortable performing this song is shocking.
Other highlights:
— Josh Krajick was in another league with his show-closing “Wild Horses.” And that is a big compliment–Tuesday’s show was possibly the best all-around “X Factor” performance show to date, and probably made the best two hours of music reality television in years.
— Significant attention was paid to Astro making amends for last week’s incident. Some will argue that his apology was a bit understated and forced given the circumstance, but the crowd welcomed his performance and did not boo the young rapper.
— By brilliantly adhering to a “Thanksgiving theme,” the show allowed for emotional/tearjerker moment after emotional/tearjerker moment without feeling as if it was unfairly favoring any single contestant. The emotional video packages always make for great TV, and by not specifically being used to “pimp” certain contestants, they resonated even more profoundly.
Another unintelligent remark from LA Reid. Thought I was going to like him until his ego got in the way. Bob Marley is reggae, NOT rock (as well as Puff Daddy who was credited with the song Astor performed.. NOT The Police who only contributed a sample… Puff Daddy got credit for the chart performance, NOT the Police so it was a Puff Daddy song Astro did.. NOT a Police song) and the reason Marley is in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame is because there is no reggae hall of fame adn he contributed to the history of American Rock. Jethro Tull one the grammy for best heavy metal album (one of ther greatest grammy goofs in history. Does this make them heavy metal? No) Would he also consider Sam Cooke, Hank Williams, Howlin Wolf and Nat King Cole rock and roll? (Just a few of the other inductees who are not considered “rock”) And Skyscrapper was written my Kerli.. I have her album and she is a only a few years older than Drew so again- WRONG. And last but not least, the only reason LA Reid has biased opinions toward Drew “sounding the same” is to direct attention away from Astro who is DEFINATELY does the same song every week (aka Kanye West Jr who LA also produced.. good thing or bad? you decide since Kanye has yet to have a single hit song that doesn’t rip off someone else’s song.) Look in your own closet before you critize and please do your homework.. your music knowledge is pitiful. I’m sure Pink (dumped you for trying to make her something she was not), TLC (bankrupt under LA’s watch as they held the number 1 spot in the USA with Waterfalls), Toni Braxton (another bankrupt victim) and most others he has signed would have something to say. Don’t believe it? Look it up.. almost everyone he claims to “discover” leaves him for greater and truer success.