The X Factor is heating up as the Top 12 gets whittled down to 11! Last night it was InTENsity’s time to go. Their exit saddened their mentor, Paula Abdul, but she’s staying the course and her focus now is all about Lakoda Rayne and Stereo Hoggz. You’re getting to know these contestants each and every week. You see them on stage performing with emotion, excitement and perseverance. But there’s another side to each and every one of them. We caught up with L.A. Reid’s boys — Brian “Astro” Bradley, Marcus Canty and Chris Rene, and asked them to tell us about their likes, loves and guilty pleasures! Make sure to check out The X Factor Wednesday and Thursday nights on FOX at 8pm ET/PT!
Anyone following twitter, entertainment websites, and “The X Factor” are well aware of the controversy that’s been brewing around some of ”The X Factor” contestants’ prior ”music career.” The controversy started when it was revealed that LeRoy Bell and Stacy Francis both had had some prior experience in the music industry. The controversy hit an all time high however when Perez Hilton took to twitter (and his four million followers) end of last week and started accusing Stacy Francis of outright lying to the public and fans about her past. While it’s a bit humorous that someone who has made a name for himself by spreading rumors and gossip is all of a sudden carrying the torch for truth, honesty, and full disclosure (we are talking about entertainment afterall), the serious side is that real people are being dragged through the dirt for what ”The X Factor” Judges think is really kind of a non-issue. In fact, when the judges were asked their thoughts on the whole matter at a press conference post show Thursday night, Simon weighed in, and summed it up by saying “I couldn’t care less”.
Check out what the judges said for yourself…
So our question to you… Is this a big deal? Are you over it? Is this whole matter swaying your vote, or are you just ready to see what the remaining 11 contestants have in store next week? Let us know!
The remaining Top 11 will take to the stage next Wednesday for the next super star showdown on The X Factor – so ink your appointment for the TV next Wednesday at 8PM ET/PT on FOX, then hit up twitter, your phone line, Facebook or Verizon to vote!!
As The X Factor kicks into high gear with the Top 12 competition, and voting by YOU, we thought you’d enjoy a closer look at Paula Abdul’s catagory, the “groups”: The Stereo Hogzz, InTENsity, and Lakoda Rayne. Check it out!
The Stereo Hogzz
The Stereo Hogzz are the only group in the Top 12 that came into this competition as an established group, so they’ve had a lot of experience performing together. Find out what they’re learning most from Paula, what it’s like for them to peform up on the X Factor stage, and how Vodoo and the Superbowl come into play when they watch themselves on TV.
InTENsity
For the new group InTENsity, Paula’s teachings have been invaluable. The group shares Paula’s 4 phrases for success, and explains how Paula’s personal experience with Michael Jackson has served as a key teaching moment.
Lakoda Rayne
Lakoda Rayne has quickly become a group with a beautiful unifed sound, but at the heart of the group you’ll find four individual women with different backgrounds. We asked them to reflect on their own individual journeys and share what “experience” they feel has had the biggest impact in molding them into the women they are today:
How far will these groups go? Who will be crowned the winner of The X Factor? It’s now up to you! Catch The X Factor Wednesdays & Thursdays on Fox, watch your favorites take the stage and perform, and then don’t forget to vote for the ones you think have “The X Factor”!
Last week The X Factor’s Simon Cowell blew many viewers away when he told Chris Rene that he wasn’t the best singer in the competition, but was the best recording artist of the bunch. We asked Simon and L.A. to explain the difference between the two, and asked Chris Rene to weigh in on the comment. Tonight, the judges hand over the voting over to you. So the question is, Who’s going to make it to the end? Who are your favs? The voting starts this week! So catch the Top 12 perform LIVE on The X Factor tonight at 8PM ET/PT on Fox and then vote!.
If you enjoy watching “The X Factor” on Fox, just imagine how amazing it would be to watch it live and in person. Fox All Access and RollingStone.com want to make it happen for you!
Just imagine…you and a guest being flown to Los Angeles, with 2 nights’ hotel accommodations, and a pair of tickets to a live broadcast of “The X Factor.” All that, and a $250 American Express gift card! That’s exactly what will happen if you’re the grand prize winner!
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To enter, visit RollingStone.com/xfactorsweeps. The sweepstakes ends on Friday, November 25, but why wait? Head over to the website for official rules and entry info…RollingStone.com/xfactorsweeps. Good luck, and keep watching “The X Factor,” Wednesday and Thursday nights on Fox.
Last night’s episode of “The X Factor” was a spectacular show. Great singing, big production, interesting cat fights (we’re talking you Simon, L.A., Paula, and Nicole), and a lot of emotion. You’ve got to admit they are an amazingly talented group of human beings, so it’s hard to imagine how America (that’s you!) is going to figure out who that “one” winner will be. We caught up with each of the newly crowned Top 12 contestants on stage after the show and asked them to share what they were thinking and feeling about their performance, the judges’ reactions, the fan support, and the night. Watch what your favorites have to say:
Our Top 12 are back at it and already preparing for next week’s show, so make sure you follow your favorites on twitter and facebook, check out ”The X Factor” website www.thexfactorusa.com and make sure to ink in your appointment to catch ”The X Factor” live this coming Wednesday, November 2 at 8PM ET/PT on FOX.
The older singers on The X Factor are proving two important things: 1) You’re never too old to pursue your dream. 2) Music is a great anti-aging remedy. We caught up with each of the contestants in Nicole Scherzinger’s “Over 30″ group and dug a little deeper to find out what they’re still learning, what’s motivating them and what’s the best receipe for a musical burrito. Check it out:
Dexter Haygood
DYK? Dexter has been pursuing music for a long time, and it’s a few words of wisdom that he learned as a kid that has kept him striving for his dream. We call it soul rockin’ advice.
