Tonight’s show was brutal, and in all the wrong ways.
Look, I was the first to say, “L.A. Reid can’t win with Astro. Middle America doesn’t embrace hip-hop.” Or if they accept it, they still don’t get it. And no matter how talented a dude is for being able to come up with an original, brand-new rap every freaking week, there are going to be people who say, “He never sings. What’s he doing here?”
They don’t get it. I get that they don’t get it. But it doesn’t make me less sad. Astro being sent home—after last night’s uplifting performance of “Black Or White” especially—was a serious downer.
And then follow him up with Drew essentially getting plowed by Everyone-Who-Is-Not-Simon. Wow. Everyone who doesn’t think this was a gang-up directed at Team Simon, you can leave the room now. The rest of you—I have a Hitler rant ready and waiting.
(Okay, not really, and only some of you get that joke.)
So all things said and done… they were right to eliminate Drew. Drew is a one-trick pony. Granted, she does that one thing extremely well… but the same argument can be made for Astro. And he’s way more original than she is. If he goes—she had to go.
Anyway. Tough breaks. I’m not sure who was more devastated, Simon or Drew. Drew started crying even before Josh was saved, and the wetworks didn’t stop even as credits rolled. Some pretty pent-up, emotional stuff.
Speaking of pent up, how bizarre were Drew’s last words? She grabbed the mike as though some stage director was going to take a flying leap at her with the intent to rip it from her trembling fingers, and blurted, “I just wanted to say Jesus loves you! I haven’t been able to say it ’til now, but now I’m saying it!”
What? Why hasn’t she been able to say it? Like garnering the Christian vote is something that should be avoided? She spoke so fast, so rushed, it felt like she was expecting to get bleeped.
Would FOX bleep Jesus?
Or was avoiding mention of her faith something Simon steered her toward? Like removing her un-pop-y last name. Maybe he didn’t want to offend the non-Christians of America? (If only our politicians thought that.) Was he afraid she’d then be labeled as a “Christian singer?” No clue. Yet another inexplicable decision by Simon, if that’s the case. I think, all in all, he completely blew it with her.
The kids took it on the chin today. All we really have left is Rachel “Shirley Temple” Crow, and I don’t think public opinion will continue to sway her way if she continues to do the same thing, over and over. But maybe Simon learned from Drew and will switch it up with curly-locks next week.
Marcus Canty continues to hold on by the skin of his teeth, even with his excellent performance yesterday. If he’s not gone next week, he’ll be gone the following. Yes, I get that Paula and Nicole are basically in love with the dude, but there’s only so far you can go to avoid America’s judgment.
If we’re looking at the finals, I don’t see how we can’t just pencil Melanie Amaro in, even with that wacky new accent. (Seriously, I almost spit-take every time I hear that.) Nobody has the following she does; nobody gets the entire theater chanting their name like she does. Josh could come in second, with possibly Rachel as the dark horse—if she shows us something new.
So what do you think? Were the latest ousters on The X Factor justified in your minds?
If Jesus loves you, follow me on Twitter! That’s @Axechucker, you ‘freaks!
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