The Tribune

By LESH

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

KEEPING its name as “one of the best, if not the best” singing competition in the market, the X Factor USA gave aspiring singers another two nights to make their dreams come true.

Last week episodes were filled with laughter, tears and mouth dropping performances.

Who can forget Willie Jones who melted everyone’s heart and Panda Ross who proved that looks are definitely deceiving, and Krysten Colon who tried to break down and tear apart the backstage setting when she was not chosen.

Judge Simon Cowel was absent at the beginning of the show, with Louis Walsh, a judge from the British X Factor replacing him.

He joined show regulars, L A Reid, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, late in the show.

There were many highlights last week. Contestant Rizzloe Jones, opened the show with a freestyle rap. Looking no older than 16, Rizzloe told the judges he had “the X Factor” from the moment he learned his alphabets and discovered the letter “X.” L A Reid asked Rizzloe to rap about the show and he went for it. He surprised the judges and got favourable reviews.

For his performance, 17 year old contestant Willie Jones dressed in an outfit inspired by “Will Smith in the Fresh Prince’s”, with a high top fade to match. Willie shocked everyone with a performance of Josh Turner’s “Your Man”. A voice as deep and smooth as Toni Braxton came from Wille. The crowd screamed, Simon was amazed and in the end he received straight “yes” votes from the panel.

Gaining fans from all of the world as soon as he was done, one Bahamian viewer took to her twitter page and said: “Who’s this guy and why don’t he have his own album? And his attitude makes me feel like he was brought up on the island, so polite and charming.”

In customary X Factor style, one contestant came to be known as the “I’m absolutely in love with Simon” fan. This time it was contestant Panda Ross. Wearing a necklace that said “single”, she told the judges and audience that she is doing it all for Simon because he’s her “baby daddy”. Wrapped up in Panda’s charm and still trying to grasp the fact that her name is actually Panda, the judges welcomed her rendition of Sam Cooke’s

“Bring it on Home”. Panda Ross received all “yes” votes.

Contestant Deangelo Wallace and Kalvin McManigle made audiences believe they made the wrong stop at the wrong show.

After insulting them backstage, Deangelo told judges he is going to “buy a fast car” with his prize money from the competition. Singing Chris Brown’s

“With You” Deangelo did not impress. All four judges got up and left the panel, giving him the clear picture that he definitely did not make the cut. Kalvin’s performance, on the other hand, was so confusing, no one understood what he was trying to say. He was, after all, over 60 and missing most of his teeth.

We got the good and the bad, but just when you thought it could not get any more over the top, we got the ugly.

A 21 year old hairdresser named Krysten Colon sang Adele’s “Don’t You Remember”. Presuming that her nerves got the best of her, Simon decided to give her a second chance. She returned only to flop a rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I have nothing”. L A Reid told her she has a decent voice but she is not quite there yet and Simon told her the song was not working for her.

Having a meltdown backstage after her performance, Krysten is seen yelling at her family and telling everyone to leave her alone as she throws chairs and any object in her way. She was later escorted out of the building as she ran into the rain alone. Her mother apologised.

For more X Factor entertainment, fans of the show can tune in tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm.

The lucky contestants to make it through to the next round include:

Paige Thomas

Reed Deming

Jerimiah and Josh

Panda Ross

Brandon Hassan

Sister C

Jessica Espinoza

Normani Hamilton

Quatrele Smith

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Jason Brock

Johnny Maxwell

Diamond White

Citizen

Willie Jones

Jeffrey Gutt

Julia Bullock

Jillian Jensen

Jennel Garcia

Carly Rose Soneciar