Josh Krajcik
DYK? Early in the auditions Josh became known as the “burrito man”, but that was before he busted out those pipes of his. Josh shares some of his guilty pleasures (which may surprise you), and gives us the receipe for the ultimate musical burrito.
LeRoy Bell
DYK? Yep, LeRoy is the oldest contestant on The X Factor, but by all accounts, he’s also one of the coolest. He’s got style, wisdom, and a soulful spirit. So what’s the secret to staying so youthful? (lots of inquiring minds and ladies want to know!) We’ve got it!
Stacy Francis
DYK? Stacy didn’t leave a dry eye in the stadium the day she did her first audition, and we’ve seen and felt tears since then too. So when we asked Stacy what she’s learned about herself through this whole process… Well, let’s just say the subject of crying is on the list.
So there you have it! So what’s next? The contestants are prepping for their big night, and it all happens LIVE! So catch Dexter, Josh, LeRoy, Stacy, and the rest of The X Factor contestants as they take the stage and perform for their future. It all happens tonight, Tuesday, October 25 at 8PM ET/PT on Fox.
Yesterday, L.A. Reid told us what stands out about his group of finalists on “The X Factor,” the boys. And, of course, he’s confident that he’ll have the winning contestant when all is said and done.
However, he’s got enough music industry experience to know it won’t be that easy, because Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Nicole Scherzinger have some awfully talented performers in their groups, too.
Who will be the most formidable foes for L.A.’s guys? We asked him to handicap the rest of the field and tell us which acts he thinks will pose the greatest competition for the crown. (Click on the audio player to hear L.A. Reid.)
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Tonight, the 17 finalists will perform on live television for the first time, and the judges will make their final cuts before the audience voting begins. It’s bound to be an intense night full of amazing performances, so don’t miss a special 2-1/2 hour edition of “The X Factor,” tonight at 8/7c on Fox.
To find out more about the finalists, visit the show’s website at www.thexfactorusa.com.
For this next installment of The X Factor DYK of the Day (and that’s DYK as in Did You Know?), we’re going to focus on L.A. Reid’s group of boys (Astro, Chris, Marcus, and Phillip). While watching them perform on TV has been fun, it’s been even more interesting to chat with them face to face. Bottom line, they’re a really nice group of guys with some unique experiences and points of views. Check it out:
Astro
DYK? Astro (formally known as Brian Bradley) has a lot of confidence on stage, but likens it to sort of channeling his inner Beyonce’/Sasha Fierce. He also shares an interesting perspective on where confidence comes from…
Chris Rene’
DYK? Chris’ musical DNA goes way back. In fact,his grandfather wrote numerous songs, including the catchy famous “Rockin’ Robin”. Chris takes us through a bit of his musical genealogy, and teases that there just might be a Chris Rene version of Rockin’ Robin someday….
Marcus Canty
DYK? Marcus has faced some harsh critics before, and they all go by the name “The Apollo” Anyone that’s seen that crowd knows you better be good – or else. Marcus explains why that experience was a “bright moment”.
Phillip Lomax
DYK? Talking to Phillip Lomax is like taking a quick stroll through an Atlas. He’s lived and visited more interesting places than you can count, and he’s knows some different languages. Crooner? Yes. But we’re also thinking he qualifies as an “International Man of Mystery.” Check out his language skills.
So that wraps it up for L.A.’s group of guys. Who’s going to bring it out onto the stage and have their “A” game when The X Factor goes “Live”? Check it out Tuesday, October 25th at 8PM ET/PT on FOX. And check back later as we share some interesting info on the “older” singers and the “groups”.
Welcome to our new feature we like to call “The X Factor DYK of the Day.” As each of The X Factor’s Top 17 contestants prepare to take to the stage LIVE to sing for their lives and the opportunity to move on to the next round of performances, we thought it would be nice to catch up with each of the ladies in Simon’s category aka “The Girls” (Drew, Melanie, Rachel, Simone, and Tiah) and share a few little facts that we think are interesting – check it out
Drew Ryneiwicz
DYK? Drew’s celebrity crush is…….(hold for it…..)
Melanie Amaro
DYK? Melanie doesn’t beat around the bush in describing Simon as a mentor. He may look sweet and kind when he’s barefoot in France, but the reality is he wants to win…
Rachel Crow
DYK? OK, Aside from being the cuttest thing in the world, Rachel uses one word to describe being on stage, “Happiness”. She also has a favorite part of The X Factor experience – and a “bestie” - Guess who?
Simone Battle
DYK? There’s a reason Simone seems to have a lot of confidence. She’s had some experience with one of the biggest groups on the planet! Who knew?
Tiah Tolliver
DYK? Tiah’s steely eyes and performance caught Simon’s attention in the auditions. But we found out that there’s a lot more driving her performances than what meets those eyes.
So there you have it, it’s your DYK for the Day with “The Girls”. You can catch them and the other contestants perform “LIVE” on Tuesday, October 25 at 8PM ET/PT on Fox. Make sure to check back here in a bit for more DYK on your other favorite contestants…. Up next? “The Boys”.
The X Factor is heating up as the Top 12 gets whittled down to 11! Last night it was InTENsity’s time to go. Their exit saddened their mentor, Paula Abdul, but she’s staying the course and her focus now is all about Lakoda Rayne and Stereo Hoggz. You’re getting to know these contestants each and every week. You see them on stage performing with emotion, excitement and perseverance. But there’s another side to each and every one of them. We caught up with L.A. Reid’s boys — Brian “Astro” Bradley, Marcus Canty and Chris Rene, and asked them to tell us about their likes, loves and guilty pleasures! Make sure to check out The X Factor Wednesday and Thursday nights on FOX at 8pm ET/PT!
